City Council Meeting - 2024-04-15

Detailed briefing

CITY COUNCIL — APRIL 15, 2024 • Council approved buying two gas-powered street-striping machines from Sherwin-Williams Petoskey for $17,749. The equipment was budgeted at up to $25,000. Staff said contracted striping has risen to about $30,000 annually, while doing the work in-house is estimated at about $15,000 per year, including labor and paint. Some work may require overtime, which staff said was included in the estimate. • A request to improve and maintain the alley between properties on Lake and Maple streets was not approved for immediate construction. Staff estimated drainage, grading and paving could exceed $50,000 and said the alley may be too constrained to meet street standards. By consensus, council directed staff to inventory city alleys, examine their uses and potential costs, and contact neighboring property owners. Staff expects to return in summer and before capital-improvement planning. A letter may also address parking that blocks alley access. • Council approved funding the first 12 trees in the Tree Board’s street-tree plan and using previously donated trees. The plan identified 57 high-priority trees, with contractor installation estimated at $34,000 and possible lower costs if city crews perform the work. Exact planting sites have not been finalized because utilities and available space must be checked. • Tree maintenance remains unresolved. The city arborist urged updated inventory data, proactive risk assessment, proper pruning and planting, staff education, watering, and species diversity. Council members emphasized maintaining existing and newly planted trees before spending heavily on a full inventory. Staff said training and public outreach are goals for the year, but no maintenance budget or inventory program was adopted. • Council approved reducing the estimated fee for Maureen Kenny’s extensive public-records request to $7,695.60. The reduction removed physical-copy and mailing costs, reduced estimated labor, and excluded attorney time. Staff estimated the request involves at least 1,000 records, several thousand pages and at least 90 hours of work. The fee was approved by roll-call vote. • The street-music application was approved without the proposed State Street location. Council questioned closing the street for small performances because of traffic, parking and staff demands. Organizers may return with performer information and possible alternative locations. Council also received an update on the proposed Little Traverse Wheelway underpass route, currently estimated at about $800,000; no project decision was made. Worth watching: • Staff’s alley inventory, neighbor outreach and recommendations before capital planning. • A workable maintenance and watering plan for new and existing city trees. • Wheelway fundraising, grant applications and the unresolved future route along Bay Street. Upcoming: The new parking system is expected to begin around June 1, and a transformer bid is expected to return to council June 3. Why it matters: Council committed funds to equipment and trees while postponing larger infrastructure choices until costs, locations and long-term maintenance are clearer.

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