City Council Meeting - 2024-02-05

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council — February 5, 2024 • Council approved the consent agenda after adding language to the ZBA bylaws stating that a regular ZBA member may also be a Planning Commission member, aligning the bylaws with the zoning code and Planning Commission rules. • The Police Department annual report said the department maintained 24-hour, year-round service in 2023 despite being one officer short. The chief reported 308 written reports, down from 953 in 2017 because officers no longer write reports for every traffic stop or vehicle unlock; logged activity rose to 13,883 events. The department made 744 traffic stops and handled 69 crashes. The chief said internet and phone scams are expected to keep increasing and that public education is the main available response. • Council agreed in principle to aim for a May 2025 vote on city charter amendments. The proposed changes were described as largely housekeeping updates, such as removing outdated references. Members wanted to avoid having a long local ballot question get lost in the 2024 presidential-election cycle. Staff will continue work with the Attorney General’s office and return with a formal resolution. • Council approved purchase of a new 2024 street sweeper through the state MiDeal program, at a stated price of roughly $275,000 after discount. Staff said the new unit would handle wet debris, leaves and gravel better than the city’s current sweeper and could support more regular downtown cleaning. The current machine will be offered for surplus sale. • Council approved a revised Old City Hall lease with the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society. The lease is for 15 years, with up to two 10-year renewals. The society pays $10 per year and remains responsible for maintenance and repairs. Discussion noted that renewal would depend on good cause and good-faith negotiation rather than being automatic. • The Historical Society presented, but did not seek action on, a proposal to expand Blackbird Museum operations. It proposed a full-time coordinator and museum-development work, with the city adding $15,000 annually to the current $34,000 arrangement and the society contributing a matching $15,000. The museum has been open Thursday through Saturday for two years, and the society reported a 27% visitor increase over that period. Worth watching: • Whether the charter-amendment ballot can be prepared for May 2025 after state review. • Whether council and the Historical Society reach a Blackbird Museum agreement before the current arrangement expires in April. • Results of the survey and negotiations for the proposed electrical substation site. Upcoming: Planning Commission public hearings on zoning-code updates are scheduled for February 8 and February 15; the next council meeting is February 19. Why it matters: The meeting committed city funds to long-life equipment while setting up future decisions on governance updates, historic assets, infrastructure and land use.

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