Kentwood Committees & Boards
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Minutes for 6/06/2006

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD CITY COMMISSION
HELD JUNE 6, 2006

Mayor Richard Root called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

Reverend David Poolman of Princeton Christian Reformed Church gave the invocation and updated the Commission on the current activities taking place at his church.

Boy Scout Troop #331 led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call: Present: Commissioners: Sharon R. Brinks, Michael W. Brown, Richard Clanton, Robert Coughlin, Frank Cummings, Frank Raha III and Mayor Richard Root.

Staff Present: Deputy City Clerk Mary Bremer, Fire Chief Jim Carr, Finance Director Tom Chase, Lead Network Administrator Bill Dudgeon, Engineering & Inspections Director Steve Kepley, Police Chief Rick Mattice, Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Fire Department Administrative Assistant Nancy Shane, Assistant Finance Director/Purchasing Agent Phil Tietz, City Attorney Jeffrey Sluggett, Assistant to the Mayor Keith Van Beek and Public Works Director Ron Woods.

Eighteen (18) citizens and members of the news media attended the meeting.

Motion by Coughlin, supported by Brown to approve the agenda with the following addendum: add 9(a) Presentation from Police Chief Mattice.

Motion Carried.

ACKNOWLEDGE VISTORS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS:

Mayor Root welcomed Boy Scout Troop #331. Tom Helser, adult leader, reported the Scouts are working on their Merit Badges which includes citizenship in their community.

Mr. Terry Brocato, 5164 Mildred, SE, voiced his concern about the absence of sidewalks on Blaine Avenue north of 52nd Street. There are two schools in that area and many of the neighborhood children use the street to walk to school. Also, the school athletic fields are used for summer softball/baseball leagues which generates a lot of walking and car traffic. Mr. Brocato was asked to meet with Assistant to the Mayor Keith Van Beek and Public Works Director Ron Woods to determine what can be done.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion by Brinks, supported by Coughlin, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A. Receive and file minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting
held on May 16, 2006.
B. Res. 48-06 to approve the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 budget for
SouthKent Cable TV Commission, Inc.
C. Res. 49-06 to approve the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 budgets for Non-
General Funds.
D. Res. 50-06 to approve the 2006 millages for Park Site Acquisitions
and Improvements, Street and Bridge Improvements, Landfill
Remediation Action and Police and Fire Protection.
E. Res. 51-06 to approve the 2006 assessment for Street Lighting.
F. Res. 52-06 to approve the 2006 City Operating Millage.
G. Res. 53-06 to approve the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Water and Sewer
Fund budgets and rates.
H. Approve proposed rate change to Paid On-Call Fire Fighters.
I. Receive and file the General Fund Revenue and Expenditure
Report for ten (10) months ended April 30, 2006.
J. Authorize replacement of an air conditioning unit by Van Dyken
Mechanical, Inc. at a cost (including contingency) of $7,800.00 with
funds from Property and Building Fund.
K. Receive and file minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held
on May 18, 2006.
L. Res. 54-06 to set a July 5, 2006 public hearing date to consider the
establishment of an Industrial Development District in the City of
Kentwood for Franklin Broadmoor LLC located at 5353 Broadmoor
Avenue, SE; under Act 198.
M. Res. 55-06 to set a July 5, 2006 public hearing date to consider an
application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate in the
City of Kentwood for Swoboda, Inc. located at 4108 ? 52nd St., SE;
under Act 198.
N. Receive and file minutes of the Ordinance Committee Meeting held on
May 23, 2006.
O. Final plat approval for Bailey?s Grove #26 Plat.
P. Final plat approval for Kentwood Acres #4 Plat.
Q. Payables for the City of $715,606.90, Roads of $11,510.97, Water/Sewer
of $8,641.19, Taxes of $18,726.04, totaling $754,485.10.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All. Nays: None. Absent: None.

Motion Carried.
Resolutions Adopted.

Motion by Coughlin, supported by Cummings, to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2006 City Commission Meeting.

Motion Carried.


PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:

Police Chief Mattice reported on some of the successes in the Police Department. These included arrests for car break-ins, commercial burglaries and drugs. He credited these accomplishments to the Crime Analyst and the skill and dedication of our Police Officers, Supervisors and the specialized equipment used by the Department.


COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

ACCEPTANCE OF DONATED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2929 ? 52ND STREET, SE.
Assistant Finance Director/Purchasing Agent Phil Tietz reviewed his memorandum dated June 1, 2006. After some questions regarding access and potential for re-sale:

Motion by Cummings, supported by Clanton, to accept the donation of 1.294 acres of land located at 2929 ? 52nd Street, SE and authorize the Mayor to execute all applicable and required documents to conclude the property transfer.

Motion Carried.


HEARINGS:

36th Street Reconstruction Project from Shaffer Avenue to Broadmoor Ave.

Mayor Root opened the public hearing to confirm active special assessment rolls ?A? and
?C? and deferred benefit charge rolls ?B? and ?D? for the 36th Street Reconstruction Project from Shaffer Avenue to Broadmoor Avenue.

A presentation by Engineering & Inspections Director Steve Kepley included a review of the Hope Network request to defer their special assessment costs. The Hope Network property is actually zoned RPUD-1 and city policy has allowed residentially zoned property to be deferred until rezoned or developed as a commercial or industrial use.
Mr. Tim Allard of Hope Network also spoke to their request to defer these assessments.

Motion by Cummings, supported by Brown, to close the public hearing.

Motion Carried.

Discussion then ensued regarding past policies of special assessment deferrals and whether the Commission needs to review these policies which have been in effect for many years. These policies are also communicated to the property owners included in the special assessment districts. It was determined that the policy of special assessment deferrals be discussed at a Committee of the Whole meeting. It was noted that if this deferral request is denied, Hope Network can appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
ADOPT RESOLUTION 56-06 (RES. #5) TO CONFIRM ACTIVE ASSESSMENT ROLLS ?A? AND ?C? AND DEFERRED ROLLS ?B? AND ?D? FOR THE 36TH STEET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT FROM SHAFFER AVENUE TO BROADMOOR AVENUE.

Motion by Cummings, supported by Clanton, to adopt Resolution 56-06 (Resolution #5) to confirm active special assessment rolls ?A? and ?C? and deferred benefit charge rolls ?B? and ?D? for the 36th Street Reconstruction Project from Shaffer Avenue to Broadmoor Avenue and deny the request of Hope Network to defer their portion of the special assessment district.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: Commissioners: Brinks, Brown, Coughlin, Cummings and Raha. Nays: Commissioner Clanton and Mayor Root. Absent: None.

Resolution Adopted.


BIDS:

APPROVE PURCHASE OF BS&A UTILITY BILLING SOFTWARE FOR IT DEPARTMENT.

Lead Network Administrator Dudgeon and Assistant Finance Director/Purchasing Agent Phil Tietz reviewed their memorandums dated June 1 and 5, 2006. Dudgeon noted that the costs for the module have been reduced since the original quote.

Motion by Brinks, supported by Cummings, to waive purchasing requirements and approve the purchase of BS&A?s Utility Billing module at a not to exceed revised amount of $27,000.00 with funds from the Sewer and Water Fund Budgets for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2007.

Motion Carried.

RESOLUTIONS:

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 57-06 TO AUTHORIZE A CHANGE TO THE CONSUMERS ENERGY STANDARD STREETING LIGHTING CONTRACT TO INSTALL STREETLIGHTS IN GLEN RIDGE ESTATES.

Motion by Cummings, supported by Coughlin, to adopt Resolution 57-06 to authorize a change to the Consumers Energy Standard Streetlighting Contract to install streetlights in Glen Ridge Estates.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All. Nays: None. Absent: None.

Resolution Adopted.
COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR:

Commissioner Cummings ? Noticing a proliferation of uncut lawns, especially on rental
properties - Asked that Ordinance Enforcement attack this issue.

Commissioner Brown ? Questioned the requirements for mowing undeveloped properties
which was addressed by Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer.

Commissioner Brinks ? Reported on her trip to Nicaragua.

Mayor Root ? Reminded Commissioners of the Grand Valley Metro Council?s Growing
Communities Conference on Thursday, June 8th ? Noted the Commissioners will
meet regarding property maintenance concerns at a Committee of the Whole
Meeting on July 5th.



The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.





Mary Bremer Richard L. Root
Deputy City Clerk Mayor