Minutes and Agendas

City Commission Minutes

WALKER CITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
4243 REMEMBRANCE RD.
MARCH 9, 2009

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING:

Mayor Robert Ver Heulen called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

City Manager Vander Meulen introduced Kathy Babins, Resource Recovery Specialist, Department of Public Works in Kent County.

Kathy gave an overview for the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment. Some goals they have set were as follows:

Focus on maintaining our Solid Waste System as it currently is.

Maintain and expand public education program.

Building a new recycling facility.

Try to maximize our household hazardous waste program.

3 Mile Rd./Indian Mill Creek Project update. City Manager Vander Meulen stated this item was discussed at the Finance Committee meeting and they felt it would be a good idea to come to the Commission and have some general discussion regarding the scope of the project.

Scott Conners, Engineer, gave an update on the 3 Mile Rd/Indian Mill Creek project stating that the area proposed to be added (between the westerly terminus of the existing project and Elmridge) would not be a full reconstruction. They would take the existing curbs out and move them back about 6 feet and fill in the piece between the existing road and the new curb with sand, gravel and asphalt and then overlay the whole road so that it would look like a brand new road but essentially we would be taking advantage of the materials already there to save some money. Total estimated cost including the additional one half mile is $3,100,000. The City would issue bonds to finance the project. Sidewalks will be installed on both sides also. Bidding will take place this fall.

Mayor Ver Heulen stated the Finance Committee was very supportive of this project. The Commission was in favor of moving forward on this project. Mayor Ver Heulen will follow up with the railroad.

Scott also talked about the Wilson/O’Brien Water Main Project Bid. Bids were received on February 12, 2009; For Phase I (Wilson portion) Jack Dykstra was low bidder. Work on the Riverbend water extension is progressing The work will be done in mid August and residents should be able to tap into the main September 1. A letter will be sent to the residents with an update of what is going on, with a copy sent to the Commission.

Frank Wash, Planner, stated they went to the Ordinance committee with some amendments to the Zoning Ordinance specific to Liquor Stores, Party Stores or Convenience Stores. The Ordinance that the Planning Commission will be conducting a public hearing on, on March 18^th, will add a formal definition for Liquor Stores to the Zoning Ordinance and then the newly defined use will be allowed only in the C-4 district as a special exception and will need to go to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and site plan review. It will not be allowed in the C1-district but they could request a "judged similar to" at the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mayor Ver Heulen stated Commission will wait for the Planning Commission to hold the hearing and take action and wait for it to come back to the Commission; For final review.

Frank also spoke on Mineral Mining and the amendments taking place on Ordinance 09-569 entitled Fill Material.

Fire Chief Bill Schmidt spoke in regards to Ordinance 09-570. The ordinance essentially expands the City’s right to request reimbursement for public utility emergencies, similar to the cost recovery for hazard materials response.

Mayor Ver Heulen spoke in regards to the Edison House and the Silver Line which is a bus rapid transit system that operates like rail but is a hybrid-electric bus.

REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING

Mayor Ver Heulen called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM.

Commissioner Chuck Deschaine gave the invocation.

Deputy Clerk called the roll.

Present: Mayor Ver Heulen Commissioners: Al Parent, Barb Holt, Cyndy Stek, Chuck Deschaine, and Dan Kent.

Absent: Commissioner Steve Versluis.

Also present was City Manager Cathy Vander Meulen and Assistant City Manager Darrel Schmalzel.

Motion by Commissioner Holt, seconded by Commissioner Kent to approve the minutes of February 23, 2009. Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Terry Lyons Carl -668 Gage St., spoke in regards to Ordinance 09-475 – Property Rezone

Scott Velting representing various sand mining operators spoke in regards to Mineral Mining and the letters they have received requesting a sizeable amount of money to pay for soil erosion inspections. He was concerned that changes like this are enacted without some type of notice to those who the change in the ordinance affects. Would like to request that the City look at the cost associated with the inspection of these pits. Would like to sit down with the Engineering Department, Public Works Department or the Commission and develop some reasonable way to assess a fair permit fee.

The Commission referred this item to the city manager for follow-up.

Motion by Commissioner Kent, seconded by Commissioner Deschaine to remove Ordinance PR 09-475 an ordinance for property rezone to amend Zoning Ordinance in Section l off the table. Motion Carried.

Mayor Ver Heulen mentioned that changes to the ordinance were being considered that would prohibit liquor stores in the C-1 Zone.

Earl Clements representing a property owner on Kingsbury, stated from day one their request was to get the property rezoned from residential to commercial. He stated his job is to market the property and get it zoned commercial so he can lease or sell the property to the next user.

Motion by Commissioner Holt, seconded by Commissioner Kent to approve the first reading of Ordinance 09-475 an ordinance for property rezone to amend Zoning Ordinance in Section 1. Motion Carried.

Motion by Commissioner Deschaine, seconded by Commissioner Parent to endorse the RAPID millage request to finance the Silver Line bus project. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Kent, supported by Commissioner Stek to approve the expenditures in the amount of $1,315,824.96. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Deschaine, seconded by Commissioner Stek to award the Wilson/O’Brien Watermain project to Jack Dykstra in the amount of $1,227,787.95. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Parent, seconded by Commissioner Holt to approve Resolution 09-72 for the Kent County Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Stek, seconded by Commissioner Kent to approve Resolution 09-73 a revised Clerk fee schedule. Motion carried.

Ordinance 09-564 Second Reading: Adding Section 50-49 to Article 1 of Chapter 50, Tobacco products; violation as a civil infraction. This item will remain tabled.

Ordinance 09-565 First Reading: First Reading adding Section 50-66 to Article II of Chapter 50, careless use of BB handguns; violation as a misdemeanor. This item will remain on the table.

Ordinance 09-567 First Reading: Amend Chapter 82, Vehicle Use Prohibited. This item will remain on the table.

Motion by Commissioner Stek, seconded by Commissioner Parent to adopt the second reading of Ordinance 09-568 to amend Licensing Revisions to Sections 6-6, 6-8, 22-9, 22-13, 38-53, 62-57 and 70-81. Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Holt, seconded by Commissioner Deschaine to approve the first reading of Ordinance 09-569 an ordinance to amend Chapter 34, Article VII, Section 34-305, entitled "Fill Material". Motion carried.

Motion by Commissioner Kent, seconded by Commissioner Holt to approve the first reading of Ordinance 09-570 an ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Article III, to add new Sections 2-82 & 2-83 and to amend Chapter 38, Article IV to repeal Article IV entitled "Hazardous Materials". Motion carried.

Mayor Ver Heulen welcomed Lauryn Meyers from Calvin Christian School. Lauryn was at the meeting to do a paper for her government class.

Assistant City Manager Darrel Schmalzel reminded the Commission of the Personnel Committee meeting Monday March 16 at 5:30 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Richards

Deputy City Clerk

City of Walker

The City of Walker, Michigan
4243 Remembrance Rd. NW
Walker, MI 49534
(616)453-6311
City Hall hours: Mon-Thursday from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Closed Fridays
All information © 2012 City of Walker

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