City Council Meeting - 2021-01-18

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — January 18, 2021 - Council voted to let the city manager cancel a purchase agreement for a proposed land acquisition. Staff said the WLA board, through letters from the board and its attorneys, made clear it was unwilling to discuss releasing the property from its association. Council members said further pursuit was not productive. The city manager will notify the seller and dissolve the fundraising committee created around the potential acquisition. - Council directed staff to develop a detailed proposal for restoring general-fund millage capacity, along with a public education plan intended to support a possible November 2021 ballot question. Staff said Headlee-related rollback reductions have lowered the city’s operating millage as taxable values rose, while general-fund revenue is becoming insufficient to maintain existing operations and capital needs without deficits or service cuts. - A separate parks millage was discussed but not selected as the immediate direction. Several participants said a general-fund approach would provide greater flexibility for needs including parks, buildings, grounds, infrastructure and other city services. Staff said a parks millage or project bond could still be considered later. - Council approved Tri-County’s $127,800 bid for the Bull Moose Well connection project, including burial of electric lines. Staff said the bid was above the earlier estimate, but the work is more urgent than the East Third Street water-main project. The East Third project is proposed to move to the following year, when staff said no other water projects were anticipated. - Council approved annual assessing measures allowing taxpayers or agents to protest to the Board of Review by letter and allowing the assessor to waive penalties for late property-transfer affidavits when appropriate. It did not change the existing annual poverty-exemption application practice. Council also approved an MDOT performance resolution allowing designated staff to seek state right-of-way permits for construction, parades and closures. - A resident reported two encounters with off-leash aggressive dogs, including a recent fall that injured his wife, and asked council to review the city’s animal-control regulation. The police chief said the reported complaint had been filed and was being forwarded to the prosecutor; he described enforcement as largely complaint-driven. Worth watching: - Staff’s detailed general-fund millage analysis, ballot approach and voter education plan are expected to return to council. - The city’s response to the dog-related complaint and whether council considers changes to the local regulation. - The rescheduled East Third Street water/stormwater work and the status of broader parks funding. Upcoming: Master plan surveys were requested by January 21; staff said results were expected for the February 4 Planning Commission meeting. Public meetings were required to remain remote through February 1. Why it matters: Council is beginning a public process that could reshape the city’s ability to fund routine operations, maintenance and future capital priorities.

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