AGENDA
Spring Lake Village
May 18, 2009
7:30 P.M.
Barber School Meeting Room
102 West Exchange
Spring Lake, Michigan
I. Call to Order
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Roll Call
A. Present: Ferguson, Filber, Kelly, MacLachlan, Miller, Nauta, VanStrate.
B. Motion to Excuse any absent members
IV. Reports and Statements of Citizens
V. Consent Agenda
A. Consideration of a Motion approving the payment of the bills in the amount of $60,091.86 (Attachment A).
B. Consideration of a Motion to Approve the Monthly Bill for Reimbursement of Legal Costs to the Public Utilities Division of the Ottawa County Road Commission for the Village of Spring Lake’s Share of the Northwest Ottawa Water Treatment System South Intake Litigation in the Amount of $1,824.13. (See attached bills. The total expected costs to the Village for this litigation is 6.82% of the grand total, or approximately $57,305. The amount spent to-date is $42,579, inclusive of the above billing.)
C. Consideration of a Motion to Set a Public Hearing for Monday, June 1, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Barber School, 102 West Exchange Street to Consider A Change Recommended by the Planning Commission to Chapter 3 and Chapter 11.A of the Zoning Ordinance for the purpose of Adding Regulations for Demolition of Buildings/Moving Structures and Other Related Regulations.
D. Consideration of A Motion to Set a Public Hearing for June 1, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Barber School to Consider Establishing the Millage Rate and to Adopt the Proposed Operating Budgets for Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010).
E. Consideration of a Motion to Set a Public Hearing for June 1, 2009 at 7:30 PM Regarding Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2010 Proposed Six-Year Capital Program.
F. Consideration of a Motion to Close the Appropriate Sections of the Following Streets on Saturday, June 20, 2009 for the Heritage Festival 5K Run: Fruitport Road, Lake Avenue, Buena Vista and North Lake Avenue. (The Police Chief reviewed the route. This is very close to the same route as last year.)
G. Consideration of Authorization to the Village Manager to Use a CBBDA Projects Administrator Internship at the Cost of up to $1,750, on a Project Completion Basis, to Accomplish the Billboard, Tourist Flyer Distribution and Direct Mail “Branding” Recommendations of the CBDDA Based on the Grand Valley State University Class Recommendations Last December. (These funds are budgeted in the CBDDA fund which derives its revenue from the Tax Increment Financing District Fund. Revenue from such fund comes from growth in new taxable value in the downtown district only. The premise of the branding effort is to keep the Village’s name strong as a place to shop and visit even in these uncertain economic times.)
H. Consideration of a Request to MDOT to Close a Portion of M-104 Near Old Boy’s on September 19, 2009 to Accommodate the Start of the Oktoberfest Marathon. (This item was discussed in the prior work session.)
Recommendation: After reading the Consent Agenda, the Village President will request a motion to approve. A Council Member may now make a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. (Roll call vote.)
(Any member can ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda, if desired. Such item would then be discussed and voted on separately later in the meeting.)
VI. Report By the Village Clerk-Treasurer
A. Consideration of An Appointment to the Census Committee.
Subject: This matter was advertised. This is a new, temporary committee to help with public information associated with the census. Such a committee is recommended by the US Census Bureau to assist in getting a complete count. A list of potential committee activities is attached.
Recommendation: A Village Council member may now make a motion to appoint Tom Craig to the Ad Hoc Census Committee.
B. Consideration of a Village Council Discussion Regarding the Stop Sign Installation at Exchange and Prospect Street.
Subject: This stop sign was authorized by the Village Council in February upon recommendation of the Meridian Street construction engineer so as to address detoured traffic until Meridian Street is re-opened.
A total of 18 residents, and/or daily commuters, formally contacted the office to comment on these new signs. The tally so far is 13 for, to 5 against. See attached emails and phone call notes.
Alternatives:
1. Remove the signs once the Meridian Street construction project is over and traffic is no longer being detoured to Prospect Street. (The downside with this option is it neglects the Safe Routes to School report and recommendations.)
2. Leave the stop signs in place for a second trial period, following Meridian Street reconstruction completion, to see how this reduction in traffic disruption affects the flow. Do a temporary traffic control order to make effective. (No downside is foreseen to this short-term option.)
3. Make the stop signs permanent and request completion of a permanent traffic control order. (If the signs do not meet the Uniform Traffic Code warrants when pedestrians are present, enforcement may not be viewed favorably in court. A similar logic led to installation of stop signs at Grand Avenue and Hillcrest in Grand Haven five years ago. They remain in place.)
4. Recruit and fund crossing guards at a potential cost of $3,000 per school year. (This money is not easily found in today’s budget given the economy and shrinking tax rates/state revenue sharing. It is not anticipated that the Spring Lake School District or St. Mary’s will be able to pay either.)
Recommendation: Following the close of public comment, and discussion with Chief DeYoung, a Village Council member may now make a motion to how to address this stop sign after the Meridian Street construction.
C. Consideration of a Public Hearing for Approval of An Amendment to the Spring Court Planned Unit Development and to Adopt a Revised PUD Contract as well as Extend the Completion Deadline to December 31, 2012.
Subject: Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity owns the rights to develop this planned unit development. Habitat plans to start this year once a hoped-for grant is received. A new deadline is required thereby.
Recommendation: Following the close of public comment, and discussion with the Code Compliance and Planning Administrator, a Village Council member may now make a motion to address this resolution. (Roll call vote.)
VII. Report By the Village Manager
A. Consideration of a Motion to Accept the Best Proposal for Health Insurance from Shoreline Insurance Agency of Muskegon for a Potential Savings of Up to $34,805 and to Authorize the Village Clerk-Treasurer to Execute the Necessary Agreements as the Benefits Coordinator.
Subject: Village and City of Ferrysburg staff spent the winter and early spring discussing the health care cost containment options with four potential providers. Maribeth Lawrence, Village Clerk-Treasurer coordinated this effort. Her report and my recommendation is to convert the Village’s plan to become partially self-funded. Under this scenario, the Village would cover the large deductible in return for significantly lower premiums. Potential savings of up to $34,805 would be split between the City of Ferrysburg and the Village. This is roughly a 15% cost savings. The recommended proposal does not charge a third party administration fee at a savings of $6,241. On top of these savings, the best provider would fund the Village’s flex plan administration feed for another savings of $1,320.
This change of health insurance is recommended on top of the doubling of health share employee cost share of premium next fiscal year. The overall savings to the Village is estimated to become approximately $25,000 after allocating the respective benefits with the City of Ferrysburg. (A worst case scenario, should each employee and family member max out on their deductibles, would be for the Village and Ferrysburg to roughly break even. Such an outcome is unlikely given the references and experiences in other municipalities.)
A report with additional detail is attached.
Recommendation: A Village Council member may now make a motion to award the best proposal and to budget accordingly.
B. Consideration of a Motion to Approve A Policy for Gravel Driveway Elimination Through a Concrete Driveway Cost Share Program on Major and Local Streets.
Subject: This matter was discussed in the prior work session. The expense is not expected to become material as long as confined to Local Streets under construction or resurfacing.
Recommendation: A Village Council member may now approve a policy of cost sharing the cost to eliminate gravel driveways on Local Streets, when undergoing major resurfacing or reconstruction, effective immediately and to authorize any budget adjustments required thereby.
VIII. Reports from the Village Council
IX. Statements of Citizens
X. Reconvene the Work Session (if necessary)
XI. Adjournment
|