City Council Meeting - 2021-12-20

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — December 20, 2021 • Council approved the consent agenda and completed a broad round of board and commission appointments. Cora Ann Smith was appointed to the DDA; Karen Stroh was reappointed to the Tree Board; Bob Thoma was appointed to the Planning Commission after a motion to reappoint Jack Deegan failed. Council also made appointments to the Harbor Commission, Parks Board, ZBA, and sewer authority. John Copps was selected by consensus as the council representative to the Parks Board. • Council adopted the capital improvements plan. Members asked that future plans be published earlier and promoted more broadly, including notice for residents who may not rely on the internet. Council discussed keeping the boardwalk a priority if funding becomes available, while recognizing that the current plan reflected prior funding expectations. • Council approved an electric rate design described as a 3.3% overall increase over the next three years. The discussion stated that the prior electric rate adjustment was in 1996. • Council adopted the proposed 2022 budget and amended 2021 budget. Changes described included a $125,000 transfer from the historical fund to the general fund; restoration of $29,000 for brush and refuse pickup, $46,000 for leaf pickup, and $45,000 for beach operations; and removal of a $15,000 transfer to the historical fund. Staff said the resulting operating surplus was about $8,000. • Council supported continued negotiation of a contract for a school resource officer, rather than approving a final position that night. The school district was said to offer 75% of the cost, with the city covering 25% because the officer would work for the city during summer months. The police chief said he would pursue grants and first post the position internally. • Council increased the short-term rental fee from $250 to $400. Staff said the increase was intended to cover anticipated monitoring, administration, enforcement, and materials costs as the city develops updated procedures. More complete short-term rental ordinance and process recommendations are expected in January. Worth watching: • Whether the school resource officer contract returns to council for final approval, including funding and any grant support. • Whether short-term rental rules, enforcement procedures, and public-feedback work are finalized in January. • Whether boardwalk funding or a grant changes the timing of that project. Upcoming: The city manager plans to bring paid-parking discussion to the January 17 council meeting; floodplain-related resolutions and regulations are expected in coming months. Why it matters: The meeting set 2022 budget and rate decisions while advancing public-safety, housing-regulation, recreation, and infrastructure work.

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