CITY OF MASON COUNCIL CHAMBERS

 201 W. ASH ST., MASON, MICHIGAN

MASON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

   March 3, 2003

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Whipple.

 

Present:          Council Members: Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

Absent:            Council Members: Preadmore, Bruno 

Also present:   Martin Colburn, City Administrator

Kathy Revels, Finance Director/Treasurer

Dennis McGinty, City Attorney

Robert McCormick, Police Chief

David Scutt, Fire Chief

Deborah Stein, Deputy City Clerk

 

Mayor Whipple led the Pledge of Allegiance and offered the invocation.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: February 17, 2003

Motion by Helbig, supported by Naeyaert,

To approve the Minutes of February 17, 2003 with corrections as follows: Page 4, insert Resolution No. 2003-12; page 6, third motion, strike last line of motion, and the City Administrator recommend other representatives from the community; page 7, under Unfinished Business, last line, strike do so, and insert, follow up.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

  No (0)                                                                                        

MOTION CARRIED

 

APPROVAL OF BILLS         

Motion by Naeyaert, supported by Helbig,

To approve the payment of the bills in the amount of $215,308.03 as submitted.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

  No  (0)                                                                                       

MOTION CARRIED

PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOR

Terri Church of 104 N. Court submitted a letter from the Mason Middle School Parent Advisory Council requesting improved lighting and a school traffic sign to be placed on Temple Street in front of the Middle School.

 

REGULAR BUSINESS

Ordinance No. 140 - Appointment of Emergency Management Coordinator

Discussion was held regarding the Emergency Management coordinator for the city as referenced in proposed Ordinance No. 140.  Mayor Whipple indicated that he discussed conflicts between the proposed ordinance and the charter with the city attorney.  The City Charter vests authority in the mayor to declare states of emergency.  The State statute directs the Emergency Management Coordinator to report to the County Emergency Management Coordinator for cities with less than 10,000 in population.  The proposed ordinance has the coordinator reporting within the city.  The Charter designates the Mayor as the Executive Office, but the State statute requires the Executive Officer to be the Emergency Management Coordinator.  The ordinance that created the City Administrator, also calls the City Administrator an Executive Officer.  Based on those conflicts, no action was taken.  Attorney McGinty will do further research and verify the intent of the Charter language. 

 

Presentation - DDA Plan Amendment

Phil Birdsall, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), commented that improvements are being proposed to the Antiques District, which is part of the DDA District.  The DDA has endorsed Cobblestone Village, as an identifiable regional entertainment and shopping district.  In addition to the Antiques District and the Depot Restaurant, the new owners of the lumber yard property plan to create a specialty retail shopping area.   The DDA Board has endorsed guaranteeing DDA funds for the incremental costs of upgrading traditional concrete sidewalks to create cobblestone sidewalks (colored and imprinted cement), and brick crosswalks.  The funds for the grant and marketing program have been reallocated to this project.  The crosswalks will be a continuance of the downtown area, along with the installation of brick crosswalks included with the State Street project. 

 

Resolution No. 2003-13 Downtown Development Authority Plan Amendment

Discussion was held to make changes to the proposed resolution indicating an amendment to the Downtown Development Authority Plan.  The paragraph entitled, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED of Resolution No. 2001-01 was inserted in place of the NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED paragraph of Resolution No. 2003-13 and applicable language changes were made for this proposed amendment.

 

Resolution No. 2003-13 was introduced by Helbig and seconded by Naeyaert.

 

                                                           CITY OF MASON

                                        CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2003-13

                                                      MARCH 3, 2003

Resolution to Receive the Downtown Development Authority Plan and Place it on File

 

WHEREAS, the Mason Downtown Development Authority has created an update to their Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously on February 6, 2003, approving Amendment No. 3 to the City of Mason Development Plan/Tax Increment Financing Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the Downtown Development Authority Secretary has forwarded a certified copy of the Downtown Development Authority Plan to the City Council with Plan Amendment No. 3 which is intended to halt property value deterioration and increase property tax valuation to eliminate the causes of the deterioration; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mason City Council does hereby: (1) Receive the Downtown Development Authority Plan Amendment No. 3 and place it of file in the City Clerk=s Office for public review.  (2) Invite all taxing entities to meet with the City Council so that they have the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have at the April 7, 2003 regular meeting.  (3) Establish the date to hold a Public Hearing to be held in the council chambers at the regular council meeting of April 21, 2003, at 7:30 P.M.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions and parts of resolutions insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution shall be, and same hereby are, rescinded, but only to the extent of such conflict.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

             No  (0)

 

CLERK=S CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the City Council at its regular meeting held Monday, March 3, 2003, the original of which is part of the Council=s minutes.

