City Council Meeting - 2020-05-04

Detailed briefing

City Council Meeting — May 4, 2020 • The manager reported paving scheduled for May 5, with paving on West Third Street scheduled for May 11. The West Third work had originally been scheduled for May 20 but was moved earlier. The manager said the timing should allow the work to be completed before the farmers market. • Ford Park site-plan work was continuing. Concrete was expected to be poured May 5, and sidewalk work for the dock was still in progress. The city had not received an updated delivery schedule for the ferry dock; the contractor had previously indicated July. A speaker said the city was second on the contractor’s list once work could resume. • The city hired electric lineman Jimmy Honeysett, who was to begin work May 4. The manager said Honeysett had previously worked for the city. City employees also were to receive official government-issued photo ID cards. • Staff said discussions had resumed on providing credit-card and online payments. The Tree Advisory Board had discussed species for the downtown tree-grate project, and a species list was nearing finalization. Contractors would choose species from that list. • Council discussed a proposed solar farm on Sewer Authority land. The manager said the issue had paused during COVID-related disruptions but would be restarted. Authority members were described as generally positive because a developer would pay the authority for the land and the authority could purchase electricity from the developer. Staff also said it would return to discuss solar on city buildings. • On roadway concerns, staff said Benchmark and Elmer’s had examined the area and reported no risk of collapse or failure in a flood, although standing-water leveling issues remained. Staff planned to speak with Benchmark about what changes might be needed to support pedestrian use under M-119 after a denial citing public safety and liability. • Staff will designate temporary 15-minute curbside-pickup spaces in downtown blocks for businesses offering takeout and curbside service. The spaces are expected to run through May 28. Staff said formal council approval was not needed and that signs or tripods would be used. Worth watching: • Whether the ferry-dock contractor confirms a delivery and installation schedule beyond the previously stated July timeframe. • Staff follow-through with Benchmark and Elmer’s on standing water, unfinished contract work, and potential pedestrian access under M-119. • The restart of Sewer Authority solar-farm discussions and a future city-building solar discussion. Upcoming: Paving was announced for May 5 and May 11; staff said curbside-pickup spaces would be placed during the week and run through May 28. Why it matters: The discussion focused on near-term downtown operations, infrastructure completion, and possible energy-cost and revenue opportunities.

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