CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

June 18, 2007

 

The Cadillac City Council met in a regular meeting on Monday, June 18, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 200 N. Lake Street , Cadillac , Michigan .

COUNCIL PRESENT:   Baas, Dean, Dyer, Stevens, Mayor Blanchard   

      

COUNCIL ABSENT:   None

Staff Present:     Stalker, McCurdy, Nelson

 

Mayor Blanchard called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Council member Stevens expressed concern over a portion of the minutes from the June 4, 2007 city council meeting saying that some comments made during the public hearing on the application to operate a taxi service were quoted, while others were not. He suggested deleting the comments by individuals and retaining the sentence: “Details of comments made are on file in the city clerk’s office.”

 

2007.108 June 4, 2007 minutes amended

Motion was made by Stevens and supported by Baas to strike portions from the June 4, 2007 minutes and amend as follows:

At 7:46 p.m., Mayor Blanchard opened a public hearing to consider the application from Traci Miller, d.b.a. All City Cab, to operate a taxi service within the City of Cadillac . Speaking for Ms. Miller and for approval was Paul Raffle of All City Cab. Speaking against approval was Charles Musmecia of Cadillac Cab who said he never operates more than one cab, except on New Year’s Eve, and Mr. Miller, former husband of the applicant and owner of Affordable Cab of Big Rapids. The public hearing closed at 7:55 p.m. Details of comments made are on file in the city clerk’s office. As council members struggled with the ordinance requirement to determine need, Council member Baas said he was “not convinced the need was out there” for additional taxi service based on comments made during the hearing and lack of complaints from the public.

  Motion unanimously approved.

 

2007.109 Consent agenda approved, as amended

Motion was made by Baas and supported by Dyer to approve the consent agenda consisting of the minutes, as amended, from the regular city council meeting held June 4, 2007.

Motion unanimously approved.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

At 7:14 p.m., Mayor Blanchard opened a public hearing to consider the adoption of Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Resolution No. 4 which would approve the application from Paulstra CRC Corporation for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate in the amount of $30,000 for machinery and equipment. There was no public comment. The public hearing closed at 7:15 p.m.

 

2007.110 Paulstra IFT approved, Resolution No. 1809

Motion was made by Dean and supported by Dyer to adopt Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Resolution No. 4, file no. 1809, approving an IFT certificate for Paulstra CRC Corporation for a period of twelve (12) years.

Motion unanimously approved.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

2007.111 Street closure for Upbeat concerts approved

Motion was made by Dyer and supported by Baas to approve the request to close Lake

Street between Harris and Cass Streets between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. every Thursday

beginning June 21 and continuing through August 23, 2007 for the annual Cadillac Upbeat

concerts.

Motion unanimously approved.

 

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

 

City Manager Stalker said that to proceed with the final approval of the Delmar Heights Plat, the State of Michigan is requesting the extension of the preliminary plat approval as court action has delayed the approval process.

 

2007.112 Delmar Heights preliminary plat approval extended, Resolution No. 1810

Motion was made by Dean and supported by Dyer to adopt Resolution No. 1810 extending the preliminary plat approval for the Delmar Heights Plat from September 8, 2004 through September 8, 2006 to September 8, 2006 through September 8, 2008.

Motion unanimously approved.

 

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

 

Tracy Miller, d.b.a. All City Cab, asked council for clarification as to why she was denied, on June 4, 2007, a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxi service in the city. Bill Barnett and Josh Rheaume, both of Cadillac, asked council to reconsider the decision.

 

Steve McIntyre of the Cadillac Area Community Coalition presented pictures of signs to promote trails and walkways in Cadillac. Because the location of the signs has not been finalized, City Manager Stalker said approval of the sites would be on a future agenda.

 

GOOD OF THER ORDER

 

Regarding the request from Tracy Miller to reconsider the June 4, 2007 council action to deny her application to operate a taxi service, City Attorney McCurdy said council members must receive information from the applicant to justify approving the certificate to operate a taxi service and emphasized that the burden of proof lies with the applicant. McCurdy said a new public hearing may be scheduled based on a new application and said the filing fee may be waived as Ms. Miller was unable to attend the previous public hearing due to a family medical emergency.

 

2007.113 Second public hearing set to consider taxi service application

Motion was made by Stevens and supported by Baas to set a second public hearing for July 2, 2007 to consider a new application (to be submitted by June 27, 2007) from Tracy Miller, d.b.a. All City Cab, for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxi service within the City of Cadillac and to waive a second application fee, as Ms. Miller was unable to attend the first public hearing due to a family medical emergency.

Motion unanimously approved.

 

Council member Stevens asked if there is still a legal requirement that council determine whether or not there is a need for added public transportation when considering approval of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a taxi service within the city. City Manager Stalker said he would have staff, through the re-codification process, research the question.

 

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Ronald J. Blanchard, Mayor       Janice E. Nelson, City Clerk