[00:00:51]
>> [BACKGROUND] ANYONE ELSE CAN BRING THEM UP TO CHIEF HAMEL AND HE'LL BEING THEM OVER TO US.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
>> [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD EVENING. I'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS IS THE AUGUST 8TH, 2024 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN.
WE'LL BEGIN THIS EVENING WITH OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE?
>> 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.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A ROLL CALL.
WILL CLERK GUTHRIE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> CLERK GUTHRIE IS HERE. TREASURER DESCHAINE?
>> ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 4A,
[4. PRESENTATION]
WHICH IS INTRODUCTION OF SERGEANT ADAM SLAVICK.I BELIEVE WE HAVE CHIEF GRILLO HERE TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP HERE AGAIN.
TODAY I COME WITH ADAM SLAVICK.
NEWLY APPOINTED SERGEANT SLAVICK CAME TO US FROM CANTON TOWNSHIP, WHERE HE'S FROM ORIGINALLY.
HE WENT TO MICHIGAN STATE WHERE HE GOT HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AND IN JANUARY OF 2016, HE BEGAN HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
HE'S SHOWN VERY EARLY IN HIS CAREER TO BE A VERY CAPABLE OFFICER, AND WAS GIVEN MANY SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE'S BEEN ON OUR SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB ON THE PROMOTIONAL, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM AS ONE OF OUR NEWLY APPOINTED SUPERVISORS.
HE'LL BE TAKING THE PLACE OF SERGEANT ANDREW MCCREADY, WHO IS SCHEDULED TO RETIRE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND TRUSTING ME.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] NEXT IN OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5,
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS OUR AGENDA OR ANY ITEM NOT ON OUR AGENDA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AS WELL AS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.THOSE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD COMPLETE A GREEN CARD, WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE TABLE BY THE DOOR, AND PRESENT THE CARD TO THE BOARD OR A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP STAFF, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE CHIEF HAMEL WHO'S OUR DESIGNATED VOLUNTEER CARD COLLECTOR OVER THERE.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN I WILL CALL YOU UP TO THE PODIUM, AND I'LL LET THE NEXT SPEAKER KNOW THAT THEY'RE UP AFTER THAT TO SPEAK ON THE TOPIC INDICATED.
WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED, IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MEETING MINUTES, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS.
CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
[00:05:03]
AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME, AND AN INDICATOR LIGHT AND BEEP WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD VALUE PUBLIC COMMENT AND INPUT FROM OUR PUBLIC.
THE MEETING FORMAT AND RULES, HOWEVER, RESTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH COMMENTERS OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AT A LATER TIME AT THE MEETING, OR THEY MAY BE REFERRED TO A MEMBER OF OUR TOWNSHIP STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND/OR THE BOARD'S CHAIR, AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS.
PLEASE DO NOT ADDRESS YOUR REMARKS TO OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE DO REFRAIN FROM OUTBURSTS, INCLUDING APPLAUSE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AS IT DOES SLOW DOWN OUR MEETING AND MAKE US LESS EFFICIENT.
WITH THAT SAID, I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF GREEN CARDS HERE FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE MICHAEL SUI AND THEN BOB BALDORI YOU ARE ON DECK.
I'M NOT SURE. SORRY. [BACKGROUND] PLEASE.
>> CAN I ASK SUPERVISOR, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CONVERSATION WHILE PUBLIC MEMBERS ARE SPEAKING.
IT'S HARD FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR, AND IT'S DISTRACTING FOR THE PERSON WHO'S TRYING TO GIVE COMMENTS TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK GUTHRIE. SIR.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL SUI, AND I LIVE IN BRYNWOOD DISTRICT, AND I WANTED TO VOICE MY STRONG OBJECTION FOR THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHING THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SHOP.
THE FIRST IS THAT THAT SHOP CAN INCREASE THE CRIME RATES.
THE RESEARCH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER FOUND THAT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CRIME RATES.
THE STUDY REPORT THAT CRIME RATES, INCLUDING AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, BURGLARY, AND ROBBERY, WERE 26-1,500% HIGHER IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DISPENSARIES COMPARED TO THOSE WITHOUT.
THE OTHER ONE IS THE DECREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT.
A STUDY BY INSEAD SHOWED THAT THE HOME WITH 0.36 MILES OF NEW MARIJUANA DISPENSARY EXPERIENCED A DECREASE IN VALUE BY 3-4%, TRANSLATED TO A DROP APPROXIMATELY 11,000-15,000 FOR THE AVERAGE HOME IN OKEMOS AREA.
INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY TO MARIJUANA CAN LEAD TO HIGHER USAGE RATES AMONG ADOLESCENTS, WHICH CAN HAVE ADVERSE EFFECT ON THEIR HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
STUDIES INDICATE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DISPENSARIES MAY SEE A UPTICK IN ANY AGE CONSUMPTION AND RELATED HEALTH ISSUES.
THOSE ARE THE VOICES AS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANTED TO TALK AS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CHURCH.
LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WHICH IS JUST 0.3 MILES AWAY FROM THAT STORE.
THERE ARE A FEW KEY REASONS FOR MY OBJECTION AS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
THERE'S MORAL AND ETHICAL CONCERNS.
OUR CHURCH UPHOLDS AND PROMOTES CERTAIN MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS, INCLUDING ENCOURAGEMENT OF DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE.
THE PRESENCE OF MARIJUANA SHOP IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR CHURCH IS CONTRADICTORY TO THESE VALUES, AND UNDERMINES OUR EFFORTS TO GUIDE OUR CONGRESSION TOWARDS HEALTHY AND POSITIVE CHOICES.
ALSO, THEY HAVE INFLUENCE ON CONGRESSION, ESPECIALLY USE.
OUR CHURCH IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR FAMILIES, YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE PROXIMITY OF THE MARIJUANA SHOP CAN INCREASE CURIOSITY AND A POTENTIAL EXPERIMENTATIONS AMONG THE USE, WHICH DIRECTLY CONFLICTS OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE YOUNG GENERATION.
WE STRIVE TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
>> BOB BALDORI FOLLOWED BY JEAN MCDONALD. [NOISE]
>> ORDER, PLEASE. CAN YOU TURN UP THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE?
>> WE'LL SEE IF OUR STAFF CAN INCREASE THE VOLUME A LITTLE BIT.
>> YEAH. BOB BALDORI, I LIVE AT 2719 MT HOPE ROAD.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT HALF A CENTURY.
I HAVE A LAW FIRM THAT ONE OF OUR MAIN SPECIALTIES IS CANNABIS LAW.
[00:10:05]
I'M ALSO ON ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR MARIJUANA POLICY.I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE LAW AND THE SCIENCE, AND THE RESULTS OF DECRIMINALIZATION OF ADULT USE MARIJUANA IN MICHIGAN.
OVER 200 COMMUNITIES HAVE DECRIMINALIZED AND OPTED IN FOR ADULT USE TO THIS DATE, AND IT'S A ROLLING WAVE.
MORE AND MORE ARE DOING IT EVERY DAY, WITH ALMOST ZERO ADVERSE RESULTS.
IN GENERAL, IT'S BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, I THINK, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOALS HERE.
IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY, FOR SURE.
WHAT I'VE HEARD AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT I'M HEARING NOW ARE UNSCIENTIFIC OBJECTIONS THAT ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THOSE GOALS.
OBVIOUSLY, ONLY THREE MINUTES.
I'LL JUST PICK ONE EXAMPLE, THIS ISSUE OF TEEN USE.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU COULD ALL GOOGLE RIGHT NOW.
JUST ONE OF DOZENS OF STUDIES.
THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLISHED A MAJOR REPORT ANALYZING FEDERAL DATA FOR MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE RESEARCHERS FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE ENACTMENT OF ADULT USE LEGALIZATION LAWS AND MARIJUANA USE OR FREQUENCY OF USE AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, THEY ALSO STUDIED ACTUAL RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, DECRIMINALIZING AND HAVING REGULATED OUTLETS FOR THIS ACTUALLY DRIVES OUT BLACK MARKET USE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO LEGALLY AND WHICH YOU CAN'T EVEN GET INTO IF YOU'RE A TEENAGER, THEN YOU CREATE ENVIRONMENT FOR BLACK MARKET ACCESS TO THIS STUFF.
AGAIN, I COULD CITE AND GO THROUGH MANY STUDIES, BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN GOOGLE THAT YOURSELF.
ALSO, DATA PROVIDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FINDS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO REPORT USING MARIJUANA HAS FALLEN [OVERLAPPING] 30% OVER THE PAST DECADE.
>> YEAH. [NOISE] I GET IT. ANYWAY, I'M SUPPORTING [OVERLAPPING] THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SPENDING [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, SIR. JEAN MCDONALD FOLLOWED BY PEG FRISCH.
I HAD BOTH OF MY KNEES REPLACED RECENTLY.
I LIVE IN HASLETT, 2019 LAC DU MONT, AND I AM ON THE SENIOR CENTER BOARD.
I WAS APPOINTED LAST YEAR, AND IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, I WAS ON INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
I'VE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE AND SOME EXPERIENCE WITH POLITICS.
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I GOT ON THE BOARD AND STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS, AND THAT WE HAD GOTTEN A FIVE-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.
WHERE WAS IT COMING FROM? HOW WAS IT BEING SPENT? WERE THERE BIDS PUT OUT? HOW COME NO ONE FROM THE SENIOR CENTER BOARD WHO USE THE SENIOR CENTER CONTINUOUSLY WAS EVER PUT ON A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF PEOPLE FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? NOW THEY'LL SAY THAT, YES, YOUR DIRECTOR IS ON THERE, BUT I SAY, I DON'T WANT THE HEAD PEOPLE.
I WANT PEOPLE WHO USE THE CENTER TO BE AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION.
I HAD A REAL SURPRISE COMING IN HERE WHERE THE DOOR SAID, LET'S GET CONNECTED.
WHAT WAS SO SECRETIVE AND WHAT'S SO UNAVAILABLE THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT ASK QUESTIONS AND SAY, DID YOU BID THIS OUT? WHAT WERE THE BIDS? NO BIDS. DID YOU TALK TO ANYBODY ON OUR BOARD? NOT TILL VERY LATE LAST YEAR? WE STILL, AT OUR LAST MEETING THIS WEEK, WE COULD NOT GET ANY INFORMATION JUST BY WORD OF MOUTH.
[00:15:03]
THERE WAS A 350 SOME PAGE DOCUMENT ONLINE.YOU COULD READ THAT AND GET YOUR INFORMATION ON THAT.
STILL DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOUNKERS IS GOING TO COST.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT HAVE COST IF WE USED ONE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WAS BEING TORN DOWN.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE STILL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE USERS OF THE SENIOR CENTER.
I WISH YOU ALL WOULD ASK THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TEXT AN EXAM FOR THIS.
>> MA'AM, I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE ADDRESS THE BOARD.
PEG FRISCH FOLLOWED BY BARBARA O'KELLY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS PEGGY FRISCH.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE SENIOR CENTER ADVISORY BOARD.
WE HAD SOME CONCERNS, AND I HAVE CONCERNS AS A TAXPAYER IN THIS TOWNSHIP.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS YOUNKERS BUILDING, WHICH IS MUCH LARGER THAN WE NEED FOR COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER.
YOUNKERS BUILDING IS 82,000 SQUARE FEET, AFTER YOU REMOVE THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THEY PROPOSE USING 44,000 SQUARE FEET.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE ENTIRE SPACE.
YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PARKING LOT.
IF THE TWO ANCHOR STORES, PENNY'S AND MACY'S, LEAVE THAT MALL, YOU'LL BE THE LAST PERSON STANDING THERE, BECAUSE IT WILL JUST NOT BE FEASIBLE AS A MALL.
ALSO, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP FOR THE SERVICES THAT THIS COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD BE PROVIDING.
THEY'RE EXERCISING AND PICKLEBALL, AND TENNIS, AND SWIMMING.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE NEXT TO THAT LARGE UNIVERSITY, WHICH PROVIDES US MANY OPTIONS.
>> I HAD HEARD A TALK THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WELL, HOW CAN YOU DO THAT? WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM THAT IS GOING TO PAY SALARIES, MAINTAIN THE BUILDING, FIX THE PARKING LOT? I DON'T KNOW. BUT AS A GROUP, THE SENIOR CENTER GENERALLY IS NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE ENJOY BEING IN THE SCHOOL, AND WE'D LIKE TO STAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BARBARA O'KELLY, AND THEN SONIA [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. I'M BARBARA O'KELLY, I LIVE AT 2576 WOOD HILL DRIVE.
I'M A MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PROPERTY OWNER, ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MERIDIAN SENIOR CENTER AND ON THEIR ADVISORY BOARD.
I HAVE GREAT RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE CURRENT PLAN FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE MERIDIAN MALL.
IT IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, AS I'VE HEARD IT EXPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES, PARTICULARLY BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S WAY TOO LIKELY THAT THE YOUNKERS BUILDING AND A COMMUNITY CENTER IN THAT BUILDING WOULD BE A FINANCIAL DRAIN ON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
REVITALIZING MERIDIAN MALL IS A WORTHY GOAL, BUT THE CURRENT PLAN REQUIRES A NEW MILLAGE TO FUND BOTH THE REMODELING AND THE ONGOING OPERATION.
THAT'S THE PLAN THAT YOU ARE VOTING ON LATER THIS EVENING.
THE MILLAGE ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS AN ADDITIONAL COST TO TOWNSHIP TAXPAYERS, OBVIOUSLY.
FURTHERMORE, THE MALL PROPERTY COMES OFF THE TAX ROLLS, SO THERE'S LESS INCOME.
I ALSO THINK THE PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY IS DECEPTIVE.
IT SAYS THE PURPOSE IS EXPANDING AND IMPROVING EXISTING SENIOR CENTER SERVICES.
ON THE CONTRARY, THE CURRENT CONCEPT WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE SPACE GREATLY FROM A 9,600 SQUARE FEET NOW TO SOMETHING LESS THAN 4,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE SPACE DEDICATED FOR SENIOR USE AND WOULD LIMIT ITS USE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT LEAVE OUR THINGS SET OUT AND SET UP.
I'D HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO USE.
I ALSO CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS GOTTEN THIS FAR WITH
[00:20:03]
SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT WITHOUT DOING A PROPER MEANS ASSESSMENT.WE KNOW HOW MUCH THE SENIOR CENTER IS USED AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT, WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS USED PRIOR TO COVID BECAUSE THE NUMBERS STILL HAVE NOT COME UP.
THERE'S A COMMUNITY SURVEY IN PROGRESS.
IT'S GOT THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
BUT WOOD IS PROPOSING NOT TO WAIT FOR THOSE RESULTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION LIKE THIS TO PUT A MILLAGE ON THE BALLOT.
I THINK THE CONCEPT DOESN'T SATISFY A PROVEN COMMUNITY NEED.
IT'S NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS MILLAGE, I AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE SENIOR CENTER WILL ACTIVELY CAMPAIGN TO HAVE IT DEFEATED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SONIA [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOWED BY ELLEN PORTNOY.
>> HELLO. I'M SONIA [INAUDIBLE] I RESIDE IN THE FOREST HILL SUBDIVISION.
I OPPOSE THE CURRENT CONCEPT OF THE COMMUNITIES CENTERS/SENIOR CENTER, AND I WOULD ACTIVELY VOTE AGAINST IT AS WELL.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SURVEY THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING OUT FOR A SMALL SUBSET OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE QUESTIONS OF HOW WILL THE MALL PROPERTY BE USED.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT, DO YOU WANT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, MULTIPLE FAMILY HOUSING, A LABORATORY? WHERE ARE THESE QUESTIONS COMING FROM IF THE MALL IS VIABLE? THAT'S WHY I OPPOSE THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY BEING PROJECTED HERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ELLEN PORTNOY, FOLLOWED BY JAMIE GARMO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ELLEN PORTNOY, AND I LIVE IN OKEMOS.
MY ADDRESS IS 3603 BREEZY POINT DRIVE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY REGARDING THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR A COMBINED COMMUNITY CENTER, A SENIOR CENTER IN THE MERIDIAN MALL.
WHILE WE DO NEED A SENIOR CENTER TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ONE IN CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, THERE'S BEEN NO PROFESSIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO ESTABLISH THE DESIRE AND/OR USEFULNESS FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE'S MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES IN OUR TOWNSHIP THAT EXIST FOR ACTIVITIES.
THESE INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN HASLETT, A YMCA, THE MAC, THE COURT ONE, THE PLANET FITNESS IN THE MALL, EXCELLENT ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, WHICH HAS ALL KINDS OF THINGS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS.
THERE'S PICKLEBALL COURTS IN SEVERAL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE NO IDEA IF BUSY FAMILIES ARE GOING TO USE A COMMUNITY CENTER MUCH LESS WANT TO PAY FOR THE INCREASED MILLAGE AND TAXES TO SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE MONEY TO DO THAT.
THE CURRENT CONCEPT WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO MODIFY AND MAINTAIN AND DEPEND ON THE CONTINUING EXISTENCE OF THE MALL, AND ONE HAS ONLY TO LOOK AT THE ACTIVITY AT MACY'S AND AT PENNY'S TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A BIG STRETCH FOR THAT MALL TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN, A COMMUNITY MUCH LIKE OURS WITH TWO UNIVERSITIES AND MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR ACTIVITIES, AND THEY DECIDED TO BUILD A SENIOR CENTER ONLY JUST FOR THESE REASONS.
THIS COMMUNITY CENTER COULD EASILY BACKFIRE FOR THE SENIORS, AND BY THAT, I MEAN BEING ALONE IN A MALL, THAT IS GETTING LESS AND LESS USE.
I WOULD LIKE THIS CONCEPT TO BE RECONSIDERED AND CHANGED TO A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SENIOR CENTER ONLY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JAMIE GARMO, FOLLOWED BY JINEL PATEL.
>> GOOD EVENING. JAMIE GARMO, 400 SOUTH OLD WOODWARD AVENUE, BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN.
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD FOR CRAFTING A MARIJUANA LICENSING AND ZONING ORDINANCE THOUGHTFULLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FEW YEARS OR SO.
THROUGHOUT THESE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU'VE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND BY THE ADVICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL, CRAFTED AN ORDINANCE THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS AND ETHICAL COMMUNITY GOALS, AND ENSURE THAT THE MARIJUANA RETAIL FACILITIES LOCATED IN YOUR JURISDICTION ALIGNED ACCORDINGLY BY THEIR LOCATION,
[00:25:02]
CONDUCT, AND STYLE OF OPERATIONS.AT THE LAST MEETING, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, TIM SCHMITT, INDICATED HIS DEPARTMENT'S POSITION THAT OUR APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT MEETS ALL OF THE CRITERIAS FOR ISSUANCE.
I ASK FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THAT, AND I THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO UPHOLD THE TOWNSHIP STANDARDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FOLKS WHO ARE STANDING OUT THERE.
WE DO HAVE A FEW EMPTY SEATS HERE IN THE FRONT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME AND FILL IN.
JINEL PATEL, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH DANTES.
WE'RE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN 3520 OKEMOS ROAD RECREATION.
WE HAD THE SUBWAY FOR ALMOST A LITTLE OVER YEAR NOW.
I'M HERE TO JUST BASICALLY SPEAK ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF IT THAT WE HAVE SEEN WHEN OUR STRIP CENTERS ARE HALF EMPTY OR WHERE THERE'S A AWAKEN SPACE.
WE SEE A LOW ON THE SUB BUSINESS GOES DOWN AND IT HURTS OUR BUSINESS AS WELL, FOR TRAFFIC AS WELL.
WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS, I'M ALL FOR BUSINESS.
FOR ME, I'M JUST SPEAKING ABOUT BUSINESS.
WHEN THERE'S MORE BUSINESS THAT COMES INTO THE AREA, IT HELPS US GROW AND HELPS OUR COMMUNITY, AT LEAST IN OUR TIME, OUR CUSTOMER AS WELL, SO I'M FOR THIS.
AS FAR AS MARIJUANA SPEAKING, I DON'T DO ANY MARIJUANA OR I DON'T SQUINT, I DON'T SMOKE, I DON'T DRINK.
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO DOES IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY THE EFFECTS.
I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THAT, BUT IT'S LEGAL, SO THAT'S ALL I KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK, GO ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS AND SAY, HEY, I SHOULD PROTEST THIS OR NOT.
IF MY EMPLOYEES ARE DOING IT, I DON'T CARE AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT IN MY STORE.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT MY STAND IS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DEBORAH DANTES, THEN JORDAN MUNSTERS.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DEBORAH DANTES.
I LIVE IN 3590 BREEZY POINT DRIVE IN OKEMOS.
ONE MORE TIME, I CAME HERE THINKING ABOUT WHAT WAS I GOING TO SAY AND I HAD A WHOLE THING.
