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MARQUETTE -- The Marquette City Commission last week heard an update from the city's lobbyist, established a land development code advisory committee and approved the sale of a portion of the city's wastewater treatment plant capacity to Chocolay Township for the Ojibwa Casino development.
Lobbyist Matt Kurta, of Karoub and Associates, said he's been coordinating with the city manager and monitoring issues related to brownfield redevelopment laws, Northern Michigan University's cold weather forensic anthropology facility, reform of municipal retirement benefits and short-term rental legislation.
Last year, the commission voted 4-2 to approve a two-year contract with Karoub and Associates at a cost of $3,000 per month or $36,000 per year.
Commissioners in favor said they hoped the lobbyist would bring a return on investment through influencing legislation on issues relating to tax revenue, closure of the Presque Isle Power Plant, municipal revenue sharing, brownfield redevelopment laws, transportation and infrastructure funding and more.
Commissioners Sara Cambensy and Sarah Reynolds at that time opposed the contract.
Kurta in his presentation said there has been a lot of action with respect to brownfields and tax increment financing. Legislation has focused in particular on southeast Michigan, he said.
"We've been ensuring that small communities both receive fair treatment (and) are not affected negatively, but also have an opportunity to participate in such programs as they so choose," Kurta said.
Pension reform legislation is expected this fall based on recommendations of a Responsible Retirement Reform for Local Government Task Force created by Gov. Rick Snyder, Kurta said. The recommendations will likely pertain to other post-employment benefits such as retiree health care, more than pensions, he added.
"(It's) really an attempt to get at a uniform set of reporting requirements for local units of government," Kurta said, adding that the task force has had many disagreements and he doesn't expect any mandates. "We're working with (the Michigan Municipal League) to ensure nothing is done to trump local control at the state level."
Short-term rental legislation advanced this spring by realtors and property rights groups, and opposed by the Michigan Municipal League, will probably come up again this fall, Kurta said.
The previous bills attempted to prohibit local governments from regulating short-term rentals.
"We are talking to bill sponsors and working with other parties who are looking to find a middle ground, which I anticipate will happen at some point," Kurta said. "But what the city has done with respect to your ordinance is being looked at favorably by a number of groups around the state as a reasonable proposal going forward."
The city approved short-term rental regulations in May.
Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Baldini asked if pension reform might include requiring local governments to use defined contribution pension plans instead of defined benefit plans?
Kurta said there is "no appetite for drastic change now," and the focus is on assisting municipalities to deal with their unfunded liabilities. He said some people want a "complete overhaul" but that is "quite a mountain to climb."
Baldini also asked about the future of the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans, which he said is full and is important to the community.
Kurta said there is an effort to regionalize the two very large veterans' homes in the state.
"Obviously that's a laudable goal, but we will be working closely to make sure nothing negative affects the city and the Jacobetti home," Kurta said.
Commissioner Mike Conley thanked Kurta and said his work in Lansing has been especially important since the passing of the late Rep. John Kivela, which left the district temporarily without direct representation.
Also at Monday's meeting, the commission unanimously established the volunteer LDC advisory committee to ensure meaningful public involvement in the Land Development Code project, which is in the second month of a 12-18 month process, according to city documents. The task force will be comprised of eight members and will sunset after a 12-month period.
The city planner will be the staff liaison to the group, which will also be made up of three members of the planning commission, one resident and former member of the Marquette Board of Zoning Appeals, one development industry business owner, one architect or engineer from a locally-owned development industry business and two members of the city commission.
Selection of the committee will follow the usual application and appointment process.
The commission also unanimously approved a sale of 1 percent of city-owned wastewater treatment plant capacity to Chocolay Township.
The Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Advisory Board in June unanimously approved the sale of 2 percent at the request of Chocolay Township. The capacity increase is to be split evenly between the city and Marquette Township.
According to city documents, the additional treatment plant capacity is needed to accommodate wastewater flows from the proposed expansion of the Keewenaw Bay Indian Community Ojibwa II Casino complex in late 2018.
The city will get about $56,000 in added revenue to its sewer fund for the sale.
After a public hearing, the commission also unanimously approved changes in the fire code of definitions of "homestay" and "vacation home rental" to match zoning ordinance definitions.
In its consent agenda, the commission also unanimously approved the following:
≤ that legal services used by the city in other Michigan Tax Tribunal cases be expanded to include a recent petition filed by Walgreens challenging its tax assessment in the city;
≤ a resolution in recognition of the city's numerous election workers and their efforts in the upcoming Aug. 8 primary election;
≤ an easement agreement for the city by Veridea Group for its Liberty Way property for construction, maintenance, inspection, repair and replacement of the water and sewer mains;
≤ designation of property recently purchased from Valokuva LLC as city right-of-way for construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Presque Isle and Fair Avenues;
≤ a five-year fuel depot agreement with the Powell Township Schools;
≤ purchase of beach monitoring lab equipment with a $17,000 Great Lakes Beach Monitoring Grant;
≤ a resolution of support for the city's participation in the Redevelopment Ready Communities program; and
≤ a public hearing for the next regular meeting to consider the rezoning of property at 621 Fisher St.
Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.