Mayor Robert Backon, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Megowen, Councilors Rachel Lankton, Craig Kurtz, Gernot Joachim, Mike Needham, and Daniel Salo.

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1 REGULAR MEETING HOUGHTON CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, :30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY CENTER PRESENT: Mayor Robert Backon, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Megowen, Councilors Rachel Lankton, Craig Kurtz, Gernot Joachim, Mike Needham, and Daniel Salo. Also present for the City: City Manager Scott MacInnes, Clerk-Treasurer Kurt Kuure, Director of Public Works Mark Zenner, and Police Chief John Donnelly. ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: REGULAR MEETING: APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:. Representatives of the Daily Mining Gazette, WMPL, and WCUP, WOLV, and Eric Waara. Mayor Backon called to order a Regular Meeting of the Houghton City Council and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. minutes of the August 24, 2011 Regular Meeting as written. minutes of the September 7, 2011 Special Joint Meeting as written. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: No changes were made to the Agenda. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS 1

2 COUNCIL: Richard Williams, News Director at Houghton Community Broadcasting, said he is new to the area and the job. He will be on the air under the name of Rick Allan. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Mayor Backon called to order a public hearing regarding a grant application with Rural Development to purchase a new emergency police vehicle. The City is requesting a grant of $17,000 from Rural Development. The City will match the grant with $25,500 from the Equipment Fund for a total project cost of $42,500. These prices include equipment for the car. Police Chief John Donnelly said that the car he is looking at is an all-wheel-drive vehicle and will be equipped with a police package that includes the cage, light bar, and modem for the in-car computers. Police Chief Donnelly explained what is included in a police package. This vehicle will replace the oldest Expedition in the fleet. There were no comments from the audience or Council. A motion was made by Megowen and seconded by Kurtz to close the public hearing. REPORTS: Director of Public Works Mark Zenner reported that crews have been repairing the wood dock by Bridgeview Park. They also fixed the stanchions at the docks by the Kestner Park. The next dock that needs repair is the one in front of the Medical Arts Building. The fence along the waterfront at the Kestner Park was repaired. Crews are also working on water leaks. The one on Jasper Street can wait until next spring. There are some leaks on private property that the homeowners are aware of. Crews fixed a storm sewer on the corner of Sharon Avenue and Military Drive. There is a flooding problem on Frue Street where the street needs to be raised. Crews have been using the crack and seal machine on Sharon Avenue and other areas. Crews will be fixing some catch basins on M-26 for MDOT and will be reimbursed for the work. Our crews also did some work on the Hancock side of the Bridge for MDOT and will be reimbursed 100% for this. 2

3 City Manager MacInnes reported that the City did not receive the grant for the bridge at Kestner Park. Another grant for Huron Creek was submitted through the DEQ Non-Point Source program. The City will submit a Downtown Infrastructure Grant next month to replace the ramp to the big downtown parking deck. Police Chief John Donnelly said the department answered 216 complaints, made 27 misdemeanor arrests, 5 felony arrests, issued 33 civil infractions, and issued 10 city tickets. Family Fun Day was a success. The department received a lot of help from fraternities and some downtown business owners. They are preparing for Parade of Nations which will be held on Saturday. Jack Swift and his crew will assist the department. Chief Donnelly said his department will receive grants again to fund extra patrols for drunk driving and MIP s. These grants have been very helpful. The new guns should be in by the end of the month. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen reported that Nick Roberts and Polly Salmi from the department did a great job with Family Fun Day. City Manager MacInnes reported that nine city employees will attend a customer service seminar in Marquette next month through the NMU Public Service Academy. The cost to attend these seminars is $15 per person. Changes were made to the downtown banners to increase the size of the lettering. As soon as we are sure they are right, they will be ordered and installed. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen reported that the downtown concerts were a success this year on the Wells Fargo Parking Deck. They will be in the same location next year. Mr. Megowen said many sororities, fraternities, and downtown business owners are offering to help with downtown events now. City Manager MacInnes said that the City will mail out Quality of Life surveys on Monday, September 19, 2011 to every residence in the City. This survey is being done as part of the Master Plan. An inventory along with the condition of our infrastructure has already been completed. Dr. Jun Min of the Michigan Tech Business Department is assisting with the survey. It should take about minutes to fill out. As an incentive, the city is offering survey respondents a chance to win one of 100 gift certificates in the amount of $25 in Chamber Bucks. The goal of the survey is to find out from citizens what is important to them and what direction they would like to city to take in the future. The City would like the surveys returned by October 15 th. The next phase of the Master Plan is to analyze the results of the surveys and then conduct neighborhood meetings. Under the Safe Routes to School program, the City is looking at four major intersections that children have to cross to get to school: Sharon Avenue and 3

