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CITY OF MUSKEGON
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
January 5, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
The Organizational Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City Hall, 933
Terrace Street, Muskegon, Michigan at 5:30 p.m., Monday, January 5, 2026.
Mayor Johnson opened the meeting with a moment of silence, after which the
Commission and public recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Ken Johnson, Commissioners Jay Kilgo, Destinee Keener, Willie
German, Jr., Kiley Jackson, Katrina Kochin, and Rebecca St.Clair, City Manager
Jonathan Seyferth, City Attorney Brennen Gorman, and City Clerk Ann Marie
Meisch
HONORS, AWARDS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Oath of Office Ceremony - Judge Pittman City Clerk
Judge Gregory C. Pittman issued the Oath of Office to Commissioner At-Large
Kiley Jackson, Commissioner At-Large Rebecca St.Clair, and Mayor Kenneth D.
Johnson.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
No public comments were received.
2026-01 NEW BUSINESS
A. Certification of Commissioners/Mayor Seating Manager's Office
In accordance with the Muskegon City Charter, Chapter IV Section 2 - the City
Commission shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its own
members.
The City Commission is being asked to certify that the Mayor and all members
of the City Commission have been duly elected and meet the qualifications for
the offices they will hold. The Muskegon City Charter, Chapter IV, Section 2
notes: "The City Commission shall be the judge of the election and qualification
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of its own members, subject to the review of the courts."
This is not an action that the Commission has traditionally taken. However, with
the amendment to the City Charter adding a 12-year lifetime term limit, this
action is advisable.
Two members of the Commission have served more than 12 years, as permitted
by the new charter amendment: Mayor Johnson and Commissioner German.
The City's position is that both Mayor Johnson and Commissioner German are
eligible to serve the terms for which they were elected, consistent with the
State of Michigan's Home Rule City Act, despite having served 12 or more years
on the City Commission.
The Home Rules City Act, Section 117.1(1)d)) states: "The term of a public official
shall not be shortened or extended beyond the period for which the official is
elected or appointed, unless he or she resigns or is removed for cause, if the
office is held for a fixed term."
As both Commissioner German and Mayor Johnson were elected to fixed terms
(four years) prior to the charter amendment going into place, they are eligible
to serve the whole terms for which they were elected.
Commissioner Kilgo made a formal statement of rejection for the record.
Motion by Commissioner Kilgo, second by Commissioner Keener, to move that,
per Chapter IV, Section 2 of the Muskegon City Charter, the Mayor and all
members of the City Commission have been duly elected, as certified by the
Muskegon County Board of Canvassers, and are qualified to serve in the offices
for which they were elected.
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner Kilgo, to call the
question.
Vote on Amendment:
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Keener, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, and Kilgo
Nays: German and Johnson
MOTION PASSES
Vote on Original Motion:
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kilgo, Keener, German, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, and
Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
C. Setting Commission Meetings City Clerk
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To set the City Commission Meetings for 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday
of each month.
Motion by Commissioner St.Clair, second by Commissioner German, to
approve the calendar as presented by the City Clerk for the 2026 meeting
schedule.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, and
Keener
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
D. Setting Worksession Meetings City Clerk
To set Worksession Meetings for 5:30 p.m. on Mondays preceding the 2nd
Tuesday of each month.
Motion by Commissioner Kochin, second by Commissioner Keener, to set
Worksession Meetings for 5:30 p.m. on Mondays preceding the 2nd Tuesday of
each month.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, and
German
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
E. 2026 LPC Meeting Calendar Manager's Office
To set meeting dates for the Legislative Policy Committee for 2026.
Meetings are to be held on the fourth Wednesday of the second month of
each quarter. For 2026, the proposed meeting dates are as follows:
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 - City Hall will be closed November 25,
Thanksgiving Holiday
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner German, to set the
meeting schedule as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, and
Jackson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
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F. Appointment of City Officials City Clerk
To appoint Jonathan Seyferth as City Manager, Ann Marie Meisch as City Clerk,
Sarah Wilson as City Treasurer, Kenneth Grant as City Auditor, County
Equalization Director Donna VanderVries as City Assessor and County
Equalization Deputy Director Dan VanderKooi as Deputy Assessor.
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Kilgo, to appoint
Jonathan Seyferth as City Manager, Ann Marie Meisch as City Clerk, Sarah
Wilson as City Treasurer, Kenneth Grant as City Auditor, County Equalization
Director Donna VanderVries as City Assessor and County Equalization Deputy
Director Dan VanderKooi as Deputy Assessor.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Jackson, and
Kochin
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
G. Designation of City Fund Depositories City Clerk
To designate Fifth Third Bank (Main Depository), Huntington Bank, and Michigan
Class as City depositories.
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner German, to
designate Fifth Third Bank (Main Depository), Huntington Bank, and Michigan
Class as City depositories.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Jackson, Kochin, and
St.Clair
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
H. Designation of Firm to Act as Legal Counsel - Parmenter Law City Clerk
To designate Parmenter Law to act as Legal Counsel.
Motion by Commissioner St.Clair, second by Commissioner Kochin, to
designate Parmenter Law to act as Legal Counsel.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kilgo, Keener, German, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, and
Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
I. CRC Appointment Meeting Date City Clerk
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Create a Special CRC Meeting for Board Appointments.
Motion by Commissioner St.Clair, second by Commissioner Kochin, to set
January 26, 2026, as the Special CRC Meeting for board appointments.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Keener, German, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, and
Kilgo
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
B. Election of Vice-Mayor City Clerk
To appoint a Vice-Mayor.
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Kochin, to
appoint Commissioner Destinee Keener as Vice-Mayor.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, and
Keener
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
J. Mayor Committee Appointments City Clerk
Mayor Johnson made the following appointments to various boards and
committees:
Historic District Commission - Commissioner Katrina Kochin
Citizen's District Council - Commissioner Katrina Kochin
Community Relations Committee Chair - Commissioner Rebecca St.Clair
Farmers Market Advisory Board - Commissioner Rebecca St.Clair
Housing Commission - Commissioner Rebecca St.Clair
Equal Opportunity Committee - Commissioner Willie German, Jr. and
Commissioner Kiley Jackson
Housing Code Board of Appeals - Commissioner Willie German, Jr.
Downtown Arts Committee - Commissioner Kiley Jackson
Julia Hackley Committee - Commissioner Kiley Jackson
Land Bank Authority - Commissioner Jay Kilgo
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission - Commissioner
Jay Kilgo
Planning Commission - Vice Mayor Destinee Keener and Mayor Ken Johnson
Zoning Board of Appeals - Vice Mayor Destinee Keener
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee - Mayor Ken Johnson
Motion by Vice Mayor Keener, second by Commissioner St.Clair, to make the
appointments to the various boards and committees.
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ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Jackson, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Keener, and German
Nays: Kilgo
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Per discussion at the beginning of the meeting, City Manager Jonathan
Seyferth apologized for not keeping the Commission more informed.
Mayor Johnson urged the Commission to reach out to the City Manager or City
Clerk if they have any concerns. He asked that everyone comes prepared for
the meetings. He stated he is grateful for this Commission and looking forward
to this new year.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments received.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Commission meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC City Clerk
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