[00:00:51]
>> [MUSIC] [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 7TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD [INAUDIBLE] TOWNSHIP OF [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU. MR. [INAUDIBLE] CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT ITEM OF OUR AGENDA IS PRESENTATIONS WE HAVE FOUR AND
[4. PRESENTATION]
THE FIRST PRESENTER WILL BE INTRODUCED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.>> WE ARE DELIGHTED TONIGHT TO HAVE OUR NEWLY ELECTED 75TH DISTRICT HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER EFFORTS AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ALSO AS CHAIR OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE.
PENELOPE IS BOTH A WIFE, MOTHER, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, ATTORNEY, FORMER INGHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR MULTIPLE TERMS AND SHE REPRESENTS THE NORTHERN PORTION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, NORTH OF GRAND RIVER AVENUE, AND ALSO PORTIONS OF CLINTON COUNTY AND SHIAWASSEE COUNTY UNDER THE NEWLY DRAWN DISTRICTS LAST YEAR.
REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU HAS ALREADY HELD AN OPEN HOUSE AND INVITED LOCAL OFFICIALS TO COME AND BRING THEIR ISSUES BEFORE HER AND SEVERAL OF US ON THE BOARD TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HER OFFICE AND SHARE OUR LOCAL INTERESTS AND ISSUES.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARTHA, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE EXACTLY A PRESENTATION REALLY PREPARED, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM HERE ON TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ISSUES IN THE STATE HOUSE.
HASLETT IS A VERY LARGE PORTION OF MY DISTRICT.
EVERYTHING NORTH OF GRAND RIVER, I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OAKNESS IN THERE.
SO FAR, WE'VE ONLY BEEN AT IT FOR A FEW WEEKS HERE, BUT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THINGS INTRODUCED, AND WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING OUR WORKING CLASS AND FAMILIES THE RELIEF THAT THEY NEED, SOME OF OUR SENIORS BY REPEALING THE PENSION TAX.
PERSONALLY, I AM CHAIRING THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, I'M ALSO ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OVERLAP THERE WITH SOME THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT BE WORKING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE HAS A LOT OF WORK ON THIS SESSION BECAUSE WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING PROPOSAL 2 WHICH IS THE EARLY VOTING, THE PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER LIST, AMONGST SOME OTHER CHANGES.
WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION ALREADY.
THEN WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE COUNTY CLERKS AND A LOT MORE ORGANIZATIONS I'M INVOLVED.
WE'VE HEARD REQUESTS TO FURTHER PROTECT OUR ELECTION WORKERS,
[00:05:01]
WHICH WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON AND REALLY JUST A NUMBER OF ISSUES.THAT INCLUDE VOTER ACCESS AND JUST HELP OUR LOCAL CLERKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS AND MAKE ALL THE CHANGES THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR A LONG TIME.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD WITH THAT.
I ALSO REACHED OUT RECENTLY TO SEE WHAT SOME OF YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES ARE, THAT I CAN ADVOCATE FOR, AS WELL AS JUST ANY POLICY CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AT A STATE LEVEL.
I'M HERE, WELL IN MY OFFICE EVERY DAY, [LAUGHTER] MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, PLEASE REACH OUT, WITH ME, SEND ME YOUR IDEAS.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MARTHA WILSON AND PHIL THE SHANE YOU KNOW ABOUT SOME THINGS YOU COULD USE AN ASSISTANCE WITH AND I'D BE HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH THE REST OF YOU ON, WHAT WE CAN DO.
THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT I HAD PREPARED FOR TONIGHT BUT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND DOING MY BEST TO ADVOCATE FOR MERIDIAN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I HOPE THAT I CAN HEAR MORE FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE.
MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, COME VISIT ME IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU BACK TO WORK. [LAUGHTER]
>> ITEM 4B IS A INTRODUCTION OF A NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP CLERK GUTHRIE WILL INTRODUCE HER.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING SUMMER TO OUR NEW INGHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN THE 13TH DISTRICT.
I HAVE KNOW SUMMER FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.
I WISH I HAD KNOWN HER MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.
SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, AND MOST DEDICATED PERSON THAT I'VE EVER KNOWN.
SHE IS A MOM AND A HUGE BIG TIME FAMILY PERSON.
WE GET ALONG REALLY WELL TALKING ABOUT FAMILY AND IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBER MATTERS.
SUMMER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON OUR ELECTION TEAM SINCE LAST MAY, AND WE BOTH HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADD IN REGARDS TO ORGANIZATION, AND SUMMER HAS BEEN A TRUE LEADER ON OUR ELECTIONS TEAM IN THE BACKROOM.
WE HAVE 160 PLUS ELECTION WORKERS, AND SUMMER WAS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS WENT WELL THIS YEAR.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE HER BE APPOINTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND IN THE 13TH DISTRICT AND TO WORK WITH HER IN THAT CAPACITY AS WELL.
>> THANKS DEBORAH. THIS WAS A TALL ORDER WHAT YOU ALL SAID.
I TRY MY BEST IN EVERYDAY BASIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S UP TO ALL OF THAT.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE OF YOU.
MOST OF YOU IN THE BOARDROOM HERE HAVE SEEN ME WALKING THESE HALLS, AS DEBORAH SAID, MANY TIMES, IN AND OUT.
BUT DEB SAID SHE KNOW ME ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT I HAVE KNOWN THEM FOR 22 PLUS YEARS.
I FOLLOWED HER THROUGH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I'VE SEEN ALL OF YOU AROUND YOUR CAMPAIGNS, DO YOUR STUFF BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THIS TOWNSHIP FOR ALMOST 30 PLUS YEARS.
I'VE LIVED IN HAZARD MOST OF MY LIFE IN US.
I LIVED IN INGHAM COUNTY, ALL OF IT.
I LIVED IN INGHAM COUNTY, SO I AM AN INGHAM COUNTY RESIDENT, AND HAS BEEN HOME.
VERY FIRST WEEK I LANDED HERE IN US.
I ENDED UP TAKING A CATA BUS TO A LITTLE STOP TO 1640 HASLETT ROAD, WHICH IS NOW A MIXED USE BUSINESS AND IT USED TO BE A COMPUTER CENTER, THAT HIGH-SCHOOL RAN FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL, SO I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK THIS WAS ALL ELEARNING.
IT WAS PART OF THE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
I STARTED MY COMPUTER EDUCATION THERE BECAUSE I WAS 17, 18 YEARS OLD.
[00:10:06]
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MSU IS GOING TO WORK FOR ME, HOW LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOING TO WORK FOR ME.THAT WAS MY FIRST PLACE THAT I CAME TO HAZARD ABOUT A WEEK INTO COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY.
NOW THE HOUSE THAT I LIVE IN IS CROSS THE STREET FROM THERE, AND I SAW THAT HOUSE BEING BUILT.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN HOME FOR ME, BUT I MOVED TO OKEMOS.
I MEAN FIRST LIVED IN EAST LANSING TO HASLETT.
ONCE CAME TO HASLETT WAS JUST OKEMOS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN BACK TO HASLETT AGAIN.
HOME MOST OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE PRESENTATION FROM THEIR ZOOM LINKS, THEY PROBABLY KNOW ME SAMAR.
NINETY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION HERE CALLS ME SAMAR, MY NAME IS SUMMER, AND I WILL RESPOND TO HEY YOU.
[LAUGHTER] AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING BUSINESS, AS LONG AS WE ARE TALKING PROGRESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS RAISED WITH A VALUE SYSTEM, THAT IS, YOU GET THE SPANKING IF YOU DON'T GET THE JOB DONE, ALL OF THAT IS ILLEGAL NOW, [LAUGHTER] THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T USE IT, BUT I FOUND OUT FEEL THE KEY PHRASES THAT MY PARENTS USED THAT HELPED ME ALONG UP TO THIS DAY.
I THINK THE DAY TILL THE DAY I DIE, THEY WILL HELP ME WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS.
ONE OF THAT WAS, MY MOM WOULD ROUTINELY SAY, WE WERE ALL FOUR OF US KIDS WOULD OFFENDED, WHEN SHE WOULD SAY IT.
SHE SAYS EVEN THE DOG WAGS THE TAIL BEFORE HE SITS DOWN.
WE WOULD NEVER GET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT.
I SAID THE DOG IS LOYAL, WHAT IS SHE GETTING AT? BUT ALL SHE MEANT WAS, YOU WERE A KID HUMANS THINKING RANGE, THE DOG SITS DOWN, WAGS THEIR TAIL, CLEANS THE PLACE BEFORE HE SITS DOWN, WORK.
[LAUGHTER] THAT STUFF IS AN ORDER.
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR PARENTS, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE WERE RESPONSIBLE, SO WE GREW UP THAT WAY.
COMING TO US THAT STAYED WITH ME.
THE OTHER PHRASE THAT IS MORE SPIRITUAL TO ME THAT I WOULD USE TO GUIDE ME AS I'M IN THIS NEW ROLE IS [FOREIGN] THAT COMES FROM PUNJABI LANGUAGE, WHICH TRANSLATES TO PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER YOU SIT, TALK GOOD ABOUT IT.
HOW THAT SHAPES ME UP IS, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN PLACES WHERE I WENT AND, OH MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THIS.
WE SET UP A RULE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, IF YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING THREE TIMES, YOU HAVE TO GO FIX IT.
[LAUGHTER] HENCE, I WAS AFRAID OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE I COMPLAINED ABOUT BEING IN THE LINE TOO LONG.
MY KIDS CALL ME UP TO IT TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.
I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PARK SYSTEM BEING DIRTY.
SHE SAYS, MOM, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK IN THE PARKS NOW, WHICH I DID.
INGHAM COUNTY PARKS, LADY CLEANSING PARK SOUTH ENTRANCE, THAT IS MY PRIDE AND JOY.
THAT'S WHERE I SPENT MY SUMMERS.
MOST PEOPLE IN HASLETT KNOW ME AS A PLANT LADY.
I BELONG TO GREEN GUN CLUB, HPA.
SOME OF THOSE HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS STAY CLOSE TO MY HEART.
THAT SERVICE I WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THE NEW ROLE THAT I WAS SWORN INTO JANUARY 24TH IS OUR DISTRICT 13 COMMISSIONER.
AMY [INAUDIBLE] SHE CONTESTED ELECTION.
SHE HAD TO FOR FAMILY REASONS NOT CARRY ON THE POSITION AND I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD FILL IN.
I HAD NO CONCEPT, BECAUSE WHILE THE SELECTION WAS BEING CONTESTED, FOUGHT FOR, PROMISES WERE MADE, I WAS IN ELECTION BACK FROM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING SMOOTHLY.
I HAD TO REALLY QUICKLY BRUSH UP ON WHAT MY DUTIES WOULD BE, WHAT MY ROLE WOULD BE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I SEE THERE'S LOT OF WORK.
I DON'T SEE IT AS LIKE I'M GOING TO COME AND SHOW UP TO THE MEETINGS, GO HOME.
I WOULD HAVE A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE WITH FELLOW CITIZENS WHERE I CHOOSE TO CALL HOME, TO KEEP ME HONEST, TO KEEP ME INFORMED, KEEP TALKING TO ME, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THE AGENDAS ARE.
I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, LINE COURTS COMMITTEE, AND I PLAN TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, LEARN WHAT I DON'T KNOW, AND ADD THE IDEAS OF WHEREVER SOMEBODY WANTS ME TO SHARE THE IDEAS I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK UPON ALL THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT I HAVE SEEN, THAT MY KIDS HAVE SEEN, THEY'VE GROWN UP LOOKING UP TO ALL OF YOU, WATCHING OVER MERIDIAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME JOB WITH YOU ALL IN HAND, WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL BE DOING THE SERVICE DAY IN, DAY OUT UNTIL THE RESIDENTS WANT ME TO DO IT.
THE BEAUTY OF ELECTION SYSTEM IS IF I FAIL, KEEP ME HONEST, ELECT ANOTHER ONE.
BECAUSE I DO FEEL THAT EACH OFFICE THE PERSON WHO STEPS UP IN THE OFFICE, THEY SHOULD STAY IN THE OFFICE FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN DO THE DUTY DILIGENTLY.
I HOPE TO DO THAT FOR NEXT TWO YEARS, AND FROM THERE ON, MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR COMMISSIONER POWER.
[00:15:03]
>> WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM 4C, TO THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW HOME TV INTERNS.
>> SHE'S GONE? OH, SHE'S COMING.
>> BACK OVER. HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA DIEHL.
I'M THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME INTRODUCE THE HOME TV INTERNS FOR SPRING 2023.
SHE WAS WITH US LAST SEMESTER TOO.
I HAVE RACHEL PEARSON, SHE'S NEW THIS SEMESTER.
TERRY AND THEN DON MACKELL ARE BOTH NEW TOO.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE MAGGIE MOLTER, SHE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE DENISHA MCDOWELL, AN ALL-TIME MEDIA PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS SPECIALISTS BACK IN THE CONTROL ROOM, SO SHE'S CONTROLLING THE CAMERAS RIGHT NOW.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE OUT HERE. I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU.
YOU'LL SEE THEM AROUND THIS NEXT SEMESTER, HOPEFULLY FUTURE SEMESTERS TOO.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME TOO ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU PUTTING TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
[NOISE] WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> ITEM 4D IS THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
[NOISE] I BELIEVE MR. WALSH, NO [LAUGHTER].
YOU REALLY WANT SORRY, WHO KNOWS MR MCCONNELL [LAUGHTER] [NOISE] [BACKGROUND] MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU STARTED MOVING, I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M BILL MCCONNELL.
I CHAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND [INAUDIBLE] ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER THINGS THAT KEEP ME BUSY.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
WE WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR EFFORTS TO REVISE OUR 2017 CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
WHEN WE DID THAT BACK IN 2017, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PARTS OF IT THAT I FELT WERE REALLY AMBITIOUS AND I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN THE BOARD ADOPTED THEM AND I'M EVEN MORE DELIGHTED THAT WE'RE ON PROGRESS TO MEET SOME OF THOSE REALLY AMBITIOUS GOALS.
I WANT TO ABUSE MY POSITION HERE AND GIVE YOU A QUICK ANECDOTE.
I'M IN A NEW WORK ENVIRONMENT AND THE OTHER DAY SOME OF MY NEW COLLEAGUES WERE DISCUSSING THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP [INAUDIBLE] NEVER SAW [INAUDIBLE] THAT THEY WOULDN'T VOTE FOR AND HOW THE TAXES ARE HIGHER THAN ANY PLACE ELSE.
ONE OF THESE DAYS, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM ABOUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE PAYING TAXES FOR [NOISE] THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE.
IS IT THE FUNDED PENSION LIABILITY, IS IT THE NEW FIRE TRUCKS, IS IT THE PARKS, IS IT SCHOOLS? WHAT EXACTLY IS IT IN THERE THAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR THAT YOU WOULD RATHER NOT? WHAT I SEE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS YES, WE PAY A FAIR AMOUNT OF TAXES.
WE GET ROADS THAT ARE IMPROVING FASTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S ROADS ARE IMPROVING.
WE'RE GETTING FINANCIAL STABILITY, WE'RE GETTING EMERGENCY, SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF GREAT STUFF.
THEY SAY THAT IN ORDER TO SAY WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR GOALS IN THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS REAL.
THE MOST, IN SOME WAYS, CONSEQUENTIAL PART OF THE 2017 PLAN HAD TO DO WITH ENERGY, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, IS THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO [NOISE] MITIGATE THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON A CHANGING CLIMATE.
BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY WE CONSUME AND BY GETTING AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN FROM RENEWABLES, WE'RE CONTRIBUTING LESS TO THE PROBLEMS. THE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PLAN ARE MAINLY ABOUT ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET IN MOTION.
BIGGER, STRONGER STORMS AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER CLIMATE IMPACTS THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
TONIGHT, WHAT WE HAVE IN YOUR PACKET IS A DRAFT REVISION OF THE ENERGY SECTIONS OF THE PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST ACTIVITY AND THE MOST CONCRETE GOALS.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? THE MOVEMENT FROM 2017 HAS BEEN TO MAKE THE DOCUMENT MORE CONCISE AND TO KEEP THE SAME FORMAT AND SEE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF.
IDEALLY, WHAT WE GET BACK FROM YOU AS WELL AS HEARING BACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND OTHERS WHO HAVE A STAKE IN THESE EFFORTS.
ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND REVISE THE REST OF THE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
WHAT ZACK HAS GOT UP ON THE SCREEN IS A COUPLE OF CHEAT SHEETS THAT BOIL DOWN WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET TO A COUPLE OF
[00:20:02]
SECTIONS AND WHAT'S UP THERE RIGHT NOW IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTION'S COUPLE OF BULLETS.THIS IS WHERE I WAS SAYING, THE TOWNSHIP MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY FOR TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS BY 2035.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY AN OUTRAGEOUS GOAL AND WE'RE ACTUALLY FROM INSTALLATIONS HERE, THE FIRE STATION, OTHERS IN PROGRESS DONE AND PLAN, REALLY ON TRACK TO DO THAT.
MUCH AS WE GOT ON TRACK TO FUND PENSION, AS MUCH AS WE GOT ON TRACK TO PUT UP SIRENS, AS MUCH AS WE GOT ON TRACK TO RAISE OUR PACER RATINGS, WE'RE ALL ON THAT TRACK AND WE HOPE WE STAY.
YOU CAN SEE THE INSTALLATIONS IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, THE FIRE STATION, MARKETPLACE, ON THE GREEN, ETC.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MAKING US VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE TOWNSHIP IS COLLABORATION.
A LOT OF WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE RENEWABLE INSTALLATIONS HAS BEEN THE TOWNSHIP STAFF RESPONDING TO THE BOARD'S POLICY GOALS EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THE SECOND PIECE YOU SEE HERE IS SOLARIZED WORKSHOPS, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS AND TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE STEP TO INSTALL SOLAR ON THEIR HOMES, TO LET THEIR NEIGHBORS KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE, LET THEM KNOW WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE SYSTEM YOU CHOSE? HAVE CONTRACTORS THERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY, TO SPREAD THAT.
YOU SEE A GOAL THERE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SOLAR INSTALLATIONS TO 250.
WELL, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, BUT SEEING AS WE WERE LESS THAN 100 WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THAT'S ALREADY DOUBLED.
THOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BOARD SETTING POLICY, THE STAFF IMPLEMENTING POLICY, AND VOLUNTEERS GOING OUT THERE AND DOING PROGRAMMING [NOISE] IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE ON THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, THIS ROOM WAS REALLY LOUD AND IT WAS EITHER [LAUGHTER] REALLY COLD OR REALLY WARM AND NOW, IT'S NICE AND COMFY AND IT'S QUIET.
[LAUGHTER] NOT ONLY IS THAT MORE PLEASANT AND HELPS US DO OUR BUSINESS, BUT WE'RE ALSO SAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICITY BY HAVING THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT A SMALL INVESTMENT THAT THE TOWNSHIP MADE.
I'M SEEING HERE MOST IMPROVED BUILDING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INTENSITY WAS THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 33 PERCENT REDUCTION, PUBLIC SAFETY 27 PERCENT REDUCTION.
THOSE ARE NOT TRIVIAL FIGURES.
WHEN YOU'RE SAVING 10 PERCENT, THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SAVING A LOT.
WHEN YOU'RE SAVING 33 PERCENT, YOU'RE REALLY SAVING A BUNCH.
THE LAST BULLET ON THAT SLIDE IS A DOE FUNDED CENTER AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THAT IS PROVIDING SERVICES TO CONTINUE ASSESSING TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS, FACILITIES FOR FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
AGAIN, THIS SPEAKS TO PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING THAT'S COMING THROUGH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY PARTNERING WITH IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS OF STAFF EFFORT HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP AND VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CONNECT TO THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR.
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION IS HOW WE'RE MEETING OUR GOALS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE ISSUES, TOPICS, JOHN [INAUDIBLE], WHO HEADS OUR ENERGY TEAM, IS MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN ME AND IS AVAILABLE NOW OR AT ANY TIME FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BOARD, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH.
[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO MENTION ALSO THAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] 2021, WAS ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WORK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE ENERGY TEAM AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME BACK AND TALK WITH US IN ANOTHER TIME.
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDAITEMS]
WE COME TO ITEM 5 ON OUR AGENDA AND THIS IS WHERE IT'S CITIZENS GET TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I DON'T HAVE ANY GREEN CARDS.BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, PLEASE DO SO.
GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR COMMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD. CAN YOU HEAR ME JUST FINE?
>> JAMIE CARMEL, FOR THE RECORD, 400 SOUTH OLD WOODWARD AVENUE IN BIRMINGHAM.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING.
I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
[00:25:02]
IT'S VERY HARD AFTER WORK TO WORK AGAIN.I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE ROBUST CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THE CANNABIS ORDINANCE THIS EVENING.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE IN PASSING AN ORDINANCE FOR ADULT USE, AGAIN, IN FURTHERING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I REPRESENT ONE OF THE MEDICAL PERMIT HOLDERS IN THE DRADIO [INAUDIBLE].
WE'VE JUST HAD OUR PERMIT REINSTATED AND OUR BUILDING PERMIT REINSTATED AS WELL, AND OUR INACTIVE CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET OUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN THE NEXT 8-12 WEEKS, GIVE OR TAKE DEPENDING HOW ON INSPECTIONS GO.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THAT COINCIDES WITH THE PASSING OF AN ORDINANCE AND ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF PROMOTING A THRIVING BUSINESS HERE, JOBS, TAX BENEFITS, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
AGAIN, I'M BRIEF AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO CANNABIS INDUSTRY, KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW HOW I'M AN ATTORNEY BY TRADE.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM,
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
WHICH IS TOWNSHIP MANAGERS REPORT. MR. WALSH.THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF IT.
IT'LL BE ALSO POSTED TODAY OR TOMORROW ON OUR WEBSITE, AND ALSO A COPY OF IT AT OUR LIBRARIES, TWO LIBRARIES, AND IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
FOR ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
UPDATE ON THE ALCHEMISTS BRIDGE.
THIS IS A COUNTY PROJECT, BUT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT VERY CLOSELY.
TODAY THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 25 CREW PEOPLE ON THE SITE, AND POUR THE ENTRANCES TO THE BRIDGE ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE, MAKING VERY GOOD PROGRESS.
THE WEATHER IS GOING TO HELP A LOT.
WE'RE STILL ON TARGET FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS AWAY.
JUST A PUBLIC KNOWS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A RENOVATION PLAN AS MR. MCCONNELL LEAD RIGHT INTO THIS BY TALKING WHAT WE USED TO BE LIKE AND WITH THIS ROOM HAS SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITH CARPET AND PAINTING.
THE REST OF OUR BUILDING. THE WALLPAPERS COMING OFF.
THE CARPET IS DATED AND OLD AND WORN OUT, AND IN MOST PLACES IT'S 50 YEARS OLD, AND NEEDS A REAL UPGRADE.
WE'LL GET MORE INTO THIS LATER, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING OUR FACILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS OF THE SUMMER.
THIS ROOM WILL STILL BE OPEN, THIS ROOM WILL SERVE THE PUBLIC.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME IN HERE AND I'LL PAY WATER BILLS, PAY TAXES, GET BUILDING PERMITS, ALL THAT.
WE'LL HAVE EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THIS ROOM.
ONE PERSON FOR FOUR DEPARTMENTS AND THAT ALL OF THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
WE'RE ALSO BE RELOCATED THROUGHOUT THREE DIFFERENT SITES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE RELOCATING 53 OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO START GETTING THAT OUT THERE.
WE EXPECT THAT TO TAKE PLACE AROUND MAY 1ST.
THE NEW SIGNS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, OUR NEW MUNICIPAL SIGNS.
YOU'LL START TO SEE THOSE GO UP HERE AND THE NEXT 2-3 WEEKS AND THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SURE THE BOARDS GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT OUR DEI EFFORTS AND I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THAT COMING UP WITH SOME GREAT THINGS COMING OUT OF OUR DEI COMMITTEE.
PHASE 1 UNDERWAY ON LAKE LANSING TO MSU PATHWAY THAT WILL GO FROM HAGADORN AT THE SHAW AREA MUSIC BUILDING ACROSS THEY'LL HAVE A BRIDGE CROSSING THE RED CEDAR AND ALL THE WAY OVER TO PARK LAKE ROAD.
THEN PHASE 2 DOWN TO THE INNER URBAN AND THEN OUT AND WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A PATH WHEN WE'RE FINISHED.
ALL PAID FOR IN CASH GOING FROM THE LAKE LANSING ALL THE WAY TO THE UNIVERSITY.
OUR AUDIT IS GOING TO BE UNDERWAY SOON.
DIRECTOR GARDNER WILL ALWAYS SEE THAT.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS WHERE WE'RE EACH TO CONTRACT WITH OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS THREE YEARS AGO, IT WAS TWO PERCENT PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
THAT FAILS TO MEET WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING FORWARD IN ORDER TO RETAIN.
I SAT IN ON A SESSION IN GRAND RAPIDS AT OUR STATE CONFERENCE LAST WEEK ABOUT THE GROWING DIFFICULTY OF RETAINING PARAMEDICS AND POLICE OFFICERS, AND IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.
THE TASK FORCE THAT'S BEEN SET UP BY THE BOARD FOR THE SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER.
THEY HAD THEIR FIRST MEETING A WEEK FROM TODAY, AND WE'LL KICK OFF THAT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF MEDICAL RESPONSE DOWN TO ALABAMA TOWNSHIP.
THAT CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S LESS OF AN ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CAME UP WITH A VERY WISE IDEA OF PLACING
[00:30:02]
AN ADDITIONAL PARAMEDIC CREW IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE TOWNSHIP.THEY DID THAT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WHEN YOU DID THAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN SOUTH OF THE BRIDGE THAT'S GOING TO NEED A HEAVY PRESENCE.
THINK ABOUT THE LAST 24 HOURS.
POLICE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, NEW LOCKER ROOMS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON OVER THERE.
IN FACT, THE NEW K9, ALL THOSE THINGS WILL BE COMING FORWARD.
THE FORMER FARMERS MARKET, YOU'LL START TO SEE DIRECTOR MAISNER AND THE PARKS COMMISSION WORKED ON PLANS FOR THE PAVILION OUT HERE, WHICH USED TO BE THE FARMER'S MARKET.
WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE USE OF THAT? WE HAVE SOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE EARLY THAT RESIDENTS HERE EARLIER THIS EVENING THAT LEFT.
THEY THOUGHT THAT MARCH 7TH WAS THE MEETING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE MARCH 7TH, FEBRUARY 7TH WAS TONIGHT.
BUT AGAIN, SIX O'CLOCK ON MARCH 7TH, IN THIS ROOM, I'LL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH A BOARD, WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE DEVELOPERS OF THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS.
I'M SURE THAT DIRECTOR CLARK MAY BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE OBVIOUSLY THE PLANS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VILLAGE OF HASLETT, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 10-15 YEARS.
FINALLY, THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THE WORK OF DIRECTOR CLARK AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR 15 YEARS TO BRING US TO WHERE WE ARE. THE DEER CALL.
REMEMBER WE HAD 157 DEER ARE TAKEN WITH OUR ARCHERY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A VERY STRONG YEAR.
THE DNR SANCTIONS OUR FIREARM PROGRAM THAT WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH CHIEF CLOG UP AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT WAS 200 TAGS THROUGH THE DNR FOR 357.
WE REACHED THAT MARK TWO DAYS AGO.
THE DEER CALL PROGRAM FOR 2022 AND 2023 IS COMPLETE.
I DON'T HAVE A FINAL VENISON NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO APPROACH 7,000 POUNDS OF MEDICINE AND IT WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
I KNOW THAT TRUSTEE WILSON AND HER WORK WITH THE FOOD BANK BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THAT.
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, AND THAT'S THE RESPONSE THIS MORNING TO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL.
THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT OCCURRED TO ME WAS JUST UTTER TERROR, SOMETHING THAT IN MY 32-YEAR CAREER, I HAVE NEVER FELT.
WE'D BEEN THROUGH AN ICE STORM WHERE PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT POWER FOR 11 DAYS. WE HANDLED THAT.
WE HAD A SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN VIOLATED BY LARRY NASSER THAT WE MISSED.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES.
WE HAD SOMEONE SHOOTING ON TOP OF CHILE'S HERE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO. WE WORKED THROUGH THAT.
TODAY IT WAS DIFFERENT, BECAUSE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND OPENNESS HIGH SCHOOL TODAY WAS 30 MINUTES A COMPLETE TEAR.
THE RESPONSE FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARAMEDICS AND MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS WAS JUST REALLY OUTSTANDING.
AS WE LOOK BACK AT AND I'M SURE THEY'LL DO A REVIEW OF THEIR RESPONSE, BUT THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSE.
ALL THE MEDIA REPORTS ON THIS ARE REPORTING ABOUT THE RESPONSE THAT WE PROVIDED TODAY.
BUT ONE OF THE THOUGHTS OCCUR TO ME IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE, OR THE SEVEN OF YOU HAVE.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
THINK ABOUT IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACTUAL EVENT THIS MORNING WITH VICTIMS. THE FIRST CALL WAS THERE'S TWO PEOPLE CRITICALLY WOUNDED.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT IT WAS A HOAX.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DID TODAY.
WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AND WE DID IT WELL.
BUT THINK ABOUT THE DECISION THAT ALL OF YOU MADE.
WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $40-$60,000 TO PLACE AN EXTRA CREW DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE TOWNSHIP TWO WEEKS AGO? WHAT WOULD THAT IMPACT EVENT TODAY WITH EXTRA CREW DOWN THERE, I'LL PARAMEDICS.
SO THAT ONE DECISION THAT YOU MADE MADE US MUCH MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
NONE OF US THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR EVENT LIKE THAT TO RESPOND TO, BUT YOU STEPPED OUT ALL SEVEN OF YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT DECISION YOU MADE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 30 MINUTES A TEAR THIS MORNING, THERE WAS THAT ONE LITTLE SLIVER THAT SAID, WE'RE BETTER PREPARED TODAY THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND AFTER THE BRIDGES OPEN BACKUP WILL BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED.
[00:35:03]
BUT IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED TODAY.WE DID THE VERY BEST WE COULD WITH COMMUNICATIONS.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT TO SAY, AND WHEN TO SAY IT, AND WHO SHOULD SAY IT, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL THAT.
BUT YEAH, I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM.
I'M PROUD OF THE DECISION THAT YOU ALL MADE TO MAKE US SAFER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WITH THAT, I WOULD CHOOSE BLOGGER IN THE ROOM.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? I GOT A MESSAGE TODAY THAT WAS GOODNESS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE. [LAUGHTER]
>> OTHER THAN MR. WALSH'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE ACCREDITATION?
>> THAT WAS AMAZING. THEY ARE ANNOUNCED TODAY?
>> WOULD YOU RELAY THAT TO THE.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. [NOISE] CHIEF RAGA AND I RUN OUR WAY DOWN TO THE CHIEF'S CONFERENCE THAT'S BEING HELD AT THE AMWAY GRAND IN GRAND RAPIDS, WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE HER COMMISSION HEARING FOR OUR THREE-YEAR RENEWAL, OUR ACCREDITATION STATUS, AND WE GOT ABOUT HALFWAY THERE AND WE HAD TO TURN AROUND.
