Village of Douglas Council Proposed Minutes

THE CITY OF THE VILLAGE OF DOUGLAS
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Monday, June 16, 2008
7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem Waddell

2. Roll Call
Members Present: Bailey, Harvath, Hoexter, Mayer, Moore, Waddell
Absent: Balmer
Also Present: Manager Kowal and Clerk Neve

3. Pledge of Allegiance - Mayor Pro Tem

4. Changes/Additions/Deletions to Agenda
Written Communications added: Item 8A-9 Letter from Allegan County Democratic Party, Item 8A-10 Letter from Allegan County Stonewall Democrats,
Item 8A-11 Letter from State of Michigan Court of Appeals.
Motion by Harvath with support from Hoexter to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

5. Approval of Minutes
A. Regular Meeting of City Council of June 2, 2008
Motion by Hoexter with support from Mayer to approve meeting
minutes as presented. Motion carried.

6. Appointments /Resignations
None Scheduled

7. Proclamations/Awards
None Scheduled

8. Public Communications (Limit of three minutes for comments regarding
agenda items)
A. Verbal:
1. Kenneth Kutzel, 419 Harbor Lake Dr., reported all six units
on Harbor Lake Dr. became flooded with black water after
the heavy rains on June 7th. The power was off for at least
six hours. Mr. Kutzel requested that KLSWA be contacted to
see if the flooding was due to lift station failure.
2. Richard Bailey, Summer Grove Dr., asked if the pump
stations are equipped with emergency generators that will
take over in a power failure.

B. Written:
1. Letter from Frederick Eagle Royce, Douglas Lakeshore Association, and Frank Alfieri, Lake Michigan Shore Association, dated May 26, 2008 RE: Proposed 2008 Saugatuck Harbor Dredging Project
Bailey asked about the dredging starting in July and where
the spoils will go.
2. Letter from Mr. William B. Hunt, Rainbow Banner Project, dated June 2, 2008
3. Letter from Mr. James I. Wiley to School Board, Saugatuck Public Schools, dated June 2, 2008 RE: Proposed Varsity Baseball Field at Site of Douglas Elementary School
Bailey and Mayer commented on how well the letter from Mr.
Wiley was written.
4. Michigan Municipal League Legislative Link dated June 3, 2008
5. Letter from Mr. Ronald Colton, Jr., dated June 4, 2008
6. Minutes from the Saugatuck Township Fire District Regular Board Meeting of May 12, 2008, and Workshop Meeting of May 27, 2008.
7. Letter from Allegan County Board of Commissioners dated June 10, 2008 RE: Declared “State of Emergency”
8. Press Release from Allegan County Health Department dated June 13, 2008 RE: Lifting of the Public Health Advisory at Five Bathing Beaches on Lake Michigan, Including Douglas Beach
9. Letter from Allegan County Democratic Party RE: Rainbow banners for Pride Week
10. Letter from Stonewall Democrats RE: Rainbow banners for
Pride Week
11. Letter from State of Michigan Court of Appeals RE: Rodriguez Case No. 285894 (Shady Ponds)
Written communications noted as received and filed.

9. Unfinished Business
None

10. New Business
A. PUBLIC HEARING: Pursuant to Section 9.4 of the City of the Village
of Douglas Charter, a Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget for the City
of the Village of Douglas for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 (July 1, 2008 through
June 30, 2009) Shall Be Held. The City Council May Not Adopt the
Proposed Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget Until After the Public Hearing.
All Interested Parties Will Be Given an Opportunity to be Heard at the
Public Hearing Regarding the Proposed Budget.
Motion by Moore with support from Bailey to open the public hearing
at 7:19 p.m. Motion carried.
Manager Kowal gave a brief review of discussion covered at the
special city council meeting held Thursday, June 12th. Once again there
will be no increase in the City Operating or City Road millage rates.
Millages will remain at 11.20004 and 1.88140 respectively for a total of
13.0818.
No comments were heard from the public.

Motion by Bailey with support from Mayer to close the public
hearing at 7:40 p.m. Motion carried.

B. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 45-2008 Adopting General
Appropriations Act for the Fiscal Year Commencing July 1, 2008 and
Concluding June 30, 2009 (FY 2008-2009)
Motion by Bailey with support from Harvath to approve adoption
of Resolution No. 45-2008. Motion carried unanimously by
roll call vote.

C. Motion to Adopt Resolution No, 46-2008 Amending the Budget of the
2007-2008 General Appropriations Act.
Motion by Hoexter with support from Bailey to approve adoption
of Resolution No. 46-2008. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

