City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of December 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, Joshua Meringa, Carole Pettijohn, Stan Ponstein, and Mayor James Buck. Absent: None

Also attending: Tammy Aue, Assistant Finance Director; Matthew Butts, Assistant to the City Manager; Ron Carr, DPW Director; Thomas Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Ken Krombeen, City Manager (arrived at 9:20 pm); Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dennis Santo, Deputy Police Chief; Vern Snyder, Police Chief; Harvey Veldhouse, Fire Chief; and Todd Wibright, CWP Superintendent.

Rev. Greg Brower from Zion Reformed Church gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 26, 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 $491,159.14, as presented by the City Manager, be allowed and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

No public comment.

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS

Assistant to the City Manager Butts explained Consumers Energy will not allow a play structure to be located under the power lines on the Lee Street Park property. It will cost approximately $80,000 to relocate the power line. Kent County will allow the re-allocation of $76,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant Funds for the Lee Street Park. Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Meringa, to approve Resolution No. 2820, authorizing the re-allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds for the development of Lee Street Park; and authorizes the City Manager to execute the agreement with Consumers Energy to relocate the power lines. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS OR PETITIONS

In October the City received a petition requesting removal of the stop signs at the intersection of 40th Street and Mohawk. Chief Snyder reviewed the response to the petition and presented the recommendation. Considerable police investigation was conducted and a neighborhood meeting was held on November 19 to acquire public input. Most people present at that meeting voiced concern for pedestrian safety at the intersection as a reason to leave the intersection controlled as it currently is. The recommendation from the police department is that no change be made to the traffic control at the intersection.

Linda Dicesare, 3907 Bruce, and Mike Cobb, 3362 40^th St., voiced support for the recommendation of the police department.

No action was taken by Council so the stop signs will remain.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

Reports: Police (3^rd Quarter), EMS/Fire (November), Treasurer’s (November)
Minutes: Planning Commission (November 7), (November 28)

Downtown Development Authority (November 8)

Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

a. Motor Pool: Loader

West MI Power & Equip. - $64,690.00

b. Motor Pool: Passenger Vehicle

Harold Zeigler - $15,198.00

c. Motor Pool: Vehicle Disposal – 2003 Crown Victoria

Ben Holst - $2,250.00

d. Motor Pool: Vehicle Disposal – 2003 Expedition

Matt DeHaan - $4,300.00

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, 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

Treasurer/Finance Director Guinther presented the proposed Third Amendment to the Sewage Disposal Agreement between Ottawa County and the City of Grandville. Ken Zarzecki from Ottawa County Road Commission was in attendance to represent Ottawa County Customer Communities. Mr. Guinther indicated the amendment would allow for renovation of the plant and expansion of the plant to10 mgd. Ottawa County will pay for the plant expansion and citizens will benefit from reduced operational costs. Ottawa County would prefer to bond for the expansion and the agreement allows for Grandville to bond as the alternative financing mechanism.

Council Member Maas asked if connection fees are not sufficient will Grandville rates for that year be impacted because of the debt services component. Mr. Guinther is confident this would not happen.

Ken Zarzecki expressed appreciation to City staff and legal counsel through this long process. He assured Council that Ottawa County is comfortable with bonding.

Council Member Gelderloos expressed concern with language in the agreement regarding construction payment agreement. Mr. Zarzecki indicated it was their bond counsel’s recommendation to have a construction payment agreement. Mr. Guinther stated it is for the City’s protection from a legal standpoint.

Mr. Guinther indicated Grandville will begin the bonding process for renovation of the Clean Water Plant immediately.

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Meringa, to approve the Third Amendment to the Sewage Disposal Agreement between the City of Grandville and Ottawa County. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

· Santa will be at the Grandville Library with his reindeer on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm

· Tree Lighting Ceremony

· Renovation of the Old Kent building - ribbon cutting for Biggby and Subway on Monday December 17 at 10:00 am

· GVMC Quarterly Luncheon on January 14, 2008 at noon

WORK SESSION

Treasurer/Finance Director Guinther began the work session by indicating staff is asking for Council to set parameters for preparing the 2008-2009 budget. He indicated that he does not foresee any significant problems.

Issues presented to Council for comments included:

· Millage rate

- maintain current millage rate and service level

· Fund Balance

- The City’s goal has been to maintain 15% General Fund cash balance and is at approximately 30% right now

- Staff is looking for guidance on uses for the excess cash balance

- Not looking to increase service levels

- The largest financial issue the City has is the funding level of the MERS defined benefit pension plan - 65%

· Capital Projects

- 44^th Street median

- Neighborhood sidewalks

- Skateboard park

- Art pieces

- Bridge - Canal or Ivanrest

- Senior Center

- Signal on Wilson at Wedgwood Park/bike trail

· Special Projects

- Classification/Compensation study update - current fiscal year

- Zoning Ordinance update - determine cost to include in budget

- Code enforcement - be more proactive rather than reactive

· MERS

- Adopt a permanent Benefit E - will limit the growth in the under-funding

- Make a lump sum contribution out of the General Fund cash balance - $500,000

· Retirement Transitions

- Finance Director and Police Chief - both departments have people that have been trained to move up - allow City Manager to post internally only

- DPW - allow hiring an additional person

- Assessing Dept. - asked Council to consider possibilities for meeting the Level IV requirement

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Gelderloos, to adjourn at 9:51 pm. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

City Clerk

Approved by City Council: December 17, 2007

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