I I LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TODAY BECAUSE OF THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE US THERE TO TALK TO US AND ASK US QUESTIONS, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WEREN'T GOING BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
THEY WITHOUT US BEING THERE WHERE THEY APPROVED HER OR THREE-YEAR RENEWAL OF OUR ACCREDITED STATUS.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS [NOISE] BOARD MEMBER QUOTES AN ACT
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES ANDANNOUNCEMENTS]
OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU PENSION.BRIEFLY THE PENSION BOARD MET YESTERDAY HERE IN THIS ROOM.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OUR EMPLOYEE PENSION, WHICH HAS NO ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND BUT HAS APPROXIMATELY 70 INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR PENSION BENEFITS, 100 PERCENT FUNDED.
EVEN WITH THE DIFFICULT YEAR LAST YEAR WAS NO MARKET.
WE ARE STILL VERY GOOD SHAPE WITH THAT PENSION.
WE DO NEED MORE PENSION BOARD MEMBERS, AND SO THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL PENSION BOARD MEMBERS COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD.
WE CAN THEN TAKE ACTION LAST NAME BECAUSE WE LACKED A QUORUM.
NONETHELESS, WE GOT THE INFORMATION FROM OUR ACTUARY AND FROM OUR INVESTMENT ADVISERS, AND THAT WAS A VERY GOOD INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF OUR PENSION BOARD.
SECONDLY, THE EDC MEETING LAST THURSDAY WAS TRUSTEE SUNDLAND WE MET AND THEN LASTLY, I ATTENDED THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, WHICH MANY OF YOU WROTE AND SUPERVISOR, YOU KEPT THAT EVEN OFF VERY NICELY FOR THE SMALLEST PACKED WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT A GREAT TURNOUT FOR THAT EVENT.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I ATTENDED THE CAT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE CAPILLARY AT TREASURES ASSOCIATION.
OUR MAIN ISSUE WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO WORK ON IS REFORMING THE DISABLED VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
WE ALL SUPPORT THAT IF YOU'RE 100 PERCENT DISABLED, THAT YOU GET 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION FROM YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AS A VETERAN.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE STATE PASSED THAT LAW AND THEY'D PROVIDED NO FUNDING FOR.
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND HOW MANY VETERANS LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON YOUR LOCAL TAX REVENUE AND NOT JUST GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS ARE TAKING THE BIGGEST HIT ON THIS.
THERE'S APPEARS TO BE SOME CONSENSUS TO ADDRESS IT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND FOR THE STATE TO FUND THIS MANDATE THAT THEY ENACTED AROUND SIX YEARS AGO.
LASTLY, REGARDING THIS MORNING, I DID HAPPEN TO SEE SOME OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND CHIEF PLUG IS SPEAKING IN THIS TWO THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT.
WHAT HE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC WAS THAT EVERY OFFICER KNEW WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY UNSEEN.
THERE WAS NO HESITATION AND THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO.
THEY HAD PRACTICES AND THEY WERE THERE.
THE SECOND WAS THE COORDINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THERE WERE A DOZEN OR MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEY ALL KNEW THEIR ROLE AS WELL AS TO WHAT TO DO.
THAT WAS VERY REASSURING TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE KNEW THEIR ROLE.
HE MENTIONED THAT THE CRUSH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MANY HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE CONVERGING ON THAT SCENE AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HANDLED THE INFLUX OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER FAMILIES THAT WERE THERE.
ALL OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR WE HAD EACH OTHER TO MANAGE THAT TRAFFIC AND KEPT THAT FROM BECOMING CHAOTIC.
THANK YOU FOR THE FIRST SHIFT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT TREASURER DESCHAINE SAID.
[00:40:03]
NO, WE ACKNOWLEDGED AS A BOARD THAT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT DAY IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND SPECIFICALLY FOR OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY.I THINK THAT MANAGER WALSH DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE GREAT WORK, THE GREAT RESPONSE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES HEAD TO THIS UNFORTUNATE HOAX THAT WAS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE LUCKY TODAY. WE'RE VERY LUCKY TODAY AS A COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT ALSO REMAIN VIGILANT BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY NEXT TIME.
WE HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAMS READINESS AND THEIR RECERTIFICATION, WHICH WE JUST HEARD ABOUT AS COMFORTS.
BUT THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN ASK OUR FRIENDS LIKE REPRESENTATIVES SNOWBALL AND THE LEGISLATURE TO ASSIST US WITH.
I HOPE TO HAVE MORE ON THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT FINDING A WAY TO ADDRESS IN STATE LAW, [NOISE] WAYS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS SAFER.
I THINK THAT WHILE MUCH OF THIS IS NOT IN OUR HANDS TO DO DIRECTLY, WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR LAWMAKERS THROUGH ACTION BY THIS BOARD TO DO SO AT THEIR LEVEL.
I HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THAT IN THE COMING DAYS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THAT IN THE NEXT MEETING.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CHAT ABOUT THE EYE A LITTLE BIT AS WELL?
>> I'LL START WITH DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK GROUP THAT MANAGER WALSH HADN'T MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING.
WE'VE GOT FANTASTIC STAFF IN OUR LEAD STAFF DIRECTOR TF, WHO HAS SO MUCH PASSION FOR THIS AND IT'S REALLY HELPED US IN DIRECTING US TOWARDS OUR MISSION AND OUR ACTION STATEMENTS.
WE'VE REALLY GOT SOME MOMENTUM.
WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY, BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME ON INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, HIRING OF THEIR WORKFORCE TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOW LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD TO PUBLIC-FACING AND MORE INCLUSION INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND LOOKING FOR INDOOR, I GUESS, ACTION FROM OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE DID SETTLE ON TWO MISSION STATEMENT OR ACTION ITEMS. ONE IS TO CONTINUE OUR INTERNAL WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITABLE IN DIVERSE WORKGROUP.
BUT ALSO LOOKING TO HAVE OUR FIRST PRIDE CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT END OF AUGUST AND WORKING WITH STAFF, SPECIFICALLY, MR. SHARKEY WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION, WHO HAS WORKED IN LANSING AND SOME IN THE EASTLEIGH SEEN IN THE PAST ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE STILL WORKING INTERNALLY, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE EXTERNAL INPUT EVENTUALLY AND WE WILL BE REACHING OUT.
PRIOR TO THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY OF US AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IS HEARD.
OTHER THAN THAT, I MAY HAVE MISSED A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT IT HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY TO DAY.
I DID WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION, EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE QUORUM AT OUR LAST MEETING, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE WORKING HARD AND DOESN'T TAKE A MEETING TO GET ALL THAT WORK DONE.
WE APPRECIATE THEM, ESPECIALLY ON OUR ENERGY PORTION OF THAT CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I AM A PARENT OF TWO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND WAS PRESENT ON-SITE TODAY.
AS A PARENT, IT WAS TERRIFYING.
AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, IT WAS TERRIFYING AND IT WAS AMAZING.
THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN FIRST THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SCHOOL AND I WATCHED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM COME OUT AND THE FEAR AMONGST THEM.
BUT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS POLICE PRESENCE ALL THE WAY FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, THEY REMAINED FEELING SAFE AND CONFIDENT.
MANAGER WASH YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED, BUT THERE WAS MULTIPLE UNITS ON-SITE, INCLUDING FBI AND ATF, AND JUST THE FACT AND HOW THEY WERE ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY KNEW WHERE TO BE,
[00:45:05]
IT WAS REALLY COMFORTING GIVEN THAT SITUATION.OF COURSE MY KIDS HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THEIR SAME AGE AND SO I HAD A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WERE REACHING OUT.
I WAS IN PARKING LOTS WHERE PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET AND TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE, BUT GIVING THAT INFORMATION THAT OUR POLICES ARE ON-SITE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ON-SITE, THAT THEY'RE WORKING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.
I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
THERE WAS COMMUNITIES FROM ALL OVER.
I JUST WANT TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THAT'S WHAT MAKES MICHIGAN SO FANTASTIC.
WE SAW THAT AT NOB HILL WITH OUR APARTMENT FIRE, BUT WE SAW IT AGAIN TODAY.
ANOTHER THING THAT WAS NOTABLE THAT I NOTICED WAS THEY PULLED THOSE BUSES ALL THE WAY FROM LANSING TO GET THOSE KIDDOS FROM OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL TO THE PICKUP LOCATION AT 242.
I HEARD BUS DRIVERS TALKING, THEY JUST FELT VERY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY EXCITED THIS IS NOT THE WORD, BUT VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS ANOTHER JUST EXEMPLARY PART OF THAT TRAGEDY THAT ENDED UP IN A POSITIVE NOTE.
I'VE BEEN IN A THIRD GRADE CLASS WHERE THEY PRACTICE THIS TYPE OF DRILL, YOU CAN PRACTICE AND PRACTICE UNTIL IT HAPPENS, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
OF COURSE THERE'S LESSONS LEARNED, BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN ACCREDITED POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY PLAN FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WORKED.
ALWAYS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS IMPERATIVE, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
THE SCHOOL FACULTY, THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS THEY WERE ALL FANTASTIC, THEY WERE ALL THERE, THEY WERE CALM. THEY WERE COMFORTING.
I JUST WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE RESIDENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS AND THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOT OF EMOTIONS AND THAT WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND TO TAKE ANY OF THAT COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO WHOMEVER WE NEED TO.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THE FACULTY, ALL THE STAFF, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, THE PARENTS, THE STUDENTS, AND FOR REMAINDER OF THE COMMUNITY IT'S SCARY.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
>> THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? CLERK, GO THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WISINSKI FOR SHARING THAT HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT DIFFICULT SITUATION, TOUGH TO GET THROUGH.
I DO WANT TO COMMEND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 242 CHURCH, ONCE AGAIN, STEPPING UP FOR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TOWNSHIP MANAGER FOR HIS SWIFT COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE RUMORS THAT GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON TWITTER AND NEXTDOOR AND FACEBOOK AND WITH ALMOST ANYTHING THAT A COMMUNITY DOES AND SOME OF THE THINGS MY HUSBAND AND I WERE READING AND JUST BLOWS MY MIND HOW PEOPLE MAKE STUFF UP.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS BACKGROUND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY IN WHICH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESPONDED WITH A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THOSE RUMORS, TRY TO STIFLE THAT DOWN AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING.
IN ADDITION, I DID CONTACT OUR STATE REP, JULIE BRIGGS ABOUT GUN SAFETY, AND CONTACTED HER THIS MORNING.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
ONCE AGAIN, I WENT ON AFTER OUR CONVERSATION AND FILLED OUT A MOMS DEMAND ACTION FORM SO IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN TAKING PART AND REACHING OUT TO OUR LEGISLATORS, THAT GROUP DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH GUN SAFETY IN REACHING OUT TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS.
THAT IS ONE WAY IN WHICH OUR COMMUNITY CAN WORK WITH THEM ON SAFER GUN LAWS.
ALSO, I SPOKE WITH OUR STATE [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT SPEAKING AT OUR PRIDE EVENT ON AUGUST 26TH, AND SHE HAS AGREED TO SPEAK AT IT, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
[00:50:01]
IF YOU KNOW BOB HOFFMAN, HE'S GOING TO BE THE MC FOR THAT EVENT, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL, IS BOTH FANTASTIC PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.WE HAD OTHER THINGS THAT I WAS PART OF.
FLORA ALREADY MENTIONED THE PENSION BOARD, WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM.
BUT WHEN WE GET THAT RESCHEDULE, WE WILL PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND NOTIFY THEM.
I ATTENDED A CAPITAL AREA MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION MEETING.
BASICALLY, THEY GAVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT PROPOSAL 2, I WON'T REITERATE BECAUSE WE THINK OUR STATE REP TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BASICALLY, WE'RE JUST WAITING IN CLARIFICATION FROM THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS AND TRAINING FROM THEM.
ALSO ATTENDED A ZOOM MEETING FROM THE CANNABIS REGULATORY AGENCY IN MUNICIPAL SUMMIT.
ALMOST 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT ZOOM FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAD IN REGARDS TO LAWS, RULES, FINANCIAL REPORTING, OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE BEING REPORTING ACCURATELY OR NOT.
I THINK I LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS [LAUGHTER] THAN WHEN I WENT TO THAT.
ALSO WE HAD, THE POST-ELECTION AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED ON JANUARY 27TH, WE ARE WAITING THE FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS.
WHEN WE GET THOSE, WE WILL REPORT THOSE.
WE ALSO HAD A TEST SOME OF OUR ADJUDICATION SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE ADJUDICATOR IS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED AND REPORTING ACCURATELY SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT NEWS.
THEN FINALLY JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THERE'S A NEW RESTAURANT, VALLEY WINGS IN JOLLY ROAD AND OKEMOS AND THE SAME STRIP AS KEN KUHN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] KEN KUHN GRILL.
>> KEN KUHN GRILL FROM THE SAME ANJALI.
IT SEEMS TO BE SUPER POPULAR. THAT PLACE WAS PACKED.
PRESIDENT'S DAY IS FEBRUARY 20TH, SO TOWNSHIP OFFICES WILL BE CLOSE TO AN OBSERVANCE OF THAT.
THEN ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH AT 11:00 AM WE'LL BE SWEARING IN SOME FIREFIGHTERS SO THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND. THAT'S MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO TREASURER DESCHAINE'S REPORT THAT I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 2ND AND MARCH IS WOMEN IN BUSINESS MONTH.
THEY'RE HAVING LITTLE PROGRAM ON MARCH 10TH FOR US WOMEN IN BUSINESS TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE DO-IT-YOURSELF DRYWALL SERIES AND IT'LL BE SOMETHING INTERESTING FOR WOMEN TO ATTEND AND ALSO WORKING ON A SMALL BUSINESS RECOGNITION AND DIMENSIONAL PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO REPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
>> [NOISE] WELL, I'VE BEEN BUSY AS WELL.
ON THE 1ST OF FEBRUARY, I JOINED STAFF FOR A MEETING WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM 2023.
THERE WERE SOME PLEASANT RECEIVED NEWS IN THAT RESPECT.
I ALSO ATTENDED, I BELIEVE ON THE 2ND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS PROGRAM LED BY CAPTAIN GRILLO.
I WOULD SAY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, TO CHECK THE WEBSITE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU WILL FIND THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE HELD, I BELIEVE QUARTERLY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REVIEW THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THEIR DEPARTMENT AND GET ADVICE, LEARN NEW INFORMATION ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN OUR AREA.
THE LAST MEETING HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE DISPATCHERS AT 911 AND HAD OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN KEEP UP WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THEM IN THE AREA AND IN THE REGION.
[00:55:04]
I DID AS TRUSTEE WISINSKI MENTIONED, ATTENDED THE DEI TASKFORCE MEETING.ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, WE ATTENDED THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING.
LIKE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE, FOR SOME REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM HERE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT CERTAINLY IN THAT GROUP, LIKE MANY OTHERS, OUR RESIDENTS ARE ANXIOUS AND ANTICIPATING THE MARCH 7 MEETING FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AND DOWNTOWN OAKLAND.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
>> THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
NO DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSE, NO. THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 9,
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS OUR USUAL COMMUNICATIONS MINUTES OF OUR JANUARY 24 REGULAR BOARD MEETING, THE MANAGERS BILLS.
THERE'S ALSO A I HAD INDEED REQUIRE 2022 PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT MADE A PART OF OUR AGENDA, AND I BELIEVE WE MERELY ACCEPT THAT.
ITEM E IS RATIFICATION OF NEW FULL-TIME IN EMT AND FIREFIGHTER APPOINTMENTS, AS MENTIONED BY GUTHRIE.
ITEM F IS THE CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSE FOR THE 501C YOU'VE GOT THIS PROJECT.
ITEM G IS A REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY THE 21ST FOR THE HAS THIS VILLAGE SQUARE COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION ACT EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE.
THEY'RE ASKING US FOR PERMISSION TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023.
ITEM H IS THE TREASURY'S INVESTMENT REPORT, FOURTH-QUARTER 2022. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION ON THIS, I'D LIKE TO ASK ABOUT ITEM H, WHICH IS THE TREASURE'S INVESTMENT REPORT.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EARNINGS.
TREASURER DESCHAINE, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?
>> I'D BE GLAD TO. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WILSON.
YEAH, WE ARE REACHED $781,000 IN INVESTMENT EARNINGS LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS UP 145% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS IS GREAT NEWS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, ALLOWS US TO PAY FOR MORE ROADS WHATEVER WE COME UP SHORT IN OTHER AREAS.
IT'S REALLY THREE REASONS FOR THAT.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE FED, THE FEDERAL RESERVE, WHICH HAS RAISED INTEREST RATES FROM THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT A YEAR AGO TO 7.75%.
WE ALL KNOW THE REASON THEY'RE DOING THAT IS THEY'RE TRYING TO TAMP DOWN INFLATION.
THE WAY TO REDUCE DEMAND, SLOW THE ECONOMY DOWN AND PUSH BACK INFLATION IS TO RAISE INTEREST RATES.
WE HAVE VERY HIGH INTEREST RATE.
THAT'S NOT GREAT FOR HOME BUILDERS RIGHT NOW OR CAR DEALERS BECAUSE CONSUMERS ARE PAYING HIGHER RATES AND THEY'RE HAVING A LONG TIME.
BUT WE ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THOSE HIGHER RATES.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'VE MOVED A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF OUR TOWNSHIPS RESERVE FUNDS FROM NON-FIXED OR LIQUID TO FIXED INVESTMENTS.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 72 OF YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE WHERE IT'S 74% OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE NOW IN FIXED INVESTMENTS.
THE REASON I'M DONE THAT IS WE'VE HAD HIGH RATES BEFORE AND HIGH RETURNS ON OUR RESERVES AND THEN THE ECONOMY COMES BACK OR THE ECONOMY, THE RATES FALL BACK DOWN AND OUR REVENUE FALLS WITH IT.
I'M TRYING TO LEVEL THIS OUT SO THAT WE CAN CONSISTENTLY COUNT ON A MUCH HIGHER RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENTS.
THESE AREN'T INVESTMENTS IN EQUITIES OR STOCKS, THESE ARE INVESTMENTS IN CDS, MONEY MARKET, AND TREASURIES, THE MOST SAFE INVESTMENTS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE NOT PLAYING THE MARKET WITH THIS MONEY; THIS IS VERY SAFE MONEY.
THE THIRD REASON WE'VE GOT THIS HIGHER RETURN, I LOOK BACK,
[01:00:01]
I THINK IT'S BEEN AT LEAST SINCE 2008 THAT WE'VE HAD THIS RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENTS IS THE EXCELLENT FINANCIAL SHAPE OF THE TOWNSHIP.THAT'S DUE TO STAFF AND MANAGER WALSH.
WE WELL KNOW THAT HE KEEPS IT VERY TIGHT CONTROL OVER THE BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES.
IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT THIS IS HIS 10TH YEAR AND OUR RESERVES AND OUR PRE FUNDING AND MAJOR PROJECTS IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IT'S BEEN IN RECENT HISTORY.
THOSE 3 THINGS TOGETHER HAVE GIVEN US GREAT RETURNS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> SUPERVISOR, I MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
WE NEED A ROLL CALL BY MR. LEMESTER.
>> WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 12.
[12.A. Set a Date for Study Session-February 28, 2023]
ACTION ITEMS. 12A IS SET A DATE FOR A STUDY SESSION.THE SUGGESTED DATE IS FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023.
TRUSTEE WILSON, MOVE TO APPROVE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD STUDY SESSION ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023 AT 6:00 PM, IN THE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE TOWN HALL ROOM.
>> TRUSTEE WILSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY PENDING COMMENTS.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTICULAR MOTION IS THAT WE CAN STUDY OUR SIGN ORDINANCE.
THE SIGN ORDINANCE CAME BEFORE US ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO.
WE WERE PRETTY OVERWHELMED WITH THE CHANGES BECAUSE IT'S A TOTAL REVAMP OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WE ALL AGREE THAT IT NEEDED FURTHER STUDIES, SO THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE.
>> I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH SUPERVISOR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE SIGN ORDINANCE IS ALL THAT WE INTEND TO TAKE UP AT THIS STUDY SESSION.
PACKER I NOTED HAD INFORMATION ON THE REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITY DESIGNATION, AND IT'S MY GUESS THAT THE STAFF MAY NOT BE PREPARED YET TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD FROM THAT LAST MEETING BY FEBRUARY 28.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SAY THAT OR NOT, BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE IT JUST RELATING TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE SINCE THERE SEEM TO BE PLENTY OF MATERIAL FROM THAT CHANGE ALONE.
>> THAT THE AGENDA IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
BUT TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, WE WILL BE READY TO DISCUSS BOTH IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
THE REASON WE SUGGESTED BOTH OR PUT THAT ON THERE WAS FROM THAT MEETING THAT NIGHT THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION OF BOARD IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE.
BUT TO THE TRUSTEE, 100 POINT, THE SIGN ORDINANCE COULD AND PROBABLY WILL TAKE UP THE ENTIRE EVENING, SO IT'S UP TO YOU.
JUST LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS AND WE WILL FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION.
>> FURTHER COMMENTS MR. DESCHAINE.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF KEEPING IT TO ONE TOPIC.
WE'VE DONE STUDY SESSIONS IN THE PAST AND IF WE'VE GOT ONE TOPIC, WE TEND TO DRILL DOWN OR REALLY STUDY THAT WELL, IF YOU HAVE A SECOND TOPIC IS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND, LIKE YOU NEED TO KEEP THIS SHORT TO GET TO THE SECOND TOPIC.
I THINK THE RRC RECERTIFICATION, IF WE CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE, COULD EASILY TAKE UP ITS OWN STUDY SESSION THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN A MAJOR WAY AND IT'S WORTH CERTAINLY A LOT OF BOARD TIME TO DISCUSS THAT IN WHATEVER FORMAT IT IS, SO I WOULD SUPPORT TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON'S NOTION THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THIS JUST TO THE SIGN OR THIS DISCUSSION.
IT'S A HUGE ORDINANCE AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE TOWNSHIP IN COUNTLESS WAYS.
WE'LL NEED THOSE TWO HOURS THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR. THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU HAVE A HAND. YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOU HAND UP.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, MR. WALSH.
THIS IS A STUDY SESSION THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR THE 28TH, WHICH IS A REGULAR BOARD MEETING DAY.
THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD MEETING DAY.
>> OKAY. NO, SO I PRESUME I NEED A MOTION.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY MOTION FOR YOU?
[01:05:01]
>> THE MASTER, YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT, RIGHT?
>> THE BIG QUESTION IS TO PUT THE STUDY SESSION ON FEBRUARY THE 28 AT SIX O'CLOCK.
>> FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSE NO. THE CHAIR VOTES YES AND THE MOTION PASSES.
ITEM 12B IS A RESOLUTION IN MEMORY IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
[12.B. Resolution Commemorating Black History Month]
THE MEMO IS IN YOUR PACKET, IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS MOTION.>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ONE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WHERE IT SAYS, WHEREAS MILTON L. SCALES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN 2012.
I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THAT HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 2023.
I JUST HAVE A FRIENDLY ADDITION TO ADD TO THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOLUTION.
>> YEAH. JUST INFORMATION ONLY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO HIS TOTALITY OF SERVICE.
HE SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION PRIOR TO BECOMING A TRUSTEE IN 2012, SO HE'S PLANNING COMMISSIONER TWICE IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT YEARS IN FRONT OF ME OF WHEN HE WAS A TRUSTEE PRIOR TO THAT.
>> RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE HIS PLANNING COMMISSION SERVICE, AND SUPERVISOR JACKSON SERVICE AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION YES.
>> SUPPORTED BY MR. DESCHAINE.
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSE NO, AND WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS WORTH READING.
IF THE CLERK WHO MADE THE MOTION WILL BE WILLING TO READ IT [LAUGHTER], I THINK THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT.
IF NOT, I'LL BE GLAD TO READ IT.
>> SORRY. I'VE NEVER READ A RESUME IF I STARTED HERE AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD [INAUDIBLE] WHEREAS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES BENEFIT FROM THE INCLUSION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO US HISTORY AND WHEREAS IN FEBRUARY, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK HISTORY TO TOWNSHIP HISTORY, MICHIGAN HISTORY, AND US HISTORY.
WHEREAS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ENCOURAGES LEARNING FROM THE PAST IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS AFRICAN AMERICANS ENGAGED AND SERVE THE UNITED STATES AT ALL LEVELS OF AMERICAN LIFE INCLUDING GOVERNMENT, MILITARY, ACADEMIA, AND INDUSTRY AND WHEREAS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES AND COMMEMORATES THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, AND RESILIENCE AND WHEREAS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, GILBERT SHERMAN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, APPOINTED TOWNSHIP TREASURER IN 1999.
IN 2000, GILBERT SHERMAN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF TREASURE AND THUS FOR A TOWNSHIP BOARD SEAT AND WHERE'S MILTON L. SCALES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN 2012.
HE SERVED FROM 2012-2016 AND WHEREAS SINCE 2015, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS ADOPTED A RECURRING COMMITMENT TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF TOWNSHIP FUNCTION AND SPECIFICALLY IN ITS BOARD GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND WHEREAS IN NOVEMBER 2016, PATRICIA HERRING JACKSON BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AS A TRUSTEE AND WHEREAS IN 2021, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECLARED JUNETEENTH A NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, A FEDERAL HOLIDAY FOR US ALL AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BEGAN HOSTING COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE HOLIDAY AND IT'S IMPORTANCE TO HONOR THE TRUE END OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA.
WHEREAS IN FEBRUARY 2022, PATRICIA HERRING JACKSON WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE APPOINTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AS SUPERVISOR, AND IN NOVEMBER 2022,
[01:10:02]
SHE WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR.NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMEMORATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO STRUGGLED WITH ADVERSITY AND TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS AMENDED, CORRECT?
>> NAMASTE, AS A RESOLUTION, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE?
>> YOU CAN DO A VOICE VOTE AS WELL.
[OVERLAPPING] WHICHEVER YOU LIKE.
>> WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE THEN.
[LAUGHTER] ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> FOR NO? THE CHAIR VOTES YES, AND THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
[12.C. Board and Commission Appointments]
YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO VACANCIES TO FILL, ONE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE OTHER ON THE BOARD-SUPPORTED REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CAT.>> SUPERVISOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF GRAHAM DITRIX THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR A TERM ENDING 12/31/'25.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI, MR. HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM SUPERVISOR. I THINK GRAHAM IS AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR THIS COMMISSION VACANCY.
HE PREVIOUSLY WAS A CANDIDATE FOR THE 13TH COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE A PASSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
I THINK HE'LL BE A PERFECT FIT.
>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED AND HAPPY THAT WE HAVE OUR RESIDENTS SERVING ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
>> THANK YOU. FURTHER COMMENTS? OUR FAVOR THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF GRAHAM DITRIX TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR A TERM ENDING 12/31/2025, PLEASE SAY YES?
>> FOR NO? CHAIR VOTES YES, AND MR. DIETRICH HAS BEEN APPOINTED OR APPROVED FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
>> YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO READ THAT MOTION.
>> MOVE THAT PHYLLIS VAUGHN BE APPROVED AS REPRESENTED TO THE CAT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO FILL A VACANCY FOR THE TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2025.
>> SUPPORTED BY MISS GEORGIA DESHANK. TRUSTEE WILSON.
SHE'S A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER AT GRAY JAKERS.
SHE'S ALSO A GOOD USER OF THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM, AND NOTES ARE QUITE WELL.
I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO ADD HER AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CANADA.
>> MS. VAUGHN HAS ALSO SERVED THE BREAKDOWN OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND TRUSTEE WILSON POINTED OUT AS A SUPERUSER OF CANADA.
SHE'S ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT RELIES ALMOST ENTIRELY ON CAMERA FOR TRANSPORTATION DEATON, AND SHE'LL BE A GOOD ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THAT USE CAD OF THE MOST ON THE BOARD.
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS APPOINTMENT HAS COME TO BE BECAUSE OF THE UNTIMELY PASSING A ROBIN LEWIS WHO PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER.
WE OWN THIS ROBIN GREATLY AND I BELIEVE THAT FILLS TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF FILLING THE SHOES THAT ROBIN SERVE ON THAT BOARD FOR TWO YEARS.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS TO APPOINT PHYLLIS VAUGHN AS A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2025.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES?
>> FOR NO? CHAIR VOTES YES, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 13 ON OUR AGENDA.
[13.A. Ordinance 2023-01 – Rezone 1642 Lake Court – RB to RCC, with a Conditional Rezoning Agreement]
THE 13 A IS ORDINANCE 2023-01 READS ON 1642 LAKE COURT, FROM ZONING CATEGORY OF RB TO RCC WITH A CONDITIONAL REZONING AGREEMENT.[01:15:01]
>> SUPERVISE JACKSON, THANK YOU.
THE REQUESTS IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
APPARENTLY, I WAS TALKING TO SAM TOO MUCH.
REZONE THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE WEST OF CHEESY DS, WHICH ARE ON THE SCREEN HERE.
I'M GOING TO ZOOM OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT SO YOU CAN SEE THE BROADER CONTEXT.
THIS IS LAKE LANSING RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN.
LAKE CORE IS ACTUALLY A SMALL DIRT ROAD LOCATED JUST TO THE SOUTH OF CHEESY WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE.
LAKE LANSING ITSELF WOULD BE JUST TO THE NORTH AND EAST HERE.
THE APPLICANTS HAVE PURCHASED THIS IS AN OLD AERIAL PHOTO BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SHOWS THE FIVE HOUSES THEY'VE PURCHASED THE ENTIRETY OF THIS LAND, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY 11 SEPARATE PARCELS THAT WERE ALL PREDATED OR ORDINANCE, BUT THEORETICALLY, COULD ALL BE BUILT ON BECAUSE THEY WERE VALID PARCELS AT THE TIME OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS ALSO A SPLIT ZONE.
I SHOULD POINT OUT THESE AREA ADJACENT TO CHEESY, DS IS ZONED, C1 COMMERCIAL, THE REMAINDER IS ZONED RB, ONE-FAMILY, HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
THE REQUESTS IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO REZONE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPERTY TO RCC, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, WITH A LIMITATION OF NO MORE THAN 12 UNITS TO BE BUILT ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT DOING A SERIES OF DUPLEXES ON THE PROPERTY.
OBVIOUSLY, STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS.
ALL WE'RE AT AT THIS POINT IS THE CONDITIONAL REZONING REQUEST TO LIMIT IT TO 12.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID REVIEW THIS, HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER, AND DID VOTE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RAYS.
NO MAJOR CONCERNS. LARGELY THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKED AT THIS AS A REASON AS AN INFILL OPPORTUNITY, OBVIOUSLY, GIVEN THAT IT'S OLD OR HOUSING THAT IS CERTAINLY OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
THAT IS ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL AND HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH.
IT IS A BIT OF A TRANSITIONAL PROPERTY, BUT IT'S A GOOD REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT IS NEAR COMMERCIAL, IT IS NEAR RECREATION, IS NEAR TRANSIT LINES.
THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE IN-FIELD POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE REZONING WOULD ALLOW FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTIES IN CONFORMANCE WITH OUR ORDINANCE.
WHEREAS NONE OF THE PREVIOUS PROPERTIES, THE STANDARDS AS MODERATE STANDARDS OF THE ZONING CODE, AND THE REASONING IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DENSER THAN WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, GIVEN THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING 12 UNITS AND THERE WERE 11 LOTS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT ON.
THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE AS WELL TO SPEAK FURTHER TO THE APPLICATION.
>> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> I NOTED MR. SMITH, THE ACTRESS THAT CITED IS 1642.
>> SIXTEEN FORTY TWO IS THE NEW ADDRESS OF THE PARCEL THAT WAS CREATED.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY 11 PARCELS.
THROUGH SOME COMPLICATED MACHINATIONS OF THE SOIL EROSION ENABLING LEGISLATION, THEY HAD TO COMBINE THEM ALL UP INTO ONE PARCEL BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SERVERLESS AND PERMIT TO START DEMOLITION.
ONCE THEY GOT A NEW PARCEL, I GOT A NEW ADDRESS AS WELL.
THAT IS THE ADDRESS YOU FIND, YOU WILL NOT FIND 1642 ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THIS REPORT.
>> THAT'S WHAT TROUBLED ME. THANK YOU.
>> THIS REDEVELOPMENT, I THINK, IS VERY WELCOMED BY THE NEIGHBORS.
HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORS ON THIS REDEVELOPMENT?
>> OFFICIALLY, THE NEIGHBOR IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT.
WE'RE GLAD TO SEE SOMETHING DONE WITH ALICE.
I UNOFFICIALLY, MY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE HAPPY TO SEE SOMETHING DONE IN THE HOUSE AS WELL.
>> IF YOU WALK THAT STREET ANYTIME IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, YOU WOULD FIND SOME OF THE MOST DECREPIT HOUSING IN THE TOWNSHIPS.
THIS IS REALLY EXCELLENT THAT THIS IS BEING REDEVELOPED IN THIS WAY.
DO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? MAYBE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT MARKET SEGMENT THIS HOUSING WILL BE BUILT FOR?
>> WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THAT QUESTION, PLEASE?
>> WHAT IS YOUR TARGET MARKET FOR WHO YOU SEE RENTING FRONT UNDER THIS TALK AND THEIR PROPERTY? IN TERMS OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF HOUSING.
THE SALVAGE TOWNSHIP IT STARTS AT ABOUT 1,500 A MONTH AND GOES UP FROM THERE.
I'M HOPING THIS IS SOMETHING MORE AFFORDABLE THAN THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME. BEFORE YOU ANSWER, COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. MY NAME IS DOMINIC LEE.
>> OUR ADDRESS IS 2419 SCIENCE, PARKWAY.
WE'RE PLANNING ON RENTING THE UNITS AT A MARKET RUN.
I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MARKET RENT WILL BE ONCE THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING.
[01:20:01]
BUT CURRENTLY, YOU NAILED ITS BETWEEN 1,600-2,200 IN THAT AREA.>> AS FAR AS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE LOCATION WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP, I'M EXCITED ABOUT STUFF TO DO AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE CAN SEE A WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS.
FROM AN OLDER CROWD THAT WAS LOOKING TO BE AROUND THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO TO ALSO YOUNGER CROWDS, THE MARINARA AGE GROUP.
>> IT'S A KITTY-CORNER FROM LAKE LANSING PARK SOUTH.
ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS TIME, DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER BUCK TALKED ABOUT CREATE AN AVENUE BETWEEN PATH ROAD AND MARSH ROAD LEADING TO THE PARK.
WE ALSO DID A STUDY BACK THEN, FINDING THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT HOUSING SHORTAGE IN THE HANDS THAT PORTION OF HAZARD.
YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HIT THE RIGHT MARKET HERE WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THESE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> YES. OTHER COMMENTS? TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. TO ME, THIS IS NOT AN OBJECTIONABLE RESULTING.
WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH ONE LESS THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS AND PROPERTIES THAT WE HAD.
THEORETICALLY, PRIOR TO THE CURRENT ZONING.
I THINK THAT IT IS POSITIVE TO REMOVE SOME BLIGHTED BUILDINGS AND REPLACE THEM WITH BETTER NEW DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THIS WILL ALSO HELP TO PROVIDE A TRANSITION FROM THE COMMERCIAL AREAS, AS DIRECTOR SCHMIDT POINTED OUT, TO THE MORE RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO THE WEST.
I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS REZONING WHEN IT COMES UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BRINGING SOME NEW INFORMATION.
>> OKAY. TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE]. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S FOR A POTENTIAL DEVELOPERS OR DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, BUT WHEN WE SAY 12 UNITS, YOU MENTIONED DUPLEXES, SO IS THAT.
>> SIXTY DUPLEXES TWO UNITS PER DUPLEX, THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION FOR THAT.
AGAIN, LIKE DIRECTOR SMITH SAID, IT'S INFILLING SOME DILAPIDATED AREAS ARE READY.
IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE WALKABILITY GIVEN THAT THE PARK IS RIGHT THERE.
YOU DO HAVE CHEESY DS YOU HAVE OTHER RESTAURANTS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THERE TOO.
I ALSO, IN SUPPORT OF THE REZONING.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR, DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, I NOTICED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL WERE ABOUT SETBACKS.
THESE UNITS WERE UNABLE TO MEET SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND OUR STAFFER BRIAN SHARKEY RESPONDED THAT IT COULD COME ACROSS AS A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?
>> YEAH, THERE ARE ENGINEERS STILL LOOKING INTO EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO COME THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
WHETHER IT'S A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER IT COMES THROUGH AS A STRAIGHT SITE PLAN, BUT ULTIMATELY, THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHICH DEVELOPMENT PATH THE ENGINEER DETERMINES IS THE BEST APPROACH FOR THEM.
>> WILL THE BE CHANGES TO THAT ROAD, THAT CORE?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON GIVEN THAT THEY DO CONTROL THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM'S NEXT STEPS IS GOING TO BE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND THE ROAD DEPARTMENT WITH A CONCEPT PLAN AND START WORKING THROUGH ISSUES THERE.
THAT WOULD BE OUR STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT.
>> CHEESY DS IS NOT PART OF THOSE.
>> AT THIS TIME CHEESY DS IS NOT PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> I HAVE COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> DO WE KNOW YET WHETHER THE ADDRESS WILL BE CUT OR.
>> FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IF THEY GO TO DUPLEXES, IT'S LIKELY THAT EACH UNIT WILL GET ITS OWN ADDRESS.
IT'LL PROBABLY BE SIX LAKE CORE ADDRESSES AND SIX LAKE LANSING ADDRESSES.
I TOO FIND THIS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR INFIELD DEVELOPMENT AND AN EXCITING IDEA FOR DOING THAT.
[01:25:06]
ONE DWELLING UNIT OR TWO DWELLING UNITS.>> A DUPLEX IS CONSIDERED TWO DWELLING UNITS BECAUSE THEY ARE SEPARATED AND IT'S TWO SEPARATE GROUPS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE BUILDING.
>> OKAY. WELL, I THINK THE INDIVIDUAL.
>> CAN I ASK JIM, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE EXIT SANTA LAKE LANSING ROAD, WILL THAT BE CONTROLLED WITH ONE CURB CUT?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE ROAD DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT IT'S CERTAINLY BE REDUCED FROM THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE I THINK THERE WAS THREE OR FOUR CURB CUTS.
>> WHETHER IT'S ONE OR TWO, IS TO BE DETERMINED.
I THINK THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE ARE GENERALLY IN FAVOR AND EXPECT TO SEE THIS NICE ZONING OR CUTS COME BACK TO [LAUGHTER]US SOON.
>> WE WILL HAVE IT DONE THE NEXT MEETING FOR INTRODUCTION.
>> ITEM 13B IS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE,
[13.B. Recreational Marihuana Ordinances]
AND THAT TOO WILL INVOLVE DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, EXPLAINING TO US WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SENT TO US?>> YES AND I HAVE BROUGHT IN THE BIG GUNS TONIGHT AS WELL.
IT'S ACTUALLY AN ATTORNEY, KUSHELS IS HERE.
THIS IS FUNCTIONALLY A THREE-PART PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING FOR DISCUSSION.
THE TOWNSHIP BOARDS DIRECTION WAS TO BEGIN WORKING ON A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION HERE, ONE OF THOSE PIECES IN THE STARTING OFF PIECE WAS THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT WAS REFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL AND HAS RECOMMENDED BACK TO THE BOARD POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE ZONING ORDINANCE, WOULD UTILIZE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WE HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE? WE DIDN'T WANT TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE.
IT WOULD REMOVE THE REFERENCES TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
IT WOULD REMOVE THE OVERLAY AREA ON TOWN ROAD AND THE OVERLAY ON DAWN AVENUE.
BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE LARGER, THE TOWN ROAD ONE WAS A DIFFICULT SITE TO DEVELOP AND TO BEGIN WITH DAWN AVENUE FROM THE DIRECTOR CLARK AND MY STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, WE DID NOT WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD A NEW USER POTENTIALLY COMING INTO OUR LIMITED INDUSTRIAL AREA AND DRIVING UP THE PRICE AND POTENTIALLY DRIVING OUT THE OTHER USERS.
WE HAD ALSO GOTTEN NO INTERESTS FOR IT BY ENLARGE.
IT WAS AN EASY REMOVAL, TWO OF THE OTHER OVERLAYS WERE REDUCED SLIGHTLY JUST TO PROPERLY ENGAGE WITH THE ACTUAL BUILDINGS ON THE GROUND.
THE EAST OR WEST GRAND RIVER SITE, OBVIOUSLY THE RED CEDAR MANNERED DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS RECENTLY BUILT IN RED CEDAR FLATS, THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE OVERLAY.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY IT'S A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING THERE.
WE ALSO REMOVED PROPERTIES FROM THE JOLLY AND ALCHEMIST OVERLAY BECAUSE AGAIN, NEW HOTEL, NEW CAR DEALERSHIP, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WERE BUILT THAT OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T EVER GOING TO CONVERT TO A DISPENSARY OPERATION.
LASTLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AND STAFF INCLUDED PROHIBITION ON DRIVE-THROUGH USES IN A 2000 FOOT BUFFER FROM ANY OTHER LICENSED FROM US.
THE NEXT PIECE IS THE SMALLEST OF THE PIECES AND THAT IS THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE MEDICAL LICENSING TO JUST BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THESE CHANGES.
REMOVING ALL OF THE OTHER USES THAT ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE IN THE ORDINANCE BASED ON THESE CHANGES.
THE BIG PIECE AND WHAT MR. KUSHELS HERE TO DISCUSS IS THE RECREATIONAL LICENSING PIECE, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM FOR THAT PART.
>> THANK YOU TIM. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
PIGGYBACKING AND STARTING RIGHT WHERE TIM LEFT OFF LOOKING AT THE DRAFT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A DEFINITION SECTION THAT UTILIZES THE RESERVED PORTION OF CHAPTER 40 TO JUST SET DEFINITIONS FOR THE GROUP AS A WHOLE.
TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE AND KEEP THINGS CONCISE.
THEN YOU FIRST OPERATIVE SECTION IS GOING TO COME ON PAGE 4.
WE'RE CREATING A NEW ARTICLE IN THAT CHAPTER WHICH WOULD THEN PERMIT AND REGULATE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
AT THE END OF THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE IS WHERE YOU SEE THE REPEAL OR SECTION WHICH REPEALS ARTICLE 3, WHICH IS THE CURRENT PROHIBITION ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
WE CREATE A NEW ARTICLE 4 AND THEN ESTABLISH.
[01:30:02]
WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE? MUNICIPALITIES HAVE AUTHORITY TO SET A LIMIT ON ESTABLISHMENTS AND ALSO TO OPT IN ESSENTIALLY THE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS THEY WANT TO SEE.WHAT WE'VE PROVIDED HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION OF RETAILERS AND GROWERS, WHICH IS MOSTLY OF THE INTERESTS WE SAW IN THE MEDICAL SIDE AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM APPLICANTS IN THE MEMO, YOU'LL ALSO SEE THAT NOTATION TO MICRO-BUSINESSES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THIS RECREATIONAL SIDE, NOT IN A MEDICAL CONTEXT.
HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER WITH THE BOARD.
THEN I'M GOING TO HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN HAPPY TO COME BACK TO DETAILS FOR YOU.
ON PAGE 5, JUST NOTING THAT THE PERMIT HERE WOULD BE AN ANNUAL PERMIT, SO I WOULD GO TO 1231, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN HOW WE HAVE IT NOW.
NO TRANSFERS CURRENTLY [NOISE] DRAFTED INTO THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON YOUR MEDICAL SIDE.
BUT WE'VE WORKED WITH CLIENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.
THERE'S A RANGE OF OPINIONS ON HOW AND WHETHER IF YOU HAVE ONE APPLICANT WAS AWARDED A PERMANENT, THEY WANT TO BRING IN AN INVESTOR OR SOMETHING, HOW THAT TRANSFER WOULD COME INTO PLAY.
WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, BUT AT THIS LEVEL, WE DIDN'T DRAFT IN LANGUAGE.
HAPPY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ON THOSE PROVISIONS.
MOVING ON TO PAGE 6, THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
THE ACTUAL APPLICATION CONTENTS THEMSELVES, ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME TO WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MEDICAL ORDINANCE, BUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS IN THE MEDICAL.
THAT'S DRIVEN BY STATE LAW BECAUSE WE UTILIZE THE LOTTERY BEFORE FORWARDING THE MEDICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE MEDICAL PERMITS.
YOU CANNOT USE A LOTTERY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN A RECREATIONAL CONTEXT.
AGAIN, THE APPLICATIONS STILL COME TO THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS.
WE'VE LEFT IT IN THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE LOCATION, BUT THEN THIS BOARD WOULD OPEN APPLICATION WINDOWS.
WHEN THE TOWNSHIP IS READY TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS, RATHER THAN HAVING A WINDOW THAT OPENS EVERY YEAR, THIS BOARD WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THAT WINDOW AND ACCEPT APPLICATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE TO PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS, WHICH IS ALSO A SEPARATE DOCUMENT IN THIS DRAFT THAT THIS BOARD WOULD CREATE.
IT WOULDN'T BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENT AND THAT WOULD GUIDE HOW THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WOULD PROCESS THOSE APPLICATIONS AND ALSO THE CRITICAL COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS, HOW THE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE SCORED.
LOT OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS, THE VERY DETAILED WORK OF MOVING THROUGH THOSE APPLICATIONS WOULD BE CREATED BY THIS BOARD [NOISE] OUTSIDE THE ORDINANCE.
[NOISE] IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF BRINGING IN NEW CRITERIA OR JETTISON CRITERIA THAT'S NO LONGER RELEVANT [NOISE] OR NOT WORKING WHILE STILL GIVING THAT DIRECTION AND POLICY TO STAFF TO IMPLEMENT.
[NOISE] THEN LIKE I SAID, THE SAME APPLICATION CONTENTS SO IT'S VERY SIMILAR.
THERE WERE A FEW CHANGES THAT WE TOOK OUT FROM THE MEDICAL SIDE WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IN A COMPETITIVE REVIEW CONTEXT.
HOW THE BOARD RATES THE APPLICANTS, WHAT QUALITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY SHOULD OPERATE IN THIS TOWNSHIP OR ALL COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS.
A LOT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE COMING LATER OR SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINANCE.
THEN MOVING TO PAGE 9, APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATIONS DRAFTED TO HAVE THEN IF ONCE ARE SCORING, THE APPLICATIONS WOULD COME TO THIS BOARD AND HOW THAT SCORING HAPPENS, LIKE I MENTIONED, THAT'S ALL IN THE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES.
HOW MUCH STAFF DOES, HOW MUCH OF THIS BOARD DOES ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAN BE SET UP IN THOSE STANDARDS.
THEN PAGE 10 HAS YOUR COMPETITIVE REVIEW GUARDRAILS.
AGAIN, GO TO THE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS, BUT DOES NOTE THAT IT WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS TYPICALLY HOW WE'VE SEEN COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENT THEIR COMPETITIVE REVIEW, THAT WE'VE HAD SOME CASE LAW COME OUT ACTUALLY ON BOTH SIDES.
ONE COMMUNITY DID NOT USE A PUBLIC HEARING AND OTHER COMMUNITY DID HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE COURT OF APPEALS UPHELD BOTH OF THOSE PROCEDURES THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES USED.
DEPENDING ON HOW THE TOWNSHIP IMPLEMENTS THEM,
[01:35:03]
WE CAN TAILOR THE PROCEDURAL APPROACH TO MATCH THE POLICY GOALS OF THIS BOARD.THEN ON PAGE 11, WE HAVE AN APPEAL PROVISIONS.
IF THERE IS A CONCERN FROM AN APPLICANT FROM THAT INITIAL SCORING, WE HAVE AN INITIAL APPEAL HERE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TO HELP PROVIDE SOME EFFECTIVE QUICK REMEDY TO LOOK AT SOME OF IT VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO LITIGATION AND HOPEFULLY ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY AND KNOWS THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEARD BY THE BOARD.
THEN YOUR NEXT SECTION IS ON RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, WHICH THIS IS A BIT OF A DEPARTURE FROM THE MEDICAL CONTEXT.
WELL, NOT REALLY, BECAUSE IN THE MEDICAL CONTEXT YOU HAVE THE LOTTERY AWARDED AND THEN THEY JUST AUTOMATIC RENEWED BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOTTERY SELECTED.
BUT SINCE WE'RE NOT USING THE LOTTERY PIECE TO STILL MIRROR THAT APPROACH, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS VEST TO THE RENEWALS IN A STAFF PROCEDURES.
THAT'S HOW WE'VE CONTEMPLATED IT THAT IF I AM SELECTED IN COMPETITIVE REVIEW TO OPERATE A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, AND THEN I PUT MY BUILDING AND I GET IT OPEN AND THEN I COME IN FOR RENEWAL AND I SAY, HEY TEAM, I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING JUST THE WAY I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO IT LAST YEAR WHEN I HAD THAT GREAT APPLICATION.
WELL, THERE'S NO REASON TO DENY THAT RENEWAL BECAUSE I'M OPERATING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I SAID BEFORE AND I KEPT MY PROMISES TO PUT MY BUILDING UP AND OPENED MY DOORS.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO RENEW THAT APPLICANT.
THAT'S SOMETHING EASY THAT STAFF CAN DO.
BUT THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE 12, GOING THROUGH THAT ISSUANCE, IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY APPLICATION.
IF I COULDN'T COMPLETE SOME PROMISE OR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH HOW I'M RENEWING OR MAYBE I'M CHANGING SOME MATERIAL ASPECT OF MY APPLICATION, IT CONTEMPLATES A MAJOR MINOR AMENDMENTS, WHICH IS ALSO THE PROCEDURE WE USE WITH OUR SPECIAL USE PERMITS AND SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
AGAIN, WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS THAT WOULD HELP TEAM MAKE THE DECISION.
IS THIS A MAJOR AMENDMENT? IS THIS A MINOR AMENDMENT? KNOW WHAT MARKS DOING WITH HIS LOCATION HERE? IF IT'S IF THERE'S SOME MAJOR CHANGES, THEN PERHAPS WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD TO GET APPROVAL OF THAT RENEWAL.
AGAIN, THAT'S A STRUCTURE WE CONTEMPLATED HERE.
BUT AGAIN, VERY OPEN OF COURSE, TO YOUR COMMENTS ON HOW YOU WANT TO SEE THAT POLICY GOAL.
IT IS WORTH NOTING IF THIS BOARD WANTS TO SEE EVERY RENEWAL APPLICATION AND SEE THAT MATERIAL AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THE SAME, THEY'RE OPERATING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY SUBMITTED, [NOISE] YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT BE A BOARD DECISION TO RENEW OR NOT RENEW RATHER THAN UTILIZING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
AGAIN, NO TRANSFER APPLICATIONS, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT AGAIN.
THEN THE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS ARE VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN THE MEDICAL SIDE.
WE KNOW ONE QUESTION WE DID RECEIVE, I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT IT IS WE DO HAVE SIGN RESTRICTIONS LIMITING THE CONTENT OF WHAT THEY CAN SAY ON THOSE SIGNS YOU CAN'T SAY MARIJUANA, YOU CAN'T SAY CANNABIS, WHICH NORMALLY AS YOU WILL GO THROUGH IN YOUR STUDY SESSION, WE DON'T DO, GET AWAY FROM CONTENT.
BUT AGAIN, MARIJUANA IS VERY SPECIAL AND IT IS STILL PROHIBITED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND WE BELIEVE THERE ARE VERY GOOD REASONS TO LIMIT THAT ADVERTISING.
WE HAVEN'T REVISED THESE TYPES OF PROVISIONS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY CHALLENGES TO IT AT THIS TIME. WE THINK THAT'S GOOD.
THEN ALSO AGAIN, IMPLEMENTING THE NO DRIVE-THROUGH, NO CURBSIDE SERVICE, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THE STATE REGULATOR PERMITTED IN THEIR RULES.
BUT AGAIN, WE WANT THE DRAFT HERE WOULD HAVE A POLICY DECISION THAT THESE TRANSACTIONS SHOULD OCCUR WITHIN THE BUILDING AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY TRANSACTIONS OCCURRING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
THIS IS A DIFFERENCE FROM YOUR MEDICAL ORDINANCE, ALSO DRIVEN BY STATE LAW.
NO MORE VIOLATIONS TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS ARE LIMITED TO A CIVIL INFRACTION OF $500, RATHER THAN THE SCALED STEPPED, MULTI-TIERED FINE PROVISION WE HAVE ON THE MEDICAL SIDE.
THAT'S THE MOST WE CAN PUT IN THERE BY STATUTE AS A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.
BUT WE HAVE TWO ACTIONS THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE AGAINST SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY A BAD ACTOR.
WELL ONE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE STATE POTENTIALLY COMING INVOLVED AND WE'VE SEEN NOW THE CRA, THE CANNABIS REGULATORY AGENCY, USED TO BE THE MRA, THE MARIJUANA REGULATORY AGENCY.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY SUSPENDED A FEW STATE LICENSES AND SHUT DOWN A FEW OPERATORS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT IN YOUR BACK POCKET FOR ONE,
[01:40:02]
IF IT'S A REALLY BAD ACTOR.SECONDLY, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, EVERY DAY THAT A VIOLATION CONTINUES IF THERE'S SOME ONGOING PROBLEM, LET'S SAY THEY'RE DOING CURBSIDE SERVICE, WELL, WE CAN WRITE MULTIPLE TICKETS FOR THAT, AND $500 IS GOING TO ADD UP IF YOU'RE WRITING THEM EVERY DAY.
THEN SECONDLY, THERE'S DENIAL REVOCATION.
WE CAN DENY RENEWAL BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILURE TO OPERATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE OR IF IT'S EXTREMELY SERIOUS LIKE THIS DATE, WE COULD MOVE FOR REVOCATION PROCEEDINGS.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DIFFERENCE HERE AND THE REMEDY ENFORCEMENT, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN TO VEST THIS BOARD WAS SUFFICIENT TEETH TO ENFORCE WHAT IS IT VERY IMPORTANT REGULATORY ORDINANCE.
THEN THE REPEAL THERE AT THE END.
>> I JUST WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO WHERE WE'RE AT.
BECAUSE AS MR. CHRISTEL MENTIONED, THERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON, AND THE TRANSFER QUESTION OBVIOUSLY BEING ONE OF THEM.
THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY AND THESE LICENSES TEND TO BE TRANSFERRED AMONG QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS THAN I THINK PEOPLE ANTICIPATED.
HAVING A NO TRANSFER POLICY IS DIFFICULT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO WANT TO DISCUSS.
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RETAIL LICENSES.
THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO SEE IS SOMETHING THAT IN THE CURRENT DRAFT WE'VE LEFT BLANK.
FUNCTIONALLY RIGHT ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SIDE FROM A RETAIL PERSPECTIVE, THERE WOULD BE A FUNCTION OF MAXIMUM OF SIX LICENSES AVAILABLE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
RIGHT NOW, UNDER THE RECREATIONAL SIDE AND THE MEDICAL SIDE, THERE WILL BE FIVE OVERLY DISTRICTS IF THIS PROPOSAL MOVES FORWARD.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSES IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WILL WANT TO DISCUSS.
LASTLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE LAST PART OF THEIR DISCUSSION DID MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT TO INCLUDE POTENTIAL GROW OPERATION ON HAGGARD ON ROAD WHERE ONE IS THEORETICALLY PERMITTED NOW TO THE MEDICAL LICENSE.
STAFF HAS STRUCK ALL GROWS FROM THE ORDINANCE AT THIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS, DOES THE BOARD WISH TO PURSUE THAT? AS MR. CHRISTEL MENTIONED, THE MICRO-BUSINESS LICENSE OPTION ON THE RECREATIONAL SIDE IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE HAS CREATED A CLASS A MICRO-BUSINESS LICENSE THAT ALLOWS GROWING THEM UP TO 300 PLANTS AND SALES ON THE SAME PROPERTY.
THAT IS A VIABLE OPTION AND IS ON THE SMALL SIDE OF A GROW OPERATIONS.
IT TRIES TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE OF SOMEONE WHO'S TRYING TO DO, I GUESS LIKE A SEED TO TABLE TYPE THING.
[LAUGHTER] THOSE ARE REALLY THE THREE MAIN QUESTIONS ASIDE FROM THE BROADER POLICY QUESTIONS AND SPECIFICS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO GET INTO.
THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG QUESTIONS WE DO NEED FEEDBACK ON SO WE CAN FINALIZE THIS AND FINALIZE THE DRAFT TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WHILE YOU'VE GOT US BOTH HERE.
>> WE'LL START WITH GENERAL QUESTIONS AND THEN DEAL WITH THE SPECIFICS AS WE GO ALONG.
>> SORRY. I ALWAYS FORGET THAT IT CHANGES YOUR SCREEN AS WELL AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO GET DOWN TO THE OVERLAY MAP HERE.
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
>> WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO US DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS HERE.
>> ARE WE CONSIDERING HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION TO EVEN DIVE INTO THIS FURTHER?
>> WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED IT AS A BOARD YET BUT THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE OF, WELL, THIS IS A LOT TO TAKE IN AND DIGEST.
>> JUST ASKING, GEORGE WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> I WOULD BACK UP TRUSTEE SUNDLAND THAT WE'VE GOT THESE THREE NEW QUESTIONS OR THE TRANSFER LICENSES, MAXIMUM NUMBER RETAIL, AND THIS WHOLE NEW GROW OPERATIONS, WHICH WE NEVER REALLY ACTIVELY CONSIDERED BEFORE OUTSIDE OF INDUSTRIAL ZONE PLUS THE BROADER POLICY QUESTIONS.
I THINK THESE ARE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS, THE QUESTIONS THE BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO ASK AND ANSWER.
WELL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT A STUDY SESSION ON THESE TOPICS AND THE BROADER POLICY QUESTION WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN THIS.
WE'VE GOT ONE ALREADY PLANNED AND I WOULD THINK WE COULD FIND A TUESDAY IN MARCH
[01:45:06]
THAT THE BOARD IS NOT MEETING THAT BECAUSE I'M FOR FOCUS JUST ON THIS ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OR MORE.>> ON THE BOARD MEMBERS, TRUSTEE RICZENKI.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I APPRECIATE THE WORK SESSION TO, THIS IS A LOT.
I WONDER THOUGH THERE'S NOT ALL THAT MANY CHANGES OTHER THAN THE THREE QUESTIONS THAT DIRECTOR SMITH IS ASKING US TO LOOK AT.
I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HOW LONG DO WE WANT TO PROLONG THIS AND JUST CONSIDERING HOW LONG THE LAST PROCESS TOOK? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
BUT JUST GIVEN SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, JUST CONSIDERING THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS IMPLEMENTED IN THAT THE CURRENT AND OR POTENTIAL PERMIT HOLDERS CAN BEGIN OR RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THEY'VE MADE INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD AGREE WITH A STUDY SESSION.
I WAS NOT ON THE BOARD WHEN THIS DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK IN TIME.
IT HAD ZERO INTENTION OF PROLONGING IT.
I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS IS, JUST LIKE THE PUZZLE I MADE FOR THE SIGN ORDINANCE TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS STUDY SESSION AS WELL AND GIVE IT THE SAME CONSIDERATION.
I DON'T LIKE TO VOTE ON THINGS.
I'M NOT ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDING WHY DOES BEFORE ME AND WOULD LIKE SOME JUST A LOT LIKE TRUSTEE SIMONE SAID A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE MORE, HOW IT REGULATES SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IT'S NOBLE, SO YEAH, I WOULD APPRECIATE A STUDY SESSION AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I CONCUR WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE GROUP.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST THREE QUESTIONS.
THESE ARE THREE BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHY I WILL CONCUR WITH A STUDY SESSION TO FOCUS ON THIS.
WE CAN MAKE THAT STUDY SESSION FAIRLY QUICKLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE OUR BEST OPTION SO THAT ALL CONCERNS CAN BE MET.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. ON THE TOPIC OF STUDY SESSIONS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE.
WHILE ALSO, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS IN AN EFFICIENT WAY.
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS ISSUE AND THEY SPOKE BACK IN AUGUST AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS IN VARIOUS FORMATS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
I WASN'T ON THE BOARD WHEN MEDICAL PASSED, BUT IT WAS IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND SO WE SAW AT LEAST THE ZONING PORTION OF IT.
ONCE WE GET GOING, I KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S AREN'T DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK ON THIS.
A QUESTION THAT I HAVE PROCEDURALLY IS WE'RE INTRODUCING SEVERAL ORDINANCES HERE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS GO AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AT WHAT POINT WILL THERE BE A PUBLIC HEARING IN THAT PROCESS?
>> ON THE ZONING PIECE, THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS ALREADY BEEN HELD.
THAT WAS HELD AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL.
THAT IS UNDER STATE LAW, THAT IS WHERE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD.
>> THEN A PUBLIC HEARING PER SE, DOES NOT THEN NEED TO OCCUR.
>> NOT FOR THE NON-ZONING ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CRUSHING OF THE NEW ORDINANCE?
>> CORRECT. IT'S JUST YOUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
YOU HAVE THIS MEETING, THEN YOU'D HAVE AN INTRODUCTION MEETING AND AN ACTION MEETING, SO IT'S ALL THOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND SPACE ON THE AGENDA.
IF THIS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN DO THAT AND HAVE A SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR AGENDA WHERE PEOPLE COULD COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THAT OR DO THAT AT A STUDY SESSION.
THAT'S ALSO A PUBLIC MEETING EVEN THOUGH IT'S A STUDY SESSION.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
[01:50:03]
I WAS CURIOUS IF ONE WAS REQUIRED OF US.I ALSO THINK THAT SIMPLY BY PUTTING THIS ON OUR AGENDA, WE ARE OFFERING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT THIS.
I WONDER IF WHEN WE APPROVE THIS FOR INTRODUCTION IF WE'LL HAVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT.