BUT AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SEEING ALL OF THESE, I FEEL THIS IS AN INSULT TO OUR INTELLIGENCE, HEARING THAT THE BOARD TOOK THE TIME TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, TO LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU DID NOT LOOK AT THAT.
WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE YOU WENT WITH NOT THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, YOU WENT FOR THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
THAT SPOT WAS GIVEN, WAS PERMITTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA, NOT FOR RECREATIONAL.
THE BOARD DID NOT DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
AGAIN, I'M HEARING THAT IT'S NOT ONLY HAPPENING WITH THE MARIJUANA, IT'S ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER.
IF I UNDERSTOOD INCORRECTLY, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT WORK FOR US AND YOU'RE HEARING DAY AFTER DAY, MEETING AFTER MEETING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THAT DO NOT LIKE THIS.
I WOULD BE SO MUCH HAPPIER IF I KNOW THAT YOU DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
AGAIN, MAKE EVERYONE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WE LEARN BY MISTAKE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.
SHOW YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, SHOW RESULTS, AND THEN WE CAN SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE.
WE ARE NOT SITTING AT THE TABLE.
THERE'S AN IMBALANCE OF POWER HERE AND IT IS NOT FAIR.
IT IS NOT FAIR FOR US WHO LIVE HERE.
THIS PERSON THAT CAME HERE AND SAY, I KNOW NOTHING, BUT IT'S LEGAL.
LET'S TRY. LET'S DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
I DO KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA, AND I DO KNOW THE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN, ON ADULTS.
LISTEN, PLEASE, TO YOUR PEOPLE, TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, LET'S DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
IF AFTER EVERYONE IS INFORMED AND YOU DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND EVERYONE VOTES FOR IT, LET'S GO FOR IT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY.
I BEG YOU, PLEASE RECONSIDER, AND LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.
LET'S DO THIS CORRECTLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE MANY HOUSEHOLDS, OVER 900 SIGNATURES, EVERYTHING, OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT THIS, THAT OPPOSE THIS.
PLEASE, LISTEN. THAT IS YOUR JOB TO LISTEN.
THE VOTES WERE VERY MINIMAL IN WHICH THIS PASSED AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
EVERYTHING TAGGED ALONG ON THAT.
THIS IS NOT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
THIS IS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THIS IS A COMPLETE DIFFERENT THING.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER, AND PLEASE, THINK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE,
[00:30:05]
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM APPLAUSE.THANK YOU. JORDAN MUNSTERS, FOLLOWED BY PHILLIP DWYER.
>> HEY, EVERYBODY. I'M JORDAN, I'M THE OWNER OF [INAUDIBLE] ACROSS THE STREET.
JUST WANT TO COME HERE TODAY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER.
I WAS TALKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT SENIOR CENTER.
IF WE NEED IT GREAT, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT ARE THE ONES THEY'LL SAY SOMETHING WITH IT.
BUT WHEN I MET WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS THE BIG BREED NEED FOR THAT SENIOR CENTER WAS THE MEETING SPACES FOR ROTARY CLUBS AND BOY SCOUTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THESE GROUPS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE.
REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND EVERYBODY'S AWARE.
WE GOT A BANQUET SPACE OVER THERE THAT SEATS 130.
ANYBODY WHO HAS A GROUP, ANYTHING YOU NEED, WIDE OPEN.
WE'RE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE MET WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BEFORE.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $60 MILLION ON SOMETHING FOR IT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO BUILD THAT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT, BUT WE'RE THERE, WIDE OPEN, FREE, MY WHOLE TEAM'S READY FOR IT.
IT'S THE ONLY PURPOSE I'M HERE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DWYER, AND RAY [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] CAN YOU STOP THAT, PLEASE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS PHILLIP DWYER.
2327 HAMILTON ROAD, OKEMOS, MICHIGAN.
I'M UNHAPPY TO BE HERE BASED UPON THE FACT THAT APPARENTLY, AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM A SOURCE THAT YOU PEOPLE ALL KNOW, WHICH IS THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD THAT APPARENTLY, TONIGHT, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THERE MIGHT BE A DECISION HERE THAT HAS THE EFFECT OF SPENDING $70 MILLION OVER THE LENGTH OF THIS COMMUNITY SENIOR SERVICE SITUATION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO SPEND $70 MILLION TODAY.
NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO SPEND $10 MILLION TODAY OR FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TODAY.
IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER BY THIS NICE LADY WHO SAID, HEY, YOU GOT TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. YOU GOT TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO SPEND $70 MILLION? IF WE EACH GOT UP AND VOTED AND SAID, WELL, WE EACH WANT TO SPEND $10 MILLION. THAT DOESN'T COVER IT.
SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS OVER THIS 20-YEAR TIME PERIOD OR WHATEVER THE LIFE OF THIS THING IS.
YOU CAN'T JUST WILLY-NILLY STUFF THIS DOWN THE TAXPAYER'S THROAT. TAXPAYERS ARE HERE.
TAXPAYERS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE TAXPAYERS KNOW WHERE THE NEXT ELECTION IS, AND THE TAXPAYERS CAN GET YOU OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN COME IN.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SPEND YOUR TIME WISELY.
THE WISDOM IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION IS TO ALLOW THIS PROCEDURE TO GO IT'S FAIR WAY.
YOU CAN'T JUST THROW $70 MILLION OR NO MILLION DOLLARS OUT THE WINDOW, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY BROUGHT IT UP AND SAID, HEY, LISTEN, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP'S A SUCKER FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF.
THEY'LL SPEND $70 MILLION IN A HEARTBEAT.
THEY'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF VACANT PROPERTY OVER THERE.
ALL KINDS OF PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THE MALL. LET'S JUST DO THIS.
HAS ANYBODY THOUGHT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE AT THE END OF WHATEVER THIS MILLAGE MIGHT BE? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO END UP WITH? WHAT ARE YOU GO TO SPEND $70 MILLION ON? ARE YOU GO TO BUY A $70 MILLION CAR? DOES EVERYBODY GET TO DRIVE IT FOR A DAY? I DON'T THINK SO. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT AT THE END OF THIS THING? I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT. YOU'RE GOING TO RE-UP THE THING AND SAY, WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER $70 MILLION NOW THAT WE SPENT THE OTHER $70 MILLION.
WE DON'T CARE BECAUSE WHEN WE SPENT THE $70 MILLION, NONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE ARE HERE TODAY, SO LET'S JUST SPEND IT.
I THINK I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT I'M FOLLOWING BOB BALDORI, A GREAT MAN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND HE'S BEEN ON MOUNT HOPE FOR 50 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ON HAMILTON ROAD FOR ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> RAY [INAUDIBLE] AND TONG TOM LEE. YOU'RE ON DECK.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBER.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS WILLIAM.
I'M LIVING 1264 SUITE 2 DRIVE.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THESE MARIJUANA STORES.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU THOSE BIG STATISTIC NUMBERS A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IN FRONT HERE.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY.
FROM THE STORIES, REFLECT TWO THINGS.
[00:35:01]
INLAND, NORTHWEST, THE PULLMAN AREAS, VERY QUIET, SMALL AREAS, AND I NEVER LOCKED CAR.I NEVER LOCKED MY APARTMENT DOORS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME DOING THAT.
I THINK SHORT, 12,13 YEARS AGO, WASHINGTON STATE PASSED A LAW ALLOWING MARIJUANA STORES OPEN IN THE AREAS.
I VISIT THE AREA, I STILL HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS OVER THERE, SPOKANE, PULLMAN AREAS. I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.
ALL THOSE NUMBERS TELL YOU ALL DIFFERENT STORIES, BUT I TELL YOU THE REAL STORIES FROM MY FRIENDS.
ACTUALLY, MARIJUANA STORES OPEN IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT CHANGE THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE PEOPLE COMING, I'M NOT SAYING ALL BAD PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, THOSE PEOPLE DEFINITELY IS NOT THE PEOPLE WE LIKE TO BE OUR NEIGHBORS.
MOVING TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, CAUSING A LOT OF HOMELESS SITUATIONS, AND IDAHO BACK THEN HAS NOT PASSED A LAW YET.
SO ALL THE PEOPLE GOING TO THAT AREA ACTUALLY REALLY RUINED AT THOSE MACRO LEVEL, THE STRUCTURE, LIKE OURS, MERIDIAN.
I LOVE OUR TOWNSHIP AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. ONE IS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
[INAUDIBLE] NEXT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] AND NOT TOO FAR FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN ACTUALLY THE OTHER TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THEY'RE LIKE TWO BLOCKS AWAY. THIS IS ONE THING.
THOSE SOCIAL STRUCTURES, YOU LOOK AT BIG NUMBERS, NEVER REFLECT ON THOSE THINGS.
BUT WE'RE LIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE LIVING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS GOOD AS RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T WANT THOSE SOCIAL STRUCTURE CHANGED, AND WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT WAY.
SECOND ONE IS LIKE MY FRIEND TOLD ME, ALTHOUGH SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE BUSINESS COME IN.
BUT PAY MORE ATTENTION WHAT TRAFFIC YOU GOT.
YES, A LOT OF BUSINESS COME IN.
I CAN TELL YOU AGAIN SPOKANE'S STORY.
PEOPLE FROM [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO THAT PART. FOR WHAT? BUYING MARIJUANA, ENJOY THOSE OTHER BAD THINGS WE CONSIDER, GO TO THE NIGHT CLUBS AND DOING ALL THOSE STUFF THERE, AND THE ROBBERY.
YOU CAN READ NEWS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THERE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION PREVIOUSLY.
FOR ME, I'M REALLY SURPRISED AFTER THESE MANY ROUNDS, WE'RE STILL IN THAT POSITION TO TALK ABOUT THIS MATTER FOR OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES.
I'M PROFESSOR, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THOSE STATISTICS.
BUT I'M NOT PAYING MORE ATTENTION ON THOSE STATISTICS.
I'M JUST PAYING ATTENTION ON OUR TOWNSHIP, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
WE'RE PROUD OF THESE TOWNSHIPS.
WE DON'T WANT THESE KIND OF THINGS COMING IN, CHANGING ENTIRELY OUR SOCIAL STRUCTURES AND RUINING OUR NEXT GENERATION, OR RUINING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE HAVE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASE REFRAIN FROM APPLAUDING.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN OKEMOS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND I DO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE OPENING OF THIS MARIJUANA SHOP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS TOO CLOSE TO HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OUR HIGH SCHOOL, CHIPPEWA, AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WE'RE ATTRACTING HERE BECAUSE OF MARIJUANA SHOP.
MARIJUANA HAS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S THINKING CAPABILITY, DECISION MAKING, AND EVEN DRIVING SKILLS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE CLIMBING OF THE CRIME RATE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THAT ALREADY VERY BUSY CROSS.
WHEN THE LOCATION OF THE MARIJUANA SHOP IS RIGHT AT THE HIGHWAY EXIT TO OKEMOS, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WILL FIRST SEE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOSE PEOPLE THEY ARE TAKING MARIJUANA.
WHO IS GOING TO COME HERE? THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH.
I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT THE STATISTICS ABOUT THE DECREASE OF THE PROPERTY VALUE.
ALSO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT FOR OKEMOS, MOST OF THE, I THINK, TOWNSHIP REVENUE CAME FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF OKEMOS WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE I THINK BECAUSE OF LARGE PROPERTY VALUES, AS YOU CAN SEE, CLOSE TO THE PLACE WHERE MARIJUANA SHOP WILL OPEN.
PEOPLE WHO APPROVE IT, MOST OF THEM LIVE IN THE NORTHERN PART.
BUT PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN PART, US, WE CONTRIBUTE MOST OF THE TAX TO OPERATE OUR TOWNSHIPS.
[00:40:01]
I REALLY WISH YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND OUR OPINIONS.BECAUSE OF THIS LOCATION, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE MAIN ROAD AS WELL.
ALSO, WE NEED TO NOTICE THAT THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS AVAILABLE WITHIN 0.5 MILES.
SO WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OPEN A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SHOP SO CLOSE TO THE SPARTAN EMERGENCY CENTER? AS A MOM, AND ALSO A PROFESSOR, AND ALSO, OF COURSE, A CITIZEN IN OKEMOS, I STRONGLY OPPOSE TO THE OPENING OF THIS MARIJUANA SHOP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> [NOISE] PLEASE. JIAN REN, FOLLOWED BY ZACHARY HOANG.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I DID RESEARCH FOR A SOCIAL ISSUE LIKE MY RESEARCH ON RESEARCH.
I WANT TO MEASURE A LOT OF NUMBERS, AND I HOPE I CAN GET A LITTLE BIT LONGER TIME.
FIRST, IN AUGUST OF 2022, THE ELECTION, THERE WERE ONLY SIX MORE VOTES IN FAVOR OF OPENING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA STORES, 6,153 VERSUS 6,147.
THIS IS TOO CLOSE AND WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERRORS, WHICH IS 0.048%.
THAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE THE ELECTION. IT'S WRONG.
SECONDLY, MOST VOTERS IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL LIVE IN NORTHERN MERIDIAN WHEN MOST OF THE REVENUE INDEED COMES FROM THE SOUTHERN PART.
WHICH MEANS WE SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF TOWNSHIP, WE SUPPORT THE BOARD MEMBERS, EVERY ONE HERE.
HOWEVER, IT IS VERY UNDEMOCRATIC AND UNACCEPTABLE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO IGNORE OUR OPINIONS.
THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THIRD, THE PROPOSED MARIJUANA RETAIL STORE IS TOO CLOSE TO THREE SCHOOLS.
HOW CLOSE? I MAY USE GOOGLE MAP.
THE DIRECT DISTANCE TO HIAWATHA IS LESS THAN 2,900 FEET.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
OKEMOS IS A CONSERVATIVE TOWNSHIP KNOWN FOR BEING A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE FAMILIES.
MARIJUANA IS NOT PART OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT REQUIRED TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY.
WE ALL KNOW MERIDIAN RECYCLING CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
HOWEVER, A MARIJUANA SHOP, YOU WANT TO BE BUILT OPENLY IN THE CROSSROAD OR GATEWAY AT OKEMOS.
THEN THE FIRST QUESTION I WANT TO SAY IS THE DISTINCT SKUNKY PUNGENT ODOR OF MARIJUANA CAN LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS.
THIS IS BASED ON RESEARCH REPORTED IN BLOOMBERG RADIO.
THE PROBLEM HAS EMERGED AS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FROM NEW YORK TO AMSTERDAM. WHY NEW YORK? WHY AMSTERDAM? NEW YORK WE KNOW IS A VERY LIBERAL STATE.
IN NEW YORK THERE ARE NOW AROUND 8,000 ILLEGAL LICENSED MARIJUANA DISPERSES.
SOMEONE SAID, WHEN WE HAVE THIS DECRIMINALIZED THERE'S NO CRIME.
IF YOU SAY ALL FELONIES ARE FINE, THEN THERE WILL BE NO FELONIES.
THIS IS OPINION BASED. WHAT I SAID IS FACT BASED.
THEREFORE, THE MAYOR ALREADY PROMISED A CRACKDOWN.
IN TIMES SQUARE, THEY ALREADY [INAUDIBLE]
>> LET'S BE BLUNT. NO SMOKE IN THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> SORRY, I HAVE JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> NO. I'M SORRY. WE'VE GOT A STACK OF THESE A MILE HIGH.
WE CAN'T [OVERLAPPING] [APPLAUSE]
>> ZACHARY HOANG AND GINJI HOANG.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ZACHARY HOANG.
I LIVE IN OKEMOS, 4287 FARM MEADOWS COURT.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN OKEMOS FOR 25 YEARS, ALMOST 26, PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ALMOST $6,000 A YEAR, SO I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN OKEMOS.
[00:45:02]
I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD PUT KIDS' SAFETY FIRST, PUT THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS HERE FIRST, BEFORE THE CONVENIENCE OF THE RECREATIONAL USERS.MAYBE IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO BE CLOSE TO THE TRAFFIC TO BUY EASILY, BUT IT'S NOT SIMPLY SAFE FOR THE CHILDREN.
WHAT IF ONE GET IMPAIRED AFTER THE USE WHILE DRIVING IN THAT BUSY INTERSECTION BETWEEN OKEMOS AND JOLLY WHERE I DRIVE EVERY DAY AND IT'S SO CONGESTED EVEN NOW.
SO I ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THAT WE SHOULD PUT OUR KIDS FIRST, OUR RESIDENTS SAFETY FIRST, BEFORE THE INCOME GENERATION FOR ANY USERS, WHETHER IT'S MEDICAL OR RECREATIONAL.
ESPECIALLY FOR RECREATIONAL USE, IT'S NOT REALLY A NECESSITY.
IT'S JUST A MEANS OF BRINGING BUSINESS, HAVING A TAX FROM THE INCOME.
I ASK THE BOARD CONSIDER SAFETY FIRST, CITIZENS FIRST, AND THEN INCOME AT THE BACK.
I'M ALSO A PROFESSOR AT MICHIGAN STATE, STUDYING BIOLOGY HERE, SO I KNOW WHAT MARIJUANA COULD DO EVEN THOUGH I NEVER TRIED IT.
BUT I KNOW WHAT ALCOHOL DOES TO MY BRAIN IF I DRINK TOO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GINJI HOANG AND [INAUDIBLE]
[FOREIGN] MY ENGLISH NAME IS JOYCE.
HE SAID WE MUST ATTEND THIS MEETING.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE HERE.
I FILLED THE FORM AND EXPRESSED MY OPINION.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MARIJUANA HERE IN OUR TOWNSHIP.
WHEN I GREW UP, I WAS A KID, IN CHINA.
WE HAVE MARIJUANA GROWING IN THE FIELD.
WE JUST PICK THE SEEDS, EAT IT. THIS IS FOR FUN.
THAT'S OKAY IN THE NATURAL FORM, AND WE ARE NOT ADDICTED TO IT AS THE EXTRACTED, CONCENTRATED FORM.
MARIJUANA IS A GOD MADE PLANT.
IT'S GOOD FOR STOMACHACHE, HEADACHE.
IT MUST BE USED BY THE DOCTOR, GIVE A CERTAIN CONTROL AMOUNT, OTHERWISE PEOPLE WILL BE ADDICTED TO IT.
HERE, IF PEOPLE USE THE CONCENTRATED FORM, EASILY GET OVERBOARD.
EVEN IF WE EAT GOOD FOOD, LIKE THE SWEET STUFF, IF WE GET TOO MUCH, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US.
THE SALT, IF TOO MUCH, IS NOT GOOD FOR US EITHER.
BUT THE FORM, THE TAKING, AND ALSO PEOPLE, WE KNOW OURSELVES.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE GOOD FOOD, WE JUST INDULGE IT AND WE LOST SELF CONTROL.
IF WE HAVE SELF CONTROL AS USED IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, THAT'S OKAY, BENEFICIAL FOR US.
ALSO, I'M A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR.
FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW I SAY, THANK YOU EVERYONE.
>> RONDA BUCCI AND [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M RONDA BUCCI.
SPOKEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST ON SEVERAL OTHER TOPICS BESIDES THIS ONE, BUT ALSO THIS ONE MOST RECENTLY.
I'M A NURSE [INAUDIBLE] AND HAVE A DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA, AND I'VE STUDIED IT, AND I'VE READ IT RECENTLY, AND IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND INFORMATION ON IT.
IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND HOW TOXIC IT IS AT TODAY'S LEVELS AND HOW IT'S BEING TAINTED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF A PHARMACY.
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MARIJUANA USED TO BE.
THAT ALONE IS VERY SCARY, BUT WHERE WE GOT TO HERE TODAY IS ALSO VERY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
IT'S NOT AN OATH OF OFFICE TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR STATE,
[00:50:01]
OR SOMEONE ELSE, OR TO YOURSELF.IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LISTENING TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND DOING SERVICE AND GOOD BY THE WILL OF PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
I MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT BECAUSE MOST RECENTLY WE HAD A VISIT AT THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP MEETING BY A REPRESENTATIVE WHO SPOKE TO THE EFFECTS OF HOW SHE WAS FOR THIS SALE IN THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, AND SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE GAVE MONEY TO THE TOWNSHIP IN HER APPROPRIATIONS.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT A REPRESENTATIVE IS SUPPOSED TO DO, IN MY OPINION.
TO ME, THAT SOUNDED A LITTLE ODD. IT WAS A LITTLE PRESSURE.
I KNOW IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN SLATES OF CANDIDATES THAT HAVE SAT ON THIS BOARD, AND PRESENTLY SO, WHO GOT IN UNDER SOME OF THAT PERSON'S INFLUENCE, AND I FEEL ARE STILL BEHOLDEN TO THAT PERSON'S INFLUENCE.
I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE PAST BEFORE WHERE THE SAME THING HAPPENED.
THANK HEAVENS THE COMMUNITY SPOKE UP.
