7:30 P.M.
Barber School Meeting Room
I.
Call to Order
President Keller called the meeting to
order at 7:50 p.m.
II.
Pledge of
Allegiance
III.
Roll Call
A.
Present: Filber, Fischer, Holland, Keller, & VanStrate.
Excused: Palma
B.
On a motion by Holland, support from
Fischer, the Village Council excused Council
member Palma.
Yes: 5 No: 0
C.
On a motion by Holland, support from
Fischer, The Village Council accepted the
resignation of Melvin Hall for health reasons.
Yes: 5 No: 0
IV.
Discussed a replacement council member for Melvin
Hall.
Subject: Council member Hall was resigning for
health reasons. Village Council
candidate Mark Miller, 207 E. Savidge was invited to be present. Village Attorney Bob Sullivan informed the
Village Council that per the charter the council does not have the authority to
appoint a replacement for Council member Hall less than sixty days before the
election. The next Village election was
scheduled for September 13, 2005.
V.
Reports and Statements of Citizens:
Mr.
Ed Vogt, 400 Lakeview Court #18-C, discussed with the Village Council the need
for a third bridge across the Grand River and the lack of support from the
townships for this bridge.
Ms. Michelle Yasenak, 505 E. Savidge,
suggested to the Village Council that the Parks and Recreation Board’s input be
considered concerning the uses for the Alden Street end. Ms. Yasenak also asked about the sign for a
new business being constructed by the Ace Hardware and if it was in conformance
to the sign ordinance. She was
informed that the Village staff was looking into it.
VI.
Consent Agenda
A.
Approved
the payment of the bills in the amount of $370,518.82.
B.
Approved
the minutes of the August 15, 2005 meeting.
C.
Approved a request by Spring Lake Township
for Spring Lake Village sponsorship of
a hole at the proposed Rycenga Park
frisbee golf course for $350 and authorized the Village Clerk/Treasurer to make
this expenditure.
D.
Approved a professional services agreement
for Superior
Environmental to conduct environmental consulting services associated
with the $260,000 loan for Brownfield redevelopment at 917 West Savidge for a
not-to-exceed cost of $71,000 and authorized the Village President and Village Clerk/Treasurer to
execute the professional services agreement.
These costs would be reimbursed as part of the Brownfield loan received
and Brownfield TIF District being created. They covered the engineering,
testing and supervision exercised on developing and implementing the necessary
Act 381 environmental work plan.
E.
Approved a resolution of appreciation for
Terry L. Christensen for his thirty-two years of service to the Village of Spring Lake and authorized the Village
President and Village Clerk/Treasurer to execute the resolution prior to a
presentation tentatively scheduled for September 19, 2005.
F.
Set a public hearing for October 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. to
consider the third amendment to the Restated and Amended Village of Spring Lake
Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan, which considered new
projects and the extension
of the duration of the tax increment financing plan.
G.
Set a
public hearing regarding public access created for the end of Alden Street on
September 19, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at Barber School.
On a motion by
Fischer, support from Filber, the Village Council approved the Consent Agenda
as presented.
Yes: 5 No: 0
VII. Report
by the Village Clerk-Treasurer
A.
Approved reappointments to the Planning
Commission.
Subject: This item was tabled at the last meeting.
Two
three-year terms expired recently. Both
current members signified interest in being reappointed. Three parties also indicated an interest in
this appointment. 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
On
a motion by Fischer, support from Van Strate, the item was untabled.
Council
member Filber said that it was great to have two members that were interested
in reappointment, they were much appreciated and the council was thankful for
their experience.
Council
member Van Strate thanked Mr. Yasenak and Ms. Wheeler for their continued
interest in the Planning Commission, which was not always an easy job.
On
a motion by Fischer, support from Holland, the Village Council reappointed
Elizabeth Wheeler and John Yasenak to the Planning Commission until June 2008.
Yes: 4 No: 1 (Keller)
VIII.
Report By the Village Manager
A.
Approved purchase of the former
Electronics Repair Shop north of the post office and south of Chan’s at the
address officially known as 222 ½ West Savidge.
Subject: This property had recently been made
available to the Village. A tour
occurred on August 10, 2005.
After discussing this
property acquisition with the Village Council at the last work session, the
Village Manager made a tentative offer to hold the property until the council’s
formal consideration tonight. The offer
was for $21,000.
