City Council Meeting - 2021-03-15

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — March 15, 2021 ATTENDEES: Al Dyka, Nancy Rondell, John Cox, John Leo, and Matt Moghera were recorded present at roll call. • Council approved the March 1 open- and closed-session minutes and approved payment of bills. It also approved the Harbor Springs Public Schools’ 45th annual Summer Art Show for July 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The event will require city assistance including mowing, a West Main Street closure, and police parking support. Organizers must follow any gathering rules in effect at the time. • The city manager presented requests for the Festival of the Book to use Marina Park and Zorn Park in late September, and for Knights of Columbus activities including Tootsie Roll Drives and July 4 food sales at Holy Childhood Church. The transcript does not clearly show final council votes on those requests. • United Way interim executive director Rebecca Otto described the ALICE report, which tracks households that are employed but below a household survival budget. She said the report’s Harbor Springs figure concerns households, not individuals, and urged city decision-makers to consider these needs during the master-plan process. She also highlighted the 24/7 211 resource-referral service. • Council gave the DDA direction to return with a detailed proposal for paid long-term parking at the Spring Street/Third Street public lot. The concept is intended to free some downtown street spaces and create revenue. Discussion included whether permits should serve employees, downtown residents, or both; how spaces would be allocated; and whether a first-year permit system could avoid the cost of a gate or clicker system. • Council reached general agreement to prepare a ballot proposal to restore the city’s authority to levy up to the 15-mill charter maximum, subject to language limiting any annual increase to one-half mill. Staff said proposed ballot language is targeted for the first May meeting. Members emphasized that this would provide future flexibility rather than automatically raise the millage. • Council approved purchase of a hybrid police utility vehicle from Signature Ford in Owosso for $54,639, including a replacement vehicle computer. The police department plans to compare its fuel use with another vehicle after it is in service. Council also reviewed electric-service work-order fee updates and re-established the personnel committee for the city manager evaluation process. Worth watching: • The DDA must return with parking-program costs, eligibility rules, enforcement details, and a first-year approach. • Staff must draft legally suitable Headlee-override ballot language and explain the proposal to the public. • The city expects possible COVID-related stimulus funds, but permitted uses were still being reviewed. Upcoming: The city manager evaluation is planned for the April 19 meeting; staff expects to issue the sidewalk-project RFP in the next couple of weeks. Why it matters: The council is weighing long-term revenue, parking access, and service investments while restarting public events.

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