ONE OF THEM WAS AGAINST THE SCHOOL BOARD AND GOT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CHANGE THEIR MIND, NOT TO CLOSE CORNELL SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A TRUSTEE HERE THAT WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD WHO STILL FEELS THAT CORNELL SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NOT CLOSED WARDCLIFF, AND CENTRAL, AND EDGEWOOD.
>> THESE ARE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THAT WE NEED, AND WE CAME HERE AND FOR THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME HERE FOR THAT REASON AND STAYED HERE FOR THAT REASON.
>> LUIGI BALDINNO AND BARBARA CURTIS, YOU'RE ON DECK.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LUIGI GINO BALDINO, AND I HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR 38 YEARS.
MY PROPERTY IS AT 2119 HAZLET ROAD, AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF DASH 20 409, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THAT SITE.
I DO DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AS FAR AS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I'VE ATTENDED A LOT OF THE MEETINGS HERE AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS AS MOST OF US HAVE.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
> THANK YOU. BARBARA CURTIS, AND THEN DAVID POSSET.
>> HELLO. I'M BARBARA CURTIS, I LIVE AT 5248 PARK LAKE ROAD ON THE EAST LANSING END OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE THAT ELECTION OVER ALL THE NEGATIVITY, MUD SLINGING CHARACTER ASSASSINATION.
BUT ONE COMMON TRAIT THAT EVERY SINGLE CANDIDATE FOR EVERY SINGLE SEAT MENTIONED IS THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND I HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
I DO NOT SUPPORT RE PURPOSING THE YOUNKERS BUILDING.
WE DO NEED A SENIOR CENTER BUT WE DO NOT NEED TO BUILD ANY MORE RECREATION FACILITIES OTHER THAN THE SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS BEING TORN DOWN, AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT SOMEWHERE OR PERHAPS REPURPOSED SOMEWHERE.
WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOME ON PARK LAKE ROAD, ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS FOR THE GREAT SCHOOLS AND THE GREAT RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH MY CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND NOW GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ARE ENJOYING, BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH RECREATION FACILITIES FOR FAMILIES.
I ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO TRY TO PUSH A MILLAGE THROUGH FOR THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SUSTAINABLE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE TIME TO REALLY TALK TO RESIDENTS ABOUT IT, I HAVE NOT TALKED TO ANYONE WHO FEELS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
ALSO ON THE MARIJUANA ISSUE, I DO NOT SUPPORT ADDING MARIJUANA SHOPS IN OKEMOS.
I DO KNOW THEY'RE A REVENUE SOURCE, BUT WE DON'T NEED THEM.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN PARK LAKE ROAD ACROSS FROM THE COSTCO.
IF YOU WANT TO BUY MARIJUANA, THE HIGH SOCIETY JUST OPEN THERE.
IT'S NICE BECAUSE IT'S IN A BUSINESS AREA, I DON'T SHOP THERE, BUT THEY ARE AT LEAST AWAY FROM SCHOOLS AND HOMES AND COMMUNITIES,
[00:55:04]
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE WHERE YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT THEM NOT NEXT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.[APPLAUSE]>> DAVID POSSET AND CIBA NI POE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DAVID POSSET AND I JUST WANT TO JUST SIMPLY, AS YOU CAN HEAR, THE COMMUNITY IS OVERWHELMINGLY, AND THEY'RE WAKING UP THERE.
THEY'RE STARTING TO LEARN ABOUT THIS, AND SURPRISINGLY WITHIN 10 DAYS, WE ARE ABLE TO GET 1,000 SIGNATURES AND THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.
WAIT TILL FALL, WHEN EVERYONE COMES BACK TO SCHOOL AND THEY SEE THIS AND THEY LEARN WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WHILE THEY WERE GONE.
THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF IS THAT SOUTHERN PORTION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THIS.
BUT DESPITE THEM VOTING OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THIS, THE BOARD IGNORED IT.
THE BOARD DECIDED TO ZONE IT ANYWAYS.
THEY LITERALLY IGNORED THE WISHES OF THE VOTER AND WHERE YOU GUYS WORK FOR US, WE PAY TAXES.
YOU'RE WORKING FOR US, YOUR JOB IS TO LISTEN TO THE WISHES OF THE VOTER.
THAT'S YOUR OATH, THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY.
THINK ABOUT THAT. BUT INSTEAD OF THAT, WHAT YOU DID WAS YOU JUST IGNORED THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
EVEN THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO PUT THIS IN, YOU HAVE TAGGED THEM ALONG, TOO.
YOU LITERALLY HAVE MADE THEM FEEL LIKE IT WAS PERFECTLY FINE.
YOU'VE PUT US ALL IN A BIND BY IGNORING THE VOTERS, YOU'VE BETRAYED US.
IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, IF YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE POLITICALLY GOOD FOR YOU OR PERSONALLY GOOD FOR YOU OR WHATEVER REASON GOOD FOR YOU, WE'RE AWAKE NOW.
JUST LIKE THE SENIOR CENTER, WE'RE TIRED OF PAYING MASSIVE TAXES NOW SOME BLOATED SENIOR CENTER.
THAT'S IF IT'S GOING TO BE MANAGED THE WAY YOU'VE MANAGED THIS, YOU WORK FOR US.
LISTEN TO US, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE YOU LISTEN TO US, AND YOU'RE IGNORING US.
IT'S AN AMERICAN DECISION ON YOUR PART.
PLEASE DO NOT BETRAY THE VOTERS.
YOU'RE HEARING FROM US WE'RE REAL.
WE'RE OUT THERE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE EVERY TIME WE DRIVE BY THIS PLACE, EVERY TIME THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING BY IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU BETRAYED THE VOTERS.
WE'RE ALL GO TO REMEMBER IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ONCE THE VOTE HAPPENS TRUST ME.
I PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING, HAVE THE COURAGE TO LISTEN TO THE VOTERS.
IF YOU THINK PERSONALLY THIS IS GOING TO HELP YOU BY VOTING FOR IT, OR POLITICALLY, IT ISN'T. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE]
>> HI, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SIVAN NALIMPALI.
I AM A RESIDENT OF BRIDEWO COMMUNITY IN OKEMOS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M A PRO BUSINESS, BUT I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS MARIJUANA.
THE REASON IS, AS MANY OF THE PREVIOUS RESIDENTS SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS LIKE LACK OF DUE DILIGENCE IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC AND OTHER THINGS, INCREASING CRIME RATE SAFETY, PROXIMITY TO THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE THINGS, I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS WITHIN THIS STRIP MALL, WE HAVE TWO LEARNING COMMUNITIES LIKE MAGNESIUM AND OTHER LEARNING CENTERS HERE JUST ACROSS THAT STRIP MALL.
THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WILL GET EXPOSED TO AND THAT I DON'T LIKE THAT.
SOME OTHER RESIDENTS BROUGHT UP A POINT THAT THE LACK OF DISPENSARIES CAUSE A ROOM FOR BLACK MARKET, WE HAVE DISPENSARIES ALL AROUND US, LIKE WITHIN FIVE OR 10 MILES.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO CREATE A BLACK MARKET.
WE DON'T NEED THESE THINGS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THEM AVAILABLE FOR US.
OTHER STATISTICS THAT THEY'RE BRINGING UP THAT TO SUPPORT THESE THINGS, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE BRINGING STATISTICS FROM A COMMUNITY LIKE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS VERY SAFE AND SOUND.
WHATEVER THEY'RE BRING UP IS FROM PROBABLY LIKE CHICAGO OR OTHER PLACES, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE APPLICABLE HERE.
THIS IS A VERY SAFE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS ONLY GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS, I GUESS.
[01:00:02]
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS ONLY A FEW PERCENT OF RESIDENTS A LOT MORE OF THEM EITHER UNAWARE OF THIS THING THAT'S COMING HERE, OR THEY ARE ALL OPPOSING, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE HERE DUE TO SOME UNAVOIDABLE COMMITMENTS.PLEASE, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO EITHER IGNORE OUR VOICE OR YOU CAN PLEASE CREATE A BETTER COMMUNITY BY TRYING YOUR BEST TO OF COURSE, PREVENT THIS MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. BERNARD SINGH, AND THEN VENKATA BOTTOM.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU, BOTH CHAIRMAN AND BOARD.
I'M HERE JUST TO REMIND CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED 29 YEARS AGO ALMOST OCTOBER 16, 1995, A MEDICAL OFFICER FROM FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SIGNED THE BILL, APPROVED IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT WAS THE BILL? DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE AMERICAN FAMILY AND THEIR RELATIVES.
HOW MANY DIED IN THE MIDWEST? HOW MANY DIED IN AMERICA? WE DON'T WANT THIS BOARD TO APPROVE THE SAME THING TODAY, JUST TO PREVENT, AND THAT WILL BE OUR BEST INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS FAR AS THE STATISTIC GOES, DR. CLAIRE MCCARTHY FROM HARVARD, SHE WROTE IN 2022 THAT THIS MARIJUANA IMPACT IS FOR BRAIN, MEMORY, AND LEARNING.
IMPAIRED THEM. DOESN'T ALLOW THE CAPACITY TO LEARN, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
IT'S INCREASE FROM 2015 UP TO 2022, 5% WHERE EVERYWHERE YOU SEE THE SMOKING, REDUCE THE SMOKING, REDUCE THE 7%, BUT MARIJUANA IS ON THE RISE, WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN.
I'M FREE MARKET SUPPORTER, I WELCOME THE BUSINESS.
BUT THE BUSINESS WHICH IS GOING TO IMPACT THE SAME COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MONEY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
RECENTLY, YOU HEARD OKEMOS IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN INDEXING.
HUMAN INDEXING HAS A HUMAN CAPITAL AND HUMAN CAPITAL, CHILDREN'S ARE THE MOST VALUABLE.
WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, THEIR LIFE VALUES NOT MEASURED AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT HERE.
WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THE OKEMOS COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE, LIVABLE, WE PAY HIGH TAXES BECAUSE WE WANT THIS.
WE WANT CHILDREN TO GROW, DO SOMETHING BETTER.
RECENTLY, YOU SAW HIGH SCHOOL FROM OKEMOS SHE BECAME MISS USA.
IF IT WAS A MARIJUANA SOLD HERE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
SOME PEOPLE SAID LAST MEETING, IT IS WELL ORGANIZED AND REGULATED, IT IS NOT.
INSIDE THE DOOR YOU'RE REGULATING THE MINUTE SOMEBODY GOES OUT, SELL TO THE 15 YEARS, THAT'S NOT REGULATED.
YOU READ THE NEWS, SOMEBODY DIED IN THE CAR ACCIDENT.
THE CHILD WAS 15. IF THAT WAS REGULATED? NO, BECAUSE SOMEBODY BOUGHT WITH THEIR LICENSE, SELL IT TO THE THIRD PERSON, MAKE THE MONEY.
THIS PRACTICE IS GOING TO REPEAT HERE AS WELL.
IF YOU LOOK AT DENVER POST AND OTHER NEWS, APRIL 20, 2019, THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY MADE A MESS IN THE CIVIC PARK.
IT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THREE DAYS TO CLEAN IT.
>> ONE MORE THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION.
>> SIR, WE NOT LET ANYONE GO OVER THEIR TIME TONIGHT.
THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE] VENKATA BOTTOM.
>> HI. THIS IS VENKATA BOTTOM.
LAST TIME WHEN I WAS HERE, SOMEONE WAS REFERRING, WE ARE ALL FEAR MONGERS.
I WENT BACK AND I CHECKED ALL THE DATA, THERE WAS ONE LICENSED REGULATED APPROVED SHOP IN DETROIT, WHICH WAS BEING CLOSED FIVE MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THEY ARE SELLING THE DRUGS TO THE KIDS.
THE NEWS IS IN WCKV AND IF PERMIT, I CAN SHOW AND ALL THE OTHER DATA I HAVE, IF TIME PERMITS, I CAN SHARE WITH YOU.
PLEASE CONSIDER ALL OF OUR REQUESTS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SANDY JANE, THEN KARA ALUA.
>> RESPECT WITH BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE OUR VOICE.
[01:05:01]
I'M JUST HERE TO ECHO ALL THE CLAPS THAT ARE COMING TO OPPOSE THIS.I KNOW YOU GUYS DID TELL THAT NOT TO CLAP, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO COME HERE.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT BE HERE, BUT ALL THESE CLAPS THAT ARE COMING TO SUPPORT NOT TO HAVE THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP HERE, PLEASE DO HEAR THAT.
>> HEY, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE SAME OPINION.
I MOVED TO OKEMOS, PAID WHATEVER THE HEFTY AMOUNT FOR MY HOUSE, JUST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALL THE SAFE COMMUNITY HERE.
I DON'T WANT THE MEDICAL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA HERE.
I OPPOSE IT, AND PLEASE DO CONSIDER.
THERE ARE A LOT MANY FRIENDS WHO COULDN'T COME, I'M JUST REPRESENTING THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PANUA ARARA AND BAER SINGH IS ON DECK.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PANUA ARARA, AND I LIVE ON 3557, CHIPPINDEL CIRCLE OKEMOS, MICHIGAN.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, THERE ARE LOTS OF IMMIGRANT AND ME AS AN IMMIGRANT AS A PROUD US CITIZEN.
I LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 15 YEARS.
I'VE LIVED IN OREGON, I HAVE LIVED IN WASHINGTON, I HAVE LIVED IN IOWA, AND OTHER PLACES TOO.
YOU KNOW THE REASON I CHOSE OKEMOS? BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN, ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS.
I KNOW 50% OF THESE PEOPLE PERSONALLY.
THEY HAVE BEEN TO MY HOUSE, I HAVE BEEN TO THEIR HOUSES.
YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE CHOSE TO RAISE OUR KIDS.
I HAVE THREE KIDS, 16-YEAR-OLD, 14-YEAR-OLD, AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD AND YOU KNOW THE PATH THEY GO TO? THEY TAKE JOLLY THEY GO FROM THERE.
THEY HANG OUT AT 711 ALMOST EVERY DAY TO GET A SLURPEE OR GET A SUBWAY OR SOMETHING.
DO YOU THINK I WILL BE COMFORTABLE WHEN I KNOW THERE IS A MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.
WHY ARE WE TRYING TO POPULATE A COMMUNITY THAT IS SO GREAT.
I COULD LITERALLY LIVE ANYWHERE, BUT THERE IS A REASON WE CHOSE OKEMOS.
WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE OUR ROOTS HERE, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY THE WAITERS, JUST TO KEEP LIKE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU ARE THERE AS AN EXPERT.
MAYBE I DON'T KNOW A LOT, BUT HAVE YOU DONE YOUR RESEARCH? HAVE YOU DONE EVERYTHING THAT WHY WE ARE HERE, WHY THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE STANDING OR SITTING HERE AND SAYING THAT, YES, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
YES, THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON.
WE ARE SCARED AND YES, WE ARE SCARED AS A MOTHER.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE, WHO CAN'T SPEAK RIGHT NOW, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AND PLEASE LISTEN TO US.
PLEASE DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THIS IS REALLY SAD THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE HERE JUST TO TELL WHAT IS NOT RIGHT, WHAT IS NOT CORRECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.[APPLAUSE]
>> BAER SINGH AND NEERA TEWARI SINGH.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT, AND I'M HERE AGAIN TO OPPOSE THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE OKEMOS TOWNSHIP.
I LIVE IN THE MEADOWS, 2739 [INAUDIBLE] YOU HEARD ALL THE REASONS WHY WE DO NOT LIKE THIS MARIJUANA SHOP IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS EITHER THE LEADERS SHOULD LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE HAS TO ADOPT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
IF THE LEADERS, OR THE BOARD MEMBERS, OR WHOEVER IS GOING TO TAKE THE DECISIONS, AT A TIME IF THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO FIND OTHER OPTIONS, WHAT THEY CAN DO.
DEFINITELY, AS IT WAS MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE ARE AWAKE.
A LOT OF US TRIED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE, WHAT I FOUND PERSONALLY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
YES, THE WHOLE VOTING PERCENTAGE OF ONLY SIX VOTES, BUT THE MOMENT WE WERE REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN AWARE.
LAST TIME IT WAS 10-20, THIS TIME IT IS 100.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THIS MARIJUANA, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE CONCERNS, SOME HAVE THE JOB, SOME HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THE FAMILIES AND ALL.
WE ARE TALKING AGAINST ALL OF THOSE, WHICH WILL HAVE THE MAJORITY AT THE END.
THERE ARE REASONS, AND REASONS ARE GIVEN.
SAFETY, MEDICAL PROBLEMS, KIDS, SCHOOLS, PROPERTY VALUE, WHY YOU'RE PAYING ADDITIONAL TAXES.
WHAT WE WANT IS, I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU SHOULD NOT RUSH TOWARDS THIS.
IF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEM, WHY NOT LISTEN TO THEM, OR CONVINCE US THAT WHY THIS IS RIGHT FOR US.
WE ARE COMING HERE, RAISING OUR CONCERN,
[01:10:01]
YOU ARE JUST LISTENING TO US AND SIMPLY IGNORE. THAT'S OKAY.JUST BECAUSE IT WAS PASSED THROUGH SOME SIX VOTES, SO THERE ARE NO RESPECT, NO VALUES TO US COMING HERE RAISING OUR CONCERN, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BOARD IS JUST GOING TO DECIDE WHAT YOU ALREADY PRE-MINDED.
IF THIS IS WHAT IS THE NORM, AND THE WAY TO DO THAT, THEN THERE'S NO BENEFIT OF ANY OF US TO COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT IT.
IF YOU'RE TALKING, SOMEBODY HAS TO JUST EXPLAIN WHY AFTER ALL THESE CONCERNS THIS DECISION WAS TAKEN.
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONVINCE US WHY SOMETHING WAS DONE BY THE BOARD WAS RIGHT OR WRONG? WE NEED THE ANSWER, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE PAY TAXES.
WE HAVE CONCERNS, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
PLEASE, IF YOU NEED TIME, TAKE THE TIME, [NOISE] AND LISTEN TO US.
>> NEERA TEWARI SINGH, AND THEN MARLENE STOVER, YOU'RE ON DECK.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
TO THE SINCERE BOARD MEMBERS, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT IS BEING RAISED, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND AS BANU MENTIONED, THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT AWARE THAT THE SHOP IS COMING UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN 354 [INAUDIBLE] DRIVE IN OKEMOS.
I BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE VERY RECENTLY JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY MENTIONS THAT THIS IS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO BE AROUND HERE.
BUT BEING A SCIENTIST, BEING A MOM, AND HAVING READ A LOT OF THINGS, WHAT MARIJUANA CAN DO FROM IMPAIRING COGNITIVE ABILITIES, REDUCTION IN IQS IN KIDS, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT CAN LEAD TO LONG-TERM LUNG EFFECTS.
NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU SMOKE, BE IT CIGARETTES, BE IS ANYTHING ELSE.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA ARE STILL BEING STUDIED AND RESEARCHED.
BUT THERE IS ALL THE EVIDENCE THERE THAT I READ RECENTLY, I DIDN'T WORK DIRECTLY ON MARIJUANA, AND I DID NOT GO AND RESEARCH THE WHOLE THING, BUT RECENTLY I STARTED READING ITS EFFECTS WHAT IT IS DOING, AND NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF SCIENCE, WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF CRIME, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF HOW THE DOWNTOWN AREAS IN MANY CITIES LOOK DUE TO THE OPENING OF MARIJUANA SHOPS.
I HAVE EXPERIENCES MYSELF IN THE DOWNTOWN DENVER.
WE USED TO GO AND WALK AROUND WITH KIDS, WE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
JUST GO TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA THERE AND JUST SEE WHAT HAS THE MARIJUANA OR RECREATION MARIJUANA DONE TO THE TOWN, NOT TO MENTION SEATTLE, NOT TO MENTION A LOT OF OTHER TOWNS WHICH I WENT RECENTLY TO.
I KNOW PEOPLE SAY THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS, THIS MUCH DISTANCE FROM THIS SCHOOL, THIS MUCH DISTANCE FROM THIS SCHOOL, AND WE'RE ALL GOOD, BUT BELIEVE ME OR NOT, LONG-TERM EFFECTS ARE GOING TO COME OUT, AND WE'RE GOING TO REGRET IN THE LONG-TERM WHY WE ALLOWED MARIJUANA TO BE APPROVED IN SOCIETIES AND NEAR OUR GATE SCHOOLS.
PEOPLE CAN GET, THEY'RE 21, THEY CAN BUY IT, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE SCHOOLS AROUND, AND I'VE HEARD WITH MY OWN KIDS THAT, "WHAT IS CANDY? MOM, YOU KNOW?" I SAID, "NO, I DON'T KNOW." NO, THEY'VE HEARD THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD IT IN THEIR LISTING, AND THEY WERE CAUGHT AND THEN SOME THINGS WENT ON.
