City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

January 10, 2011

1. Regular meeting called to order at 7:00 PM.

2. Present at roll call were: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Staff and City Appointees present were: Mansfield, Emery, Sarver, Caris, Girrbach, Hart, Holzwarth, and Fekkes.

3. Pledge to the Flag.

4. Approval of the agenda.

Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Wood, to add Item 18.I., Minutes of the Airport Commission meeting of December 22, 2010, and to approve the agenda as amended.

All ayes. Motion carried.

5. Mayor's Address:

May thanked his wife and family for supporting him as Mayor and stated that being Mayor of Hastings is a great honor. The community has seen growth over the years with the State Street stores filled and a new law/CPA office. He spoke about the courthouse grounds and the Veteran Memorial and stated that this project was not just moving the monument but creating a focus for past, present, and future veterans. He spoke about the Cook building renovations, Christmas light displays, DDA efforts with façade grants, apartment renovations, the new ice cream shop at Green and Boltwood Streets, and new cookie shop in Jefferson Street. May also reported that GVMC will add emphasis to Barry, Allegan and Ionia members. Finally, the Mayor thanked Council members for their great efforts.

Campbell noted that May is invited to the Governor’s State of the State Address on January 19.

6. Adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.

Ayes: Campbell, Depue, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: Bowers and Jasperse.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

7. Elect Mayor Pro-Tem.

Motion by Jasperse, with support by McNabb-Stange, to re-elect Member Don Tubbs as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

8. Approval of minutes of the workshop and regular meetings of December 28, 2010.

Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve the minutes as presented.

All ayes. Motion carried.

9. Proclamations: (None).

10. Public Hearings: (None).

11. Formal presentations and requests:

A. Consider 2011 calendar of regular Council meetings as the second and fourth Mondays of each month except:

Tuesday December 27 in place of Monday December 26 (Christmas Holiday)

Motion by Campbell, with support by Wood, to adopt the 2011 calendar of regular meetings as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. Consider request from Shawn Winters, 4-H Stable Mate Goat Leader, to hold a yard sale in Tyden Park.

Motion by Tubbs, with support by Wood, to approve request under direction of City staff.

Ayes: Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: Bowers and McNabb-Stange.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

C. Report from Dennis Berkebile, Consumers Energy, on Natural Gas Pipeline Safety in the City.

Berkebile discussed the safety of natural gas system in Southwest Michigan and the importance of public awareness. He talked about education on how to recognize a gas leak and what to do in case of leak. He said to call Miss Dig or dial “811” before any excavation. He reported that Consumer’s performs leak surveys on a regular basis per code and that they replace gas mains that experience excessive leaks.

Bowers asked about pipe replacement and street restoration.

Tubbs asked about “811” instead of Miss Dig.

Wood asked about cast iron main in Hastings and potential for explosion.

12. Recommendations from other Boards:

A. Consider approval of Agreement for Airport Management Services as recommended by the Airport Commission.

McNabb-Stange said that it was not appropriate to increase compensation by 15% for the airport manager.

Bowers replied regarding the Airport Commission’s discussion of additional duties and the plan for self-sufficiency in five years.

Motion by Bowers, with support by Tossava, to approve request as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: McNabb-Stange.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. Consider approval of 2011 Airport Fund Budget Amendment as recommended by the Airport Commission.

McNabb-Stange asked about five year average and inconsistencies in the document.

Motion by Bowers, with support by Tubbs, to approve request as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: McNabb-Stange.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

13. Ordinances:

First reading of Ordinance No. 464 continuing a moratorium on the sale of medical marihuana in the City as recommended by the Planning Commission.

Ordinance was read.

14. Resolutions:

Consider Resolution 2011-01 approving depositories for City funds.

Motion by Campbell, with support by Tossava, to adopt Resolution 2011-01 as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood,

and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

15. Consider elected officials salaries as recommended by the Mayor:

Mayor $ 7,800 per year

Mayor Pro-tem $ 2,500 per year

Council Members $ 2,300 per year

Board of Review $115 per meeting

Campbell and others discussed the fact that it has been many years since these salaries changed.

