Mayor Pro Tem Robert Megowen, Councilors Rachel Lankton, Gernot Joachim, and Dan Salo.

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1 REGULAR MEETING HOUGHTON CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, :30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY CENTER PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Robert Megowen, Councilors Rachel Lankton, Gernot Joachim, and Dan Salo. Also present for the City: City Manager Scott MacInnes, Deputy Clerk Ann Vollrath, Director of Public Works Mark Zenner, Police Chief John Donnelly, and Transit Director Jodi Reynolds. ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Robert Backon, Councilors Craig Kurtz and Mike Needham. Representatives of the Daily Mining Gazette, WMPL, WOLV, WCUP, and Eric Waara. REGULAR MEETING: Mayor Pro Tem Megowen called to order a Regular Meeting of the Houghton City Council and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to approve the minutes of the June 13, 2012 Regular Meeting as written. Yes: All. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS COUNCIL: There were no changes made to the Revised Agenda. No one addressed the Council. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:. PUBLIC HEARINGS: REPORTS:. Director of Public Works Mark Zenner reported the following: Crews are cleaning up following the rain storms. A culvert on Calverley Street caved in. It will need to be replaced. The water station near the Bluffs was hit by lightning. Insurance will cover the cost of repairs. 1

2 At Dee Stadium the electrician is installing the new electrical wiring in the walls. A crew is repairing curbs throughout town where necessary. A crew finished the water reroute on Hickory Lane. Work on the parking deck started today. The contractor started a test section to look at the cables. Mr. Zenner will bring pictures to the next meeting of the progress. City Manager MacInnes said the engineer and the contractor working on the parking deck have worked together on previous projects. He expects this project to run smoothly. Eric Waara reported that the pre-bid meeting for the water/sewer project is scheduled for June 28 th. Director of Public Works Mark Zenner said that he has a worker locating the water shut offs at houses in the area where the work will be performed so that they are prepared to turn off water when needed. Police Chief Donnelly reported that the department answered 142 calls for service, made 11 misdemeanor arrests, issued 12 civil infraction tickets, and 7 city tickets. Bridgefest went well. The department is preparing for the CC Fireman s Tournament hosted by Hurontown. The parade will be on Lakeshore Drive from the beach to Dee Stadium. The dance will be at Dee Stadium. Mayor Pro Tem Megowen reported that the summer concert this week will be Tom Katalin. He said that there are less cigarette butts downtown and believes it is because communication of the problem is making people more aware that there is a problem. Councilor Lankton reported that the Carnegie Museum A Night at the Museum will be held on Saturday, August 25 th from 5-9. There will be food, beer, and wine available. They will also have a trolley ride touring local sandstone buildings. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The Council reviewed the proposed increase in the price of parking permits. City Manager MacInnes explained that the increased fees are needed to help cover the cost of the parking deck renovation. Most lots downtown have more people asking for spaces than spaces available. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Salo to adopt Resolution NEW BUSINESS: A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to approve the Accounts Payable for June 14, June 27, 2012 as presented. 2

3 Yes: Lankton, Joachim, Salo, Megowen. City Manager MacInnes presented the proposed budget adjustments for the Budget. There are four typed pages with the last page containing some hand written adjustments. A motion was made by Joachim and seconded by Lankton to approve the budget adjustments as provided including the additional handwritten page. Yes: Joachim, Lankton, Salo, Megowen. A public hearing of the Zoning Board of Appeals will be scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. to consider a front-yard variance at 405 Huron Street to build a deck. City Manager MacInnes presented a proposal for the walkway behind the Fifth & Elm Coffeehouse and the Douglass Agency. This walkway is difficult for the City to maintain as it attracts bats. The individual businesses that use this have agreed that it can be separated between the businesses with doors to the outside so that each business will have a private entrance/exit to the parking deck. The City will retain ownership of the property. The businesses will be responsible for maintenance. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Salo to allow the use of the walkway as explained with the City to retain ownership of the property and the business owners to be responsible for maintenance. There was no closed session held. The Council reviewed the proposed agreement with the Public Works union. The proposed changes are as follows: Three year contract with re-opener for wages only for 2013 and

4 2% wage increase for Wayne Goudge and John Trathen will move to heavy equipment. Vacation time will be figured on a new schedule where you get one week the first year, two weeks the second year, and one additional day each year after for a maximum of 25 days. If the city does not receive an EVIP payment, the contract ends the following June 30 th. A motion was made by Joachim and seconded by Salo to approve the changes to the DPW Employees Chapter of Local 226 contract. Yes: Joachim, Salo, Lankton, Megowen. The Council reviewed the proposed agreement with the Police Supervisory Union. The proposed changes are as follows: Three year contract with re-opener for wages only for 2013 and % wage increase for Change in past practice where the city is able to use part-time officers for sick time plus school and training. Change secondary employment policy so they can work outside the unit with permission. Starting January 1, 2013 the maximum amount of comp time that can be used per year is 50 hours. If the city does not receive an EVIP payment, the contract ends the following June 30 th. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Salo to approve the changes to the Police Supervisory Employees Unit, Local #226 contract. City Manager MacInnes reported on the changes taking place with the city office staff upon the retirement of Kurt Kuure. Kurt has been employed with the City for 38 years, and has served as Clerk-Treasurer for 30 years. He will retire on September 30 th. On August 1 st he will step down and become Deputy Clerk-Treasurer until his retirement. 4

5 City Manager MacInnes made the following recommendations. On August 1 st Jodi Reynolds will be Transit Director and Treasurer. Ann Vollrath will be Assistant City Manager and Clerk. On October 1, 2012 Cleo Ruonavaara will be Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. Don Wade will take on additional Transit duties as well as be responsible for the GIS map system. Paul Sorlie will take on additional reporting duties. A new part-time employee will be hired for hours per week. A motion was made by Lankton and seconded by Joachim to appoint Jodi Reynolds as Treasurer as of August 1, 2012, Ann Vollrath as Clerk as of August 1, 2012 and approve all other proposed city employee office changes as presented. Yes: Lankton, Joachim, Salo, Megowen. The Council reviewed the LDFA budget. It was explained that the transfer of reserves is money that was moved into an investment fund for a higher return. Councilor Joachim explained that the LDFA board is planning ahead for the end of the tax capture. A motion was made by Joachim and seconded by Salo to approve the tax capture and conveyance to the LDFA as well as the LDFA Budget. Yes: Joachim, Salo, Lankton, Megowen A motion to adjourn was made by Lankton and seconded by Salo. Yes: All Adjourned 6:05 p.m. Ann Vollrath, Deputy Clerk 5