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CITY OF MUSKEGON
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
MEETING
December 1, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
☐ CALL TO ORDER:
☐ ROLL CALL:
☐ APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Approval of Minutes Manager's Office
☐ OLD BUSINESS:
☐ NEW BUSINESS:
A. Quarterly Legislative Report Manager's Office
B. Mobile Food Vending Manager's Office
C. Support of Unhoused Manager's Office
D. Early Voting City Clerk
E. 2026 Meeting Calendar Manager's Office
F. Resolutions and Proclamations Manager's Office
☐ ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
☐ PUBLIC COMMENT:
☐ ADJOURNMENT:
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT POLICY FOR ACCESS TO OPEN MEETINGS OF THE CITY OF
MUSKEGON AND ANY OF ITS COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
To give comment on a live-streamed meeting the city will provide a call-in telephone
number to the public to be able to call and give comment. For a public meeting that is
not live-streamed, and which a citizen would like to watch and give comment, they
must contact the City Clerk’s Office with at least a two-business day notice. The
participant will then receive a zoom link which will allow them to watch live and give
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comment. Contact information is below. For more details, please visit:
www.shorelinecity.com
The City of Muskegon will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such
as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being
considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities who want to attend the
meeting with twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to the City of Muskegon. Individuals with
disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Muskegon by
writing or by calling the following:
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC. City Clerk. 933 Terrace St. Muskegon, MI 49440. (231)724-6705.
clerk@shorelinecity.com
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Approval of Minutes
Submitted by: Kimberly Young, Administrative Department: Manager's Office
Assistant to the City Manager
Brief Summary:
To approve the minutes of the August 19, 2025, Legislative Policy Committee Meeting.
Detailed Summary & Background:
N/A
Goal/Action Item:
Administrative Action
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Recommended Motion:
To approve the minutes.
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads
Communication
Legal Review
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CITY OF MUSKEGON
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
Minutes
Wednesday, August 19, 2025
5:30 pm
Present: Commissioners St. Clair, Johnson, Gorman, Kilgo, Keener, and Kochin.
Absent: Commissioner German.
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Gorman moved, Commissioner Kilgo seconded, to approve the amended
minutes of May 28, 2025.
MOTION CARRIED.
Commission attendance Policy - Removed
Rental Inspection Ordinance Review – Vice Mayor St. Clair
Vice Mayor St. Clair questioned the recent occurrence of bed bugs at Hartford Terrace and the
barriers placed on the organization to receive their rental certificate based on her understanding
that staff refused to enter.
Hartford Terrace was also charged a lockout fee that was negotiated.
The Inspection Department indicated inspections were delayed six months while they were
taking care of the bed bugs and their best practices are not necessarily what the ordinance
reflects.
Vice Mayor St. Clair asked that the ordinance be changed to match what best practice is.
Policy Audit Report – Manager’s Office
Throughout the 2024/25 fiscal year, the MKG Core Team worked with MGT to audit our
policies relative to universal access and expanding opportunity. The results of that audit were
presented by Donald Nunez, the MKG Core Team Chair.
MGT has identified three areas of focus that include building greater transparency and
impartiality, embedded connections to community, and develop a welcoming workforce.
The full analysis was provided in the packet.
ARPA/Legislative Updates – Manager’s Office
Pete Wills provided the latest updates on ARPA Funds as well as State and Federal Legislative
updates that were provided in the packet.
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Water Affordability Study Update – Public Works
Staff presented an update on the study and program, seeking feedback on the level of funding, if
any, to be proposed.
A power point was provided of the Water Affordability Program.
Downtown Noise Ordinance – Commissioner Kilgo
Commissioner Kilgo indicated several businesses had approached him asking they be allowed to
conduct business until 2:00 am.
The Commission discussed the topic and asked staff to place this in front of the Downtown
Development Authority for their thoughts and opinions.
Mayor Johnson left at 7:01 pm
Building Inspection – RFP – Manager’s Office
The current contract for inspection services with SafeBuilt expires December 31, 2025. City staff
intend to begin the process of releasing an RFP around Labor Day.
Staff indicated that SafeBuilt will be applying. City Manager Seyferth indicated there is no
flexibility to obtain an inspection department from another state. We are the only state that
operates this way by law.
Public Participation
Public participation was received.
Adjourn at 7:24 pm.
