City of Lapeer - City Commission Meeting 03/03/2025

The meeting opened with the approval of the agenda, which included a previously deferred item regarding the MLR engineering contract 6:05. The commission reviewed and approved meeting minutes from January 28 and February 18, 2025 7:07, 7:50. A period for public comment followed, where residents raised issues ranging from odor complaints in Menora Township 8:33 to suggestions for securing federal grants for local sports facilities 9:38.

During administrative reports, the commission addressed significant changes to the Grand Trunk Western Railroad lease, noting an increase in annual rent from $100 to $575 and a new requirement for environmental insurance 18:59. The commission also approved the MLR contract for the First and Second Street reconstruction project 26:50, despite some debate regarding the bidding process. The meeting concluded with discussions on planning a joint meeting with other boards for May 29:42 and various departmental updates regarding traffic management and community events 41:22.

• Infrastructure Projects: Approval of the MLR engineering contract for First and Second Street water main replacement [2/25/2025].
• Railroad Lease Renewal: Renegotiating the property lease agreement with Grand Trunk Western Railroad 17:35.
• Public Amenities: Potential for USTA grants to support tennis and pickleball court developments in Krampon 9:38.
• Traffic Management: Discussions regarding the functionality and safety of "smart" traffic lights at Dillan and 24 38:10, 48:35.
• Joint Meeting Planning: Organizing a large-scale meeting involving various city boards for May 2025 29:42.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor [Context].
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner [Context].
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner [Context].
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner [Context].
• Melissa Petrie: Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem [Context].
• Mike Womack: City Manager [Context].
• Commissioner Swindell: Commissioner [Transcript].
• John D'Angeles: Resident of Menora Township 8:33.
• Chris Hall: Tennis advocate and high school coach 9:38.
• Adam Perry: Appointee to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) 34:38.

• Agenda Amendment: The commission added item G4 (MLR contract) to the agenda 6:25.
• MLR Engineering Contract: Approval of a $999,500 contract for First Street and Second Street reconstruction, including water main replacement 26:50.
• Railroad Lease: Approval of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad lease agreement, which includes a rent increase to $575 per year and a $2,000 environmental insurance rider 18:59.
• Military Flyover: Approval of a military aircraft flyover for the "Friday Night Fights" event on June 6, 2025 23:14.
• DDA Appointment: Appointment of Adam Perry to the DDA board through January 1, 2029 34:38.
• Park Board Reappointment: Reappointment of the Mayor to the Park Board through April 1, 2028 35:42.

• March 17, 2025: Scheduled public hearing for the 2025 MS HDA CDBG rehab grant application 17:12.
• June 6, 2025: Scheduled date for the military aircraft flyover during Friday Night Fights 23:14.
• May 2025: Proposed timeframe for the upcoming joint meeting with other commissions 30:22.

• MLR Contract: The contract was updated to increase engineering liability insurance from approximately $100,000 to $2 million and to remove a provision allowing the contractor to subcontract work 25:44.
• Railroad Lease: The lease needed renewal as the previous agreement had expired for several years 17:57.
• Joint Meeting: To provide an educational component and foster dialogue between various city boards and the public 31:29.

• Commissioner Brady: Moved to amend the agenda 6:25; moved to approve the military flyover 23:14; and expressed concerns regarding the "smart" traffic lights and safety 43:10, 47:28.
• Commissioner Petrie: Moved to approve the railroad lease 17:35; raised concerns about tax payment accessibility and traffic light consistency 38:10; and advocated for the tennis/pickleball development 40:41.
• City Manager Mike Womack: Provided updates on the upcoming joint meeting 28:58, the CAPCON event in Lansing 45:54, and addressed concerns regarding the tax drop box signage 46:22.
• Commissioner Swindell: Moved to approve the MLR contract 26:50 and the DDA appointment 34:59; also shared updates regarding his trip to the National League of Cities event in DC 45:17.

• Agenda Approval: Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glisman. Carried 6:46.
• January 28, 2025 Minutes: Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glisman. Carried 7:28.
• February 18, 2025 Minutes: Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Swindell. Carried 8:11.
• Consent Agenda: Motion by Commissioner Swindell, supported by Commissioner Petrie. Carried 15:25.
• March 3, 2025 Bill Listing ($2,256.36): Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Petrie. Carried via Roll Call: Atwood (Yes), Brady (Yes), Glisman (Yes), Petrie (Yes), Swindell (Yes) 16:28.
• MS HDA CDBG Grant Public Hearing: Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Swindell. Carried 17:12.
• Grand Trunk Western Railroad Lease: Motion by Commissioner Petrie, supported by Commissioner Glistman. Carried via Roll Call: Brady (Yes), Glisman (Yes), Petrie (Yes), Swindell (Yes), Atwood (Yes) 23:14.
• Military Flyover Approval: Motion by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Atwood. Carried 25:02.
• MLR Engineering Contract ($999,500): Motion by Commissioner Swindell, supported by Commissioner Glisman. Carried via Roll Call: Glisman (Yes), Petrie (No), Swindell (Yes), Atwood (Yes), Brady (Yes) 28:36.
• DDA Appointment (Adam Perry): Motion by Commissioner Swindell, supported by Commissioner Atwood. Carried 35:19.
• Park Board Reappointment: Motion by Commissioner Swindell, supported by Commissioner Brady. Carried 36:02.

• Engineering Bidding: Debate over whether a quote from ROW was considered for the water main project, with the City Manager noting the ROW quote was more expensive and did not include all required scopes 27:11.
• Railroad Communication: Frustration regarding the railroad company's lack of communication and refusal to answer questions regarding the consequences of not approving the lease 18:37, 19:19.
• Joint Meeting Logistics: Discussion regarding the best time (Saturday morning vs. Monday evening), location (Community Center, Legion, or Gallery), and the inclusion of educational components for the joint session 29:42, 32:50.
• Smart Traffic Lights: Discussion on how sensors in "smart" lights may fail to detect vehicles, causing delays and potential safety risks at intersections 43:10, 48:35.

• Joint Meeting Planning: Staff to research potential Saturday morning dates in May and check venue availability at the Legion and Gallery 30:22, 33:53.
• Traffic Light Inquiry: Commissioner Petrie to work with staff to identify the cause of inconsistent signaling at Dillan and 24 38:31.
• Tax Box Signage: Staff to consider adding a note to the voting drop box to clarify that tax payments are also accepted 47:04.

• Mixed/Concerned: Residents expressed frustration regarding local odor ordinances 8:33 and the difficulty of paying taxes during city closures 39:15.
• Supportive/Enthusiable: There was significant community enthusiasm regarding the expansion of tennis and pickleball facilities 9:38 and the success of the local Polar Plunge fundraiser 41:22.

• Chris Hall (Tennis Advocate): Highlighted that playing tennis regularly can add approximately 9.7 years to a person's life 11:04.
• Commissioner Swindell: Mentioned his upcoming trip to Washington D.C. for the National League of Cities event to advocate for local municipalities 45:17.

• Commissioner Petrie: Asked what would happen to Amtrak service if the city did not approve the railroad lease 21:05.
• Commissioner Brady: Questioned if the city had received a bid from ROW for the engineering project before choosing MLR 27:11.
• Commissioner Petrie: Questioned if the traffic light signaling at Dillan and 24 was a permanent functionality of the "smart" system or a malfunction 38:31.