No councilor chosen, decision goes to the public in May
Meeting highlights
Resolution opposing state-level “Airbnb” legislation
City Manager Eric Waara said that after extensive conversations with other interested parties, he calls House Bill 4722 “just bad legislation”. The bill would override most local regulations of short-term rental units, often referred to as Airbnbs. Houghton and Hancock both recently passed ordinances that would be wiped out by the legislation.
“We’ve got to do everything within our power to make sure that this hopefully never gets to the governor’s desk,” Waara said.
He said there are “forces at work in Lansing that just want to ram this through”. The bill is moving forward despite widespread opposition among municipalities across the state.
Waara said Sen. Ed McBroom hadn’t returned his phone calls on the issue, and Rep. Greg Markkanen has already voted in favor of the bill.
The council voted in favor of the resolution opposing HB 4722.
New councilmember Q&A and selection process
The process started with a brief explanation from the city manager followed by some discussion and comments from a couple of the interested candidates. The candidates’ letters of interest and other information can be found in the meeting documents link above.
Nomination process review
City Manager Waara explained the nomination and voting process. Any number of nominations can be made by the councilors, and each required a supporting vote to be advanced to the voting rounds. Once nominations were closed, each nominated candidate is voted on in the order they are nominated. Councilors can vote for as many candidates as they want. If no winner is found, the vote can be repeated up to two more times.
Brad Baltensperger, Philip Buck Foltz, Robyn Johnson, Jennifer Rachels, Michael Salmi, Sally Ann Snyder, Norma Veurink and Craig Waddell all submitted letters of interest in the position.
Of the eight interested candidates, six received initial nominations, and five received support and advanced to the vote. Waddell, Rachels, Johnson, Baltensperger and Veurink were the candidates who moved forward.
Initial vote
All five candidates tied with three supporting votes.
During the discussion that followed the first vote, Councilors Joan Suits and Robert Megowen, whose votes countered each other, both highlighted what they were looking for in the candidates. Megowen specifically supported the candidacy of Baltensperger.
Councilor Brian Irizarry noted that Johnson was the only candidate that had votes outside the 3-person blocks that voted for and against the other candidates.
Councilor Jan Cole spoke in favor of Rachels.
Rachels, Baltensperger, Johnson, and Waddell rose and advocated for themselves as candidates.
The second vote
The second vote furnished the same results. Several councilors expressed that they would not be altering their votes for a third round.
Some of the councilors offered comments, including about the risk of operating for six months with only six members on the council and how they may deadlock on other issues.
Baltensperger returned to the floor and expressed interest in why three of the councilors voted so adamantly against him based on the limited—if any—conversation they had with him. He also pointed out the uniqueness of the voting pattern for Johnson, and that perhaps they should give that greater consideration considering the deadlocked position of the board.
Waddell confirmed with Clerk Ann Vollrath that the cost to taxpayers to run a special election would be about $7,000. He suggested he’d be willing to withdraw his nomination but didn’t. As the councilors can vote yes for any number of candidates, it would not benefit another candidate to withdraw.
Johnson echoed Waddell’s sentiments about possibly withdrawing in favor of the other qualified candidates but settled instead for simply endorsing Baltensperger.
Councilor Needham made some comments about why he favored Baltensperger and expressed frustration with the format of the selection process.
Rachels rose and briefly spoke about the local housing crisis and her desire to bring her knowledge and experience about the issue to the council.
The third vote
Once again, the council offered the same vote, tying all the candidates with three supporting and three against.
The council then quickly adjourned.
A city election will be held on May 3, 2022, to choose a new councilor. Clerk Vollrath will be preparing nominating petitions that should be ready by January.
Other notes
A family-friendly winter triathlon event is in development, possibly to be in Kestner Park. Details are to be determined.
The enforcement hearing for 915 College Avenue proceeded uneventfully. The city will act to demolish the building in 30 days if the owner doesn’t take action before then. Costs of the demolition will be recouped through an insurance escrow and possibly a tax lien on the property.
DPW employees have been taking advantage of the mild start to winter to hang Christmas decorations and take their leave to go hunting.
Kevin Maki is retiring as the manager of the Dee Stadium.
The Firestation sign at the corner of Sharon Avenue and M-26 has an MDOT billboard permit but is still in violation of the city sign ordinance. City Manager Eric Waara continues to work on addressing the issue.
The police department is investigating options for eliminating unnecessary access points to M-26 in the commercial district. It’s an effort to reduce injury-causing accidents that happen at intersections not controlled by signal lights on that stretch of road.
Editor’s note: I’d like to make a motion that the council get new, quieter chairs.