______________________________
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC
City Clerk
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Quarterly Legislative Report
Submitted by: Peter Wills, Director of Department: Manager's Office
Governmental Relations
Brief Summary:
Quarterly Legislative Report
Detailed Summary & Background:
Updates and/or discussion of various state and federal policy and grant programs applicable to the
City of Muskegon.
Goal/Action Item:
2027 Goal 1: Destination Community & Quality of Life
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
NA
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
NA Yes No N/A X
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
NA Yes No N/A X
Recommended Motion:
Discussion only.
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division NA
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads X
Communication
Legal Review
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Legislative Report, December 2025
Bill # Detail Status
HB 4001 Tipped wage Senate Reg Affairs since 2/4/25
HB 4049-50 Allows rearing of hen chickens in residential areas. Provides generally accepted agricultural and management House Committee on
practices for rearing egg-laying hens in residential areas under certain conditions. The bills appears to restrict Agriculture since 2/4/25
our ordinance to only single-family properties, parcels of at least 1/4 in size, and hens not to exceed (5).
HB 4081 Amends the Land Division Act to authorize counties/municipalities to increase number of parcels resulting from Senate Local Gov
division for the first 10 acres of a parent parcel from four to ten.
HB 4170 Income Tax cut to 4.05% Senate floor since 8/13/25
HB 4260-61 Public Safety Trust Fund Senate Approps since 4/26/25
HB 4311-12 Revenue Sharing Trust House Gov Ops since 4/15/25
HB 4410 Modifies definition of abandoned property to allow a local unit to secure the property to prevent trespass. House Gov Ops since 5/1/25
SB 19-22 Tenant Empowerment Package for renters / HOUSE HAS A PACKAGE Senate floor since 6/17/25
HB 4503/04 Modifies state historic preservation tax credit program House Comm on Economic
Competitiveness since 5/21/25
HB 4539/40 Modifies housing and community development fund; same as SB 239 from last session House Comm on Economic
Competitiveness since 6/4/25
HB 5073 Raises the cap of available funds in the Transformational Brownfield Program – income and property taxes may House Comm on Economic
be captured up to 20-30 years after the project is completed. Current cap is $1.8B on the state taxes that can be Competitiveness since 9/29/25
captured. Since 2017 and 10 funded projects there is $30M available. The bill would increase post-construction
tax capture limit to $2.4B and extend it to 12/31/27.
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HB 5138-40 Creates an lodging accommodations tax that includes STRs and allocates a portion of revenue back to local House Comm on Economic
units. Requires online lodging platforms to collect and remit state use tax on accommodation at time of Competitiveness since
payment. Authorizes local units to levy up to a 3% accommodations tax on all lodging types including STRs. 10/28/25
SB 248-256 Creates a low-income water affordability program within DHHS to ensure eligible customers do not pay more Senate floor since 11/5/25
than 30% of their household income on a water bill.
SB 319 Reintroduction of minimum staffing legislation; making minimum staffing levels for PA 312 employees (police House Gov Operations since
and fire) a mandatory topic of collective bargaining. 6/26/25
SB 278 Modifies the housing and community development fund program. MSHDA administers the program for the Senate Housing & Human
purpose of making financing available to meet the housing needs of low-income and to finance projects in a Services since 5/1/25
downtown area or adjacent neighborhood in the State. The bill would expand the Program's scope by making its
financing available to middle-income households (not more than 120% AMI) and deleting the requirement that
financed projects be in a downtown area or adjacent neighborhood.
SB 484/485 Provides for the exemption of certain tax delinquent property sold or otherwise conveyed by a foreclosing Senate Housing & Human
governmental unit and Provides for the application of tax reverted property specific tax to certain tax Services since 7/17/25
delinquent property sold or otherwise conveyed by a foreclosing governmental unit.
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LOCAL
ARPA Community Grants, as of 4/1/25
- 25 - total approved grants ($1.6M)
- 20 - projects paid the entirety of their grant. In-progress projects include Every Woman’s Place, MI
Crossroads Council-Boy Scouts, Sheldon Park NA, Mediation & Restorative Services, and HBCU Club of
Muskegon.
- As of 10/1/25 - $1,510,000 of the total $1.6M
Climate Action
- Staff met with Grants Management contractor, Wade Trim Inc, to review potential state/federal grant
opportunities. Aside from identifying funds for Climate Action projects, other targeted project include
funding for police body camera/tasers and roof repairs at the Central Fire Station.