I DON'T WANT AT ALL THAT OUR KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
PEOPLE BUY IT, COME OUT, AND SELL IT TO THE KIDS.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ARE LIVING HERE FOR OR WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO CHANGE THAT WAY.
I KNOW IT'S MEDICALLY RELEVANT FOR SOME PEOPLE, DON'T OPPOSE THAT.
THE PLACE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, THE PLACE IN THE SMALL PLACE LIKE OKEMOS, [NOISE] I DO NOT WANT TO ENVISION IT GOING DOWN THE TREND IN LONG TERM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> MARLENE STOVER AND SANJAY [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'VE LIVED IN OKEMOS, FOR 20 YEARS.
THE BIGGEST CONCENTRATION OF VOTES TO BAN WERE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE TOWNSHIP, WHILE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS NOT TO BAN WERE SPLIT BETWEEN THE NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST PART OF THE TOWNSHIP IN HASLETT.
WHY IS THIS GOING INTO THE AREA THAT VOTED TO BAN RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA? YOU ARE THE TRUSTEES, AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
IN ADDITION, FOUR OF THE FIVE DISPENSARIES APPROVED ARE IN OKEMOS, AND NOT IN HASLETT.
[01:15:04]
BASED ON THAT VOTE, IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.ANOTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS ABOUT ARMED GUARDS REQUIRED IN DISPENSARIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE OUR POLICE HAVE A 90-SECOND RESPONSE RATE.
DETROIT DISPENSARIES REQUIRE TWO ARMED GUARDS, AND SOME LANSING AREA DISPENSARIES REQUIRE ONE.
SO THE DISPENSARY OWNERS ARE SAVING MONEY BY NOT HIRING THEIR OWN SECURITY AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR POLICE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO ROBBERIES AT THIS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENT NEEDS THE POLICE AND THEY'RE BUSY RESPONDING TO A ROBBERY AT A MEDICAL RECREATIONAL FACILITY? SINCE THIS IS AN ALL-CASH BUSINESS OF A LEGAL DRUG IT WILL BE A TARGET OF ROBBERIES.
CHILDREN WILL BE DRIVING, WALKING, AND BIKING PAST THIS LOCATION SEVERAL TIMES A DAY TO AND FROM THE THREE SCHOOLS MENTIONED.
IT'S NOT SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND IT'S NOT THE FAMILY-ORIENTED TYPE OF BUSINESS WE WANT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OKEMOS AND HASLETT ARE RANKED AS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD JEOPARDIZE THAT RANKING BY BRINGING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
BASED ON RESEARCH THE MAJORITY OF PURCHASERS ARE 18-25 YEARS OLD, AND THERE IS A LOW POPULATION OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC IN THIS AREA, SO MOST OF THE TRAFFIC WILL BE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY.
WHEN THE TRAFFIC STUDY WAS DONE, IT WAS BASED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY IN 2018-2019.
SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE BUSINESSES AT THIS INTERSECTION.
THE HOTELS BEHIND GRAND TRAVERSE, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX BEHIND MSU FCU, JOE'S ON JOLLY, SPIRO MEDICAL FACILITY ON JOLLY, THE SOAP DISPENSARY AT THE CORNER, SAVVY SLIDERS, TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE, VERIZON, JERSEY MIKES, ALL NEW.
WE ALL KNOW THAT RECREATION IS GOING TO BRING MORE TRAFFIC IN ADDITION TO THE TRAFFIC THESE BUSINESSES HAVE CREATED.
ALSO, THIS BUILDING WAS NOT EVEN FOR SALE.
THIS DETROIT METRO GROUP BOUGHT THE BUILDING, RAISED THE RENT BY THREE TIMES, AND ALL OF THE FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES MOVED OUT.
INSTEAD OF A COFFEE SHOP, A SUB SHOP, [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] A JUICE BAR, WE HAVE THIS.
>> SANJAY [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN SUNITA AS WELL.
>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING. I'M SANJAY [INAUDIBLE] I'M HERE AGAIN TO OPPOSE THE OPENING OF THE MARIJUANA RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY IN THE OKEMOS AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE.
WE HAVE HEARD TO THE SCIENTISTS, WE HAVE HEARD TO ALL THE EMINENT PROFESSORS, AND ESPECIALLY ALL THE FAMILIES WHO RAISE THEIR KIDS IN THIS AREA.
SOME OF THE THINGS I CAN BRING UP BASED ON MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT, AND AGAIN, IS MORE LIKE WE HAVE SEEN MANY CITIES WHICH HAVE GONE IN A BAD SHAPE DUE TO MARIJUANA.
I'M NOT GOING TO AGAIN BRING THAT OVER AGAIN.
BUT I KNOW WHEN I DRIVE FROM LANSING, TO MY HOME, THERE WAS A BIG BOARD OVER THERE WHICH SAID MARIJUANA IS ADDICTIVE.
PEOPLE KNOW IT IS ADDICTIVE AND IT CAUSES ISSUES.
I THINK THOSE THINGS SHOULD DEFINITELY GO INTO OUR CONSCIENCES, AND WE SHOULD MAKE OUR DECISIONS BASED ON THOSE FACTS.
THE OTHER THING IS I'VE HEARD IT BRINGS BUSINESS.
MY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT MAY BRING BUSINESS, BUT IT BRINGS A LOT OF SOCIAL ISSUES, AND IT MAY BRING LOT OF ISSUES WHERE WE NOW HAVE TO HAVE A POLICE FORCE WHICH IS MORE STRESSED OR WE HAVE TO INCREASE IT.
IT BRINGS MORE PROBLEM THAN BRINGING THE SOLUTION TO THE TABLE.
AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY AREA AND THE SCHOOLS, I DO OPPOSE THE MARIJUANA OPENING IN THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AT THE LOCATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> SUNITA [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE ON DECK.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SUNITA [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE IN 3536 [INAUDIBLE] STREET.
I OPPOSE THIS MARIJUANA SHOP BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD EVENING. FIRST I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT STOOD FOR ELECTION,
[01:20:04]
AND YOU WERE ALL SUCCESSFUL, AND YOU ARE GOING TO LEAD OUR TOWNSHIP FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.BUT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR TOWNSHIP IS NOT IN QUESTION.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TO QUESTION YOUR PROCESS AT ARRIVING TO TODAY'S ACTION ITEM 12F, SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER MILLAGE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AGREE WITH THE NEED TO ADDRESS A NEEDED SENIOR CENTER, AND THE WANT OF A COMMUNITY CENTER IF IT'S AFFORDABLE.
WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY IS LACKING SPECIFICITY.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE IS THE END RESULT A STAFF REPORT IDENTIFYING THE BENEFITS AND APPROXIMATE COST OF THE DESIRES A COMBINED SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER.
THIS BODY, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, COMMISSIONED A TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE THE ACQUISITION AND OR BUILDING OF A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SOON-TO-BE DEMOLISHED SENIOR CENTER, AND POSSIBLY A COMMUNITY CENTER.
NUMBER 1, NAMES OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS.
NUMBER 2, MINUTES FROM THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS TO UNDERSTAND THE DELIBERATIONS, OPTIONS EXPLORED, AND RATIONALE FOR DISMISSING OPTIONS.
NUMBER 3, TASKFORCE REPORT TO THIS BODY, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, COMPLETE WITH THE TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND THE VOTES CAST BY EACH OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, SUPPORTING OR DENYING THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT IT MUST EXIST BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND DELIBERATE WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT THIS INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED US ON THE BALLOT.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE IT.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN GRAHAM GERBEL.
MY NAME IS MONEL SCHAFF, AND I LIVE ON 2735 LUPINE DRIVE, OKEMOS.
I'M JUST HERE TO OPPOSE THE DISPENSARY COMING UP IN THE OKEMOS LOCATION.
I ECHO ALL THE ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SO FAR, THE ONLY THING THAT I AM HERE IS I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENTIST, AND I HAVE BEEN STUDYING SUBSTANCE USE OPIOID DATA FOR 10 YEARS IN MICHIGAN.
I HAVE SEEN JUST NO SOLUTION COMING OUT.
IT'S A CYCLICAL CYCLE, IT GOES FROM TREATMENT TO RECOVERY.
I WOULD JUST REALLY URGE THE BOARD TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PREVENTION, BECAUSE PREVENTION IS VERY HARD, TREATMENT IS VERY EASY, AND RECOVERY IS HARD.
OUR POPULATION IS GOING THROUGH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF ALL THIS.
I WOULD REALLY URGE THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THIS BECAUSE THIS IS JUST GOING TO CREATE ANOTHER CYCLICAL CYCLE FOR A NEW GENERATION OF CHILDREN THAT'S GOING TO COME THROUGH MICHIGAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GRAHAM GERBEL AND JOHN JANG.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GRAHAM GERBLE.
I GREW UP IN OKEMOS, WENT TO EDGEWOOD SCHOOL, OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2011.
>> THE OKEMOS COMMUNITY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
THE LAST TIME I WAS STANDING AT THIS ELECTRON AND I WAS SEEKING APPROVAL FROM MY EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT IN TED BLACK WOODS.
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS BUILDING, I WAS UPSTAIRS GETTING A BUILDING PERMIT FOR MATHNASIUM OF OKEMOS.
[01:25:03]
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THAT COMPANY, WHICH I OWN, LOCATED AT 3552 MERIDIAN CROSSING DRIVE.UP UNTIL MARCH OF THIS PAST YEAR, WE WERE LOCATED AT 3520 OKEMOS ROAD, THE SELF SAME LOCATION THAT'S LISTED AS THE LOCATION FOR THE DISPENSARY.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THAT.
MATHNASIUM IS A K-12 MATH LEARNING CENTER.
WE HAVE STUDENTS OF THAT AGE COMING AND GOING FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
THE REASON WE MOVED OUT OF THE 3520 LOCATION MIGHT BE PRETTY OBVIOUS. IT'S TOO CLOSE.
SOMEONE WAS UP HERE EARLIER SAYING THAT HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY.
I FOUND OUT WHAT WAS MOVING IN WHEN I WALKED PAST THERE AND SAW THE BUILDING PERMIT POSTED ON THE WINDOW AND SAW THAT IT WAS FOR A CANNABIS DISPENSARY.
THANKFULLY, MY LEASE WAS UP, SO I TOOK MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.
I'M ACROSS THE STREET NOW, BUT IT'S STILL TOO CLOSE, 500 FEET AWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OKEMOS ROAD.
WE STILL HAVE SCHOOL AGE KIDS COMING AND GOING FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
I KNOW IT'S APPROVED, DECRIMINALIZED.
IT'S STILL ILLEGAL AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE ARE GOING TO COME AND RESPOND TO.
I'VE BEEN TO DOWNTOWN LANSING, MANHATTAN.
YOU WALK DOWN THE STREETS AND YOU SEE PEOPLE SMOKING.
SMOKING MARIJUANA, YOU SMELL IT AS YOU PASS BY AT OUR BUSINESS LOCATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DEALT WITH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, ONLY HAVING BEEN THERE LESS THAN A YEAR NOW.
WE DON'T WANT TO BOTHER THE POLICE IF SOMEONE'S STANDING OUTSIDE SMOKING A JOINT.
I'M NOT GOING TO CALL SERGEANT SLAVICK.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE HIM COME DOWN AND TAKE ACTION ON SOMEBODY WHO'S SMOKING MARIJUANA.
BECAUSE 92ND RESPONSE TIME, AS SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED, IS BETTER SPENT ON SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THE ATTENTION RATHER THAN SOME KIDS OR SOME TEENAGERS OR SOME ADULTS RECREATIONALLY USING THE PRODUCT.
BUT IT'S NOT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
ARE THE POLICE GOING TO COME AND RESPOND TO PUBLIC INTOXICATION OR CREATING A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT? [NOISE] LASTLY, AS A MATHEMATICIAN, I CAN TELL YOU SIX VOTES IS WITHIN A MARGIN OF ERROR. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> JOHN JANG AND XIAO XINJIANG.
>> HI. HOW ARE YOU? I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE.
I LIVE HERE IN OKEMOS MORE THAN TEN YEARS.
RECENTLY, THERE'S A HOUSE SOLD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER $600,000.
SO EXPENSIVE. I ASKED THE NEW NEIGHBOR WHO MOVE IN, WHY YOU MOVE HERE? IT'S EXPENSIVE, THE MARKET IS TOO HIGH.
>> HE SAID, IT'S A GOOD SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MOVE HERE.
BUT I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY HAVE NO KIDS.
WHY YOU WANT TO EXPAND HAVE HERE.
THEY SAID, WELL, WHEN I SELL THE HOUSE, IS GOING TO SELL WELL.
WHY? GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. GOOD SCHOOL.
BUT THE OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL, 40% OF THE COMPOSITION IS NOT WHITE.
WHY THE OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SUCKS? WELL, BECAUSE THE PARENTS, THIS IS A ASIAN PARENTS.
[LAUGHTER] ANY CHANCE THIS WE STORE GOING TO DAMAGE THE SCHOOL DISTRIBUTION, THE SCHOOL REPUTATION.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT NOW WE ARE FACED THE PROBLEM THAT WE RECRUIT FACULTY FROM OTHER PLACES.
WE WANT TO ADVICE THEM WHERE DO YOU BUY HOUSE.
WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT? THE SCHOOL.
BUT THIS STORE HAS A CHANCE, MAYBE A SMALL CHANCE TO MAKE THE SCHOOL LESS ATTRACTIVE.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE GET INTO YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. XIAO XINJIANG AND THEN JAY MEYER.
[OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.
COULD EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE PLEASE NOT TALK WHILE THEY'RE TALKING.
IT IS VERY HARD FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR THEM UP THERE.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WANTS TO SAY.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, I CAN'T HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
COULD YOU PLEASE NOT HAVE CONVERSATIONS WELL AND GIVE THEM THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE TO GIVE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
[01:30:01]
THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET US TO SPEAK HERE.
MY NAME IS XIAO XINJIANG, AND I LIVED IN 1805 70 DRIVE FOR 21 YEARS.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ELDERS AND DEACONS BOARD OF LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO OPPOSE THE OPENING MARIJUANA SHOP IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALREADY KNOW WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS LOCATION, YOU CONSIDER THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SHOP AND THE SCHOOLS.
WE KNOW IT'S ALREADY TOO CLOSE TO ALL THREE SCHOOLS.
BUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
WE'RE THREE MILES AWAY FROM THE SHOP.
OUR CHURCH HAS MANY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S FROM ELEMENTARY AGE SCHOOL.
WE ALSO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING FROM MSU AND WE DON'T WANT A MARIJUANA STORE NEAR OUR CHURCH.
IT WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO USE IT TO HANG AROUND IN THE AREA.
THIS WILL ALSO INCREASE POTENTIAL DANGERS, SUCH AS IMPAIRED JUDGMENT AND LEAD TO POSSIBLE CRIME AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES.
IT WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
IT WILL DISCOURAGE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE CHURCH ACTIVITIES.
AS 20 YEARS RESIDENTS HERE, I URGE YOU AS A TRUSTEE OF OUR BOARD, AND WE RELY ON YOU.
WE RELY ON YOU TO MAKE SOUND DECISION, WHICH IS LIKE MAKING OUR FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY BETTER.
IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE THAT THERE'S A RISK ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE, WE DO NOT WANT TO RISK THAT.
PLEASE, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. THANK YOU.
>> JAY MEYER AND PRASHANTI THAKUR.
I LIVE AT 3720 AUTUMN WOOD LANE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THE THIRD TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLOSE ATTENTION.
I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THE LONG TERM IMPACT OF THIS BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION.
MANY HERE BELIEVE AND CAME TO THIS MEETING BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DECISION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN MADE.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PERSUADE YOU IF YOU'RE THINKING TOWARD THE AFFIRMATIVE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND TO DO IT IN A POSITIVE WAY.
A WISE PERSON ONCE ASKED ME OR TOLD ME, HOW DO YOU PERSUADE PEOPLE? YOU PERSUADE PEOPLE BY ASKING SIMPLE, LOGICAL, COMMON SENSE QUESTIONS.
HERE'S MY COMMON SENSE QUESTION TO YOU ALL.
WHAT PUBLIC GOOD DOES THE AFFIRMATIVE TOWARD THIS PROPOSAL ACHIEVE? WHAT PUBLIC GOOD HAVING THIS DISPENSARY AT THIS LOCATION OFFER THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY? I SAY NONE.
HAVING THIS LOCATION ON THIS CORNER IS NOT OKAY.
IT WILL NEVER BE OKAY WITH US.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DISPENSARY COULD BE PLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
LET US PERSUADE YOU TO THE OPTIMUM.
>> PRASHANTI THAKUR AND KALIANI VANGALA IS UP AFTER THAT.
KALIANI VANGALA, FOLLOWED BY JULIE WATNESSA.
>> I'M A MEDICAL DOCTOR, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE LUCRATIVE NATURE OF THIS BUSINESS.
BUT DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN MY JOB, I SEE THE EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE USE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND POOR DECISIONS.
I KNOW THAT AMERICANS ARE GOING TO REGRET THE DECISION TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO PAY FOR IT IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE PROBLEMS, BUT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, MARIJUANA DECREASES FERTILITY RATES. THINK ABOUT IT.
THE BIRTH RATE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT'S ALREADY LOW IS GOING TO DECLINE EVEN FURTHER.
I SHOP IN THE STRIP MALL WHERE YOU PROPOSE THIS LOCATION.
[01:35:02]
I SHOP AT THE 711, I GO TO THE DRY CLEANERS, AND I GO TO THE SUBWAY THERE.I DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED TO BUS DRIVERS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED TO ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
I PASSED BY IT THE OTHER DAY, AND I SAW THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THE SHOP IS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WHATEVER IS HAPPENING, YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY EFFORTS TO STOP THAT, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED.
I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE CAN BE HIGH AND THAT WE'LL BE EXPOSED TO STANDING ACCIDENTS IN THE STRIP MALL AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON THAT ROAD.
THAT'S ALREADY A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC AREA, AND THERE'S A VERY BADLY DESIGNED LEFT TURN, EVEN DURING REGULAR TRAFFIC HOURS, I'M EXPOSED TO ACCIDENTS JUST BECAUSE BY THE DESIGN OF THE TURN.
THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGE KIDS THAT LIVE HERE THAT DRIVE BY THIS AND THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO THE GLAMOUR AND EASY ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS DRUG.
I'M GLAD THAT MY DAUGHTER IS RAISED AND GONE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE IN THIS LOCATION RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M SO SORRY. CAN YOU PAUSE FOR A MOMENT.
>> I'VE GOT A WASP HERE IN FRONT OF ME. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S THE SECOND ONE TONIGHT.
>> MAKE USE OF THE HAMMER. [LAUGHTER]
>> EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL OUT THERE?
>> NOW THAT I'VE SPILLED EVERYWHERE. I DO APOLOGIZE, EVERYONE.
>> THEN WE HAVE S. SHENOY FOLLOWING THAT.
>> I LIVE AT 3591 AUTUMN WOOD LANE, PROBABLY A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM THE PROPOSED DISPENSARY.
BUT WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT TRANSPARENCY WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
I HEAR MY IMPASSIONED NEIGHBORS, AND I, EXCEPT FOR YOU, REALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS OR WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
THAT I DON'T THINK THESE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT THE LICENSE HAS BEEN GRANTED.
WHAT THE TOWNSHIP IS WAITING FOR IS AN SUP, WHICH IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS TO MEET TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LICENSE FULLY APPROVED.
REALLY, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO SCRUTINIZE AND ALSO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STOP THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO HELP THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO BLOCK THIS.
NOW, WHAT I BELIEVE THE BOARD CAN DO IS YOU FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE THE SUP RIGHT AWAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A TIME LIMIT ON IT OR NOT, BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE'S NOT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREETS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NO ONE IS HOME.
WE'RE ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE UP NORTH.
I'M JUMPING IN MY CAR AFTER THIS.
I STAYED FOR THIS, AND I'M GOING UP NORTH AFTER THIS.
THIS IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FEELING THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
I WOULD REALLY URGE YOU IN TRANSPARENCY TO DELAY THIS SUP, LET THE CITIZENS GET A HOLD OF THAT SUP, SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BLOCK IT, AND THEN THEY CAN'T CONTINUE ON THE STORE, BECAUSE, YES, THEY ARE COMMITTED.
THEY HAVE BOUGHT THAT ASIAN EXPRESS.
THEY PAID CARRYING COSTS ON THAT PLACE.
THE DEVELOPER HAS INVESTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THEY'RE VERY INVESTED IN GETTING THIS DISPENSARY GOING.
THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REMODELING ON THE INSIDE.
IF YOU WANT TO STOP THAT, YOU'VE GOT TO STOP THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
>> S. SHENOY AND THEN CHANDRA IGANTI.
