A packed room, with nearly all seats filled, led to a two-hour City Council meeting last night. Some were present to offer comments regarding the trail connector project. Others came to hear whether councilmembers would approve grant disbursements from the Lowell Cable TV Endowment Fund. And a presentation on an approach to enforcing the sidewalk ordinance was also given by Chief Bukala, as his department serves as the body issuing notifications for non-compliance.
Final Meeting Working for the City
During citizen comments for items not on the agenda, Mark Mundt spoke. The meeting would be the last he and his wife would attend as employees working on behalf of the City. He briefly spoke of his family moving to Lowell nearly 29 years ago saying it was one of the best decisions they’ve made. He thanked past and present city officials for working with him. While he and his family are not from Lowell, they proudly call it home. A reception for the Mundts will take place at City Hall next Thursday, March 29 from 4pm-7pm.
South Broadway Construction Review
Brian Vilmont of Prein & Newhoff presented information on the South Broadway project. The review was given after some on council questioned effectively closing the street to the public. Construction began on March 12 to replace and reconfigure sewer and water lines beneath S. Broadway.
Questions and concerns regarding putting the road back together and redesigning the city parking lot in the area are what brought Vilmont back before council. Councilmember Chambers voiced concerns over cutting off a public right of way connecting Main Street and Recreation Park. Resident Perry Beachum echoed this change. Currently foot and vehicle traffic are not encouraged in this area. But the thought of not having an easy way to reach the area is of concern, especially depending upon the use of the green space once the Kent County Youth Fair vacates the area in a couple of years.
The city parking lot will be placed closer to Main Street, making more of a visual connection to the downtown area. Landscaping and lighting will be added as well. A removal gate will extend along the south side of the lot blocking traffic from traveling on S. Broadway, but allowing for access when needed for special events such as parades which line up in that area.
Vilmont stated the idea of closing S. Broadway to passenger vehicle traffic would eliminate conflicts with semi trucks coming in and out of the King Milling facility. Up to 30 trucks enter and exit the facility on a daily basis and more than 50 can come and go during the peak season. By restricting the flow of the big trucks to entering and exiting S. Broadway from the south onto Hudson, there will be fewer interactions with other vehicles. Currently, trucks travel on Main Street to turn enter and exit S.Broadway, creating a higher safety risk for drivers and pedestrians. Vilmont indicated the city would not be giving up its rights to the road and changes to the area could be made in the future.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Chief Bukala gave a presentation with a proposed plan to enforce sidewalks in need of repair. He reviewed Chapter 19 of city ordinances, where sidewalk compliance and enforcement is discussed. It has been years since the city has done anything to enforce the sidewalk ordinance, unless a complaint is received. “We’ve kicked the can down the road.” commented Bukala. His presentation represented a means of being able to start enforcing the ordinance while giving residents and businesses who need to make repairs sufficient time to do so.
Currently, if a sidewalk is deemed to be out of compliance a letter is issued to the owner of the property indicating problem areas. The owner then has 60 days to fix or replace sidewalks to bring them up to code. Should a property owner not meet this 60 day window, unless an extension is given by the city due something such as weather conditions hampering construction, a citation is given to appear in court, where a court order is issued for the property to be in compliance with the city ordinance. Should the sidewalk remain in violation, the city can then repair or replace non-compliant sections and place a lien on the property.
Bukala’s recommendation to council included a plan to identify locations where sidewalks are not in compliance and a means for those identified to make needed repairs, including specific criteria which would be used in determining where a safety hazard occurs. The Department of Public Works would identify any sidewalks not meeting city standards. Property owners would be notified and have a year to come into compliance – through June 2019 was used in the presentation. There would also be a waiver of the permit fee required to complete this type of construction work for identified properties. After this first year has passed, any sidewalks on the list not in compliance will receive a letter giving property owners 60 days to complete work before a citation for a court appearance is issued. There was no discussion regarding any sort of extension for non-compliant sidewalks found during the year following the initial identification.
Discussion between councilmembers and some concerned residents led to the topic being tabled until another meeting. It was clear further discussion and public input would be needed and sought before reaching an end of the sidewalk ordinance debate.
Lowell Cable TV Endowment Fund Distributions
Each year the Lowell Cable TV Endowment Fund (LCTV) accepts applications from non-profit organizations and sends a recommendation to council for approval for disbursement. During last night’s meeting, councilmembers unanimously agreed to accept the LCTV board’s recommendations.
Below are the groups which received grant money and how funds will be used.
Resolution to Seek Grant Funding for LARA Connector Trail
In a unanimous vote, councilmembers passed a resolution which will allow the city to apply for a grant from the State of Michigan to help with funding for the project. We will be publishing a separate article dedicated to the discussion which took place during the meeting.
City Manager Report
During his report to councilmembers, Mike Burns mentioned the city website is in the process of being refreshed. The new facelift will be completed in approximately 11-12 weeks.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is bringing back a 2015 Downtown Placemaking plan for review. Due to changes in city leadership the document was never officially approved. The DDA, along with City Council and the Planning Commission will review the document and discuss any changes which may need to be incorporated.
Burns also reported on Governor Snyder’s declaration of disaster for Kent County as a result of last month’s flooding. He is still waiting on information regarding what this entails and what the City of Lowell will need to do.
Meeting Information
The next City Council meeting will take place in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall on Monday, April 2 at 7pm. Meeting minutes and agendas can be found on the city’s website. And meetings can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel. Or check in with Lowell’s First Look after each meeting for a recap of what happened.
You can also listen to meetings live at WRWW the, Lowell High School’s radio station. Tune in at 92.3.
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