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CITY OF MUSKEGON
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
Minutes
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
5:30 pm
Present: Commissioners St. Clair, Johnson, Gorman, Kilgo, St. Clair, and Kochin.
Absent: Commissioner German.
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Gorman moved, Commissioner Kilgo seconded, to approve the minutes of
February 26, 2025.
MOTION CARRIED.
Climate Action Plan – Peter Wills
A presentation was given on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) by Jenny Oorbeck and Becca Elder
from Fresh Coast Climate Solutions.
The CAP exists for assets owned and operated by the City and establishes a roadmap for
achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations by 2040.
Having a plan will assist the city in securing funding and adopt emerging solutions in
sustainability.
The Cap is organized into 5 focus areas, 18 objectives, and 97 actions.
The focus areas include:
Buildings and Facilities
Transportation
Waste
Land Use & Resilience
Implementation
The city received a $75,000 Community Energy Management Program grant to offset the
contract.
So far staff has been able to identify cost savings in Public Safety with reducing electric costs at
Central due to LED light and Public Works with Energy Performance Contract – improvements
to Filter Plan at Public Works Building, and EV utility vehicles – salt spreader.
Social Media Policy – Deborah Sweet
Commissioners reviewed a draft social media policy. Based on their feedback, staff made two
clarifying updates:
Under the Elected Official Pages, updated language encourages officials to distinguish their
elected pages from personal ones and understand legal responsibilities. A previous request to
separate campaign and official pages was removed, recognizing that incumbents may use official
pages for campaigning.
Under the Oversight and Enforcement section, corrected wording was used to specify that city-
controlled pages – not individual staff or officials – are prohibited from posting certain types of
content, including confidential information, copyright violations, offensive language, partisan
political views, and commercial content.
Water Policies Review – Sarah Wilson
At the last Legislative Policy Committee meeting, there were questions regarding the policies
and procedures in the Treasurer’s Office related to water and sewer billing. The processes carried
out by the Treasurer’s Office are done to comply with related city ordinances, the city’s
Financial Policies document, and Resolution No. 95-030. We can discuss the processes related to
water billing, water shut offs and placing of liens on tax bills, and look at any changes the City
Commission and/or staff would like to see.
The City Commission asked for suggestions from the City Treasurer of how the city could help
residents with water bills.
The Treasurer suggested we could:
Eliminate the $2 fee for printing water bills
Eliminate the $5 to pay online
Increase the credit for those paying online from $.75 to $1.50
Ms. Wilson indicated the kiosk in the hallway by the Treasurer’s Office does have lower fees.
The Commission asked Ms. Wilson to formulate her ideas into a resolution and place it on a
future City Commission meeting for consideration.
Muskegon Social Equity Program – Mike Franzak
Staff is asking the committee to make suggestions on how to allocate the marihuana excise tax
money for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Staff is also asking for consideration of an amendment to the
existing MSEP grants/loan program that would allow applicants to be awarded grant funding
upfront rather than as a reimbursement. Staff would also like to reallocate $10,000 of
appropriated MSEP funds last year from a Fair Housing program that didn’t materialize.
The city recently collected $698,744 from last year’s marihuana excise tax sharing. Last year the
City Commission allocated 25% of the excise tax towards the MSEP. Assuming the Commission
allocated $29,013 towards waterfront wayfinding signage, which leaves $145,673 in available
funds. There have been several other requests for funding, which has been outlined.
Staff is also asking for consideration of an amendment to the existing MSEP grants/loan program
that would allow applicants to be awarded grant funding upfront, rather than as a reimbursement.
Staff is also asking to reallocate $10,000 of appropriated MSEP funds last year from a Fair
Housing program that didn’t materialize.
Mike Franzak indicated he believed the expungement clinic by G.U.N.S program was very
successful and suggested that we continue to fund it.
Mr. Franzak indicated he has a qualified applicant in need of $5,000 for a van but does not have
the capital to pay for the van upfront and seek reimbursement. The Commission by verbal
consent indicated the city could pay for the grant upfront for this individual.
The Commission also indicated that we could move forward with the Mediation & Restorative
Services program in the amount of $35,000.
Waterfront Signs for $29,013 had previously been approved and expended.
