October 9, 2006
A regular meeting of the City Council was held on Monday, October 9, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Johnson presided. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited in unison.
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Councilmen present: |
Thomas Adams, Bruce Johnson, Hollis McKeag, James Myers, Joseph Rokosz |
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Councilmen absent: |
None |
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING CONSENT AGENDA
ITEMS
Councilman McKeag removed Item 9 from consent agenda.
Approval of the minutes of the September 25, 2006 special and regular meetings was offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag. (Motion ADOPTED.)
COMMUNITY READ TIME
Communications Coordinator Libby Richart introduced Library Board Member Ann Heard who spoke regarding Community Read Time, October 9 – November 9, 2006. The following resolution was then offered by Councilman Rokosz and seconded by Councilman Myers:
RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to
issue the attached proclamation designating October 9 through November 9, 2006,
as Community Read Time in Midland. (Motion
ADOPTED.) Mayor Johnson then presented
the proclamation to Ann Heard.
DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY IFT APPLICATION
City Assessor Reid Duford presented a request from The Dow Chemical Company for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate within the Michigan Division Dow Chemical Company Plant Rehabilitation District No. 1, relating to facility upgrades to both real and personal property within the METHOCEL Manufacturing Plant. Midland Tomorrow Executive Director Scott Walker spoke regarding the economic development benefit of this project to the Midland community and encouraged Council to support the tax exemption request. Vice President of Dow’s Michigan Operations David Dupre spoke regarding the METHOCEL Manufacturing Plant project and asked for Council’s favorable consideration of the exemption request. A public hearing opened at 7:23 p.m., recognizing no public comments, the hearing closed at 7:23 p.m. The following resolution was then offered by Councilman McKeag and seconded by Councilman Adams:
WHEREAS, the
Michigan Division Dow Chemical Company Plant Rehabilitation District No. 1 was
established by resolution of the Midland City Council on September 25, 1978;
and
WHEREAS, The Dow
Chemical Company made an application dated August 30, 2006, which was received
by the City Clerk on August 31, 2006, for an Industrial Facilities Exemption
Certificate relating to approval of a new facility within said District; and
WHEREAS, the
application for the certificate is for approval of a new facility with the
total project cost of $57,500,000, which includes $50,108,932 in new personal
property and $7,391,068 in real property improvements with the same being
located within the Michigan Division Dow Chemical Company Plant Rehabilitation
District No. 1 to allow The Dow Chemical Company to make facility upgrades to
both real and personal property to add approximately 13 million pounds of
additional manufacturing capacity to the METHOCEL manufacturing plant in
Midland; and
WHEREAS, the City
Council, by written notice, afforded the applicant, the City Assessor, and
representatives of each affected taxing unit an opportunity for a hearing on
October 9, 2006, as required by Public Act 198 of Public Acts of the State of
Michigan of 1974, as amended, and has given due consideration to all
information presented; and
WHEREAS, the
application appears to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 9 of
said statute, as amended, in that the proposed facility is located within a
plant rehabilitation district that was duly established within the City of
Midland with the City of Midland being eligible under said statute to establish
such a district and with the district having been established upon a request
before the commencement of the restoration, replacement or construction of the
facility described herein; that the commencement of this project did not occur
earlier than six months before the filing of the application for the industrial
facilities exemption certificate, that the application relates to a
construction, restoration or replacement program that when completed
constitutes a new or replacement facility within the meaning of said statute
and is situated within a previously established plant rehabilitation district
that was established in the City of Midland which was itself eligible under the
statute to establish the district; that completion of the facility is
calculated to, and will at the time of the issuance of the certificate, have
the reasonable likelihood to create employment, retain employment, prevent a
loss of employment or produce energy in
the community; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the
City Council of the City of Midland finds and determines that the granting of
the industrial facilities exemption certificate requested by The Dow Chemical
Company considered together with the aggregate amount of industrial facilities
exemption certificates previously granted and currently in force, shall not
have the effect of substantially impeding the operation of the City of Midland or
impairing the financial soundness of any other taxing unit which levies an ad
valorem property tax in the City of Midland; and
RESOLVED FURTHER,
that said application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption certificate from
The Dow Chemical Company for a new facility approval within the Plant
Rehabilitation District be and the same is hereby approved for a period of 12
years “after completion”; and
RESOLVED FURTHER,
that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute the Public Act 198
Agreement submitted between the City and The Dow Chemical Company pursuant to
P.A. 334 of Public Acts of the State of Michigan of 1993. (Motion ADOPTED.)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Debra Rogers, Executive Director for the Midland Conservation District spoke regarding the Sturgeon Creek Watershed Project and the positive partnership with and benefits to the City of Midland.