I WILL MENTION THIS IS THE LAST ONE THAT I HAVE.
IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK, PLEASE FILL A GREEN CARD AND TURN IT IN NOW.
WE'LL BE CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER CHANDRA, IF WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY IN THE INTERIM.
>> RESPECTED BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M EVER DOING THIS.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS NOW.
IF I STEP OUT OF MY BOUNDARY OF WHAT I CAN DO HERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
CAN EVERYONE HERE RAISE YOUR HANDS THOSE WHO DO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?
>> I'M SORRY. YOU CAN'T ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE.
>> I CAN'T ASK THEM. I WILL EXPECT THAT EVERYONE HAS RAISED THEIR HAND THERE BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO DO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, I WILL ASSUME.
I'M ALSO ASSUMING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IT IF YOU VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS SURVIVED WITHOUT THIS MARIJUANA OR ANY SUCH THING FOR A LONG TIME.
[01:40:05]
IF THIS IS PURELY BASED ON REVENUE BEING GENERATED FOR THE TOWNSHIP OR THE TAXES OR WHATEVER, THEN IT IS WRONG.IT'S GREED FOR MONEY THAT IS DRIVING THIS.
I WOULD SAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR TOWNSHIP ARE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING AND BUYING MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WHAT KIND OF WHO IS THIS BUSINESS FOR? WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHO IS THIS BUSINESS FOR? AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE WE TRYING TO INVITE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HERE RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO OKEMOS, TO SAY, COME IN? WE HAVE THIS AVAILABLE FOR YOU RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.
IF THIS IS PURELY FOR MONEY REASONS, AND THIS IS GOING TO BRING BUSINESS, WHO IS THIS BUSINESS FOR IT? IT'S NOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT MANY PEOPLE HERE WANT THIS.
PLEASE CONSIDER THAT BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS.
IF EVERYONE HERE WANTS TO GO GIVE BUSINESS TO THIS PLACE, THEN AWESOME, VOTE YES FOR IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CHANDRA IGANTI.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE LAST CALL FOR GREEN CARDS, PLEASE.
BUT ONE THING, LET ME SPEAK FROM MY HEART.
I LEFT COLORADO TO COME TO MICHIGAN, AND YOU HUNT ME DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. [LAUGHTER] PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT.
WE AS A COMMUNITY STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS, WHICH IS ONE MILE FROM TWO GOOD SCHOOLS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
AND A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, IF YOU CAN DELAY THAT, GET MORE HOMEWORK DONE, AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.
THAT'S ALL MY REQUEST IS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. HAVING RECEIVED NO OTHER GREEN CARDS, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED AT 7:41 P.M.
I LEAVE OF THE BOARD, WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES.
WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND RETURN AT 7:46 PM.
THE BOARD WILL STAND AT RECESS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR SEATS, PLEASE.
WE'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 7:52 PM.
[6. INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
THE INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT.WE'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER, TIM SCHMITT. MR. SCHMITT.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HERE TO TALK TO ME TONIGHT.
ONE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE EMERGENCY SIRENS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AS OF TODAY.
I ALREADY HAVE AN EMAIL TO CONSUMERS TO TRY AND EXPEDITE HOOKING THEM UP TO POWER SO THAT WE DO HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE.
BUT ALL THANKS TO OUR DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MASSIE, WHO TOOK THAT OVER FOR CHIEF HAMEL WHILE HE WAS OUT OF THE OFFICE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE US BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES, WHICH IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTS, AND I'M A GEOGRAPHY MAJOR.
THERE IS A PETITION ONLINE TO RENAME LAKE LANSING.
WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THAT AND TRYING TO GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION WE CAN, WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU ONE OF YOUR NEXT MEETINGS.
THEY HAVE REQUESTED FORMAL INPUT FROM THE LOCALS, SO WE WILL PROVIDE THAT SHORTLY.
ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST, SEPTEMBER 7TH, AT 242 CHURCH.
WE WILL GET FURTHER DETAILS OUT ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.
BUT MANAGER DEAL BROUGHT THAT TO MY ATTENTION, AND GIVEN THAT IT'S MY CHILD'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY, WE WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
LASTLY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE RED CEDAR WATERWAY PROJECT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] HAS REALLY GRABBED THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND MAKES ME WANT TO BE A PARKS DIRECTOR GIVEN THAT SHE'S ABLE TO GO OUT AND CHECK OUT THE LOG JAMS ON THE RIVER.
BUT MOST RECENTLY, WE FULLY ASSESS THE MAJORITY OF THE JAMS. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO CLEAN UP, AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE GET TO A MAINTENANCE LEVEL, WHERE IT'S NOT AS BIG OF A DEAL THIS YEAR.
BUT SHE CONTINUES TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE EAST BECAUSE THERE'S AN EVENT THAT WILLIAMSTON DOES, AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
AGAIN, WE HAVE APPROACHED THE COUNTY ABOUT THIS FOR FUNDING PERSPECTIVE, AND WE WILL BE CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THE WATERWAY PROJECTS IN THE STATE ARE VERY POPULAR, AND SO WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT GOING FORWARD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER SCHMITT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS TO OFFER?
[01:45:03]
TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.>> YES. I ATTENDED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING ON AUGUST 1ST, AND WE HADN'T MET FOR A WHILE.
BUT WE WERE LOOKING INTO SOME ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO MEET OUR CRITERIA.
WE TALKED ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP.
IT WAS A BRIEF MEETING AND IT WAS NECESSARY AND EVERYTHING WENT WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE INGHAM COUNTY MATERIALS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND THIS SHOULD HELP US TO MOVE ALONG OUR PLANS TO SECURE A SECOND RECYCLING CENTER.
ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR TUESDAY'S VOTES AND BEING RETURNED TO OFFICE WITH 72% OF THE PRIMARY VOTE.
[NOISE] REASSURING AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I RECEIVED ON TUESDAY. THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, TREASURER DESCHAINE. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE]
>> YES. WE HAD A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LAST NIGHT AND OUR NEWEST MEMBER, [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE APPROVED LAST TIME WAS THERE.
WE DID SOME DISCUSSION ON FURTHER PROJECTS INVOLVED OR POSSIBLE UNDER THE MONEY MADE AVAILABLE FOR SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS.
ONE OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH AN EXPIRATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF A GREEN BURIAL SITE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
IT WAS LEFT THERE TO TALK TO THE GROUPS THAT ARE PROPOSING THAT AND BRING BACK MAYBE A SUMMARY THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE BOARD WITH WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING.
REALISTICALLY, THE APPROVAL IS NOT NECESSARY FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
BUT GIVEN THE NATURE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY, WE FIGURED IT WAS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY OR A BETTER CHOICE TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD WITH SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF THE PRIDE EVENT THIS SATURDAY, 5:00-10:00 AT GREEN.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING ALREADY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
YES, WE WILL BE THERE VOLUNTEERING THIS SATURDAY.
I KNOW MARINA WILL BE THERE, PETER, MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ARE, BUT IF YOU CAN, THEY STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS.
I'M EXCITED FOR ANOTHER EVENT AT THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN IN THE TOWNSHIP.
ALSO, LAST FRIDAY, WAS THAT LAST FRIDAY, JULY 26TH, WAS NATIONAL INTERN DAY.
I KNOW MANAGER DEAL KNOWS ABOUT THIS DAY AND ALL THE INTERNS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE HOME TV INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND THE INTERNS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE INTERNS OUT THERE.
I WAS AN INTERN MYSELF AGES AGO.
I KNOW HOW MANY HOURS ARE PUT IN, AND YOU START FROM YOUR INTERNSHIP AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP SOMEWHERE.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE INTERNS WHO HAVE WORKED FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
THEN ON AUGUST 4TH, I THINK ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS MENTIONED THIS THAT ALMA COOPER WAS NAMED MISS USA.
I DID REACH OUT TO HER AND SAY, CONGRATULATIONS AND LET HER KNOW THAT THE BOARD WOULD LOVE TO PRESENT HER WITH SOMETHING.
SHE'S A LITTLE BUSY, [LAUGHTER] SO SHE CAN'T RIGHT NOW.
BUT SHE DID SAY THAT SHE WILL LET ME KNOW WHEN SHE'S IN TOWN, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION OR MAYBE IT'S VIA ZOOM. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT ALMA COOPER IS A SUPER INSPIRATIONAL PERSON FOR ME.
SHE HAS A MOTTO OF CELEBRATE WHO YOU ARE, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES I'VE BEEN DOWN IN MY LIFE, AND I'VE LOOKED AT ALMA COOPER'S STUFF THAT SHE PUTS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHE SHARES, AND IT'S LIFTED ME BACK UP, AND I'VE OFTEN REACHED OUT TO HER AND SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.
SHE'S TRULY AN INSPIRATIONAL PERSON.
I'M JUST SUPER HAPPY FOR HER THAT SHE WON THAT AND WISH HER NOTHING BUT THE BEST OF LUCK AS SHE GOES ON TO MISS UNIVERSE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW, WE DO ELECTIONS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE REPORT ON THAT, BUT WE ALSO OVERSEE THE CEMETERY DEEDS.
[01:50:02]
WE DO RECORD KEEPING IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE I'VE WALKED IN THE DOOR IS NOT HAVING AN ORDINANCE FOR OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CITE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CEMETERY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE FOR CEMETERY TRANSFERS, OR BUYBACKS, WE HAVE A DRAFT, BUT IT'S NOTHING SOLIDIFIED.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE ITEMS WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN THE TOWNSHIP, DEPUTY OPSOMMER AND OUR FORMER DEPUTY CLERK, ROBIN FAUST, WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON CREATING A DRAFT FOR HOW WE CAN DO DEED TRANSFERS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
ANYWAY, I'M WORKING WITH THE INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER RIGHT NOW ON THAT AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK FROM THE ATTORNEYS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A CEMETERY ORDINANCE IN THE TOWNSHIP FOR THE CEMETERIES THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S IN THE HOPPER, AND HOPING THAT CAN COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE VOTERS.
I THINK WE ONLY HAD THREE UNHAPPY VOTERS WHO GAVE SOME PUSHBACK, BUT WE HAVE A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY WITH FANTASTIC VOTERS AND PEOPLE, AND WE'VE HAD NOTHING BUT GOOD EXPERIENCES AT OUR POLLING LOCATIONS AND AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
THERE'S ONLY BEEN A FEW DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE, AND I GUESS YOU GET THAT EVERYWHERE YOU GO, SO THAT'S FINE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE MY STATS UP HERE FOR SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON TO SEE, JUST IN CASE I SAY SOMETHING WRONG, BUT NOT A STATISTICIAN LIKE ALMA COOPER.
WE HAVE 30,000 REGISTERED VOTERS, AND WE DID HAVE A 37% VOTER TURNOUT.
MOST OF THEM WERE ABSENTEE VOTERS.
WE HAD OVER 9,000 ABSENTEE VOTERS AND EARLY VOTERS.
WE HAD 100 LESS EARLY VOTERS FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY, THAN WE DID THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.
WE ARE OPEN NINE DAYS EARLY VOTING PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME OUT.
I'M GOING TO ASSUME AND MAKE THE PREDICTION THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE TURN OUT FOR EARLY VOTING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
WE HAD AROUND 2,100 VOTERS AT THE POLLS, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE POLL WORKERS AT EACH POLLING LOCATION.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO, PLEASE GO OUT TO A POLLING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY AND VOTE.
THAT'S BASICALLY MY REPORT ON THE ELECTIONS, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR WINNING THE ELECTION.
SORRY, I CAN'T MOVE ON WITH YOU, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY FOR YOU ALL.
THE OTHER THING THERE IS, COMING UP, IS AN APPOINTMENT TO TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I THINK MY NAME IS ON THAT.
I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY GIVES CONSENT TO APPROVE ME TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION, AND ONE OF OUR ELECTION WORKERS, SIMAR PAWAR, WHO'S ALSO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER SITS ON THE TRI-COUNTY COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION AND SHE AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THINGS.
[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, TONIGHT FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ALL OF YOUR WORDS AND YOUR CONCERNS THAT YOU SHARED WITH THE TOWNSHIP BOARD. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, I DID ATTEND THE SECOND OF TWO PUBLIC COMMUNITY CENTER DISCUSSION SESSIONS.
THE SECOND ONE WAS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT HERE AT OUR CENTRAL PARK PAVILION.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET PROBABLY 25 OR SO FOLKS OUT TO COME CHAT WITH US ABOUT THAT AND RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THINGS TO ADD, THINGS TO REMOVE, THINGS TO ENHANCE, THINGS TO DECREASE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT AND MET WITH US ON THAT TOPIC.
ON SATURDAY THE 27TH, I HAD A MEETING WITH A YOUNG MAN NAMED SCHER NAGASETI, WHO I HAVE ASKED TO COME BACK TO OUR NEXT MEETING, AUGUST 23RD, TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
HE IS SEEKING TO CREATE A NEW COMMISSION HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, THE YOUTH COMMISSION, WHICH HE HOPES WILL BE POPULATED BY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BOTH OKEMOS AND HASLETT HIGH SCHOOLS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD SOME MORE CLARITY AND SOME MORE DETAIL TO
[01:55:02]
THAT DISCUSSION ONCE HE'S ABLE TO HAVE THAT PRESENTATION NEXT MEETING.OBVIOUSLY, WE ALSO HAD THE ELECTION ON TUESDAY, AND I WANTED TO THANK CLERK GUTHRIE FOR RUNNING A VERY SMOOTH AND PROFESSIONAL ELECTION THAT WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.
I CAN SAY THAT IN BOTH MY CAPACITY AS TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR, AND IN MY DAY JOB AS CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY CLERK FOR INGHAM COUNTY, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD DAY WHEN YOU DON'T HEAR YOUR TOWN NAMED AS ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S HAVING PROBLEMS. [LAUGHTER] WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
IT WAS A WELL OILED MACHINE, SO THANK YOU TO BOTH CLERK GUTHRIE, DEPUTY CLERK GORDON, AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF BOTH THE AV COUNTING BOARD AND OUR PRECINCT WORKERS AT THE POLLING PLACES.
IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF TEAMWORK TO MAKE THESE ELECTIONS HAPPEN.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED WHEN IT GOES WELL, AND IT CERTAINLY WENT WELL THIS TIME.
>> I WILL PASS THAT ON. THANK YOU.
>> YES, THANK YOU. LASTLY, I WILL PUT IN ONE MORE PLUG FOR OUR SECOND ANNUAL MERIDIAN PRIDE EVENT.
THIS SATURDAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE AT THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN FROM 5:00 PM TO 10:00 PM, AND THIS EVENT IS TERRIFIC.
IT'S RELATIVELY NEW TO THE TOWNSHIP.
THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR DOING IT.
WE'LL HAVE VENDORS, WE'VE GOT A LONG LIST OF VENDORS.
I WAS REALLY QUITE IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF VENDORS THAT ARE ON THE LIST THIS YEAR.
WE'VE GOT MUSICAL ACTS, WE'VE GOT A BEER TENT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.
BUT IT SHOULD BE A GREAT EVENT CELEBRATING PRIDE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S AT THE MARKETPLACE IN THE GREEN FROM 5:00-10:00 ON SATURDAY.
ANY OTHER REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? SEEING NONE, MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM 8, APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THIS EVENING?
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON. DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA? TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
>> I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE MOVE TWO ITEMS TO THE TOP OF THE ACTION ITEMS GIVEN THE INTERESTS OF OUR PUBLIC, THE 12C AND 12F, TO BE THE TOP TWO ACTION ITEMS.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR OF AMENDING THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED, SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION TO AMEND HAS PASSED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS PASSED.
THAT MAKES WHAT IS ON YOUR PRINTED AGENDA AS 12C WILL BECOME 12A.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME NOTES OR I WILL FORGET.
THEN ITEM 12F ON YOUR AGENDA HAS BECOME ITEM 12B.
THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WILL SHIFT DOWN.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 9, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING CONTAINS SEVERAL ITEMS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF THE TOWNSHIP, OUR MINUTES FROM OUR JULY 23RD, REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING, THE MANAGER'S BILLS, A CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSE FOR SANTA'S FIRST RESPONDERS, THE APPOINTMENT OF CLERK GUTHRIE TO THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION, AND APPOINTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE TREASURER'S INVESTMENT REPORT FROM THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024.ALSO, WE DID RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION AT OUR DESKS THIS EVENING FROM SOME FOLKS AT THE SENIOR CENTER, WHICH WE WILL ADD TO THE PACKET AS PART OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE BOARD.
WITH THAT SAID, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> SEEING NONE, THIS DOES REQUIRE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
WE'LL ASK CLERK GUTHRIE, PLEASE.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CLERK GUTHRIE.
ITEM 10, QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY. WE HAVE NONE.
NEXT UP IS ITEM 11, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[11.A. Whitehills Lakes South #1 Public Streetlighting Improvement Special Assessment District #428 – Public Hearing]
WE HAVE THE WHITE HILLS LAKE SOUTH NUMBER 1, PUBLIC STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 428.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:10 PM.
AS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THIS, THIS IS A REQUEST BY SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN THE WHITE HILLS LAKE SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD,
[02:00:02]
WHO ARE SEEKING TO ADD SEVERAL STREET LIGHTS THAT LOOKS LIKE FOUR STREET LIGHTS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO THIS TOPIC AND THIS TOPIC ONLY.
IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE WHITE HILLS LAKES SOUTH NUMBER 1 PUBLIC STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME. PLEASE, APPROACH THE PODIUM.
>> SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:10 P.M. NEXT UP ON
[12.A. Special Use Permit #24-09 – SANDDS Meridian LLC– 3520 Okemos Road – Recreational Marijuana Retailer]
OUR AGENDA IS THE NEWLY MOVED ITEM 12A, SPECIAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2409 SANDS MERIDIAN, LLC, 3520 OKEMOS ROAD, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RETAILER.HERE TO PRESENT TO US THIS EVENING IS OUR INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TIM SCHMITT.
>> THANK YOU. MR. SUPERVISOR. THIS REQUEST WAS PREVIOUSLY IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING.
THERE WAS NO, AT THAT MEETING, CONSENSUS, AND SO WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH BOTH A RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL AND A RESOLUTION FOR DENIAL IN YOUR PACKET.
JUST A REMINDER OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN.
AFTER WE STARTED THE PROCESS IN 2018 TO ALLOW FOR MARIJUANA BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY, FURTHER AMENDED IT IN 2022, '23, AND THEN OPENED A LICENSE WINDOW EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
PLANNING COMMISSION HELD THEIR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS PROPOSAL ON MAY 13TH OF THIS YEAR, I RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC FEEDBACK, AND THEY DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF IT AT THEIR JUNE 10TH MEETING.
THAT IS WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD THIS EVENING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY AT 3520 OKEMOS ROAD, SUITES 8, 9, AND 10 FOR A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RETAILER AS DEFINED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT REVIEW CRITERIA ON PAGE 89 AND 90 OF YOUR PACKET, ALONG WITH THE OPTIONS FOR APPROVAL AND DENIAL.
EITHER CASE, STAFF STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD ARTICULATE THEIR REASONS FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL IF THERE ARE ANY BEYOND WHAT IS LOCATED IN THE RESOLUTION.
AT THIS TIME, STAFF CONTINUES TO POINT OUT THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED NO MAJOR CONCERNS AND WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL AT THIS TIME.
THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY IS HERE THIS EVENING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL AS MYSELF.
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD.
ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SCHMITT OR MR. KUSCHEL, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO.
I WANT TO GET STARTED. DEBORAH GUTHRIE.
>> NO ONE WANTS TO GO FIRST. I SET MY HAND UP, SO I GUESS I WILL GO FIRST.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
I DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS, AND I THINK I HAD A FEW OF THESE SAME QUESTIONS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW A TRAFFIC STUDY WAS DONE FOR FACILITY BASED OFF OF A MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITY, BUT A TRAFFIC STUDY HAS NOT BEEN DONE FOR ONE FOR A RECREATIONAL FACILITY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS [NOISE] NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
THE TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WAS DONE FOR THE SITE WAS FOR A MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.
THE [NOISE] DATA THAT WE'VE REVIEWED, THERE IS NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MEDICAL OR RECREATIONAL.
THEY HAVE A SINGLE CATEGORY FOR MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.
>> THE TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2020, RIGHT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DID READ THAT CORRECT? EVEN THOUGH RECREATIONAL FACILITIES HAD SAID THAT MEDICAL FACILITIES DON'T BRING ANY BUSINESS AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT SURVIVE AS A MEDICAL FACILITY, THEY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AS A RECREATIONAL FACILITY, MEANING THERE WOULD BE TRAFFIC INCREASES.