The Village’s ownership
of this property would enable realization of several elements of the Downtown
Master Plan, including helping Exchange Street convert to a local business
corridor with more uniform parking lots between Savidge and Exchange.
The options were:
1.
Do not purchase; or
2.
Proceed with formal approval of the $21,000 offer
according to the owner’s response as attached.
Authorize the Village Manager and Village Attorney to proceed to closing
by November 30, 2005.
Funds for purchase were
available in the Tax Increment Financing Fund.
It was estimated the fund would end the fiscal year with $200,000
remaining. This was the amount
encumbered for the last remaining high priority of the plan: the Lakeside Trail Bike Path gap completion.
Council member Van
Strate suggested that the building be used for storage during the DPW garage
expansion.
Council member Filber
asked if there were any environmental issues with the building, due to the
closeness of the oil change business.
Manager Cotton said
that if there were they would be resolved when the building was razed and the
property paved for a parking lot.
On a motion by Fischer,
support from Van Strate, the Village Council authorized the Village Manager to
proceed with conclusion of the due diligence steps addressed in the offer and,
assuming positive outcomes, directed the Village Clerk/ Treasurer and Village
attorney to proceed to closing on the property on, or before, November 30,
2005.
Yes: 5 No: 0
B.
Accepted a quote for repairs to Franklin
and Longview Streets, as recommended by Dennis Randolph, consultant and
director of the Calhoun County Road Commission, from Asphalt Paving, Inc of
Muskegon, Michigan in the amount of $9,802 and waived competitive bidding,
given the experimental nature of the work.
Subject: This was the culmination of a plan embarked
upon by Village staff following the council tour and work session of September
20, 2004. The goal was to begin major
repairs to the Village’s local streets in a manner consistent with our low
traffic volume; the narrow and uncurbed existing roadways; and which recognized
the potential need for frequent water and sewer repair disturbances of the new
street surface.
Mr.
Randolph recommended a road repair methodology, process and mix. It was called “city mix” or “sand
sheeting.” The Village staff wanted to
proceed on his recommendation on a trial basis. The Village share of the former tax increment financing funds
would be available next year to pay for more of these local street repairs.
The
actual work would include leveling the low spots through what was known as “wedging”,
followed by the new surface to eliminate alligator cracking and to provide a
fresh riding surface. Staff did not
expect major increases in smoothness.
Some bumpiness would remain.
Hopefully, this would help to reduce the speeding that sometimes accompanied
new street resurfacing.
Franklin
Street would also be improved via installation of a passive drainage basin at
the corner with Parkhurst as part of this improvement.
Flyers
would be given to the residents at least one week in advance of construction
for their use in preparing for any inconveniences.
This
recommendation was made with the knowledge that the sewers have all been and
are in serviceable condition.
Staff
was currently making the assumption that the water lines would flow the recommended
750 to 1,000 gallons per minute, given the success with fighting the Parkhurst
fire two years ago. Nevertheless, they
were being specifically tested later in the week for pressure and volume. In the event the lines did not test
properly, Village staff would not proceed until corrective action was planned,
or alternative streets were recommended to the Village Council.
On
a motion by Holland, support from Fischer, the Village Council accepted quotes
for repairs to Franklin and Longview Streets from Asphalt Paving, Inc of
Muskegon, Michigan in the amount of $9,802 and waived competitive bidding for
this experimental period.
Yes: 5 No: 0
C.
Authorized staff to submit a Brownfield
Plan for the area commonly known as the Miller-Smith Manufacturing Property at
601West Savidge Street and the Fletemeyer Building at 721 West Savidge and
directed the Village Attorney to add this area to the Brownfield Tax Increment
Financing district being developed.
Summary: The Peel family intended to purchase the property
and was proposing to create approximately 12,000 square feet of new commercial
uses, inclusive of extending School Street across Savidge. They further
intended to purchase and redevelop the property immediately to the west at 721
West Savidge. Since the Miller-Smith
property was a known Part 201 facility and the adjacent parcel was a suspected
facility, they were eligible for brownfield financing assistance from the state
MDEQ under the Clean Michigan Initiative.
The
Peel family received many positive initial review comments on their Mill Point
Station proposal from the Planning Commission on August 23, 2005.
