City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2007

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of September 10, 2007 was called to order by Mayor James Buck at 7:00 pm.

The City Clerk called the roll. Present were Council Members Ken Gates, Randal Gelderloos, Steve Maas, Carole Pettijohn, Stan Ponstein, Joe Sierawski and Mayor James Buck. Absent: None

Also attending: Matthew Butts, Assistant to the City Manager; Ron Carr, DPW Director; Thomas Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Vern Snyder, Police Chief.

Rev. Dave Balicki from Grandville/Jenison Congregational Church gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates to approve the September 10, 2007 agenda as provided. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Sierawski, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 27, 2007 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, that Fiscal Year 2007-2008 bills totaling $511,175.46 presented by the City Manager, be allowed and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Linda Edwards, 4016 Wilson Ave., asked what the status is regarding regulating saving space along the 4th of July parade route. Mayor Buck indicated the issue has been forwarded to the Park and Rec Board for discussion and a recommendation.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:17 pm to receive comments on the request from Scott Bosgraaf Trust to establish an Industrial Development District at 2950 Prairie. City Manager Krombeen indicated parts of the building exists within development districts and allow for certificates to be established within these districts. The development districts were established at the time the previous owner added on to the building or contained equipment that had an abatement. Establishing a development district on the entire building could benefit businesses that wish to locate in the building. The applicant has requested the entire parcel be included in the district. .Typically, the City Council has approved districts for building footprints only. Assessor Uyl feels it would be administratively easier to create a district for the entire parcel since industrial businesses will use the building as an incubator-type facility. There is an out building on the site that could also be leased.

City Attorney Kraker indicated it is a Council decision as to whether to establish the district for just the building or the entire parcel. Once a district is established, Council has lost some of the ability to deny a certificate if the user qualifies. The decision to deny a certificate could be appealed to the State Tax Commission and would most likely the municipality’s denial would be overruled and a certificate be granted for the maximum of 12 years. If an application is received for a use Council doesn’t want to encourage and the district has been established, the alternative would be to grant the certificate for one year and would not be appealable.

Council Member comments included:

Ø Sierawski

· is the rationale to approve a district for the entire parcel to allow the developer to offer the possibility of IFT Certificates to attract new tenants

· could approval of a district on the entire parcel set precedence

Ø Gelderloos

· could a business mining gravel on the parcel qualify for an IFT Certificate

· making the whole parcel an IDD could possibly create problems with neighbors re: noise

· does not approve of creating an IDD of the entire 36 acres

Ø Gates

· use just the footprint of the building and not the whole parcel

Ø Maas

· use just the footprint of the building and if the developer expands the building they can come back to expand the district

Ø Ponstein

· comfortable with the footprint of the building - gives the City more control

The public hearing was closed at 7:51 pm.

Motion was made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to table consideration of the Industrial Development District request for 2950 Prairie by the Scott Bosgraaf Trust. The motion was APPROVED.

Mayor Buck opened the public hearing at 7:53 pm to receive public comments on the request from Harbor Foam, 2950 Prairie, Suite 300, to grant an IFT Certificate on $1,200,000.00 in new equipment. City Manager Krombeen gave an overview of the application indicating Harbor Foam occupies space in the Scott Bosgraaf Trust building at 2950 Prairie and that Industrial Development District No. 70 has been established on that portion of the building. Harbor Foam manufactures polystyrene (expanded) foam and plan on adding 10-12 new jobs as a result of the investment in new equipment. The Business Relations Committee has recommended approval of an IFT Certificate for the full 12 years. Ryan Van Dyke and Laura Kuperus from Harbor Foam were in attendance to answer questions. The public hearing was closed at 8:00 pm.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to approve Resolution No. 2808, approving issuance of an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate to Harbor Foam, 2950 Prairie SW, Suite 300, relative to Industrial Development District No. 70. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

1. Reports: Fire/EMS (August), Treasurer’s (August)

2. Proclamation: Kids Day America/Internationalä(September 22, 2007)

3. Policy Review: School Crossing Guards

4. Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

a. Motor Pool: Vehicle Disposal - 2000 Dodge Intrepid SE

Thomas Walcott - $4,200.00

Motion made by Council Member Pettijohn, supported by Council Member Maas, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to accept the emergency purchase by the Treasurer’s office for a printer from Noordyke Business Equipment in the amount of $2,179.99 in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

Motion made by Council Member Ponstein, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to award the Calvin Crest Park Expansion Project to Rivertown Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $163,620.00 which includes Alternate One (entry upgrade) and Alternate Four (shelter upgrade) based on the City Engineer’s recommendation in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

· Longest Stream sculpture model

· plans re: 44^th St./Ivanrest landscaping

· Wilson Ave. bridge

· GVMC Quarterly Luncheon

· Canal/44^th St. Starbucks Grand Opening on Sept. 21 at 10:00 am

· Grandville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours programs

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to adjourn at 8:17 pm. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

City Clerk

Approved by City Council: September 24, 2007