GENERAL RECREATION FEES ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
(1ST reading)
Department of Public Services Director Martin McGuire presented the first reading of an ordinance amendment to increase fees associated with picnic reservations. Introduction and first reading of the following ordinance amending General Recreation fees was then offered by Councilman McKeag and seconded by Councilman Adams:
ORDINANCE NO. _______
The City of Midland Ordains:
Section 1. Section
21-73 (14) of Division 4 of Article II of Chapter 21 is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 21-73.
General recreation fees
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(14)* |
Picnic shelter reservations |
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Emerson
A-1, Emerson E |
$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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Chippewassee |
$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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Emerson D |
$ |
$ 45.00 |
per use |
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$ |
$ 55.00 |
per use |
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Unsheltered
areas |
$ |
$ 15.00 |
per use |
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Addition of
a canopy |
$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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Delivery of
picnic tables (up to 10 tables) |
$ |
$ 25.00 |
per use |
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Additional
tables (if available) |
$
3.00 |
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per table |
*Note: Fees paid for shelter
reservations are non-refundable.
Exceptions
to (14) Picnic shelter reservation fees are as follows:
a) Donors of shelters shall be allowed one rent free use per year in
the respective donated structure.
b) Daytime reservations which begin after
Monday – Friday in May and June are exempt from fees.
Section 2. This
Ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
(Motion ADOPTED. Considered first
reading. Yeas: Adams, Johnson, Rokosz Nays:
McKeag, Myers)
2005-2006 LIBRARY STATISTICS AND SERVICES
REPORT
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Director Melissa Barnard presented a report on library statistics and services for 2005-06. The following resolution was then offered by Councilman Rokosz and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS, City staff has prepared a report in response to a decrease in circulation and gate count at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library for fiscal year 2005-2006; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the report presented on the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library is hereby accepted and ordered placed on file in the Office of the City Clerk. (Motion ADOPTED.)
2005-2006 CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT
The following resolution was offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS, the Cable Access Advisory Commission has submitted an annual report for fiscal year 2005/2006 in accord with Article I of Chapter 15 of the Midland Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Cable Access Advisory Commission has identified in the annual report activities that are in compliance with the duties defined in the ordinance; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the 2005/2006 Annual Report of the Cable Access Advisory Commission be accepted. (Motion ADOPTED.)
CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMISSION – BROWN
APPOINTMENT
The following resolution was offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
RESOLVED, that Jason Brown is hereby appointed to the Cable Access Advisory Commission as a Media Professional to fill a term to expire June 30, 2009. (Motion ADOPTED.)
LICENSE AGREEMENT – ASHMAN COURT HOTEL
RENOVATION
City Engineer Brian McManus presented a license agreement for a right-of-way encroachment along Main Street, Gordon Street and Ashman Street near the Ashman Court Hotel. Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Christin O’Callaghan spoke regarding the project and encouraged Council support of granting the right-of-way encroachment. Joan Cleland, representing MVCC Partnership Ltd., spoke regarding the proposed project. Sandy Eads, Principal with HOK Venue, presented plans and architectural renderings of the project. The following resolution was then offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS, representatives of MVCC Limited Partnership located at 111 W.
Main Street desire to renovate their site by the development of building
additions; and
WHEREAS, the development does not currently encroach in the City
right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, the proposed renovation creates an encroachment along W. Main
Street, Gordon and Ashman Streets; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the proposed encroachments along W. Main Street,
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby directed to execute
the license agreement with MVCC Limited Partnership on behalf of the City of
Midland; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that this recognition of encroachment does not
authorize the property owner to expand or enlarge the encroachment in the
future beyond the dimensions provided in the related plan, and that the
property owner has no claims to City street right-of-way property. (Motion ADOPTED.)
