MINUTES

 

Spring Lake Village

August 15, 2005

7:30 P.M.

Barber School Meeting Room

102 West Exchange

Spring Lake, Michigan

 

I.  Call to Order

 

President Keller called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

 

II.               Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.          Roll Call

 

A.Present:  Filber, Fischer, Holland, Keller, Palma & VanStrate.

 

B.President Keller informed the Village Council that Council member Hall was regrettably resigning from council due to health issues.   It was decided to invite Mark Miller to the September 6, 2005 meeting to discuss a possible appointment to fill the remainder of Council member Hall’s term.

 

IV.                                 Reports and Statements of Citizens:

 

   No reports or statements of citizens were presented.

 

V.  Consent Agenda

 

A.Approved the payment of the bills in the amount of $198,774.65.

 

B.Approved the minutes of the August 1, 2005 meeting. 

 

      On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council approved the Consent Agenda as presented.      

 

                              Yes:            6            No:            0

 

VI.                                 Report by the Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

A.  Held a public hearing to solicit public comment on financial amendments to the Planned Unit Development contract with Onemarket Properties and Lake Pointe LLC at 917 West Savidge pertaining to local cost share for the MEDC grant to accomplish power line under grounding, parking and streetscape improvements to West Savidge, as well as demolition of 921 West Savidge, repayments to the Village if the required jobs are not created, and compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act to not exceed 50% of the total required, limited to $7,500 of Tax Increment Financing Funds, and authorized the Village President and Clerk/Treasurer to execute the amended contract.

 

Subject:  This public hearing was required to make financial amendments to the Planned Development contract as originally approved by the Village Council on June 6, 2005. 

 

This action was the culmination of the Michigan Economic Development Grant and Planned Development efforts to assist in redevelopment of the western part of West Savidge.  It was made possible through the proposed restaurant and would result in 12 full time equivalent jobs.  (The total amount of the grant was determined by the number of full-time jobs times $20,000 of streetscape assistance per job, $240,000 total.)

 

This hearing was needed before the existing Planned Development agreement could be amended to incorporate the above new understandings.  The new agreement draft contained amended language on the Village’s cost sharing for the power line under grounding ($65,000 from the expected grant), the provision of jobs by the application to meet the grant terms (12 FTE), limits to the Village’s assistance under the Uniform Relocation Act (50% cost share limited to $7,500 from the Tax Increment Financing District fund) and demolition/lease of the Village’s property at 921 West Savidge. 

 

Given that the former tenants had to move to enable the project to move forward, the community development block grant stipulated assistance to cover reasonable costs as per the Uniform Relocation Act.  The Chamber of Commerce worked with each tenant.  This agreement contemplated use of Tax Increment Funds to comply with this federal act on a 50% cost share basis with the developer, not to exceed $7,500.

 

The benefits of the project would be:  expanded public parking adjacent to an extended Lakeside Trail; an improved streetscape at the western gateway to the Village; and economic development estimated to add $3,000,000 taxable value to the tax base.  It was further anticipated that this redevelopment would spur additional Brownfield redevelopment in the Village, specifically on West Savidge.

 

President Keller declared the hearing open to hear public comment at 7:48 p.m.

 

There was no public comment.

 

Ms. Suzanne Rudnitski told the Village Council that this was one of the last steps needed to begin the project and that Onemarket Properties had decided to split the cost of the relocation dollars with the Village since both parties would benefit.

 

Council member Palma said he was very happy with the project and the increased tax base.

 

President Keller asked if the project would be completed in two years as specified in the contract.

 

Ms. Suzanne Rudnitski said that it would be completed within the two-year period.

 

President Keller thanked Suzanne for choosing the Village of Spring Lake for the site of this project and that it was a breath of fresh air.  He also thanked Joy Gaasch from The Chamber and Manager Cotton for their perseverance and diligence on the project.  President Keller added that the project would help to pay for infrastructure in the future.

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council closed the public hearing at 7:50 p.m.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

On a motion by Filber, support from Fischer, the Village Council approved financial amendments to the Planned Unit Development contract with Onemarket Properties and Lake Pointe LLC at 917 West Savidge pertaining to local cost share for the MEDC grant to accomplish power line under grounding, parking and streetscape improvements to West Savidge, as well as demolition of 921 West Savidge, repayments to the village if the required jobs are not created and compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act to not exceed 50% of the total required, limited to $7,500 of Tax Increment Financing funds, and authorized the Village President and Clerk/Treasurer to execute the amended contract.

 

                          Yes:             6             No:             0

 

 

B.  Appointed members to the Historic Conservation District Commission.

 

Subject:  Two vacancies had arisen.  Sandy Parker and Karyn Streeting’s terms expired. They did not request reappointment.  Bruce Campbell at 517 East Savidge and Ginger Giamo of 202 Prospect applied for these appointments.

 

The candidates were present and introduced themselves to the Village Council.

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Van Strate, the Village Council appointed Bruce Campbell and Ginger Giamo to the Historic Conservation District Commission.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

 

C.  Appointed members to the Lloyd’s Bayou Lake Board.

 

Subject:  Art Bolt’s term expired recently.  Art lived at 826 River.  Art requested reappointment but indicated he could only serve one year more.  Robert Lubbers at 608 Edgewater Court also made application for this appointment. 

 

Mr. Lubbers was present and introduced himself to the Village Council. 

