CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 10, 2009

The Port Huron City Council met on August 10, 2009 at the Municipal Office Center in Port Huron. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m.

After the roll call was taken and everyone was present and accounted for, the minutes for the previous meeting were approved.

The first order of business was a presentation by Joe Vito, President of the Port Huron Neighborhood Housing Corporation. Mr. Vito introduced himself and mentioned that he was Senior Vice President of Bank of America Corp. About 18 years ago a few local bankers saw a need in our community and formed the Port Huron Neighborhood Housing Corp. The mission of this group is to promote home ownership, improve quality of housing and property value stabilization. At this time there are 3 banks as members and the City Manager of Port Huron. In the beginning the 3 banks contributed $100,000 each to start the initiative.

Many people confuse them with the Port Huron Housing Commission. The Port Huron Housing Commission works mostly with Section 8 housing. The Port Huron Neighborhood Housing Commission (PHNHC) promotes home ownership.

Over the years the PHNHC has applied for and received federal, state and local grants anywhere from $26,000 to $35,000 which is returned to the city for the use of city staff. The PHNHC does not have a staff of it's own. They use the city staff on a part time basis for their administrative needs.

The program features home buyer workshops (this teaches potential buyers about home ownership). They purchase vacant structures and once they purchase them, they renovate them from top to bottom. They have demolished houses that are too close to other houses and combined the properties. They have converted multi-family rentals into single family owned houses (no renting). The one thing that is important to note, the buyer must qualify for a conventional mortgage.

Over the years PHNHC has transformed 90 blighted properties. They have helped 75 families become new home owners. They have been able to demolish 16 dangerous structures. They also have a high retention with only 5 foreclosures and 4 owners who have moved before the 5 years contract was up due to life changes.

PHNHC have received several awards and been featured in several seminars around the state.

Currently they are renovating a new handicapped access home, have 3 demolitions, are promoting the Community Garden on the corner of Hancock and Gratiot(?) and continue with the educational classes on home ownership.

After Mr. Vito finished his presentation, the council was encouraged to ask questions. Councilmember Doorn wanted to know how the organization was staffed through the city. Mr. Vito said the organization has no paid staff so they rely on the city staff and then pay the city back with the grants previously mentioned. The city staff is part time.

Councilmemeber Stevens wanted to know if the new handicapped accessable home was for a Port Huron resident. Mr. Vito confirmed that it was.

Public Hearings were next on the agenda. Public Hearing #1 was to hear public comment on the establishment of the proposed Newman Center Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act District. No one in the audience stood to comment. The next step was for council consideration on the resolution establishing the proposed Newman Center OPRA District. No one on council had any thoughts or concerns on this so it passed unanimously.

Public Hearing #2 was to hear public comments on granting an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act exemption for the real property located in the Newman Center OPRA District at 503 Andrew Murphy Ave., for a period of six years beginning December 31, 2009 and ending December 30, 2015. Again the floor was opened to public comment and no one came forward. The Council then considered the resolution granting an OPRA District exemption for the real property located in the Newman Center OPRA District at 503 Andrew Murphy Ave., for a period of six years beginning December 31, 2009 and ending December 30, 2015. There were no thoughts or concerns on this from council and it passed unanimously.

At this time the floor was opened for public audience.

Ken Harris was the first to speak. He said that he was in support of the proposal to let the county operate Lighthouse Park. He also expressed that he hoped people would stay for the second meeting.

Jo Ann Rumsford stated that she thought there was a really nice photo of the Rev. Portis memorial. She also stated that when Vice President Al Gore came here during the second Blue Water Bridge construction was really nice. However, President Obama has been invited here and our low unemployment rate is not enough. She also stated that reinventing the wheel can make something obsolete real quick. She asked that the council be objective about the housing issue.

Margaret Enright told the council that this has been an awesome summer. There have been so many things to do that have kept people busy. She also commented that this has been a very informative summer. She wanted to let people who think there is nothing to do to pull their heads out of the sand and pay attention.

Bernard Ellory wanted to know the dollar figures used to buy the homes and what was put into them to rehab them. He also mentioned that the Pathway House has turned into a homeless drop off. The Police and Rescue are there a lot. It’s gotten out of hand. These people wander around all day and the neighborhood is not safe. How anyone can think that the neighborhood around that shelter will be a homeowner neighborhood with what goes on is beyond him. It won’t happen.

Darrin Rushing was curious about the bids for removal of bush that is in the Recommendation of the City Manager. He was wondering if Community Service workers could handle that and save the city money. He also wanted to know what has been done to keep the Lighthouse updated so far.

Robert Weinert spoke in regards to rentals. He quoted from a previous Times Herald article which said “All we can do is attract people we don’t want.” He noted that, in the article, someone said that renters don’t have a vested interest in the community. He felt that it was not the right time to be reducing low income housing considering what kind of economic times we are dealing with. He thought with the loss of jobs, there should be more. He was very offended by condemnation of people who may not be deemed as good residents.

Diana Maxwell was a landlord and renter at one time. She is now a real estate agent and felt that the council might be looking at this from the wrong angle. Maybe more improvements to the city, making it more desirable for people to move into, might bring more homeowners to the city. She felt the tax structure was so high compared to the townships, that selling a house in the city of Port Huron has become very difficult.

When Public Audience ended, the Mayor read the consent agenda which is as follows:

COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS
#1 Notification from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission that they have received an application from Walgreen Co. (an Illinois Corporation) requesting a new SDM license to be located at 1617 Tenth Ave.

FROM THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
#1 Received and file the County Board of Canvassers Report on the election results for the City Council primary election held on August 4, 2009.