- Staff met with Johnson Controls Inc to develop next steps as part of the Energy Performance Contract for
various Public Works assets.
- Staff meets quarterly to review the four focus areas of the municipal Climate Action Plan (CAP).
- Approximately $16,000 remains on an ($75K) EGLE Community Energy Management (CEM) grant to apply
toward further buildout of EV charging stations in the downtown and at the beach. These grant funds
were used to have the CAP drafted.
MEDC RAP 1.0 grant ($6M)
- Funds remaining from the MEDC Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) 1.0 grant continue to be spent
down from the original $6M award. Approximately $2.5M remains dedicated to the LakeView Lofts II.
$167,500 was dedicated for the redevelopment of the city-owned 880 First Street site; these funds have
since been reimbursed to the City.
FEMA – Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)
- Earlier this year, the City was approved for more than $700,000 in funding to increase the number of
trained fire personnel.
STATE
Priorities of the Urban Core Mayors for 2026 include –
- Revenue Sharing Trust Fund: Special focus will remain on establishing a more permanent funding
stream for local units of government in future state budgets.
- Housing: Earlier this year, the MML created the MI Home Program to support investment in
accelerating housing construction and rehabilitation. Also, zoning preemption efforts may
continue to exist which would erode local control.
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- Property Tax Reform: The House GOP could make this a priority in 2026. Comments around this
issue could include potential reforms to Proposal A or Michigan’s “pop-up” tax which is the
increase in property taxes that occurs when property is sold or transferred.
- The UCM also discussed several other items including homelessness; adding rental units and not
minimizing its importance as an option for residents; public transit; and increasing revenue from
the real estate transfer tax for housing.
- McKinney-Vento Continuum of Care (CoC) programming was also mentioned as an area to
monitor. These funds focus on the annual competition cycle for the federal HUD CoC Program,
which provides grants to communities to end homelessness. For schools, 2025 is the final year of
the 2022-2025 grant cycle for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's education
program, which supports local educational agencies in their work with students in temporary
housing.
FY26 State Issues of Note
FY26 Revenue Sharing:
Projections for the City of Muskegon may be accessed here - https://treas-
secure.state.mi.us/apps/findrevshareinfo2.asp?countyNumber=61&cmdSubmit=Go
- Constitutional Revenue Sharing Payments
o Click here to see the House Fiscal Agency projections.
- Statutory Revenue Sharing payments were held harmless
- Public Safety Revenue Sharing
o $70M with $20M of that being one-time. Funding was approved for three fiscal years.
o Click here for the estimated distribution.
o First payments are expected in early 2026.
Road Funding:
- On Oct. 7, 2025, the Legislature passed, and Gov. Whitmer signed into law, seven bills in the
Transportation Funding Package. This package will take effect during FY26 and continue through
FY30 and beyond. This funding is broken down into several parts.
- These four bills from the Transportation Funding Package have an impact on local road agencies:
o House Bill 4183 (PA 20 of 2025) increases the motor fuel tax rate from 31 cents per gallon
to at least 51 cents per gallon beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
o House Bill 4951 (PA 23 of 2025) imposes excise taxes on certain sales or transfers of
marijuana tax revenue (estimated at $420 million) and deposits the revenue into the
Neighborhood Roads Fund (NRF) created in Senate Bill 578.
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o House Bill 4961 (PA 24 of 2025) repeals the $600M in income tax revenue currently
redirected to the MI Transportation Fund (MTF), as well as generate additional revenue
from the corporate income tax (estimated at $680 million), to the Neighborhood Road
Fund (NRF) created in Senate Bill 578.
o Senate Bill 578 (PA 16 of 2025) creates the NRF and the Infrastructure Projects Authority
Fund and prescribes the distribution of money from each fund.
