City Council Meeting - 2024-07-15

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council — July 15, 2024 ATTENDEES: All five council members answered roll call; city staff, Chief Knight, the city attorney, the project architect, and substation property owners also participated. • Council approved the consent agenda by voice vote, including the June 17 and June 21 meeting minutes as corrected and the city’s bills. No opposition was heard. • Chief Knight presented citizen lifesaving awards to Marty McGregor and Mike Gary for their response when Paul Biani collapsed during American Legion parade practice on May 22. They determined he had no pulse and began CPR before an officer arrived with an automated external defibrillator. CPR continued until EMS arrived, Biani regained a pulse, and he was transported to the hospital. The council was told that he made a full recovery. • Two bids for renovating the Harbor Master building came in far above the approximately $600,000 Waterfront Fund contribution previously contemplated. Gordon Construction Services submitted a bid of about $1.97 million; the transcript is unclear on the exact amount of the other bid. Staff cited higher construction costs, plumbing and mechanical needs, expanded project scope, material choices, and limited contractor preparation time. Council supported reducing the scope, involving the Harbor Commission and a council representative, and allowing a longer rebidding period. No construction contract was awarded. • The electric substation and transmission project is now estimated at approximately $6.621 million, about $223,000 above the earlier estimate, primarily because of transformer cost. Property owners requested $30,000 for the needed land, legal-fee recovery, vegetative screening, and protection against future annexation. • After discussing the property matter in closed session, council said it could not commit to never annexing the property, although it has no current interest in annexation. Negotiations are to continue over the purchase terms and vegetative screening so the project can move forward. • Staff announced that Kosequat Park renovation design proposals are being sought through July 25. Physical copies of the city newsletter will also be available monthly at the Harbor Springs Library. Work continues on an alley inventory and on options to improve sound for people attending meetings in Council Chambers. Worth watching: 1. Whether a reduced Harbor Master building scope produces affordable bids without sacrificing durable public facilities. 2. Final property, screening, easement, and financing arrangements for the substation project. 3. The pending Potter litigation; council entered closed session to discuss strategy, but no outcome was reported in the transcript. Upcoming: Kosequat Park renovation design proposals are due July 25. Why it matters: Council is balancing major waterfront and electric-system upgrades against available reserves, borrowing concerns, and long-term infrastructure needs.

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