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CITY OF MUSKEGON
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2018 @ 5:30 P.M.
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
The Regular Commission Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City Hall,
933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2018. Pastor
Darrin Longmire from Teen Challenge, opened the meeting with prayer, after
which the Commission and public recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:
Present: Mayor Stephen J. Gawron, Vice Mayor Eric Hood, Commissioners
Ken Johnson, Byron Turnquist, Debra Warren, Willie German, Jr., and Dan
Rinsema-Sybenga (arrived at 5:33), City Manager Frank Peterson, City Attorney
John Schrier, and City Clerk Ann Meisch.
218-08 CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Approval of Minutes City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve minutes of the January 23, 2018 Regular
Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
B. Waiving of Fees City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is requesting to waive all fees associated with a
free community event at Heritage Landing on May 26 in celebration of an
anniversary for a prominent company in Muskegon. The event will last from 5 pm
until dusk.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval.
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C. Fireworks City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff has received a request to display fireworks at
Heritage Landing on Saturday, May 26th at dusk.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval based on approval
of the insurance and inspection of the fireworks by the Fire Marshal.
D. Purchase of HUD Home at 1015 E Forest Ave Community &
Neighborhood Services Department
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the purchase of a HUD home located at
1015 E Forest Avenue in Oakview Neighborhood for the price of $34,000.
After the sale, CNS will rehabilitate the single family dwelling as part of the HOME
funded Homebuyer Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The funding used for the purchase and rehabilitation
will come from 2016 HOME funds.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the request to purchase the
property.
H. Community Relations Committee Appointment City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To accept the recommendation of the Community
Relations Committee to appoint Josie Jones to the Citizen’s Police Review
Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To accept the recommendation.
Motion by Commissioner Johnson second by Commissioner Warren, to approve
the consent agenda as presented, except Item E, F, and G.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, and
Rinsema-Sybenga
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2018-09 ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:
E. Special Event Request – Great Lakes Surf Festival at Pere Marquette Park
Planning
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: A special event application has been submitted for the
Great Lakes Surf Festival to be held at Pere Marquette Park on August 17 & 18,
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2018. It will be fa family –friendly event celebrating water sports such as
paddleboarding, kayaking, and windsurfing/kiteboarding. City staff has met
with the applicant, Joe Bidawid, twice and we have given preliminary approval
for the event so that he can obtain sponsors and advertise. He is requesting to
add overnight camping with the event, which requires City Commission
approval. The camping areas would be similar to what Burning Foot had last
year.
Overnight camping proposal: Tent camping is proposed on the beach to the
south of the handicap-accessible boardwalk. RV camping is proposed in the
grassy area a Margaret Drake Elliott Park adjacent to the parking lot near the
Coast Guard station. Camping areas will open on Friday, August 1 and be
cleared out by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 19. All camping areas will be
monitored by festival personnel. The applicant will be required to obtain the
necessary Health Department permits.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City will receive a percentage of camping
revenue.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval.
Motion by Commissioner Turnquist second by Commissioner Johnson, to
approve overnight camping at the Great Lakes Surf Festival at Pere Marquette
Park.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga,
and Turnquist
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
F. Skate Park Fund Amendment City Manager
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: In 2016, the Commission created a Community Project
Fund with the Community Foundation in an attempt to raise funds to build a
skate park. The fund has generated very few donations aside from the City’s
initial $10,000 investment, as active fundraising has not gotten underway yet due
to a desire to have the intended location and design elements determined first.
It’s the City’s intent to still pursue a new skate park. Staff is recommending that
the fund be transitioned from a community project fund to an organization
endowment focused on all Muskegon Parks. Once the endowment is created,
the fund will be known as the “City of Muskegon Parks Fund,” and the
Community Foundation will transfer the existing balance of the “Muskegon Parks
Fund”. The “City of Muskegon Parks Fund” will have an initially-endowed
balance of approximately $22,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
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BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the amendment and authorize the
Mayor to sign.
Motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner German, to
approve the amendment and authorize the Mayor to sign.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist,
Johnson, and Gawron
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
G. Windward Pointe Master Plan City Manager
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: In 2017, the Commission agreed to provide $75,000
toward the master planning of the Windward Pointe project. Since that time, a
donor has offered to gift the City of Muskegon an additional $25,000 toward
that master planning effort. The City has received the donation and staff is
requesting permission to pass the $25,000 through to Pure Muskegon.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To accept the gift and commit an additional
$25,000 to the Windward Pointe Master Plan.
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Warren, to accept
the gift and commit an additional $25,000 to the Windward Pointe Master Plan.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga,
Turnquist, and Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Discussion took place regarding beach rentals, hiring
local workers for building projects, the annual Goal Setting meeting, and an
update was provided regarding a specific crime incident.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Public comments were received.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC, City Clerk
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