MINUTES OF THE ST. JOSEPH CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN ON September 10, 2012.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS CHICKERING, GOFF AND RICHARDS
CITY MANAGER FRANK WALSH
CITY ATTORNEY LAURIE SCHMIDT
CITY CLERK DEB KOROCH
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER GAREY AND MAYOR JUDD
Commissioner Chickering called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Richards moved; seconded by Commissioner Goff, approval of the September 10, 2012 Agenda, as presented. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Commissioner Chickering called for public comments:
Commissioner Chickering presented the September 10, 2012 Consent Agenda:
•· Minutes of the August 27, 2012 Regular Meeting
•· Disbursements paid since August 17, 2012 in the amount of $2,231,930.92
•· Michigan Municipal League Voting Delegation - Mayor Robert Judd designated
•· Special Event - Great Pumpkin River Race - Sunrise Rotary - October 6th
•· Special Event - The Great Halloween Spectacle - St. Joseph Today - October 26th
•· Special Event - Luminary Festival - St. Joseph Today - November 16th
•· Special Event - Reindog parade - St. Joseph Today - December 1st
•· Special Event - Live Mannequins - St. Joseph Today - December 7th
Commissioner Goff moved; seconded by Commissioner Richards, approval of the September 10, 2012 Consent Agenda, as presented. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Public Works Director Derek Perry presented Resolution 12-21 for consideration:
City of St. Joseph
Resolution 12-21
A RESOLUTION APPROVING ACCEPTANCE OF A MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RESOLVED, that the City of St. Joseph, Michigan does hereby accept the terms of the Agreement as received from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and that the City of St. Joseph does hereby specifically agree, but not by way of limitation, as follows:
•1. To appropriate all funds necessary to complete the project during the project period and to provide ONE HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($106,000) to match the grant authorized by the MDNR.
•2. To maintain satisfactory financial accounts, documents, and records to make them available to the MDNR for auditing at reasonable times.
•3. To construct the project and provide such funds, services and materials as may be necessary to satisfy the terms of the Agreement.
•4. To regulate the use of the facility constructed and reserved under this Agreement to assure the use thereof by the public on equal and reasonable terms.
•5. To comply with any and all terms of said Agreement including all terms not specifically set forth in the foregoing portions of this Resolution.
Commissioner Goff moved; seconded by Commissioner Richards, approval of Resolution 12-21, formally accepting the MNRTF grant for improvements to Lions Beach in the amount of $247,100.00 and to assign the Director of Public Works as the Grantee's representative; Abonmarche Consultants as the Grantee's Prime Professional and authorize the City Clerk to execute the Agreement. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
City Manager Frank Walsh presented a tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of St. Joseph and Michigan AFSCME Council 25; the current agreement will expire on December 31, 2012. The new agreement will begin January 1, 2013 and end June 30, 2015; the agreement which has been ratified by the public works employees includes a provision that would allow the city to move the public works employees to the current city health care plan on October 1, 2012, including an increase in their contribution from 10% to 20%. Mr. Walsh discussed the contract changes.
Commissioner Goff moved; seconded by Commissioner Richards, approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of St. Joseph and Michigan AFSCME Council 25 which was unanimously approved by the public works employees. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
In the absence of City Engineer Tim Zebell, Public Works Director Derek Perry updated the City Commission on the status of the Ridgeway Watermain Improvement Project and the Lake Street Reconstruction Project.
Community Development Director John Hodgson updated the City Commission on the Coastal Waterfront Study and possible Shoreline Ordinance. He stated that during the regular September meeting of the St. Joseph Planning Commission, the commission voted 8-1 to recommend the City Commission approve, with modifications, a draft zoning ordinance establishing an Edgewater Beach Overlay District to prevent construction close to Lake Michigan in the area north of the St. Joseph River. He expects this issue to come before the City Commission on October 15.
