City Commission Minutes 05-27-2025

View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer

     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
               May 27, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
   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, Michigan at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Pastor Rob Reese from Anchor Point Bible Church, opened the meeting with
prayer, after which the Commission and public recited the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.

ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Ken Johnson, Vice Mayor Rebecca St. Clair, Commissioners
Destinee Keener, Willie German, Jr. (left at 9:30 p.m.), Rachel Gorman, Katrina
Kochin, and Jay Kilgo, City Manager Jonathan Seyferth, City Attorney John
Schrier, and City Clerk Ann Marie Meisch

20252-41 HONORS, AWARDS, AND PRESENTATIONS

    A. David Wendtland Proclamation Manager's Office
Mayor Johnson read the resolution and presented it to Mrs. Wendtland who
thanked the City.


PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
Public comments received.

2025-42 CONSENT AGENDA

    A. Approval of Minutes City Clerk
To approve minutes of the May 12, 2025, Worksession Meeting, and the May 13,
2025, City Commission Meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
    D. Contract with Pioneer Resources for Transit Services Manager's Office


                                 Page 1 of 14
Staff is seeking approval for the contract with Pioneer Resources for transit
service to the City beaches.
At the April 8, 2025, meeting, the Commission approved the beach shuttle
service proposal. Staff is now seeking approval of the contract with Pioneer
Resources to provide transit service from various neighborhoods to Pere
Marquette Park. The agreement includes two buses servicing stops from Smith
Ryerson Park to Pere Marquette Park on weekends only from May 23 to August
31. The amount requested is only for May 23 to June 30 and requires a budget
amendment.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the contract with Pioneer Resources and
authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign.
    G. Rezoning of 236 Monroe Ave. Planning
Staff-initiated request to rezone the property at 236 Monroe Ave from B-2,
Convenience & Comparison Business to Form Based Code, Urban Residential.
At the April Planning Commission meeting, this property was recommended to
be rezoned to FBC-MS along with the property to the east. However, a
neighbor at the Public Hearing noted that this designation would allow for a
parking lot to be built next to their townhouse. After further examination, staff
recommended that this property be rezoned to FBC-UR, which would allow for
a narrow housing unit, but not a parking lot. The request to rezone the parcel to
FBC-UR returned to the May Planning Commission meeting, where it was
unanimously recommended for approval.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: I move that the request to rezone the property at
236 Monroe Ave from B-2, Convenience & Comparison Business to Form Based
Code, Urban Residential be approved.
    J. Resolution for 350 W. Western Ave. Social District Permit Community
       Engagement
Pavlik Muskegon Investments, LLC is requesting to join the Downtown Muskegon
Social District for their new restaurant, The Western Reserve, located at 350 W.
Western Ave—the former site of 18th Amendment. The Michigan Liquor Control
Commission (MLCC) has approved their license, and a conditional license has
already been issued, with the final license expected next week. To meet State
requirements under MCL 436.1551, the business must now receive approval
from the City Commission in order to apply for a Social District Permit. The
Western Reserve plans to offer steaks, smash burgers, and wood-fired pizza,
with a targeted opening by Memorial Day. Upon approval, staff will coordinate
with the business to provide training on social district rules as outlined in our
social district processes.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: to approve the Social District Permit for Pavlik
Muskegon Investments, LLC at 350 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI 49440 for
consideration by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.




