City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

                                                                                                                                      

 

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

March 22, 2010

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.       Pledge to the flag.

 

4.       Approval of the agenda.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to approve the Agenda as presented.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

                  

5.       Approval of minutes of the regular and closed session meetings of March 8, 2010.

 

         Motion by Tubbs, with support by Tossava, to approve the minutes as presented.

         All ayes.  Motion carried.

         

6.       Proclamations:

 

Mayor May presented Karen Jousma from the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Barry County with a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Month.

 

Jousma appreciated the City’s support of efforts to eliminate child abuse.

         

7.       Public Hearings: (None).

 

8.       Formal presentations and requests:

 

A.       Request from Janet Doane and Patty Osborn to hold March for Babies event in Fish Hatchery Park.

 

          Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve request under direction of City staff.

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

B.       Request from AYSO for the use of soccer fields at Fish Hatchery and Tyden Parks.

 

          Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Tossava, to approve request under direction of City staff.

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

C.       Request from YMCA for the use of parks for various events.

 

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

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

D.       Request from Nicole Medaris, General Manager at Wendy’s, to close a portion of Market Street to hold annual Classic Car Show.

 

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

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

E.       Rick Clark from Broadstripe will give a presentation regarding service.

 

          Rick Clark offered to answer Council questions about Broadstripe service issues.  He  noted email contact and extended call center hours for customer service.  He also discussed Broadstripe’s process for “escalated” service requests and the volume of such requests in the past several months.  He stated that Broadstripe employs 73 customer service and supervisory staff.  He noted that they had recently terminated an outsource contract for customer service.

 

          Campbell noted billing in advance, for what is essentially a utility service, misconception in Broadstripe’s brochure regarding senior discount, and problems with signal quality.

          Wood noted that cable signal quality is less than over the air.

          McNabb-Stange noted importance of a working phone for emergency.

          Bowers noted problem of getting through to a person.

          Jasperse asked about the number of customer calls to call center and the number of calls per number of customers, quality of tech skill, and length of time to restore service.

          Jim Gilbert asked about lack of signal when his residence was re-cabled two weeks ago.  He stated that the service worked and then stopped again.

          Clark stated that Broadstripe is replacing digital equipment in the system.

          McNabb-Stange asked why not an automatic billing credit for known equipment problems.

 

9.       Recommendations from other Boards: (None).

 

10.      Ordinances:

 

A.       Second reading and consider adoption of Ordinance No. 455 regulating directional signs for hospitals and schools.

 

                    Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to adopt Ordinance No. 455 as read.

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

                    Nays:            Campbell.

                    Absent:         None.

                    Motion carried.

 

          B.       Second reading and consider adoption of Ordinance No. 456 regulating private communication antennas.

 

          Bowers asked about 5’ restriction.

          Campbell asked about putting satellite dishes on the house.  Bowers agreed.

 

                   Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Wood, to adopt Ordinance No. 456 as read.

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

                   Nays:            Campbell.

                   Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

          C.       Second reading and consider adoption of Ordinance No. 457 regarding temporary fences.    

 

                   Mansfield noted that the ordinance expands what is permitted.

 

                   Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to adopt Ordinance No. 457 as read.

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

                   Nays:            Campbell and Tossava.

                   Absent:         None.

                   Motion carried.

 

11.     Resolutions: (None).

 

12.     Appointments: (None).

 

13.     Bids, Contracts, Agreements, Abandonment’s, and Sales:

 

A.                 Consider approval of Resolution 2010-06 approving and authorizing the Mayor and

Clerk to sign a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for reconstruction of South Jefferson Street.

 

                   Motion by Campbell, with support by Jasperse, to adopt Resolution 2010-06 authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to sign contract as presented.

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

                   Nays:            None.

                   Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

B.       Consider rejecting all bids for WWTP laboratory cabinets as recommended by Director of Public Services Tim Girrbach.

 

          Girrbach presented bid tab and recommendation to reject all bids.

 

          Motion by Wood, with support by Bowers, to reject all bids as recommended.

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

                   Nays:            None.

                    Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

          Campbell asked about bid process.

          McNabb-Stange asked about problems of metal vs. wood cabinets.

 

14.     Consent items without individual discussion:

 

          A.       Invoices.

                             Hastings City/Barry County Airport - $15,000.00

          B.       Thank you note for Mayor May from Tammy Pennington.

          C.       Proclamation presented for Doctor’s Day.

          D.       Proclamation sent for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

          E.       Minutes of the Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting of March 9, 2010.

          F.       Minutes of the Joint Planning Committee meeting of March 15, 2010.

          G.       Minutes of the Hastings Public Library Board of Directors meeting of March 15, 2010.

          H.       MML Legislative Link dated March 16, 2010.

          I.       Minutes of the Barry County Central Dispatch Technical meeting of February 16, 2010.

          J.       Minutes of the Barry County Central Dispatch Administrative meeting of February 22, 2010.

          K.       Information regarding MML dues for fiscal year 2010/2011.

         

         Motion by Campbell, supported by McNabb-Stange, to receive and place on file Items 14.A. through 14.K. inclusive.

          All Ayes.  Motion Carried.

 

15.     City Manager's report:

 

          A.       Chief of Police Sarver gave his report.

 

          B.       Clerk/Treasurer Emery gave his report.

 

          C.       Community Development Director Hart gave his report.

 

                   Campbell stated that the entrance on west side to the building at 139 E. Court St. might be on City property and requested staff review.

 

D.       Consider setting a workshop meeting for Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 6:30 PM with Council, DDA, and Planning Commission to hear presentation from Dwelling Place.

 

                   Campbell asked about information to be received prior to the meeting.

 

                   McNabb-Stange noted that this was the same day as MML Legislative Conference.

                   Staff to investigate changing to April 20th or 22nd and report back.

 

Mansfield noted that MDNRE would be present at next meeting to discuss deer culling and wildlife management.

 

Mansfield also reported that the City will demolish the burned house on N. Broadway with consent of property owner.

 

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

 

17.     Legislative Director’s Report:

 

Girrbach reported that he attended the Transportation Committee meeting in Kalamazoo regarding local impact of funding issues.

         

18.     Open Public Discussion from the Floor:

 

          Caris stated testing of the tornado siren would occur on 1st Saturday of each month at 1:00 PM from April to September.

 

19.     Mayor and Council comment:

 

          Depue asked about a speed limit sign around Central Elementary and Middle School.

 

20.     Adjourn.

 

          Motion by McNabb-Stange, to adjourn at 8:41 PM.

 

21.     Read and Approved:

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

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