City Commission Meeting - October 21, 2024

The October 21, 2024, City Commission meeting opened with the approval of the agenda and minutes, noting the absence of Commissioner Petrie 3:17. The session included reports from the Lapeer County Commissioner regarding recent grants for community corrections and emergency services 5:05, followed by a period of public comment where residents expressed concerns regarding transparency and the potential for limiting public speech via new commission rules 7:12.

The administrative portion of the meeting saw the commission adopt various ordinance amendments regarding blight, business registration, and zoning 14:05. A significant discussion took place regarding a proposed mural on the Court Street Bridge; while an artist offered to paint it for free, the commission expressed concerns about setting a precedent and the lack of a final design, leading to the withdrawal of the motion 28:21.

City Manager Mike Womack provided updates on the progress of marijuana ordinance revisions, which are moving toward the Planning Commission 41:41, and the successful implementation of a 4/10 work schedule intended to increase public accessibility 46:57. The meeting concluded with announcements regarding upcoming seasonal events and local elections 1:03:03.

• Ordinance Amendments: Updates to city codes regarding blight 14:05, business registration 14:50, and zoning 15:32.
• Public Transparency: Concerns raised by citizens regarding proposed changes to the rules of procedure for public participation 7:12.
• Fraud Prevention: Adoption of a specific policy for reporting fraud to meet auditing recommendations 25:25.
• Public Art: Debate over a proposed mural on the Court Street Bridge 27:58.
• City Operations: Updates on the 4/10 work schedule, marijuana ordinance revisions, and cybersecurity improvements 41:41.

• Mike Womack: City Manager, providing administrative and operational reports 41:41.
• Commissioner Brady: Active participant in motions and discussion 3:40.
• Commissioner Glisman: Active participant in motions and discussion 3:40.
• Commissioner Atwood: Active participant in motions and discussion 10:35.
• Commissioner Sendell: Active participant in motions and discussion 4:23.
• Commissioner Petrie: Commissioner, noted as excused from the meeting 3:17.
• Haygon: Lapeer County Commissioner, providing county-level updates 5:05.
• Thomas Woolly: Retiring employee with 36 years of service 11:58.
• Tammy Tamarra: Candidate recommended for a position on the DDA 51:14.

• Fraud Policy Adoption: The commission adopted a policy regarding the detection and reporting of fraud, including a minor language change to specify the breaking of "any" rules 24:41.
• Marijuana Ordinance Updates: The City Manager presented six proposed ordinances to modify marijuana zoning and regulations 41:41.
• Bridge Mural Motion: A motion to approve a mural on the Court Street Bridge was withdrawn following concerns about setting a precedent and the absence of a final rendering 38:02.
• DDA Appointment: The commission voted to recommend Tammy Tamarra for a DDA position 52:21.
• Retirement Recognition: A formal proclamation was adopted to honor Thomas Woolly for his 36 years of service 13:23.

• October 21, 2024: Date of the meeting 1:00:00.
• November 4, 2024: The date to which the proposed changes to the rules of procedure were tabled 20:28.
• November 14, 2024: Date of the Planning Commission meeting for marijuana ordinance review 42:22.
• January 2025: Proposed start date for the next budget cycle's goals and objectives 45:12.
• October 22 – November 3, 2024: Early voting period for local elections 1:03:25.

• Fraud Policy: Implemented as a recommendation from auditors and professional finance organizations to strengthen the city's ethical standards 25:25.
• 4/10 Work Schedule: Implemented to increase the accessibility of city services to residents who work standard 9-5 hours 48:22.
• Tabling Rules of Procedure: The commission chose to table the discussion to ensure the public had sufficient time to review the 221-page document 17:37.

• Mike Womack (City Manager): Provided detailed reports on marijuana ordinance progress, the success of the 4/10 work schedule, cybersecurity updates, and the necessity of the new fraud policy 41:41.
• Commissioner Brady: Acted as a frequent mover of motions and shared personal observations regarding community safety and public works projects 55:15.
• Commissioner Glisman: Contributed to various motions and offered praise for the work done at Mount Hope Cemetery 56:43.
• County Commissioner Haygon: Reported on recent grants for community corrections and the MSU Extension MOU 5:05.