                                 Page 2 of 14
    K. Contract Award: H92405 Sun Dolphin and Oak Resurfacing DPW-
       Engineering
Staff is requesting authorization to approve a contract with McCormick Sand,
Inc. in the amount of $345,519.50 for road resurfacing work on Sun Dolphin and
Oak Ave.
Bids were solicited for a construction project to resurface Sun Dolphin from
Sherman to Harris and Oak Ave from Harvey east to the City Limits. McCormick
Sand provided the low bid. The bids came in under budget and engineers
estimate.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Move to authorize staff to enter into a contract with
McCormick Sand, Inc. in the amount of $345,519.50 for the resurfacing of Sun
Dolphin and Oak according to the construction plans.
    L. Lakeshore Art Festival Liquor License Application DPW- Parks
The Parks & Recreation Department is seeking Commission approval to apply
for a special liquor license for beer and wine service for the Lakeshore Art
Festival Artist Reception on June 28, 2025. The temporary license fee for this
event is $50.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to apply for a special liquor license for
the Lakeshore Art Festival.
    M. PILOT Agreement for Park Terrace Apartments Acquisition Economic
       Development
The existing ownership of Park Terrace Apartments and Village at Park Terrace
Senior Apartments is seeking to sell the portfolio to new ownership. In order to
preserve and lengthen the affordability period, a new Contract for Housing
Exemption is required for both projects.
Staff and the City Attorney's office have been working to finalize the draft
agreements before you related to this project with the new owner. They hope
to put significant capital investment into the facilities in the coming years, and
in order to finance the project and make that possible they are requesting an
updated and restated PILOT on both Park Terrace as well as the senior living
component Village at Park Terrace. The agreement reflects a slight reduction in
the PILOT rate to 4% of annual shelter rents but establishes a Municipal Services
charge in a separate agreement. This is to our advantage because the total
MSA revenue stays with the City, rather than being split between the taxing
jurisdictions like the PILOT payment. This document is the contract for housing
exemption for up to 25 years, which will require adherence to MSHDA
regulated rents per requirements in our local ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to accept the Amended and Restated
Contract for Housing Exemption for Park Terrace Apartments as presented, and
to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign.
    N. Municipal Services Agreement for Park Terrace Apartments
       Acquisition Economic Development


                                  Page 3 of 14
The existing ownership of Park Terrace Apartments and Village at Park Terrace
Senior Apartments is seeking to sell the portfolio to new ownership. In order to
preserve and lengthen the affordability period, a new Municipal Services
Agreement is required for both projects.
Staff and the City Attorney's office have been working to finalize the draft
agreements before you related to this project with the new owner. They hope
to put significant capital investment into the facilities in the coming years, and
in order to finance the project and make that possible they are requesting an
updated and restated Municipal Services Agreement on both Park Terrace as
well as the senior living component Village at Park Terrace. The agreement
establishes a new Municipal Services Agreement of 2% of the annual shelter
rent. This is to our advantage because the total MSA revenue stays with the
City, rather than being split between the taxing jurisdictions like the PILOT
payment. This document is the contract for housing exemption for up to 25
years, which will require adherence to MSHDA regulated rents per requirements
in our local ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to accept the Municipal Services Agreement
for Park Terrace Apartments as presented, and to authorize the Mayor and
Clerk to sign.
    O. PILOT Agreement for Village at Park Terrace Acquisition Economic
       Development
The existing ownership of Park Terrace Apartments and Village at Park Terrace
Senior Apartments is seeking to sell the portfolio to new ownership. In order to
preserve and lengthen the affordability period, a new Contract for Housing
Exemption is required for both projects.
Staff and the City Attorney's office have been working to finalize the draft
agreements before you related to this project with the new owner. They hope
to put significant capital investment into the facilities in the coming years, and
in order to finance the project and make that possible they are requesting an
updated and restated PILOT on both Park Terrace as well as the senior living
component Village at Park Terrace. The agreement reflects a slight reduction in
the PILOT rate to 4% of annual shelter rents but establishes a Municipal Services
charge in a separate agreement. This is to our advantage because the total
MSA revenue stays with the City, rather than being split between the taxing
jurisdictions like the PILOT payment. This document is the contract for housing
exemption for up to 25 years, which will require adherence to MSHDA
regulated rents per requirements in our local ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to approve the Amended and Restated
Contract for Housing Exemption for Village at Park Terrace Apartments, and to
authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign.
    P. Municipal Services Agreement for Village at Park Terrace
       Acquisition Economic Development