City of Muskegon – additional new road funding estimates
- FY26 Fuel Tax Increase (2/3 FY) - $1,162,110.01
- FY26 Neighborhood Road Funds - $2,082,992.55
- FY26 Loss of Income Tax – ($1,131,459.41)
- FY26 Total - $2,113,643.15
- FY27 Fuel Tax Increase - $1,829,569.85
- FY Neighborhood Road Funds – $2,567,409.41
- FY27 Loss of Income Tax – ($1,131,459.41)
- FY27 Total - $3,265,519.85
City of Muskegon – investment needed
- $360M, based on lane miles (March 2025)
- PASER rating mileage summary
o Good – 43.177 lane miles are in Good condition
o Fair – 143.426 lane miles are in Fair condition
▪ Total rehab or mill/fill est - $1,320,000 per lane mile or $332,484,240
o Poor – 251.882 lane miles are in Poor
▪ Total reconstruction est - $200,000 per lane mile or $28,685,200
- FY24 Michigan Transportation Fund actual distribution to the City - $6.36M annually
City Revenue Sharing
Due to gas tax shifts in the transportation plan, Constitutional Revenue Sharing payments decreased by
$63.6M (6%) statewide. CTV statutory sharing maintains current year formula and funding. The
legislature did not backfill the loss to constitutional revenue sharing but did add new public safety and
road funding dollars.
City of Muskegon –
o FY25 Constitutional payment - $3,918,829
o FY26 Constitutional payment - $3,737,155
o Reduction of $181,674
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Public Safety Revenue Sharing
City of Muskegon –
o $277,763 (estimate per year)
o Funds must be used only for operational and capital expenditures that serve the purposes
of public safety.
o Not less than 75% must be used to fund, either directly or indirectly a law enforcement
agency or law enforcement officers.
o Not more than 25% must be used to fund other non-law-enforcement-related public
safety purposes, which include, but are not limited to: public safety initiatives to improve
recruitment or retention efforts; training programs; equipment purchases; programs
designed to reduce identified risks to public safety; crime diversion programs; operational
emergency medical or firefighter services; or capital improvements to public safety
buildings or structures. All local public safety initiative expenses must be related to public
safety and designed to reduce identified risks to public safety and cannot include
unproven intervention solutions to community violence.
Here are two documents that include community numbers for constitutional revenue sharing, statutory
revenue sharing, public safety resources.
- Initial Estimates of FY 2025-26 Revenue Sharing Payments – Cities, Villages, and Townships
- Initial Estimates of FY 2025-26 Public Safety Revenue Sharing Grants – Cities, Villages, and
Townships
To estimate the city’s net impact on revenue sharing, add our new public safety revenue sharing dollars
to the change in our constitutional payment.
More City-specific budget highlights:
Muskegon County Housing Redevelopment - $3M for the continued redevelopment of former S-W.
A request for beach safety beacons at Pere Marquette Park Beach was not funded.
MI Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Fair Food Network – Double Up Food Bucks
o Retained at $5.0 million GF/GP but shifts $1M from ongoing to one-time. Funds provide a
supplemental benefit to SNAP recipients for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.
EGLE
- Lead Service Line Replacement
o Executive recommended $80.0 million GF/GP for water infrastructure
projects, $50.0 million of which would be designated as one-time and
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earmarked for lead service line replacement.
o Conference reduced ongoing funding for water infrastructure projects by
$4.0 million GF/GP and provides $17.4 million GF/GP in one-time
funding for a net change of $13.4 million GF/GP.
- Water State Revolving Funds
o Grants and loans to local government for water infrastructure projects.
o $34M of one-time funding.
- Sewer and Water Infrastructure Upgrade Grants
o Conference did not appropriate $10M for grants to counties or municipalities to upgrade
aging sewer and water infrastructure.
Secretary of State
- Help America Vote Act – election equipment upgrades, security initiatives, election operation
enhancements, $9.6M, completion date of 9/30/30; Sec 113
o Election equipment reserve fund for local units - $5M, Sec 890
o Election administration support fund - $20.2M, Sec 940
MDHHS
- Water Affordability
o Conference continues $5M GF/GP on a one-time basis to support water affordability
efforts, including paying water arrearages, shut off notices, and subsidizing other water
affordability programs.
- Community Violence Intervention Grants – one-time
o Conference includes $1.8M GF/GP to support community-based violence prevention
programming.
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Grants, Sec 466
o Allocates $5.3 million to support program expansion.
- Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP)
o Funding to maintain current city social worker embedded with Public Safety personnel.
Labor and Economic Development
- First Responder Presumed Coverage Claims
o Conference includes an additional $2.5M to adequately cover claims costs for wage loss
and medical care expenses paid to eligible first responders. Legislation enacted in 2021,
expanded both the population of first responders who are eligible to make claims through
the program and the types of cancer that qualify for reimbursement.
