City Council Meeting - 2021-07-19

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — July 19, 2021 - Council approved the consent agenda. It later voted to enter closed session to consult the city attorney on trial or settlement strategy in Williams v. City and Potter v. City, stating that open discussion could harm the city’s litigation or settlement strategy. - Staff presented the city’s planned Headlee override ballot proposal for the November 2, 2021 election. The presentation said voters will be asked to restore the city’s charter-authorized maximum millage to 15 mills after years of Headlee rollbacks. Staff stressed that this would not automatically raise the levy to 15 mills: the proposal described a maximum annual change of 0.5 mill, subject to council action, a public hearing, and legal requirements. - The Headlee presentation described general-fund reserves of about $2.2 million, estimated to cover about eight months of operations. Staff said continued millage reductions could eventually force service reductions or delays in maintaining city buildings, parks, parking lots and other infrastructure. The general fund supports items including police, planning and zoning, parks, city hall operations, tree work, recycling and contracted services. - Council discussed updating the harbor plan, which was last updated in 2003. Members said updated information is needed on harbor properties, boat and dock activity, and landside constraints. The discussion favored beginning Harbor Commission consideration and research while coordinating with the city master plan and parks and recreation planning; no formal update schedule was adopted. - Council supported appointing Patrick Wise to the Tree Advisory Board after he attended a board meeting and expressed interest. Staff also said a new Zoning Board of Appeals application had arrived and would be brought forward at a future meeting. The city continues to seek a replacement for a Marina Park board vacancy, though staff said that vacancy was not urgent. - Staff announced that Methodist Church parking-lot surface improvements had begun, while pickleball-court repaving was delayed by supply backorders. The pickleball project received $7,800 in donations and a $1,000 Community Foundation grant. Staff also introduced new full-time police officer Nick Strobel and new Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Roon. Worth watching: - Whether voters approve or reject the November 2 Headlee override proposal. - Harbor Commission follow-through on an updated harbor-plan process and data collection. - Staff research and a requested next-meeting discussion on Zoll Street Beach use, including dog-related health and safety concerns. Upcoming: A Planning Commission public information session on short-term rentals is scheduled for August 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at City Hall. Why it matters: The meeting linked future city service levels, maintenance capacity, harbor planning and beach safety to decisions and follow-up still ahead.

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