                                  Page 4 of 14
The existing ownership of Park Terrace Apartments and Village at Park Terrace
Senior Apartments is seeking to sell the portfolio to new ownership. In order to
preserve and lengthen the affordability period, a new Municipal Services
Agreement is required for both projects.
Staff and the City Attorney's office have been working to finalize the draft
agreements before you related to this project with the new owner. They hope
to put significant capital investment into the facilities in the coming years, and
in order to finance the project and make that possible they are requesting an
updated and restated Municipal Services Agreement on both Park Terrace as
well as the senior living component Village at Park Terrace. The agreement
establishes a new Municipal Services Agreement of 2% of the annual shelter
rent. This is to our advantage because the total MSA revenue stays with the
City, rather than being split between the taxing jurisdictions like the PILOT
payment. This document is the contract for housing exemption for up to 25
years, which will require adherence to MSHDA regulated rents per requirements
in our local ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to accept the Municipal Services Agreement
for Village at Park Terrace Apartments as presented, and to authorize the
Mayor and Clerk to sign.
    Q. Amendment to City of Muskegon PILOT Ordinance for Definitions to
       Residential Housing Projects and Payment in Lieu of Taxes Economic
       Development
Updates to our Affordable Housing Ordinance to align with the latest language
in the MSHDA Act.
When working on various PILOTS and MSA's we have determined that our code
of ordinances, which adopts the MSHDA Act of 1966 and its various definitions
by reference, did not directly reflect the language in the act and is at times
contradictory. By adding this amendment to define terms more specifically, it
firms up our legal agreements required for LIHTC projects, as we pass them
under the auspices of this ordinance. Namely, we are creating a more precise
definition of "Contract Rents" which helps determined what we are paid in
PILOT and MSA contracts, and also broadening the definition of "Housing
Project" as the language in our ordinance was more restrictive than what the
State allows.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to amend and adopt Chapter 82, Article II,
Section 46 for Definitions to Residential Housing Projects and Payments in Lieu of
Taxes as presented.
    R. Sale of Foreclosed Home at 1285 Langeland to Previous Owner for
       $7,500 Economic Development
The CNS Department purchased a home with Commission approval on the
most recent tax auction for rehab, but it was not disclosed to staff that the
foreclosed owner was still living in the domicile. We wish to sell to them to keep
them in their home for costs incurred.


                                  Page 5 of 14
CNS received the foreclosed properties list with instructions from the Director of
Development Services to seek potential single-family homes for rehab with
CDBG or HOME dollars to either sell to a low-income buyer or retain as an
affordable rental unit. They acquired two houses from the list that they had
reviewed and on which they had conducted windshield surveys. They
appeared vacant as per usual, and the homes were bought from the County
Treasurer for back taxes. However, it soon became evident that the home at
1285 Langeland was occupied and the department staff suspected that folks
had entered it illegally and needed to be evicted. As the matter was
investigated, the family living there was the previous owner and includes
multiple generations including children. It is not in our interests to evict anyone
from their home, these sites are typically empty failed investment properties or
vacant blighted structures so this caught us unaware. We are proposing to the
family to quit claim the home back to them for our incurred costs inclusive of
filing fees. We have also given guidance to the family on pursuing the
homeowner's poverty exemption moving forward in the event the Commission
accepts staff proposal to convey the home back to these owners. We have
received a consent judgment to proceed with eviction in the event the owners
refused the offer to buy the site, but so long as commission agrees to the sale
we have no reason to enforce the eviction and everyone can move forward.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Motion to approve the sale of the property at 1285
Langeland to Anthony Henry or his assign for $7,500, and to authorize staff to
close on the transaction with a quit claim deed.

Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner Kochin, to adopt
the Consent Agenda as presented minus Items B, C, E, F, H, and I.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, and
           German
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

2025-43 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

    B. Parking Enforcement Management System Public Safety
The Police Department is looking to switch over to a new parking enforcement
management system for paid parking to increase efficiency for our parking
enforcement officers and a more user-friendly experience for consumers.
Parking Enforcement has a contract with Passport Inc. to provide services for
people to purchase daily paid parking passes as well as pay any parking
citation. Their contract expires on 07/19/2025. We are looking into a new
parking enforcement system to increase efficiency and accuracy. T2 Systems
came in at the lowest bid compared to Passport and Aims Parking. T2 Systems


                                  Page 6 of 14
quoted $22,126 for the first year and a $10,764 annual cost for each year after
that.
T2 Systems also has a user-friendly app for customers to purchase paid parking
and a responsive customer service team. Using the T2 Systems would still allow
for annual parking passes to be purchased at kiosks. T2 Systems would add
additional options for people to purchase daily passes using an app, pay for
parking citations using an app, and parking enforcement to check parking
passes by reading license plates.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: I move to award T2 Systems with the bid for parking
enforcement's management system.

