City Council Meeting - 2021-03-01

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — March 1, 2021 - Council approved the February 15 meeting minutes and city bills, then approved several 2021 community-event requests. Bowling Down Main Street is planned for April 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The farmers market is planned Saturdays from May 29 through October 16 and Wednesdays from June 2 through August 25, with requested police barricades/signage and beach bathrooms opened at 8 a.m. - Council approved a new Movies at the Park program for July 6 and July 20, planned from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Staff said movie titles would be run by staff before publicity. Members discussed sound, nearby neighbors, police concerns, and flexibility in selecting a park location; organizers said setup and screen orientation were still being developed. - Council approved Friday Music at the Park on July 16 and 23 and August 6 and 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Performances are planned as free public events. Event organizers were directed to comply with changing COVID-19 gathering and distancing requirements. - Council approved placing the Aha vessel at Shea Park, subject to Planning Commission requirements related to zoning or site review. The Historical Society said it is partnering with the Industrial Arts Institute, expects the vessel to be enclosed and powder coated, and reported that landscaping has been donated. - Council selected Concept 1 as the city’s final logo. Members asked staff to confirm that colors and fonts will reproduce clearly in print, letterhead, and other formats before the final version is released. - Council finalized a nine-member Marina Park Committee. The four resident appointees are Dana Mulder, Sharon Michalak, John Wayman, and Val Hosea. Scott Reese was named as an alternate if an appointee does not serve. - Council rejected the sole bid of just over $250,000 for the tree-base project and tabled the larger project. It authorized temporary improvements, such as flowers and maintenance, with a $5,000 cap. Council also authorized staff to pursue grants for the boardwalk project and adopted the city tree plan. Worth watching: - Staff and the DDA are to seek options and pricing for temporary tree-base improvements within the $5,000 cap. - The Aha vessel proposal still requires Planning Commission review. - Boardwalk grants and future project costs remain uncertain. Upcoming: Administrative Ordinance 21-01, covering temporary outdoor-business and public-space measures, runs through November 1, 2021. Why it matters: The council advanced summer activities, public-space projects, and long-term planning while deferring a costly downtown streetscape component.

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