City Council Meeting - 2020-01-06

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — January 6, 2020 - Council approved the December 16 meeting minutes and approved payment of bills after members reported no issues. No members of the public spoke during the citizen-comment period. - Council selected Squire Electric for the East Dock electrical-pedestal upgrade at a stated cost of $55,720. Staff said the existing East Dock pedestals are decades old and failing. Five bids were received and evaluated by city staff using price, company location, relevant experience, and familiarity with Harbor Springs. Squire received the highest evaluation score, even though staff said its price was higher than other bidders. The Harbor Commission had identified the East Dock as the more urgent dock replacement, with West Dock work to be considered later. - Council approved a $17,328.87 proposal for media and audiovisual improvements in council chambers. The approved scope was described as a new higher-resolution projector and screen, an additional TV/monitor, and a ceiling-connected audio system for recording and playback. Staff had initially received substantially higher quotes and reduced the requested scope. Members said the added monitor would help attendees follow meeting materials and projected drawings. - Council adopted an ordinance described as banning puppy mills and restricting third-party sales of live animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and reptiles, in specified settings. The discussion indicated that animals bred and raised on a person’s or business’s premises may be sold under certain licensing or home-occupation provisions, and animal-protection organizations may offer animals for adoption. Staff said it had emailed a local pet shop and a humane society for comment but received no response. A wording question about “pet store” versus the defined term “pet shop” was raised before adoption. - The city manager reported a restructuring of the electric department. Rather than filling the superintendent position, the city will fill the vacant lineman-supervisor role with its current foreman. Some higher-level administrative duties will move to the DPW director, placing electric, streets, and water/sewer under DPW. The manager said the arrangement will be tried for a year; the supervisor position has a 90-day probationary period. A foreman vacancy and a lineman or apprentice opening are expected to be filled later, with a fifth electric-department employee needed by spring. - Staff said a full transition of the Blackbird Museum to the Historical Society is likely still a couple of years away. The city expects to negotiate a two-year Chamber lease renewal while the Chamber seeks another location. Staff also said the city is working toward online and credit-card payment capability. Worth watching: - Delivery and performance of the East Dock pedestal replacement. - Whether the electric-department restructuring works during its first year and after the 90-day probation period. - Follow-through on the Chamber lease, Blackbird Museum planning, and a possible future Chamber location. Upcoming: Staff expects to return with a Chamber lease-related item at a future council meeting; complete posted meeting schedules remain pending action by the ZBA and Planning Commission. Why it matters: The council advanced waterfront reliability, public-meeting accessibility, animal-sale regulation, and several operational changes affecting city services.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.