MARQUETTE — To ensure the safety of residents of and visitors to Marquette, the city commission is adopting the most current versions of the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code and the NFPA Fire Code.

The codes are nationally recognized standards of the NFPA, an international nonprofit established in 1896 and devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.

Assistant City Manager Sean Hobbins said the city needs a local fire code in order to enforce potential violations.

“We do not currently have a fire code adopted,” said Hobbins. “We have portions of fire code adopted (and) incorporated but we do not have an actual fire code.”

The ordinances require annual inspections of commercial business buildings.

A motion to amend the NFPA fire and life safety ordinances was amended to include the future exploration of two other ordinances that could aid in fire safety for older and more historical buildings in Marquette. The amendment passed 4-2.

Commissioners Jessica Hanley and Evan Bonsall cast no votes.

The amended motion ultimately passed with a vote of 6-0. Commissioner Jenn Hill was excused from the meeting.

The city commission also approved the signing and sending of a letter of commitment to Electric Vehicle Communities Commitment with a motion of 6-0.

EV Smart Communities is a recognition program designed to provide communities with a road map to electric vehicle readiness, including securing funding and getting projects off the ground.

The program is led by Clean Fuels Ohio, the Ecology Center, Michigan Municipal League and the Great Plains Institute. It is funded by General Motors’ Climate Equity Fund.

Communities pursuing EV Smart certification will receive technical assistance, a road map for securing both state and federal funding sources, partnership development with local electric utilities and other private partners, and recognition as an EV Smart Community program participant.

The letter of commitment needs to be approved by the governing body of the organization. About half of the 25 communities chosen to participate will be rural, according to an agenda supplement.

Appointments approved by the city commission with a motion of 6-0 are as follows:

Robert Kulisheck to the Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, for an unexpired term ending Feb. 1, 2025; Wendy Hill-Manson to the Harbor Advisory Committee, for an unexpired term ending June 1, 2024; and Anne Donohue to the Harbor Advisory Committee, for an unexpired term ending June 1, 2023.

The commission also unanimously approved an amendment to a land development code approved at its May 31 regular meeting. There was a clerical error in the language resulting in the exclusion of two paragraphs.

The consent agenda passed with a motion of 6-0. The agenda included:

≤ Approval of the minutes of July 25.

≤ Approval of the total bills payable in the amount of $2,136,840.97.

≤ Approval of funding detention basin maintenance at the corner of McClellan and Fair avenues.

≤ Approval of moving business regarding Tourist Park kayak rental lease to next week.

≤ Approval of a special event permit for Rotary Club of Marquette West. The event, HarborFest, will be held Aug. 26-27 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park.

≤ Approval of a special event permit for U.P. Beer Festival, scheduled for Sept. 10.

Brennan White can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is bwhite@miningjournal.net.