______________________

Martin A. Colburn

City Clerk

Ingham County, Michigan

 

Resolution No. 2003-14 Bid for the Water Tower

Resolution No. 2003-14 was introduced by Helbig and seconded by Naeyaert.

 

                                                                   CITY OF MASON

                                                                  CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2003-14

ACCEPTANCE OF BID FOR 500,000 GALLON WATER STORAGE TANK

                                                                                           March 3, 2003

 

WHEREAS, the City of Mason went to public bid for a 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, located off Howell Road, adjacent to the Howell Road well; and

 

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Mason that it does hereby accept the bid by CB & I Constructors in the amount of $746,800.

 

FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Administrator is to forward the Notice of Award to CB & I Constructors for the construction of a 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

             No (0)

 

CLERK=S CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of a resolution adopted by the City Council at its regular meeting held on Monday, March 3, 2003, the original of which is part of the Council minutes.                                                              

                                                                                                                                _______________________

Martin A. Colburn, Clerk

City of Mason

Ingham County, Michigan

Mason Fire Department - Annual Report

Fire Chief Scutt commented on the 2002 Mason Fire Department Annual Report.

 

Motion by Naeyaert, supported by Helbig,

To accept the 2002 Annual Fire Department Report and place it on file.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

  No (0)                                                                                        

MOTION CARRIED

 

Proclamation - Athletes with Physical Disabilities Week

Mayor Whipple informed the Council that he had presented the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance with a Mayoral Proclamation in honor of the 28th Annual Michigan Victory Games, proclaiming May 12-18, 2003 as AAthletes with Physical Disabilities Week.@ 

 

Vacation for Rayner Street

Property owners located at 703 Randolph Street and 621 Randolph Street have requested the city to vacate the stub of Rayner Street north of Randolph Street.

 

Motion by Clark supported by Naeyaert,  

To direct staff to initiate the vacation of city property located on the northern dead end of Rayner Street to the adjacent property owners.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

  No  (0)                                                                                       

MOTION CARRIED

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Council Member Clark asked that the next regular meeting agenda include an item regarding the quality of audio being transmitted during the broadcast of city meetings on Channel 21. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

Council Member Clark asked that he be excused for the March 17, 2003 Council meeting.

 

Motion by Helbig, supported by Naeyaert,     

To excuse Council Member Clark from the March 17, 2003 council meeting.

 

VOTE: Yes (5) Helbig, Johnson, Naeyaert, Clark, Whipple

  No  (0)                                                                                       

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Whipple informed the Council that the closing between Genex and the DDA occurred last Friday for the old fire station.  Genex now owns 447 S. Jefferson.

 

COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE

$        Monthly Budget Report

$        Mason Area United Way - Certificate of Appreciation

Mayor Whipple indicated that he has received two letters opposing the airport expansion at Jewett Airport.  A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the airport expansion on March 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Middle School.

 

LIAISON REPORT

Cable Commission

Council Member Helbig informed the Council that the next Cable Commission meeting is April 16, 2003.

 

Downtown Development

Mayor Whipple informed the Council that the DDA is considering a plan amendment to expand the boundaries.

 

Planning Commission

Administrator Colburn informed the Council that a Master Plan Workshop session was held on February 24th.  Future workshop sessions are scheduled for March 10th , March 31st, and April 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

 

ADMINISTRATOR=S REPORT

Administrator Colburn informed the council that there is soil contamination on the 447 S. Jefferson property, recently sold to Genex.  The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will allow the city to place monitoring wells to mitigate the property.  The known cost will be an additional $20,000 to $25,000.  A brief discussion was held citing cuts to revenue sharing that are expected in the Governor=s 2003/2004 Budget that she will be presenting this week.  Attorney McGinty commented that he and Finance Director Revels are currently working on the Metro Telecommunications Act which will be a new source of city revenue from the State.  This Act puts a user fee on telecommunication providers that utilize the public right-of-way.  Communities wishing to participate are required to opt into the act by May 6th through an ordinance or resolution.

 

PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOR

C     None

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

 

 

 

 

_________________________                                        ________________________

Martin A. Colburn, City Clerk                                       Russell W. Whipple, Mayor