>> ITE, INSTITUTE FOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS.
>> SAY THAT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE THE SAME EVEN THOUGH MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES ARE DYING IN WRECKS OR NOT, IS THAT CORRECT OR NO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THE DATA THEY PROVIDE IS FOR
[02:05:01]
MARIJUANA DISPENSARY [NOISE] WRIT LARGE. [OVERLAPPING]>> THE DATA THAT WE GOT IN 2020 WAS ACTUALLY MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THIS REQUEST AS A NORMAL DISPENSARY, AS OPPOSED TO A SPECIFIC REQUEST AT THE TIME FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.
>> IS THAT BECAUSE THE REQUEST IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AT THAT TIME WAS RECREATIONAL OR COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW MORE CLOSELY RELATES TO RECREATIONAL THAN MEDICAL?
>> YEAH. AGAIN, ITE IS TAKING DATA THAT'S AGGREGATED NATIONWIDE, AND I BELIEVE THEY DO HAVE INTERNATIONAL DATA AS WELL, FOR MARIJUANA DISPENSARY.
THAT'S THE CATEGORY IN WHICH THEY USE.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DISPENSARIES, THAT AS PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT IN STATES SUCH AS COLORADO AND WASHINGTON, ARE FULL RECREATIONAL DISPENSARIES, NOT MEDICAL DISPENSARIES.
>> THAT'S NOT EVEN A FACTOR, REALLY, THEN?
>> THE PERMIT THAT [NOISE] WAS GIVEN TO SANDDS, WAS THIS FOR ORIGINALLY A MEDICAL PERMIT, AND NOW IT'S MORPHED INTO A RECREATIONAL PERMIT, IS THAT CORRECT, OR COULD YOU? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT OR THE BUILDING PERMIT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUILDING PERMIT WAS GRANTED AT THE TIME FOR THE BUILDOUT UNDER THE MEDICAL APPROVAL, WHICH IS STILL VALID.
THEY HAVE DONE WORK LEGALLY UNDER THAT PERMIT THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS ISSUED IN 2020 AND EXTENDED IN 2022, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
>> WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE BUILDING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RECREATIONAL, IT'S BASED OFF OF THAT ORIGINAL MEDICAL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT TRANSLATES, BUT IT'S BASED OFF OF THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU. THEN FOR THAT STRIP MALL.
I SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME EMPTY STORE FRONTS IN THERE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY OVER 40 YEARS, SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN STRUGGLE WITH THAT STRIP MALL ON AND OFF AND THERE HAVE BEEN CLAIMS THAT THE STRIP MALL, THERE IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO THE STRIP MALL BECAUSE OF THIS RECREATIONAL FACILITY, AND I KNOW MY JUICE STORE USED TO BE THERE AT THE END CAMP THERE AND [NOISE] IT'S NOW MOVING OVER TO WHERE CANCUN IS.
I THINK I READ IN DIRECTOR CLARK'S REPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT EDC PACKET.
THEN THERE WERE ALSO CLAIMS THAT THE PRICES HAVE INCREASED FOR OTHER STOREFRONTS IN THAT AREA.
IS THERE A WAY TO CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION HAPPEN?
>> I CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE PAYING UNDER MARKET RENTS BEFORE, AND NOW THEY'VE BROUGHT THE RENTS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE MARKET IS SEEING.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY TRIPLED THEM BASED ON THE DATA THAT I'VE SEEN.
THAT WOULD LEAD TO A PRICE SIMILAR TO MANHATTAN.
BUT THE RENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED, THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH ME IS THAT THE RENT RENEWALS WERE DONE AT A MORE MARKET RATE, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE TENANTS CHOSE TO STAY.
>> WHERE IS THAT INFORMATION FROM?
>> FROM THE OWNER OF THE STRIP MALL.
>> OF THE STRIP MALL? [BACKGROUND] CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN JUICE NATION MOVED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DIRECTOR CLARK QUESTION, AND WHEN THEY'LL BE OPENING UP? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
>> IT WAS MOST RECENTLY, CORRECT?
>> I HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON. IT'S EARLIER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE I USED TO GO THERE ALL THE TIME, AND NOW IT'S GONE, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING OVER.
THEN MATHNASIUM, WE HEARD FROM MATHNASIUM OWNER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR HIM IF HE'S STILL HERE OR IF I CAN ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, DID HE SAY HE WAS IN THAT STRIP MALL OR ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STRIP MALL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> HE WAS IN THAT STRIP MALL AND HE'S MOVED ACROSS THE STREET TO THE OTHER STRIP MALL.
[NOISE] THEN I HAVE A FEW SUP QUESTIONS AS WELL.
>> IF I MAY BE PERMITTED. THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT THAT THE BOARD [NOISE] IS LOOKING AT TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS IS THE BASIC TEMPLATE THAT WE USE TO MAKE A DECISION FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THIS IS THE BASIC TEMPLATE USED TO MAKE A DECISION ON ANY SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE TOWNSHIP, UNLESS THERE ARE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THAT USE SUCH AS. [OVERLAPPING]
[02:10:01]
>> IT IS NOT DISCRIMINATORY? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS WHAT WE USE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF USES THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET.
>> FOR THE SUPS, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF SOCIAL ISSUES, AND CERTAINLY I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH THAT, WE'VE HAD ISSUES IN MY OWN FAMILY WITH DRUG ADDICTION, OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION, OR SUICIDE, AND I CERTAINLY EMPATHIZE WITH THAT.
I'M NOT IMMUNE TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THE BOARD IS NOT BEING ASKED TO WEIGH IN SOCIAL ISSUES.
THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO WEIGH IN THESE CERTAIN SET OF CRITERIAS IN THE SUP THAT DON'T ADDRESS THOSE SOCIAL ISSUES, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> GENERALLY, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS A LAND USE DECISION, AND THOSE NINE CRITERIA IN THE ORDINANCE ARE WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE USED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE OR DENY A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND. GOING THROUGH MY QUESTIONS HERE. I'M SORRY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR THE PROCESS OF WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY, I WOULD LIKE JUST A SHORT RECAP.
I'M SORRY TO ASK YOU TO DO THIS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IT WAS STATED THAT THE PROCESS WASN'T DONE CORRECTLY.
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 3.5 YEARS.
I THINK MAYBE THEY STARTED IN 2018 WITH A LOTTERY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT A LONG TIME AGO, SO COULD YOU JUST QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS, AND IF IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY OR NOT, AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THE SOMEWHERE WE'RE AT TODAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PROCESS STARTED IN 2018.
IT COULD HAVE STARTED A LITTLE EARLIER WITH DISCUSSIONS, BUT IN EARNEST, IT STARTED IN 2018, THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE BOARD AT THAT TIME TO ONLY ACCEPT MEDICAL MARIJUANA APPLICATIONS.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO TEST THE WATER TO SEE HOW IT WENT.
AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE DID A RANDOM LOTTERY, ESSENTIALLY, WE SELECTED BINGO BALLS OUT OF A BINGO HOPPER TO DETERMINE WHO THE APPLICANT WAS FOR EACH OF THE SEVEN DISTRICTS AT THAT TIME.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICANT FOR ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS.
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS ESSENTIALLY FELL APART DUE TO AN EASEMENT ISSUE WITH THE SURROUNDING TOWNSHIP, AND SO YOU WERE LEFT WITH AT THAT TIME, FIVE APPROVED MEDICAL LICENSES.
EACH ONE OF THEM WENT THROUGH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS IN LATE 2019 OR EARLY 2020 AND WAS APPROVED, SOME OF THEM AT ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST VIRTUAL MEETING WE DID DUE THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
THIS APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT AT HASLETT AND OKEMOS ROAD CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMITS AND KEPT THEIR PERMITS VIABLE THROUGH COVID BY CONTINUING TO DO WORK AND REQUEST INSPECTIONS.
THE APPLICANT ON HAGADORN ROAD DID NOT PROCEED.
THE APPLICANT ON EAST GRAND RIVER DID NOT PROCEED TO CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THAT'S A NEW BUILD.
THE APPLICANT ON WEST GRAND RIVER, YOU MAY RECALL WITH SCHYMA, WHO EVENTUALLY WENT INTO RECEIVERSHIP.
THIS GOT US THROUGH THE MEDICAL PROCESS.
EACH ORGANIZATION WAS REQUIRED TO RENEW THEIR LICENSE ANNUALLY, WHICH THEY DID UNTIL 2022.
THAT IS THE POINT AT WHICH THE BOARD BEGAN DISCUSSIONS OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, INTO 2023 IS WHEN WE REALLY STARTED DISCUSSIONS OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
EVENTUALLY, THE BOARD DID ADOPT AN ORDINANCE FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
IT ELIMINATED TWO OF THE ORIGINAL DISTRICTS, THE DISTRICT ON DONNA AVENUE AND THE DISTRICT ON TOWNER ROAD, AND IT SHRUNK THE DISTRICTS ALONG WEST GRAND RIVER AVENUE, THE DISTRICT AT OKEMOS AND JOLLY ROAD.
THE BOARD THEN OPENED A WINDOW CONSISTENT WITH THE ORDINANCE IN JANUARY OF 2024, AND WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF FIVE APPLICATIONS, THREE OF WHICH WERE IN THEIR OWN DISTRICTS.
NONE WERE RECEIVED FOR THE WEST GRAND RIVER DISTRICT, AND TWO WERE RECEIVED FOR THE EAST GRAND RIVER DISTRICT.
EACH OF THOSE FIVE APPLICATIONS WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD IN THE ORDINANCE OF STAFF TO ANALYZE AND BRING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION ON THE LICENSE.
THREE OF THE DISTRICTS, OBVIOUSLY, THE LICENSE THERE WAS ONLY A SINGLE ENTITY.
THEY WERE STILL REVIEWED AGAINST THE APPLICATION CRITERIA TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS COMPLIANCE, AND AS THE BOARD MAY RECALL, WE DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE ONE ON HAGADORN ROAD, WHICH THEY EVENTUALLY DID BRING FORWARD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
[02:15:01]
THE EAST GRAND RIVER APPLICATION, TWO APPLICATIONS THEN WENT THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REVIEW THAT WAS STARTED WITH STAFF, AND THEN THE BOARD ASKED THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEYS TO TAKE A FURTHER REVIEW OF IT, BROUGHT THAT BACK AND EVENTUALLY ISSUED IT TO ONE OF THE TWO GROUPS.AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF EACH OF THOSE LICENSE, WITHIN 60 DAYS PER ORDINANCE, THE APPLICANT WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT REVIEW.
EACH OF THEM DID SUBMIT, SOME OF THEM WITHIN MINUTES OF THE 60TH DAY, BUT EACH OF THEM DID SUBMIT WITHIN 60 DAYS.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS THEN HELD AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION THUS FAR FOR TWO OF THEM.
THE THIRD AND FOURTH ONE ARE COMING, AND THEN THE BOARD HAS KEPT WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING.
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS HELD IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WERE THERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT CAME TO THAT PUBLIC HEARING AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LEVEL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WERE THEIR SENTIMENTS THE SAME, DIFFERENT?
>> SORRY. LET ME SEE, RAISE IT. I HAVE BAD HANDWRITING.
[LAUGHTER] I'M TRYING TO READ IT AND I NEED THE GLASSES.
SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED ARMED GUARDS.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO REQUIREMENT OR NOT, NEED OR NOT OF ARMED GUARDS WITH RECREATIONAL OR MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES?
>> THAT SECURITY PLAN WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS REVIEWED AS PART OF THE LICENSING REVIEW EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THEIR LICENSING PLAN WAS REVIEWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF SECURITY AT THIS FACILITY.
OUR ORDINANCE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY REQUIRE ANYTHING.
OUR ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE SECURITY PLAN IS GOOD ENOUGH, AND THAT IS REVIEWED AT THE LICENSING LEVEL, SO WE DON'T HAVE AN APPLICANT GET PAST THAT POINT.
THAT'S A GATE VALVE CHECK FOR US.
THE LICENSEE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE QUALITY SECURITY DOESN'T GET PAST THAT POINT. I APOLOGIZE.
I DO NOT HAVE THAT PLAN IN FRONT OF ME. NO, I DON'T.
I CAN CERTAINLY TRACK IT DOWN, BUT SUFFICE TO SAY WE DID NOT FIND ANY CONCERNS WITH THE INITIAL REVIEW OF THE SECURITY PLAN, EITHER FROM A PD OR A CPD PERSPECTIVE.
>> WAS THERE A REVIEW OR IS THERE A REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL SECURITY THAT'S NEEDED FOR FACILITIES, OR ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, OR ADDITIONAL POLICE THAT'S NEEDED FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, IS THAT PART OF THE REQUIREMENT?
>> NO, AND IN FACT, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AN APPLICATION TO YOU THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POLICE PRESENCE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT AN EFFECTIVE USE OF OUR GENERAL FUND RESOURCES.
WE EXPECT THAT THE SECURITY IN THIS FACILITY WILL BE ABLE TO STAND ALONE, AND THE POLICE WILL RESPOND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RETAIL FACILITY IN THE TOWNSHIP OF WHICH WE HAVE MANY.
>> THEN, CAN I ASK THE CHIEF OF POLICE ONE QUESTION. MAY I ASK?
>> CHIEF CARL, DO YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> SORRY TO PUT YOU OFF GUARD.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE AND ADVANCE YOUR RESPONSE.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO, I KNOW THIS TOWNSHIP BOARD WORKED HARD WITH THE PREVIOUS TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON INCREASING OUR POLICE FORCE AND OUR PRESENCE IN THE TOWNSHIP AS WE DID WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE CHIEF AS WELL AND WE'RE STILL MAKING STRIDES, NOT ONLY IN THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE THE POLICE FORCE THAT YOU HAVE AND NOT SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, BUT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY?
MY OPINION MAY BE A LITTLE BIASED, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA WITH THE BEST OFFICERS IN THE AREA.
WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD ON GETTING OUR STAFFING LEVELS UP.
WE HAD 30 OFFICERS AS I HAVE 39 OFFICERS.
I HAVE THREE THAT START THE ACADEMY THIS MONTH AND I HAVE ONE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE POLICE ACADEMY.
AT THE RETIREMENT OF SERGEANT MCCREADY AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH, I ANTICIPATE BY DECEMBER WE WILL BE FULLY STAFFED WITH 42 OFFICERS.
[02:20:02]
ANNUALLY, WE HANDLE ABOUT 20,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE.I THINK WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB HANDLING THOSE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
BUSINESSES COME, BUSINESSES GO.
I THINK THAT AS WE'VE PROGRESSED THROUGH THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY TRAINING OUR OFFICERS, OUR RESPONSE TIME HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
OUR ABILITY TO DO INVESTIGATIONS AS THEY COME IN FOR MAYBE NOT LIKE THE TOP TIER TYPE CRIMES, BUT MAYBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE TYPE STUFF THAT HAS IMPROVED AS WELL.
THIS FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT FOR US.
>> THANK YOU. CHIEF CARL. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE.
>> YES, MA'AM. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS IF I NEED TO MAY BE PERMITTED.
OF COURSE, TO ASK A FEW MORE ME.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE ELSE MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE SOME DISCUSSION.
>> I SAW YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T TAKE TOO LONG, BUT THE VOTER REFERENDUM.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YEAR THAT WAS? BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE LIST OF THE PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT WASN'T PART OF THE VOTER DIRECTOR.
>> IT WAS '22. AUGUST 2022. THANK YOU.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CRITERIA.
IT'S THE CRITERIA THAT CAME BEFORE US LAST WEEK, IS THAT THE SAME CRITERIA FOR ALL SUPS?
>> IT'S THE SAME BASE CRITERIA FOR ALL SUPS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN USES IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE THAT HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD REVIEW.
THE ONE THAT JUMPS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ACTUALLY CAR DEALERSHIPS.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF USES AND SELF STORAGE FACILITIES ACTUALLY HAS A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL LIST.
BUT THE BASE OR THOSE NINE CRITERIA THAT YOU FIND IN YOUR PACKET?
>> THE TWO CRITERIA, WHICH WAS EVEN AT THE LAST MEETING THAT TRIPPED ME UP, WERE NUMBER 4 AND 5, WHERE IT SAYS, THE PROJECT WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT OR BE HAZARDOUS TO EXISTING NEIGHBORING USES.
THAT'S NUMBER 4. THEN NUMBER 5, THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ECONOMIC WELFARE OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES OR THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT TYPE OF DATA OR WHAT DO YOU BASE THAT ON WHEN YOU BEFORE YOU BRING IT TO THE BOARD?
>> LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE TO MAKE IT SUBSTANTIAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
TO START WITH WE'LL BRING ANY APPLICATION FORWARD.
I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD SOMETHING BACK JUST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT OR I DON'T AGREE WITH IT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
BUT SO, FOR NUMBER 4, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ADVERSELY A FACTOR BE HAZARDOUS TO NEIGHBORING USES.
PREVIOUSLY IN MY CAREER, I'VE DEALT WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS AND THE ONE THAT MOST NOTABLY JUMPS TO MIND, WE HAD A CAR CRUSHING FACILITY THAT WAS PROPOSED DIRECTLY, REASONABLY ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY.
I BECAME A VERY A LONG DISCUSSION OF HOW DO WE MITIGATE THE IMPACTS FROM NOISE, FROM DUST, FROM CHEMICALS BEING RELEASED BY THE CRUSHING AND GETTING IN PARTICULATES IN THE AIR, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT WOULD BE A NEGATIVE EXTERNALITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH AND HAVE HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH.
WHAT YOU TRY TO DO THROUGH THE PROCESS IS EITHER FIND A WAY TO MITIGATE IT OR YOU RECOMMEND DENIAL.
SO GOT TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THE ECONOMIC WELFARE ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S DEMONSTRABLE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR WHEN A PROJECT IS BEING BUILT NEXT TO ANOTHER PROJECT, AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY APPLY HERE, BUT LIKE A NEW SUBDIVISION, IT'S GOING TO LOWER MY PROPERTY VALUES.
WELL, STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS IN YEAR 1, THERE'S PROBABLY A DROP BECAUSE INEVITABLY PEOPLE ARE LIKE, OH, THERE'S CONSTRUCTION NEXT TO YOU.
THEN AFTER THAT, IT GOES IT GENERALIZE SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE THEN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING NEXT TO THEM IN THE FUTURE AND SO THERE'S NOT THAT WORRY THAT THAT FIELD MIGHT TURN INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME DATA FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE THAT SHOWS THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
IN THIS CASE, GIVEN THAT IT'S NOT DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DIRECT CONNECTION THAT THIS WOULD BE THE ITEM THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF IT'S GOING TO HAVE, AND I BELIEVE I SAID THIS LAST TIME, GIVEN THAT IT'S SURROUNDED BY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY GENERALLY SEES OTHER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND IT'S FINE.
[02:25:02]
THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOME CASES.THE CASE OF MATS IS A IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT, THAT TYPE OF USE WOULDN'T WANT TO BE NEXT TO THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF USE.
BUT AS A GENERAL RULE, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IS AGNOSTIC TO OTHER COMMERCIAL USES.
>> BECAUSE THIS IS GOING INTO A PREDOMINANTLY COMMERCIAL AREA, IT CANCELED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT TO RESIDENTIAL. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT WOULD CAUSE A DIRECT IMPACT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND WHEN YOU'RE REVIEWING THESE THINGS, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND A DIRECT IMPACT, NOT AN ANECDOTAL ONE, OR WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT HAS TO BE A DIRECT IMPACT IS FOR DENIAL.
>> YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT MY LAST QUESTION.
ABSOLUTELY. EXPANSION. BECAUSE THERE'S CONCERN FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY BOUGHT UP THE COMPANY HAVE YOU DEVELOPER.
BOUGHT UP THE REST OF THE PLAZA OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND THERE'S FUTURE PLANS.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT SPECULATED.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY OR IF IT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY, IF NOT WHY OR IF SO WHY?
>> THE CURRENT SITUATION, THEY WOULD NOT MEET OUR ORDINANCE IF THEY WANTED TO EXPAND BEYOND WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR THIS EVENING.
I MISSPOKE LAST TIME, AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR THAT.
IT'S 1,000 FEET FROM A CASE WEAD SCHOOL.
TECHNICALLY, THERE WAS A CASE WEALD SCHOOL IN THE LANSING CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I GOT THE TITLE WRONG TO THE NORTH.
THAT'S WHAT FUNCTIONALLY PREVENTS IT FROM EXPANDING.
THE OTHER PIECE HERE THAT I GUESS I NEED TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR ABOUT IS ANY CHANGE TO THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE BOARD SIGN OFF.
ANY EXPANSION WOULD REQUIRE THE BOARD SIGN OFF.
IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR THAT.
