City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of May 12, 2008 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 Buck. Absent: None.

Also attending: Tammy Aue, Finance Director/Treasurer; Matthew Butts, Assistant to the City Manager; Ron Carr, DPW Director; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Dennis Santo, Police Chief; Dan Steere, Deputy Police Chief; and Harvey Veldhouse, Fire Chief.

Council Member Pettijohn 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 May 12, 2008 agenda as provided. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 28, 2008 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 $357,282.29 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 COMMENTS

Bob Wondergem, 2811 Lee St., expressed safety concerns with traffic on Lee St. He asked if a cul-de-sac could be placed at the Wyoming border or speed bumps on the lower portion of Lee St.

Bill Schrader from the Neal Fonger American Legion Post, Sarah Bickler and Bailey Ziegler from the Grandville Middle School presented the details of the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2008. The ceremonies will include the flag raising at Wedgwood Park at 9:00 am with a procession to the cemetery commencing at approximately 9:15 am. Mr. Schrader extended an invitation to help the Boy Scouts place flags on graves of the veterans on Friday, May 23 beginning at 6:00 pm.

Ed Krzeminski, 3838 Crowfoot, asked if anything could be done regarding the transformer vaults that are being constructed around the City. He suggested staff coordinate with utility companies to construct them underground or hide them with landscaping.

Mike Cobb, 3362 40^th St., stated he was disappointed with the vote on the sidewalks in the northeast area; appreciated Council Member Meringa’s vote; reaffirmed how fortunate the City is to have Mr. Krombeen as City Manager; thanked DPW for the appearance of City grounds; and is looking forward to Council Member Ponstein’s effort to be elected to the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

David Loveland, 2729 Woodbine, thanked City Council for not approving the sidewalk project.

PUBLIC HEARING

The public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 -2009 budget was opened at 7:30 pm by Mayor Buck. City Manager Krombeen made opening statements indicating the “theme” in preparing the budget was the reduction of revenues. He pointed out additional staff and services have not been added over the past few years. Finance Director Aue expressed appreciation to department heads for presenting conservative budgets. She reviewed the highlights of the various funds indicating this is the sixth consecutive year the millage rate will remain at 8.454. A rate study on water and sewer rates was conducted and it was determined increases to commodity rates and ready-to-serve charges will be necessary. No public comment was made and the hearing was closed at 8:01 pm.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to remove from the table Ordinance No. 279. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Meringa, to adopt Ordinance No. 279, Video Service Provider Right-of-Way Management. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

Motion made by Council Member Pettijohn, supported by Council Member Meringa, to approve Resolution No. 2843, authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign Contract No. 08-5133 with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of Rivertown Parkway from Wilson to Ivanrest. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by a roll call vote.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

Reports: Fire/EMS (April), Treasurer’s (April)
Minutes: Downtown Development Authority (April 10)

Historical Commission (April 21)

Library Board (April 24)

3. Proclamations: 2008 Distinguished Person of the Year - William Winglar

2008 Business of the Year - Brookcrest

4. Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

a. Library: Shelving

Library Design Associates - $1,333.30

b. Disposal: Fire – SCBA Equipment

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

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Chief Veldhouse presented a request from the Fire Department for changeover of emergency equipment on the new e-unit. Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Meringa, to authorize the purchase of emergency equipment for the new medical unit from Mark’s Body Shop in the amount of $4,085.40 in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

City Manager Krombeen indicated four bids for Lee Street Park were received on May 7, 2008. The project was bid with an alternate for landscaping. Low bidder was Rivertown Contractors at $92,680.00 including the alternate. City staff and the landscape architect are recommending acceptance of the bid including the landscaping so that the project will look completed for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 4. Motion by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Ponstein, to award the Lee Street Park project including the landscape alternate to the low bidder, Rivertown Contractors, in the amount of $92,680.00. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

Discussion regarding the 4^th of July parade space saving issue. Mayor Buck indicated the City Manager prepared a discussion draft recommendation and the Park and Rec Board are in agreement with the proposal. City Manager Krombeen pointed out the proposal was not to adopt a new ordinance specific to 4^th of July space saving issue but to use and enforce existing ordinances that protect the rights-of-ways. The proposal is that, beginning with the 2008 4^th of July parade, space saving would not be allowed and ordinances regarding rights-of-ways will be enforced up to 6:00 am on the 4^th. Mr. Krombeen stated the key to making this work will be publicity of the new rules. Linda Edwards, 4016 Wilson Ave., agrees with the guidelines that were discussed. Comments were made by City Council Members and a consensus will be taken at the next meeting.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

· how will the rising price of fuel affect the budget to keep the police cruisers on the road

· City Barbeque on Wednesday, May 21 from 5-7 pm

· thanks to Finance Director Aue for the great job on the budget - fortunate to have cost-conscious department heads and good stewards of the City’s resources

· congratulations to Bill Winglar for Distinguished Person of the Year Award - there are a lot of people that deserve this award

· Growing Community Conference

· Summer Recreation brochure

ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Gates, to adjourn at 8:55 pm. The motion was APPROVED.

Mary L. Meines

City Clerk

Approved by City Council: May 19, 2008

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