FROM A SCHEDULING PERSPECTIVE, I WONDER IF WE SHOULD HAVE THIS UP FOR INTRODUCTION PERHAPS AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR THE BEATING AFTER, AND THEN HAVE A STUDY SESSION SO THAT WE CAN GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, DIVE INTO IT MORE DEEPLY, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO OUR FINAL DISCUSSION ON THIS, OUR FINAL ACTION ON IT WITH ALL OF THOSE PIECES IN PLACE.
THAT WAY WE AREN'T SLOWING THINGS DOWN TREMENDOUSLY, BUT WE ARE OFFERING BOTH THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND GIVING OURSELVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH STAFF AND THE ATTORNEYS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> I HATE TO BE A WET BLANKET, BUT TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE IT, WE DO NEED TO FILL IN THE BLANKS [OVERLAPPING] TO MAKE IT CORRECT INTRODUCTION.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO HAVE THE STUDY SESSION, THEN INTRODUCE IT.
>> MR. SMITH, WE ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF KEEPING IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM UNTIL WE'RE READY TO INTRODUCE IT WITHOUT A SEPARATE STUDY SESSION.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S CONTINUED AT SEVERAL MEETINGS OF HAVING IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
>> YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE THAT ABILITY IN SETTING THE AGENDA.
>> BUT I DO AGREE THAT A CONCENTRATED STUDY SECTION MIGHT BE USEFUL TO US ONCE WE HAVE BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND AND START MAKING OR DECIDING ON THE CHANGES WE WANT TO ADOPT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THEN THAT WE PUT IT BACK.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE MORE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
WE'VE CONTINUED TO PUT IT IN AS A DISCUSSION ITEM UNTIL WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY CHANGING IT AND MOVING IT FOR INTRODUCTION.
EVERYBODY FOLLOWING THAT? [LAUGHTER].
>> QUESTION CLARIFICATION SUPERVISOR.
YOU'RE SUGGESTING, KEEP IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE A STUDY SESSION?
>> WE COULD HAVE A STUDY SESSION ONCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND BEGUN TO SAY WHAT WE WANT.
THEN WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION TO JUST SOLIDIFY ALL THAT AND COMPLETE THE PROCESS BEFORE WE INTRODUCE IT FOR ADOPTION AND HAVE A VOTE ON THE ADOPTION.
>> FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE, SO THOSE WOULD HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY? YOU'RE THINKING LIKE THE DISCUSSION, IT STAYS ON THE [OVERLAPPING] AGENDA WORK STUDY SESSION.
>> WE COULD DECIDE IN THAT PROCESS WHEN WE READY FOR A STUDY SESSION. YES.
>> CAN I ASK A TURNSHIP QUESTION? THANK YOU. IF WE WERE TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION LIKE THE FIRST AVAILABLE TUESDAY OR WHATEVER IT IS IN MARCH, AND THEN AT THE NEXT TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, WE COULD HAVE INTRODUCTION, AND THEN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING COULD BE DISCUSSION, CORRECT?
>> YEAH. I THINK WHAT THE SUPERVISOR IS SUGGESTING, IF I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS DISCUSSION CORRECTLY, THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 21ST, YOU'D HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION, AND IT REALLY NAIL DOWN WHAT THE ISSUES THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN A CLOSED SESSION [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE HERE, AND YOU WANT TO GET TO HERE BEFORE YOU GO TO THE STUDY SESSION TO MAKE THE STUDY SESSION MORE USEFUL.
YES, THEN THE STUDY SESSION WOULD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THE 21ST, COULD HAPPEN WITHIN A WEEK TO 10 DAYS AFTER THAT, AND FROM THERE THEN IT WOULD GO TO INTRODUCTION.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE AT SCHEDULED TO HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP TOWARD THE END OF MARCH, ROUGHLY.
BUT ONE OTHER SUGGESTION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, AND I HATE TO THROW A CURVE BALL AND ALL OF THIS, BUT ONE THING YOU COULD ALSO CONSIDER, IT'S UP TO YOU, BUT MY THING IS JUST GIVING YOU IDEAS, AND YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.
YOU'VE GOT THE SIGN ISSUE THAT'S ONLY BEEN OUT HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, YOU HAVE THE MARIJUANA ISSUE THAT'S BEEN OUT HERE FOR A LONG TIME, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION ON THE 21ST, AND THEN HAVE YOUR STUDY SESSION ON THE 28TH ON THIS TOPIC IF YOU BELIEVE THIS IS THE TOPIC THAT'S RIGHT BY THE 28TH.
[01:55:02]
IF YOU WANT TO PUT THE SIGNS ON THE 28TH, THEN YOU WILL BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, YOU WOULD HAVE A STUDY SESSION FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.THE 21ST WOULD BE DISCUSSION DOWN YOUR ISSUES, AND ON THAT AGENDA WILL BE SETTING A DATE FOR YOUR STUDY SESSION, COMING UP WITH A TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE 21ST, AND SO THERE'LL PROBABLY BE A STUDY SESSION TWO WEEKS, I DON'T KNOW ACTUALLY, AND YOU HAVE A STUDY SESSION.
THE SECOND ONE WILL BE A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, AND THEN YOU'D GO TO INTRODUCTION IN 1ST MARCH, AND FOLLOW UP AT THE END OF MARCH.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YES. CAN THE TOWNSHIP THEN REGULARLY SCHEDULE TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING IN MARCH, THAT FIRST BOARD MEETING BE A STUDY SESSION? CAN IT BE WITHIN THAT BOARD MEETING?
>> THE HI QUESTION IS THE BOARD IS THE PREROGATIVE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANNA DO AND STAFF WILL FOLLOW YOUR DIRECTION.
TO GIVE YOU ADVICE IS THAT I WOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON THE 7TH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE UP THAT MEETING.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> BUT SETTING A DATE AND HAVING YOUR STUDY SESSION IN EARLY MARCH IS CERTAINLY DOABLE.
>> I THINK THE MANAGER HAS MADE AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF OUR STUDY SESSION THAT WE APPROVED THIS EVENING BEING THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ISSUE RATHER THAN THE SIGNS.
THE SIGNS HAS BEEN A LONGTIME COMING CERTAINLY, AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR SCHMIDT AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORKED ON TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST YEAR.
BUT IF THIS IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD, THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE UP, THEN I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH REPLACING THE SUBJECT TO YOU IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DECIDES.
>> BY THE WAY, MADAM SUPERVISOR DID NOT SPECIFY THE TOPIC.
>> ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST SAY WE'RE FLIPPING THAT OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TOO?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO DO THAT.
I THINK THE SUPERVISOR PROBABLY WOULD SET THE AGENDA FOR THE STUDY SESSION SIMILARLY TO AS YOU WOULD FOR THE BOARD MEETINGS.
>> I'M PERFECTLY WILLING TO LEAVE THAT IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS.
>> JUST TO REITERATE FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, IF THIS IS WHAT THE BOARD CHOOSES TO DO, SO EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE, FEBRUARY 21ST IS YOUR NEXT MEETING.
IT'LL BE ON FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.
THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY ON THE 28TH, YOU'LL HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON THAT ISSUE AND THEN YOU'LL BRING IT UP FOR WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH IT.
ON THEIR OWN, THEY COULD END UP ON THE TWO MEETINGS IN MARCH.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY EXPEDITING THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE OTHER SCHEDULE WAS THE TWO MEETINGS IN MARCH AS WELL.
THIS JUST PUTS IT ON EXACTLY WHAT MEETING DATES WE'RE GOING DISCUSS WHAT.
THE 20TH STUDY SESSION WILL BE ON THAT ISSUE, AND THEN THE TWO MEETINGS IN MARCH WOULD BE FOR THE PROCESS OF THAT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
>> I BELIEVE I'M GETTING A CONSENSUS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
OUR NEXT MEETING YOU HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION, WE WILL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS [LAUGHTER] THAT, AND FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE A STUDY SESSION SO THAT WE ME CLARIFY THAT.
AT THIS POINT, WE COULD BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION BEFORE CLOSING OUT THE NIGHT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] NO. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR A COUPLE OTHER BURNING QUESTIONS.
>> I'LL OFFER A COUPLE OF OPINIONS AND QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY IF YOU'VE WORKED ENTERTAINMENT.
THE THREE MAIN ISSUES, I DEFINITELY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSFERRING BECAUSE THAT IS SCENARIO THAT I DON'T PRETEND TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF.
WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER TWO, I'M CURIOUS AS TO, THIS IS PERHAPS FOR OUR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, HOW WOULD ALLOWING ONE GROW OPERATION IN ONE SPECIFIC OVERLAY NOT OPEN US UP TO A SLEW OF LAWSUITS FROM THE OTHER, HOWEVER MANY, IN THE OTHER OVERLAYS?
[02:00:02]
>> THERE'S TWO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION; THE FIRST IS ECONOMIC.
THERE SIMPLY WAS ZERO INTEREST FOR GROWERS, YOU HAD MEDICAL GROWERS AVAILABLE, YOU RECEIVED ZERO MEDICAL GROWER APPLICATIONS.
I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING SOMETHING THAT'S LOOKING TO BE DEVELOPED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP OR TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE MARIJUANA INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THEN SECONDLY, STATUTORILY, THE TOWNSHIP HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SET THE LOCATION, TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS.
THAT INCLUDES BOTH YOUR ZONING AUTHORITY AND THIS POLICE POWER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, AND IT WOULD SIMPLY BE IF YOU HAVE ONE GROW OR PERMANENT AVAILABLE AND YOU HAVE ONE ZONED AREA, AND ALL THE SUDDEN 10 PEOPLE GET CONTINGENT PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND SUBMIT GREAT APPLICATIONS, THEN YOU DO COMPETITIVE REVIEW FOR YOUR GROWER, AND IT FOLLOWS THE SAME PROCESS AS YOU WOULD FOR A RETAILER.
>> OKAY. I UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO DO THIS IN THE SAME WAY THAT A MICROBREWERY WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO BREW AND SELL IT AT THEIR OWN LOCATION.
EVEN IF WE HAVE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO DO SO, IT MAKES ME A LITTLE UNEASY, JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE IT FEELS DISCRIMINATORY EVEN IF IT ISN'T.
I BELIEVE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, THIS CAME FROM ONE OF THE APPLICANTS WHO ALREADY IS AN EXISTING MEDICAL PERMIT IN ONE OF THESE OVERLAY AREAS, IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> ROUGHLY. THEY CONTINUE TO BRING THE ISSUE UP AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AT THEIR FINAL DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC.
IT WAS DRIVEN THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT ON A MATTER.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WANT TO DO BUSINESS HERE AND THAT'S TERRIFIC, AND I WANT THEM TO DO BUSINESS HERE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD BE SHAPING OUR ORDINANCE AROUND ONE SPECIFIC APPLICANT AT ONE SPECIFIC POINT IN TIME.
WITH REGARD TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RETAIL LICENSES, WHICH WAS THE OTHER BROAD OPERATIVE QUESTION, I WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO AMEND THE OVERLAY MAP.
I THINK THAT THIS NUMBER IS A FINE NUMBER AFTER REMOVING THE TOWN ROAD AND THE DAWN AVENUE SECTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS OVERLAY MAP.
ONE THING I NOTED WAS THAT YOU INDICATED THAT THERE WAS, I THINK IT WAS OVERLAY 3, THAT YOU COULD THEORETICALLY FIT MORE THAN ONE ESTABLISHMENT IN THERE.
IS THAT JUST LIKE CORNER TO CORNER IF YOU WERE TO DO THE TWO OPPOSITE PARCELS THAT WOULD FIT OR HOWEVER?
>> IT IS SURPRISINGLY NOT JUST CORNER TO CORNER, BUT THE FACT THAT THE EXISTING MEDICAL LICENSEE IS AT THE FAR EASTERN END OF THAT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS ADDED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE OF THE MEDICAL DISCUSSION, IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THAT THEY'RE FAR ENOUGH TO THE EAST THAT YOU END UP.
IT'S NOT JUST OLD CHICAGO, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THEN ALONG MARSH AND GRAND RIVER.
I SAY NEWMAN, BUT I MEAN, IT'S TARGET, THAT COULD QUALIFY THEN EVEN WITH THE 2,000 FEET SEPARATION.
>> SURE. I THINK THE INTENT OF THE 2,000 FEET SEPARATION NOT TO DIVE INTO THE MINDS TOO MUCH OF ANYONE ELSE WAS SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ONE PER OVERLAY AREA.
WHAT IS THE DISTANCE REQUIRED THAT WOULD GET US TO THAT GOAL?
>> IF THE GOAL IS ONE PER OVERLAY, WE WOULD SIMPLY RECOMMEND STATING ONE PER OVERLAY.
>> WHY DID WE CHOOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY INSTEAD OF THAT?
>> BECAUSE THE ZONING ORDINANCE DOESN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY, AND SO THE 2,000 FEET CAME OUT OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, THAT WAS THE LIMITATION THAT YOU CAN DO IN THE ZONING ORDINANCES SEPARATION REQUIREMENT.
>> I SEE. FOR MY PERSONAL OPINION, I THINK ONE PER OVERLAY CERTAINLY SUFFICES FROM A RETAIL PERSPECTIVE.
THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION THERE.
NOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FLY SPIKY THINGS IF YOU DON'T MIND ME GETTING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF IT BRIEFLY.
I MENTIONED ONE OF THEM TO DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, WHICH WAS THERE WAS A POINT IN HERE THAT APPEAR TO BE INCONGRUOUS WITH THE ORDINANCE.
[02:05:02]
THE MEMO AT THE ORDINANCE WERE NOT IN ALIGNMENT, THAT INDICATED THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE INVOLVED IN RENEWALS, IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION FOR RENEWALS, IS THAT RIGHT?>> THAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THE TEXT.
BUT THE POINT IS WELL MADE AND THERE IS SOME TENSION THERE BECAUSE OF THAT POLICY DECISION HASN'T BEEN MADE, WHETHER THAT WANTS TO GO TO THE BOARD OR WHETHER THAT YOU WANT TO LEAVE THAT AS RENEWAL.
THERE'S A FEW PIECES OF TENSIONS STILL THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE TO GO THROUGH AND FLY SPEC VERY WELL ONCE HAVING CONFIRMATION OF THE POLICY DIRECTION.
THERE ARE A FEW PIECES LIKE THAT.
I WOULD REALLY CHECK THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE WE'LL GET IT SPECIFICALLY SET WITH THAT DIRECTION.
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF AN APPLICANT HAS GONE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS AND THE TOWNSHIP STAFF HAS DEEMED THE APPLICANT TO BE CONTINUING ON AND PERFORMING WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO BRING FIVE APPLICANTS BACK IN FRONT OF US EVERY YEAR TO HAVE THEIR PERMITS RENEWED.
THAT SEEMS A BIT EXCESSIVE TO ME.
THEN ON PAGE 12 OF THE ORDINANCE OF THE RENEWAL PROCEDURE, CAN YOU IDENTIFY MAJOR AND MINOR AMENDMENTS WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY? MINOR AMENDMENTS I SEE IN E2, THE DIRECTOR MAY GRANT FINAL APPROVAL TO THE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS WITH MINOR AMENDMENTS INITIATIVE PERMIT.
BUT IT DOES NOT SAY WHAT HAPPENS WITH RENEWABLES THAT HAVE UNDERGONE MAJOR AMENDMENTS.
>> THE INTENT IS THAT A MAJOR AMENDMENT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE PIECES THAT I THINK ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE FLUSHED OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW STANDARDS WHICH WILL COME AFTER THE ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE.
>> THEN UNDER THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW, WE WOULD SEE ALL THE APPLICANTS.
TALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WOULD WORK?
>> THAT CAN WORK IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS [LAUGHTER].
IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS YOU SET UP 10 FACTORS THAT GETS SCORED.
YOU DIRECT THE DIRECTOR TO SCORE THEM AND GIVE YOU SUMMARIES AND THEN YOU MAKE A DECISION, OR IT CAN BE AS COMPLEX AS EACH ONE OF YOU GOES THROUGH EVERY APPLICATION, SCORES THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
YOU WILL ALL TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR VISION OF THE COMMUNITY IS AND HOW THIS APPLICANT FITS IN THAT VISION.
WE GET AN AGGREGATE SCORE THAT THEN GETS RANKED OUT, AND THEN YOU GET A COMPETITIVE PIECE.
THEN YOU COULD DO SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE WHERE DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, HE DOES AN INITIAL SCORING AND REVIEW, SUBMITS THAT TO A SUBCOMMITTEE WHO MAKES A FINAL REVIEW AND RECOMMENDS A DECISION TO THIS BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THE HEAVY LIFTING GETS TAKEN CARE OF, GETS SPLIT IN HALF, NOT FULLY ADMINISTRATIVE BUT SUBCOMMITTEES AND NOT FULL BOARD, BUT THEN STILL HAVING A FULL BOARD CHECK.
WE'VE SEEN OR I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS BEING UTILIZED.
THOSE ARE WELL-KNOWN OR AT LEAST THOSE HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND NOT TO GET TOO CRAZY, BUT AS CREATIVE AS YOU CAN GET, I WILL WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE DESIRES OF THE BOARD. [LAUGHTER]
>> SURE. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO GET DONE.
>> TO PREPARE THIS SECONDARY STANDARDS AND POLICIES DOCUMENTS, THAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU REFERENCED.
JUST SO THAT, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS TURNING TERMS OF TIMELINE.
WE CAN HAVE A STUDY SESSION, INTRODUCE AND PASS AN ORDINANCE, BUT THEN THERE'S PRESUMABLY MONTHS WORTH OF WORK TO GENERATE THIS DOCUMENT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS NOWHERE.
THE POLICIES AND STANDARDS PUT IN A LOT OF BOARD DECISION-MAKING ON HOW WE WANT TO GO ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE MONTHS TO COME AFTER THAT.
>> YES. AGAIN, THE BOARD CAN DRIVE AND DIRECT THE TIMING OF THAT AND RESPOND TO THE FEEDBACK THAT IT RECEIVES.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR EXAMPLE, AS PART OF DISCUSSION ON THE 21ST, WE CAN GET STARTED ON A POLICY DOCUMENT.
BUT IF WE COULD GET YOU SOMETHING FOR THE 21ST TO AT LEAST HAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT.
IT COULD BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION SESSION ON THE 28TH.
[02:10:02]
WHETHER THAT DEVELOPS IN TANDEM WITH THE ORDINANCE AT THE SAME TIME AND YOU'RE DOING ALL THE WORK AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S POSSIBLE.WE'LL UTILIZE A LOT OF BANDWIDTH TO DO THAT.
ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN TAKE THE OTHER APPROACHES.
LET'S GET THE BLACK LETTER LAW AND THE ORDINANCE IN PLACE FIRST, FOCUS MY ENERGY THERE, AND THEN I'LL FOCUS MY ENERGY ON THE COMPETITIVE STANDARDS THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIT LONGER OF A PROCESS, BUT ALLOW YOU TO TO MANAGE YOUR BANDWIDTH AND THE OTHER POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE TOWNSHIP,
THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE TO ME IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN'T USE.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE IT READY TO GO AND DONE CONCURRENTLY.
WE'RE NOT SAYING OKAY, WE'VE GOT THE ODD MONTHS AND NOW WE GOT TO WAIT SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THAT.
THAT TO ME DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
I'VE TAKEN UP A LOT OF TIME [LAUGHTER] FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. YOU GOT ANY QUESTION OF LAWSUITS LIKELY TO COME OUT OF SAYING NO TO OTHER GROW OPERATIONS.
THE REASON WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR GROW OUT OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS WE RESTRICTED THAT TO INDUSTRIAL ZONES AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE OF THOSE OVERLAYS IN INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
THAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER AS TO WHY THERE WAS NO INTEREST AND GROW OPERATIONS BECAUSE THE OTHER SEX HAD NO INDUSTRIAL ZONING THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE GROWN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A MARKET ANSWER, BUT I TRUST YOU AND NIXON'S FEAR THAT IF WE CAN ALLOW IT FOR ONE, IT SEEMS UNFAIR, AND TWO, WE OPENED THE DOOR TO LAWSUITS.
ANECDOTALLY, I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS A VERY LITIGIOUS AREA OF REGULATION.
>> YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
>> ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO RESTRICT THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF BEING SUED WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO ME BECAUSE I'M GUESSING THAT ARE LEGAL FEES ALONE WILL CONSUME EVERY BIT OF LICENSING AND PROBABLY MUCH OF THE TAX REVENUE THAT WE GET FROM THIS IF OUR EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR TO OTHER FACILITIES.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A REVENUE GENERATOR.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY AND MANAGE OUR LOSSES IN THIS MATTER.
REGARDING THE OTHER EXCELLENT QUESTION THAT TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON BROUGHT UP ABOUT DEVELOPING THE POLICIES IN TANDEM WITH THE ORDINANCE.
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO CHANGE A TIRE ON A MOVING CAR.
WE SHOULD CREATE THE LAW, CREATE THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN FROM THERE, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOARD HAS DECIDED ON.
FROM THERE, WRITING THE POLICY WOULD FOLLOW.
IT SEEMS THAT COULD END UP DOING A LOT OF WORK MORE THAN ONCE IF THE BOARD CHANGED HIS MIND AND THIS ISSUE OR THAT ISSUE.
THIS IS A BIG CHANGE FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
WE NEED TO WRITE AND FOLLOW THE RIGHT STEPS FOR IT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, JUSTIN WILSON.
>> I'D LIKE TO CONCUR WITH THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ON THE ISSUES OF HAVING ONLY ONE CORE LICENSE AND SPECIFIC AREA.
WE SHOULD LET THAT GO AWAY WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA USAGE AND HAMBURG, ONE SINGLE APPROACH TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE RETAIL MARIJUANA IN THIS AREA.
I ALSO CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON ON ONE FACILITY PER OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH MAKES SENSE AND FROM A COMPETITIVE ASPECT, ALSO MAKES SENSE.
I SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN LAWSUITS, SO PERHAPS OUR ATTORNEY COULD HELP US IN A FUTURE DATE AND AVOIDING WHENEVER WE GET TO WRITING THE FINAL ORDINANCE, AVOIDING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MOST LITIGIOUS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AS CLEAN AND ORDINANCES WE CAN, AND THE MOST LEVEL NON-DISCRIMINATORY PLAYFIELD FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN PURSUING AN OPERATION SUCH AS THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT TRANSFERS?TIM, YOU SAID THEY'RE PROBLEMATIC.
IS THIS TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP?
MANY OF THESE GROUPS TAKE ON MINORITY PARTNERS AS THEY EVOLVE.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TOSSED AROUND A 12% TRANSFER AS A MAXIMUM IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, SO THAT A FULL TRANSFER COULDN'T HAPPEN FUNCTIONALLY FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE CURRENT MEDICAL ORDINANCE RESTRICTS OUT OF TOWNSHIP OWNERS FROM TRANSFERRING WITHIN 30 MONTHS.
BUT THEN AFTER THAT 30 MONTHS, THERE'S NO LANGUAGE OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD
[02:15:02]
THAT PIECE AND WE'LL NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.THAT CERTAINLY AGAIN, IT COULDN'T BE PART OF THE STANDARDS FOR COMPETITOR REVIEW IF WE TAKE THAT 30 MONTH TRANSFER LIMITATION THAT EXISTS ON THE MEDICAL SIDE FROM AN APPLICATION PERSPECTIVE AND SLIDE IT OVER TO A STANDARD OF FIVE POINTS IF YOU RESTRICT YOUR TRANSFERS FOR A PERIOD OF 30 MONTHS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
>> IT APPEARS IN THE ORDINANCE THE WAY YOU'RE PROPOSING IT IS NO TRANSFERS.
>> IT'S WRITTEN AS NO TRANSFER IS BECAUSE THAT IS FUNCTIONALLY WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT SECTION THAT SAYS IS NUMBER 10, WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF ODORS BECAUSE THAT IS ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO ME.
BUT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND YOU DO ADDRESS THIS IN HERE, SO IS THE THINGS ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CONCERN ABOUT CURBSIDE SERVICE.
>> THIS WAS AN ITEM IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS PRETTY UNIFIED IN THEIR REGARD THAT THEY DID NOT WANT BUSINESS TRANSACTING OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.
NO VEHICULAR, BECAUSE I THINK AT LEAST ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS HAD A SPECIFIC CONCERN WITH THE OTHER OPERATORS WERE FUNCTIONING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND SAW IT AS A POTENTIAL NEGATIVE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO HEAD OFF IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> I THINK YOU CAN ANALOGIZE TO ALCOHOL.
THAT WAS ALSO PART OF THE PUSH FOR THE STATEWIDE BALLOT, WAS TO REGULATE MARIHUANA, LIKE YOU REGULATE ALCOHOL.
WELL, YOU CAN'T BUY ALCOHOL AT A DRIVE-THROUGH.
YOU CAN'T BUY ALCOHOL IN THE PARKING LOT OF A LIQUOR STORE, YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THE LIQUOR STORE.
AGAIN, FOLLOWING THAT ANALOGY.
>> I CAN HAVE ALCOHOL DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE.
I CAN GO ON THE SHIPT APP AND HAVE A MINOR SHOPPER DELIVER ALCOHOL TO MY HOUSE.
WHEN I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER LAST YEAR, I WENT TO A MARIHUANA ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY GAVE CURBSIDE SERVICE.
THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE WHO POSSIBLY CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR CAR WHO'S NOT MOBILE.
WE'RE RESTRICTING IT FROM BEING DELIVERED AND WE'RE RESTRICTING IT FROM A DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW AND WE'RE RESTRICTING IT FROM CURBSIDE SERVICE.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF MOBILITY ISSUES, NOT BEING ABLE TO GO GET, FOR TRYING TO BRING THIS HERE TO THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GO OVER IT EASILY AND SAYING TO GET CURBSIDE SERVICE FOR MARIHUANA.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE A CURBSIDE SERVICE, AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO, I KNOW PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE].
THEY JUST HAVE STRUGGLES MOVING AROUND.
I WOULD RATHER SEE CURBSIDE SERVICE OR SOMETHING IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, IF THERE'S LAWSUITS WITH THEM, WHAT THE ISSUE IS ON HERE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD AN ISSUE WITH IN THAT REGARD.
>> NO LITIGATION ON THAT, POINT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THE ONE OTHER THING I CAN SAY IS IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING.
WE COULD LOOK AT WAYS TO PERMIT SOME, BUT NOT OTHERS.
CERTAINLY DELIVERY IS DISTINCT FROM THE CURBSIDE SERVICE.
IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE PERMIT CURBSIDE SERVICE, BUT NOT ALLOW DRIVE-THROUGHS, THEN WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO THE WEEDS.
I'D WANT TO GO LOOK AT THAT BEFORE I GAVE YOU ADVICE.
BUT I CAN SAY CERTAINLY, DELIVERY IS A DIFFERENT MECHANISM REGULATED DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE RULES AND IT COULD BE REGULATED DIFFERENTLY UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAN CURBSIDE SERVICE.
THERE CAN BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF HOW WE COULD APPROACH THAT ISSUE.
>> THEN HOW WOULD WE FROM THAT MEETING THAT I WAS OUT LAST MONDAY.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE ON IT TOO. I THINK I SAW YOU ON ZOOM.
>> THERE WAS DISCUSSION A BUNDLE AND TRUSTEE WILSON BROUGHT THIS UP IN REGARDS TO EMISSIONS AND HOW IT'S REGULATED.
THERE WAS DISCUSSION IN THAT ZOOM MEETING ABOUT WHAT ENTITIES, SAYING IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S BEING EMITTED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOMEONE ELSE IS SAYING IT'S A DIFFERENT,
[02:20:01]
HOW DO WE REALLY REGULATE THAT?>> THAT'S AN EASY ONE. THAT'S A STANDARD ZONING PRACTICE THAT GOES BACK SINCE THE EARLY 1900S, THAT IF THERE'S AN ODOR, NOISE, SMOKE.
ANY OF THOSE ISSUES FUNCTIONALLY VISIBLE AT THE EDGE OF PREMISES, WE CAN ISSUE TICKETS FOR THAT.
IF THERE IS A NOTICEABLE ODOR EMANATING FROM FRANKLY, ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP, WE CAN CITE THEM UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR A VIOLATION.
>> IT'S THE SAME KIND OF CODE VIOLATIONS.
>> YES. THEY'RE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER PROPERTY IN THAT REGARD.
>> THEN IN REGARDS TO TRANSFERS, I HATE TO GO BACK TO THOSE.
I KNOW WE HAVE LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFERS.
WHAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND MARIHUANA LICENSE TRANSFERS?
>> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THAT THIS IS AN UNSETTLED AREA OF LAW, IT HASN'T DEVELOPED THE WAY LIQUOR LICENSES HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE THE CRA DOES NOT PERMIT A STRAIGHT TRANSFER OF A STATE CRA LICENSE.
IF THEY DO, AND THEN THAT'S ACTUALLY AN ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT ON THE SIDE WITH A DIFFERENT STATE APPLICATIONS.
THE WAY THEY'RE APPROACHING THEIR STATE PERMITS SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY LIQUOR PERMITS ARE HANDLED AT THE STATE AND PSEUDO LOCAL LEVEL.
THEN ALSO THAT'S BEEN DRIVEN, AGAIN, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WAS SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT WHO, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS VERY DIFFICULT WORK OF A COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS WHICH IS VERY APPLICANTS SPECIFIC AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE TO JUST HAVE THEM TURN AROUND AND SELL THAT TO A THIRD PARTY INVESTOR WHO WAS NOT VETTED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
I THINK THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT FROM MUNICIPALITIES IN TERMS OF HOW THEY EVALUATE WHO'S OPERATING AND THEN WHAT TRANSFERRING POTENTIALLY DOES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP SCHEME.
>> LIQUOR LICENSE, THEY HAVE THAT LIQUOR LICENSE WITH THE STATE AND ITS HERE WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND THEN IF THEY TRANSFER THAT, IS THAT THROUGH THE STATE?
>> YES. THE STATE MICHIGAN LIQUOR COMMISSION TRANSFERS THE LICENSE.
TYPICALLY WE GET COURTESY, AT THIS POINT WE'RE AT A SITUATION WHERE WE GET COURTESY NOTIFICATION OF THE PENDING TRANSFER, BUT LOCAL INPUT ON TRANSFERS HAS BEEN SEVERELY CURTAILED IN RECENT YEARS.
>> CAN IT BE THAT SIMPLE? WAS MARIHUANA LICENSES ARE SIMPLER THAN THE PROCESS THAT I'VE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT EARLIER?
>> WE CAN LOOK INTO A POTENTIAL OPTION TO MIRROR THE CRAS TRANSFER PROCESS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THE STUDY SESSION, SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE TRANSFERABILITY OF LICENSORS CURBSIDE SERVICE.
I THINK THOSE ARE MY TWO BIGGEST CONCERNS WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE PACKET AND THEN I CONCUR WITH THE OTHER TRUSTEES.
I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL JUST ASK ONE THAT I NEED GOING HOME WITH SO THAT I CAN COME BACK WITH SOME BETTER INFORMATION.
WE TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE APPLICATION, LOTTERIES, NOT ALLOWABLE, COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.
THIS MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING WE'D WE KNOW TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE EXISTING MEDICAL PERMIT HOLDERS OR IS IT EXPECTED THAT THEY'LL JUST BE ABLE TO TRANSFER INTO RACK OR ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT ALL OF OUR EXISTING PERMIT HOLDERS TO ALSO COMPLY COMPETITIVELY?
>> THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY COMPETITIVELY.
>> BASED ON THE ORDINANCE OR JUST IS THERE OPTIONS FOR THAT AS WELL?
>> YES. THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY COMPETITIVELY.
HOW THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS EVALUATE AN APPLICANT'S HISTORY IN THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE LEFT TO THOSE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS, AND SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT WOULD NEED.
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED, COULD BE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
COULD MEAN CLOSER STUDY TO GAUGE THE LITIGATION RISK THAT POTENTIAL FACTORS MIGHT INCREASE.
>> LET ME ASK A QUESTION THAT'S KIND OF BUGGING ME.
[02:25:09]
IS THE PRESUMPTION THAT THE WHOLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA STRUCTURE IS GOING TO GO AWAY?ON A STATEWIDE BASIS OVER THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN PATIENTS BY ABOUT 25 PERCENT.
THE MARKET THERE IS SHRINKING.
BUT THE CAREGIVER ASPECT, WHICH IS WHAT WE INITIATED ALL THIS WIDTH AND IN 2008, IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND VERY STRONG AND SHOWED THAT IN SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THERE IS STILL STRONG SUPPORT FOR THAT, AND ALSO, I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT IS A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK I WILL GET.
HEY, I WAS ON THESE 15 MEDICATIONS THEN I GOT MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOMINALLY ON TO PHARMACEUTICALS BECAUSE MARIJUANA HELPS MANAGE MY PAIN AND INFLAMMATION, WHATEVER.
THERE IS STILL IN THEN THERE'S OTHER MEDICAL ASPECTS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN BUY THERE OF HER DIFFERENT FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT.
THERE IS STILL SOME MARKET THERE, BUT IT'S SHRINKING, BUT THEY'RE STILL SUPPORT FOR THAT.
BUT IT'S LOSING MOMENTUM AS WE MOVE INTO RECREATIONAL.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE SEEN DEVELOPERS A DESIRE TO UNIFY ALL THE ACTS, BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE.
IT'D BE GREAT IF IT COULD STREAMLINE DOWN TO ONE.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF PROCEDURAL ISSUES WITH THAT ABOUT LEGISLATIVE VOTES AND THE WAY ALL THESE THREE GOT PUT TOGETHER THAT ARE PRESENTING CHALLENGES.
THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED YET, BUT FOR EXAMPLE I THINK IT WAS COLORADO, THEY MENTIONED ON THAT CALL THEY ALSO HAD A MEDICAL THAN IRAQ AND EVENTUALLY THEY WERE ABLE TO COME IN, UNIFY THEIR SYSTEMS. YES, HAVING THEM ALL KIND OF COME TOGETHER MAY HAPPEN AT SOME POINT.
BUT I SUSPECT SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL USE RECOGNITION OF MARIJUANA WILL CONTINUE.
BUT AS WE'VE SEEN HERE LOCALLY AT THE TOWNSHIP, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR MEDICAL BECAUSE WE PASS THAT ORDINANCE.
>> NOBODY HAS OPENED A STORE FRONT AND WE'RE IN 2023.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION.
>> I ALWAYS ENVISIONED THE TWO COMING TOGETHER.
COULD WE IN OUR QUALIFYING ASSESSMENT REQUIRE OR AT LEAST ADVANTAGED BUSINESSES THAT HAD BOTH PERMITS?
>> I WOULD NOT AT THIS POINT RECOMMEND REQUIRING THEM TO HAVE BOTH BECAUSE OF THE WAY MEDICAL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN MERIDIAN.
I THINK THERE'S SOME PATHWAYS POTENTIALLY THERE, AND THAT GETS BACK TO MY RESPONSE TO TRUSTEE WISINSKI THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT AND HOW THAT GETS PUT INTO YOUR COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS, WOULD NEED CLOSE EVALUATION OF HOW ARE WE IMPACTING OUR LITIGATION TEMPERATURE AND OUR LITIGATION RISK.
>> FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TONIGHT? WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS ON OUR AGENDA AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>>WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. WE WILL BE BACK WITH SOME FOLLOW-UPS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> WE'VE COME TO ITEM 14, OUR AGENDA COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE BOARD AT THIS POINT? FORGOT WHERE IT WAS.
[LAUGHTER] SEEING THAT MOVE ON TO ITEM 50.
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBERCOMMENTS]
OTHER MATTERS BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.>> REAL QUICK, AND I MEANT TO MENTION THIS EARLIER.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK ON CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND THEN A CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PUSH THIS TOWNSHIP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO AS A BOARD TO SUPPORT THAT.
[02:30:03]
>> YOU'LL LET US NOW [LAUGHTER].
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT COMMENT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WE'VE SEEN THE AGGREGATED IMPACTS, THE NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD, AND WE APPRECIATE SEEING THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS AS WELL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THEN. ITEM 16 ON OUR AGENDA IS A CLOSE SESSION.
[16. CLOSED SESSION- Motion to go into a closed session for collective bargaining/union negotiations under MCL 15.268(1)(c). Successful entry into closed session will require a simple majority approval, though we still recommend a roll call vote. MCL 15.267(1).]
[BACKGROUND] AFTER WE CLOSE THE MEETING.>> I MOVE THAT WE GO INTO CLOSE SESSION FOR A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNION NEGOTIATION DISCUSSION UNDER MCL 152682. 2681C.
>> WE MOVE AND SUPPORT IT THAT WE GO INTO CLOSE SESSION FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> BEFORE WE START WE'LL TAKE FIVE [MUSIC].
WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 7, 2023 REGULAR MEETING FOR THE COUNCIL BOARD TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN.
JOIN ME IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THANK YOU. MR. LEMESTER CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT, ITEM 4 ON OUR AGENDA IS PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE FOUR. FIRST PRESENTING WILL BE INTRODUCED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> WE ARE DELIGHTED TONIGHT TO HAVE OUR NEWLY ELECTED 75TH DISTRICT HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE, PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU, HERE TO TALK ABOUT HER EFFORTS AS NEW MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ALSO AS CHAIR OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE.
PENELOPE IS BOTH A WIFE, MOTHER, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, ATTORNEY, FORMER SENIOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR MULTIPLE TERMS. SHE REPRESENTS THE NORTHERN PORTION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, NORTH OF GRAND RIVER AVENUE AND ALSO PORTIONS OF CLINTON COUNTY, AND WASHTENAW COUNTY UNDER THE NEWLY DRAWN DISTRICTS LAST YEAR.
REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU HAS ALREADY HELD AN OPEN HOUSE, INVITED LOCAL OFFICIALS TO COME AND BRING THEIR ISSUES BEFORE HER.
SEVERAL OF US ON THE BOARD TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HER OFFICE AND SHARE OUR LOCAL INTERESTS AND OUR ISSUES.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARTHA. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.
[02:35:02]
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE DEFINITELY A PRESENTATION REALLY PREPARED, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND LET YOU ALL [NOISE] KNOW THAT I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ISSUES IN THE STATE HOUSE.HASLETT IS A VERY LARGE PORTION OF MY DISTRICT, ALSO JUST EVERYTHING NORTH OF GRAND RIVER, [INAUDIBLE], IN THERE.
SO FAR WE'VE ONLY BEEN AT IT FOR A FEW WEEKS HERE, BUT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THINGS TO INTRODUCE AND WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING OUR WORKING CLASS AND FAMILIES RELIEF THAT THEY NEED SOME OF OUR SENIORS BY REPEALING PENSION TAX.
PERSONALLY, I AM CHAIRING THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE AND ALSO ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, AND THE HOUSING SUB-COMMITTEE.
I'M SURE THERE WE'LL BE A LOT OF OVERLAP THERE WITH SOME THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT BE WORKING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE HAS A LOT OF WORK ON THIS SESSION BECAUSE WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING PROPOSAL TO WHERE'S THE EARLY VOTING, THE PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER LIST AMONG SOME OTHER CHANGES.
WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION ALREADY.
THEN WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE COUNTY CLERKS AND A LOT MORE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED.
WE'VE HEARD REQUESTS TO FURTHER PROTECT OUR ELECTION WORKERS, WHICH WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON.
REALLY JUST A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT INCLUDE VOTE ACCESS AND JUST HELP OUR LOCAL CLERKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS AND MAKE ALL THE CHANGES THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WORK WITH THAT.
I ALSO REACHED OUT RECENTLY TO SEE WHAT SOME OF YOU ARE BUDGET PRIORITIES ARE.
I CAN ADVOCATE FOR JUST AS WELL AS JUST ANY POLICY CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AT A STATE LEVEL.
I'M HERE IN MY OFFICE [LAUGHTER] EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
PLEASE REACH OUT, MEET WITH ME, SEND ME YOUR IDEAS.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MARTHA WILSON AND FEEL ASHAMED ABOUT SOME THINGS YOU COULD USE ASSISTANCE WITH AND I'D BE HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH THE REST OF YOU ON WHAT WE CAN DO.
THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT I HAD PREPARED FOR TONIGHT.
BUT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND I'LL BRING MY BEST TO ADVOCATE FOR MERIDIAN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I HOPE THAT I CAN HEAR MORE FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE AND MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, COME VISIT ME IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.
THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE TSERNOGLOU.
BACK TO WORK. [LAUGHTER] [NOISE] 4B IS A INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING SIMAR PAWAR OUR NEW INGHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN 13TH DISTRICT.
I WISH I HAD KNOWN HOW MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.
SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
SHE IS A MOM AND A HUGE, BIG TIME FAMILY PERSONS.
WE GET ALONG REALLY WELL TALKING ABOUT FAMILY AND IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBER MATTER'S.
SIMAR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON OUR ELECTION TEAM SINCE LAST MAY, AND WE BOTH HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADD [LAUGHTER] IN REGARDS TO ORGANIZATION.
SIMAR HAS BEEN A TRUE LEADER ON OUR ELECTIONS TEAM IN THE BACK ROOM THAT WE HAVE 160+ ELECTION WORKERS.
[02:40:06]
SIMAR WAS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS WERE WELL THIS YEAR.I'M EXCITED TO HAVE HER BE POINTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN THE 13TH DISTRICT TO WORK WITH HER IN THAT CAPACITY AS WELL.
>> THANKS DEBORAH TO A TALL ORDER WHICH YOU ALL SAID, I TRY MY BEST ON EVERYDAY BASIS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S UP TO ALL OF THAT.
[LAUGHTER] I'M WILLING TO TAKE OVER AND TO SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE OF YOU.
MOST OF YOU IN THE BOARDROOM HERE HAVE SEEN ME WALKING THESE HALLS, AS DEBORAH SAID MANY TIMES, IN AND OUT.
BUT DEBORAH SAID SHE KNOWN ME ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT I HAVE KNOWN DEBORAH FOR 22+ YEARS [NOISE] ].
I FOLLOWED HER THROUGH IN TOWNSHIP.
I'VE SEEN ALL OF YOU RUN YOUR CAMPAIGNS, DO YOUR STUFF BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THIS TOWNSHIP FOR ALMOST 30+ YEARS.
LET HIM HASLETT MOST OF MY LIFE IN US I LIVED IN INGHAM COUNTY.
ALL OF IT I LIVED IN INGHAM COUNTY, SO HAVE BEEN AN INGHAM COUNTY RESIDENT AND HAS BEEN HOME.
VERY FIRST WEEK I LAND HERE IN US, I END UP TAKING A [INAUDIBLE] BUS TO A LITTLE STOP WITH 1640 HASLETT ROAD, WHICH IS NOW A MIXED USE BUSINESS.
IT USED TO BE A COMPUTER CENTER THAT HIGH-SCHOOL AND FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS.
I'M NOT SURE. I THINK THIS WAS ALL E-LEARNING.
IT WAS PART OF THE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
I STARTED MY COMPUTER EDUCATION THERE BECAUSE I WAS 17, 18 YEARS OLD.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MHC WAS GOING TO WORK FOR ME, HOW LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS GOING TO WORK FOR ME.
THAT WAS MY FIRST PLACE THAT CAME TO HAVE ABOUT A WEEK INTO COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY.
PAST THAT NOW THE HOUSE THAT I LIVE IN IS CROSS THE STREET FROM THERE.
AND I SAW THAT HOUSE BEING BUILT.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN HOME FOR ME BUT I MOVED TO OKEMOS, I FIRST LIVED IN THE GLANCING ONES CAME TO HASLETT WAS OKEMOS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN BACK TO HASLETT AGAIN.
HASLETT HAS BEEN LONGTIME HOME MOST OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE PRESENTATION FROM THEIR ZOOM LINKS.
ANY PERSON IN THE POPULATION THAT CALLS SIMAR MY NAME IS SIMAR AND I WILL RESPOND TO YOU.
[LAUGHTER] AS LONG AS YOU'RE TALKING BUSINESS, AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING PROGRESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS RAISED WITH THE VALUE SYSTEM.
THAT IS, YOU GET THE BANKING IF YOU DON'T GET THE JOB DONE, ALL OF THAT IS ILLEGAL NOW.
[LAUGHTER] THEY'RE COOL, SYSTEM DOESN'T USE IT.
BUT I FOUND OUT FEW OF THE KEY PHRASES THAT MY PARENTS USED THAT HELPED ME ALONG TO THIS DAY AND I THINK THE DAY TILL THEY DIE, THEY WORKED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
ONE OF THAT WAS, MY MOM WOULD ROUTINELY SAY IT WAS VERY FUN.
WE WERE ALL FOUR OF US KIDS WOULD OFFENDED. WHEN SHE'LL SAY IT.
SHE SAYS EVEN THE DOG WAGS A TAIL BEFORE IT SITS DOWN.
WE NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT.
THE DOG IS LOYAL, WHAT IS SHE GETTING AT? BUT ALL SHE MEANT WAS YOU ARE KIDS HUMANS THINKING MEANS THE DOG SITS DOWN WAGS IT TAIL CLEANS THE PLACE BEFORE IT SITS DOWN [LAUGHTER] GET STUFFS IN ORDER.
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR PARENTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE WERE RESPONSIBLE, SO WE GREW UP THAT WAY, COME TO U.S THAT STAY WITH ME.
THE OTHER PHRASE THAT IS MORE SPIRITUAL TO ME THAT USED TO GUIDE ME AS I'M IN THIS NEW ROLE IS [FOREIGN].
THAT COMES FROM PUNJABI LANGUAGE, WHICH TRANSLATES TO PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER USED TALK GOOD ABOUT IT.
HOW THAT SHAPES ME UP IS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN PLACES WHERE I WENT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IS THIS.
WE SET UP A RULE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, IF YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING THREE TIMES, YOU HAVE TO GO FIX IT.
[LAUGHTER] AND HENCE I WAS PART OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE I COMPLAINED ABOUT BEING IN THE LINE TOO LONG.
MY KIDS CALL ME UP UNTIL YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION.
I COMPLAINED ABOUT PARK SYSTEM BEING DIRTY.
SHE SAYS, MOM, YOUR WORK IN THE PARKS NOW.
WHICH I DID, SELENIUM COUNTY PARKS, [INAUDIBLE] SOUTH ENTRANCE.
THAT'S WHERE I SPENT MY SUMMERS.
MOST PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY KNOW ME AS A PARK LADY.
I BELONGED TO [INAUDIBLE] GUN CLUB.
HERE'S SOME OF THOSE WHO MAY SERVE IN ORGANIZATIONS.
NEXT DAY CLOSE TO MY HEART, THAT SERVICE I WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THE NEW RULE THAT I WAS SWORN INTO JANUARY 24TH IS OF DISTRICT 13 COMMISSIONER.
[INAUDIBLE] BARRY, SHE CONTESTED ELECTION.
[02:45:03]
SHE HAD FOR FAMILY REASONS NOT TO CARRY ON THE POSITION AND I WAS ASKED TO, I WOULD FILL IN.I HAD NO CONCEPT BECAUSE WELL THIS ELECTION WAS TO BE CONTESTED, FOUGHT FOR, PROMISES WERE MADE.
I WAS IN THE ELECTION BACKROOM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING SMOOTHLY.
I HAD TO REALLY QUICKLY BRUSH UP ON WHAT MY DUTY WOULD BE, WHAT MY ROLE WOULD BE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I SEE IT AS LOT OF WORK.
I DON'T SEE IT AS LIKE I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU UP TO THE MEETINGS, GO HOME.
I WOULD HAVE NO LEARNING TO DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW STUDENTS WHO I CHOOSE TO CALL HOME TO KEEP ME HONEST, TO KEEP ME IMPORTANT, KEEP TALKING TO ME, LET ME KNOW WHAT THE AGENDAS ARE.
I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, LAW AND COURTS COMMITTEE, AND I PLAN TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, LEARN WHAT I DON'T KNOW, AND ADD THE IDEAS OF WHEREVER SOMEBODY WANTS ME TO SHARE THE IDEAS, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK UPON ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT I HAVE SEEN, THAT MY KIDS HAVE SEEN THEY WERE ON UP.
LOOKING UP TO ALL OF YOU WATCHING OR MERIDIAN, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME JOB WITH YOU ALL IN HERE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF COMMUNITY.
AND I'LL BE DOING THE SERVICE DAY IN DAY OUT TILL THOSE RESIDENTS WHO WANT ME TO DO IT.
THE BEAUTY OF ELECTION SYSTEM IS IF I FAIL, KEEP ME HONEST UNLIKE OTHER ONE, [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I DO FEEL EACH OFFICE, THE PERSON WHO STEPS UP IN THE OFFICE, THEY SHOULD STAY IN THE OFFICE FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN DO THE DUTY DILIGENTLY.
I HOPE TO DO THAT FOR NEXT FEW YEARS.
AND FROM THERE ON MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PAWAR.
WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM 4C, WHICH IS THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW HOME TV INTERNS.
[NOISES] SAMANTHA [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER].
>> [INAUDIBLE] HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA DIEHL.
I'M THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US COME INTRODUCE THE HOMTV INTERNS FOR SPRING 2023.
I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SHE WAS WITH US LAST SEMESTER TOO.
I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SHE'S NEW THIS SEMESTER.
[INAUDIBLE] AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] ARE BOTH NEW TOO.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SHE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
THEN WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SORRY.
WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] OUR MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS SPECIALISTS BACK IN THE CONTROL ROOM, SO SHE'S CONTROLLING THE CAMERAS RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE OUT HERE.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU.
YOU'LL SEE THEM AROUND THIS NEXT SEMESTER, HOPEFULLY, IN FUTURE SEMESTERS TOO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> ITEM 4D IS THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MCCONNELL [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] AND MR. SERVER.
>> YOU STARTED MOVING I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M MCCONNELL.
I CHAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND MOONLIGHT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OTHER THINGS THAT KEEPS ME BUSY.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
WE WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR EFFORTS TO REVISE OUR 2017 CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, WHEN WE DID THAT BACK IN 2017, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PARTS WHERE IT FELT WERE REALLY, REALLY AMBITIOUS.
I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN THE BOARD ADOPTED THEM AND I'M EVEN MORE DELIGHTED THAT WE'RE ON PROGRESS TO MEET SOME OF THOSE REALLY AMBITIOUS GOALS.
I WANT TO ABUSE MY POSITION HERE AND GIVE YOU A QUICK ANECDOTE.
IN A NEW WORK ENVIRONMENT ANOTHER DAY, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE DESTROYING THE OLD SAW MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP [INAUDIBLE] THEY WOULD VOTE FOR AND HOW THE TAXES WERE HIGHER THAN ANY PLACE ELSE.
ONE OF THESE DAYS, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM ABOUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE PAYING TAXES OR [NOISE] IS IT THIRD FUNDED PENSION LIABILITY? IS IT THE NEW FIRETRUCK? IS IT PARKS? IS IT THE MUSIC? WHAT EXACTLY IS IT IN THERE THAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR THAT YOU WOULD RATHER NOT? WHAT I SEE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS YES, WE PAY A FAIR AMOUNT OF TAXES.
[02:50:02]
WE GET THOSE THAT ARE IMPROVING FASTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S, RULES ARE IMPROVING.WE'RE GETTING FINANCIAL STABILITY, WE'RE GETTING EMERGENCY STUFF.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT GREAT STUFF.
I SAY THAT IN ORDER TO SAY WE'RE GETTING IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR GOALS AND THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS REAL.
THE MOST, IN SOME WAYS, CONSEQUENTIAL PART OUR 2017 PLAN HAD TO DO WAS MG. AS YOU KNOW, IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO [NOISE] IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON A CHANGING CLIMATE.
SO BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY CONSUMED AND BY GETTING AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM RENEWABLES, WE'RE CONTRIBUTING LESS TO PROBLEMS. THE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PLAYER ARE MAINLY ABOUT ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET IN MOTION.
BIGGER, STRONGER STORMS AND ALL OF THOSE ARE CLIMATE IMPACTS THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
TONIGHT WE'D HAVE IN YOUR PACKET IS A DRAFT REVISION OF THE ENERGY SECTIONS OF THE PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST ACTIVITY AND THOSE CONCRETE GOALS.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? THE MOVEMENT FROM 2017 HAS BEEN TO MAKE THE DOCUMENT MORE CONCISE AND TO KEEP THE SAME FORMAT, AND SEE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF.
IDEALLY, WHAT WE'D GET BACK FROM YOU AS WELL AS FROM HEARING BACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE A STAKE IN THESE EFFORTS, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK SO THAT WE CAN GET AHEAD AND REVISE THE REST OF THE PLAN ACCORDINGLY? WHAT ZACK HAS GOT ON THE SCREEN IS A COUPLE OF CHEAT SHEETS THAT BOIL DOWN WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET TO A COUPLE OF SECTIONS.
WHAT'S UP THERE RIGHT NOW IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTIONS TOP COUPLED.
THIS IS WHERE I'M SAYING THE TOWNSHIP MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY FOR TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS BY 2035.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY AN OUTRAGEOUS GOAL AND WE'RE ACTUALLY FOR INSTALLATIONS HERE, THE FIRE STATION, OTHERS IN PROGRESS DONE AND PLAN REALLY ON TRACK TO DO THAT.
MUCH AS GO ON TRACK TO FUND THE PENSION, AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON TRACK TO PUT UP SIRENS, AS MUCH AS WE GOT ON TRACK TO RAISE OUR PICTURE RATINGS, WE'RE ON THAT TRACK AND WHAT WE STAY.
YOU CAN SEE THE INSTALLATIONS AND MUNICIPAL BUILDING, FIRE STATION, MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, ETC.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MAKING IT VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE TOWNSHIP IS COLLABORATION.
A LOT OF WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH RENEWABLE INSTALLATIONS HAD BEEN THE TOWNSHIP STAFF RESPONDING TO THE BOARD'S POLICY GOALS EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THE SECOND PIECE IS HERE, SOLARIZED WORKSHOPS, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS AND TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE STEP TO INSTALL SOLAR ON THEIR HOMES, TO LET THEIR NEIGHBORS KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE.
LET THEM KNOW WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE SYSTEM YOU CHOSE, HAVE CONTRACTORS THERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY, TO SPREAD THAT.
YOU SEE A GOAL THERE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SOLAR INSTALLATIONS TO 250, WELL, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, BUT SEEING AS WE WERE AT LESS THAN 100 WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THAT'S ALREADY DOUBLED.
THOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BOARD SETTING POLICY, THE STAFF IMPLEMENTING POLICY, AND VOLUNTEERS GOING OUT AND DOING PROGRAMMING IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUCCEED.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT PAGE ON THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, THIS ROOM WAS REALLY LOUD, AND IT WAS EITHER REALLY COLD OR REALLY WARM, AND NOW IT'S NICE AND COMFY AND IT'S QUIET, AND NOT ONLY IS THERE MORE PLEASANT AND HELPS US DO OUR BUSINESS, BUT WE'RE ALSO SAVING A LOT OF ELECTRICITY BY HAVING [NOISE] SYSTEM.
IT WAS NOT A SMALL INVESTMENT THAT THE TOWNSHIP MADE.
I'M SEEING HERE MOST BUILDING AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INTENSITY WAS DIMINISHED.
WE'RE PUTTING 33% REDUCTION, PROBABLY EVEN 27% REDUCTION.
THOSE ARE NOT TRIVIAL FIGURES.
WHEN YOU'RE SAVING 10%, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SAVING A LOT.
WHEN YOU'RE SAVING 33%, YOU ARE REALLY SAVING A BUNCH.
THE LAST BULLET ON THAT SLIDE IS A DOE-FUNDED CENTER AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THAT IS PROVIDING SERVICES TO CONTINUE ASSESSING TOWNSHIP BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, FOR FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
AGAIN, THIS SPEAKS TO PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING THAT'S COMING THROUGH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND PARTNERING WITH INCOME CONTRIBUTIONS OF STAFF EFFORT HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP AND VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CONNECT TO THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR.
THOSE KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS IS HOW WE'RE MEETING OUR GOALS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION ON ANY OF THOSE ISSUES, TALKS, JOHN SERVER WHO HEADS OUR ENERGY TEAM IS MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE
[02:55:04]
THAN ME AND IS AVAILABLE NOW OR AT ANY TIME FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH.
[LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO MENTION ALSO THAT MR. STERVARD WAS WITH 2021, WAS ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR, AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WORK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE ENERGY TEAM AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME BACK AND TALK WITH US AT ANOTHER TIME.
[NOISE] WE COME TO FIVE ON OUR AGENDA.
THIS IS WHERE CITIZENS GET TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I DON'T HAVE ANY GREEN CARDS, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, PLEASE DO SO.
I REQUEST YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR COMMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD. CAN YOU HEAR ME JUST FINE?
>> JIMMY GUILLERMO, FOR THE RECORD, 400 S OLD WOODWARD AVENUE IN BIRMINGHAM.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING.
I AMEND YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
IT'S VERY HARD AFTER WORK TO WORK AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THE CANNABIS ORDINANCE THIS EVENING.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE AND PASSING AN ORDINANCE FOR ADULT USE AGAIN AND FURTHER INTO CANNABIS INDUSTRY HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I REPRESENT OF THE MEDICAL PERMIT HOLDERS ON THE PLAZA.
WE'VE JUST HAD OUR PERMIT REINSTATED AND A BUILDING PERMIT REINSTATED AS WELL, AND OUR INDUCTIVE CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET OUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN THE NEXT 8-12 WEEKS, GIVE OR TAKE DEPENDING ON HOW INSPECTIONS GO.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THAT COINCIDES WITH PASSING OF AN ORDINANCE, ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF PROMOTING A THRIVING BUSINESS HERE, JOBS, TAX BENEFITS, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
AGAIN, I'M BRIEF AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO CANNABIS INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW-HOW.
I'M AN ATTORNEY GRADE, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE.
>> IS THERE EVERYONE ELSE? THEN WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT.
THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
I KNOW THAT YOU-ALL HAVE A COPY OF IT, IT'LL BE ALSO POSTED TOMORROW ON OUR WEBSITE.
ALSO, A COPY ARE ON THE TWO LIBRARIES AND IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
FOR ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
THIS IS A COUNTY PROJECT, BUT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT VERY, VERY CLOSELY.
TODAY THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 25 CREW PEOPLE ON THE SITE AND POURED THE IN-TRUSSES TO THE BRIDGE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE, MAKING VERY GOOD PROGRESS.
THE WEATHER IS GOING TO HELP A LOT AND WE'RE STILL ON TARGET FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS AWAY.
JUST AS THE PUBLIC KNOWS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A RENOVATION PLAN AS MR. CONNECT LED RIGHT INTO THIS BY TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE USED TO BE.
LIKE IN THIS ROOM HAS SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITH CARPET AND PAINTING.
WE ALSO ARE BUILDING, THE WALLPAPER'S COMING OFF.
THE CARPET IS DATED AND OLD AND WORN OUT AND IN MOST PLACES IT'S 50 YEARS OLD AND NEEDS AN UPGRADE.
WE'LL GET MORE INTO THIS LATER, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING OUR FACILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS THIS SUMMER.
THIS ROOM WILL SERVE THE PUBLIC.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME IN HERE AND PAY WATER BILLS, PAY TAXES, GET BUILDING PERMITS, ALL THAT WITH EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THIS ROOM.
ONE PERSON FOR FOUR DEPARTMENTS AND THEN ALL OF THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
WE'LL ALSO BE RELOCATED THROUGHOUT TO OUR THREE DIFFERENT SITES IN ADDITION TO THAT, RELOCATING 53 OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW THAT, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO START GETTING THAT OUT THERE.
WE EXPECT THAT TO TAKE PLACE AROUND MAY 1.
THE NEW SIGN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OUR NEW MUNICIPAL SIGN, YOU'LL JUST START TO SEE THOSE GO UP HERE IN THE NEXT 2-3 WEEKS AND THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
[03:00:03]
I'M SURE THE BOARD'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT OUR DEW EFFORTS AND I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THAT.I'M COMING UP WITH SOME GREAT THINGS COMING OUT OF OUR DEI COMMITTEE.
PHASE 1 UNDERWAY FOR LAKE LANSING TO MSU PATHWAY, THAT WILL GO FROM HEGODORN AT THE SHAW AREA, MUSIC BUILDING, ACROSS THEY'LL HAVE A BRIDGE CROSSING THE RED CEDAR AND WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO PARK LAKE ROAD.
THEN PHASE 2, DONE IN THE INNER URBAN AND THEN OUT AND WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A PATH WHEN WE'RE FINISHED.
ALL PAID FOR IN CASH, GOING FROM LAKE LANSING ALL THE WAY TO THE UNIVERSITY.
OUR AUDIT IS GOING TO BE UNDERWAY SOON.
DIRECTOR GARDNER WILL OVERSEE THAT.
POLICE AND FIRE WAGES, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
WHEN WE REACHED THE CONTRACT WITH OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS THREE YEARS AGO, IT WAS TWO PERCENT PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
IT FAILS TO MEET WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING FORWARD IN ORDER TO RETAIN AND I SAID IT ON A SESSION AROUND THE RAPIDS AT OUR STATE CONFERENCE LAST WEEK ABOUT THE GROWING DIFFICULTY OF RETAINING PARAMEDICS AND POLICE OFFICERS.
IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.
THE TASKS FORCE HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE BOARD FOR SENIOR COMMUNITY, SATURDAY AT THEIR FIRST MEETING, A WEEK FROM TODAY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF MEDICAL RESPONSE DOWN TO ELEVATE TOWNSHIP, THAT CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S LESS OF AN ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE WE KNOW THE BOARD CAME UP WITH A VERY WISE IDEA OF PLACING AN ADDITIONAL PARAMEDIC CREW IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY DID THAT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WHEN WE DID THAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN SOUTH OF THE BRIDGE THAT'S GOING TO NEED OUR HELP.
THINK ABOUT THE LAST 24 HOURS.
POLICE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS OF NEW LOCKER ROOMS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON OVER THERE.
IN FACT, THE NEW K9, ALL THOSE THINGS WILL BE COMING FORWARD.
THE FORMER FARMERS MARKET, YOU'LL START TO SEE DIRECTOR MAISNER AND THE PARKS KITCHEN WORK ON PLANS FOR THE PAVILION OUT HERE, WHICH USED TO BE THE FARMER'S MARKET.
WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE USE OF THAT? WE HAVE SOME RESIDENTS HERE EARLIER THIS EVENING THAT LEFT, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MEETING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE FEBRUARY 7 WAS TONIGHT.
I GAVE THIS INFORMATION, BUT AGAIN, 06:00 ON MARCH 7 IN THIS ROOM, A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD, WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND THE DEVELOPERS AND THE VILLAGE WORKERS.
I'M SURE DIRECTOR CLARK WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE PLANS AND MOVE FORWARD THE VILLAGE IT HAS THAT, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER 10-15 YEARS.
FINALLY, THE PROPERTY'S BEING SOLD.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THE WORK OF DIRECTOR CLARK AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR 15 YEARS TO BRING US TO WHERE WE ARE.
THE DEER CALL, REMEMBER WE HAD A HARD 57 DEER TAKEN UNDER OUR ARCHERY PROGRAMS, IT'S A VERY STRONG YEAR.
THE DNR SANCTIONS OUR FIREARM PROGRAM THAT WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH CHIEF PLAGA AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ABOUT 200 TAGS THROUGH THE DNR FOR 357.
WE REACHED THAT MARK TWO DAYS AGO, THE DEER CALL PROGRAM FOR 2022 AND 2023 IS COMPLETE.
I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL VENISON NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO APPROACH 7,000 POUNDS OF VENISON AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
I KNOW THAT TRUSTEE WILSON AND HER WORK WITH THE FOOD BANK BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THAT.
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN TALK ABOUT TONIGHT AND THAT'S THE RESPONSE THIS MORNING TO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WERE ON THE SCENE VERY QUICKLY.
THE FIRST THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME WAS JUST UTTER TERROR, SOMETHING THAT IN MY 32-YEAR CAREER, I HAVE NEVER FELT.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AN ICE STORM WHERE PEOPLE WERE OUT OF POWER FOR 11 DAYS, WE HANDLED THAT.
WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN VIOLATED BY LARRY ESSER.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES.
WE HAD SOMEONE SHOOTING ON TOP OF CHILI'S HERE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO. WE WORKED THROUGH THAT.
TODAY WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, TODAY WAS 30 MINUTES OF COMPLETE TERROR.
THE RESPONSE FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARAMEDICS AND MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY OUTSTANDING.
[03:05:04]
AS WE LOOK BACK AT IT AND I'M SURE THEY'LL DO A REVEAL THERE OF RESPONSE, BUT THAT WAS INCREDIBLE RESPONSE.ALL THE MEDIA REPORTS ON THIS ARE REPORTING ABOUT THE RESPONSE THAT WE PROVIDED TODAY.
BUT ONE OF THE THOUGHTS OCCURRED TO ME IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE OR THE SEVEN OF YOU HAVE.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
THINK ABOUT IF THAT WOULD'VE BEEN AN ACTUAL EVENT THIS MORNING WITH VICTIMS. THE FIRST CALL WAS THERE'S TWO PEOPLE CRITICALLY WOUNDED.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT IT WAS OAKS.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DID TODAY.
WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AND WE DID IT WELL.
THINK ABOUT THE DECISION THAT ALL OF YOU MADE.
WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY 40- $60,000 TO PLACE AN EXTRA CREW DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE TOWNSHIP TWO WEEKS AGO.
WOULD THEN THAT HAVE IMPACT AND TODAY WE HAVE EXTRA CREW DOWN THERE OF PARAMEDICS.
THAT ONE DECISION THAT YOU MADE MADE US MUCH MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
NONE OF US THOUGHT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR EVENT LIKE THAT TO RESPOND TO.
BUT YOU STEPPED OUT, ALL SEVEN OF YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT DECISION YOU MADE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 30 MINUTES OF TERROR THIS MORNING, THERE WAS THAT ONE LITTLE STORY THAT SAID WE'RE BETTER PREPARED TODAY THAN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
AFTER THE BRIDGE IS OPENED BACK UP, WE WILL BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED.
BUT IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED TODAY.
WE DID THE VERY BEST WE COULD WITH COMMUNICATIONS.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT TO SAY AND WHEN TO SAY IT AND WHO SHOULD SAY IT.
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL THAT.
BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM.
I'M PROUD OF THE DECISION THAT YOU-ALL MADE TO MAKE US SAFER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. IS CHIEF PLAGA IN THE ROOM?
>> CAPTAIN GRILLO, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE? I THINK I GOT A MESSAGE TODAY THAT WAS GOOD NEWS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE? [LAUGHTER]
>> OTHER THAN MR. WALSH'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE ACCREDITATION.
>> THAT WAS MADE TODAY OR ANNOUNCED TODAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY. [NOISE] CHIEF PLAGA AND I WERE ON OUR WAY DOWN TO THE CHIEF CONFERENCE THAT'S BEING HELD AT EMILY GRANT IN GRAND RAPIDS.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUR COMMISSION HEARING FOR OUR THREE-YEAR RENEWAL OF OUR ACCREDITATION STATUS.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT HALFWAY THERE AND WE TURNED AROUND.
I LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE TODAY.
BECAUSE OF THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE US THERE TO TALK TO US AND ASK US QUESTIONS, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT, SO WITHOUT US BEING THERE, THEY APPROVED OUR THREE-YEAR RENEWAL OF OUR ACCREDITATION STATUS.
>> NEXT TO OUR AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER APPROACH OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> SUPERVISOR, VERY BRIEFLY, THE PENSION BOARD MET YESTERDAY HERE IN THE ROOM, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT OUR EMPLOYEE PENSION, WHICH HAS NO ACTIVE EMPLOYEES BUT HAS APPROXIMATELY 70 INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR PENSION BENEFITS 100 PERCENT FUNDED.
EVEN WITH DIFFICULT YEAR LAST YEAR, IT WAS IN THE MARKET WE ARE STILL VERY GOOD SHAPE WITH THAT PENSION.
WE DO NEED MORE PENSION BOARD MEMBERS AND SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL PENSION BOARD MEMBERS COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD.
WE REVIEWED THE INFORMATION, WE CAN THEN TAKE ACTION UNLESS WE LACKED A QUORUM.
THEN THE LAST WEEK, WE GOT THE INFORMATION FROM OUR ACTUARY AND FROM OUR INVESTMENT ADVISERS, AND THAT WAS VERY GOOD INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF OUR PENSION BOARD.
SECONDLY, THE EDT MEETING LAST THURSDAY WAS TRUSTEE SOMETIMES WE MET.
THEN THE LAST END THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, WHICH MAY BE RIGHT.
SUPERVISOR, YOU KICKED THAT EVENT OFF VERY NICELY.
THE MALL WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE GREATER AND OFF FOR THAT EVENT.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I ATTENDED THE CAT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE CAPILLARY ATROCIOUS ASSOCIATION, AND OUR MAIN ISSUE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ASKING OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO WORK
[03:10:03]
ON REFORMING THE DISABLED VETERANS' PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.WE ALSO PUT THAT IF YOU'RE 100 PERCENT DISABLED, YOU GET A 100 PERCENT EXEMPTION FROM YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AS A VETERAN.
PROBLEM WITH THE STATE PASSED THAT LAW AND THEY'D PROBABLY NO FUNDING FOR.
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND HOW MANY VETERANS LIVE IN YOUR MINDY, YOU CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON YOUR LOCAL TAX REVENUE.
NOT JUST GOVERNMENT. SCHOOLS ARE TAKING THE BIGGEST LEAD ON THIS.
THERE'S SOME CONSENSUS TO ADDRESS IT AT THE STATE LEVEL AND FOR THE STATE TO FUND THIS MANDATE THAT THEY ENACTED AROUND SIX YEARS OLD.
LASTLY, TONY, I DID HAPPEN TO SEE SOME HIM IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND CHIEF PROGRESS BEGINNING.
THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT CAME OUT WE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC WAS THAT, EVERY OFFICER KNEW WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY ON SCENE.
THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH PRACTICES AND THEY WERE THERE.
THE SECOND WAS THE COORDINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
IT DOESN'T RUN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEY ALL KNEW THEIR ROLE AS WELL AS TO WHAT TO DO.
THAT WAS VERY REASSURING AND EVERYONE KNEW THE ROLE.
IMAGINE MANY HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE CONVERGING ON A SCENE AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HANDLED THE INFLUX OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILIES THAT WERE THERE.
ALL OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE HAD A CHILD THERE.
WE MANAGE THAT TRAFFIC AND KEPT THAT FOR BECOMING CHAOTIC.
THANK YOU FOR THE FARE, SUPERVISOR.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT TRUSTEE BESCHANE HAD SAID AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BOARD THAT IT'S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT DAY IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND SPECIFICALLY FOR OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY.
I THINK THAT MANAGER WALSH DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE GREAT RESPONSE THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES HEAD TO THIS UNFORTUNATE HOOKS THAT WAS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE VERY LUCKY TODAY AS A COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
BUT ALSO REMAIN VIGILANT BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY NEXT TIME.
WE HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAM READINESS AND THEIR RECERTIFICATION, WHICH WE JUST HEARD ABOUT AS COMFORT.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
THERE'S MORE WE CAN ASK OUR FRIENDS, REPRESENTATIVE SNUGGLE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO ASSIST US WITH BUT I HOPE TO HAVE MORE ON THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT FINDING A WAY TO ADDRESS THE STATE LAW, WAYS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOLS SAFER.
I THINK THAT WHILE MUCH OF THIS IS NOT IN OUR HANDS TO DO DIRECTLY, WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR LAWMAKERS THROUGH ACTION, BUT THIS BOARD TO DO SO AT THEIR LEVEL.
I HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THAT IN THE COMING DAYS AND HOPEFULLY, I WILL HAVE THAT IN THE NEXT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
>> THANK, SUPERVISOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THE EYE A LITTLE BIT AS WELL?
>> I'LL START WITH DIVERSITY AT THE EXCLUSION WORK GROUP THAT MANAGER WALSH HAD MENTIONED.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING.
WE'VE GOT FANTASTIC STAFF, OUR LEAD STAFF, DIRECTOR TF, WHO HAS SO MUCH PASSION TO THIS AND HAS REALLY HELPED US AND DRAGGING US TOWARDS OUR MISSION IN ACTION STATEMENTS.
INTERNALLY, BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME ON [INAUDIBLE] AND PROCEDURES, HIRING OTHER WORKFORCE TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOW LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD TO PUBLIC PHASING AND MORE INCLUSION INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND LOOKING FOR INDOOR OR I GUESS ACTION FROM OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE'RE EXCITED WE DID SETTLE TWO MISSION STATEMENT ACTION ITEMS. ONE IS TO CONTINUE OUR INTERNAL WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITABLE IN DIVERSE WORK GROUP.
ALSO LOOKING TO HAVE OUR FIRST PRIDE CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT 3RD OF AUGUST AND WORKING WITH STAFF, SPECIFICALLY, MR. SHARKEY, WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION AND HAS WORKED IN LANSING AND SOME IN THE ECNC IN THE PAST ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
[03:15:04]
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.WE ARE STILL WORKING INTERNALLY, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE EXTRA INPUT EVENTUALLY AND WE'RE REACHING OUT.
PRIOR TO THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT CAN REACH OUT TO ANY OF US AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IS HEARD.
I MAY HAVE MISSED A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT IT HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY-TO-DAY.
I DID WANT TO JUST THANK THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE QUORUM IN OUR LAST MEETING, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE WORKING HARD AND IT DOESN'T TAKE THEM TO GET ALL THAT WORK DONE.
WE APPRECIATE THEM, ESPECIALLY ON OUR ENERGY PORTION OF THAT CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
BUT NOT LEAST, I AM A PARENT OF TWO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND WAS PRESENT ON SITE TODAY.
AS A PARENT, IT WAS TERRIFYING.
AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, IT WAS TERRIFYING AND IT WAS AMAZING.
THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SCHOOL.
I WATCHED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM COME OUT AND JUST THE FEAR AMONGST THEM.
BUT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS POLICE PRESENCE ALL THE WAY FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD THEY REMAINED FEELING SAFE AND COMFIDENT.
I THINK MANAGER WALSH AND I HAD MENTIONED, BUT THERE WERE MULTIPLE UNITS ON-SITE INCLUDING FBI AND ATF, AND JUST THE FACT AND HOW WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
IT WAS REALLY COMFORTING GIVEN THAT SITUATION.
THEY'RE SAYING AGE AND SO I HAD A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE REACHING OUT, I WAS IN PARKING LOTS ARE FULL.
WE'RE VERY SAD AND TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.
YOU SAID, IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE.
BUT GIVEN THAT INFORMATION THAT OUR POLICE ARE ON-SITE OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON-SITE, THAT THEY'RE WORKING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
THERE WERE COMMUNITIES FROM ALL OVER.
I JUST WANT TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHAT MADE MICHIGAN SO FANTASTIC.
WE SAW THAT A NOB HILL WITH OUR APARTMENT FIRE THAT WE SAW AGAIN, TODAY.
[INAUDIBLE] IT WAS NOTABLE THAT I NOTICED WAS HE PULLED THOSE BUSES AWAY FROM LANSING TO GET THOSE KIDS ALSO OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL TO THE PICKUP LOCATION AT 242.
THEY FELT VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS ANOTHER JUST EXEMPLARY PART OF THAT TRAGEDY THAT ENDED UP IN POSITIVE NOTE.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE BEEN IN A THIRD CLASS WHERE THEY PRACTICE THIS TYPE OF DRILL.
YOU CAN PRACTICE TILL IT HAPPENS.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
OF COURSE, THERE'S LESSONS LEARNED, BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN ACCREDITED POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY PLAN FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WORKED ALWAYS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, MEREDITH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY, THE SCHOOL FACULTY, THE STAFF, AND THE VOLUNTEERS.
THEY WERE ALL THERE. THEY WERE CALM, THEY WERE COMFORTING.
I JUST WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE RESIDENTS AND LET THEM KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS AND THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LEVEL MOTIONS AND THAT WE'RE HERE.
IT'S ALMOST TAKE ANY OF THE COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO WHOEVER WE NEED TO. THANK YOU.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL FACULTY, ALL THE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, THE PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE COMMUNITY, IT'S SCARED, BUT THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? GO THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WISINSKI FOR SHARING THAT HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT DIFFICULT SITUATION, TOUGH TO GET THROUGH.
I DO WANT TO COMMEND OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 2|42 CHURCH.
ONCE AGAIN, STEPPING UP FOR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TOWNSHIP MANAGER FOR HIS SWIFT COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE RUMORS GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TWITTER AND NEXT ON FACEBOOK AND
[03:20:06]
WITH ALMOST ANYTHING THAT A COMMUNITY DOES AND SOME OF THE THINGS MY HUSBAND AND I WERE READING JUST BLOWS MY MIND HOW PEOPLE MAKE STUFF UP.SO I'M ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS BACKGROUND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY IN WHICH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESPONDED WITH A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THOSE WORDS, TRY TO STIFLE THAT DOWN AND LET PEOPLE KNOW IT WAS REALLY HAPPENING.
ADDITION, I DID CONTACT OUR SYRUP JULIE BROOKIE ABOUT GUN SAFETY TO GET HER THIS MORNING, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF MUMS TO ME ON THE ACTION.
ONCE AGAIN, I WENT ON AFTER OUR CONVERSATION AND FILLED OUT ARMS DEMAND ACTION FORMS. SO IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN REACHING OUT TO OUR LEGISLATORS, THAT GROUP DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH GUN SAFETY AND REACHING OUT TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS.
THAT IS ONE WAY IN WHICH OUR COMMUNITY CAN WORK WITH THEM ON SAFER GUN LAWS.
ALSO, I SPOKE WITH OUR S [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT SPEAKING AT A PRIVATE EVENT ON AUGUST 26, AND SHE HAS AGREED TO SPEAK AT IT, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND IF YOU KNOW BOB HOFFMAN, HE'S GOING TO BE THE MC FOR THAT EVENT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS LONG AS BOTH FANTASTIC TO BE ON OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAD OTHER THING THAT I WAS PART OF, AS ALREADY MENTIONED THE PUNCH OF WORK.
BUT WHEN WE HIT THAT, WE SCHEDULE, WE WILL PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND NOTIFY THEM.
I ATTENDED A CAPITAL AREA MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION MEETING.
BASICALLY, THEY GIVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT PROPOSAL TWO, I WILL REITERATE BECAUSE I THINK OUR STATE REP TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BASICALLY WE'RE JUST WAITING CLARIFICATION FROM DRIBBLE ELECTIONS AND TRAINING FROM THEM.
ALSO ATTENDED A ZOOM MEETING FROM CANNABIS REGULATORY AGENCY MUNICIPAL SUMMIT.
IT WAS ALMOST 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT ZOOM FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT MANY MUNICIPALITIES ADD IN REGARDS TO LAWS, RULES, FINANCIAL REPORTING OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE BEING REPORTING ACCURATELY OR NOT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF MORE QUESTIONS.
[LAUGHTER] THAN WHAT I WANTED TO HAVE.
WE HAD THE POST-ELECTION AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED ON JANUARY 27TH.
WE WERE WAITING THE FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS.
WHEN WE GET THOSE, WE'LL REPORT THOSE.
WE ALSO HAD A TEST THEM OR ADJUDICATION STUMP AND DOWN AT THE ADJUDICATORS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED AND REPORTING ACCURATELY, SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THEN FINALLY, JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THERE'S A NEW RESTAURANT, VALLEY WINGS AND DELHI ROAD AND OKEMOS ON THE SAME STRIP AS CANCUN. WHAT DOES IS THAT CALLED? CANCUN GRILL.
CANCUN GRILL. YEAH, SO SAY ANJALI.
IT SEEMS TO BE SUPER PROUD AT THAT PLACE WAS PACKED.
PREVALENCE DAY IS FEBRUARY 20TH, SO TOWNSHIP OFFICES WILL BE CLOSE TO THE SERVANTS OF THAT, AND THEN ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, THAT'LL LET ME ON WILL BE SWEARING IN SOME FIREFIGHTERS.
PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND. THAT'S THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND
>> YEAH. OKAY, WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TREASURE MACHINES REPORT THAT I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 2ND.
MARCH IS WOMEN BUSINESS MONTH AND THEY ARE HAVING A LITTLE PROGRAM ON MARCH 10TH, WOMEN IN BUSINESS TO SUPPORT THAT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE DO-IT-YOURSELF DRYWALL SERIES.
IT'LL BE SOMETHING INTERESTING FOR THEM TO ATTEND.
I'M ALSO WORKING ON A SMALL BUSINESS RECOGNITION AND PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO REPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
>> [NOISE] WELL GET BUSY AS WELL.
[03:25:04]
ON 1ST OF FEBRUARY, I JOINED STAFF FOR A MEETING WITH THE APARTMENTS AND WE TALKED ABOUT LOCAL WORLD PROGRAM 2023 RECEIVED IN THAT RESPECT.I ALSO ATTENDED, I BELIEVE ON THE 2ND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS PROGRAM LED BY CAPTAIN [INAUDIBLE] AND I WOULD SAY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM TO CHECK THE WEBSITE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE QUARTER.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER AND MEET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REVIEW THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THEIR DEPARTMENT AND GET ADVICE LIKE LEARN NEW INFORMATION ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR AREA.
THE LAST MEETING HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE DISPATCHES AT 911 AND HAD OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN KEEP UP WITH THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THEM IN THE AREA AND IN THE REGION.
AS TRUSTEE WISINSKI MENTIONED THE DEI TASK FORCE MEETING.
ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, HE ATTENDED THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING AND LIKE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE FOR SOME REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE QUORUM HERE.
BUT CERTAINLY IN THAT GROUP, LIKE MANY OTHERS, OUR RESIDENTS ARE ANXIOUS AND ANTICIPATING THE MARCH 7TH MEETING FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I MOVE THE AGENDA TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
NO DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY, YES.
>> OPPOSE, NO. THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 9, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS OUR USUAL COMMUNICATIONS MIDST OF OUR JANUARY 24TH REGULAR BOARD MEETING, THE MANAGERS BILLS.
THERE'S ALSO AN ITEM D WHERE THE REQUIRED 2022 PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT IS MADE A PART OF OUR AGENDA.
I BELIEVE WE MERELY EXCEED THAT.
ITEM E IS VERIFICATION OF NUCLEATUM IN EMT AND FIREFIGHTER APPOINTMENTS, AS MENTIONED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.
ITEM F IS A CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSE FOR THE 501C, YOU GOT THIS PROJECT.
ITEM G IS A REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY THE 21ST FOR THE HASLETT VILLAGE SQUARE COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION ACT EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE.
THEY'RE ASKING US FOR PERMISSION TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023.
ITEM H IS THE TREASURER'S INVESTMENT REPORT FOURTH QUARTER 2022. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION ON THIS, I'VE LOOKED AT ITEM H WHICH IS THE TREASURER'S INVESTMENT REPORT.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EARNINGS AND TREASURER DESCHAINE COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?
>> BE GLAD TO. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WILSON.
WE REACHED $781,000 IN INVESTMENT EARNINGS LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS UP 145% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS IS GREAT NEWS.
[03:30:04]
THIS GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, ALLOWS TO PAY FOR MORE ROADS OR WHATEVER WE COME UP SHORT IN OTHER AREAS.THERE'S REALLY THREE REASONS FOR THAT.
THE FIRST IS THE FED, THE FEDERAL RESERVE, WHICH HAS RAISED INTEREST RATES FROM 3.5% A YEAR AGO TO 7.75%.
WE ALL KNOW THAT REASON THEY'RE DOING THAT IS THEY'RE TRYING TO TAMP DOWN INFLATION.
THE WAY TO REDUCE DEMAND AND SLOW THE ECONOMY DOWN AND PUSH BACK INFLATION IS TO RAISE INTEREST RATES.
WE HAVE VERY HIGH INTEREST RATES.
IT'S NOT GREAT FOR HOME BUILDERS RIGHT NOW, OR CAR DEALERS BECAUSE CONSUMERS ARE PAYING HIGHER RATES AND THEY'RE HAVING A LITTLE TIME.
BUT WE ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THOSE HIGHER RATES.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'VE MOVED A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF OUR TOWNSHIPS RESERVE FUNDS FROM NON-FIXED OR LIQUID TO FIXED INVESTMENTS.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 72 OF THE PACKET, YOU'LL SEE 74% OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE NOW IN FIXED INVESTMENTS.
THE REASON WE'VE DONE THAT IS, WE'VE HAD HIGH RATE BEFORE AND HIGH RETURNS IN OUR RESERVES.
THEN THE ECONOMY COMES BACK OR THE RATES FALL BACK ON, AND OUR REVENUE FALLS WITH IT.
I'M TRYING TO LEVEL THIS OUT SO THAT WE CAN CONSISTENTLY COUNT ON A MUCH HIGHER RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENTS.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS IN EQUITIES OR STOCKS.
THESE ARE INVESTMENTS IN CDS, MONEY MARKET, AND TREASURIES, THE MOST SAFE INVESTMENT POSSIBLE OR NOT IN THE MARKET WITH THIS MONEY, THIS VERY SAFE FOR ME.
THE THIRD REASON WE'VE GOT THE HIGHER RETURN.
I LOOK BACK, I THINK IT'S BEEN AT LEAST SINCE 2008 THAT WE'VE HAD THIS KIND OF RETURN ON INVESTMENTS IS THE EXCELLENT FINANCIAL SHAPE OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THAT'S DUE TO STAFF AND MANAGER WALSH.
WE ALL KNOW THAT HE KEEPS VERY TIGHT CONTROL OVER THE BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES.
IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT THAT THIS IS HIS 10TH YEAR AND THE RESERVES AND OUR PRE-FUNDING THE MAJOR PROJECTS IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IT'S BEEN IN RECENT HISTORY.
THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER HAVE GIVEN US GREAT RETURNS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> I MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
WE'LL NEED ROLL CALL, MR. LEMESTER.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEYS AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND SO WE MOVE TO ITEM 12, ACTION ITEMS. 12A IS SET A DATE FOR A STUDY SESSION.
THE SUGGESTED DATE IS FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023.
>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD STUDY SESSION ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE TOWN OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE TOWN HALL ROOM.
>> TRUSTEE WILSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTICULAR MOTION IS THAT WE CAN STUDY SIGN ORDINANCE.
WHEN THE SIGN ORDINANCE CAME BEFORE US ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO, WE WERE PRETTY OVERWHELMED WITH CHANGES BECAUSE IT'S A TOTAL REVAMP OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WE ALL AGREED THAT IT NEEDED FURTHER STUDIES.
THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT ANYTHING ASSUMING AGENDA TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE SIGN ORDINANCE IS ALL THAT WE INTEND TO TAKE UP AT THE STUDY SESSION.
WELL PACKA, I NOTED, HAD INFORMATION ON THEIR REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITY DESIGNATION, AND IT'S MY GUESS THAT THE STAFF MAY NOT BE PREPARED YET TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD FROM THAT LAST MEETING BY FEBRUARY 28TH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SAY THEY'RE NOT, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE IT JUST RELATING TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE, SINCE THERE SEEM TO BE PLENTY OF MATERIAL FROM THAT CHANGE ALONE.
>> THE AGENDA IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
BUT TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, WE WILL BE READY TO DISCUSS BOTH IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
REASON WE SUGGESTED BOTH OR PUT IT ON THERE WAS FROM THAT MEET THAT NIGHT, THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE.
BUT FOR THE TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON'S POINT,
[03:35:01]
I KNOW THAT COULD AND PROBABLY WILL TAKE UP THE ENTIRE EVENING.IT'S UP TO YOU JUST LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS AND WE'LL FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION.
>> FURTHER COMMENTS, MR. DESCHAINE?
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF KEEPING IT TO ONE TOPIC.
WE'VE DONE STUDY SESSIONS IN THE PAST.
IF WE'VE GOT ONE TOPIC, WE TEND TO DRILL DOWN AND REALLY STUDY THAT.
IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN TOPIC, IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND LIKE WE NEED TO KEEP THIS SHORT TO GET TO THIS TOPIC.
I THINK THE RRC RE-CERTIFICATION, IF WE CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE, COULD EASILY TAKE ITS OWN STUDY SESSION.
THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR ZONING ORDINANCE IN A MAJOR WAY AND THAT IT'S WORTH CERTAINLY A LOT MORE TIME TO DISCUSS IT AND WHATEVER FORMAT IT IS, I WOULD SUPPORT TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON'S NOTION THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THIS JUST TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE DISCUSSION.
IT'S A HUGE ORDINANCE AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE TOWNSHIP IN COUNTLESS WAYS.
WE'LL NEED THOSE TWO HOURS THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE.
>> OKAY. DID YOU HAVE A HAND? YOU CAN HAVE A HAND. I HAVE A QUESTION.
MR. WALSH, THIS IS A STUDY SESSION THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR 28TH, WHICH IS A REGULAR BOARD MEETING DAY.
THIS IS A SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD MEETING DATE, SO STARTING AT SIX O'CLOCK?
>> OKAY. I PRESUME I NEED A MOTION.
>> YOU HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SECONDED AS WELL, DIDN'T YOU? [LAUGHTER]
>> [INAUDIBLE] MASTER, YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT, RIGHT?
>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] THE QUESTION IS TO WHOM SECTION [INAUDIBLE] ON FEBRUARY THE 20TH AT SIX O'CLOCK.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> NO NO. THE CHAIR VOTES YES AND THE MOTION PASSES, AND 12B IS A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THE, STILL GOT TO FIND IT, THE [INAUDIBLE] IN THE R PACKAGE.
IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS MOTION? BURKE GUTHRIE.
>> I WANT TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ONE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WHERE IT SAYS, WHEREAS MILTON L. SCALES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN 2012, HE SERVED FROM 2012 TO 2016.
I THINK WE SHOULD ADD THAT HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 2023.
I JUST HAVE A FRIENDLY ADDITION TO ADD TO THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOLUTION.
>> THAT WOULD BE A [INAUDIBLE]
>> JUST INFORMATIONALLY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO AS TOTALITY OF SERVICE, HE SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION PRIOR TO BECOMING A TRUSTEE IN 2012, SO HE WAS PLANNING COMMISSIONER TWICE, IF YOU WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT YEAR IN FRONT OF YOU OF WHEN HE WAS A TRUSTEE PRIOR TO THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE HIS PLANNING COMMISSION SERVICE AND SUPERVISOR JACKSON'S SERVICES AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT. IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION?
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSED, NO, AND WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS [INAUDIBLE] I THINK IT WOULD BE EXCELLENT, IF NOT, I'M GLAD TO READ IT.
>> WHEREAS [INAUDIBLE] ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES BENEFIT FROM THE INCLUSION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO US HISTORY, AND WHEREAS IN FEBRUARY, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK HISTORY TO TOWNSHIP HISTORY, MICHIGAN HISTORY, AND US HISTORY.
WHEREAS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ENCOURAGES LEARNING FROM THE PAST IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND AND PROVE THE EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED THE UNITED STATES,
[03:40:04]
WHEREAS AFRICAN-AMERICANS ENGAGE AND SERVE THE UNITED STATES AT ALL LEVELS OF AMERICAN MAP INCLUDING GOVERNMENT, MILITARY, ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY.WHEREAS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES AND COMMEMORATES THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, AND RESILIENCE.
AND WHEREAS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, GILBERT SHERMAN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, APPOINTED TOWNSHIP TREASURER IN 1999.
IN 2000, GILBERT SHERMAN WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF TREASURE AND THUS FOR A TOWNSHIP FOR SEAT.
WHEREAS MILTON ELLS GALES WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN 2012, HE SERVED FROM 2012-2016.
WHEREAS SINCE 2015, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS ADOPTED A RECURRING COMMITMENT TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF TOWNSHIP FUNCTION AND SPECIFICALLY IN ITS BOARD GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
WHEREAS IN NOVEMBER 2016, PATRICIA HERRING JACKSON BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE ELECTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AS A TRUSTEE AND WHEREAS IN 2021, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECLARED JUNETEENTH A NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, FEDERAL HOLIDAY FOR US ALL, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BEGAN HOSTING COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, BRING AWARENESS OVER THE HOLIDAY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE TRUE END OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA.
WHEREAS IN THEORY, 2022, PATRICIA HERRING JACKSON WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE APPOINTED TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AS SUPERVISOR AND IN NOVEMBER 2022, SHE WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMEMORATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO STRUGGLED WITH ADVERSITY AND TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
>> THANK YOU. SO MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS AMENDED, CORRECT?
>> MR. LEMESTER, HAS A RESOLUTION.
>> WE CAN DO A VOICE CALL AS WELL, WHICHEVER YOU'D LIKE.
>> WE'LL DO A VOICE CALL THEN.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OH NO. CHAIR VOTES YES, AND THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO VACANCIES TO FILL, ONE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE OTHER ON THE BOARD SUPPORTED REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD DIRECTORS OF [INAUDIBLE] MR. HENDRICKSON.
>> I'M [INAUDIBLE] THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR A TERM ENDING 12, 31, 25.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM SUPERVISOR. I THINK GRAHAM IS AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR THIS COMMISSION.
THERE YOU CAN SEE HE PREVIOUSLY WAS A CANDIDATE FOR THE 13TH COMMISSION DISTRICT, AND SEEMS HE HAVE A PASSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND I THINK HE'LL BE A PERFECT FIT.
