City Council Meeting - 2023-03-20

Detailed briefing

City Council Meeting — March 20, 2023 ATTENDEES: John Leo, Nancy Rondell and Jamie Milkey answered roll call; Matt Baghera also answered roll call, though the transcript gives varying spellings. John Cups was reported absent. • Council approved the consent agenda and separately approved resolutions supporting two Michigan DNR grant applications due April 1. The Kiwanis Park request is for $225,000 toward a $300,000 project, with a stated $75,000 anonymous-donor match. Proposed scope includes ADA-accessible restrooms, an ice rink, rink storage and parking updates. The skate-park request is for $66,000 for landscaping and building windows; the city said Evergreen’s planned fall skate-park reconstruction is not part of that grant. • Officials said the applications use concept plans rather than final designs. If grants are awarded, council must return to accept the awards. The city would remain committed to the grant scope items, though details such as rink size, parking and playground placement could still be refined through later engineering and public meetings. • The Michigan Public Power Agency presented an overview of its work for Harbor Springs, including pooled power purchases, power-supply planning and capacity compliance. The presentation described a changing electric sector shaped by decarbonization, decentralized technology and customer demand. Staff said advanced metering infrastructure is in the city’s 2027-28 capital plan and that Harbor Springs joined other municipal utilities in a federal grant application. • Council supported moving ahead with a conceptual tree-planting plan along M-119 near Bay Bluffs and the skate/pickleball area. The plan uses arborvitae, tupelo and flowering crabapple, with possible reductions from the roughly 51 trees shown. The city reported about $10,000 already available, plus remaining tree donations, and expects further fundraising or grant efforts. Spring planting near Bay Bluffs is the goal, subject to tree availability. • Discussion of MDOT’s possible M-119 reroute did not produce a formal vote. Council members expressed strong concern about taking responsibility for the existing bluff route, including washout, infrastructure and liability risks. The discussion leaned against moving M-119 to Lake Street and toward asking MDOT for its reasons, relevant bluff studies and details of any possible agreement before considering further action. • A residents’ group presented a proposed donor-funded Zorn Park playground on the east side of the park, with ADA-oriented surfacing and new equipment. The presenter said $100,000 was available and a petition had exceeded 1,000 signatures. Council agreed to refer the concept to city staff and the Parks Board; any location change would require Planning Commission review. Worth watching: • Whether DNR awards either park grant and what final designs return to council. • MDOT’s response on M-119 bluff risks, studies and potential responsibility-sharing. • Staff and Parks Board review of the Zorn Park playground donation and location. Upcoming: DNR grant applications are due April 1; the Planning Commission is expected to revisit the proposed short-term-rental ordinance in April. Why it matters: The meeting advanced major park investments while leaving key decisions on road liability, utility modernization and Zorn Park design unresolved.

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