If
the Village created a Brownfield TIF district for this property, then the
developer could recoup the costs of demolition and environmental expenses that
would not otherwise be incurred on a “greenfield” property. The Village staff would like to make this
assistance possible so additional investment could be made in the design and
physical infrastructure for an overall higher quality development.
This
agenda item was written to:
1.
Seek approval of the Village Council to submit a
Brownfield Plan to the MDEQ, as recommended by the Central Business District
Development Association on May 12, 2005, as attached, with the inclusion of 721
West Savidge;
2. Seek direction of the Village Attorney to
add these two properties to the Brownfield TIF district being developed.
President
Keller expressed his appreciation to Manager Cotton for the time he had spent
on the brownfield TIF.
Chris
Peel said that it had been a pleasure working with Ryan on this project and
thanked him for all his efforts.
Manager
Cotton and President Keller both expressed their thanks to Chris Peel for his
knowledge and positive attitude concerning the project.
On
a motion by Filber, support from Fischer, the Village Council authorized staff
to submit a Brownfield Plan for the properties commonly known as the
Miller-Smith Manufacturing facility at 601 West Savidge and the former
Fletemeyer property at 721 West Savidge and directed the Village Attorney to
add these areas to the Brownfield Tax Increment Financing District being
developed.
Yes: 5 No: 0
D.
Approved a resolution to request a
Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and/or Loan in the amount of $260,000 from the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to address demolition and
environmental contamination related to redevelopment of the Miller-Smith
Property at 601 West Savidge and the Fletemeyer Property at 721 West Savidge
and authorized the Village President and Village Clerk/Treasurer to execute the
resolution and the Village Manager to submit the grant/loan application.
Subject: This was the same type of resolution adopted
for brownfield redevelopment at 917 West Savidge, the Lake Pointe Project, now
underway.
On
a motion by Filber, support from Holland, the Village Council approved a
resolution to request a Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and/or Loan in the
amount of $260,000 from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to
address demolition and environmental contamination related to redevelopment of
the Miller-Smith Property at 601 West Savidge and the Fletemeyer Property at
721West Savidge and authorized the Village President and Village
Clerk/Treasurer to execute the resolution and authorized the Village Manager to
submit the Grant/Loan Application.
Yes: 5 No: 0
E.
Approved a budget adjustment from the
Major Street Fund in the amount of $1,971 to construct an entryway sign at the
east Village entrance on Savidge Street.
Subject: The first phase of the wayfinding signage
program was completed. The second phase
was to replace the entryway sign near Burger King on M-104 and install a new
entryway sign just west of Village Cove on Marina Bay property. These locations had been approved by MDOT
and Marina Bay respectively.
The
cost of Phase One came in at $22,750, on an original budget of $19,410, due to
design modification judgments in the field.
This amount was within the $25,000 budgeted and the $6,000 grant from
the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
The net remaining balance was $8,250.
The
next phase was also bid and came in at
$13,442. There was a need to
expand the entryway signs, however, for $2,000 more (from 16 square feet to 24
square feet).
It
was also important to consider landscaping and lighting alternatives. Separate suppliers would do landscaping and
lighting after the signs’ installation.
Manager Cotton estimated these costs could add about $2,500 per sign, or
$5,000 more, for a grand total of $20,442 for two complete entryway signs. This left a potential budget adjustment of
$12,192 being necessary if we proceeded.
These funds were available in the Major Street Fund. The current estimated cash balance for June
30, 2006 was $133,000. An unknown, but
large percentage of these funds were encumbered for Major Street repairs on
portions of Meridian and Jackson Street.
Other
options were:
1.
Replace the entryway sign at Burger King only (no
entryway sign on the west side) for a budget adjustment of only $1,971; or
2.
Replace the entryway sign at Burger King only and
do not light or landscape it for a budget savings of $529.
Council
member Holland asked if the village currently had an entry sign on the west
end.
Manager
Cotton said that there wasn’t one.
Council
member Fischer said he was in favor of getting the sign at the east end redone
and waiting on the west end.
Council
member Filber said that the sign on the east end was a priority and the new
sign on the west end could be addressed in a couple of years.
Michelle
Yasenak, 505 E. Savidge, said Council should spend the $12,000 for our local
roads instead of replacing a functional sign.
Council
member Holland asked what condition the sign at the east end was in.