City Council Meeting - 2021-12-06

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — December 6, 2021 - Council approved an ordinance creating a five-member advisory Parks Board. The board will advise council on park planning, programming, and management, and is expected to help develop a parks master plan. One council member and a student member are contemplated; staff hoped to organize a first meeting in January if enough members apply. - Council authorized a one-year contract with Franklin Energy to continue the city’s clean-energy program after the state mandate expires. Staff said the program would remain funded at roughly $75,000 annually through the electric fund and that Franklin Energy directs a larger share of funding to customer incentives than competing proposals. - The DDA reported expected 2021 revenue of about $100,000 and an expected year-end balance just over $100,000 after wages. It plans Ice Fest for February 11-12, 2022; downtown LED lighting improvements estimated at $20,328; and continued Merchant’s Walkway planning estimated at $50,000. The DDA said Emmet County has not paid its TIF capture since 2019, and the Attorney General will not intervene. - The city’s electric-system engineer warned that the existing Clayton Road substation, transformers, and distribution circuits face heavy summer-peak loading, limited backup capacity, and voltage concerns on two circuits. The proposed six-year capital plan includes a new substation, rebuilt transmission line, circuit upgrades, and other electric work. A substation location was not decided; council agreed the issue requires further public planning. - A proposed electric-rate plan would use roughly 3.3% overall annual adjustments for three years, with residential bills increasing somewhat more on average. No vote was taken; council expects to revisit rates December 20. - Staff presented a proposed 2022 budget that would reduce general-fund spending by about $130,000. Proposed changes include ending city brush and leaf pickup, temporarily eliminating lifeguards, and closing the ice rink. Staff said reductions are intended to rebuild reserves and support maintenance needs. Council members and residents raised questions about alternatives, including possible special assessments or future revenue measures. Worth watching: - Whether the city secures a grant for the western half of the boardwalk, estimated at $560,000, and what final design council chooses. - How council addresses urgent electric-system needs, including the spare-transformer plan, new-substation location, borrowing, and rate changes. - Whether proposed 2022 service reductions remain in the final budget. Upcoming: Public hearing on the proposed 2022 budget is scheduled for December 13; council expected to revisit the budget, capital plan, board appointments, and electric rates on December 20. Why it matters: The council is weighing near-term service cuts against major infrastructure, safety, and reserve-fund needs.

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