AGENDA
Spring Lake Village
October 5, 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: Presentation by Shelia Addison of the Spring Lake Wesleyan Church regarding Promotion of their Volunteer Day In Advance of Saturday November 7th (Chalk on sidewalks.)
V. Consent Agenda
A. Consideration of a Motion approving the payment of the bills in the amount of $110,427. (The big ticket items are the annual Meridian Street progress payment for $33,082 and the Lake Avenue progress payment for $12,506.)-- (Attachment A).
B. Consideration of a Motion to approve the minutes for September 21, 2009 (Attachment B).
C. Consideration of a Motion to Set a Public Hearing for Monday, October 21st at 7:30 PM at Barber School, 102 West Exchange Street to Consider Adoption of An Ordinance to Prohibit Outdoor Wood-Burning Furnaces. (This matter was previously discussed in the September 21st work session. See attached ordinance.)
D. Consideration of a Motion to Award the Dump Body for a 2010 International Single Axle Cab and Chassis Straight, Heavy Duty (36,000 lbs gross vehicle weight )Plow Truck to the Second Lowest and Best Bid to Truck and Trailer Specialties of Dutton, Michigan in the Amount of $38,306 and to Authorize the Village Manager to Execute a Purchase Order. (This replacement dump truck chassis and snow plow vehicle bid was approved at the last Council meeting. Award of a dump body bid will complete the process. The recommended bidder is the better purchase since it includes a five year warranty, instead of one year, thicker steel, a larger dump box, and better controls. See the attached comparison. The second low bid is $668 higher than Shultzs Equipment, Inc of Ithaca, Michigan. This dump body purchase will complete the replacement process for the existing 1984 F800 Ford model. When added to the $61,790 previously approved for the replacement chassis, the combined cost is $10,000 below the $110,000 budget.)
E. Consideration of a Motion to Authorize a Resolution to Reconnect One Street light for Public Safety Purposes, to Authorize Such changes in the Street lighting Contract with Consumers Power and to Authorize the Village Manager to Execute the Construction work Order. (The lack of an energized light at 721 River is causing repeated issues for the neighbors and walkers. President Filber asked that it be turned back on given that there are no sidewalks on River Street. The remaining turned-off lights are not causing any problems to our knowledge and will remain off until a public meeting on this matter once the trial period comes to a close on October 19, 2009.)
F. Consideration of A Motion to Advertise a Second Public Hearing Regarding Reactivation of the Commercial Redevelopment Act (1978 PA 255, MCL 207.652 et seq. as "sunsetted" in 1985) for October 19, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Barber School, 102 West Exchange, and Designation of the Central Business District Development Area as the Requisite Redevelopment District so as to Attract Additional Economic Development. (Although individual letters to the other taxing units went out, this second hearing is needed to ensure that the general public is made aware of this hearing.)
G. Consideration of a Motion to Approve a Budget Amendment for up to $3,000 for Emergency Removal of Trees or Tree Trimming. (The annual tree removal program and the August 9th storm depleted this $15,000 budget item. Two dangerous trees were recently brought to the Village’s attention that need removal/major trimming: 220 Barber and 217 South Lake. With this budget adjustment, sufficient funds will remain to assist with other removal needs that may come to our attention this fall and winter.)
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 a Public Hearing to Discuss Reactivation of the Commercial Redevelopment Act (1978 PA 255, MCL 207.652 et seq. as "sunsetted" in 1985) and Approval of a Resolution to Designate the Central Business District Development Area (CBDDA) as the Redevelopment District so as to Attract Additional Economic Development.
Subject: The intent of the law is to allow a 50% reduction in property taxes for a set period of time, not to exceed 12 years, upon application and approval of an eligible project within a proposed redevelopment district, for the purpose of stimulating new commercial development or redevelopment. The proposed Commercial Redevelopment District is coterminous with the existing Central Business District Development Area boundaries.
The Central Business District Development Authority discussed this matter on several occasions and recommended it to the Village Council for adoption.
Each application would be discussed and approved separately by the Village Council, as you would do now for any industrial facility property tax exemptions. The length of term can be up to 12 years. (Six years is recommended as a more fiscally conservative route. Six years would still be long enough to cover capital start up costs.) Approval of this designation would make any new development or redevelopment, due north or south of Savidge in the Village of Spring Lake’s commercial central business district, eligible for an application. See attached resolution, map and legal description.
(A second public hearing was added on the Consent Agenda for the October 19th meeting to ensure proper advertising to the general public. This hearing above is still needed since individual invitations to comment were sent to all of the other taxing units for this date already.)
Recommendation: Following public comment, a motion to close the public hearing is in order. Following the close of public comment, the Village Council may discuss the term of the potential tax rate reduction and move to include this term in the draft Resolution (Six years is recommended). (Roll call vote.)
B. Consideration of a Public Hearing Regarding an Ordinance to Amend the Spring Lake Village Zoning Ordinances by Adding a New Chapter 25 Concerning Wind Energy Turbines and Approval of Such Ordinance.
Subject: The Planning Commission determined that the maximum height of a wind turbine tower should be 50 feet (including the blades). Ottawa County reviewed the Planning Commission’s recommendation and said a better height is 30 feet above tree/surrounding building levels. (No changes were made yet to the recommended ordinance, however.)
Since “shadow flicker” was raised as an issue at the work session on September 15, 2009, language was inserted on page 5 to limit this potential effect. See Section 25.4 (A) (5).
Recommendation: Following public comment, a motion to close the public hearing will be in order. Following the close of public comment, the Village Council may discuss the question of height and a Village Council member may now make a motion to approve the attached ordinance to amend the Zoning Code by adding a new Chapter 25 concerning wind energy turbines.
VII. Report By the Village Manager
A. Consideration of a Motion to Approve a Comprehensive Ethics Policy.
Subject: This policy was discussed in the prior work session.
Recommendation: A Village Council member may now make a motion to adopt one of the alternative ethics policies presented in work session.
B. Consideration of a Motion to Amend the Public Improvement Fund Budget to Provide for Replacement Trees.
Subject: The Village budgeted for reforestation of the 200 East Savidge block of Lakeside Trail in the amount of $8,000. Some of these trees are now needed elsewhere due to the normal removal process as well as the August 9th storm. It is anticipated that approximately 45 trees total are needed. To accomplish this goal, a smaller caliper of 2 inches can be bid for approximately $10,000 total. An alternative is to bid the usual 3 inch caliper tree for about $16,000.
These funds are available in the Public Improvement Fund given the reduction in cost for the Whistle Stop Playground refurbishment from $25,000 to $5,000. (Remember that the Consent Agenda includes extra tree removal funds of $3,000 as well, from $15,000 to $18,000.)
Recommendation: A Village Council member may now make a motion to amend the Public Improvement Fund’s Whistle Stop Playground from $25,000 to $5,000; Lakeside Trail reforestation from $8,000 to $6,000 and the Tree Planting Program from $0 to $10,000 for smaller caliper trees than usual due to economic circumstances. (Roll Call vote.)
VIII. Reports from the Village Council
IX. Statements of Citizens
X. Reconvene the Work Session (if necessary)
XI. Adjournment
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper (40% energy savings
|