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- Community Development Financial Institutions
o Conference includes $5M for the creation of a MI CDFI Fund to provide grants to eligible
CDFIs, which are mission-driven financial institutions that specialize in increasing access
to financial services in underserved and low-income areas.
- Business Attraction and Community Revitalization Program Allocation – MEDC
o Conference revises how the program provides funding allocations from the Business
Attraction and Community Revitalization appropriation:
▪ Not less than 25% to provide grant or loan funding for business support services to
small and medium-sized businesses
▪ Not less than 19% for grants to small business support hubs and community
incubators
▪ Not less than 30% for cash and loan assistance to small businesses through the
Business Development Program.
▪ Not less than 2% to provide CDFI supplemental support.
▪ Not more than 4% for program administration.
▪ Remainder of the funds may be used to support the CRP and up to 7% may be
used to provide additional support to the Business Development Program.
LARA
- Bureau of Fire Services - $1M for smoke detectors
- Cannabis Regulatory Agency – Social Equity Program - $1M
- Recreational Marihuana Grants to Locals - Conference included $9.2M in Marihuana Regulation
Fund revenue for grant payments to municipalities and counties.
MSP
- Justice Training Grants - $10M
MDOT
- Maritime and Port Fund, Sec 721 – one-time $5.3M
- Non-motorized trails, Sec 723 - $5.3M
FEDERAL
EGLE - EECBG –
- We remain in contact with the U.S. Department of Energy on our $76,500 Energy Efficiency
Community Block grant reimbursement request.
- The city was approved for funding and the request for reimbursement (two EV utility vehicles)
was submitted in late December.
U.S. Senator Slotkin – Congressional Directed Spending request – April 2025 – not funded
- U.S. Sen. Slotkin’s office solicit project proposals as part of their Congressional Directed Spending
process.
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- Earlier this year, we submitted a request to help fund much need equipment for our law
enforcement personnel.
- The request was for $900,000 to procure (80) upgraded Motorola/WatchGuard Body Worn
Cameras, (33) upgraded Taser devices, and (25) In-Car Video Systems for our marked police
vehicles.
- The equipment will provide the community with increased transparency while officers are on
shift, modernize and offer quality communications equipment, and provide alternative subject
control methods that would protect the public and our first responders.
- To date, we have not received confirmation from the Senator’s office whether it will be a project
she advances for recommended funding.
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Mobile Food Vending
Submitted by: Jonathan Seyferth, City Manager Department: Manager's Office
Brief Summary:
The City's current mobile food vending regulations does not allow mobile food vendors to operate
within 1,000 feet of any city-approved special event, farmer's market during market hours, or leased
park unless they have the permission of the event sponsor or lessee. As businesses evolve within the
City, we are seeing a clash between brick and motor businesses with moble food vending
components and events. Should we look at updating this regulation?
Detailed Summary & Background:
Following this memo is Section 50, Article VIII of the City Ordinances, which regulates Mobile Food
Vending. The section we're specifically talking about is Sec. 50-304 (j). This section notes that a vendor
shall not operate within 1,000 feet of any approved events, etc...
This was put into place because there were concerns that events might not make money if, say, a
food vendor were to set up a block outside the event.
In the last year, The Corner began operations at Muskegon and Third Street. Part of their regular
operations is having food trucks on site behind their building (between The Corner and Torrent
House). Given the current ordinance, they could only have food trucks when:
1. there is no event or
2. If an event (most likely in Hackley Park) were to permit them to do so.
The Corner has asked us to consider a conversation about amending the ordinance that might allow
them to operate food trucks during events. This could be accomplished by treating businesses with
active food vending operations as we do brick-and-mortar businesses.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The mobile food vending ordinance was put into place when events were really the only thing
going on downtown.
- Downtown has changed significantly, and food truck culture has also changed.
- Many events make money by either getting a portion of their food vendors' sales or by food vendors
paying to be a part of the event.
- The exclusion zone does not impact brick-and-mortar businesses — they can set up on the sidewalks
in front of their businesses as long as they are selling the same products they do year-round.
Following the ordinance is a map with a 1,000-foot radius around it. This shows the exclusion zone that
impacts The Corner specifically.
Goal/Action Item:
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2027 Goal 1: Destination Community & Quality of Life
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
n/a Yes No N/A
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
n/a Yes No N/A
Recommended Motion:
Discussion Only
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads
Communication
Legal Review
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1,000-foot exclusion zone around The Corner as noted in the current ordinance – for illustrative purposes only
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1,000-foot exclusion zone for Hackley Park. It extends from 1st to 6th Streets and Shoreline Drive to Monroe Ave.