Motion by Commissioner Kochin, second by Vice Mayor St.Clair, to award T2
Systems with the bid for parking enforcement's management system.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, and
           Gorman
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

    C. Sale of 280, 290, 300, 310, & 370 Allen Planning
Staff is seeking authorization to sell the City-owned vacant lots at 280, 290, 300,
310, & 370 Allen to Sjaarda Homes and Properties LLC (Derek Sjaarda).
Sjaarda Homes and Properties LLC (Derek Sjaarda) would like to purchase the
City-owned buildable lots at 280, 290, 300, 310, & 370 Allen for $15,000 (75% of
the True Cash Value of $20,000) plus half of the closing costs, and the fee to
register the deed. Sjaarda Homes and Properties LLC (Derek Sjaarda) will be
constructing a duplex on each property.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to sell the City-owned vacant lots at
280, 290, 300, 310, & 370 Allen to Sjaarda Homes and Properties LLC (Derek
Sjaarda).

Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner Kilgo, to authorize staff
to sell the City-owned vacant lots at 280, 290, 300, 310, & 370 Allen to Sjaarda
Homes and Properties LLC (Derek Sjaarda).

Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner Kilgo to table this item
to the June 24th City Commission Meeting.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, and
           St.Clair
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES



                                   Page 7 of 14
Due to a medical emergency, the City Commission Meeting was paused from
5:50 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

    E. Juneteenth Resolution 2025 Manager's Office
Resolution to recognize Thursday, June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth National
Independence Day and to authorize the flying of the Juneteenth Flag at City
Hall and Hackley Park.
Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner German, to support
the resolution to recognize Thursday, June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth National
Independence Day and to authorize the flying of the Juneteenth Flag at City
Hall and Hackley Park from June 16th through June 23rd.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, and
           Johnson
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

    F. Recognizing June as Pride Month Manager's Office
June is Pride Month; the resolution is offered as a way to acknowledge Pride
Month and the LGBTQ+ community. The resolution notes that the Pride Flag will
be flown at Hackley Park during Pride Month and that a Pride Display can be
done at City Hall.

Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner Kilgo, to adopt the
resolution recognizing June as Pride Month and to fly the Pride Flag at Hackley
Park throughout the month of June save for June 16th through 23rd when the
Juneteenth Flag will be flown, and also to host a Pride-themed garden display
at City Hall as a visible expression of support, respect, and unity.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, and
           Kilgo
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

    H. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, Definition of "Family." Planning
Staff-initiated request to amend Article II of the zoning ordinance to amend the
definition of "family." The Planning Commission unanimously voted to
recommend approval of the amendment at their May meeting.
Staff is proposing to amend the definition of "family" in the zoning ordinance to
better reflect the current living situations of many homes in the community.
There are many homes throughout the City that exceed the number of people

                                 Page 8 of 14
allowed under the current definition of family, although it is rarely enforced -
mostly because there are not any complaints that would warrant investigation.
Increasing the number of unrelated people allowed in a house would better
reflect many living situations already present in the community. However, staff
from various City departments have noted issues with too many adults living
within the same dwelling unit. These issues include stress on aging houses,
overcrowding, over-use of amenities/utilities, potential for emergency service
calls, and storage of materials. Staff agree that a couple more adults allowed
in a housing unit should not warrant too much concern on these issues, but any
household larger than that should be situated in a group home or single room-
occupancy type building, which are better equipped to host these types of
living situations.
Please see the existing definition of Family in the zoning ordinance:
Family: means one of the following:
Family, Domestic: One or more persons living together and related by the
bonds of blood, marriage, guardianship, foster relation, or adoption, and not
more than two additional unrelated persons, with all such individuals being
domiciled together as a single, domestic, housekeeping unit in the dwelling.
Functional Family: The following persons shall be considered a functional family:
Persons living together in a dwelling unit whose relationship is of a permanent
and distinct character and is the functional equivalent of a domestic family,
with a demonstrable and recognizable bond which constitutes the functional
equivalent of the bonds which render the domestic family a cohesive unit. All
persons of the functional family must be cooking and otherwise housekeeping
as a single, nonprofit unit. At least one person in the functional family must be
the record or equitable owner of the property or dwelling unit, or the primary
tenant under a written lease having a least one year’s duration. This definition
shall not include any society, club, fraternity, sorority, association, lodge,
coterie, organization, rooming house, rooming units, or group where the
common living arrangement and/or the basis for the establishment of the
functional equivalency of the domestic family is likely or contemplated to exist
for a limited or temporary duration. The definition of functional family shall not
include a living arrangement where there exists less than 225 square feet of
living space in the dwelling unit per person residing therein, or insufficient off-
street parking located entirely on the property for all vehicles used by the said
residents.
Applicability: Living arrangements which would otherwise comply with the
description of a family shall not constitute a family if the said arrangements
have occurred as a result of commercial or other advertising, or the offering of
rooms for rent. Any financial arrangement, except a true sharing of the
expenses of all the facilities in the single household unit shall be presumed to
constitute renting a room or rooms, and to have resulted from the offering of
rooms for rent or commercial or other advertising. Where rooms have been
rented, or persons live in the house in response to commercial advertising or the