4 Military Road; Sharon Avenue and Dodge Street; Sharon Avenue and Portage Street; and Jacker Avenue and Bridge Street. There will be some traffic counters out at these intersections soon to measure traffic. The City will then gather some engineering drawings with different ideas for these intersections. MDOT is conducting traffic counts of their major streets throughout town. The results will be available in about six weeks. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Director of Public Works Mark Zenner presented the Fall 2011 Paving Schedule. He also showed the Council the Paving Condition Ratings Map. The streets that are proposed to be paved are rated as 2 s and 3 s which is at the lowest level. There is no work scheduled this year for streets that will be part of the water/sewer project next year as they will be paved as part of that project. A motion was made by Megowen and seconded by Joachim to complete the paving projects as presented. Item 9 will be paid out of the TIFA Fund and the rest of the paving will come from Local Street. Major Street will make a contribution of up to $50,000 to the Local Street Fund to help with the cost of the paving. Yes: Megowen, Joachim, Salo, Lankton, Backon, Kurtz, Needham Motion carried City Manager MacInnes said the money is available because we have had two mild winters. NEW BUSINESS: Accounts Payable for August 25 September 14, 2011 as presented. Yes: Lankton, Needham, Kurtz, Megowen, Backon, Joachim, Salo Eric Waara from U.P. Engineering explained to the Council that Rural Development requires loan recipients that supply or purchase water/sewer from other municipalities have agreements in effect for the entire length of the loan. The City needs to extend the agreements with Portage Township for water and the Portage Lake Water and Sewage Authority for sewer service. 4

5 A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to approve the Amendment to Portage Township Water Agreement as presented. Yes: Lankton, Joachim, Salo, Backon, Megowen, Kurtz, Needham Amendment to the Portage Lake Water and Sewage Authority Agreement as presented. Yes: Lankton, Needham, Kurtz, Megowen, Backon, Joachim, Salo Proposed Ordinance was introduced in writing. The Planning Commission approved this ordinance and forwarded it onto the Council. This ordinance will limit the height of any towers erected, especially wind turbines. A Public Hearing will be set for Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. A Public Hearing of the Rental Board will be scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. for a proposed rental at 113 W. Houghton Avenue. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Needham to adopt Resolution This resolution will ask the MEDC to name the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance as the Collaborative Development Council Lead Entity for the UP. Yes: Lankton, Needham, Kurtz, Megowen, Backon, Joachim, Salo Director of Public Works Mark Zenner reported that the City crossed property owned by Joseph Weingarten with his permission to bring sewer to another property. Mr. Weingarten is now building a home on this piece of property. The sewer line was surveyed and Mr. Weingarten will now give the City an 5

6 easement for the line in lieu of the sewer hook-up fee for his new home which will be at the intersection of Tram Street and Fifth Avenue. A motion was made by Joachim and seconded by Kurtz to approve the Easement Grant as presented. Yes: Joachim, Kurtz, Needham, Megowen, Backon, Lankton, Salo Councilor Lankton thanked Lieutenant Nick Roberts for the wonderful job he did with Family Fun Day. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen thanked Director of Public Works Mark Zenner for the excellent job on the docks. The crew also did a great job helping out at the sewage treatment plant. Councilor Mike Needham asked everyone to attend the Parade of Nations and Multicultural Festival on Saturday. Director of Public Works Mark Zenner said he installed an LED light on the south side of College Avenue across from Lake Street to test the light in preparation of the LED Lighting Grant. Mayor Backon said that the Council will return to the winter dress code at the next meeting. A motion to adjourn was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim. Motion carried Adjourned 6:39 p.m. Kurt Kuure, Clerk 6