GIFT – RESTROOM AT STURGEON ROAD BASEBALL FACILITY
Department of Public Services Director Martin McGuire presented information on the gift from Northwest Little League of a restroom facility at the City’s baseball facility on Sturgeon Road. The following resolution was then offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS, the Northwest Little League has offered the gift of a restroom facility to the City to be built at the City’s baseball complex on Sturgeon Road; and
WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Commission, at their meeting of Sept. 5, 2006, voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council accept the gift; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the City hereby accepts the offer of the Northwest Little League to build a restroom facility at the City’s baseball complex on Sturgeon Road. (Motion ADOPTED.)
TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER S-06-01
The following resolution was offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
RESOLVED, that Traffic Control Order No. S-06-01 filed August 3, 2006
pursuant to Chapter 24 of the Code of Ordinances to establish traffic control
as follows:
That Airport Road shall stop for Stark Road.
is hereby made permanent. (Motion
ADOPTED.)
CONTRACTED LEGAL SERVICES – MCV TAX APPEAL
The following resolution was offered by
Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS,
the Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV) appealed the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 assessments and taxable values of certain
property it owns in the City of Midland to the Michigan Tax Tribunal; and
WHEREAS,
the law firms of Braun, Kendrick, Finkbeiner, P.L.C. and Westrate and Thomas,
P.C., formerly known as Westrate and Holmstrom, P.C., have been utilized in
assisting the City of Midland in its legal defense of said appeal; and
WHEREAS,
on June 27, 2005, Council authorized payments to Braun, Kendrick, Finkbeiner,
P.L.C. and Westrate and Thomas, P.C. for the aforementioned services in a total
amount not to exceed $5,750,000; and
WHEREAS,
the cost of continuing said services is expected to exceed the previously
approved amount and therefore approval of the
WHEREAS,
sufficient budgetary funding exists within the 2006-2007 Legal Fees budget for
the MCV tax appeal cases; now therefore
RESOLVED,
that the above-referenced services are hereby determined to be professional
services within the meaning of Section 2-19 of the Code of Ordinances and do
not require sealed proposals; and
RESOLVED
FURTHER, that authorization for payment to the law firms of Braun, Kendrick,
Finkbeiner, P.L.C. and Westrate and Thomas, P.C. for their assistance in
connection with the aforementioned appeal is hereby increased to an amount not
to exceed $5,950,000. (Motion ADOPTED.)
ARTICULATED LOADER PURCHASE
The following resolution was offered by
Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
WHEREAS, sealed proposals were advertised and received in accord with Article II of Chapter 2 of the Midland Code of Ordinances for the purchase of an Articulated Loader, Bid No. 2959; and
WHEREAS, sufficient funding for the articulated loader is included in the 2006-07 Equipment Revolving Fund budget for Capital Outlay; now therefore
RESOLVED, that the Purchasing Agent is authorized to issue a purchase order to Michigan CAT of Saginaw, Michigan in the net amount of $101,890 for the purchase of an articulated loader including an option of a limited slip differential and the trade-in of City equipment number 6-46 in accordance with the proposal and City specifications. (Motion ADOPTED.)
SNOW AND ICE CONTROL SALT PURCHASE
The following resolution was offered by
Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
RESOLVED, that upon the recommendation of the administration, the City Purchasing Agent is authorized to requisition and issue purchase orders for snow and ice control salt through the State of Michigan Extended Purchasing Program for prices to be determined by a competitive bidding system in a total amount not to exceed the 2006-07 budgeted sum for this purpose. (Motion ADOPTED.)
PROPOSED 2006-07 WATER FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT
The following resolution was offered by
Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman McKeag:
RESOLVED, that in accord with Section 11.6 of the Charter of the City of Midland, a public hearing shall be conducted at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2006, in the Council Chambers of City Hall on the proposal to amend the 2006/07 Water Fund budget to increase revenues from sale of industrial water by $60,000.00 and to increase appropriations for Water Treatment Plant Maintenance - Industrial by $60,000.00. (Motion ADOPTED.)
Being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
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Selina Tisdale, City