• Motion to excuse Commissioner Petrie: Made by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Glisman; Carried 3:40.
• Motion to approve October 21st Agenda: Made by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Glimman; Carried 4:23.
• Motion to approve Minutes: Made by Commissioner Glisman, seconded by Commissioner Sendell; Carried 4:43.
• Motion to approve Consent Agenda: Made by Commissioner Atwood, seconded by Commissioner Sendell; Carried 10:57.
• Motion to approve Bill Listing ($1,929,653.5): Made by Commissioner Glisman, seconded by Commissioner Atwood; Carried 11:38.
• Motion to adopt Thomas Woolly retirement proclamation: Made by Commissioner Read, seconded by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glisman; Carried 13:44.
• Motion to adopt Blight Ordinance Amendment (Ch 38): Made by Commissioner Swel, seconded by Commissioner Brady; Carried 14:50.
• Motion to adopt Business Registration Amendment (Ch 59): Made by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Sendell; Carried 15:32.
• Motion to adopt Zoning Amendment (Ch 7): Made by Commissioner Brady, supported by [unnamed]; Carried 16:13.
• Motion to allow MSHDA grant application ($200,000): Made by [unnamed], seconded by Commissioner Glisman, supported by Commissioner Sendell; Carried 17:17.
• Motion to table Rules and Procedures Amendment until November 4th: Made by [unnamed], seconded by Commissioner Brady; Carried 20:54.
• Motion to adopt Fraud Policy (with language change): Made by [unnamed], seconded by Commissioner Sendell, supported by Commissioner Brady; Carried 27:58.
• Motion to approve Bridge Mural: Made by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Atwood; Withdrawn 38:02.
• Motion to approve Right-of-Way Easement (Woodchips): Made by Commissioner Brady, seconded by Commissioner Atwood; Carried 40:10.
• Motion to recommend Tammy Tamarra for DDA: Made by Commissioner Brady, supported by [unnamed]; Carried 52:21.

• Public Participation Rules: Residents (Dave Clayford and Jacob Ly) expressed concern that proposed changes to the rules of procedure might infringe upon constitutional rights to petition and could potentially limit the influence of certain community groups 7:12.
• Court Street Bridge Mural: The commission debated the merits of a free mural offered by an artist. Concerns centered on the lack of a final design, the potential for setting a precedent where the city must fund all materials for unsolicited art, and the preference for a formal design contest 28:21.
• Fraud Policy Implementation: Discussion regarding the "wishy-washy" language in the policy and how the city would manage the reporting of identified fraud 21:18.

• Public Review: Citizens are encouraged to review the proposed changes to the Rules and Procedures via the online agenda packet before the November meeting 19:04.
• Bridge Mural Follow-up: City staff (Rodney Church) to continue working with the artist to present a more defined design or direction at the next meeting 38:46.
• Marijuana Ordinance Review: Planning Commission to review zoning ordinances for the marijuana ordinance in their November meeting 42:22.

The sentiment from the public comments was one of cautious concern regarding government transparency and the potential for restrictive new rules 7:12. However, some residents also expressed gratitude for the detailed information available online and for the ongoing improvements to city infrastructure 53:54.

• Dave Clayford: Warned the commission that changing rules regarding public participation could violate the Michigan Constitution 8:44.
• Commissioner Brady: Shared a reminder that ORVs and ATVs are strictly prohibited within the city 56:22.
• Resident Bernette: Reminded the commission to ensure that contact information for officials remains easily accessible on the city website 53:27.

• Jacob Ly: Asked for clarification on what constitutes a "defined group" under the proposed changes to the rules of procedure 9:49.
• Commissioner Brady: Asked for a definition of the term "pertinence" during the discussion of an easement agreement 50:31.
• Commissioner Brady: Inquired about the city's current policy regarding artists who wish to paint public structures, such as tunnels 32:21.