City Council Meeting - 2024-06-03

Detailed briefing

HARBOR SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL — June 3, 2024 ATTENDEES: Michael Bearman, Matt O'Gara, Jamie Melky, Kathy Macho and Nancy Rondell; a quorum was confirmed. • Council adopted Ordinance 2024-01, temporarily allowing outdoor display of goods through October 31 under language drawn from the prior zoning code. The temporary measure gives the Planning Commission and Downtown Development Authority time to develop recommendations for permanent rules. The roll call recorded five yes votes. • Council renewed Emmet County Recycling Services’ curbside agreement for three years. Weekly collection covers approximately 861 residential addresses. The price is expected to rise from $3.35 to about $3.60 per unit per month, increasing the city’s monthly cost from about $2,900 to $3,100, or roughly $37,000 annually. The roll call recorded five yes votes. • Emmet County reported collecting 661,000 pounds of recycling within the city last year across more than 14,000 stops. The county said approximately 95% of processed material supplies Michigan factories. Buildings with more than four residences are treated as commercial accounts and are not covered by the city’s residential service. • Council selected Virginia Transformer for the substation transformer, contingent on successful contract negotiations. Virginia was approximately $40,000 to $44,000 more expensive than Niagara Transformer, but its delivery estimate was 70 to 75 weeks. Niagara’s estimated delivery time was at least 3.5 years and potentially five years. The roll call recorded five yes votes. • Staff said the transformer is approximately $200,000 above the 2023 estimate, potentially increasing the projected substation project cost from about $6.4 million to $6.6 million before construction bids. Staff is awaiting a response concerning the proposed property and still must discuss a revised easement with the neighboring property representative. • Staff expects the Judd project to be completed by its June 15 contract deadline and said the selected Spring Street sidewalk section remains on course for completion by June 21. Ribbon cuttings were announced for the Zorn Beach playground on June 22 and the skate park on June 26. Worth watching: 1. Final transformer contract terms, cost and delivery schedule. 2. Property donation and easement discussions needed for the substation site. 3. Permanent outdoor-display and signage recommendations from the Planning Commission and DDA. Upcoming: Police accreditation exit interview Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.; Zorn Beach playground ribbon cutting June 22; skate park ribbon cutting June 26. Why it matters: The meeting advanced recycling, downtown commerce and electric infrastructure decisions with significant service, timing and cost implications.

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