D. Lease by the City of the Village of Douglas of Privately-Owned Parking
Lot Located Behind 62 W. Center Street (Sheridan Law Offices, P.C.)
Manager Kowal related a letter has been received from Mr. Sheridan
outlining maintenance needed on the parking lot. He is requesting
resurfacing of the entire lot and restriping of the parking spaces. In
reviewing the lease agreement there is no mention of City responsibility
to resurface the lot. There seems to be significant costs to maintaining a
lot that is so infrequently used by the public. It is questionable if anyone
even knows the lot is open to the public.
Hoexter agrees that the cost to maintain is significant. Perhaps it is time to
serve notice and end the lease.
Mayer agrees and relates she feels the lot is hazardous at night due to the
lack of lighting.
Moore asked about any resolution with the parking issues at Wild Dog.
Moore questioned if this lot is calculated in the number of downtown
spaces.
Harvath asked about the financial arrangements for leasing the lot other
than the maintenance and upkeep.
Bailey commented the merchants have given up the idea of a shuttle
running between Saugatuck and Douglas. She is in favor of keeping
the lot and looking into marking it better directing tourists into it.
Waddell also feels the City should keep and maintain the lot. The
abandon vehicle that is parked there belongs to Sheridan. He is bringing
attention to the need for maintenance so get him to move the vehicle.
Kowal asked council to think about the possibility that we may need
additional parking in the future if we terminate the lease on this lot. There
are liability issues to be addressed. Our Attorney should draft an
agreement to indemnify the City. We are under no obligation to pave and
light the lot.
Hoexter responded if the City is really pressed for additional parking we
could add spaces around Beery Field.
Kowal related the lot has limited spaces during the week. How many
spots are really open to the public when the employees of the building
are parked there?
Kowal will write a letter to Mr. Sheridan agreeing to seal and restripe the
lot.

E. Status of City Zoning Ordinance Review and Rewrite (see letter from
Mr. Larry Nix, Principal, Williams and Works, dated June 11, 2008)
Manager Kowal reported the original contract with Mr. Nix had no
“not to exceed” limit on the cost estimate of $37,000 to complete the rewrite. At this point we have exceeded that amount due to the number
of meetings required. The process is slowing at the Planning Commission
with the dedicated attention to detail. Kowal asked if council would like
to consider telling the Planning Commission that Mr. Nix will attend only
three more meetings. Planning Commissioners should come prepared with a list of all their questions and be ready to adopt the ordinance within
the next two-three months.
Mayer asked how far along in the process is the review. Maybe a note could be sent to the Planning Commission encouraging them to stay on task and get things done as soon as possible.
Moore commented this task is so important that we create the best document we can. Encourage Planning Commission to move along but donā€™t short change the ordinance. Since Waddell is our representative to
Planning Commission perhaps she could be the facilitator to keep things
moving.
Bailey commented there has been great enthusiasm from the group but it
takes a good leader to keep members on task.
Harvath feels this is a great hurdle for Douglas. A workable final product is what we are after.
Waddell stated the group has stayed focused. Projects like Swingbridge, the fire at 10 Center and the schools have all brought our ordinance into
the spotlight.
Kowal added the ordinance is only as good as the staff who enforces and
interprets it. Larry Nix is working with the old ordinance to glean out the many good parts.

11. Staff Reports
A. Building/Planning/Zoning/Enforcement
1. Letter from City Manager to Steven Bishop, Fleis & VandenBrink
Engineering, Inc., dated June 12, 2008 RE: Water Street at Center
Street Intersection Improvement Project
Kowal reported the repairs made a significant improvement but
there are still a number of items not satisfactory. The City will not
sign off yet.

2. A letter of response to Swingbridge is on file in the Clerkā€™s office
if council members would like to read it.

B. Finance/Budget
1. Revenue/Expenditure Summary Report for the Period 7/1/2007
to 5/31/2008
2. Investment Schedule as of 5/31/2008

Treasurer Drexler will print off the Revenue/Expenditure report
in either summary or detail, whichever is preferred by council.
Harvath asked about investigating other investment options.

12. Committee Reports
A. Planning Commission
Waddell commented the zoning ordinance re-write has already been
discussed.

B. Community Recreation Advisory Board
Bailey reported the five-year plan report is not finished.

C. Police Commission
Hoexter reported the following items were discussed at the last meeting.
1. The incident at the Maplewood Hotel
2. Over serving of alcohol
3. Township participation in police service

D. Kalamazoo Lake Sewer & Water Authority
No meeting

E. Park Improvement Ad Hoc Committee
No meeting

13. Council Comments
Manager and Treasurer were thanked for the work on the budget.
Harvath asked who parents should contact regarding the construction at the
Elementary School.
Kowal recommended contacting Ms. Broderick, Saugatuck Public Schools.
14. Mayorā€™s Report/Comments
Mayor Pro Tem Waddell thanked staff for work on the budget. Also commented
she feels it will be important for Planning Commission to review parking
spaces/issues on Center Street.

15. Approval of Invoices
A. Consideration of Approval of Invoices dated 6/13/08
Motion by Hoexter with support from Mayer to approve invoices dated 6/13/08 totaling $65,802.99. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
B. Consideration of Approval of Wire Transfer/ACH Payments for the
Month Ended May 31, 2008
Motion by Moore with support from Mayer to approve Transfers for month ended May 31, 2008. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

16. Managerā€™s Report
A. Our police chief has the full support of City Manager is enforcing alcohol
laws with regards to over serving. Bartenders need to take due diligence
to make sure patrons are not over served regardless of where that patron
has been previously.
B. The appeal of the termination of DPW employee Hutta is withdrawn.
C. Manager Kowal will be out of the office for an indefinite period of time
beginning June 17, 2008.

17. Hear from the Audience (Limit three minutes for general comments)
Shelley Edgerton, candidate for State Representative introduced herself.

18. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:

Jean E. Neve, CMC
Clerk

Approved by: ____________________________________________________________
Matt Balmer, Mayor