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Support of Unhoused
Submitted by: Kimberly Young, Administrative Department: Manager's Office
Assistant to the City Manager
Brief Summary:
Discussion regarding support of unhoused.
Detailed Summary & Background:
Goal/Action Item:
2027 Goal 1: Destination Community & Quality of Life
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Recommended Motion:
Discussion Only
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads
Communication
Legal Review
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Early Voting
Submitted by: Ann Meisch, City Clerk Department: City Clerk
Brief Summary:
Staff has conducted early voting for all Elections for the past two years and wants to share results and
plans for the future.
Detailed Summary & Background:
Goal/Action Item:
2027 Goal 1: Destination Community & Quality of Life
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
Yes No N/A
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
Yes No N/A
Recommended Motion:
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads
Communication
Legal Review
Page 24 of 32
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: 2026 Meeting Calendar
Submitted by: Kimberly Young, Administrative Department: Manager's Office
Assistant to the City Manager
Brief Summary:
To set meeting dates for the Legislative Policy Committee for 2026.
Detailed Summary & Background:
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
Goal/Action Item:
Administrative Action
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Recommended Motion:
To set the meeting schedule as presented.
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
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Other Division Heads
Communication
Legal Review
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Agenda Item Review Form
Muskegon Legislative Policy Committee
Commission Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Title: Resolutions and Proclamations
Submitted by: Kimberly Young, Administrative Department: Manager's Office
Assistant to the City Manager
Brief Summary:
Discuss the difference between a proclamation and a resolution. Discuss which types of
proclamations and resolutions are suitable for consideration.
Detailed Summary & Background:
Discussion on the appropriate use of proclamations and resolutions, including when a resolution is
suitable for City Commission consideration. This should include evaluating whether certain resolutions,
particularly those expressing positions on broader issues, fall within the Commission’s role and
relevance to city operations.
Goal/Action Item:
Administrative Action
Is this a repeat item?:
Explain what change has been made to justify bringing it back to Commission:
Amount Requested: Budgeted Item:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Fund(s) or Account(s): Budget Amendment Needed:
N/A Yes No N/A x
Recommended Motion:
Discussion Only
Approvals: Name the Policy/Ordinance Followed:
Immediate Division
Head
Information
Technology
Other Division Heads
Communication
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Legal Review
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Definition of a Proclamation
A proclamation is a formal, ceremonial document issued by a Mayor or City Commission to
recognize, honor, or bring awareness to a person, group, cause, or event.
It does not create law, establish policy, or direct staff action. Instead, it highlights
achievements, milestones, or community contributions.
Common Uses
• Recognizing an individual for outstanding service
• Celebrating an organization’s anniversary
• Declaring awareness days, weeks, or months (e.g., “Pride Month,” “Public Works
Week”)
• Honoring retirements or major accomplishments
Definition of a Resolution
A resolution is a formal action taken by a City Commission to express the body’s position, make
decisions, authorize actions, or establish policy.
Resolutions are typically recorded in official minutes and carry legal or administrative weight,
though they are usually less formal and less permanent than ordinances.
Common Uses
• Approving contracts, budgets, or grant applications
• Adopting policies or guidelines
• Establishing fees or authorizing purchases
• Supporting or opposing legislation
• Appointing board or committee members
Key Differences
Proclamation Resolution
Ceremonial; symbolic Formal action of the governing body
Creates policy, authorizes action, or states a
Honors people, events, causes
position
Usually issued by the Mayor or Commission Must be approved by a vote of the governing
Chair body
Not legally binding May carry legal or administrative authority
Entered into the official record as governmental
Often read aloud at meetings or events
action
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When a Proclamation Is Appropriate
• Retirement recognition for a long-serving community member
• Community celebration such as “Small Business Saturday.”
• Awareness campaigns like “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
• Honoring an organization’s milestone, such as “100th Anniversary of the Muskegon
Rotary Club.”
When a Resolution Is Appropriate
• Approving a contract with a construction firm for a city project.
• Supporting a grant application for infrastructure funding.
• Adopting a new city policy, such as a records retention schedule.
• Authorizing budget adjustments or fund transfers.
• Establishing or modifying fees, such as cemetery or rental fees.
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