City Council Meeting - 2020-11-02

Detailed briefing

City Council Meeting — November 2, 2020 - Council approved a two-year renewal for Dock and Dredge to operate from Ford Park. The annual license fee remains $5,000, with revised provisions intended to address concerns about the barge boom, timing of operations, and parking so views are not blocked. A public commenter questioned whether the rate is fair to taxpayers. Harbor Commission representatives said the rate was connected to work the company performs for the city and that the arrangement helps avoid more barges in the bay. - Council renewed the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Foundation license at Ford Park at the established $1,000 fee. Staff reported no major operational concerns during the prior season. The ferry company was reported to be paying for damage to part of the dock. - Council adopted 2021 waterfront and marina rate recommendations. Changes include increases for transient slips and moorings, a 3% increase for seasonal slips and moorings, doubled commercial launch-ramp permit rates, and a $50 increase for kayak-rack and non-seasonal dinghy space. Members said future discussions should be supported by better information on commercial launch-ramp usage. - Council approved moving ahead with a pickleball-court project estimated at about $25,800. The project would create two resurfaced courts within the existing footprint, add fencing, and include related items. The city asked pickleball supporters to make a good-faith effort to raise donations; supporters said they would pursue funding. Staff said prompt commitment could allow work in early summer. - Council rejected two sidewalk-repair bids because both contractors said they could only perform the work in spring. Instead, staff was directed to rebid a combined $50,000 project covering the current and next-year sidewalk work. - Council approved a one-year employee health-care premium opt-out, meaning the city would cover 100% of premiums while employees would still pay deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. Staff said rising health costs were reducing take-home pay and harming recruitment and retention. The city plans further discussion of longer-term health-care options and administrative charges to enterprise funds. Worth watching: - Whether waterfront revenues, bonding, and capital planning can shorten the roughly five-year harbormaster building timeline. - Whether commercial launch-ramp usage data leads to future rate changes. - Whether pickleball fundraising and contractor scheduling keep the project on track for early summer. Upcoming: Staff will rebid sidewalk repairs, continue budget and capital-improvement planning, and revisit employee health-care funding options. Why it matters: The meeting set near-term public-waterfront, recreation, infrastructure, and employee-cost priorities while leaving major waterfront funding decisions unresolved.

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