Staff will draft a final program allowing limited bow-hunting on selected city parcels (e.g., Peterson-Lewis acreage, land behind the DPW). Consensus: 150-ft safety setbacks, two-week permits, mandatory harvest reporting and a $10 entry fee to keep administration costs low. Weekend-only hunting is likely for parcels closest to staff activity.
Tree-Tapping on City Maples
Council reached unanimous consensus to prohibit tapping public-street trees for maple-syrup production—citing long-term damage risks and fairness concerns.
Affordable-Housing & Short-Term Rentals
Council asked staff and legal counsel to return with data and draft ordinances that would: • define “affordable” (≤ 30 % of gross income) and explore public–private incentives on the 16-18 lots in the former Forest Hills subdivision; • cap the share of short-term rentals city-wide and tighten registration/inspection compliance.
Park-Naming Idea
A suggestion to name the former Big-John/Miller lakeshore parcel “Miller Park” was introduced for future discussion.
Social District Expansion
Members signaled support for expanding the downtown common-container zone to include Bier Markt/Monday-Night event space; staff will return with a formal map.
City-Manager Contract
A draft employment agreement with incoming manager Daniel Tavernier is ready for review; special approval meeting possible once background and physical are complete.
Fleet Upgrades Approved
• Two Ford F-350 4×4 service trucks (Council amended the purchase so both units will have four-wheel drive). • New International plow truck will replace a 2006 unit.
Cruisin’ White Lake Returns (July 25)
Road closures for Division, Hansen and Thompson Streets were approved to create a controlled “burn-out box” at Hansen Hill. Organizers will pay city overtime costs and donate a share of proceeds to a local family.
Work Session Highlights
Urban Deer Discussion – GIS maps show far fewer eligible parcels once 150-ft buffers from roads and property lines are applied. The council favored adding flexible rules (weekend-only opportunities near DPW, two-week hunting blocks, harvest log, minimal $10 fee) to shrink the herd without over-burdening staff.
Tree-Tapping Ban – Members compared tapping to “sticking a needle in a person” and worried about infection in ageing maples. The consensus: easier to prohibit than regulate.
Housing & Rentals – Using HUD’s 30 % affordability yard-stick, members noted county median income ($58,750) yields an “affordable” rent target of about $1,470. They asked staff to:
collect precise rental-registration data;
draft a cap on STRs (Grand Haven/Muskegon models cited);
invite county/state housing partners to discuss incentives for starter-homes, senior duplexes and the Forest Hills site.
Property Blight – 708 Division (land-bank house) and the long-vacant Division/Alley residence will be re-inspected; enforcement may include court-ordered demolition if hazards persist.
Other Items – A proposal to dedicate the Big-John site as Miller Park will be revisited; council also requested a full map before expanding the downtown social-district “common area.”
Agenda & Consent Agenda – Approved, with a request for a detailed breakdown of a $51,791 pay request to Lawn Corp. (downtown streetscape, pocket-park and lots—completion now projected for Aug. 14).
Fleet Purchases –
Resolution 25-18: Council amended the DPW purchase to two 4×4 Ford F-350s rather than a 4×4 and a 4×2, citing emergency-response flexibility.
Resolution 25-19: Authorized a new International plow truck to replace a 19-year-old unit—keeping winter maintenance reliable.
Cruisin’ White Lake Road Closure – Approved Division/Hansen/Thompson closures on July 25, 5–9 p.m., creating a spectator-friendly burnout zone below Hansen Hill’s natural “grandstand.”
Community Notes & Events –
Senior dinners for city residents will be held in September 2025 and March 2026 (funding through the Senior Center allocation).
Fourth-of-July parade praised; fireworks cost $20 k—fund-raising begins for the 2026 sesquicentennial show.
Walk the Beat music crawl set for July 19; Cruisin’ parade July 25; downtown community-garden beds and new three-seat café tables are now installed.
Next Steps
Staff/legal draft of deer-permit ordinance, tree-tapping prohibition language, STR cap options, and social-district boundary map.
Special meeting possible for city-manager contract approval.
Cruisin’ committee to finalize safety plan and fencing layout with police & DPW.
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