ANY APPLICANT THAT WOULD COME TO ME AND ASK FOR AN EXPANSION IN THE SITE, I WOULD TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY ROLLING A ROCK UP A HILL AND IT'S NOT WORTH THEIR TIME.
>> THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE SOME INQUIRY SPECIFIC TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S IN YOUR MEMO?
>> IT WAS IT SUBJECT TO REZONING TO ACHIEVE C2 OR COMMERCIAL ZONING?
>> IT DID WAS NOT. IT'S BEEN ZONED C2 AS FAR BACK AS WE CAN FIND.
>> WE DID HAVE A REFERENDUM IN AUGUST OF 2022, AND THE REFERENDUM RESULTS WERE THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, WAS ALLOWED IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
MORADI VOTED FOR, WELL, I KNOW THE LANGUAGE WAS NOT.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WAS A REFERENDUM TO OPT OUT FAILED.
THEN THE BOARD TOOK SUBSTANTIVE ACTION TO ALLOW THE RECREATIONAL THEN.
IT WASN'T LIKE AN AUTOMATIC THING.
>> THAT WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTE.
I REALIZED IT WAS A SLIM MARGIN, BUT THAT WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTE.
>> TO ALLOW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THEN AS TO THIS PARTICULAR SITE.
WE HAVE FIVE OVERLAY DISTRICTS FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA?
>> THIS IS IN ONE SPECIFIC OVERLAY DISTRICT.
HOW MANY APPLICANTS DID WE RECEIVE FOR THIS OVERLAY DISTRICT?
>> ONE. THAT IS THE APPLICANT WHO'S BEFORE US TONIGHT?
>> THE APPLICANT THEN WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF APPROVAL.
TO GET APPROVAL AND GET TO THE STAGE THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
THE FIRST STEP OF THAT IS THAT THEY APPLIED FOR A PERMIT, CORRECT?
>> THEY APPLIED FOR A LICENSE.
>> THEN THEY WERE GRANTED THAT LICENSE?
>> COULD WE HAVE FOLKS PLEASE SILENCE THEIR PHONES JUST SO WE CAN HAVE AN UNINTERRUPTED MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> THE LICENSE SO THEY APPLIED IT WAS REVIEWED.
IT WAS A COMPLETE APPLICATION.
IT WAS THEN REVIEWED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE DETERMINED THAT IT MET THE CRITERIA OF THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW, EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T NEED TO.
THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BOARD AND THE BOARD ISSUED A CONDITIONAL LICENSE.
>> CONDITIONAL LICENSE? YES. AT THAT POINT, THE NEXT STEP WAS THAT IT PASSED THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON MARIJUANA THAT HAD A SPECIFIC TASK TO ASSESS ALL APPLICATIONS, IS THAT ACCURATE?
[02:30:02]
>> THEN IT CAME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT, CORRECT?
>> YEAH. AFTER THE BOARD GRANTED THE CONDITIONAL LICENSE, THEY HAD 60 DAYS TO APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AND THEN THE NEXT STEP WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING ON MAY 13, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION. IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> WE'RE THERE. THEN ON 6:10, ON JUNE 10, THEY APPROVED IT?
>> THEIR RATIONALE PRIMARILY WAS?
>> THAT IT MET THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN SECTION 86136.
I APOLOGIZE. IF I GOT MY QUOTE WRONG.
>> ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX.
>> ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY. THANK YOU.
>> THEN IT CAME TO THE BOARD, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> THAT IS WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY?
>> WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF STEPS THAT THE APPLICANT HAS FOLLOWED, AND AT NO POINT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DENIAL DURING THE PROCESS?
>> IF WE WERE TO DENY THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT, THEIR SPECIAL USE PERMIT TONIGHT.
>> WHAT RATIONALE WOULD SUPPORT THAT?
>> THAT IS THE STAFF HAS PROVIDED SOME BASIC RATIONALE IN THE RESOLUTION TO DENY AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD.
BUT AS I MENTIONED IN MY INTRO, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO PROVIDE DETAILED RATIONALE FOR A DENIAL.
>> IF WE WERE TO DENY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TONIGHT, WHAT LIKELY SCENARIO WOULD YOU SEE ARISING FROM THAT DENIAL?
>> I STRONGLY SUSPECT LITIGATION WILL ENSUE.
>> A DENIAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
>> THAT THEN WOULD CAUSE OUR ATTORNEYS TO GET INVOLVED?
>> AND WOULD RESULT IN LITIGATION COSTS TO THE TOWNSHIP?
>> IS IT A DEFENSIBLE CASE THAT WE DENY SPECIAL USE PERMIT? MAYBE ATTORNEY WOULD SPEAK TO THAT.
>> I WILL DEFER TO QUESTION ABOUT DEFENSIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WILSON, INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT.
WE CERTAINLY WOULD VIGOROUSLY DEFEND THE TOWNSHIP.
WHEN WE LOOK AT ZONING APPROVALS, THE REVIEW IS ON SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE ON THE WHOLE RECORD.
THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR MANAGER SCHMITT EMPHASIZING TO PUT THE REASONS FOR OR AGAINST ON THE RECORD.
HAVING THAT BASIS OF THESE ARE THE CRITERIA, AND THIS IS WHY I DO THINK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA OR THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY I DON'T THINK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA.
IT'S THAT DISCUSSION THAT THEN MAKES IT EASIER OR HARDER FOR US TO THEN DEFEND THE DECISION THAT THE BOARD MAKES.
I WOULD SAY WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEFENDING LOCAL POLICY VERY SERIOUSLY AND PROMOTING WHAT INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE DEEM BEST FOR THEIR AREAS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IN GENERAL, YES, I WOULD SAY LOCAL DECISIONS ARE DEFENSIBLE.
WE TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT IN MOVING THOSE DEFENSES FORWARD, BUT IT ULTIMATELY COMES BACK TO COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL EVIDENCE ON THE WHOLE RECORD, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
IT ALLOWS FOR IDENTIFYING, AS I SAID, WHEN WE EVALUATED THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS THEMSELVES.
THIS BOARD MEMBER THINKS X CRITERIA IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE MAKING THE DECISION THEY'RE MAKING.
ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER MIGHT THINK Y CRITERIA IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DECISION.
IT'S A BIT OF A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER WITHOUT REALLY GETTING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF A DECISION OR THE FACTS FOR OR AGAINST A PARTICULAR DECISION.
IS THAT SUFFICIENTLY NOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? [LAUGHTER].
>> SUFFICIENTLY NOT ANSWER IT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ATTORNEY KUSCHEL AS WELL.
REGARDING THESE REASONS FOR DENIAL, WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION FROM MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS
[02:35:01]
HERE WITH RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT INCREASED ACCESS TO MARIJUANA THROUGH THE FORM OF STORES CAN LEAD TO INCREASED USAGE BY TEENAGERS JUVENILES, WHICH CAN THEN LEAD TO BAD OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF MARIJUANA.WOULD RESEARCH LIKE THAT BE ENOUGH DATA THAT ESPECIALLY MR. PRIME COULD BE DENIED.
>> YES, IT PROVIDES A DATA POINT TO COME BACK TO THE CRITERIA.
THE CRITERIA DO LOOK AT THE CHARACTER OF THE GENERAL VICINITY, WHETHER IT'S HARMONIOUS AND APPROPRIATE THERE WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEIGHBORING USERS, AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE INTENT AND PURPOSE AND THE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THERE ARE BROAD PIECES OF THE SUP THAT ARE CONSIDERED.
WHEN A TOWNSHIP, ANY MUNICIPALITY RECEIVES INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT INFORMATION IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND THEIR DECISION MAKING.
THERE IS CASE LAW STATING THAT THE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ARE A JUSTIFIABLE BASIS ON WHICH A MUNICIPALITY CAN MAKE LAND USE DECISIONS.
YES, IT CAN SUPPORT IF THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CRITERIA, LIKE I SAID, TO AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE REASONS AND SUPPORT THEIR CRITERIA RELATIVE TO THE LAND USE STANDARDS.
>> THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE AS A REASON FOR DENYING IT.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD WE'RE LIKELY TO BE SUED IF WE WERE TO DENY THIS.
IS THAT REASON FOR DENYING, ONE THAT WILL STAND UP IN COURT?
>> I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DENYING AN APPLICATION SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET SUED.
I MEAN, MAYBE I'M A LITTLE BIASED IN THAT RESPECT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY A GENERAL POSITION LIKE THAT WOULD BE ILL ADVISABLE.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT PIECE ALONE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT, I WOULDN'T ADVISE MERELY LITIGATION OR THE THREAT OF LITIGATION BEING THE FACTOR OF A DECISION FOR A LAND USE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS, ATTORNEY DESCHAINE.
>> AT THIS POINT, I'LL COME BACK POSSIBLY LATER.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL, I'LL ASK A COUPLE OF THINGS AS I AM OFF TO DO.
WE'LL KEEP ATTORNEY KUSCHEL UP THERE SINCE HE LOOKS COMFORTABLE AT THE PODIUM.
HE'S TRYING TO LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE.
[LAUGHTER] THERE'S BEEN TO SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT LITIGATION.
LET ME WALK YOU DOWN HYPOTHETICAL ROAD, WHICH I KNOW ALL ATTORNEYS LOVE.
IF WE WERE TO DENY FOR ANY REASONS NOT RELATED TO THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT CRITERIA THIS EVENING, YOU'VE SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE A LIKELY EVENT THAT WE MIGHT GET SUED.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS ACCURATE, YES.
>> LET'S WALK DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
IF THAT DOES INDEED HAPPEN, THE TOWNSHIP WOULD, OF COURSE, COME TO FE HI SCHULTZ AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED YOU TO VIGOROUSLY DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF THE TOWNSHIP IN THE WAY THAT WE ALWAYS DO.
IT WOULD END UP GOING TO COURT, ONE PRESUMES.
SETTLEMENT IS AN OPTION, BUT IT WOULD END UP GOING TO COURT.
WHAT WOULD THE LIKELY RESULT BE IF THE TOWNSHIP WERE TO LOSE THAT CASE?
>> IF THE TOWNSHIP WERE TO LOSE THAT CASE, THEN THE COURT WOULD MOST LIKELY ORDER THAT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BE ISSUED CONSISTENT WITH THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED.
>> IN SUMMARY, THEN, IF WE WERE TO DENY FOR REASONS NOT RELATED TO THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT CRITERIA, THERE'S A VERY HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE SUED, WE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT OUR LAWYERS.
NO OFFENSE. THE LAWYERS WOULD RACK UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE VIGOROUS DEFENSE OF THIS CASE.
[02:40:04]
IF WE WERE INDEED TO LOSE THAT CASE IN A COURT OF LAW, THEN THE OUTCOME WOULD BE THE EXACT SAME AS IF WE APPROVED IT TONIGHT JUST DOWN THE ROAD AND MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.>> THAT'S A POTENTIAL WORST CASE SCENARIO.
>> I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT OUT THERE SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS EVENING.
I'LL LET YOU GO FOR A MINUTE [LAUGHTER] AND I WILL BRING LET'S SEE.
I'LL BRING MR. SCHMITT BACK UP, IF YOU WOULD.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO REVIEW CRITERIA FOR THE HAZARDOUS TO EXISTING NEIGHBORING USES.
YOU BROUGHT UP THE EXAMPLE OF THE CAR CRUSHING FACILITY THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED WHEN YOU WERE IN HOWELL, ONE PRESUMES?
>> THIS CIRCUMSTANCE ABOUT HAZARDOUS TO NEIGHBORING USES DEALS WITH EXTERNALITIES LIKE SMELL, LIKE NOISE, THAT KIND OF THING. IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> THAT'S A FAIR ANALYSIS, YES.
>> I ASKED THIS BECAUSE THE SUBCOMMITTEE WHEN THEY MET TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THE LICENSURE PART OF THIS PROCESS, CONSIDERED AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAZARDOUS EXTERNALITIES TO FROM THIS FACILITY, DID YOU NOT?
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY A SLIGHTLY LOWER THRESHOLD OF ANY NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES IN GENERAL, NOT NECESSARILY JUST HAZARDOUS, AND SO YES, THAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
>> THINGS LIKE ODOR, THAT WAS CONSIDERED WHEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE MET AND REVIEWED?
>> THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WAS?
>> THE BOARD TOOK THE ADVICE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE AND EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO APPROVE THE LICENSE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SPECIAL USE CRITERIA 4 HERE ABOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING OR BEING HAZARDOUS TO THE NEIGHBORING USES, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE IN REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION WAS MORE OR LESS LOOKING AT THAT PARTICULAR CRITERIA, JUST IN ANOTHER WAY?
>> STAFF HAS, AGAIN, REVIEWED THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT CRITERIA THIS EVENING RELATING TO THIS APPLICATION AND IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL PER YEAR MEMO?
>> COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THIS SPECIAL USE CONSIDERATION ARE NOT.
THIS IS NOT A REFERENDUM ON ADULT USE MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT?
>> CORRECT. THERE'S A SPECIFIC PROCESS IN MARIJUANA TO DO THAT.
>> THAT PROCESS REQUIRES A CITIZEN INITIATED PETITION?
>> WITH APPROVED BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT COMES BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, PREFER THE CLERK I SUPPOSE, WITH PETITION SIGNATURES OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS AT THE TOWNSHIP THAT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY COLLECTED AND SUBMITTED AND REVIEWED BOTH BY OUR ATTORNEYS AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE?
>> THAT PROCESS WAS UNDERGONE IN 2022?
>> THE REFERENDUM ON MARIJUANA OR NOT IN THE TOWNSHIP HAS ALREADY OCCURRED?
>> A REFERENDUM IN MARIJUANA THE TOWNSHIP HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.
IT IS CERTAINLY WITHIN THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO BRING A SECOND REFERENDUM, IF THEY SO CHOOSE, ON WHETHER OR NOT TO OPT OUT OF RECREATIONAL ADULT USE MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP, IS IT NOT?
>> CERTAINLY, MURMA IS SILENT TO MULTIPLE REFERENDA.
ALTHOUGH OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I'M NOT AWARE OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S GONE THROUGH THAT, IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
>> IT'S A THEORY RIGHT NOW, IT HASN'T HAPPENED, BUT WE EXPECT IT COULD HAPPEN.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A PETITION BROUGHT BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP RECENTLY AND SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
MAYBE WE CAN BRING ATTORNEY KUSCHEL BACK UP FOR A MOMENT.
WITH A NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO LIKELY SIGNED AND WERE A PART OF THAT PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO THE MAIN SUBMITTER WORK OF THOSE.
CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THE ROOM A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE RESULTANT OF THE ATTORNEY'S REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THAT BALLOT PETITION REQUEST?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE PETITION THAT WAS CIRCULATED
[02:45:01]
SOUGHT A REFERENDUM ON THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, I GUESS, PROCESS OR APPROVAL BECAUSE IT HASN'T ACTUALLY BEEN APPROVED.THERE IS NO LEGAL MECHANISM BY WHICH SUCH A VOTE CAN PROCEED FORWARD OR SUCH A REFERENDUM CAN PROCEED FORWARD.
IN THIS CONTEXT OF MARIJUANA, THERE IS THE CITIZEN INITIATION IN MURMA WHICH IS YES OR NO OR HOW MANY ESTABLISHMENTS CAN OPEN IN A COMMUNITY.
IN THE ZONING CONTEXT, THERE ARE SOME RIGHTS OF REFERENDUM, BUT THOSE ARE ON ORDINANCES, WHETHER TO ESTABLISH A PLANNING COMMISSION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE OR WHETHER TO ADOPT A SPECIFIC ZONING ORDINANCE.
SINCE THIS IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL, THERE ISN'T A REFERENDUM THAT APPLIES, AND THEREFORE, THE PETITION ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T HAVE THAT FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION UNDER IT THAT WOULD EVEN PERMIT US TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
>> I KNOW THAT'S CLEAR AS MUD.
BUT I DID THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT AS I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE ROOM TO KNOW MORE OR LESS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PETITION THAT WAS PRESENTED.
CERTAINLY THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THE PETITION, AND THAT THE FACT THAT IT WAS PRESENTED AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO SIGNED IT.
THE TOWNSHIP, ON THE ADVICE OF ATTORNEYS AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE DID REJECT THAT PETITION FOR BALLOT LANGUAGE TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY.
HOWEVER, SHOULD AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP WHO ARE KEENLY INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE CHOOSE TO WISH TO BRING SOMETHING BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP AS A REFERENDUM, THEY ARE STILL WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO SO UNDER THE MARIJUANA ACT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND THEY WOULD DO SO BY SUBMITTING A BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT MEETS THE MURMA CRITERIA TO OPT OUT OF RECREATIONAL USE MARIJUANA.
THEN THEY MUST COLLECT PETITION SIGNATURES IN THE AMOUNT OF 5% OF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT VOTED FOR GOVERNOR IN THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION. IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> GENERALLY, THAT'S ACCURATE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY ADVISE ANY PETITION CIRCULATOR TO SECURE THEIR OWN LEGAL ADVICE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PROVISION.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WE DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ROUTINELY IN THE ELECTION CYCLES.
I THINK WE'RE WORKING WITH THREE COMMUNITIES CURRENTLY REGARDING PETITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED UNDER MURMA OR IN OTHER CAPACITIES FOR MARIJUANA.
IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE FAIRLY REGULARLY.
>> THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION BEFORE US TONIGHT IS NOT A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE ADULT USE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP.
IT'S ALSO NOT A QUESTION OF THIS LOCATION SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE ZONING UNDERLYING THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
THAT DECISION WAS MADE PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE ZONING MAP WITH THE OVERLAY DISTRICTS WAS CREATED.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT?
BUT SINCE IT IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, HOW DOES THIS USE AT THAT LOCATION, SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SPECIAL USE AND OF THE MARIJUANA ZONING PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE? FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO HAVE, AGAIN, THAT ODOR BE CONTROLLED AS PART OF A ZONING CONCERN.
>> HOWEVER, PER ZONING ORDINANCE WITH THE OVERLAY DISTRICTS, SUCH AS THEY ARE, WITH SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVAL, THEY ARE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO OPERATE A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP?
>> CORRECT. TO MAYBE FLESH OUT MY PREVIOUS ANSWER, IF THIS APPLICATION WERE DENIED, THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO THREE SUITES.
A DIFFERENT APPLICANT COULD COME FORWARD AND LOCATE IN ONE SUITE.
IF THAT WAS A WAY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT HAD LED TO THE DENIAL, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE APPROVED WITHOUT ANY OTHER ZONING CHANGE OCCURRING WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE OR ZONING MAP.
>> LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS FOR ME FOR NOW, ANYWAY, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF THE BUILDING AND THE RENT AS IT RELATES TO THE OTHER OCCUPANTS OF SAID BUILDING.
[02:50:02]
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND BEYOND WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US.HOWEVER, THE CONTINUED DISCUSSION OVER THE RENT OF THE NEIGHBORING USES LEADS ME TO SAY THAT THAT IS A QUESTION OF THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS A LANDLORD.
IT IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR OPERATION OF A RECREATIONAL USE MARIJUANA FACILITY?
>> CORRECT. IT'S UP TO THE BUSINESS OWNER TO ESTABLISH THEIR RENTS.
>> WHETHER OR NOT THEY CHARGE WHATEVER THEY CHARGE IS UNRELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION?
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW.
>> IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO THIS DEMONSTRABLE DATA, IS THAT YOUR TERM OR DIRECTOR SCHMITT'S TERM?
>> I THINK IT'S DIRECTOR SCHMITT'S TERM.
>> TO DENY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT WAS WE WOULD NEED DEMONSTRABLE DATA THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, VIOLATED NUMBER FIVE, THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ECONOMIC WELFARE, THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES OR THE COMMUNITY, IF IT WERE TO HAVE A LIKELIHOOD OF STAYING UP IN COURT AND NOT BEING TURNED BACK.
IF WE HAD DEMONSTRABLE DATA TO THAT EFFECT, THAT IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL, WE WOULD HAVE A STRONGER CASE IF WE TURNED DOWN THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, CORRECT?
>> YES. IF YOU HAVE DEMONSTRABLE DATA, YOU WOULD HAVE A STRONGER CASE.
THE LEGAL TEST IS SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL EVIDENCE ON THE WHOLE RECORD, WHICH LOOKS AT ALL THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO A BOARD, PROS AND CONS, AND WHAT IN THE RECORD SUPPORTS THE REASONS GIVEN FOR THE DECISION OF THE BOARD.
>> THE REPORTS SUBMITTED AND THE APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING THOSE, THE COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED, THE COMMENTS RECEIVED, THE WHOLE THE WHOLE BASKET OF GOODS, SHALL WE SAY?
>> TO ADDRESS FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS? I THINK WE GOT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ONE.
