View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer
CITY OF MUSKEGON
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 22, 2019 @ 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, October 22, 2019, Pastor
Jeremy Lenertz, Muskegon First Wesleyan, 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
Byron Turnquist, Ken Johnson, Debra Warren, Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, and Willie
German, Jr., Acting City Manager/Finance Director Elizabeth Lewis, City
Attorney John Schrier, and City Clerk Ann Meisch.
Commissioner German left at 6:35 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Public comments were received.
2019-83 CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Approval of Minutes City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the minutes of the October 7, 2019
Worksession meeting and the October 8, 2019 Regular Meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the minutes.
B. SRF & DWRF Project Implementation Public Works
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is requesting commission approval to shortlist and
begin priced proposal negotiations with the top three scoring firms to respond to
the Request for Qualification to provide engineering services for future State
Revolving Fund and Drinking Water Revolving Fund Projects. The top three
scoring firms are Prien & Newhof, Fleis & VandenBrink and Abonmarche.
Staff solicited proposals from interested Engineering firms to provide assistance
for the next five years of SRF and DWRF projects within the City. Staff (Leo Evans,
Dave Baker, and Sanjeev Mungarwadi) scored the proposals and are
recommending that the top three scoring firms be shortlisted for future
consideration. Firms on the short list will be contacted to negotiate priced
proposals for specific projects as they are identified and the priced proposals
Page 1 of 4
with engineering service agreements will be returned to the city commission for
review and consideration once finalized by staff.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the short list of firms recommended by
staff and authorize staff to begin priced proposal negotiation with the short-
listed firms on specific projects.
C. Scrap Tire Grant Public Works
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is requesting permission to partner with Michigan
Technological University on a Scrap Tire Market Development Grant application
through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
(MDEGLE)
Michigan Technological University has approached city staff to partner on a
FY20 grant application to MDEGLE as part of their Scrap Tire market
Development Program. Applications are due by November 1st, 2019. The
proposed project is for the concrete reconstruction of portions of Franklin Street
and Michigan Avenue in the Nims Neighborhood. Staff was planning to propose
this project as a FY20-21 Capital Improvement project with a total project cost
preliminarily estimated at $1.15 million; divided between the following budgets:
Major Street ($800,000), Sewer ($300,000), and Water ($50,000). The potential
grant amount is estimated at not to exceed $500,000, which would be used to
offset a portion of the Major Street contribution.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to partner with Michigan
Technological University on the Scrap Tire Market Development Grant
Application.
D. Mower and Mower Cab Purchases Public Works
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The Parks Department is requesting to purchase two
Toro Groundsmaster 3280 4-wheel drive riding mowers for $42,022.52 ($47,022.52
minus $5,000 for used mower trade-ins) and one cab for $8,433.37, from Spartan
Distributors. These new mowers will be replacing some of the older models which
we will be trading in and the cab purchase is for one mower for winter
maintenance duties.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to purchase two Toro riding
mowers and one cab for one of the riding mowers, from Spartan Distributors.
E. Community Officer Agreement Public Safety
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: This agreement provides Muskegon High School with a
Community Officer during the nine months school is in session. Muskegon Public
Schools agrees to pay the City of Muskegon $2,609.54 each month, from
September 2019 through May 2020, totaling $23,485.82.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the 2019-2020 school year MHS
Community Officer Agreement.
Page 2 of 4
F. 1208 Eighth Street Brownfield Public Hearing Economic Development
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
recommended approval of Brownfield Plan Amendment for 1208 Eighth Street
and now the city commission must schedule a public hearing on that plan for
November 12, 2019.
Core Development submitted a Brownfield Plan Amendment for 1208 Eighth
Street to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, which approved it on
October 8, 2019. The city commission must set a public hearing on the plan for
November 12, 2019.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the resolution setting a public
hearing for November 12, 2019 on the 1208 Eighth Street Brownfield Plan
Amendment and notify the appropriate taxing units.
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Johnson, to accept
the consent agenda, as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson,
Gawron, and Hood
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2019-84 NEW BUSINESS:
A. Concurrence with the Housing Board of Appeals Notice and Order to
Demolish Public Safety
240 Mason Street
1770 6th Street
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: This is to request that the City Commission concur with
the findings of the Housing Board of Appeals that the structures are unsafe,
substandard, a public nuisance and that they be demolished within thirty days
or infraction tickets may be issued. It is further requested that administration be
directed to obtain bids for the demolition of the structures and that the Mayor
and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute contracts for demolition
with the lowest responsible bidder or staff may issue infraction tickets to the
owner, agent or responsible party if they do not demolish the structures
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To concur with the Housing Board of Appeals
decision to demolish 240 Mason Street and 1770 6th Street.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Vice Mayor Hood, to
concur with the Housing Board of Appeals decision to demolish 240 Mason
Street and 1770 6th Street.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron,
Page 3 of 4
Hood, and Warren
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
B. Application for Marihuana Facility Planning & Economic Development
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Request to review the amended Marihuana Facilities
Application.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the amended Marihuana Facilities
Application.
Motion by Commissioner Warren, second by Commissioner German, to approve
the amended Marihuana Facilities Application.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner
Turnquist, to table the item until December 9, 2019 – the next Worksession
meeting.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Gawron, Hood, and Rinsema-Sybenga
Nays: Johnson and Warren
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga informed the
commission that there would be a Community Relations Committee
acknowledgement function on December 2, 2019.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Public comments were
received.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC – City Clerk
Page 4 of 4
Sign up for City of Muskegon Emails