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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 the Building Fund Balance,
Contracted Building Inspection Services, Costs Incurred and Fees Charged
The
Village Council discussed the cost of building inspection services not being
covered by fee revenue during the budget last spring. As a result, the building permit fees were
adjusted and we concluded it was important to look at the contracted services
also.
The
contracted services are covered differently depending upon the
contractor. These special contractual
services include electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections.
The
amount of fees charged for the entire Building Fund last year was $
54,046. The Fund had expenditures of
$$71,220 for an operating loss on the year of $17,174. As a result, the cash balance is
projected to be close to zero in the FY 04 Audit. These numbers include a transfer from the General Fund to pay
for the Building Fund’s share of the Village office renovation. This transfer needs to paid back over
time. A future operating deficit
cannot be sustained. This revenue/expenditure differntial
problem will need to begin to be addressed by our fee structure in the next
month or so.
Two
steps are planned:
1. As
discussed in last year’s budget, standardize our contractual
inspectors’ fees. Some inspectors are
getting more than others for similar effort. This is due to long-standing practices that were not looked at
comprehensively before. Attahced is a potential standardized agreement;
and
2. Look
at increasing the contractual fees to reflect the costs to the Village of
such inspections. (The fees for other
non-contractual permits were already adjusted in former budgets.)
With
significant additional time and expenditures associated with new developments, it is important to
ensure that the Village’s costs are covered.
The Building
Department is discussing this standardization with the service providers and
will provide necessary feedback tonight. The Village Council will want to receive this
information and then take it under advisement until a subsequent meeting when
specific contract agreements and fees will be recommended.
·
Review of a Request to Consider
Opposition to House Bill 4358 Pertaining to Increasing Truck Limits on MDOT
Streets (M-104)
The Michigan
Municipal League and many of Michigan’s communities are opposing this
legislation. It would increase the
length of trucks on Michigan roads to 65 feet, allow trucks to travel over
any road in the state and reduce the penalty of overweight trucks.
See attached resolution that other
communities are approving. A copy
edited for the Village of Spring Lake is on your regular agenda if you would
like to proceed.
·
Review of Annual Goals
Attached are the
goals from last year and the results.
Your review and update will be sought tonight. We did not have time to conclude this
matter after the Annual Tour on September 20th.
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Miscellaneous Announcements or Status
Reports
o
M-104 Access Management Study and
Crockery & SLT
o
Joint Meeting with Planning Commission
(January 10)
o
Rite Aid
o
Harbor Steel Redevelopment Streetscape
Engineer/Landscape Architect Selection Process
o
Development Agreement with Oosting
Construction
o
Maple Terrace Road Reconstruction
Meeting
Upcoming Agenda Items (Tentative)
November 15
Lakeside Trail Bike
Path Gap Easement
Development Agreement
for Oosting Construction and the Old Public Works Building
December 6
Public Dumpsters
Behind Village Hall serving the former Rich’s redevelopment and businesses on
Savidge (permission to use Village property and build them)
Set a public hearing
on Downtown zoning changes
December 20
Downtown Master Plan
Zoning Changes
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