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Minutes for 04/10/2007APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
APRIL 10, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COMMISSION CHAMBERS
A. Chair McIntyre-Evenocheck called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
B. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Swanson.
C. Roll Call:
Members Present: Ray Poyner, Dan Holtrop, Abed Itani, Nancy McIntyre-Evenocheck, Ed Swanson, Frank Vander Hoff, and Chris Winczewski.
Members Absent: Betsy Artz, and Laurie Sheldon
Others Present: Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, Staff Secretary Monique Collier and the press.
Motion by VanderHoff, supported by Itani, to excuse Artz and Sheldon from the April 10, 2007 meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
D. Approval of the Minutes of March 27, 2007 and Findings of Fact: there were no Findings of Fact.
Motion by VanderHoff, supported by Itani, to approve the Minutes of March 27, 2007.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
E. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by VanderHoff, supported by Itani to approve the agenda for the April 10, 2007 meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
F. Acknowledge visitors wishing to speak to non-agenda items.
There was no public comment.
G. Old Business
There was no old business.
H. Public Hearing
There were no public hearings.
I. Work Session
Structures and Improvements (SIP)
Planner Golder stated that the Finance Department has taken over the preparation of the Structures and Improvements Plans (SIP) document. She stated that one of the reasons that they took it over was because they are trying to get the document more in line with the general operating budget so that they don?t run into a situation that we don?t have enough money to do the projects that are proposed. She stated that there are three sections that the Planning Commission needs to review which are: the building and site improvements; the parks; and the streets and sidewalks.
Commissioner Itani stated that staff has done a good job putting the Structures and Improvements document together.
Commissioner Poyner asked if there was a master list or a priority list that crosses all the different programs. Golder stated that in the years past it was priority by area, but it turned out when asking for input from the department heads, they put priority one on all their current projects for that year. Golder stated that generally priority will be taken out of the document with the exception that projects from the current year are collectively priority one. Schweitzer stated the reason why they are set up by area is because the funding is generally specific to the use.
Commissioner Holtrop highlighted a few things that were discussed in the sub-committee meeting. Under Building and Site Improvements there were two additions, City Engineer Kepley stated that they are looking at repairs to the Library and the Recreation Center.
City Engineer Kepley stated that there was a building evaluation done at the Library and the consultants report suggest as much as 600,000 dollars worth of repairs. He stated that the City doesn?t want to spend that kind of money on a building that was poorly designed and built. He stated that the city would like to tear it down and build a new building but we don?t have the funds to do that. A plan of action is being formulated.
Commissioner Holtrop stated that under Parks in the (SIP) they have dropped number 9 and 10 off the list. On page 8 under Unscheduled Projects, the accessible play structure moved up the list because they are applying for a grant and according to Klinglesmith it looks positive. Holtrop also stated that on the Unscheduled Projects list they would like to see the community?s center and the activities center on the bottom as unscheduled projects. Also, under the parks section the work is being suspended on the number 2 Stanaback Park since the state put moratorium on the reimbursement of certain grants.
Commissioner?s VanderHoff?s concern was how the unscheduled projects are going to get paid for. Holtrop stated that the unscheduled projects represent a wish list and if a grant becomes available that can be applied for and funded we will be in a position to pursue. VanderHoff stated that he doesn?t know how the City could even consider the Lamberts Park Trail and the Golf Practice Facility projects given the City?s financial condition. McIntyre-Evenocheck stated that is why they are unscheduled and nothing will be dedicated at this time.
Commissioner Holtrop stated that under Streets and Sidewalks there were a couple of dollar changes. He stated that number 2, the 52nd Street resurfacing, eliminate M-37 to Patterson. They will just be doing maintenance on that instead of the resurface. Number 9 they can fill in the blank with 580,000 dollars, drop number 11 the Eastern Ave. repairs, number 13 push out to 2009-2010 and 800,000 dollars. Number 17 needs to be increased to 1.3 million. With respect to numbers 11 and 19, new funding has become available for mill and resurfacing and should be moved up the list. Number 21 bump it back to 2011-2012.
Vice-Chair Swanson asked if we have a sufficiency rating system for the entire network, (surface conditions in combination with the evaluation of the street system versus the traffic load that is carried on it). Kepley stated that we have received a pavement condition index (PCI) ranking of our roads. He stated that all the major roads are done and he is not sure if all the local roads have been done. He stated that Pat Hughes the Assistant City Engineer is handling that.
City Engineer Kepley stated that the philosophy is that they do not want to do the worst roads first. He stated that they would like to save that money and use those funds to take a good road and extend it longer. He stated that it is a mixture of trying to do limited reconstruction and a lot of preventative maintenance and in between do the mills and fills where needed. He stated that they set the list back in November based upon the information received from Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC). He stated that it would be a mixture of reconstruction and cap seal to spread the dollars out. Kepley stated that a chip seal is an emulsion that you spray down and lay stones on top. He stated that the positive is that it is economical and the negatives are that it is really hard in residential areas especially cul-de-sacs because of how they lay it down and how the excess gravel accumulations. The gravel is kicked up, bangs up cars and the emulsion gets tracked into people homes. He stated that the city is trying to get away from that and to do so you have to do a chip seal and a cap on top and a micro. He stated that you save about 50% from a mil.
Discussion ensued regarding the chip seal and the roads.
Commissioner Itani stated that GVMC is coming up with a system where you can go to Regis click on any road and you can see a picture of the road and the condition.
Commissioner VanderHoff asked if we have any guarantees from the contractors and why can?t we build a road that will last because it seems like a waste of money. Kepley commented that as a county we spend billions of dollars on asphalt one would you think we would have a better product than what we have today. Kepley stated the asphalt is a combination of granular material aggregate where they look at the size and how much percentage is crushed and what kind of charge, if it is negative or positive, and the emulsions. Kepley stated that he would highly suggest to the state that they need to spend more money and research on asphalt and once that information is found they can distribute that information to the counties and the cities. Vanderhoff asked about getting a warranty. Itani stated that if you want a warranty it would cost you more money to repave or reconstruct that one mile than what it cost today.
Discussion ensued
J. New Business
There was no New Business.
K. Other Business
1. Commissioners? Comments
VanderHoff stated that he will not be at the April 24, 2007 meeting.
2. Staff?s Comments
There were no staff comments.
L. Adjournment
Motion by VanderHoff, supported by Holtrop, to adjourn the meeting.
- Motion Carried (7-0) ?
- Artz and Sheldon absent -
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Winczewski, Secretary
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