City Council Regular Meeting

Detailed briefing

City Council Regular Meeting — December 9, 2024 • Council held a public hearing on the amended 2024 budget and proposed 2025 budget. Staff said the city budgets conservatively and has met its policy of keeping approximately nine months of general-fund cash available. Council did not adopt the budget at this meeting; a vote was scheduled for December 16. • The 2025 proposal anticipates about $250,000 less general-fund revenue than in 2024, primarily because it does not assume another $500,000 donation. The earlier donation is restricted to renovation of the Kiwanis Park building and is expected to increase parks spending when used. • The fire budget includes roughly $100,000 for the Fire Authority to try to hire a full-time firefighter. Officials said declining volunteer availability and slow daytime response contributed to the proposal. Because participating townships reimburse part of the expense, the city's estimated share was stated as about $25,000. • Staff presented the 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Plan as a planning document, not authorization to spend. Major work discussed included the electric substation and related line improvements, plus State Street water, sewer and street infrastructure. Council is expected to consider the plan on December 16. • For sidewalks, the public works director proposed using $5,000 to $10,000 for smaller repairs in 2025 and saving the rest of the annual sidewalk allocation toward a larger West Hill project in 2026. That project was estimated at $70,000 to $100,000. The director said East Bluff has cracks and uneven areas but did not currently meet the city's stated liability threshold for an unsafe trip hazard. • Council adopted Ordinance 440 to readopt the zoning code that existed before repealed Ordinance 439. Council also voted to terminate the zoning-permit moratorium. Legal counsel said Ordinance 440 has a waiting period after publication but maintained that the former code had already been revived. Worth watching: 1. Final changes and votes on the 2025 budget and Capital Improvements Plan. 2. Whether sidewalk savings are preserved for the West Hill work and which smaller repairs occur in 2025. 3. Funding and hiring progress for the proposed full-time firefighter. Upcoming: December 16 — budget and Capital Improvements Plan votes, appointments for 19 board and commission seats, and other pending business; the next regular meeting afterward was identified as January 20. Why it matters: The pending budget will determine how Harbor Springs balances reserves, utility upgrades, public safety staffing and visible infrastructure needs.

Agenda items

• 3C · Readoption of Zoning Code (Ordinance 440) — Discussion and Approvalapproved

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