View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer
PRSRT STD
P R O U D TO B E YO U R Muskegon City Hall US Postage
City Commissioners 933 Terrace St, PAID
Muskegon, MI 49440 Muskegon, MI
Ken Johnson
Mayor
Current term expires 12/31/2025 Current Resident
Email: ken.johnson@shorelinecity.com
U P DAT E Connect Muskegon
Rebecca St Clair Connecting Muskegon to 20 25 FAL L /WI N T E R N E WS L E T T E R
Vice Mayor, At-Large Commissioner
Water, Ports & Parks
mkgcity.com/
Current term expires 12/31/2025 portsparks
Email: rebecca.stclair@shorelinecity.com
Mayor’s Message mkgcity.com/
A Restored Gem of the Lakeshore For decades, Muskegon leaders and community members
meetthemayor mkgcity.com/ have not only dreamed about but also carefully planned a
Greetings, neighbor! M U S K EG O N L AK E mlrestored
Rachel Gorman better way for residents and visitors to enjoy the downtown
At-Large Commissioner Muskegon Lake waterfront-from the Mart Dock, past the
I hope you had a nice summer enjoying Muskegon Lake, a 4,149-acre lake flowing into Lake Michigan, is well-known Fisherman’s Landing area, and further along the
Current term expires 12/31/2025
the natural resources, cultural assets, thriving. Residents and visitors are enjoying boating, fishing, and shoreline. Now that long-held vision is closer than ever to
Email: rachel.gorman@shorelinecity.com
and community activities of our kayaking along the river, while tourism and property values continue becoming reality.
magnificent Muskegon. to grow—all thanks to decades of collaborative restoration efforts.
This fall, Muskegon Lake will be removed Federal, state, and local partners, supported by the Great Lakes Jay Kilgo As of this printing, a proposal is expected to go before the
City Commission in November 2025. The proposal includes
from an international list of polluted and Ward 1 Commissioner
Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Legacy Act, have made closing the Fisherman’s Landing Campground (while keeping
degraded waterways, and I invite you to Current term expires 12/31/2027
celebrate this achievement. Grassroot remarkable progress: over 190,000 cubic yards of contaminated the boat launch and public access open), creating two new
sediment were remediated, 110,000 tons of historical sawmill debris Email: jay.kilgo@shorelinecity.com
efforts started several decades ago to waterfront parks, consolidating shipping operations, and
clean up and care for the lake, leading to removed, and seven habitat restoration projects revitalized 134 acres expanding public access at the Mart Dock property. Scan
partnerships with non-profit groups and of wetlands and more than 6,000 feet of shoreline. Projects like the the QR Code for the latest updates.
city, state, and national governments
that provided significant resources and
Lower Muskegon River Habitat Restoration reconnected the river to
the lake, restored 53 acres of wetlands, and established habitats for
Willie German, Jr
Ward 2 Commissioner
technical support. fish, birds, and reptiles. Current term expires 12/31/2027
Email: willie.german@shorelinecity.com
Through such efforts, Muskegon Lake is One milestone, the Ryerson Creek sediment cleanup, removed U PCO M I N G
Elections
much healthier today. Our experience 10,600 cubic yards of polluted sediment and 2,000 tons of mill
proves what is possible when people
debris, restoring the lake’s benthic ecosystem and supporting fish
come together – across sectors, politics,
and boundaries – to protect what we and wildlife populations. Destinee Keener November 4, 2025 Elections
hold in common. Ward 3 Commissioner The ballot includes a proposed 12-year term limit mkgcity.com/
Muskegon Lake was listed as an Area of Concern in 1987 due Current term expires 12/31/2027 for City Commissioners and races for Mayor and votes
With that spirit of collaboration, I recently to historical industrial pollution, shoreline development, and Email: destinee.keener@shorelinecity.com Commissioner at Large. Early voting is Monday,
joined the Board of Directors for the degraded wetlands. Areas of Concern are sites in the Great Lakes Oct. 27 – Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 AM – 5 PM at City
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. basin with environmental impairments such as degraded fish and Hall. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 AM – 8 PM.