The Marihuana Industry Training by Higher Learning requested $70,000 - $150,000. Staff is
recommending $55,673.
Commissioner German voiced his concern that this program was not being funded at the amount
of $70,000. Mr. Franzak indicated this is the remaining balance in the account. He also pointed
out the lack of information provided in their proposed budget. He did suggest if the Commission
was interested, they could allocate more funding from the façade grant to the Higher Learning.
Commissioners were divided on the suggestion of giving Façade Grant funds to the program.
This item will be placed on a future Commission Meeting for consideration.
Legislative/ARPA Updates – Peter Wills
We had 25 ARPA grants approved by the City Commission. From those grants, 13 projects were
paid in full, 6 projects have received their first installment, 5 were paid the second installment,
and one is pending final installment payment. Of the $1.6 million, we have spent 87% of those
funds at this time.
Funds from the MEDC RAP 1.0 grant continue to be spent down from the original $6 million.
Approximately $2.5 million remains dedicated to the LakeView Lofts II project as well as
$167,500 for the redevelopment of the 880 First Street site.
The city applied for the third round of the MEDC RAP 3.0 grant program to reactivate the
Robert C. Lighton Memorial Park Improvements. Unfortunately, we were not chosen for this
grant.
Mr. Wills reviewed several bills in the House and Senate that may impact the city including the
State budget, transportation funding plans, and Public Safety trust fund.
Emergency Response Plan – Peter Wills
Staff is seeking adoption of a city-specific Support Emergency Operations Plan which describes
how the City of Muskegon will handle emergency situations in cooperation with the County of
Muskegon and Michigan State Emergency Management agencies. The scope of the Support EOP
is limited to severe weather events, as other areas of emergency management responsibility will
remain with the County of Muskegon’s Emergency Manager.
Officials of the City of Muskegon, in conjunction with the County of Muskegon and Michigan
State Emergency Management (EM) agencies, have developed this Support Emergency
Operations Plan that will enhance the local emergency response capability.
The Support EOP assigns responsibilities to agencies for coordinating emergency response
activities before, during, and after any type of emergency or disaster. The Support EOP does not
contain specific instructions as to how each department will respond to an emergency; those can
be found in the plan annexes.
The goal of the Support EOP is to coordinate emergency response efforts to save lives, reduce
injuries, and preserve property. The Support EOP primary goals are to assemble, mobilize and
coordinate a team of responders that can respond to any emergency, and describe response
procedures in relation to the county response procedures.
This plan, when used properly and updated, will assist local government officials to accomplish
their primary responsibilities of protecting lives and property in their community.
South Breakwater Lighthouses Update – Peter Wills
The State has allocated $800,000 towards the lighthouse renovations. The city currently has
$400,000 of those funds ready to expend on those renovations. Once the $400,000 is expended,
the State will release another $400,000.
The lighthouse needs to have lead paint removed, the base fixed, and several other repairs.
Fundraising is needed to cover the additional funds needed to repair the lighthouse.
There is an organization committed to saving the lighthouse. Currently they are in need of an
individual willing to take charge and being fundraising efforts.
Flying the Pride Flag at City Hall
Moved by Vice Mayor St. Clair, seconded by Commissioner Kochin to fly the progressive
pride flag at City Hall in the month of June.
MOTION PASSES
Pensions – Jonathan Seyferth
MERS bases our pension investment year on calendar year valuation and are approximately 18
months old.
We have $136 million in liabilities, $9.5 million value of assets, and are funded in the upper 60%
for the city’s pension.
It will take a minimum of five years of increases before we will see a drop in the cost for the
pension fund.
The city’s option is to maintain course or we could look at bonding the outstanding debt.
We could ask for a bond for $41.3 million for 10 years. We would still owe a payment to MERS
but it would be less.
Staff will gather additional information to discuss with the Commission in the future.
City Commission Support for Froebel Place – April 2025 9% LIHTC Round
Commissioners signed a letter addressed to the Michigan Housing Development Authority
stating their strong support for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for Froebel School.
The letter indicates that Froebel Place is the only LIHTC project in this round that redevelops a
long-blighted, city-owned property.
Adjourn at 9:22 pm.
______________________________
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC
City Clerk
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