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FINANACE
#1 Notification that the annual conflict of interest statements have been received and reviewed and no discrepancies have been noted.

RESOLUTIONS
#5. Confirming and declaring single lot special assessments in the total amount of $4,106.25 for sidewalk replacement.

#6. Confirming and declaring single lot special assessments in the total amount of $1,255.00 for the cost of removing noxious weeds or unlawful growths or blighted factors.

#8. Recommendation that the application from Smith Nichols Investment Corporation to transfer location of 2009 B-Hotel license business (in escrow) from 1229 Seventh Street to 409 Quay Street and to transfer classification to a Class C license be recommended for issuance by the Michigan Liquor Control Commisson.

#10. Scheduling a public hearing for September 14, 2009 to hear comments on Code Case #09-001, 2312 – 15th Street, to ascertain and determine whether it constitutes a nuisance as defined by Chapter 10, Section 10-211, and Chapter 34, Section 34-3 of the Port Huron City Code.

#11. Scheduling a public hearing for September 14, 2009 to hear comments on Code Case #09-002, 1433 Beard Street, to ascertain and determine whether it constitutes a nuisance as defined by Chapter 10, Section 10-211, and Chapter 34, Section 34-3, of the Port Huron City Code.

#12. Scheduling a public hearing for September 14, 2009 to hear comments on Code Case #09-004, 1136 Lapeer Ave./702-704 12th Street, to ascertain and determine whether it constitutes a nuisance as defined by Chapter 10, Section 10-211, and Chapter 34, Section 34-3, of the Port Huron City Code.

After the Mayor read the Consent Agenda, he read upcoming events:
August 11 – Charter Commission Meeting at 7 p.m. in Room 408 at the Municipal Office Center
August 13 – Rockin the River, The Randy Brock Group, 5-9 p.m. in Kiefer Park
August 14-16 – Antique Yard Sale Trail along M-29 from 8 to 5 p.m.
August 14-16 – Majestic Quilt Trail and Grand River Avenue Street Fair
August 16 – Port Huron Float Down starts at Lighthouse Beach at 11 a.m.
August 20 – Rockin The River at 4:30, main act performance by Red Hill at 7 p.m. in Kiefer Park

FROM THE CITY MANAGER
#1 Recommendation that the bid from S.A. Torello, Inc., for $13,000.00 for removal of logs and brush at the Parks/Forestry/Cemetery Warehouse be accepted.
Council comments and concerns: Councilmember Stevens wanted the question answered earlier by Darrin Rushing during Public Audience.
Chief Eick stated that community service workers could not do this. The pile is 120’X180’ and 10’ to 15’ high. It would be dangerous for people to try to move it and special equipment is needed.
It passed.

RESOLUTIONS
#1 Authorizing payments attached to the agenda.
No discussion and it passed unanimously.

#2 Approving St. Clair County assuming the restoration of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and its outbuildings with certain conditions.
Mayor Pro-tem Fisher said he supports this deal. The Lighthouse is a treasure and an asset to the entire area, not just Port Huron.
Mayor Moeller state that he and Mayor Pro-tem Fisher met with the Parks & Rec department at the County. The city does not have the resources to deal with the Lighthouse. The County and Museum have agreed to maintain it.
It passed unanimously.

#3. Approving a one-time grant from the City of Port Huron to St. Clair County in the amount of $370,000 for restoration of the Fort Gratiot Light Station.
Mayor Pro-tem Fisher said he wanted to ditto what he stated previously in the last resolution. He stated that this was a unique partnership with the county, city and museum.
Councilmember Stevens said she could not go along with this. She said the County, State and Federal Government should be responsible for maintaining the Lighthouse. That #370,000.00 would go to better use at McMorran. The bricks are falling out of the façade.
Councilmember Byrne also felt he could not support this. He said that they should do the math. The city taxpayers already pay 10.8% in taxes to the County Parks & Rec. He felt that was enough.
Mayor Moeller said that they did have an option to appoint a councilmember but they could address that later.
The resolution passed with Councilmembers Byrne & Stevens voting no.

At this time the Mayor asked for a new Resolution to appoint Mayor Pro-tem Fisher to the board that will work on the Lighthouse. They agreed and he was appointed.

#4. Approving the agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for maintenance of the State trunklines and bridges for the period of October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2014 and designating Robin L. Berry as the Maintenance Superintendent on sections of State trunkline highways.
There was no discussion and the resolution passed.
#7. Authorizing the renaming of Nern Street from 28th Street to 32nd Street to John L. Portis Drive. This was postponed from the regular meeting of July 27, 2009.
Councilmember Stevens had looked into the costs of what this would require of the residents in that section since Audrey Pack had brought it up. She said it was costly because people needed to change all contact information.
Mayor Moeller said that he had talked to the Portis Family and they said they did not want this to happen if it was going to cause trouble.
The resolution passed anyway.

#9. Authorizing the Zoning Administrator to issue a special approval use permit for a family child care home (six or fewer children) at 1128 Wall Street, contingent upon the applicant providing proof of state licensing.
Mayor Moeller asked Councilmember Lewandowski if this had come before the Planning Commisson.
Councilmember Lewandowski said the lady had come before the Planning Commission. The lady had lived at that address previously and had run the daycare there, but moved to a new location. Now she was moving back and wanted to put the daycare there again. He stated that no one had a problem with it on the Planning Commission.
It passed unanimously.

At this time the Mayor recessed the meeting for 15 minutes before they started the special meeting concerning rental housing issues in room 408 of the MOC building.

Check for the next blog to report on this interesting and informative meeting.

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