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City of Muskegon Special Meeting
Focus Area Review
Muskegon City Hall 933 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49440, Room 204
March 3, 2025 3:00 p.m.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.
Present: Mayor Johnson, Vice Mayor St.Clair (arrived at 3:12 p.m.), Commissioners
Keener, Gorman (left at 5:26 p.m.), Kilgo (left at 5:35 p.m.), and Kochin (arrived at
3:18 p.m.)
Absent: Commissioner German
Staff Members present: Jake Eckholm, Dan VanderHeide, Tim Kozal, Jonathan
Seyferth, Ken Grant, LeighAnn Mikesell, and Kimberly Young
Deputy City Manager, LeighAnn Mikesell, provided an update on progress that has
been made on all four goals in the past year.
City Manager, Jonathan Seyferth, reviewed each Focus Area under each goal and
Mayor Johnson facilitated discussion regarding each Focus Area. Some Focus Areas
were removed from the list to vote for because significant progress has been or is
being made in those areas.
The Mayor and Commissioners were given one each of blue and yellow sticker dots
representing different point values (2 pts. for blue, 1 pt. for yellow). They were asked to
place their dots next to the Key Focus Areas that they felt were the highest in priority.
This exercise will help to inform staff as to which areas should receive more of their
focus and attention. The goal of this exercise is to identify two or three Focus Areas to
prioritize. Three Focus Areas were identified for prioritization.
The Goals and Key Focus Areas that were displayed are listed below. Key Focus
Areas identified as highest priority include discussion items or suggestions as to
what meeting these goals could include.
2027 GOAL 1: DESTINATION COMMUNITY & QUALITY OF LIFE
Create an environment that puts an emphasis on improving amenities and investing in
the traits that positively affect residents’ quality of life and attract visitors.
Prioritized Key Focus Areas
Improved access to waterways – 3 pts
• Articulate what preferred development looks like – develop sub area plans to use
for marketing or develop guidelines for waterfront development, consider
incorporating into our tax incentive scoring
• Consider all types of access: views, bike and pedestrian access
• Consider how we make current city owned waterfront accessible
• Consider how we communicate what waterfront property is actually public
• Make current water trail mapping shareable
• Use the MLWP management plan as a tool
Recognizable improvements to community safety – 3 pts
• Increase and stabilize the number of community officers
• Increase total number of officers
• Consider more foot and bike patrols
• Establish K9 unit
• Implement safe, improved crossing of Shoreline Drive
• Review special events annually for safety concerns
• Add more bike lanes
• Increase enforcement of sidewalk clearing or add routes the city cleans
• Improve efforts to reduce gun and youth violence
• Consider how we share information about who is perpetrating crime in the city
and the reasons behind the crime (targeted or opportunity)
Other Key Focus Areas for Goal 1
Improved transportation connections throughout the community
Reduction of blighted commercial properties
Parks and Recreation Department and Services
Partnerships with organizations focused on reducing poverty
2027 GOAL 2: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, AND
BUSINESS
Create an environment that effectively attracts new residents and retains existing
residents by filling existing employment gaps, attracting new and diverse businesses to
the city, and expanding access to a variety of high-quality housing options in Muskegon.
Prioritized Key Focus Areas
Opportunities to retain youth within the city and attract young talent – 4 pts
• Increase outreach to youth to get their feedback
• Consider establishing a youth council or working with another agency to do so
• Consider youth Muskegon Star program
• Market how diverse our community is
• Consider how we engage with MCC and Baker
• Consider how we can connect high school students with jobs at the city
• Consider minimum job requirements and how we can reduce barriers (testing
also)
• Consider how often and times of day we require candidates to report for testing
or interviews – how can we reduce the burden for people who have to leave work
for these appointments?
• Promote the Muskegon Promise
Other Key Focus Areas for Goal 2
Diverse housing types
Improved community vibrancy through infill development
Additional attainable housing units and increased rates of home ownership
Improved customer service and streamlined business development processes
Neighborhood commercial center development
Progress toward new and ongoing economic development projects
Increased population of people who live and work within the city limits
Wider variety of options for greater use of arena and convention center
2027 GOAL 3: COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Create an environment of mutual respect and trust between local government and the
community we serve. Increase communication with residents, workers, business owners,
and visitors to inform, educate, and create opportunities for input.
Key Focus Areas for Goal 3
Digestible, understandable, and accessible internal and community communications
Supported neighborhood associations and neighborhood association leaders
Strong ties among government and community agencies
Increased and diversified options for public participation and communications
More connected and cohesive community
Staff reflective of the diverse community
Increased accessible options for elections
Increased support for relationship building between public safety and neighbors
2027 GOAL 4: FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Create an environment that naturally affects the city’s revenues in a positive manner, with
a focus on reclaiming city investments in housing, nurturing startup projects proposed
throughout the city, and exploring staff recommendations related to new revenues.
Key Focus Areas for Goal 4
Maximized efficient use of existing infrastructure
Increase revenue
Reliable and efficient short and long term financial practices
Increased revenue from tourism
Educational options to communicate revenue sources and services provided
Sustainable funding for Parks and Recreation
Meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
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