Commissioner Chickering presented the following Proclamation:
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
SENIOR CENTER MONTH
September 2012
WHEREAS, St. Joseph, Michigan is a community that includes over 2,000 adults aged 60 and older; and
WHEREAS, the older adults in St. Joseph are the roots from which our community grows, who bestow gifts of wisdom and insight upon younger generations, and strengthen the bonds between neighbors to create a better place to live; and
WHEREAS, our society can be enhanced by older adults aging peacefully in their communities; and
WHEREAS, our community can provide recognition and respect by enriching the quality of life for older adults in St. Joseph by increasing their opportunities to remain in their communities as active and engaged citizens; and
WHEREAS, Senior Centers provide services, technologies, and support systems that allow seniors to foster and maintain connections within the community; and
WHEREAS, everyday in America, over one million older adults are connected at their local Senior Center; and
WHEREAS, three-quarter of adults who participate in their local senior center visit their center one to three times per week and spend an average of 3.3 hours per visit; and
WHEREAS, research shows compared to their peers, senior center participants have higher levels of health, social interaction, and life satisfaction; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph is fortunate to have one of seven Berrien County Senior Centers, specifically the St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center, located here to serve our older population; and
WHEREAS, the National Council on Aging recognizes the month of September as National Senior Center Month.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the City Commission of St. Joseph, Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2012, as SENIOR CENTER MONTH and urge every citizen to take time this month to honor our community's older adults, the St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center, and its Board of Directors and staff; and
FURTHER, we urge all older adults in St. Joseph who have not familiarized themselves with the St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center to take the time to visit the Center this month.
Commissioner Goff moved; seconded by Commissioner Goff, approval of proclaiming September 2012 as Senior Center Month, as presented. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Commissioner Chickering presented the following proclamation:
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
NATIONAL CAROUSEL ASSOCIATION WEEK
September 16 - 23, 2012
WHEREAS, the National Carousel Association has been providing support for nearly 40 years to individuals and organizations working throughout America to provide the carousel experience to their citizens and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, the National Carousel Association has ceaselessly striven to document the important history of American carousels and created a national database of all existing carousels; and
WHEREAS, the National Carousel Association has provided valuable guidance and financial grants for the preservation and operation of carousels nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the National Carousel Association has recognized the recreational, educational and economic benefit of new carousels being installed across the country; and
WHEREAS, the National Carousel Association has chosen to hold its 2012 Annual Conference in St. Joseph, Michigan, with the Silver Beach Carousel Society as host; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, staff, and residents, welcome the members of the National Carousel Association and wish their stay to be pleasant and enjoyable; and
WHEREAS, we wish to observe this week by taking time to recognize and acknowledge the National Carousel Association and the Silver Beach Carousel Society, in particular, for the positive impact they have made -- recreationally, educationally and culturally -- to the country, the City of St. Joseph, and all of Michigan's Great Southwest.
NOW, THEREFORE, we the City Commission of St. Joseph, Michigan do hereby proclaim the week of September 16 through September 23 as National Carousel Association Week in the City of St. Joseph.
Commissioner Chickering moved; seconded by Commissioner Richards, approval of proclaiming September 16 through September 23 as National Carousel Association Week in the City of St. Joseph, as presented. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Commissioner Chickering presented the following proclamation:
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
CONSTITUTION WEEK
September 17 - 23, 2012
WHEREAS, our founding fathers, in order to secure the blessing of liberty for themselves and their posterity, did ordain and establish a constitution for the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, it is of the greatest importance that all citizens fully understand the provisions and principles contained in the constitution in order to effectively support, preserve and defend it against all enemies; and
WHEREAS, the Two hundred Twenty Fifth (225th) anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution provides an historical opportunity for all Americans to remember the achievements of the Framers of the Constitution and the rights, privileges, and responsibilities they afforded us in this unique document; and
WHEREAS, the independence guaranteed to American citizens, whether by birth or naturalization, should be celebrated by appropriate ceremonies and activities during Constitution Week, September 17 - 23, as designated by the proclamation of the President of the United States of America in accordance with Public Law 915.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the City Commission of St. Joseph, Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17 through September 23 as Constitution Week in the City of St. Joseph and urge all citizens to reflect during that week on the many benefits of our Federal Constitution and the privileges and responsibilities of American citizenship.
Commissioner Chickering moved; seconded by Commissioner Goff, approval of proclaiming September 17 through September 23 as Constitution Week in the City of St. Joseph, as presented. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Commissioner Richards moved; seconded by Commissioner Goff, approval of a request to go into closed session at 6:43 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing a legal opinion and discuss on-going labor negotiations. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
Commissioner Goff moved; seconded by Commissioner Richards, approval of a request to close the closed session at 7:11 p.m. Roll call resulted as follows: Yeas: Commissioners Chickering, Goff and Richards. Nays: None. Absent: Commissioner Garey and Mayor Judd. Motion carried.
There being no further business, Commissioner Chickering moved to adjourn at 7:12 p.m.
Commissioner Chickering City Clerk
| 
