City Council Meeting - 2020-06-01

Detailed briefing

City Council Meeting — June 1, 2020 ATTENDEES: Roll call recorded Mike Naterkas, John Leo, John Capps, Matt Moghera, and CeCe Johnston. • Council approved the May 18 open-session and closed-session minutes and approved payment of bills. The meeting began with public-comment procedures for remote participation by phone and YouTube. • Council recognized retiring Officer Matt Pater for his service to Harbor Springs. Police Chief Kyle Knight described Pater’s employment history and community involvement; Pater said most of his police career had been spent in Harbor Springs and thanked the community for its support. • On Fourth of July activities, council heard competing views about safety, crowding, the difficulty of enforcing distancing, fundraising requirements, and whether a fireworks barge could be moved. The council voted to cancel the fireworks. Staff later stated that the parade was canceled, and council separately voted to cancel the art fair. • Council extended the waiver of late utility-payment penalties through September 15. Staff said most customers were continuing to pay regularly and that late-payment penalties were not a significant financial issue for the city. • City Hall was announced to reopen to the public June 8, with distancing rules and guidelines to be posted online and at the entrance. Public-restroom operations were also discussed: Ford Park and Harbor Master facilities had opened, while City Beach restroom hours were planned to begin June 13. • Council asked staff and the Planning Commission to examine temporary business and public-space changes related to COVID-19. Topics include expanded outdoor dining, temporary retail displays in private parking spaces, temporary signs, construction obstructions, shade sails at Marina Park, and possible sanitizer stations. Council also directed staff to adjust curbside-pickup spaces, while retaining a space behind Kilwins for pharmacy customers. Worth watching: • Whether the Planning Commission recommends temporary rules for sidewalk dining, private parking-space displays, signs, construction, Marina Park shade sails, and City Beach landscaping. • Whether staff can obtain and maintain sanitizer stations, given reported supply limits for sanitizer refills. • Whether the mayor appoints one of two interested residents to the Planning Commission vacancy. Upcoming: City Hall is scheduled to reopen June 8; City Beach restroom hours are scheduled to begin June 13; Planning Commission meetings will include master-plan-only sessions on the first Thursday as well as regular meetings. Why it matters: The council’s actions curtailed major summer gatherings while extending limited financial relief and considering temporary changes intended to help downtown activity operate more safely.

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