                                  Page 9 of 14
offering of rooms for rent, the living arrangement shall be presumed to
constitute a rooming house and not a family. A person claiming the status of
family shall have the burden of proof of each of the elements set forth in the
relevant definitions of this ordinance.
The current definition of domestic family would allow up to three unrelated
adults to live in a single housing unit.
The current definition of a functional family would allow an unlimited amount of
unrelated people to share a home (as long as they function as a family as
described by the ordinance and it’s not commercially advertised), with the
only restriction being a minimum of 225 sf of space per person. A 4,000 sf house
would allow up to 17 people.
Staff is proposing to amend the definition of family to the following:
Family: One or more persons living together and related by the bonds of blood,
marriage, guardianship, foster relation, or adoption, and not more than four
additional unrelated persons, with all such individuals being domiciled together
as a single, domestic, housekeeping unit in the dwelling.
This definition would increase the number of unrelated people allowed in a
house from three to five.
Looking forward to the following case, rooming houses would allow
opportunities for households between 6-8 unrelated people and single-room
occupancy homes would allow up to 25 unrelated people.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: I move that the request to amend Section II of the
zoning ordinance to amend the definition of family be approved as presented.

Motion by Commissioner Kilgo, second by Vice Mayor St.Clair, to move that
the request to amend Section II of the zoning ordinance to amend the
definition of family be approved as presented.
Motion amended by Commissioner Kilgo, second by Vice Mayor St.Clair, to
amend Section II of the zoning ordinance to amend the definition of family to
be seven plus family be approved.

VOTE ON AMENDED MOTION
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, and
           German
           Nays: None
AMENDED MOTION PASSES

VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION WITH AMENDMENT
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, and
           Keener
           Nays: None



                                Page 10 of 14
MOTION PASSES

    I. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, Creating Regulations for "Single-
       Room Occupancy Homes" and "Rooming Houses." Planning
Staff-initiated request to amend the zoning ordinance to create a section that
allows for single-room occupancy homes and rooming house uses. The
Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the amendment
at their May meeting.
Staff had been asked by the City Commission to explore the option of allowing
Single-Room Occupancy homes in the City. A Single-Room Occupancy is a
dwelling unit within a housing structure that does not have its own kitchen, or
usually even a bathroom, where the tenants share common amenities like
kitchens, bathrooms, laundry facilities, etc. This type of use actually happens
under the radar quite often, with inspectors finding them periodically in the
City. Sometimes these non-permitted uses have the owner living on-site,
sometimes they do not. Through research, staff have discovered that the term
"boarding house" is often associated with a use where the owner or manager
lives on-site and rents out rooms with common amenities. The term "single-room
occupancy" is often associated with a use where neither the owner nor a
manager resides on site and rents out rooms with common amenities. Our
current zoning ordinance does not have a definition for single-room
occupancy, but it does have a definition for "rooming house", although they
are only allowed in RM-2 and RM-3 zoning districts and only up to five people
are allowed in the house. It also does not require the owner or manager to live
on site. See definition below.
Rooming House: A dwelling structure having single rooms for rent and having
no common areas except common places for the taking of meals, or baths, or
laundry facilities, and not defined as a tourist home, or state-licensed residential
facility.
Staff recommend amending this definition to require the owner or manager to
reside on-site, to distinguish it from the proposed single-occupancy ordinance.
Staff also recommend creating a new section in the ordinance that regulates
both "rooming houses" and "SRO's."
Most requests for SRO buildings will likely be for former assembly buildings, such
as schools and churches, or potentially commercial/office buildings. Most
schools and churches have an R, Neighborhood Residential zoning. The master
plan recommends allowing higher density for adaptive reuse of these types of
buildings. Staff recommend that SRO's be allowed in RM-1, Low Density Multi-
Family districts. This would require rezoning most of these types of buildings, but
would be supported by the master plan because it allows different types of
residential uses, so they would not be considered spot zones. The density
requirement proposed for these SRO's also closely resembles that of the RM-1
districts. Staff also recommend that we amend the ordinance at a later date to
allow "rooming houses," where the owner lives on site, in the R, Neighborhood

