City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of December 17, 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, Joshua Meringa, Carole Pettijohn, Stan Ponstein, and Mayor James Buck. Absent: Council Member Steve Maas.

Also attending: Tammy Aue, Assistant Finance Director; Matthew Butts, Assistant to the City Manager; Thomas Guinther, Treasurer/Finance Director; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Ken Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Vern Snyder, Police Chief; and Todd Wibright, CWP Superintendent.

Council Member Pettijohn gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Gelderloos, to approve the December 17, 2007 agenda as provided. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Meringa, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 10, 2007 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, that Fiscal Year 2007-2008 bills totaling $340,185.11, 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.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Representatives from the Grandville High School Robotics Team gave a presentation emphasizing the importance of science and technology in the Grandville Schools.

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS

Treasurer/Finance Director Guinther indicated a mid-year review of sewer rates showed expenditures are rising more rapidly than what was budgeted and a rate increase is recommended. Motion made by Council Member Pettijohn, supported by Council Member Meringa, to approve Resolution No. 2821, authorizing an increase in sewer consumption and ready to serve charges effective January 1, 2008. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS OR PETITIONS

Assistant to the City Manager Butts presented the Master Land Use Plan. He indicated the Master Plan has been recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. Val Lazdins from LSL Planning is the consultant that worked with the Planning Commission to develop the document presented to Council for discussion. The discussion centered around the property at 44^th and Ivanrest.

City Attorney Kraker indicated a PUD development offers flexibility for addressing many elements of development and, as a legislative process, does not require an ordinance to address every issue. Planning Commissioner Jack Bengston stated development of this property has been envisioned as a PUD.

Public comments were made by:

Tim DeHaan - Westview Greenhouses, 4612 Ivanrest - contends that the property at 44^th and Ivanrest would be better served if entirely planned for commercial.
John DeHaan, co-owner, Westview Greenhouse - agrees with Tim DeHaan’s comments and feels the entire area should be consistently planned.
Brian Silvernail - 2554 Golfbury, Wyoming - would like the properties developed in a way that will generate the most tax revenue.
Ron Pollina - Consultant for X Rite Corporation - indicated his firm is close to signing a contract with a developer for the X-Rite property.

Council Member Meringa asked for a brief overview of the current zoning and history of the area. Current zoning is industrial for the X Rite property and Rural Residential for the rest. The plan is to change the RR area to mixed use and to use a PUD that places the most intensive uses toward the 44^th Street end of the area.

Assistant to the City Manager, Matthew Butts reviewed four other areas of discussion for revision. The North Planning area copies of the DDA plan for Downtown and 28^th Street area. The Chicago Drive 196 Interchange area will remain as it is with restaurant and hotel types of uses. The former Hope Network site will be planned as medium density residential or institutional use. Forty-fourth St. from Wilson Avenue to Rivertown Parkway will be planned as office type uses and buildings should reflect the surrounding residential community.

Motion made by Council Member Gelderloos, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to table action on the Master Plan until the next meeting of January 14, 2008. The motion was APPROVED.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

Reports: CWP (November), Investments (November)
Minutes: Planning Commission (December 5)

Downtown Development Authority (December 13)

Change Location: Jan. 14, 2008 Council Meeting at Grandville Public Schools Board Room, 3839 Prairie

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Gelderloos, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

City Manager Krombeen reviewed the background of the request to demolish 3120 Prairie and 4680 Kenowa. The Kenowa house was burned out and the Prairie house was abandoned which reverted back to HUD after the property owner passed away. Since these properties have become unattractive nuisances in the community it is in the best interest of the community to accomplish the demolitions quickly. In exchange for the Prairie property the City would incur the cost of demolition. Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Meringa, to authorize the demolition services for 4680 Kenowa and 3120 Prairie from Riverside Contractor’s in the amount of $11,000.00 in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

Recommendations for appointments to various boards and commissions were presented by the City Manager. Motion made by Council Member Pettijohn, supported by Council Member Gelderloos to approve the boards and commissions appointment as presented by staff. The motion was approved.

Ken Landis Board of Review 12/31/10

Rob Andriessen Board of Zoning Appeals 12/31/10

Bob Poll Board of Zoning Appeals 12/31/10

Jack DeRuyter Board of Zoning Appeals - Alternate 12/31/08

Stan Ponstein Board of Zoning Appeals - Alternate 12/31/08

Bret Groendyk Brownfield Redevelopment Authority 12/31/10

Ken Krombeen Brownfield Redevelopment Authority 12/31/10

Ken Krombeen Building Authority 12/31/10

Tim Peraino Building Authority 12/31/10

Lee Cook Building Authority 12/31/10

Scott Johnson Downtown Development Authority 12/31/11

Glenn VanNoord Downtown Development Authority 12/31/11

Larry Wormmeester Economic Development Corporation 12/31/13

Bob Beauvais Historical Commission 12/31/08

Joyce Cole Historical Commission 12/31/08

William Winglar Historical Commission 12/31/08

Marian Avink Historical Commission 12/31/08

Robert Avink Historical Commission 12/31/08

Ted VanderPloeg Historical Commission 12/31/08

Leland Mellendorf Local Officers Compensation Comm. 12/31/12

Janet Schuiling Library Board 12/31/11

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to authorize the City Manager to sign the engagement letter with the Michigan Municipal League for purposes of Classification and Compensation Study. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

Motion made by Council Member Meringa, supported by Council Member Gates, to excuse the absence of Council Member Maas. The motion was APPROVED.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

· Calendar photos

· Biggby and Subway grand opening

· Merry Christmas wishes

· Sewer agreement

· Fiscal condition of the City of Grandville

· Park projects

· Library/Senior Neighbors study

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Gelderloos, supported by Council Member Gates, to adjourn at 9:14 pm. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines