January 22, 2024
City of Dexter City Council Meeting
Monday, January 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
3515 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom
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Meeting ID: 827 1693 8464#
Meeting Agenda: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Agendas/2024-01-22-CC-A.pdf
Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/2024-01-22-CC-P.pdf
NON-ARRANGED PARTICIPATION
Non-arranged participation will include those in the audience not listed on the agenda that wish to speak. At the Mayor’s discretion, members of the audience may be called on to speak at any time. Those addressing the Council will state their name, and address. This section is limited to 5-minutes per participant or 10-minutes for group representative.
As always, there are two opportunities for non-arranged public participation: one near the beginning of the meeting and one near the end of the meeting. See the agenda for details. Just state your name and address and then share your thoughts–it’s that easy!
VARIOUS UPDATES
Council will review (1) minutes of its most recent meeting(s) and (2) the upcoming meeting list. We will also hear various updates from staff, including the City Manager and the Mayor (note that corresponding written reports are included in the meeting packet).
Updates that might be of interest:
Financial Report for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023-2024. See pages 9-20 of the packet for our Finance Director/Treasurer/Assessor Marie Sherry’s report.
Kentwood Conceptual PUD – Staff anticipates the conceptual plan for the proposed Kentwood project (3165 Baker and 8020 Forest) will be scheduled on Council’s Feb 12th agenda. See related documents here: https://files.dextermi.gov/2023-11-03%20Kentwood%20Place%20Conceptual%20PUD%20Site%20Plan.pdf.
Per the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s December Report:
During the month of December 2023 there were 197 calls for service (including traffic stops). Deputies conducted 83 traffic stops during this time with 3 citations issued.
Noteworthy events in Dexter City during last month include:
On December 22nd Deputies investigated a larceny from auto in the 7200 block of West Joy Road. The victim stated that after returning to their vehicle, they discovered their driver side rear window had been smashed out and a purse had been stolen. Deputies attempted to lift fingerprints from the door handles but were unable to locate any latent prints of evidentiary value. Deputies contacted the owner of the business and obtained video surveillance of the theft. Deputies reviewed the video and observed a dark colored sport utility vehicle (SUV) park next to the victim’s vehicle. The vehicle is occupied by two unknown males. The driver is then observed exiting the vehicle and breaking out the victim’s window prior to reaching inside the vehicle and fleeing the scene. Deputies have sent the video to the forensic laboratory for enhancement. No suspects have been identified at this time.
Easter Eggstravaganza. The Parks & Recreation Commission has began discussing this year’s Easter Eggstravaganza, which is expected to take place on Saturday, March 30th. The Saturday event will include the Egg Scramble, and similarly to last year, the Riddle Hunt that takes place throughout the City’s parks will occur for the couple weeks prior to the Saturday event.
Elections.There are currently 3 anticipated elections in 2024–February, August, and November.
Presidential Primary.The Presidential Primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Absentee ballot application forms have been mailed to voters on the permanent application list. For the Presidential Primary election only, voters must select on the application form which party's ballot they would like to receive in order to receive a ballot. Staff anticipates that ballots will start to be mailed out on Friday, January 19th. Early voting for the February 27, 2024 Presidential Primary will take place from Saturday, February 17th through Sunday, February 25th at Scio Township Hall (827 N. Zeeb) and the Washtenaw County LRC (4135 Washtenaw Ave)
Permanent Application List vs. Permanent Ballot List. As a result of the passage of Proposal 2 of 2022, the State of Michigan has recently implemented a Permanent Ballot List, for which City of Dexter voters are now eligible to register. Until now, voters who have signed-up to vote absentee have been registering for the Permanent Application List, which allows clerks to mail absentee ballot application forms to voters. Voters on the permanent application list are required to complete and return the application before receiving a ballot. Going forward, voters who have registered for the application list may, if they so choose, continue to receive an application for future elections (for now); however, voters may no longer register for the application list. Going forward, voters who sign-up to vote absentee will be signing-up for the permanent ballot list and will automatically be sent a ballot for each election without having to fill out an application. State Bureau of Elections representatives have made it known that the intent is to phase-out the permanent application list over time. Voters who received an absentee ballot application form for the February 27, 2024 election may make the transition to the new permanent ballot list by marking the checkbox in the top right of the form labelled "Automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I'm eligible." Voters on the permanent ballot list will still be required to complete a form during Presidential Primary elections in order to receive a ballot, as voters are required to select which party's ballot they would like to receive.
CONSENT AGENDA
Following the presentation and any discussion of these reports, Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on) the following items as part of the Consent Agenda. Unless Council votes to do otherwise, these items are voted on as a single bundle without Council discussion.
Bills & Payroll in the amount of: $332,190.16
Setting Dates for Board of Review’s 2024 March, July, and December Meetings
City Council is asked to set the following dates and times for the 2024 Board of Review meetings:
March 5, 2024 at 4:00 pm
March 18, 2024 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and 6:00 -9:00 pm
March 20, 2024 from 9:00 am – Noon and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
July 16, 2024 at 4:00 pm
December 10, 2024 at 4:00 pm
2024 Board of Review Hardship Guidelines
Each year, local units of government are required to adopt guidelines for the administration of hardship property tax exemptions by the Board of Review. These guidelines were completely updated by the City’s Board of Review members and City Council for the 2021 tax year, with income guidelines at 2.2x the prior year’s federal poverty rate.
The Board of Review is not recommending any changes from the 2024 guidelines, with the exception of updating the income guidelines and adding an option for a 75% exemption per new state law.
Hardship guidelines need to be in place prior to the start of the March Board of Review.
2024-2025 Compost Facility Agreement with Breuninger Land LLC Trust
In September of 2008, Council approved a contract with Breuninger Farms to be the City’s certified compost site for the placement of leaves as part of the City’s fall leaf collection. This was necessary because the State of Michigan began requiring that all compost sites register with the Department of Environmental Quality (now EGLE).
The agreement with the Breuningers was renewed in 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020. Over the years, this relationship has been very successful. The agreement is now up for renewal. The Breuningers have requested that the contract move to a two-year agreement. The terms as presented are a two-year contract for the price of $5,400 paid in two installments by April 1 and October 1 of each year.
2024-2025 Street Tree Planting Award to Crimboli Nursery
At their January 16, 2024 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to recommend acceptance of the low bid for the 2024 & 2025 Street Tree Planting Contract, provided by Crimboli Nursery, to City Council.
DISCUSSION AND/OR CONSIDERATION ITEMS
In addition to any items described under Consent Agenda (above), Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on; “C”) or discuss (i.e., take no formal action on; “D”) the following business:
Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Plan Adoption (C)
The City Council is scheduled to consider an Ordinance approving an amendment to the Dexter Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is being amended to reflect legal requirements per Public Act 57 of 2018 (the “Act”) and updates to the Development Authority Proposed Improvements including, Project Implementation Strategies and updates to the Tax Increment Financing Plans. The DDA Plan provides guidance to the DDA board and City Council in making future decisions related to district area improvement projects. The DDA hired CIB Planning to prepare the Plan amendment. A copy of the amendment to the Plan accompanies this memo. The DDA continues to work through the update to its Strategic Plan, which is a more involved process.
Excerpts from the plan include:
It is the purpose of the Development Plan and the Tax Increment Financing Plan to establish the legal basis for the capture and expenditure of tax increment revenues in accordance with Public Act 57 of 2018, as amended. The tax increment revenues are used for the financing of public improvements identified as necessary to accomplish the objectives of the Dexter Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Future Vision from 2006 DDA Plan
The community has a shared vision for the future of the downtown as the Visioning Session participants’ collective priorities and those of the interview stakeholders were very similar. The community would like to see the downtown continue to develop as a vibrant, diverse, mixed-use center/destination. They envision higher density residential, including senior housing, public access to waterfront/river, the preservation of the historic character, and continued streetscape improvements. In addition, they would like to see the industrial uses relocated to the industrial park, those properties redeveloped, and a regional traffic plan created.