                                  Page 11 of 14
Residential and FBC, Urban Residential districts, with stricter guidelines on
spacing and fewer allowed roomers, so that traditional houses do not become
overcrowded and stressed. A "rooming house" would be for fewer people and
be allowed in more traditional houses while an "SRO" would be for more people
and be required to be in larger buildings more equipped for density.
Proposed definitions:
Rooming House: A dwelling structure having single rooms for rent and having
no common areas except common places for the taking of meals, or baths, or
laundry facilities, and not defined as a tourist home, or state-licensed residential
facility. The owner or manager of the property must live on-site.
Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Home: A dwelling structure having single
bedrooms for rent by tenants and having common areas such as kitchens,
bathrooms, or laundry facilities available to all tenants. The owner of the
property or manager may or may not live on-site. This does not include uses
defined as a tourist home, or state-licensed residential facility.
Proposed ordinance:
Section 2318: Single-Use Occupancies & Rooming Houses
Rooming Houses are allowed as a principal use permitted in R, Neighborhood
Residential, FBC, Urban Residential and RM-1 districts under the following
conditions:
1. The owner or property manager must live on site.
2. There may be up to two people per bedroom. A bedroom must have at
least 100 sf of space for a single tenant and at least 200 sf of space for two
tenants.
3. Houses at least 2,000 sf in size may allow up to six people to live on-site.
Houses at least 2,500 sf may allow up to eight people to live on-site.
4. Parking requirements of the zoning district must be followed.
Single-Room Occupancy Homes are allowed as a special use permitted in RM-
1 districts under the following conditions:
1. The property owner or manager may or may not live on site.
2. There may be up to two people per bedroom. A bedroom must have at
least 100 sf of space for a single tenant and at least 200 sf of space for two
tenants.
3. There shall not be more than 20 bedrooms per building.
4. There shall not be more than 25 people per building, regardless of the
number of two-bedrooms available.
5. There shall only be one building that houses people per parcel.
6. All bedroom occupants shall have access to common areas and amenities
such as kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, etc.
7. At least 90% of the SRO units shall be occupied by the same tenants for a
continuous period of at least 90 days.
8. One parking space is required for every 3 bedrooms.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: I move that the request to amend Section 2318 of
the zoning ordinance to create regulations for single-room occupancy and


                                  Page 12 of 14
rooming houses be approved as presented.

Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Kochin, to
approve the request to amend Section 2318 of the zoning ordinance to create
regulations for single-room occupancy be approved as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, and
           Gorman
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

Motion by Commissioner Kilgo, second by Commissioner Keener, to suspend
the rules to allow public comments from anyone in the audience wishing to
make public comments.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, and
           Kochin
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Public comments received.

2025-44 PUBLIC HEARINGS

    A. FY 2025-26 Budget Manager's Office
Presenting a draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget - the total appropriation
across all funds is $111.9 million, with $44.1 million appropriated from the
general fund.
Staff will present the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which was distributed to the
commission on May 12, 2025. This will be a public hearing with discussion only.
The budget will again be a discussion item at our June 9, 2025, work session,
with action on the budget anticipated for June 10, 2026. The General Fund
budget is presented with a budget surplus (in the black) of $232,972.
Because of the size of the budget document, please follow this link to the
DRAFT FY 2025-26 Budget Book.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: none - discussion only
City Manager Jonathan Seyferth gave an overview of the budget and
answered questions. This will be brought back to Commission for further
discussion at the June 9th Commission Worksession and the June 10th City
Commission Meeting for formal review and vote.
The public hearing opened to hear and consider any comments from the


                                 Page 13 of 14
public. No public comments were made.

Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner Kochin, to close
the public hearing.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, Gorman, Kochin, and St.Clair
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor Johnson mentioned his letter reference the redevelopment of Froebel,
how important the tax break is.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments received.


ADJOURNMENT
The City Commission meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m.




                                    Respectfully Submitted,



                                    Ann Marie Meisch, MMC City Clerk




                               Page 14 of 14

Go to the top of the page.


Sign up for City of Muskegon Emails