 

Council member Palma asked why Mr. Bolt could only serve one more year.

 

Manager Cotton said that Mr. Bolt was interested in seeing the sewer line/dredging project come to fruition before resigning from the board.

 

On a motion by Filber, support from Palma, the Village Council reappointed Mr. Art Bolt for a one-year term and appointed Mr. Robert Lubbers to fill the last two-years of the term, while working with Mr. Bolt as a team for the first year of the term.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

 

D.  Consideration of Appointments to the Planning Commission.

 

Subject:  Two three-year terms had expired.  The two members had signified interest in being reappointed.  Three parties had also indicated an interest in these appointments.  The terms would expire on June 1, 2008.

 

1.       Elizabeth Wheeler at 120 N. Lake Avenue (Current member)

2.      John Yasenak at 505 East Savidge (Current member)

3.      Field Reichardt at 308 North Buchanan

4.     Diane Nienhouse at 723 Summer

5.      Michael Glane at 344 S. Lake

 

      Council member Fischer said that Ms. Elizabeth Wheeler had called him to say she was going to be out of town, but was very interested in being reappointed.

 

       A motion was made by Fischer, supported by Holland to reappoint the two   current members.

 

      Mr. Michael Glane and Ms. Diane Neinhouse introduced themselves to the Village Council.

 

      Mr. John Yasenak was present and told the Village Council that he was very much interested in continuing to serve on the Planning Commission.

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Palma, this agenda item was tabled.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

Council member Van Strate thanked the interested individuals for coming to the meeting and encouraged them to keep showing up and trying.

 

 

VII.                            Report by the Village Manager

 

A.  Approved a request to demolish a boat maintenance building at 821 West Savidge and a residence at 213 Monarch Street associated with the Barrett Boat Works expansion.

 

Subject:  Review by the Historic Commission of these structures was determined to be necessary. Given that plans had progressed to the late stages, the Historic Commission was asked to expedite this process by making individual assessments and reporting individually to the Council tonight. 

 

The options were: 

 

1.       The Council could defer on action tonight in favor of asking the Commission to report back at the September 6th Council meeting. 

 

2.      The Council could act tonight on the commercial structure only (the boat maintenance building) since it was ambiguous as per policy whether commercial structures were to be formally reviewed by the Historic Commission; or

 

3.      The Council could act on both structures tonight given the individual assessments expressed to date and expected at the meeting.  Council member Fischer toured the site with the owner and the Village Manager.

 

It was clear to the Village Manager that the structures did not possess significant material historical value and were recommended for demolition.

 

Both Mr. Patrick Reeg and Mr. Shannon McMasters of the Historic Conservation Commission were present and informed the Village Council that they had no resistance to the demolition.

 

On a motion by Filber, support from Holland, the Village Council approved demolition of both the boat maintenance building at 821 West Savidge and the residence at 213 Monarch Street.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

 

B.  Reviewed the Village of Spring Lake/City of Ferrysburg Police Department semi-annual report.

 

Subject:  Police Chief Roger DeYoung presented the report to the Village Council.

 

       Council member Holland thanked Chief DeYoung for the great job he                   and the police department do and that he had heard a lot of                                       compliments from residents on the police department.  He also thanked               Chief DeYoung for keeping the department’s overtime hours down by                    working the road.

 

 

C.  Designated a voting representative for the Michigan Municipal League’s annual meeting on September 21, 2005 at 10:45 a.m.

 

Subject:  This was an annual designation.  The Village Manager had been designated in former years.  Any attending Council member could be the voting representative also. 

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Palma, the Village Council designated the Village Manager as the voting delegate for the Michigan Municipal League’s annual meeting on September 21, 2005.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

 

D.  Authorized the Village Manager to teach an Organizational Dynamics course at GVSU in the fall.

 

Subject:  This course met in the late afternoon, from 4 to 5:15 PM on Tuesday and Thursday.  Manager Cotton planned to contribute funds back to the Village in the amount of $625 in return, similar to last year. This was the amount budgeted as additional revenue to the Village.  

 

An alternative was for Manager Cotton to take vacation time.  Either was equally acceptable to the Village Manager.

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Van Strate, the Village Council authorized the Village Manager to teach a class that met in the late afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday in return for $650 to compensate the Village for lost time.

 

                        Yes:            6            No:            0

 

 

VIII.        Reconvened the work session at 9:07 p.m.

 

IX.                  Reports by the Village Council:

 

         No reports by the Village Council were presented.

    

X.     Statements of Citizens:

 

        No statements of citizens were presented.

 

XI.                                   Executive session to discuss real estate acquisition. 

 

On a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council adjourned into executive session at 9:40 p.m.

 

                  Yes:   6   No:   0

 

Resolved that the Village Council meet in executive session for reasons permitted by Section 8(C) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.268 (e); MSA 4.1800(18)(e); as requested by the Village Manager, to confer with legal counsel on matters permitted by Section (e) of the Open Meetings Act.       

 

On a motion by Palma, support from Holland, the Village Council arose from executive session at 9:58 p.m.

 

                                    Yes:            6            No:            0

 

XII.           Adjournment

 

On a motion by Palma, support from Filber, the Village Council adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

 

                                       Yes:               6               No:               0      

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

Daniel Keller, Village President

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Maribeth Lawrence, Village Clerk/Treasurer

 </