REGULAR MEETING HOUGHTON CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2011 5:30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY CENTER PRESENT: Mayor Robert Backon, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Megowen, Councilors Rachel Lankton, Craig Kurtz, Gernot Joachim, and Mike Needham. Also present for the City: City Manager Scott MacInnes, Clerk-Treasurer Kurt Kuure, Director of Public Works Mark Zenner, Police Chief John Donnelly. ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: REGULAR MEETING: APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:. Representatives of the Daily Mining Gazette, WMPL, and WCUP, Dan Libeau, and Jason Meneguzzo. Mayor Backon called to order a Regular Meeting of the Houghton City Council and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to approve the minutes of the June 22, 2011 Regular Meeting as written. Yes: All REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS COUNCIL: Mayor Backon moved New Business Item C to before Reports. No one addressed the Council. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Mayor Backon called to order a Public Hearing regarding proposed Ordinance 2011-230 to amend Section 34-33 to add the use of outdoor wood burners as a nuisance. 1
City Manager MacInnes explained that this proposed ordinance will prohibit the use of outdoor wood stoves to heat houses within the city limits. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Megowen to close the Public Hearing. Yes: All NEW BUSINESS: The Council reviewed a drawing regarding a request to put an outdoor car lot on M-26 where the General Store used to be. This property is zoned B-3 which states that the outdoor sale of automobiles is subject to review and recommendation of the Planning Commission to the City Council for approval. The car lot must comply with the following three items: Ingress and egress to the outdoor sales area shall be at least 30 feet from a street intersection. No major repair or major refinishing shall be done except in an enclosed building Dust and surface water runoff shall be controlled. This car lot will comply with these items. The Planning Commission recommended approval. Jason Meneguzzo said he will locate on this site temporarily. The building is for sale, and when it sells he will discontinue using it. A motion was made by Needham and seconded by Joachim to approve a temporary outdoor car lot on M-26. If Mr. Meneguzzo purchases the property and makes any changes to the building he will have to go through a site plan review with the Planning Commission. Yes: Needham, Joachim, Lankton, Backon, Megowen, Kurtz REPORTS: Director of Public Works Mark Zenner reported that crews installed the new small garbage cans on Shelden Avenue. These cans work better than larger cans as people put their household garbage in the bigger cans. A storm line was installed up to the Surplus Outlet building to separate the roof drain which will prevent flooding. 2
The holes on Shelden Avenue have been patched and the bricks put down again. MDOT is fixing the sidewalks at the intersections on Montezuma Avenue to make them ADA compliant. Mark Zenner explained an issue with the Wal-Mart building and their fire suppression unit which is presently being fed by Portage Township. This may be changed to the City of Houghton water system. There was a culvert on Sharon Avenue that failed. This culvert will either be replaced or crushed and then this area will be paved when the Sharon Avenue trail is paved. Mr. Zenner explained that the City can now put the culvert in at Nara Park. The gravel will stay so that crews can get back to the area if they have to in the future. A few other drainage issues were discussed. Police Chief John Donnelly said the department made 50 misdemeanor arrests, 1 felony arrest, issued 49 civil infraction tickets, 1 city ticket, and answered 169 complaints. The OWI patrols and bike patrols have been out. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen reported that the Downtown concerts have been well attended. The Downtown Business Association is looking at purchasing banners to be used year-round downtown. Some of them will be changed quarterly. The banners will be decorative as well as informative. A local artist received a grant to build six chess tables that will be put in front of some businesses and brought in at night. City Manager MacInnes scheduled a joint council meeting with Hancock on Wednesday, September 7, 2011. He will inform the council of the time and place at a later date. City Manager MacInnes met with the TIFA and DDA Board last week. He explained to the Council a proposal he has in the TIFA Fund to help generate income for the General Fund to offset some of the revenue sharing decreases. About one-third of the police department s calls are from the TIFA District. Mr. MacInnes would like to return to 100% tax capture in the TIFA District and amend the TIFA Plan to add a contracted service in the TIFA Fund to pay the General Fund about $120,000 for public safety services. City Manager MacInnes explained the future projects he has planned for the TIFA District including a lot of work under the Safe Routes to School project to implement some of the ideas the Safe Routes to School group proposed. City Manager MacInnes explained the future projects he has planned for the DDA District. Most of the work will be done under Public Infrastructure Maintenance. 3
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS:. Councilor Lankton asked about an invoice under the Helman Transportation Building. This expenditure was to fix the wall along the public walkway between Shelden Avenue and Lakeshore Drive. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Megowen to pay the Accounts Payable for June 23, 2011 to July 13, 2011 as presented. Yes: Lankton, Megowen, Needham, Kurtz, Backon, Joachim There are four candidates to fill the open position on the Houghton City Council: Daniel Liebau, Dan Salo, Mike Butvilas, and Mike Gloss. Dan Liebau said he would like to be involved in the community. His job sometimes requires him to be out of the area for several weeks at a time. The Council voted by secret ballot. It was explained that a candidate must have at least four votes to be elected. After the first vote the two highest vote recipients were Dan Salo and Mike Gloss with neither receiving four votes. Another round of voting was held with just those two candidates. Dan Salo received four votes and was elected to the City Council to fill the unexpired term until the next election which will be held on November 6, 2012. A motion was made by Joachim and seconded by Lankton to adopt Ordinance 2011-230. City Manager MacInnes said he brought this ordinance change because he is concerned about people using these outdoor wood burners in neighborhoods which may cause neighbors to complain about the smoke and smell. Yes: Joachim, Lankton, Backon, Megowen, Kurtz, Needham A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Megowen to adopt Resolution 2011-1356. This resolution is needed to authorize the sale of bonds to refund a 4
portion of the 1994 bond issue to bring the yearly payments down to approximately $100,000 per year. Yes: Lankton, Megowen, Needham, Kurtz, Backon, Joachim The Rental Housing Board will hold a public hearing regarding an application for a rental license at 705 E. Montezuma Avenue on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to authorize the City Manager to sell the trolley for $1,500 or whatever he can get. Yes: Lankton, Joachim, Backon, Megowen, Kurtz, Needham Motion carried Proposed Ordinance 2011-234 was introduced. This ordinance will increase the water hook-up fee as well as the turn on and turn off fees and the annual hydrant hook-up charge. Public Works Director Mark Zenner reported that the increases are necessary because of increased costs to provide these services. The water hook-up is more expensive than the sewer hook-up because the cost of copper pipe has increased significantly. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. Councilor Needham said visitors who had not been in the area for many years complimented him on how nice the city looks. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen invited everyone to the concert on Thursday night. It starts at 6:00 p.m. Councilor Lankton informed the Council about the Carnegie Museum fundraiser A Night at the Museum which will be held on August 6 th. Tickets are $25 each. There will be music, a fashion show, food, and local beer and wine tasting. Director of Public Works Mark Zenner announced that the City Picnic will be held on Friday from noon to 8:00 p.m. He will have an equipment purchase request at the next meeting. 5
A motion to adjourn was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim. Yes: All Motion carried Adjourned 6:28 p.m. Kurt Kuure, Clerk 6