In this role, I work with leaders from
across the Great Lakes region to protect
wildlife populations or restricted recreational use. Thanks to these
restoration efforts, all nine “beneficial use impairments” have been
Katrina Kochin Visit muskegonvotes.com to register or find your
polling place.
and promote the waterways that connect Ward 4 Commissioner
removed, and Muskegon Lake is on track to be officially de-listed in
us, while also sharing our story – one of Current term expires 12/31/2027
fall 2025. Citizen Ballot Initiative
resilience, collaboration, and hope. Email: katrina.kochin@shorelinecity.com
Information can be found online at
Together, let us write a new chapter of This achievement demonstrates the power of collaboration. mkgcity.com/citizenballotinitiative. mkgcity.com/
progress and prosperity for our community. Muskegon Lake will no longer be an Area of Concern—it is a citizenballotinitiative
revitalized resource providing ecological, recreational, and economic Absentee Voter Notice
For the love of Muskegon, value for generations to come. Muskegon thanks everyone who made Absentee ballot applications will no longer be
this possible. CITY HALL sent automatically. To get a ballot every election,
HOURS join the Permanent Ballot List or request an
Mon – Thu: application before each election. Learn more at
7:30am – 5:30pm mkgcity.com/elections.
Closed: Fri – Sun mkgcity.com/
mkgcity.com/connect elections
Kenneth D. Johnson, (231) 724-6705
City of Muskegon Mayor
JOIN THE
SeeClickFix for The City of Muskegon FALL/WINTER 20 25
R E P O RT N O N -E M E RG E N CY I S S U ES Muskegon Police Department Seasonal Reminders
Launched in February, SeeClickFix Muskegon gives residents a simple, modern way to The Muskegon Police Department is hiring! Yard Waste Pick Up Ends
report non-emergency issues and track progress as they’re resolved. Whether on mkgcity.com/ Experienced officers with 1+ years of service may mkgcity.com/ Pickup ends Nov 30 (weather
qualify for a $10,000 bonus. MPD recently completed parkingpass
the mobile app or a desktop browser, it connects the community directly with city policeemployment permitting). Place at curb on your
its first major renovation since 1970, providing an regular trash day.
staff so problems can be logged, routed, and addressed efficiently, helping bring
more transparency to everyday city services. updated, modern workspace. Competitive pay, a 13% License Plate Based Beach Pass
401(k) contribution, residency bonus, full benefits, and CO M I N G 2026 Holiday Trash Delay
paid leave, are offered. Service delayed one day for:
There will be a new option for obtaining beach parking • Thanksgiving (Thu, Nov 27th)
How it works passes. Like many parking systems around the nation, the • Christmas (Thu, Dec 25th)
city will now have license plate reader (LPR) technology. • New Year’s Day (Thu, Jan 1st)
Download the App or submit through a Take a Photo
web browser at mkgcity.com/seeclickfix. 1 Helps to identify the problem.
This will allow for your license plate to be registered as
Submissions can be made with an New Way to Pay Bills & Taxes 24/7/365 your beach parking pass. Parking enforcement staff will
scan and validate your license plate at the beach, no Christmas Tree Pickup
account, anonymously, or as a guest, and D IVDAT K I O S K AT CI TY HAL L Set out Dec 26–Jan 30 on your trash day.
creating an account makes it easy to view
2 Mark the Location
Drop a pin or type the address.
sticker needed. Each household in the city will still receive
two free beach parking passes, either by registering your Cut sections to 4 ft or less.
past requests. A 24/7 DivDat kiosk at City Hall’s south entrance off Jefferson St allows residents to license plate online through the new LPR system or through
Pick a Category DOWNLOAD NOW
pay DTE bills, water bills, or property taxes—including winter taxes due February 14—by traditional stickers. Visitor passes (daily and seasonal) Holiday Light Recycling
What you can report 3 Select option that best fits the issue. cash, check, or card. Simply scan your bill’s barcode or search by address, account
mkgcity.com/
treasurer will also be offered through the new system, kiosks, or Recycle at the Farmers Market on mkgcity.com/
number, or name. DTE payments post immediately, and the kiosk offers English and in person. Stay tuned to the beach parking web page for Saturdays in winter. sanitation
Common examples include potholes, alley Spanish interfaces for easy use anytime. updates as the 2026 season approaches.