Motion by Wood, with support by Depue, to approve elected officials salaries as recommended.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

16. Appointments:

A. Mayor’s 2011 recommendations for appointment with consent of Council

Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Bowers, to appoint Jeff Mansfield as City Manager and approve and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the City Manager’s Employment Agreement as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to appoint Stephanie Fekkes and Law Weathers Richardson PLC as City Attorney and approve the City Attorney’s retainer and hourly rate expiring January 9, 2012.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Jasperse, with support by Depue, to approve the Mayor’s appointments to various Boards and Commissions as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Campbell, with support by McNabb-Stange, to appoint Mayor Robert May as Legislative Director for a 1-year term expiring December 31, 2011.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Wood, with support by Jasperse, to appoint Barry/Eaton Health Department as the Health Officer for the City with a term expiring December 31, 2011.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. City Manager’s 2011 appointments with the advice and consent of Council.

City Clerk/Treasurer/Director of Finance/FOIA Coordinator

.................................................................................. Thomas Emery

Deputy City Manager/Police Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator

....................................................................................... Jerry Sarver

Fire Chief/Fire Marshall/ADA Coordinator...................................... Roger Caris

Director of Public Services................................................. Timothy Girrbach

City Assessor............................................................... Jackie Timmerman

Community Development Director................................................ John Hart

Zoning Administrator………………………………………………………………….Jeff Mansfield

Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Wood, to approve appointments as

recommended.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

17. Bids, Contracts, Agreements, Abandonments, and Sales: (None).

18. Consent items without individual discussion:

A. Invoices (None).

B. Zoning Board of Appeals Year in Review 2010.

C. Planning Commission Year in Review 2010.

D. Minutes of the B.C. Board of Commissioners meeting of December 14, 2010.

E. Minutes of the B.C. Board of Commissioners meeting of December 28, 2010.

F. New Year’s Eve Community Celebration flyer.

G. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of January 4, 2011.

H. Correspondence from the Liquor Control Commission.

I. Minutes of the Airport Commission meeting of December 22, 2010.

Motion by Campbell, with support by Tubbs, to receive and place on file Items 18.B. through

18.I. inclusive.

All ayes. Motion carried.

19. City Manager's Report:

A. Tim Girrbach gave his monthly report.

Tossava asked about water main replacement schedule.

B. Fire Chief Caris gave his monthly report.

C. Library Administrator Evelyn Holzwarth gave her December monthly and 2010 annual

and report.

Evelyn thanked Don Tubbs for Library Board service and welcomed Brenda McNabb-Stange.

D. Report on Ten Year Trend in Taxes and Other General Fund Revenue Sources.

Emery discussed his written report.

E. Distributed documents for JPA workshop.

F. Consider setting special workshop meeting to discuss Council goals for 2011/2012 on January 24, 2011 at 6:00 PM.

Motion by Campbell, with support by Wood, to set workshop for January 24, 2011 at 6:00 PM as presented.

All Ayes. Motion carried.

20. City Attorney's Report: (None).

21. Legislative Director’s Report:

May discussed GVMC meeting and State of the State address.

Wood spoke regarding Legislative Coffee that Callton and Jones attended and the general focus on taxes and education, but no specifics.

22. Open Public Discussion from the Floor:

Jim Brown: supports Mayor Exchange idea with face-to-face exchange, reinforced Mayor May's comments on Veterans Memorial, and stated that BIRCH will work with the City to reduce fire service cost.

23. Mayor and Council comment:

Campbell asked about tri-fold list of board members.

Depue has concerns about traffic around schools and urges caution and slower speeds.

Bowers said that pedestrians should walk facing traffic in the street.

Jasperse requested review of investment policy at future meeting.

24. Adjourn.

Moved by Wood to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 PM.

25. Read and Approved:

________________________ _______________________

Robert L. May, Mayor Thomas E. Emery, City Clerk