City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

                                                                                                                                      

 

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

April 26, 2010

 

1.       Regular meeting called to order by Mayor Robert L. May 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, Holzwarth, and Fekkes.

 

3.       Pledge to the flag.

 

4.       Approval of the agenda.

 

Motion by Bowers, with support by Tossava, to add Continued Budget Discussion at Item 20, and to approve the Agenda as amended.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

                  

5.       Approval of minutes of the special workshop, regular, and closed session meetings of April 12, 2010 and special workshop meeting of April 22, 2010.

 

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

         All ayes.  Motion carried.

         

6.       Proclamations: (None).

 

7.       Public Hearings: (None).

 

8.       Formal presentations and requests:

 

A.       Request from Ron Martin, The Fishing Instructor, to use Fish Hatchery Park for a fishing trip.

 

          McNabb-Stange asked about approval of this request opening the City to other requests.

          May responded that the ponds have permitted fishing for some time.

 

          Motion by Tubbs, 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.

B.       Request from Peggy Hemerling, Youth Services Librarian, to use City Hall parking lot for the reading club party.

 

          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.

 

C.       Request from Tracy Solmes, Director of Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, to allow West Center Street to be closed during Vacation Bible School.

 

          Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, 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 Keith Beebe, Office Manager for American Red Cross, to park a van in the all day parking lot overnight.

 

          Mansfield commented about the history of such requests and suggested Lot 3 would be appropriate for overnight parking.

          Campbell indicated supported for the request.

 

          Motion by Campbell, with support by Tubbs, to approve an annual permit as requested in Lot 4.

 

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

          Motion carried.

 

Jasperse discussed Planning Commission and zoning discussion regarding parking for downtown residents.

 

9.       Recommendations from other Boards:

 

Consider approval for the Mayor and Clerk to sign the Addendum No. 1 to the Intergovernmental Agreement changing the name of the Joint Planning Committee to Joint Planning Alliance as recommended by the Joint Planning Committee.

 

Motion by Campbell, with support by Tossava, to approve the Addendum and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign as recommended.

 

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

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

10.      Ordinances: (None).

         

11.     Resolutions: (None).

 

12.     Appointments:

 

Consider approval of the Mayor’s appointment of Alan Klein to the Planning Commission with a term expiring December 31, 2012.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to approve the Mayor’s appointment.

 

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

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

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

 

Consider award of bid to C & C Contractors, LLC for 2010 Sealcoating Program in the amount of $133.00/Ton ($7,980) for Patching and $1.47/Syd ($160,230) for Sealcoating for an estimated total of $168,210 as recommended by Director of Public Services Tim Girrbach.

 

Motion by Tossava, with support by McNabb-Stange, to award bid as recommended.

 

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

          Nays:            None.

          Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

14.     Consent items without individual discussion:

 

          A.       Invoices: (None).

          B.       Correspondence regarding Fire Station Grant.

          C.       Information about Gryphon Group, LLC.

          D.       Letter to Fred Cook at Hastings Manufacturing regarding smoking in the park.

          E.       Letter from Betty Appleman regarding the deer population.

          F.       Information from Broadstripe regarding billing and senior discount.

          G.       MML Legislative Link dated April 20, 2010.

          H.       Information regarding Barry County Healthcare Summit.

          I.       Minutes of the Barry County Central Dispatch Technical meeting of March 15, 2010.

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

          K.       Letter from Duane and Susan Bower regarding the deer population.

          L.       Minutes of the Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting of April 13, 2010.

          M.      Minutes of the Joint Planning Committee meeting of April 19, 2010.

         

         Motion by Wood, supported by McNabb-Stange, to receive and place on file Items 14.B. through 14.M. inclusive.

          All Ayes.  Motion Carried.

 

15.     City Manager's report:

 

          A.       Chief of Police Sarver gave his report.

                  

                   Tossava asked about the status of the radar trailer.

                   Sarver responded.

 

          B.       Clerk/Treasurer Emery gave his report.

 

          C.       Community Development Director Hart gave his report.

 

D.                 Consider revised Travel and Training Policy.

 

Motion by Jasperse, with support by Tossava, to approve as presented.

 

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

Nays:            None.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

E.       Information regarding Sidewalk Café.

 

                   Hart discussed the possibility of allowing alcoholic beverages in sidewalk cafés and suggest possible presentation of a draft ordinance.

 

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to direct staff to draft an ordinance to allow alcohol on sidewalk cafés for Council consideration.

         

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

Nays:            Bowers.

Absent:         None.

Motion carried.

 

Campbell asked about Holland’s experience.

Bowers asked about liability and stated that he opposes alcohol on City property.

 

F.       May announced Council pictures to be taken before next Council meeting at 6:45 PM.

 

G.       Council was informed of a tentative workshop meeting for May 27, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM with a consultant for the Joint Planning Alliance to discuss cooperative service agreements.

 

 

16.     City Attorney's Report:

         

          Fekkes invited Council members to municipal law seminars presented by Law Weathers in Hastings on May 5th and 19th.

 

17.     Legislative Director’s Report:

 

Depue attended the Capital Conference and noted favorable comparisons with other communities.

          Bowers attended Capital Conference session on mobility and needs for infrastructure.

          Tubbs attended Capital Conference session on PA 312.

          May, Bowers, and Tubbs attended Governance Committee meeting.

          Mansfield reported recovery of state economy will be slow, but Hastings is better off than many.

 

18.     Open Public Discussion from the Floor: (None).

 

19.     Mayor and Council comment:

 

          May reported that on Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 PM, CNBC will air story on Dr. Robert Stokes’ medical fraud called “American Greed”.

          Campbell requested improved lighting in parks.

         

Five-minute break was taken prior to continued budget discussion.

 

20.     Mansfield continued budget discussion.

 

          Staff will prepare a report/discussion on the Airport and the elimination of City Manager, DPS, and other staff cars.

 

          Girrbach noted reduction in curbs, sidewalk, and chip/seal.

          Campbell asked about monitoring streets and careful prioritizing.

          Hart will provide DDA/LDFA budget detail.

          Emery noted reduction in administrative services allocation to departments of $140,000.

          Mansfield noted no increase in retiree health costs is projected for three years.  This will require change to current status of plans and/or cost sharing.

          Mansfield stated that budget required reductions and code enforcement is one.

          Tossava asked about unemployment costs reduced staff.  Emery responded.

          Campbell asked about compensations for added duties for others for code enforcement.  Mansfield responded.

          Tubbs noted MML dues reduced.

         

21.     Adjourn.

 

          Motion by Wood, to adjourn at 9:00 PM.

 

22.              Read and Approved:

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

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