Describe the Issue
or gravel road repairs, blocked storm drains, 4 Add a short description.
park or playground fixes, damaged benches
or trash cans, and missed trash, yard waste,
Submit Your Request
or recycling pickup. These reports help 5 Track the status and follow along. Winter Parking Regulations | ACT IVE D ECE M B E R 1 ST – MARCH 1 ST
staff address problems quickly and keep mkgcity.com/seeclickfix Find or List Rentals
neighborhoods looking sharp. N EW H O U S I N G WE B S I T E Copies of the winter parking regulations flyer are available at City Hall.
Looking for a place to live in Muskegon? The
City of Muskegon has partnered with City
Wise Software to launch a new rental housing
mkgcity.com/
rent
General Rules Downtown Business Zone Winter Parking
SeeClickFix isn’t monitored Since February residents have already submitted over 1,100 requests helping
24/7. For emergencies like website that brings together listings from • See all parking rules at mkgcity.com/parking. • Daytime | 7:00 AM – Midnight
crews to prioritize work, spot trends, and maintain neighborhoods more local landlords in one central, easy-to-use platform.
downed power lines or wa- » Parking is allowed on both sides of the street.
effectively. Together, we’re keeping Muskegon safe, clean, and welcoming. • Follow all posted “no parking” signs.
ter main breaks, call 911.
For renters, the site makes it simple to browse regularly • If a street only allows parking on one side, due to • Overnight | Midnight – 7:00 AM
updated apartments and homes across the city, with a focus odd/even rules, residents may park on their own » Follow odd/even date rules.
on middle- and low-income housing options. The mobile- terrace (between sidewalk & street) on days that
friendly design ensures you can search anytime, anywhere. parking falls on the side there is no legal parking.
Stay Connected For landlords, the platform offers an effective way to
connect with potential tenants. Property owners of all sizes Odd & Even Date Rules
WI T H YO U R N E I G H B O RS are encouraged to list their available units to reach more • On even dates (ex: 2nd, 14th, 26th etc), park on
Muskegon renters.
Want to know what’s happening in the side with even-numbered addresses.
your neighborhood and across the This tool is part of the city’s ongoing effort to expand access • On odd dates (ex: 1st, 15th, 27th etc ), park on
city? A partnership between the city to housing and support both residents and property owners.
and the Neighborhood Associations of the side with odd-numbered addresses.
Muskegon Public Schools forms.gle/
Muskegon (NAM) gives residents quarterly updates
on topics like lead service lines, local developments,
I S S E E K I N G YO U R I N PU T O N BZou9wcrdKAPyv237 and Parks & Recreation. NAM chooses the topics, and Neighborhood Winter Parking
D I ST R I CT I M P R OVE M E N T P R OJ ECTS city staff share materials at neighborhood meetings • Daytime | 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
so everyone gets the same information. It’s a simple,
effective way to stay informed—and the perfect reason » Follow odd/even date rules.
Muskegon Public Schools is considering a ballot question to refinance two bonds approved
in 2020. This could generate $37 million for new projects at the same tax rate, as the funds to get involved. Many neighborhood associations need • Overnight | 5:00 PM – 7:00 AM
volunteers. Attend a meeting, volunteer, or contact Downtown Business
would come from new home sales. The new funding would be available within the original » Parking is allowed on both sides of the street.
your neighborhood association president to help shape Zone streets are mkgcity.com/
bond payoff timeline. MPS is asking for community input on prioritizing projects. Scan the
highlighted in green. parking
code above to share your input. your neighborhood’s future.
Sign up for City of Muskegon Emails