>> I WOULD CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, AND AGAIN, AS ALWAYS WE'RE SO VERY EXCITED AND HAPPY THAT WE HAVE OUR RESIDENTS SERVING ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
>> OPPOSE NO? DIETRICHS HAS BEEN APPOINTED OR APPROVED FOR [INAUDIBLE]. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENT AND I'LL LET YOU READ THAT MOTION.
>> SUPPORTED BY MISS [INAUDIBLE]. TRUSTEE WILSON.
[03:45:15]
[03:50:12]
>> THAT'S WHAT TROUBLED ME. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THAT QUESTION PLEASE?
>> EXCUSE ME, BEFORE YOU ANSWER COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND GIVE YOU GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].
>> OTHER COMMENTS? [INAUDIBLE] HENDRICKSON.
ANYONE ELSE? PRESIDENT GUTHRIE.
>> THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR.
DIRECTOR SCHMIDT, I NOTICED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL WERE ABOUT SETBACKS.
THESE UNITS ARE TO BE ABLE TO MEET SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND OUR STAFF OR RANGE OR KEY RESPONDENT THAT COULD BE PLAN UNIT, COME ACROSS AS A PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?
[03:55:02]
>> I'M SORRY. ENGINEER IS STILL LOOKING INTO EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO COME THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S A PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT OR THERE COMES THROUGH AS A STRAIGHT.
THEY PLAN BUT ULTIMATELY THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHICH DEVELOPMENT PATH THE ENGINEER DETERMINES THE BEST APPROACH FOR THEM.
>> AND THEN WILL THERE BE CHANGES TO THAT ROAD, THAT LANE COURT?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING INGHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN, GIVEN THAT THEY DO CONTROL THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH IS NEXT STEPS IS GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH DIRECTOR IN HIS OFFICE AND THE ROAD DEPARTMENT WITH CONCEPT PLAN AND START WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUE THERE WOULD BE OUR STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT.
>> CHEESY DEAL IS NOT PART OF THOSE.
>> AT THIS TIME CHEESY DEALS IS NOT PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> DO WE HAD PUT THE ADDRESS WILL BE THE COURT OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IF THEY GO DUPLEXES IS LIKELY EACH UNIT WILL GET ITS OWN ADDRESS.
SO IT'LL PROBABLY BE SIX LAKE COURT ADDRESSES AND SIX LAKE LANSING ADDRESSES.
>> I SEE. I TOO FIND THIS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR INFIELD DEVELOPMENT, AN EXCITING IDEA FOR DOING THAT.
WHEN YOU BUILD A DUPLEX, ONE DWELLING UNIT OR TWO DWELLING UNITS?
>> A DUPLEX IS GOING TO BE TWO DWELLING UNITS.
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE SEPARATED AND IT'S TWO SEPARATE GROUPS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE BUILDING.
>> SO CAN I ASK JIM, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ACCESSED SANTA FE CLIENT'S ROLE, WILL THAT BE COUPLED WITH ONE CURVE?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE ROAD DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON.
IT'S CERTAINLY BE REDUCED FROM CURRENT SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS THREE OR FOUR CURB CUTS WHERE IT'S ONE OR TWO IS TO DETERMINED.
I THINK THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE ARE GENERALLY IN FAVOR AND EXPECT TO SEE THIS COME BACK TO ME.
>> WE WILL HAVE IT ON THE NEXT MEETING FOR INTRODUCTION.
>> ITEM 13B IS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE.
AND THAT TOO WILL DIRECTOR SCHMIDT EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SENT TO US?
>> YES. I HAVE BROUGHT IN THE BIG GUNS TONIGHT AS WELL.
TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY CARLOS HERE, SO THIS IS A THREE-PART PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING FOR DISCUSSION.
THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTION HAS BEGAN WORKING ON A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION HERE, ONE OF THOSE PIECES, SO STARTING OFF PIECE WAS THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT WAS REFERRED TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL AND HAS RECOMMENDED BACK TO THE BOARD POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO ZONING ORDINANCE WOULD REMOVE, THE ORDINANCE WILL UTILIZE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WE HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE.
IT WOULD REMOVE REFERENCES TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IT WOULD REMOVE THE OVERLAY AREA ON TOWN ROAD AND THE OVERLAY ON AVENUE.
BECAUSE THE TOWN ROAD ONE WAS A DIFFICULT SITE DEVELOPING TO BEGIN WITH.
DAWN AVENUE FROM THE DIRECTOR CLARK AND MY STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE IS, WE DID NOT WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD A NEW USER POTENTIALLY COMING INTO OUR POLLUTED INDUSTRIAL AREA AND DRIVING UP THE PRICE AND POTENTIALLY DRIVING OUT THE OTHER INTEREST.
BUT ALSO GOTTEN NO INTEREST FOR IT BY LARGE.
TWO OF THE OTHER OVERLAYS WERE REDUCED SLIGHTLY JUST TO MORE PROPERLY ENGAGE WITH THE ACTUAL BUILDINGS ON THE GROUND.
SO THE EAST OR WEST CORNER [INAUDIBLE], OBVIOUSLY THE RED CEDAR DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS RECENTLY BUILD AT CEDAR FLATS.
THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE OVERLAY, IT'S A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING THERE.
WE ALSO REMOVED PROPERTIES FROM THE OPENNESS OVERLAY BECAUSE AGAIN,
[04:00:08]
NEW HOTEL AND THE CAR DEALERSHIP, THINGS LIKE THAT WERE BUILT THAT OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T EVER GOING TO CONVERT TO A DISPENSARY OPERATION.LASTLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AND STAFF INCLUDED PUBLISHED ON DRIVE-THROUGH USING A 2000 FOOT BUFFER FROM ANY OTHER LICENSED FOR US.
SO THE NEXT PIECE IS THE SMALLEST OF THE PIECES AND THAT IS THE MODIFICATIONS, THE MEDICAL LICENSING TO JUST BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THESE CHANGES.
SO REMOVING ALL OF THE OTHER USES THAT ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE IN THE ORDINANCE BASED ON THESE CHANGES.
THE BIG PIECE AND WHAT MR. [INAUDIBLE] HERE TO DISCUSS IS THE RECREATIONAL LICENSE AND SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM FOR THAT PART.
GOOD EVENING [NOISE] BOARD MEMBERS.
I WAS TO PIGGYBACK AND STARTING RIGHT WHERE TIM LEFT OFF LOOKING AT THE DRAFT RECREATION MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A DEFINITION SECTION THAT UTILIZES THE RESERVED PORTION OF CHAPTER 40 TO JUST SET DEFINITIONS FOR THE GROUP AS A WHOLE.
SO TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE AND KEEP THINGS CONCISE.
THEN YOU FIRST OPERATIVE SECTION IS GOING TO COME ON PAGE 4 SO WE'RE CREATING A NEW ARTICLE ON THAT AFTER WHICH WOULD THEN PERMIT AND REGULATE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
AT THE END OF THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE IS WHERE YOU SEE REPEAL OR SECTION WITH REPEALS ARTICLE 3 WHICH IS THE CURRENT PROHIBITION ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
SO WE CREATE A NEW ARTICLE 4 AND THEN ESTABLISH THE FIRST BIG QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE AUTHORITY TO SAY LIMIT ON ESTABLISHMENTS AND ALSO TO OPT IN ESSENTIALLY THE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENT THEY WANT TO SEE.
WE PROVIDE YOU HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION OUR RETAILERS AND GROWERS OF THE INTEREST WE SAW IN MEDICAL SIDE AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM APPLICANTS.
IN THE MEMO, YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE NOTATION MICROBUSINESSES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THIS RECREATIONAL SIDE NOT IN A MEDICAL CONTEXT.
HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT FLEW WITH THE BOARD.
I'M GOING TO HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN HAPPY TO COME BACK TO DETAILS FOR YOU.
ON PAGE 5, JUST NOTING THAT THE PERMIT HERE WOULD BE AN ANNUAL PERMIT, IT WOULD GO TO 1231 WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN HOW WE HAVE IT NOW.
NO TRANSFERS CURRENTLY DRAFTED INTO THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON YOUR MEDICAL SIDE, BUT WE'VE WORKED WITH CLIENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT A RANGE OF OPINIONS ON HOW AND WHETHER IF YOU HAVE ONE APPLICANT WAS AWARDED A PERMANENT WANT TO BRING IN AN INVESTOR OR SOMETHING, HOW THAT TRANSFER WOULD COME AND PLAY.
WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, BUT AT THIS LEVEL WE DID DRAFTING LANGUAGE, WE'RE HAPPY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ON THOSE PROVISIONS.
MOVING ON TO PAGE 6, THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO THE ACTUAL APPLICATION CONTENTS THEMSELVES ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME TO WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MEDICAL ORDINANCE, BUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS IN THE MEDICAL.
AND THAT'S DRIVEN BY STATE LAW BECAUSE WE UTILIZE THE LOTTERY BEFORE FOR AWARDING THE MEDICAL APPLICATIONS AND MEDICAL PERMITS.
YOU CANNOT USE A LOTTERY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN A RECREATIONAL CONTEXTS.
SO AGAIN, THE APPLICATIONS STILL COME TO THE COMMUNITY PLANNING DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS WE'VE LEFT IT IN THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE LOCATION.
BUT THEN THIS BOARD WOULD OPEN APPLICATION WINDOWS.
SO WHEN THE BOARD IS READY TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS, RATHER THAN HAVING A WINDOW THAT OPENS EVERY YEAR, THIS BOARD WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THAT WINDOW AND ACCEPT THE APPLICATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE TO PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS, WHICH IS ALSO A SEPARATE DOCUMENT IN THIS DRAFT THAT THIS BOARD WOULD CREATE.
IT WOULDN'T BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENT AND THAT WOULD HIDE HOW THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WOULD PROCESS THOSE APPLICATIONS AND ALSO CRITICAL COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS, HOW THE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE SCORED.
SO LOT OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS, THE VERY DETAILED WORK OF MOVING THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS WOULD BE CREATED BY THIS BOARD OUTSIDE THE ORDINANCE.
SO IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF BRINGING IN NEW CRITERIA OR JETTISON CRITERIA THAT'S NO LONGER RELEVANT OR NOT WORKING WHILE ALSO GIVING THAT DIRECTION AND POLICY TO STAFF TO IMPLEMENT.
[04:05:05]
LIKE I SAID, THE SAME APPLICATION CONTENTS, IT'S VERY SIMILAR.AND THERE WERE A FEW CHANGES THAT WE TOOK OUT IN THE MEDICAL SIDE WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IN A COMPETITIVE REVIEW CONTEXT.
HOW THEY WILL RATES THE APPLICANTS, WHO WOULD BE UNIMPORTANT, WHAT QUALITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY OPERATE IN THIS TOWNSHIP? OR ALL COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS.
SO A LOT OF THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS BECOMING LATER OR SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINANCE.
THEN MOVING TO PAGE 9, APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATIONS DRAFTED TO HAVE THEN IF ONCE THEY'RE SCORING, THE APPLICATIONS WOULD COME TO THIS BOARD AND HOW THAT SCORING HAPPENS.
I MENTIONED, THAT'S ALL IN THE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES.
SO HOW MUCH STAFF IS, HOW MUCH THIS BOARD DOES ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAN BE SET UP IN THOSE STANDARDS.
THEN PAGE 10 HAS YOUR COMPETITIVE REVIEW GUARDRAILS.
AGAIN, GO TO PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS.
IT WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS TYPICALLY HOW WE'VE SEEN COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENT THEIR COMPETITIVE REVIEW.
WE'VE HAD SOME CASES COME OUT ACTUALLY ON BOTH SIDES.
ONE COMMUNITY DID NOT USE A PUBLIC HEARING, ANOTHER COMMUNITY DID HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE COURT OF APPEAL UPHELD BOTH OF THOSE PROCEDURES THAT THESE COMMUNITIES USED.
DEPENDING ON HOW THE TOWNSHIP INFLUENCE THEM, WE CAN TAILOR THE PROCEDURAL APPROACH TO MATCH THE POLICY GOALS OF THIS BOARD.
THEN ON PAGE 11, WE HAVE PURE PROVISIONS.
IF THERE IS A CONCERN FROM AN APPLICANT FROM THE INITIAL SCORING, WE HAVE AN INITIAL APPEAL HERE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TO HELP PROVIDE SOME EFFECTIVE QUICK REMEDY, TO LOOK AT SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO LITIGATION, AND HOPEFULLY ENJOY THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY AND FEELS AND THOSE THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEARD BY THE BOARD.
THEN YOUR NEXT SECTION IS ON RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, WHICH THIS IS A BIT OF A DEPARTURE FROM THE MEDICAL CONTEXTS.
WELL, NOT REALLY, BECAUSE IN THE MEDICAL COSTS YOU HAVE THE LOBBIES AWARDED AND THEN THEY JUST AUTOMATIC RENEWED BECAUSE THERE WERE LOTTERY SELECTED.
BUT SINCE WE'RE NOT USING THE LOTTERY PIECE TO MIRROR THAT APPROACH, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS VESTS AND RENEWALS IN A STAFF PROCEDURES.
THAT'S HOW CONTEMPLATED IT THAT IF I AM SELECTED IN COMPETITIVE REVIEW, OPERATE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, AND THEN I PUT MY BUILDING AND I GET IT OPEN AND THEY COME IN FOR RENEWAL AND SAY, HEY, TEAM I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING JUST THE WAY I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO IT LAST YEAR WHEN I HAD THAT GREAT APPLICATION.
WELL, THERE'S NO REASON TO DENY THAT RENEWAL BECAUSE I'M OPERATING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I SAID BEFORE AND I KEPT MY PROMISES, PUT MY BUILDINGS AND OPEN MY DOORS.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO RENEW THAT APPLICANT.
THAT'S SOMETHING EASY THAT STAFF CAN DO.
BUT THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE 12, GOING THROUGH THAT THAT ISSUANCE, IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY APPLICATION, IF I COULDN'T COMPLETE SOME PROMISE OR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH HOW I'M RENEWING OR MAYBE I'M CHANGING SOME MATERIAL ASPECT OF MY APPLICATION.
CONTEMPLATE IS A MAJOR MINOR AMENDMENTS WHICH HAS ALL THE PROCEDURE WE USE WITH OUR SPECIAL USE PARTS AND SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MATERIALS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
AGAIN, WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS THAT WOULD HELP TEAM MAKE THE DECISION.
IS THIS A MAJOR AMENDMENT? IS THIS A MINOR AMENDMENT? I KNOW WHAT MAX DOING WITH THE LOCATION HERE.
IF THERE'S MAJOR CHANGES THAT PERHAPS WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD TO GET APPROVAL OF THAT RENEWAL.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE STRUCTURE WE CONTEMPLATED HERE.
BUT AGAIN, VERY OPEN, OF COURSE, YOUR COMMENTS ON HOW YOU WANT US THAT THAT POLICY GOAL.
IT IS WORTH NOTING IF THIS WERE WANTS TO SEE EVERY RENEWAL APPLICATION AND SEE THAT MATERIAL AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THE SAME.
THEY'RE OPERATING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY SUBMITTED, [NOISE] YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT BE A BOLD DECISION TO RENEW OR NOT RENEW, RATHER THAN UTILIZING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
AGAIN, NO TRANSFER APPLICATIONS, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT AGAIN.
THEN THE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS ARE VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN THE MEDICAL SIDE.
ONE QUESTION WE DID RECEIVE [INAUDIBLE] JUST HIGHLIGHTED IS WE DO HAVE SIGN RESTRICTIONS WINNING THE CONTENT OF WHAT IT CAN SAY ON THOSE SIGNS.
YOU CAN'T SAY MARIJUANA. YOU CAN'T SAY CANNABIS.
WHICH NORMALLY, AS YOU WILL GO THROUGH THE STUDY SESSION, WE DON'T DO, GET AWAY FROM CONTENT.
[04:10:02]
BUT AGAIN, MARIJUANA IS VERY SPECIAL AND IS STILL PROHIBITED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WE BELIEVE THERE ARE VERY GOOD REASONS TO LIT THE ADVERTISING.WE HAVEN'T UTILIZE THESE TYPE PROVISIONS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY CHALLENGES TO IT AT THIS TIME.
THEN ALSO AGAIN, IMPLEMENTING THE NO DRIVE-THROUGH CAB SIDE SERVICE, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THE STATE REGULATOR PERMITTED IN THEIR RULES.
AGAIN, WE WANT THE DRAFT HERE.
WE'D HAVE A POLICY DECISION THAT THESE TRANSACTIONS SHOULD OCCUR WITHIN THE BUILDING AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY TRANSACTIONS OCCURRING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
THEN PAGE 16, ARE YOUR PENALTIES.
THIS IS A DIFFERENCE FROM YOUR MEDICAL ORDINANCE, ALSO DRIVEN BY STATE LAW.
BERTMO VIOLATIONS, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS ARE LIMITED WITH CIVIL INFRACTION AT $500, RATHER THAN THE SCALED STEPPED, MULTI-TIERED FINE PROVISION WE HAVE IN THE MEDICAL SIDE.
THAT'S THE MOST WE CAN PUT IN THERE BY STATUTE AS A VIOLATION OF THE SEDIMENTS.
WE HAVE TWO ACTIONS THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE AGAINST SOME WHO'S REALLY A BAD ACTOR.
WELL, ONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE STATE POTENTIALLY COMING INVOLVED.
WE'VE SEEN NOW THE CRA, THE CANNABIS ROTARY AGENCY USED TO BE THE MRA, THE MARIJUANA REGULATORY AGENCY.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY SUSPENDED A FEW STATE LICENSES AND SHUT DOWN A FEW OPERATORS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT IN YOUR BACK POCKET FOR ONE, IF IT'S REALLY BAD ACTOR.
CERTAINLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, EVERY DAY THAT A VIOLATION CONTINUES IF THERE'S ONGOING PROBLEM LET'S SAY YOU ARE DOING CURBSIDE SERVICE.
WELL, WE CAN WRITE MULTIPLE TICKETS FOR THAT AND THAT $500 IS GOING TO ADD UP IF YOU'RE WRITING THEM EVERY DAY.
THEN SECONDLY, THERE'S DENIAL REVELATION.
WE CAN DENY RENEWAL BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILURE TO OPERATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE OR IF IT'S EXTREMELY SERIOUS LIKE THIS STATE, WE CAN MOVE FOR REVOCATION PROCEEDINGS.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DIFFERENCE HERE AND THE REMEDY AND ENFORCEMENT, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE DONE WE CAN TO VEST THE BOARD, SUFFICIENT TEETH TO ENFORCE WHAT IS IT A VERY IMPORTANT REGULATORY ORDINANCE.
THEN THE REPEAL THERE AT THE END, SO THE PREVIOUS PROHIBITION.
>> I JUST WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT.
BECAUSE AS INTERCULTURAL MOTION THERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON.
THE TRANSFER QUESTION OBVIOUSLY BEING ONE OF THEM.
THE ANSWER IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY IN THESE LICENSES AND TO BE TRANSFERRED AMONG QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS.
HAVING A NO TRANSFER POLICY IS DIFFICULT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO DISCUSS.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RADAR LICENSES THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO SEE IS SOMETHING THAT IN THE CURRENT DRAFT, WE LEFT THE BLANK.
FUNCTIONAL OR NOT IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DIED FROM A RETAIL PRODUCTIVE.
THERE WILL BE A MAXIMUM OF [INAUDIBLE] MAXIMUM OF SIX LICENSES AVAILABLE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
RIGHT NOW UNDER THE RECREATIONAL SIDE AND MEDICAL SIDE, THERE WILL BE FIVE OVERLY DISTRICTS IF THIS PROPOSAL GOES FORWARD.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSES IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WILL WANT TO DISCUSS.
LASTLY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE LAST PART OF THEIR DISCUSSION DID WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE POTENTIAL GOAL OPERATION.
HAGEDORN ROAD WHERE ONE IS THEORETICALLY PERMITTED NOW UNDER THE MEDICAL LICENSE.
STAFF HAS STUCK ALL ROWS FROM THE ORDINATE AT THIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS, DOES THE BOARD WISH TO PURSUE THAT? AS MR. KUSHELS MENTIONED, THE MICRO BUSINESS LICENSE OPTION AND THE RECREATIONAL SIDE IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATES CREATED A CLASS A MICRO-BUSINESS LICENSE THAT ALLOWS GROWING THEM UP TO 300 PLANTS AND SALES ON THE SAME PROPERTY THAT IS A VIABLE OPTION, IT IS ON THE SMALL SIDE OF A GOAL OPERATIONS.
IT TRIES TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE OF SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO DO, I GUESS A SEED TO TABLE TYPE OF THING.
THEY'RE REALLY THE THREE MAIN QUESTIONS ASIDE FROM THE BROADER POLICY QUESTIONS AND SPECIFICS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO.
THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG QUESTIONS WE DO NEED FEEDBACK ON SO WE CAN FINALIZE THIS AND FINALIZE THE DRAFT TO MOVE FORWARD.
[04:15:01]
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WHILE YOU'VE GOT US BOTH HERE.>> WE'LL START WITH GENERAL QUESTIONS AND THEN THERE WILL BE SPECIFIC AS WE GO ALONG.
>> I ALWAYS FORGET IT CHANGES YOUR SCREEN. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO GET DOWN TO THE OVERLAY MAP HERE.
>> SO THAT WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO US DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS HERE.
>> WELL, WE'RE CONSIDERING HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION.
THEY CAN EVEN DIVE INTO THIS FURTHER?
>> WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED IT AS THE BOARD YET.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A LOT TAKEN AND I JUST [OVERLAPPING] ASKING FOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> I WOULD BACK UP [INAUDIBLE] ON THEM, THAT WE'VE GOT THESE THREE NEW BUST OF THE TRANSFER LICENSES, MAXIMUM RETAIL, AND THERE'S WHOLE NEW GROW COOPERATION, WHICH YOU'D NEVER REALLY ACTIVELY CONSIDERED TO BE FOR INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
CLUSTER BROADER POLICY QUESTIONS.
THESE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS. THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK HIM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, BUT A STUDY SESSION ON THESE TOPICS AND THE BROADER POLICY QUESTION WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN THIS.
WE'VE GOT THE ONE ALREADY PLANNED AND I WOULD THINK WE COULD FIND A TUESDAY, MARCH THAT THE BOARD IS NOT MEETING THAT BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] FOCUS JUST ON THIS ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OR MORE.
>> ON THE BOARD MEMBERS. TRUSTEE WISINSKI.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK SESSION 2, THIS IS A LOT.
I WONDER THOUGH THERE'S NOT ALL THAT MANY CHANGES OTHER THAN THE THREE QUESTIONS THAT DIRECTOR SCHMIDT IS ASKING US TO LOOK AT.
I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, HOW LONG DO WE WANT TO PROLONG THIS AND JUST CONSIDERING HOW LONG THE LAST PROCESS TOOK? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO CONFIRM DECISIONS, BUT JUST GIVING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, JUST CONSIDERING THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS IMPLEMENTED AND THAT THE CURRENT AND/OR POTENTIAL PERMIT HOLDERS CAN BEGIN OR RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THEY'VE MADE INTO COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I WOULD AGREE WITH A STUDY SESSION THIS LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT ON THE BOARD WHEN THIS DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK IN TIME TO HAVE ZERO ATTENTION OF PROLONG YET.
I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS IS, JUST LIKE A PROPOSAL I NEED FOR THE SIGN AND TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A STUDY SESSION AS WELL AND GIVE IT THE SAME CONSIDERATION.
I LIKE TO VOTE ON THINGS, I'M NOT ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THOSE BEFORE ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THESE ARE, HOW THEY REGULATE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
YEAH, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE STUDY SESSION AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I CONCUR WITH A MAJORITY OF THE GROUP.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST THREE QUESTIONS, THESE ARE THREE BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY I WOULD CONCUR WITH A STUDY SESSION TO FOCUS ON THIS.
WE CAN MAKE THAT STUDY SESSION [INAUDIBLE] WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE OUR BEST OPTION SO THAT ALL CONCERNS CAN BE MET.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
ON THE TOPIC OF STUDY SESSIONS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE.
WHILE ALSO, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS IN AN EFFICIENT WAY.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS ISSUE.
[04:20:03]
THEY SPOKE BACK IN AUGUST AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN VARIOUS FORMATS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.I WASN'T ON THE BOARD WHEN MULTIPLE PATHS, BUT IT WASN'T THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND SO WE SAW AT LEAST THE ZONING PORTION OF IT.
THAT TOOK QUITE A WHILE ONCE WE GET GOING.
I KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S AREN'T DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK ON THIS.
QUESTION THAT I HAVE PROCEDURALLY IS WE'RE INTRODUCING SEVERAL ORDINANCES HERE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS GO AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AT WHAT POINT WILL THERE BE A PUBLIC HEARING IN THAT PROCESS?
>> I'M ASSUMING THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS ALREADY BEEN HELD.
THAT IS HELD AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL, THAT IS UNDER STATE LAW, THAT IS WITH PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD.
>> THEN A PUBLIC HEARING PER SE DOES NOT THEN NEED TO OCCUR.
>> NOT FOR THE NON ZONING ORDINANCE.
THERE WERE ALREADY A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CORROSION AT THE NEW ORDINANCE?
>> CORRECT. IT'S JUST YOUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
YOU HAVE THIS MEETING, YOU'D HAVE AN INTRODUCTION MEETING AND AN ACTUAL MEETING.
IT'S ALL THOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND SPACE ON THE AGENDA.
IF THIS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN DO THAT AND HAVE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR AGENDA WHERE PEOPLE COULD COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THAT.
OR HAVE A STUDY SESSION THAT'S ALSO A PUBLIC MEETING IN ORDER TO STUDY SESSION.
I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
I WAS CURIOUS IF ONE WAS REQUIRED OF US.
I ALSO THINK THAT SIMPLY BY PUTTING THIS ON OUR AGENDA, WE ARE OFFERING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT THIS.
I WONDER IF WHEN WE APPROVE THIS FOR INTRODUCTION, IF WE'LL HAVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT.
FROM A SCHEDULING PERSPECTIVE, I WONDER IF WE SHOULD PERHAPS UP FOR INTRODUCTION, PERHAPS AT OUR NEXT MEETING OR THE MEETING AFTER AND THEN HAVE A STUDY SESSION.
WE CAN GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, DIVE INTO IT MORE DEEPLY.
THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO OUR FINAL DISCUSSION ON THIS, OUR FINAL ACTION ON IT, WITH ALL OF THOSE PIECES IN PLACE.
THAT WAY WE AREN'T SLOWING THINGS DOWN TREMENDOUSLY.
WE ARE OFFERING BOTH PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND GIVE OURSELVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH STIFFEN, THE ATTORNEYS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BLANKET. BUT TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE IT WOULD YOU NEED TO FILL IN THE BLANKS? SUBMIT CORRECT INTRODUCTION.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND I THINK, TO HAVE THE SESSION THEN INTRODUCE IT.
>> MR. SMITH. WE ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF KEEPING IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM UNTIL WE'RE READY TO EVEN INTRODUCE IT.
YEAH, UNTIL WE ARE READY TO INTRODUCE IT THOUGH AS A SEPARATE SUBSECTION AS WE CONTINUE AT SEVERAL MEETINGS AND HAVING IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
>> YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE THAT ABILITY TO INSERT IT IN THE AGENDA.
>> BUT I DO AGREE CONCERN TO THIS SECTION MIGHT BE USEFUL TO US ONCE WE HAVE BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND AND START MAKING OR DECIDING ON THE CHANGES WE WANT TO ADOPT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THEN THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE MORE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
I'M PROBABLY CONTINUE TO PUT IT IN AS A DISCUSSION ITEM UNTIL WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THAT, ACTUALLY CHANGING IT AND MOVING IT FOR INTRODUCTION.
>> EVERYBODY FOLLOWING THAT? [LAUGHTER]
>> QUESTION MADAM SUPERVISORS, SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING KEEP IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE A STUDY SECTION?
>> WE COULD HAVE A STUDY SECTION.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WE CAN BEGIN TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT.
THEN WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION TO JUST SOLIDIFY ALL OF THAT AND COMPLETE THE PROCESS BEFORE WE INTRODUCE AN ADOPTION.
I'M GOING TO HAVE VOTE ON THE ADOPTION FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE.
>> THOSE WOULD HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY.
YOU'RE THINKING IT STAYS ON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>>IT STAYS ON THE DISCUSSION IN THE AGENDA.
>> WE COULD HAVE A WORK STUDY SESSION.
>> WE COULD DECIDE IN THE PROCESS WHEN WE I BELIEVE,
[04:25:03]
FOR FOLK'S STUDY SESSION, YES.>> HERE'S THE TOWNSHIP NOT SURE.
IF WE WERE TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION FIRST AVAILABLE TUESDAY OR WHATEVER IT IS IN MARCH, THEN AT THE NEXT TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, WE COULD HAVE INTRODUCTION.
THEN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING COULD BE DISCUSSION, CORRECT?
>> YEAH. EQUAL TO SUPERVISORS JESSICA, IF I MAY HURRY THIS DISCUSSION CORRECTLY, THE THIS MEETING ON THE 21ST, YOU'D HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION.
YOU'D REALLY NAIL DOWN WHAT THE ISSUE'S THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN A CLOSE SECTION.
MORE LIKE YOU'RE HERE, AND YOU WANT TO GET TO HERE, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE STUDY SESSION TO MAKE THE STUDY SESSION MORE USEFUL.
YES. THEN THE STUDY SESSION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS, THE 21ST WITHIN A WEEK TO 10 DAYS AFTER THAT.
FROM THERE THEN IT WOULD GO TO INDUCTION.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ON THE SCHEDULE TO HAVE THIS HYPED UP TOWARD THE END OF MARCH ROUGHLY.
BUT ONE OTHER SUGGESTION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, I HATE TO THROW A CURVE BALL INTO ALL THIS BUT WHAT YOU COULD ALSO CONSIDER, IT'S UP TO YOU.
BUT MY THING IS JUST GIVE YOU IDEAS AND DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU'VE GOT THE SIGN ISSUE THAT'S ONLY BEEN OUT HERE FOR AWHILE.
YOU HAVE THE MARIJUANA ISSUE THAT'S BEEN OUT HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION ON THE 21ST.
THEN HAVE YOUR STUDY SESSION ON THE 28TH ON THIS TOPIC IF YOU BELIEVE THIS IS THE TOPIC THAT'S RIGHT BY THE 28TH.
IF YOU WANT TO PUT DESIGNS ON THE 28TH, THEN YOU WOULD PUT THEY'D BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER.
YOU HAVE A STUDY SESSION FOR MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THE 21ST WOULD BE DISCUSSION, NARROW DOWN YOUR ISSUES.
THEN YOU WOULD SCHEDULE THIS, AND ON THAT AGENDA WE'LL BE SETTING A DATE FOR YOUR STUFF SESSION COMING UP IN THE TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE 21ST.
THERE PROBABLY WILL BE A STUDY SESSION TWO WEEKS EARLIER ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE A STUDY SESSION.
THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE OUR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THEN YOU'D GO TO INTRODUCTION IN 1ST MARCH AND FOLLOW UP WITH THE END OF MARCH.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YES. CAN I DULY SCHEDULED TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING IN MARCH.
THAT FIRST BOARD MEETING BE A STUDY SESSION, CAN BE WITHIN THAT BOARD MEETING?
>> THE QUESTION IS THE BOARD IS THE PREROGATIVE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANNA DO AND STAND TO FOLLOWING YOUR DIRECTIVE.
TO GIVE YOU ADVICE, IS THAT I WOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON THE SEVENTH AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP THAT MEETING.
>> BUT SETTING AT EIGHT AND HAVING YOUR STUDY SESSION EARLY MARCH, IT'S CERTAINLY DOABLE.
>> I THINK THE MANAGERS MADE AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF OUR STATE SESSION THAT WE APPROVED THIS EVENING.
BEING THE MEDICAL MIRRORS THEORY, THE ORIGINAL MARIJUANA ISSUE RATHER THAN THE SIGNS.
SIGNS HAS BEEN A LONGTIME COMING CERTAINLY.
IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER DIRECTOR, SCHMIDT AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS WORKED ON TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST YEAR.
BUT IF WAITED A MONTH, I THINK IF THIS IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE UP, THAT I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH REPLACING THE SUBJECT IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DECIDES.
>> MOTION BY SUPERVISOR DID NOT SPECIFY THE TOPIC.
>> ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST SAY WAS FLIPPING THAT UP AND BEEN WORKING AND DISCUSS THAT ALL.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, SIR?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
>> YOU'VE CHANGED THE SUBJECT.
>> I THINK THE SUPERVISOR PROBABLY WOULD SET THE AGENDA FOR THIS SESSION SIMILARLY TO AS YOU WOULD FOR THE MEETINGS.
I'M PERFECTLY WILLING TO LEAVE THAT IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS.
>> JUST TO REITERATE FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, IF THIS IS WHAT PROPORTIONS IS TO DO SEVERAL LINES ON THE SAME PAGE.
FEBRUARY 21ST IS YOUR NEXT MEETING AND IT'LL BE ON FOR DISCUSSION ONLY.
THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY ON THE 28TH, YOU'LL HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON THAT ISSUE AND THEN YOU'LL BRING IT UP FOR YOU TO GO WITH IT ON THEIR OWN.
THEY COULD END UP ON THE MEETINGS IN MARCH.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY EXPEDITING THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE OTHER SCHEDULE ROSE TO MEETINGS IN MARCH AS WELL.
THIS JUST SIT ON EXACTLY WHAT MEETING DATES TO DISCUSS WHAT.
[04:30:04]
THAT'S THE 21ST DISCUSSION, 20 STUDY SESSION WILL BE ON THAT ISSUE.THE TWO MEETINGS IN MARCH WOULD BE FOR THE PROCESS OF THAT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO ALL OF YOU.
>> I'M GETTING A CONSENSUS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
OUR NEXT MEETING, WE'LL HAVE IT ON DISCUSSION.
WE'LL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS BACK [LAUGHTER] FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE A STUDY SESSION.
LET ME CLARIFY THAT. AT THIS POINT, WE COULD CONTINUE.
WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION BEFORE CLOSING OUT THE NIGHT.
>> I THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE WHOLE THING TONIGHT.
I HAVE GOT A COUPLE OF THE BURNING QUESTIONS.
>> OFFER A COUPLE OF OPINIONS OF QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY IF YOU ENTERTAINED.
THE THREE MAIN ISSUES, I DEFINITELY NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSFERRING BECAUSE THAT IS SCENARIO THAT I DON'T PUT THEM TOO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF.
WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER TWO, I'M CURIOUS AS TO THIS IS PERHAPS FOR OUR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY.
HOW WOULD ALLOWING ONE GROW OPERATION IN ONE SPECIFIC OVERLAY NOT OPEN US UP TO A SLEW OF LAWSUITS FROM THE OTHER, HOWEVER MANY IN THE OTHER OVERLAYS?
>> THERE'S TWO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.
THEY'RE SIMPLY WITH ZERO INTEREST.
FOR GROWERS. YOU HAD LOCAL GROWERS AVAILABLE.
WE RECEIVED ZERO MEDICAL GROWER APPLICATIONS.
I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING SOMETHING THAT'S LOOKING TO BE DEVELOPED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IT BE A LARGE PART OF THE MARIJUANA INTRODUCTION IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THEN SECONDLY, STATUTORILY, THE TOWNSHIP HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SET THE LOCATION, TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS.
THAT INCLUDES BOTH THROUGH OWNING AUTHORITY AND THE POLICE ROWER REGULATORY AUTHORITY.
IT WOULD SIMPLY BE IF YOU HAVE ONE GROW FROM IT AVAILABLE AND YOU HAVE ONE ZONED AREA.
ALL OF A SUDDEN 10 PEOPLE GET CONTINGENT PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND SUBMIT GRAY APPLICATIONS THEN YOU DO A COMPETITIVE REVIEW FOR YOUR GROWTH.
IT FOLLOWS THE SAME PROCESS AS YOU WOULD FOR A RETAILER.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO DO THIS IN THE SAME WAY THAT A MICROBREWERY WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO AND SELL IT THERE ON LOCATION.
EVEN IF WE HAVE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO DO SO.
JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE IT FEELS DISCRIMINATORY EVEN IF IT ISN'T.
I BELIEVE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, THIS CAME FROM ONE OF THE APPLICANTS WHO ALREADY HAS AN EXISTING MEDICAL PERMIT IN ONE OF THESE OVERLAY AREAS; IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> ROUGHLY, THEY CONTINUE TO BRING THIS ISSUE UP AT THE PLANET CUSHION, DID THAT RECOMMENDATION AFTER THEIR FINAL DISCUSSION ON TOPIC.
IT WAS DRIVEN THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.
>> I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WANT TO DO BUSINESS HERE AND THAT'S TERRIFIC.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, WE SHOULD BE SHAPING OUR ORDINANCE AROUND ONE SPECIFIC APPLICANT AT ONE SPECIFIC POINT IN TIME.
I JUST LOST ALL MY SCREEN [LAUGHTER] WITH REGARD TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RETAIL LICENSE, WHICH IS THE OTHER ROD OPERATIVE QUESTION, I WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT THEY DID TO AMEND THE OVERLAY MAP.
NUMBER AFTER REMOVING THE TONER ROAD AND THE DAWN AVENUE SECTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS OVERLAY MAP.
ONE THING I NOTICED WAS THAT YOU INDICATE THAT THERE WAS REALLY THREE THAT YOU COULD THEORETICALLY MORE THAN ONE ESTABLISHMENT IN THERE.
IS THAT JUST CORNER TO CORNER, IF YOU WERE TO DO THE TWO OPPOSITE PARTICLES THAT WOULD FIT?
>> IT IS SURPRISINGLY NOT JUST CORNER TO CORNER, BUT THE FACT THAT THE EXISTING MEDICAL LICENSE IS AT THE FAR EASTERN AND THAT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS ADDED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE OF THE MEDICAL DISCUSSION.
[04:35:04]
IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE THAT THEY'RE FAR ENOUGH TO EASE THAT YOU COULD THEN THEY'RE IS NOT JUST CHICAGO.THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAN ALONG MARSH AND GRAND RIVER.
I MEAN, I SAY, NEWMAN, ITS TARGET, THAT COULD QUALIFY THAT.
EVEN WITH THE 2,000-FOOT SEPARATION.
>> SURE. I THINK THE INTENT OF THE 2000-FOOT SEPARATION TO DIVE INTO THE MINDS TOO MUCH OF ANYONE ELSE, WAS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ONE PER OVER THE AREA.
WHAT IS THE DISTANCE REQUIRED THAT WOULD GUESS TO THAT GOAL?
>> IF THE GOAL IS WHIMPER OVERLAY, WE WOULD SILLY RECOMMEND ONE PER OVERLAY.
>> WHY DID WE CHOOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY INSTEAD OF THAT?
>> BECAUSE THE ZONING ORDINANCE DOESN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.
THE 2,000 FEET CAME OUT OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
THAT WAS A LIMITATION THAT YOU COULD DO IN THE ZONING ORDINANCES SEPARATION REQUIREMENT.
>> I SEE. FROM MY PERSONAL OPINION, I THINK ONE PER OVERLAY CERTAINLY SUFFICES FROM A RETAIL PERSPECTIVE.
THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION THERE.
NOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FLYSPECK EFFECTS IF YOU DON'T MIND ME GETTING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF IT BRIEFLY.
I MENTIONED ONE OF THEM TO RECTOR SCHMIDT, WHICH WAS THERE WAS A POINT IN HERE THAT APPEAR TO BE INCONGRUOUS WITH THE ORDINANCE, THE MEMO OF THE ORDINANCE WERE NOT IN ALIGNMENT THAT INDICATED THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE INVOLVED IN RENEWABLES.
IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION FOR RENEWALS, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S MAIN THRUST OF THE TEXT.
THERE IS SOME TENSION THERE BECAUSE OF THAT POLICY DECISION HASN'T BEEN MADE.
WHETHER THAT WANTS TO GO TO THE BOARD OR WHETHER THAT BE WANTING TO LEAVE THAT AS NEURAL.
THERE'S A FEW PIECES OF TENSIONS STILL THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE TO GO THROUGH AND FLY SPEC VERY WELL ONCE HAD CONFIRMATION OF THE POLICY DIRECTION.
THERE ARE A FEW PIECES LIKE THAT.
I'M WHERE I WOULD REALLY CHECK THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE OKAY.
WE'LL GET IT SPECIFICALLY THAT WITH THAT DIRECTION.
>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF AN APPLICANT HAS GONE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS AND THE TOWNSHIP STAFF IS DEEMED TO BE THE APPLICANT TO BE CONTINUING ON PERFORMING WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO BRING FIVE APPLICANTS BACK IN FRONT OF US EVERY YEAR TO HAVE THEIR PERMITS RENEWED.
THAT SEEMS A BIT EXCESSIVE TO ME.
THEN ON PAGE 12, THE RENEWAL PROCEDURE, YOU IDENTIFIED MAJOR AND MINOR AMENDMENTS WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY.
MINOR AMENDMENTS I SEE IN B2 THE DIRECT MAY GRANT FINAL APPROVALS THAT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS WITH MINOR AMENDMENTS INITIATIVE PERMIT.
IT DOES NOT SAY WHAT HAPPENS WITH RENEWALS THAT HAVE UNDERGONE MAJOR AMENDMENTS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
>> IN THE SENSE THAT A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE PIECES THAT I THINK ATTORNEY OFFICIAL MENTIONED.
IT IS GOING TO BE FLUSHED OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW STANDARDS WHICH WILL COME AFTER THE ORDINANCES IN PLACE.
>> THEN UNDER THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW, WE WOULD SEE ALL THE APPLICANTS.
TALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
>> THAT CAN WORK A MULTITUDE OF WAYS, EXACTLY.
IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS YOU SET UP 10 FACTORS THAT GETS SCORED.
YOU DIRECT THE DIRECTOR TO SCORE THEM AND GIVE YOU SUMMARIES AND THEN YOU MAKE A DECISION OR IT CAN BE AS COMPLEXES.
EACH ONE OF YOU GOES THROUGH EVERY APPLICATION, SCORES THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
YOU WILL ALL TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR VISION OF THE COMMUNITY AS IN HOW THIS APPLICANT FITS IN THAT VISION, WE GET AN AGGREGATE SCORE THAT THEN GETS RANKED OUT AND THEN YOU GET A COMPETITIVE PS.
THEN YOU COULD DO SOMETHING IN MIDDLEWARE HYDRIDE IS SCHMIDT AND HE DOES AN INITIAL SCORING AND REVIEW, SUBMITS THAT TO A SUBCOMMITTEE WHO MAKES A FINAL REVIEW AND RECOMMENDS A DECISION TO THIS BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL, OR THE HEAVY LIFTING GETS TAKEN CARE OF GETS SPLIT IN HALF.
NOT FULLY ADMINISTRATIVE BUT SUBCOMMITTEES ARE NOT FULL BOARD BUT THEN STILL HAVING A FULL BOARD CHECK.
[04:40:05]
I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS BEING UTILIZED.THOSE ARE WEARING ONE OR AT LEAST THOSE HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND NOT GET TOO CRAZY, BUT AS CREATIVE AS YOU CAN GET, I WILL WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE DESIRES. [LAUGHTER]
>> SURE. I SAY TO SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO GET DONE CORRECTLY PREPARE THIS SECONDARY STANDARDS AND POLICIES THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU REFERENCED.
>> JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS TRUE IN TERMS OF TIMELINE.
SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE A STUDY SESSION INTRODUCE AND PASS AN ORDINANCE, BUT THEN THERE'S PRESUMABLY MONTHLY WORTH OF WORK TO GENERATE THIS DOCUMENT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS NOWHERE WITH POLICIES AND STANDARDS AND A LOT OF BOARD DECISION MAKING ON HOW WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE MONTHS TO COME AFTER THAT.
>> YES. AGAIN, THE BOARD CAN DRIVE THEM DIRECT THE TIMING OF THAT AND RESPOND TO FEEDBACK THAT IT RECEIVES.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, FOR EXAMPLE, AS PART OF DISCUSSION ON THE 21ST, WE CAN GET STARTED ON A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT'D BE FILLED IN THERE.
BUT IF WE COULD GET YOU SOMETHING FOR THE 21ST TO AT LEAST HAVE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT.
IT'D BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION SESSION ON THE 28TH.
WHETHER THAT DEVELOPS IN TANDEM WITH THE UNITS AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE DOING ALL THAT WORK AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'LL UTILIZE A LOT OF BANDWIDTH TO DO THAT.
ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN TAKE THE OTHER APPROACH IS LET'S GET THE BLACK LETTER LAW, THE ORDINANCE IN PLACE FIRST, FOCUSING ENERGY THERE, AND THEN I'LL FOCUS MY ENERGY ON THE COMPETITIVE STANDARDS THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIT LONGER OF A PROCESS, BUT ALLOW YOU TO MANAGE YOUR BANDWIDTH AND THE OTHER POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE TOWNSHIP.
THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE, TO ME IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN'T USE.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE IT READY TO GO AND DONE CONCURRENTLY.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING, WE'VE GOT THE ARGUMENTS AND NELL MINOW GOT TO WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THAT TO ME, DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
[LAUGHTER] NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. REGARDING THE QUESTION OF LOSSES LIKE I COME OUT SAYING NO TO OTHER GROW OPERATIONS.
I THINK THE REASON WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR GROW OUT OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.
WE RESTRICT THAT TO INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE OF THOSE OVERLAYS IN INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
THAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER AS TO WHY THERE IS NO INTEREST.
IN GROW OPERATIONS JUST THE OTHER SESSION HAD NO INDUSTRIAL ZONING WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE GROWN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT MARKET ANSWERED, I SHARE TRUST YOUR HENDRICKSON'S FEAR THAT IF WE CAN ALL WORK FOR ONE, IT SEEMS UNFAIR.
TWO, WE OPENED THE DOOR TO LAWSUIT.
I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS OUR LITIGIOUS AREA OF REGULATION. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
>> ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO RESTRICT THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF BEING SUED WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO ME.
I'M GUESSING THAT ARE LEGAL FEES ALONE WILL CONSUME EVERYDAY OF LICENSING AND PROBABLY MUCH IN THE TACK OR WHENEVER WE GET FROM THIS IF OUR EXPENSES SIMILAR TO OTHER FACILITIES.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A REVENUE GENERATOR.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY AND MANAGE OUR LOSSES IN THIS MATTER.
REGARDING THE SECOND EXCELLENT COORDINATE, TRUSTEE HENDRIX BROUGHT UP ABOUT DEVELOPING THE POLICIES IN TANDEM WITH THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK IT'S LIKE TRYING TO CHANGE A TIRE ON A MOVING CAR.
I THINK WE SHOULD CREATE THE LAW, CREATE THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN FROM THERE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOARD HAS DECIDED ON, FOR THE POLICY WOULD FOLLOW.
IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF WORK MORE THAN ONCE IF THE PARTIES IS MINE AND THIS ISSUE THAT ISSUE.
THIS IS A BIG CHANGE FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, I THINK WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT AND FOLLOW THE RIGHT STEPS FOR THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE WILSON.
LIKE CONCUR WITH THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ON THE ISSUES OF HAVING ONLY ONE CORE LICENSE AND IN A SPECIFIC AREA,
[04:45:01]
I THINK WE SHOULDN'T LET THAT GO AWAY WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA USAGE, A&M, ONE SINGLE APPROACH TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RETAIL MARIJUANA IN ASSYRIA.I ALSO OCCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON ON ONE FACILITY PER OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH MAKES SENSE AND FROM A COMPETITIVE S, BUT ALSO MAKES SENSE.
I SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN LAWSUITS.
PERHAPS OUR ATTORNEY COULD HELP US THE FUTURE DATE IN AVOIDING THEREFORE, WE GET TO WRITING THE FINAL ORDINANCE.
AVOIDING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MOST LITIGIOUS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE IS CLEAN AND ORDINANCES WE CAN AND MOST LEVEL, NOT DISCRIMINATORY PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN PURSUING AN OPERATION SUCH THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT TRANSFERS.
TIM, YOU SAID THEY'RE PROBLEMATIC.
IS THIS TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP?
>> YES. THERE'S TWO PIECES HERE.
MANY OF THESE GROUPS TAKE ON MINORITY PARTNERS AS THEY EVOLVE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TOSSED AROUND TO 12 PERCENT TRANSFER AS A MAXIMUM AND A GIVEN YEAR, SO THAT FULL TRANSFER COULDN'T HAPPEN FUNCTIONALLY FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE MEDICAL ORDINANCE RESTRICTS OUT OF TOWNSHIP OWNERS FROM TRANSFERRING WITHIN 30 MONTHS.
BUT THEN AFTER THAT 30 MONTHS, THERE ARE NO LANGUAGE OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THAT PIECE AND WE WILL NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
THAT CERTAINLY TO GET COULDN'T BE PART OF THE STANDARDS FOR COMPETITOR REVIEW IF WE TAKE THAT 30 MONTH TRANSFER LIMITATION THAT EXISTS ON THE METAL SIDE FROM AN APPLICATION PERSPECTIVE AND SLIDE IT OVER TO A STANDARD OF POINTS THAT YOU GET FIVE POINTS IF YOU RESTRICT YOUR TRANSFERS FOR A PERIOD OF 30 MONTHS.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
>> IT APPEARS IN THE ORDINANCE THE WAY YOU'RE PROPOSING IT IS NO TRANSFERS.
>> WHETHER THERE'S NO TRANSFER IS THAT BECAUSE THAT IS FRANKLY WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
ABSOLUTELY. I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT IN A SECOND, WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT PRIOR MENTAL CONCERNS OF ELDERS BECAUSE THAT IS ON THING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO ME, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND YOU DO ADDRESS THIS IN HERE.
THE THINGS IN MY MIND RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT CURBSIDE SERVICE.
>> THIS WAS AN ITEM THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS PRETTY UNIFIED IN THEIR REGARD THAT THEY DID NOT WANT BUSINESS TRANSACTING OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.
NO VEHICULAR BECAUSE I THINK AT LEAST ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS HAD A SPECIFIC CONCERN WITH ALL OTHER OPERATORS FUNCTIONING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND SAW IT AS POTENTIAL NEGATIVE THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO HEAD OFF AND DIDN'T TOUCH IT.
>> I THINK YOU CAN ANALOGIZE TO ALCOHOL.
THAT WAS ALSO PART OF THE PUSH FOR THE STATEWIDE BALLOTS REGULATE MARIJUANA.
WELL, YOU CAN'T BUY ALCOHOL AT A DRIVE-THROUGH.
YOU CAN'T BUY ALCOHOL IN THE PARKING LOT OF LIQUOR STORE.
YOU HAVE TO GO INTO A LIQUOR STORE.
AGAIN, FOLLOWING THAT ANALOGY.
>> I CAN HAVE ALCOHOL DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE.
I CAN GO ON THE SHIP APP AND HAVE A MINOR SHARPER, DELIVER ALCOHOL TO MY HOUSE.
WHEN I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER LAST YEAR, I WENT TO MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT AND THEY GAVE CURBSIDE SERVICE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE.
I HAD AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE WHO POSSIBLY CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR CAR WHO'S NOT MOBILE.
WE'RE RESTRICTING IT FROM BEING DELIVERED AND WE'RE RESTRICTING IT FROM DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW AND RESTRICTING IT FROM CURBSIDE SERVICE.
I HAD AN ISSUE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF MOBILITY ISSUES, FOR TRYING TO BRING THIS HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP, OUR RESTRICTING THEM STILL GOING TO GO OVER TO EASLEY AND SIGN TO GET CURBSIDE SERVICE FOR MARIJUANA.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE A CURBSIDE SERVICE AND ADRIENNE FOR PEOPLE WHO I DON'T PULL FIBROMYALGIA AND THEY JUST HAVE TO STRUGGLES MOVING AROUND.
I WOULD RATHER SEE CURBSIDE SERVICE OR SOMETHING IN THERE.
[04:50:08]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THERE'S LAWSUITS WITH DATA WITH ISSUES ON HERE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD INITIATES IN THAT REGARD.>> NO LITIGATION ON THAT POINT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THE ONE OTHER THING I CAN SAY IS IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING.
WE COULD LOOK AT WAYS TO PERMIT SOME BUT NOT OTHERS.
CERTAINLY, DELIVERY IS DISTINCT FROM THE CURBSIDE CURBSIDE SERVICE.
IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE PERMIT CURBSIDE SERVICE, BUT NOT ALLOW DRIVE-THROUGHS AND THEN REALLY GETTING IN THE WEEDS.
I'D WANT TO GO AND LOOK AT THAT BEFORE I GIVE YOU ADVICE.
DELIVERY IS A DIFFERENT MECHANISM REGULATED DIFFERENTLY IN THE STATE RULES AND COULD BE REGULATED DIFFERENTLY UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND CURBSIDE SERVICE.
THERE CAN BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF HOW WE COULD APPROACH THAT ISSUE.
>> THEN HOW WOULD WE FROM THAT MEETING THAT I WAS OUT LAST MONDAY. THANK YOU, ANNA TOO.
I THINK I SAW YOU ON ZOOM [LAUGHTER] THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT TRUSTEE WILSON BROUGHT THE SOVEREIGN REGARDS TO HOW IT'S REGULATED.
THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON THAT ZOOM MEETING ABOUT WHAT TRUSTEE IS SAYING IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S BEING EMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
SOMEONE ELSE IS SAYING IT'S A DIFFERENT, HOW DO WE REALLY REGULARLY ABOUT?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S A STANDARD ZONING PRACTICE THAT GOES BACK SINCE THE EARLY 1900S, THAT IF THERE IS AN ORDER, NOISE, SMOKE, AND ANY OF THOSE ISSUES FUNCTIONALLY VISIBLE AT THE EDGE PREMISES, WE CAN ISSUE TICKETS FOR THAT.
IF THERE IS A NOTICEABLE ODOR EMANATING FROM FRANKLY ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP, WE CAN SAY TO THEM UNDER ZONING ORDINANCE OR VIOLATION.
>> IT'S THE SAME VIOLATION PROCESS?
>> THEY ARE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER PROPERTY IN THAT REGARD.
>> THEN IN REGARDS TO TRANSFERS, I ECHO BACK TO THOSE, I KNOW HAVE LIQUOR LICENSE TRANSFERS, WHAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND MARIJUANA LICENSE TRANSFERS?
>> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THAT THIS IS AN UNSETTLED AREA OF LAW AND HASN'T DEVELOPED THE WAY LIQUOR LICENSES HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CRA DOES NOT PERMIT A TRANSFER OF A STATE CRA LICENSE.
THEY REQUIRE RE-APPLICATION IF THEY DO.
THEN THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT ON THE SIDE WITH A DIFFERENT STATE APPLICATIONS.
THE WAY THEY'RE APPROACHING THEIR STATE PERMITS SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT IN THE WAY LIQUOR PRODUCTS ARE HANDLED AT THIS END TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AGAIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT WHO YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS VERY DIFFICULT WORK OF COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH IS VERY APPLICANT SPECIFIC AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE, TO JUST HAVE THEM TURN AROUND AND SELL THAT TO A THIRD PARTY INVESTOR WHO IS NOT VETTED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT MUNICIPALITIES AND HOW THEY EVALUATE WHO'S OPERATING AND THEN WHAT TRANSFERRING POTENTIALLY DOES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP SEEM.
>> THEY HAVE THAT LIQUOR LICENSE WITH THE STATE AND IT'S HERE WILL THE TOWNSHIP.
THEN IF THEY TRANSFER THAT, IS THAT THROUGH THE STATE?
>> YES, THE STATE LIQUOR COMMISSION TRANSFERS THE LICENSE.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE AT A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD COURTESY NOTIFICATION OF THE NUTRIENTS FOR, BUT LOCAL INPUT ON TRANSFERS HAS BEEN SEVERELY CURTAILED IN RECENT YEARS.
>> CAN IT BE THAT SIMPLE AS MARIJUANA LICENSES ARE SIMPLER THAN A PROCESS THAT I'VE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT EARLIER?
>> WE COMMITTED TO A POTENTIAL OPTIONS AND A MIRROR OR THE CRAS TRANSFER PROCESS. WE CAN LOOK INTO.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THE STUDY SESSION.
SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE TRANSFERABILITY OF LICENSORS.
[04:55:01]
THOSE ARE MY TWO BIGGEST CONCERNS, WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE PACKET.THEN I CONCUR WITH THE OTHER TRUSTEES.
I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL JUST ASK ONE THAT I NEED GOING HOME WITH SO THAT I CAN COME BACK WITH SOME OTHER INFORMATION.
TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.
LOTTERIES, NOT GLOBAL COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.
THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE EXISTING MEDICAL PERMIT HOLDERS.
IS IT EXPECTED THAT THEY'LL JUST BE ABLE TO TRANSFER INTO RACK OR ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT ALL OF OUR EXISTING PERMIT HOLDERS TO ALSO APPLY COMPETITIVELY?
>>THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPLY COMPETITIVELY.
>> BASED ON THE ORDINANCE OR JUST IS THERE OPTIONS FOR THAT AS WELL?
>> YES. THEY WILL HAVE COMPLY COMPETITIVELY.
HOW THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW FACTORS EVALUATE AN APPLICANT'S HISTORY IN THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE LEFT TO THOSE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS.
SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT WOULD NEED, AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED, COULD BE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
COULD NEED CLOSER STUDY TO GAUGE THE LITIGATION RISK THAT POTENTIAL FACTORS MIGHT INCREASE.
>> LET ME ASK A QUESTION THAT'S BUGGING ME.
IS THE PRESUMPTION THAT THE WHOLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA STRUCTURE IS GOING TO GO AWAY?
>> GO AWAY. COMPLETELY, NOT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN ON A STATEWIDE ISSUE OVER THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR, THAT'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN PATIENTS BY ABOUT 25%.
BUT THE CAREGIVER ASPECT, WHICH IS WHAT WE INITIATED ALL THIS WITH IN 2008, IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND VERY STRONG AND SHOWED THAT AND SINCE SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THERE IS STILL STRONG SUPPORT FOR THAT.
ALSO, I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE A LITTLE BIT.
THAT IS A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK I'LL GET.
HEY, I THOUGHT I WAS ON THESE 15 MEDICATIONS AND I GOT MEDICAL MARIJUANA NON-MALIGNANT TO PHARMACEUTICALS BECAUSE MARIJUANA HELP MANAGE MY PAIN AND INFLAMMATION, WHATEVER.
IN THEM, THERE'S OTHER MEDICAL ASPECTS OF WHAT THEY CAN BUY THERE, OR DIFFERENT FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT.
THERE IS STILL SOME MARKET THERE BUT IT'S SHRINKING, BUT STILL SUPPORT FOR THAT, BUT IT'S LOSING MOMENTUM AS WE MOVE INTO RECREATIONAL.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE SEEN DEVELOP AS A DESIRE TO UNIFY ALL THEY ASK.
BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE.
IT'D BE GREAT IF IT'S STREAMLINE DOWN TO ONE.
THERE'S ABOUT PROCEDURAL ISSUES WITH THAT ABOUT LEGISLATIVE VOTES AND THE WAY ALL THE THREE GOT PUT TOGETHER THAT ARE PRESENTING CHALLENGES.
THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED YET, BUT FOR EXAMPLE I THINK IT WITH COLORADO, THEY MENTIONED ON A CALL.
THEY ALSO HAD A MEDICAL THAN A WRECK AND EVENTUALLY THEY WERE ABLE TO COME TO UNIFY THEIR SYSTEM.
YES, HADN'T THEM ALL COME TOGETHER? MAY HAPPEN AT SOME POINT BY SUSPECT SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL USE RECOGNITION OF MARIJUANA WILL CONTINUE.
BUT WE'VE SEEN HERE LOCALLY AT THE TOWNSHIP, NOT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR MEDICAL BECAUSE WE'VE PASSED AN ORDINANCE 2019.
>> NOBODY OPENED A STOREFRONT AND WE'RE IN 2023.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION.
>> I ALWAYS ENVISIONED THE TWO COMING TOGETHER.
COULD BE IN OUR QUALIFYING ASSESSMENT, YOU REQUIRE OR AT LEAST ADVANTAGE BUSINESSES THAT HAD BOTH PERMITS?
>> I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS ONE RECOMMEND REQUIRING THEM TO HAVE BOTH.
BECAUSE OF THE WAY ARTICLES IMPLEMENTED IN MERIDIAN.
[05:00:01]
HOW YOU COULD VANTAGE THEM.I THINK THERE'S SOME PATHWAYS POTENTIAL THERE AND THAT GETS BACK TO ME, RESPONSE TO MINSKY THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT AND HOW THAT GETS PUT INTO YOUR COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS, WE NEED CLOSE EVALUATION OF HOW IMPACTING OUR LITIGATION TEMPERATURE AND RELATION RISK.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS TONIGHT.
WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS ON OUR AGENDA AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> WE APPRECIATE FEEDBACK. WE WILL BE BACK WITH SOME FOLLOW-UPS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. WE'VE COME TO ITEM 14.
HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD AT THIS POINT? [LAUGHTER] I GOT WHERE I WAS.
[LAUGHTER] MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS AND BRING HIM THE COMMENTS.
>> REAL QUICK. I MUST HAVE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK.
I'M A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND THEN A CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PUSH THIS TOWNSHIP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR WHATEVER WE CAN DO AS A BOARD TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT COMMENT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WE'VE SEEN THE IMPACT.
THE NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS YOU'VE HAD.
WE APPRECIATE THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS AS WELL.
[BACKGROUND] ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THEN ITEM 16 ON OUR AGENDA IS A CLOSE SESSION.
WE NEED TO, [OVERLAPPING] MR. DESCHAINE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE GO INTO CLOSE SESSION FOR ELECTIVE BARGAINING NEW NEGOTIATIONS DISCUSSION UNDER MCL 15268.2681C.
>> SUPPORT REMOVED AND SUPPORT THAT GO INTO CLOSE SESSION FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR MR. LEMESTER?
>> [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.