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CITY OF MUSKEGON
CITY COMMISSION WORKSESSION
December 11, 2023 @ 5:30 PM
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
2023-124 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Johnson called the Worksession meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Present: Mayor Ken Johnson, Commissioners, Eric Hood, Teresa Emory, Rachel
Gorman, Rebecca St.Clair, and Michael Ramsey.
Absent: Vice Mayor Willie German, Jr
NEW BUSINESS
A. City Commission Ethics Policy Manager's Office
At an LPC meeting earlier this year, the City Commission directed staff to look
into proposals for a City Commission Ethics Policy. During our research, we
discovered a policy that had been adopted in the mid to late-2000s, that policy
is here for your reference, that policy is here for your reference. Staff would like
to know if this policy meets the objectives of the commission - noting that it was
previously adopted (and could be considered to still be in effect).
Or would the Commission like staff to take elements of this policy and
enhance/update?
Commissioners provided comments on the proposed policy and this will be
considered for adoption at a future meeting. The City Manager recommends
that the Ethics Policy be re-adopted at the Organizational Meeting every two
years. The Ethics Policy should be shared with all employees and incoming
commissioners. The language is clear and uncomplicated, it is easy to
understand - it's current and applicable. The manager suggests updating the
language of the policy and providing it to incoming commissioners before their
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meeting this Thursday and consider adopting it at a meeting in January,
providing them an opportunity to review it.
B. Muskegon Mute Swan Control Program Manager's Office
The City of Muskegon is being asked to support the Muskegon Conservation
District's plan to engage in a Mute Swan Management and Control Program.
This program is done under DNR and USDA-Wildlife Services oversight and is
intended to control the Mute Swan population. Mute Swans are a non-
native/invasive species which negatively impacts local wildlife and the local
native swan population. This population management project is support by the
DNR, Muskegon Lake Watershead Partnership, Michigan Audubon, WMEAC and
others. The named organizations have letters of support accompanying the
resolution.
The Cities of Montague, North Muskegon, and Whitehall have all passed similar
resolutions of support for this program in 2023.
City Manager Jonathan Seyferth provided some background on this item and is
seeking to have the resolution adopted at a meeting on Tuesday, December
12, 2023.
C. Nelson House Project Update Planning
Staff will provide an update on the project to move the historic Nelson House to
a City-owned vacant lot.
Staff continues to work with Muskegon Public Schools and Deitz House Moving
Engineers to move the historic Nelson House from 1292 Jefferson Street to the
vacant City-owned lot at 382 W. Muskegon Avenue. Muskegon Public Schools
has had two phases of asbestos testing completed at the house and shared the
results with City staff. Staff wishes to provide an update to the City Commission
on where the project stands and the expected next steps.
Jamie Pesch, Planning Department, provided an update on where we stand
with the project to move the Nelson House. The cost of abating asbestos is very
high. The asbestos will need to be abated whether the house is demolished or
renovated. The Planning Department is seeking cost estimates for abatement
and destruction as well as abatement and renovation. Jamie will be meeting
with a contractor to discuss the project and get some estimates and will return
to commission with options for consideration at a later date.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comments were received.
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ADJOURNMENT
The City Commission Worksession meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC City Clerk
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