City Council Minutes

 2001-094 Regular session, May 14, 2001, in the Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor James Buck.

The City Clerk called the roll. Present were Council Members Robert De Witt, Kenneth Gates, Steve Maas, Scott Petersen, Carole Pettijohn, Joe Sierawski. and Mayor Buck. Absent: None.

Also present were City Manager Ken Krombeen, Assistant City Manager Dan Johnson, and City Attorney Randall Kraker.

Other staff present:

Michael Chesher, Department of Public Works

Tom Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director

Sharon Streelman, City Clerk

Vern Snyder, Police Chief

Harvey Veldhouse, Fire Chief

The invocation was given by Rev. Russell Holden, Grandville Church of Christ, and was followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Moved by Council Member Maas and seconded by Council Member Pettijohn, CARRIED, to approve the May 14, 2001 agenda.

Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Pettijohn, CARRIED, to waive the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting of April 23, 2001 and approve as presented.

Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED, that bills totaling $301,033.38 as presented by the City Manager, be allowed and the Treasurer authorized to pay the same.

Representatives from J. L. French were present. These employees addressed the need to keep their jobs, the noise levels from the plant and indicated that 108 employees have been laid off.

Speaking were:

Jim Salton, 7481 Pete Street, Jenison – spoke for the employees – stated they completed their own survey with the neighbors.

Dan Durham of 345 Carol – Bargaining Chairperson

Darci Lukaart – looking for fairness and an equitable solution

Sandy Gort of 7021 Sunset Ave., Jenison – stated other companies will be affected

Trudy Preslar of 3982 Prairie, S.W. – an employee of 9 years – talked about adjusting to surrounding noises.

Charles Seden – an employee of 14 years wonders what happened after the new addition.

Mr. Reister of 3240 Elwood stated he does not hear any noise coming from J.L.French.

A gentlemen at 8481 Wynona, Jenison – talked about the change in the ordinance from a criminal offense to a civil offense.

Jim Millering 0-1174 Brisben, Standale – stated that complaints came in even at the times the plant was shut down.

City Manager comments followed, stating what the City has done to work with J. L. French, that no one at the City wants anyone to lose their job, but that the City cannot turn our back on the fact that there are occasional violations.

Mayor Buck stated that no one wants to see J. L. French close down, the hope is for all to work and live together. He reported that he had met with Steve Moore and Dan Durham of J. L. French, and that the City is ready, willing, and able to try to work together.

2001-095 Mayor Buck declared the public hearing open at 7:47 p.m. to receive public comment relative to the Fiscal Year 2001-02 Budget.

The hearing was deferred to handle other items on the agenda first.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

2001-096 Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED, to remove from the table proposed Ordinance No. 204-AI. Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Petersen, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to adopt Ordinance No. 204-AI, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Grandville rezoning from the present R-2 One Family Residential District, to OS-1, Office Service District at 4270 44^th Street. Denny Cherette representing I.P.A. referenced an adjacent parcel they are pursuing to purchase.

2001-097 Assistant City Manager Johnson introduced proposed Ordinance No. 204-AJ. This is for a potential location for a Harley Davidson dealership. Mark Harmon, the developer, was present. Motorcycle dealerships are presently allowed only in C-3. The Planning Commission has recommended that City Council approve the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance for a Motorcycle dealership as a Special Land Use in the C-5, Commercial Freeway-Interchange District. Moved by Council Member Maas and seconded by Council Member Petersen, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to introduce proposed Ordinance No. 204-AJ. Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by

Council Member Petersen, CARRIED, to table Ordinance No. 204-AJ, an Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 204, the Zoning Ordinance of 1994, to Add Language to Section 11-3, Procedures, Standards, and Requirements Applicable to Particular Special Land Uses.

2001-098 Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Sierawski, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 2499, a resolution a resolution to transfer ownership of a 2000 Tavern licensed business, located at 4554 Chicago Drive, from Michigan Pizza Hut, Inc. to Trigo Pizza, Inc.

2001-099 Moved by Council Member Sierawski and seconded by Council Member Pettijohn, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 2450, a resolution to transfer ownership of a 2000 Tavern licensed business, located at 3043 Twenty Eighth, from Michigan Pizza Hut, Inc. to Trigo Pizza, Inc.

2001-100 D.P.W. Director Chesher presented the increased costs of water meters. Moved by Council Member Maas and seconded by Council Member De Witt, CARRIED unanimously by roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 2501, a resolution to amend Resolution No. 2203, the resolution establishing rules and regulations governing the use and supply of water in the City of Grandville, by increasing water meter charges.

2001-101 Certification of petitions from the City Clerk relative to a referendum on the contract authorized by the Grandville City Council Resolution No. 2490, adopted March 12, 2001, which provides, among other things, for the transfer of the City of Grandville Wastewater Treatment Plant and responsibility for its future operation to the Grandville-East Ottawa Wastewater Authority whose members are the City of Grandville, City of Hudsonville, Georgetown Charter Township and Jamestown Charter Township. Attorney Kraker stated City Council is not obligated to call a special election it would be the choice of the City Council to place the question on the either September 11 or November 6 ballot.

