MARQUETTE — The Marquette City Commission is seeking applicants for various boards and committees, with appointments scheduled to be made as soon as possible.

In all, there are nine panels seeking to fill 20 vacancies. According to the Marquette City Charter, each member appointed by the commission needs to be a Marquette resident for at least one year prior to the day of appointment and should also be a qualified and registered elector of the city on such day and throughout the member’s tenure of office.

Mayor Dave Campana made an announcement at a recent city commission meeting, stating committees exist to advise on areas of concern within the city.

“The Board of Zoning Appeals, presently has five openings and … the Harbor Advisory Committee (has) four openings. We’d really like to fill those up as soon as we could,” he said. “This is for residents who are willing to volunteer a few hours each month. It helps make Marquette a better place and (gives people an) opportunity to do something productive, meet good people and … help shape Marquette.”

The following list of vacancies is found on the city’s website:

Board of Zoning

Appeals

This six-member board hears and decides appeals on the zoning, fence and sign and property maintenance code ordinances. Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in Marquette City Hall commission chambers. Two open seats expire in February 2019 and three expire February 2021.

Board of Review

This five-member board hears appeals on property assessments. The board meets on three separate days in March in commission chambers to review the assessment roll and to hear complaints. A one-day session is held as needed each July and December to correct clerical errors. There is one open seat that expires February 2021.

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority

The seven-member authority facilitates the implementation of brownfield plans relating to the designation and treatment of brownfield redevelopment zones, and promotes the revitalization of environmentally distressed areas, among other things. The authority meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. in room 103 of City Hall.

There is currently one open seat, which expires February 2021.

Harbor Advisory

Committee

The seven-member group advises the city commission on shoreline, waterfront development and offshore waters near Marquette with an emphasis on harbor development, and the operations of marinas, mooring fields and launch facilities.

The committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for November and December, which are the second Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. Meetings are held in the Citizens Forum at Lakeview Arena.

There are currently four vacant positions. One expires in June 2019 and three expire June 2021.

Investment Advisory Board

There are two vacancies on the Investment Advisory Board. One expires July 2020 and the other expires July 2021.

The five-member board reviews and makes decisions concerning invested city funds. The board meets quarterly at 8 a.m. in city hall’s room 103.

Local Officers Compensation Commission

This is a seven-member commission that determines the salaries of elected city officials, such as the city commission and the Marquette Board of Light and Power. The board meets only in odd-numbered years at the call of the chairperson.

There are two vacancies on the commission. One term expires on Aug. 1 and the other expires August 2024.

Local Development

Finance Authority

The authority consists of 11 members. Seven of the members are appointed by the city; Northern Michigan University appoints one member; Marquette Area Public Schools appoints two members and Marquette County appoints one member. Meetings are held as needed.

There are three vacancies on the Local Development Finance Authority. Two expire in August 2020 and one expires on Aug. 1.

Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Advisory Board

There is currently one vacancy, expiring on Feb. 1, 2020, on this five-member board that oversees the operation of the Marquette Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the facility, located at 1930 U.S. 41, Marquette.

Traffic-Parking

Advisory Committee

This committee advises the city commission on matters relating to parking, traffic flows, traffic patterns and complete streets. Complete streets are a system of streets planned, designed and constructed to provide appropriate access to all legal users in a manner that promotes safe and efficient movement of people and goods, whether by car, truck, transit, assistive device, foot or bicycle.

There is currently one open seat that expires May 2021.

Applications can be found on the city’s website at www.marquettemi.gov.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@miningjournal.net.