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Work Session
Discussion Items
·
Agenda Review:
This is the
opportunity to discuss any changes to the Regular Agenda, which follows
tonight, or to remove items from the Consent Agenda for discussion.
·
Review of Response from the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund for the Lakeside Trail Gap
Completion Grant Request
The Grant Coordinator
provided a preliminary score of our application of 195. She indicated this was about average. We have until September 30th to
answer the following questions. The
answers might improve our scores:
1. Prove
that we have, or will have, control of the route. This is problematic given the fluid nature
of the current activities on the sites.
Nevertheless, several optional routes over which we can have complete
control are being developed by Pam Blough, Landscape Architect. They are to the north over Liberty Street
and to the south along Savidge. There
is a time and materials cost to this extra work. It might be necessary anyway if we did not get the grant.
2. Prove
that there are no environmental problems with a trail over the planned
route. Our environmental
consultant contacted the MDEQ and we will be receiving a letter noting the
same.
3. Prove
that the route will be safe and attractive since it crosses parking
lots. The route will be clearly
defined and safely cross parking lots and drive lanes. There is a time and materials cost to this
extra work. It might be necessary
anyway if we did not get the grant.
4. Prove
that there will be enhanced access to significant natural resources. The addition of 650 feet of waterfront
views and the potential to access to Rex Street End in a later phase will be
stressed.
5. Use
of Inland Water Resources: Same as
above.
6. Wildlife
Viewing/Education Area: Same as
above.
7. Prove
the population served is greater than 1,943.
This is easy since there was a typo. I am also trying to prove that Ferrysburg, Fruitport Village
and Fruitport Township have been integral to this Path’s development and the
Gap completion and their population included also.
Your review and
suggestions are appreciated. The
additional application costs needed are being determined as of press time and
I will advise you at the meeting.
·
Preliminary Review of a Groundwater
Protection Ordinance
Village Council
approval of a Groundwater Protection Ordinance is a prerequisite for the MDEQ
to sign off on the remedial action plan for two properties associated with
the above bike path route. In return,
one property owner will ensure that the path’s route will be part of that
resolution.
The ordinance is
lengthy and is in the Clerk’s office for review. The attorney for the property owner is now reviewing. If found acceptable, this ordinance will
appear on an upcoming agenda.
·
Update on Michigan Economic Development
Commission (MEDC) Grant Request to Assist in Redevelopment of Harbor Steel
Following review of
this item at the last Council Work Session, I submitted the attached
letter.
Two new developments
have occurred: the MEDC requested
clarifications on the “incentives” possible through brownfield and single
business tax credits. They want to
avoid “over incentivizing”.
The answer is the
applicant is only seeking the infrastructure grant for a streetscape. They are not seeking single business tax
credits. If the Village does a
Brownfield TIF, it can only involve Village tax capture. The applicant intends to revise his
building elevations to tie into the Village’s downtown look. His intent is to provide an integrated,
Village commercial, look and feel.
(Caveat: I wonder how this
will impact residential property to the east?)
Secondly, I contacted
a design professional to get a reality check on the cost. The first professional said the cost per
linear foot is about $500. This
includes, pavers, sidewalk, irrigation, landscaping, lights, etc.
As an alternative, I
contacted a company that just completed a similar project to get a handle on
the electrical costs only. The cost
per light can be $2,000 each for a possible total of one every 100 feet, or
$28,000 over 1,400 feet . When the
conduit cost and bases are added, the
linear foot cost for the fixtures conduit is estimated to be $ 40 per foot or about $60,000 total.
Options
1. If
the 1,400 foot distance gets the full
streetscape treatment, then a larger local match will be required to meet the
job total cost of approximately $700,000.
Relatedly, the south
side should be matched over time and a similar expense would be required,
unless only lights were provided. If
this were the case, then $40 per linear foot would be necessary there also
for an additional $60,000.
2. If
the full-fledge project is desired, we may need to scale it down to just
lights for $60,000 or something else in order to make ends meet. The alternative is to borrow, go for TEA
21 MDOT grants and/or do a special assessment.
Neither borrowing nor
use of any non-TIF funds is recommended under any circumstances.
More to follow once I
hear back from the MEDC prior to the meeting.
·
Review of Annual Trolley Tour
Two decisions need to
be made. The first is that the
trolley is no longer available in the evenings, given events out of Harbor
Transit controls. They can start at 4
PM and be done by 6 PM or we can hire a trolley service at several
hundred dollars and start whenever we want or we can borrow a Church
bus.
The second decision
is whether to do a whirlwind tour like previous years or focus on some
key problem/success areas. If we do
the latter, the Local Street issues could use some neighborhood and Council
input (Barber Street and Longview Street neighborhoods in particular).
In any event, John
and I are planning to use the occasion to honor George Donner through a stop
to dedicate the new drinking fountain and dog fountain along Lakeside Trail
at Lake Avenue.
Two options exist for
dates: September 20th,
in lieu of a Council meeting, or October 11th in between Council
meetings.
At the conclusion of
the tour, we can return to Village Hall, Upstairs Conference Room, to conduct
our Annual Goal-Setting.
·
Replacement of the Village
Representative on Coast Guard Festival Committee
Matt Butler is no
longer a Village resident. I asked
that he continue his representation of the Village through the Festival
pending a Council discussion of a replacement in September.
Would you like to ask
Matt to continue or appoint a replacement that lives in the
Village? The responsibilities include
monthly meetings, communicating with the staff and Council and an assignment
during the Festival week to conduct.
·
Miscellaneous Announcements or Status
Reports
o
Old Public Works Garage Sale &
Zoning Ordinance Amendment
o
Harbor Steel Redevelopment
o
Kieft Property Redevelopment
o
Fruitport Road and Savidge Redevelopment
o
Rite Aid
o
Downtown Master Plan Implementation
Steps
o
Parking on North Side of Exchange
Between Cutler and School (10 cars)
o
Day of Caring (9/23) – Volunteers?
o
Rental of Village Hall Space: $3/common area fee & $15/sf;
negotiable?
Upcoming Agenda Items (Tentative)
September 20
Trolley Tour
October 4
Plan for Permanent
Display of Village Leaders’ Pictures
Public Dumpsters
Behind Village Hall serving the former Rich’s redevelopment and businesses on
Savidge (permission to use Village property and build them)
October 18
TBD
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