2001-102 CONSENT AGENDA

Moved by Council Member Maas and seconded by Council Member Gates, CARRED, to approve the Consent Agenda:

1. Reports: Treasurer’s (April), DPW (April), Fire/EMS (April)
2. Minutes: Historical Commission (March 19)

   Building Authority (April 12)

   Park and Rec Board (April 18)

   Library Board (April 26)

   Planning Commission (May 2)

3. Amendment No. 27 to Grand Valley Metro Council Articles of Incorporation

4. Set Public Hearings: Rapid Shred IFT - June 11, 2001 at 7:15 p.m.

AutoCast IFT - June 11, 2001 at 7:30 p.m.

5. Appointment: Tim Peraino – Grandville Building Authority

PUBLIC HEARING (CONTINUED)

Mayor Buck reviewed the Park and Rec Board meeting results relative to the skateboard park. Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 8:25 p.m.

City Manager Krombeen reviewed the components of the public hearing on the FY 2001-2002 Budget. He requested direction to staff to balance the budget and bring back to City Council on May 21.

The Treasurer/Finance Director explained the budget as a document which changes continually. He highlighted the reasons for increase in revenues caused by increases in property taxes and revenues of 31% over the last three years. He referenced expending the undesignated fund balances over the past two years for capital projects, that the City now has a level of reasonable fund balances. An unknown he was concerned about a decrease coming in State Revenue Sharing dollars. For review the budget was divided into Capital Projects, General Fund, and additional funds.

D.P.W. Director Chesher, a member of the Skateboard Park Committee, gave an abbreviated presentation of the skateboard park. The full presentation was given to the Park and Rec Board on April 18, 2001. The park was included in the five-year Park and Rec Plan for the City of Grandville completed by Gove and Associates. Costs and location were discussed. The equipment vendor chosen was Spohn Ranch. Mayor Buck opened the public hearing for comments on the skateboard park.

Speaking were Lora Decker of 3354 Fayette. She enjoys the tranquility of the Buck Creek Trail and Wedgwood Park as it is. She presented petitions of over 300 residents who object to the proposed location of Wedgwood Park for the skate board park. They petitioned the Grandville City Council to reject the proposed location and seek and alternative location.

Peg Zimmerman of Fairwood Court asked for approval of the park at the Wedgwood Park location.

Cheri Smolen of 4288 Mill Street felt the City should take care of what they have, she supported the seniors who use the trail and felt there is a better location.

Renee Geers of 3595 Ponderosa, a committee member, stated her support of the Wedgwood Park location and feels it is a perfect site.

George Way of 3335 Division questioned the location, stating he was concerned about water flooding.

Edith Petersen talked about the noise level. She wondered if people would just drop off unwanted kids. She was concerned about increased traffic on the trail.

Mike Tobby of 5908 S. Abby Court, Wyoming, stated he enjoyed the park in Holland. A skateboard park is a good place to have some fun.

Inge VerKerke of 3457 Fairpoint was in favor of the Park, feeling it would give the teenagers something to do.

Ben Weykamp of 4276 – 42^nd Street had visited a skateboard park in Elmhurst, Illinois and talked to users of the park. He was in favor of the park and the location.

Dale Vander Wal of 3559 Fayette stated the location was extremely wrong.

Lester Decker of 3554 Fayette was in favor of having something to do for the kids.

Bill Dudas of 3721 – 30^th Street commented on the trees in the Park. He also stated that the skateboard will be 9" above the floodplain.

Joyce Andriessen of 3704 Piute Court, a committee member, stated the committee had concluded and presented their recommendation.

The hearing was closed at 9:45 p.m.

2001-103 Moved by Council Member Gates and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED, to authorize a Grandville Skateboard Park. Council Member Petersen reiterated that this motion did not include a monetary commitment or location. Council Member Sierawski fully endorsed the Wedgwood Park as the location and the expenditure of $125,000 City funds with the balance of the costs coming from contributors.

The Treasurer/Finance Director responded to Council Member Maas who inquired about the $200,000 transferred to the Building Authority. This amount may be necessary as a transfer to finish the Police/Court Building.

Council Member De Witt stated he had asked for documents at the April 10, 2001 meeting relative to the Wastewater budgets. Treasurer/Finance Director responded to questions regarding the capital charges and rates. He stated it was difficult to generalize and compare with the different funds, stating that Wastewater Superintendent Meyers had reviewed rate structures and other members of the Wastewater Authority. Council Member Gates asked about the $800,000 improvements last year and inquired if Ottawa County had paid their share. There was also reference made to the 1986 contract with Ottawa County.

2001-104 Treasurer/Finance Director Guinther stated that the new budget will be based on the Wastewater Plant without the Authority, decisions need to be made tonight to adjust the $967,500 cut in revenues. It would be appropriate to place Ivanrest Avenue capital improvement back one year. The condition of Ivanrest was discussed. Moved by Council Member Sierawski and seconded by Council Member Maas, CARRIED, to move Ivanrest Avenue improvement back to the FY 2002-2003.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Treasurer/Finance Director Guinther listed three items of consideration relative to the Skateboard Park: Collection of fees on site, Annual Funding, and Potential for having to pre-fund anticipated donations.

Comments relative to Grandville Community Values, allocation for Skateboard Park, Summer Community Ed Program, and Mayor’s Exchange.

Moved by Council Member Maas and seconded by Council Member Gates, to adjourn at 11:02 p.m.

Sharon Streelman

Grandville City Clerk

Approved by City Council:

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