City Commission Minutes 11-24-2009

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     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
                   NOVEMBER 24, 2009
    CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS @ 5:30 P.M.
                                MINUTES
   The Regular Commission Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City
Hall, 933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, Michigan at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November
24, 2009.
   Mayor Warmington opened the meeting with a prayer from Pastor Tim Cross
from the Living Word Church of Muskegon after which the Commission and
public recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:
   Present: Mayor Stephen Warmington, Vice Mayor Stephen Gawron,
Commissioners Clara Shepherd, Lawrence Spataro, Sue Wierengo, and Steve
Wisneski, City Manager Bryon Mazade, City Attorney John Schrier, and City Clerk
Ann Marie Becker.
   Absent: Commissioner Chris Carter (excused).
2009-96 CONSENT AGENDA:
      A. Approval of Minutes. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve minutes for the November 9th Commission
Worksession, and the November 10th Regular Commission Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
      B. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance – Modify “Exempt Signs”.
         PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff initiated request to amend Section 2334, # 5 (f)
(Signs) of Article XXIII to modify “Exempt Signs”.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends amendment of the Zoning
Ordinance to modify the “Exempt Sign” language.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission recommended
approval of the request at their November 12th meeting. The vote was
unanimous with B. Smith absent.
(Requires Second Reading).
      C. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance – Article II, Definitions.
         PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff initiated request to amend Article II, Definitions, to
modify the definition for “mezzanine”.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends amendment of the Zoning
Ordinance to modify the definition for “mezzanine”.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission recommended
approval of the request at their November 12th meeting. The vote was
unanimous with B. Smith absent.
(Requires Second Reading).
      D. Towing Contract. PUBLIC SAFETY
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Public Safety staff requests that the Commission extend
the current towing agreement with Campbell Towing, 2462 Getty Street through
October 31, 2010. This extension was provided for in the original agreement that
was authorized in January of this year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of this request.
Motion by Commissioner Spataro, second by Commissioner Wierengo to
approve the Consent Agenda as read.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Shepherd, Spataro, Warmington, Wierengo, and
           Wisneski
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2009-97 NEW BUSINESS:
      A. Moratorium on Fees for 2010 Vacant Buildings.            PLANNING &
         ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Request to approve a moratorium on fee’s charged to
owners of vacant buildings that are entering their second years billing cycle in
2010. Eligibility for the moratorium of fee would be determined based on certain
criteria included on the staff memo.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Exact amount unknown but should be minimal.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of a fee moratorium for
vacant building invoices meeting the approved criteria.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gawron, second by Commissioner Wierengo to approve
the moratorium on fees for the 2010 vacant buildings.
Motion amended by Vice Mayor Gawron, second by Commissioner Wierengo to
include in the language of item #5 that the property has been listed for sale or
lease.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Shepherd, Spataro, Warmington, Wierengo, Wisneski, and
           Gawron
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Various comments were heard.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 5:49 p.m.


                                           Respectfully submitted,




                                           Ann Marie Becker, MMC
                                           City Clerk

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