City Council Meeting - 2020-12-21

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — December 21, 2020 ATTENDEES: Council members Nancy Rondell, Matt Bugera, John Copps, Al Daika, and John Leo were recorded present. • Council approved the 2021-2026 Capital Improvements Plan. Revisions include the Tree Great project in 2021, the Judd Hill Wall on the plan, and boardwalk repair remaining in 2022 while the city pursues a boardwalk grant application in 2021. • Council adopted the amended 2020 budget and proposed 2021 budget. Staff said the main revisions included $100,000 for the tree-based project and minor fire-chief wage adjustments. Council also approved payment of bills. • SolarWinds was selected for the city’s solar project at the fire hall, skate park building, and Josephine Ford Park building. Four bids were reviewed. Discussion focused on experience, proximity, pricing, warranties, roof capacity, system design, and estimated production. Staff said it had checked references and received positive feedback. • Council adopted Ordinance 426, making regulated freestanding signs and outdoor displays of goods permanent. The rules include one freestanding sign per establishment, a maximum sign size of six square feet, a six-foot unobstructed pedestrian path, and limits on the size and placement of outdoor merchandise displays. • Council adopted Ordinance 427 to close a zoning loophole affecting tall fences and walls. The amendment limits fences and walls to four feet between building lines and front property lines, with rear-area limits described in the ordinance. • Council did not adopt the proposed short-term-rental ordinance. Members asked staff to return with a revised version removing proposed single-family, two-person-per-bedroom, and daytime occupancy provisions for now. The remaining draft provisions addressed issues including fire-code requirements, trash, parking, insurance, and rental advertising. Staff will develop more detailed complaint tracking to inform a later review. • Council adopted a resolution encouraging mask use in public and compliance with health-department orders. Staff also reported that online tax payments by credit card are available, with a website link being completed; utility-bill online payments may follow if the tax-payment rollout works well. Worth watching: • Staff must return with a revised short-term-rental ordinance and more detailed complaint information. • The city is awaiting a February decision on a grant that could provide up to $100,000 for the solar project. • Land-acquisition grant work will require upcoming plans, meetings, resolutions, assessments, appraisals, and matching funds. Upcoming: Staff expects to bring a Tree Plan to council in January and will continue advertising the open Tree Advisory Board seat. Why it matters: The meeting set 2021 spending and infrastructure priorities while leaving key short-term-rental limits open for further public-policy review.

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