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CITY OF MUSKEGON
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 @ 7:30 A.M.
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
Special Meeting
Minutes
Present: Mayor Stephen Gawron, Vice Mayor Eric Hood and Commissioners
Teresa Emory, Ken Johnson, Willie German, Jr., Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, and
Michael Ramsey, City Manager Frank Peterson, City Attorney John Schrier, and
City Clerk Ann Meisch.
Absent: None
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Public Comments were received.
2020-70 150TH Celebration Financials
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: City Staff is sharing financial information related to the
150th Celebration. Commission action to-date has budgeted $250,000 for
expenses and $20,000 for revenues associated with the event, overall expenses
were roughly $550,000. The Commission approved deficit for the event was
$230,000. Actual net expenditures for the event totaled -$120,033. Staff
IMPROVED on the Commission-approved budget by $110,000.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To accept the results of the internal audit of the 150th
Celebration and end all formal inquiries into the City’s various funds.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga second by Commissioner German,
to accept the results of the internal audit of the 150th Celebration and end all
formal inquiries into the City’s various Funds.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Rinsema-Sybenga, Gawron, Hood, and Ramsey
Nays: German, Emory, and Johnson
MOTION PASSES
2020-71 Farmers Market Deficit
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff recently learned that the Farmers Market NET
position greatly underperformed City Commission approved budget for FY 2019-
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20. At the same time, staff learned that the NET position of the fund was trending
to greatly under-perform current budgeted figures for FY 2020-21. Staff is seeking
additional funding to operate the Farmers Market through June 30,2021.
Staff made the decision to begin cutting costs at the Farmers Market
immediately upon receiving a report from the Finance Department that
indicated that the fund was grossly underperforming the Commission-approved
budget. In the recent past, as City Manager, I would have used my discretion to
approve the expenses and wait for a Commission meeting to address the
shortfall. With this situation coming on the heels of the Commission calling for the
review of funds/expenses from previous fiscal years to look for unapproved
spending, and the previous results of the Coronavirus Economic Relief effort, I
felt that I could follow no other course than to significantly reduce the spending
at the Market immediately. The expectation is to address this at the City
Commission Meeting.
AMOUNT REQUESTED: $150,000
FUND OR ACCOUNT: General Fund
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To authorize the transfer of $45,000 from the
General Fund to offset costs related to the Farmers Market in FY 2019-20 and an
additional $105,000 to offset costs related to the Farmers Market in FY 2020-21.
Motion by Commissioner Johnson second by Commissioner Ramsey to authorize
the transfer of $45,000 from the General Fund to offset costs related to the
Farmers Market in FY 2019-20 and an additional $105,000 to offset costs related
to the Farmers Market in FY 2020-21.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Emory, Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Ramsey, German, and
Rinsema-Sybenga
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2020-72 Election Grant Expenditures To-Date
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: City Commissioners previously authorized the City Clerk
to expend all Election Grant Funds in the amount of $433,580. Staff wanted to
bring Commission up-to-date on purchases made thus far in the amount of
$190,915.60.
Several other purchases/marketing expenses are in process and we will update
the Commission at the next meeting.
At this time, we have purchased the following:
Hart High Speed Tabulator - $98,335
6 carts for ballots - $719.88
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200 voting booths - $25,982
Chair and mechanics to lift desks from Lakeshore Furniture - $2,438.72
16 laptops from Dell - $16,768
Marketing Coordinator Carla Flanders - $6,000
Lamar Billboards - $10,420
Trailer - $19,849
Election Worker Shirts - $5,080
Replacement Drop Box by Police Department - $3,888
Adams Outdoor Billboards - $1,435
In addition, we have used many Election Workers the past week to process
absentee ballots and purchased lunches for them as well. We do not have a
total on this expenditure yet, but will in the future – most likely after the Election.
AMOUNT REQUESTED: $190,915.60 AMOUNT BUDGETED: $433,580
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To acknowledge and approve the purchases
made in the amount of $190,915.60 for the November Election as authorized by
the Commission on September 22, 2020.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga second by Commissioner Emory to
acknowledge and approve the purchases made in the amount of $190,915.60
for the November Election as authorized by the Commission on September 22,
2020.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Ramsey, German, Rinsema-
Sybenga, and Emory
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2020-73 Closed Session – Consider Periodic Personnel Evaluation of City
Manager as it Relates to the Covid 19 Economic Stimulus Package
Launched in March 2020
Motion by Commissioner German second by Commissioner Ramsey to go into
closed session to consider periodic personnel evaluation of city manager as it
related to the Covid-19 Economic Stimulus Package launched in March 2020.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Hood, Ramsey, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Emory,
and Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga second by Commissioner Ramsey to
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come out of closed session. – All in favor.
MOTION PASSES
Motion by Commissioner Johnson second by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga
to pursue mediation, pursue a deputy director and social media engagement
specialist, and to schedule monthly meetings with the City Manager.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Ramsey, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Emory, Johnson,
and Gawron
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
Public Comment: No public comments were received.
Adjournment: The City Commission meeting adjourned at 12:39 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC – City Clerk
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