7:30 P.M.
I. Call to Order
II.
Pledge
of Allegiance
III.
Roll
Call
A.
Present: Filber, Fischer, Keller, Kelly, Palma &
VanStrate.
B.
Motion to Excuse any absent members, if
necessary.
IV.
Reports and Statements of Citizens:
V. Consent
Agenda
A.
Consideration
of approving the payment of the bills in the amount of ($72,587.73 ). (Attachment A).
B.
Consideration of a Motion to Approve the
Minutes of the December 5, 2005 Meeting.
C.
Consideration of a Motion to Approve
Change Order Number Two for the East Village Streetscape Grant Project to Youngstrom Contracting Inc. in the Amount of
$300 and Authorization for the Village President and Village Clerk-Treasurer to
Execute the New Contract Total of $534,810.75 (This final change order is due
to Due to a math error from Fleis and VandenBrink. See attached.)
D.
Consideration of a Motion to Ratify
Approval for Carriage Rides on Alden Street, Buena Vista, North Lake Avenue and
Lakeside Trail pertaining to Alden Place Redevelopment on Saturday, December
17th from 1 to 5 PM. (This request was
previously approved by telephone poll earlier this week.)
E.
Consideration of a Motion to Set a Public
Hearing for January 3, 2006 to Review Amendments to the Planned Unit
Development for Marina Bay on West Savidge, South of Savidge.
VI.
Report
By the Village Clerk
A. Presentation
of Resolutions of Appreciation to Former Council Member Fred Holland. (Resolutions of appreciation were formerly
adopted by Council for Mel Hall and Fred Holland. Mel cannot attend tonight. His resolution will later be presented in
person at home.)
B. Consideration
of a Motion to Adopt a Resolution Which Finds that Electronic Message Boards
Should No Longer Be Permitted in the Village of Spring Lake.
Subject: The Village Attorney
researched this matter and drafted the attached resolution. This matter needs your review prior to
removing Chapter 17, Signs, from the
table in the next agenda item.
Recommendation: The Village Council may
now consider a motion to approve the attached resolution.
C. Consideration
of a Motion to Remove from the Table and to Consider Amendments to Chapter 17,
Signs, of the Village Zoning Code Recommended by the Spring Lake Planning
Commission
Summary: This matter was tabled at the last meeting to
enable the Village Attorney and a subcommittee to develop appropriate language
to 1) permit sandwich boards and 2) not permit electronic message boards.
The
need for these sign ordinance amendments were prompted from the Joint Village
Council/Planning Commission meeting on January 10, 2005. That discussion resulted in strict enforcement of the current
sign codes: sandwich boards; outdoor
displays blocking sidewalks; bank drive-through banners; and fast food and
other pole banners were all diligently regulated.
The
Planning Commission later recommended a moratorium on electronic message boards
until they could complete research on these and other sign ordinance
changes. This moratorium continues until
December 19, 2005.
The
attached ordinance contains a number of related provisions. These provisions were modified at the last
Village Council meeting from the Planning Commission’s recommendations as noted
in the new language attached.
In
summary, the major sign ordinance changes are:
·
No longer permit pylon signs;
·
Restrict monument signs to generally no
more than 32 square feet;
·
Require sign removal when the use has been
discontinued for over six months;
·
No longer permit electronic message
boards; and
·
Allow sandwich boards with a three year
sunset and other conditions.
Significantly,
some merchants who want sandwich board signs do not want a standard Village
look. They would prefer to create a
singular image associated with their business only and fear that a consistent
Village theme might detract from their message.
Recommendation: The Village Council may now consider a motion
to remove the tabled amendments to Chapter 17, Signs, off the table. If removed from the table, the Village
Council may now consider the attached amendments to Chapter 17, Signs, of the
Village of Spring Lake Zoning Code.
VII.
Report by the Village Manager
A. Consideration
of a Motion to Approve Payment to the Ottawa County Public Utilities for the
Village’s Allocation of Additional Project Cost on Intake Repair, Number Two,
in the Amount of $24,251.20 from the Water Fund, and to Not Make the Budgeted
Transfer to the Equipment Fund of $22,750, and to Approve these Changes as
Official Water Fund Budget Adjustments for FY 2006.
Summary: This intake repair was
necessary due to faulty construction and engineering inspection. A lawsuit to recover the damages is
pending. If the County prevails, and the
responsible parties pay, the Village will recover these costs less expenses.
Recommendation: The Village Council may
now consider a motion to approve payment to the Ottawa County Public Utilities
for the Village’s allocation of additional project cost on Intake Repair,
Number Two, in the amount of $24,251.20 from the Water Fund and to not make the
budgeted Transfer to the Equipment Fund of $22,750 and to approve these changes
as official Water Fund Budget Adjustments for FY 2006.
B.
Consideration of a Motion to Set Up an Audit Request For Proposal (RFP)
Committee.
Summary: The Village’s Audit
costs were budgeted for $18,250. The actual costs will be closer to
$19,500. The same auditing firm
conducted the Village’s audit for the last twenty years.
My
past practice is that all such contractual services should be periodically
examined and put out to the marketplace.
The Village Council should be integrally involved in this selection
process, however, since one of the auditing functions is to ensure staff conformance
with customary financial practices.
Although
I am committed to regular bidding out of services, I want you to have the
benefit of all opinions: The Village
Clerk-Treasurer believes the extra work may not be worth the savings, plus the
effort to overcome the initial learning curve for any new auditor. BDO Seidman audited the Village for many years, knows the
Village’s books, and have a good working relationship with the Clerk-Treasurer.
My research shows 20-30% cost savings are
possible. I also think it is healthy to
add new ideas that could come from new auditors. On the other hand, the Audit Committee may
eventually choose to recommend no change.
We will never know if we do not test the marketplace, however.
If
we proceed, the Village Manager and Clerk-Treasurer will provide staff
assistance to this ad hoc Council committee.
Recommendation: The Village Council may
consider establishing an Audit RFP Committee composed of two Council members
along with the Clerk-Treasurer and Village Manager serving as staff to the
Committee.
B. Consideration
of Approval of Entryway Sign Design Changes
Subject: The Village Council reviewed this initial
design and authorized making it larger.
Further the Council requested that the Village of Spring Lake letters
appear larger also and the welcome letters appear smaller. Attached is the designer’s new revisions for
your review and approval. Construction
of this sign is currently underway near Burger King. Once approved and budgeted, a second sign
will be located near the Marina Bay entrance on the west side of Spring Lake
Village.
Recommendation: The Village Council may now consider a motion
to amend and/or approve this entryway sign design.
VIII.
Reports by the Village Council:
IX.
Statements of Citizens:
X. Re-Convene the Work Session (if necessary)
XI.
Executive Session (Collective Bargaining)
XII.
Adjournment