BUT I THINK WE NEED AS ONE MEMBER SPOKE OUT SAID, WE NEED TO DO OUR OWN RESEARCH, I THINK ON THIS MATTER.
IN PARTICULAR, THE QUESTION, WOULD ALLOWING THE SPECIAL USE CAUSE BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ECONOMIC WELFARE OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES OR THE COMMUNITY.
OUR RESIDENTS HERE TONIGHT ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR GREATEST ASSETS IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE OUR SCHOOLS, AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEIR YOUTH BY HAVING A MARIJUANA STORE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF TWO SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT SENDS THEM THAT WE, AS THE TOWN LEADERS HAVE SAID, IT'S FINE TO SELL MARIJUANA RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDST OF TWO SCHOOLS.
I THINK WE WOULD BE WELL SERVED TO OURSELVES AND TO OUR CITIZENS TO TABLE THIS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17, GIVE US FIVE WEEKS AND DO TO STUDY SESSIONS.
WE'VE DONE STUDY SESSIONS IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY SMART PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE FAR SMARTER THAN I AM, MDS AND PHDS, WE HAVE THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST IN THE COMMUNITY HERE SPEAKING.
THE APPLICANT, MR. BALDORI, AND THE APPLICANT WHO HAVE A CONTRARY PERSPECTIVE, THEY WOULD BE INVITED AND LET'S ASKED THIS QUESTION.
DOES THE PRESENCE OF A MARIJUANA DISPENSARY FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IMPACT THE YOUTH IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY? WE HOPE IT DOESN'T.
WE WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF WE REALLY THOUGHT IT DID.
BUT HAVE WE LOOKED FOR THE RESEARCH OURSELF? HAVE WE HIRED ATTORNEY KUSCHEL TO DO THAT FOR US? HAVE WE GIVEN A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TALK ABOUT IT IN A COLLEGIATE AND INFORMATIVE WAY? LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA TO FIND OUT WHAT'S THERE.
WE UNDERSTAND RESEARCH PAPERS.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S VALID DATA AND WHAT'S NOT.
I THINK WE WOULD ALL FEEL BETTER WITH THE OUTCOME IF WE TOOK THIS PAUSE AND LOOKED AT THE DATA TO SEE THE SAME QUESTION THAT'S BEEN ASKED AGAIN AND AGAIN TONIGHT, ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING OR I'M AFRAID THIS IS DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT MY CHILDREN.
IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS OF ADDICTION.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND FOR THE LOSS OF MY DAUGHTER.
LOSING SOMEONE TO ADDICTION IS ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THESE FAMILIES DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT REPEATED,
[02:55:02]
NOT JUST FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY, BUT ANY FAMILY IN THIS COMMUNITY.WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT MAKE THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST A BIT MORE LIKELY.
THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO THAT RESEARCH.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A HUNCH TAKING THAT TIME TO LOOK AT THIS DATA.
COLORADO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 15 YEARS.
CALIFORNIA FOR TEN YEARS, THEY'VE GOT MORE DATA ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA THAN WE DO.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME RESEARCH OUT THERE ON THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA STORES ON THE YOUTH IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT'S WORTH TAKING THE TIME TO SEE WHAT THE DATA AND THE RESEARCH SHOWS. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> ATTORNEY KUSCHEL, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEMONSTRABLE DATA, DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR SHOP OR COULD THAT DATA COME FROM ANYWHERE? HOW DO YOU SAY THAT THE IMPACT OF THIS PARTICULAR SHOP IS X AND WHERE WOULD WE GET DATA THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT? I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S ACHIEVABLE, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
>> YOU WOULDN'T NEED DATA NECESSARILY ON THIS PARTICULAR SHOP, WHAT YOU REALLY WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS DATA THAT'S RELEVANT TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
SOME DATA THAT'S GENERALIZED, LIKE TRAFFIC STUDY DATA AT OTHER LOCATIONS CAN BE ASSUMED TO BE GENERALIZED TO THE LOCATION.
AND THEN YOU CAN OFFSET, AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT TRAFFIC.
WELL, THE GENERAL DATA IS X, BUT WE HAVE X AND WE HAVE A AND B, THAT AMELIORATE THE DATA CONCERNS IN THE NORMAL DATA SET.
OR WE DON'T HAVE, CURB AND GUTTER IN A COMMUNITY, WHICH THIS DATA SET ASSUMES THAT THAT'S THERE IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR EXAMPLE.
IT WOULD BE HOW DOES THE DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE FROM OTHER LOCATIONS, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND DOES IT MAKE AN IMPACT UNDER THE SPECIAL USE CRITERIA IN THIS ORDINANCE?
>> I APPRECIATE TREASURER DE SHANE'S REQUEST FOR MORE TIME.
AND WITH DUE RESPECT TO THAT POINT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THE QUESTION OF DATA IS ONE THAT WE HAVE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE TOWNSHIP, AS WE'VE HEARD FOR NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS.
WE DID HOLD A STUDY SESSION FEBRUARY 28 OF 2023, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT CRAFTING THIS ORDINANCE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION HAD.
WE TALKED THROUGH IN AN INFORMAL SETTING ALONG WITH BOTH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD.
I BELIEVE ATTORNEY KUSCHEL MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT AS WELL.
CERTAINLY DIRECTOR SCHMITT WAS IN HIS CAPACITY AS COMMUNITY PLANNING DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
WE DID TALK THROUGH MANY OF THE DISCUSSION POINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS EVENING.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD SUCH A ROBUST LICENSURE PROCESS THAT OUR APPLICANT THIS EVENING HAS GONE THROUGH.
AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS, THIS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE ORDINANCE THAT WE ARE ALL SITTING AND ADMINISTERING TODAY.
I KNOW SOME OF US WERE NOT ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, BUT THE BOARD AT THE TIME UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THAT ORDINANCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANOTHER FIVE WEEKS IS GOING TO GAIN US ANYTHING THAT THE TWO YEARS PRECEDING OUR CONVERSATION THIS EVENING HASN'T ALREADY.
CERTAINLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUBLIC IS HERE IN GREATER NUMBERS THAN THEY HAVE BEEN.
BUT THE REALITY OF THE UNDERLYING QUESTION HAS NOT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
I WOULD NOT SUGGEST DELAYING THIS VOTE ANY FURTHER.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE A MOTION THIS EVENING AND TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM. TREASURY D SHANE.
>> THANK YOU. WE DID HOLD THAT MEETING THEN.
[03:00:01]
WE ALSO LEARNED SOMETHING THAT ALMOST A YEAR, WE'VE LEARNED THAT LISTING SESSIONS ARE VERY VALUABLE BECAUSE THEY BRING THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY LET THEM KNOW WE'RE DISCUSSING THEM, LIKE THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND SENIOR CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER IDEA, WHICH WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK ON BECAUSE WE TOOK THE IDEAS TO THE COMMUNITY.WE DID SIX OF THOSE LAST YEAR, THREE OF THOSE THIS YEAR.
I THINK WE WOULD'VE BEEN WELL SERVED TO HAVE DONE THOSE ON THE MARIJUANA ISSUE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE, AND THEY WERE NEW TO US AS OF LAST SUMMER.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK LACKING, PERHAPS IN THE FIRST TIME I DID A STUDY SESSION, A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY DID IN BELT WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS.
AND YOU CAN SAY, WELL, THEY GOT NOTICE, IT WAS ON THE WEB PAGE, AND IT WAS.
BUT MOST FAMILIES IN OUR TOWNSHIP, THEIR NUMBER ONE PY ISN'T CHE CHECKING THIS WEEK, WHAT'S ON THE BOARD AGENDA.
THEY'VE GOT FAMILIES TO RAISE.
THEY'VE GOT DEMANDING JOBS, THE RESEARCHERS, THE TEACHERS, THE PROFESSORS.
THEY'VE GOT A MUCH BIGGER UNIVERSE THAN WHAT THIS BOARD IS DISCUSSING.
I THINK DOING IT AGAIN WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH WITH THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO IT ONE MORE TIME, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO DATA THAT SUPPORTS THIS CONCERN THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TONIGHT THAT THIS DISPENSARY COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, THAT'S 18 MONTHS AGO, THERE MAY BE NEW RESEARCH.
MARIJUANA IS ONE OF THE LEAST RESEARCH DRUGS IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL CLASS ONE DRUG.
AND AS SUCH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEVER ALLOWED RESEARCH OF IT.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE NEED FOR IT.
THIS IS THE WORST OF THE DRUGS THEY CLASSIFIED IT.
NOW, YOU CAN CLAIM THAT WAS WAY OVER OVERREACH BY THEIR PART.
BUT THE FACT IS THERE'S NOT RESEARCH A LOT OF RESEARCH ON MARIJUANA.
THERE'S PROBABLY MORE OF IT SINCE MANY STATES HAVE NOW DECRIMINALIZED AND ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF IT. WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
LET'S TAKE JUST FIVE WEEKS AND SEE WHAT RESEARCH IS OUT THERE FOR IT.
YOU CAN ARGUE THAT DELAYS A DECISION THAT WE COULD MAKE TONIGHT, BUT YOU COULD ALSO ARGUE IT SHOWS THAT WE REALLY DO CARE WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO THIS QUESTION.
WILL THIS MARIJUANA STORE IN THIS LOCATION POSSIBLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR YOUTH IN THAT IN THAT AREA? I THINK IT WOULDN'T HURT US TO TAKE THE EXTRA TIME TO MAKE SURE THE ANSWER, THAT IS NO BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS.
>> MEMBERS OF AUDIENCE FOR REFRAIN FROM APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
>> I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. MCCAIN SAID, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN SUP FOR A LAND USE, NOT ANALYSIS OF WHETHER WE SHOULD REPEAL THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA OR EVEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
I CAN SEE A STUDY, A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT DECISION THAT WAS MADE WAS CORRECT.
BUT I DON'T SEE HOW AT THIS POINT, THAT IMPACTS THE CRITERIA WE HAVE TO FOLLOW FOR THE SUP.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHETHER THIS FITS WITHIN THE ZONING AS APPROVED BY THIS BOARD.
THE OVERLAYS, THE STATUTE, THE PROCESS, AND DETERMINE WHETHER THERE'S ANYTHING ON THESE SEVEN OR NINE, WHATEVER THEY ARE, CRITERIA THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE OR INFORMATION THAT WOULD JUSTIFY SAYING THEY DON'T MEET THAT CRITERIA.
I THINK THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN SIX WEEKS.
BE BY INVESTIGATING SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRITERIA IN THE LAND USE ITSELF.
I WISH WE HAD THE TIME TO DO THAT.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WORTH DOING LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SUP.
>> COURT KATHERYN TREASURY SHAN.
>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
COULD I ASK ATTORNEY KUSCHEL QUESTION.
DID YOU SAY THAT THAT WE LOOK HOW DOES THIS USE AT THAT LOCATION SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THIS SUP.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED.
[03:05:03]
WE'RE NOT LOOKING BLANKET AT THE TOWNSHIP.THAT WAS PASSED. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE SUP, AS I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU EXPLAINING IT TO THE BOARD, IS HOW DOES THIS USE AT THIS LOCATION SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT? IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN YOU ALSO EARLIER AND AND I DID NOT WRITE IT DOWN, AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO REPEAT YOURSELF.
YOU HAD EXPLAINED SOMETHING TO TREASURE SHANE IN REGARDS TO THE BOARD BEING ABLE TO USE PUBLIC COMMENT AS PART OF THEIR CRITERIA FOR THE SUP, WHICH WAS SOMETHING NEW TO ME THAT HAD NOT BEEN TOLD TO ME AS A BOARD MEMBER BEFORE I HEARD YOU SPEAK THAT TONIGHT.
COULD YOU RE-EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, AND I WILL ACTUALLY TAKE NOTES THIS TIME.
>> CERTAINLY. IF I'M NOT TAKING NOTES, I'M NOT LISTENING.
IT'S NOT CRITERIA, BUT IT'S PART OF THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE BOARD.
YOU HAVE THE WHOLE BASKET OF MATERIAL AND EVIDENCE THAT'S SUBMITTED AND BROUGHT FORWARD WITH THE APPLICATION, THE STAFF REVIEWS, THE DIFFERENT STUDIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, THE DRAWINGS, ETC.
THEN THE REPORTS THAT ARE GENERATED, ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT COME IN THE PACKET, THAT'S PART OF THE MATERIAL BEFORE THE BOARD.
THEN AS THE PUBLIC REVIEWS THE MATERIAL, AND THEY OFFER THEIR INPUT ON THE USE AND WHETHER THEY THINK SOMETHING IS AMELIORATING A DUST CONCERN OR A TRAFFIC CONCERN AND THEIR INPUT FROM, LET'S SAY, DRIVING DOWN THAT ROAD EVERY DAY.
THAT'S AGAIN, MORE RELEVANT MATERIAL COMING TO THE BOARD.
IT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER, AND THE COURTS HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BEFORE AND NOT FAULTED A COMMUNITY FOR IN THE ONE OF THEIR DATA POINTS WHEN ASSESSING THE CRITERIA, SAY, HEY, THE PUBLIC SAID X, AND THEREFORE THAT INFORMATION INFORMED THIS CRITERIA, WHICH LED TO AND/OR SUPPORTED THE DECISION THAT THE BOARD MADE.
THEN I ALSO HEARD DIRECTOR SCHMITT.
YOU HAD MADE THE STATEMENT ABOUT DIRECT IMPACT FOR SOME OF THIS CRITERIA IN HERE.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHEN THE LICENSE WAS GRANTED FOR THIS?
>> IT WAS THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY, I BELIEVE.
I CAN LOOK IT UP REAL QUICKLY.
IT WAS EITHER THE SECOND MEETING IN APRIL OR THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY, I BELIEVE.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THE AND I KNOW YOU SAID THIS, AND I DID NOT TAKE NOTE.
I'M SORRY, WHEN THE PERMIT WAS GRANTED.
>> THE ORIGINAL BUILDING PERMIT, I BELIEVE WAS ISSUED IN 2021. OKAY.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN MATHNASIUM MOVED?
>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
>> THE SAME WITH JUICE NATION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE POINTS THAT TREASURER DESCHAINE SAID IN REGARDS TO DATA.
I HAVE LEARNED NEW DATA THIS EVENING THAT I DID NOT KNOW BEFORE.
IN PARTICULAR, I KEPT BEING TOLD, MAYBE I DIDN'T DO MY DUE DILIGENCE ENOUGH, THAT THESE SET OF CRITERIA IS THE ONLY SET OF CRITERIA FOR DENIAL.
I'M LEARNING FROM MR. [INAUDIBLE] THAT I COULDN'T BE, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE], THAT WHAT WE HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD BE A BASIS FOR DENIAL OF SOME OF THE SET OF THE CRITERIA BASED OFF OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE LEARN, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE PUBLIC INPUT IS PART OF THE EVIDENCE THAT'S BEFORE THE BOARD ON WHICH A BOARD MEMBER CAN BASE THEIR VOTE.
THE CRITERIA TO ASSESS THE SUP, THOSE NINE FACTORS ARE THE NINE CRITERIA THAT NEED TO BE SATISFIED.
[03:10:06]
THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS EVIDENCE AS TO WHETHER THEY'VE SATISFIED THOSE NINE CRITERIA.>> OKAY. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.
TONIGHT, WE HEARD FROM MATHNASIUM THAT THEY MOVED OUT OF THE STRIP MALL BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THEIR BUSINESS, BECAUSE THEY APPEALED TO CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WOULD BE COMING INTO THEIR STORE, AND THAT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS.
THEREFORE, THEY MOVED OUT OF THE STRIP MALL, AND SO THAT SPECIFICALLY TIES TO NUMBER 5.
>> WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
>> THE ECONOMIC WELFARE OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
>> I'M TRACKING THAT LOGIC, AND THAT'S A LOGICAL FLOW OF THE EVIDENCE.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY IT WAS THE SECOND MEETING IN APRIL, NOT THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY.
>> THANK YOU. TREASURER DESCHAINE AND THEN TRUSTEE MCCURTIS. TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
>> THANK YOU. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
THE NINE CRITERIA AND THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC, ALONG WITH MATHNASIUM, THOSE ARE SEPARATE, WE DON'T BRING THOSE TOGETHER.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TODAY IS BASED ON THE NINE CRITERIA, AND THAT'S IT.
IT'S SEPARATE FROM THE PUBLIC INPUT.
>> NO. THE PUBLIC INPUT INFORMS THE NINE CRITERIA.
THE BOARD HAS TO HAVE MORE THAN A SCINTILLA, MORE THAN SOME NITPICKY REASON TO DENY AN APPLICATION, THEY NEED SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL, COMPLIANT EVIDENCE ON THE WHOLE RECORD TO SUPPORT THE DECISION THEY MAKE.
PART OF THE EVIDENCE ON THE RECORD ARE THE STATEMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC AS TO HOW A LAND USE MAY IMPACT THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR EXAMPLE.
OR IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE, A SPECIFIC BUSINESS MEMBER DISCUSSING THEIR ECONOMIC INPUT.
ONE CASE, BUT YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE PUBLIC MEMBER AS WELL.
AGAIN, WHEN I EVALUATE A LAND USE CASE FOR DEFENSE PURPOSES, I'M GOING TO GRAB ALL THE EVIDENCE AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THE STRONGEST CASE POSSIBLE.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS DECISION UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 17TH MEETING AND HOLD TWO STUDY SESSIONS IN BETWEEN.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SUPPORTED IN A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO THEN DO IN THOSE STUDY SESSIONS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> PURPOSE OF THE SESSION, AS I STATED EARLIER, TRUSTEE WILSON, IS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE CONCERNS OF MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HERE THAT THE PRESENCE OF THIS MARIJUANA STORE BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> IF THERE IS DATA, IS THE QUESTION NOW?
>> CORRECT. CORRECTION, THERE RESEARCH.
IS THERE FEAR OR IS THERE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT ASSERTION?
>> YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN THAT IN TWO STUDY SESSIONS?
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY GIVE IT A GOOD TRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH OUT THERE, WE'RE ALL VERY CAPABLE PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO THIS QUESTION.
>> HOW WILL OUR STAFF BE ABLE TO ASSIST US IF WE DO THAT?
>> MR. SCHMITT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT?
>> I HAVE NOT THOUGHT THROUGH THAT YET.
I MERELY WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE POINT THAT LEGALLY THERE IS NO CONVERSATION ON A MOTION TO TABLE, IT'S A MOTION TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO VOTE IT ON FOR DISCUSSION.
>> THERE GOES MY ROBERT RULES TRAINING [LAUGHTER].
>> [INAUDIBLE] TO THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION.
>> YES. THANK YOU. WITH THAT BEING A NON-DEBATABLE MOTION, I THINK FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, WOULD CLERK GUTHRIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION TO TABLE UNTIL A DATE CERTAIN SEPTEMBER 17TH.
[03:15:01]
THAT MEANS THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?>> YOU CAN'T DISCUSS BECAUSE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT'S NON-DEBATABLE, AND THAT MOTION IS TO TABLE.
IF THE MOTION PASSES, WE TABLE THE RESOLUTION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17TH.
IF THE MOTION TO TABLE FAILS, WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE MAIN TOPIC AT HAND.
APPRECIATE THAT. CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THE MOTION FAILS FIVE TO TWO.
>> SO WE CONTINUE ON THEN THIS EVENING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR A MOTION TO BE MADE ON THE MATTER AT HAND? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF THE SUP.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US THE FULL I THINK FOR LEGAL PURPOSES [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN I JUST INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND?
>> I'M SORRY, THE PUBLIC MAY NOT SPEAK AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING SPECIAL USE PERMIT 24-09, A REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A
>> NO, HERE IT IS. RIGHT THERE.
>> REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA RETAILER AT 3520 OKEMOS ROAD, SUITES 8910, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33-02-33-452-016, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OF ZONE C2 COMMERCIAL, AND THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITH THE MARIJUANA BUSINESS OVERLAY DISTRICT WITHIN THE MARIJUANA DISTRICT.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> THE REASON I'M SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO APPROVE IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION AROUND THIS.
[BACKGROUND] I BEG YOUR PARDON.
[NOISE] BUT AS WAS STATED TO ME BY THE LEADER OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, ONE OF YOUR LEADERS ON JULY 31ST, "THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT." WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS FOLLOWED THE PROPER PROCEDURES, THAT IT HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF REVIEW STAGES HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP, AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ANECDOTAL INFORMATION FROM YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION ABOUT MARIJUANA IS BAD, BUT WE CAN'T VOTE ON MARIJUANA IS BAD, WE SIMPLY CAN'T DO THAT.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED APPROPRIATELY, THERE ARE FOUR BLOCKS OF COMMERCIAL SURROUNDING IT BEFORE WE GO EAST TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I DON'T SEE THAT THERE WILL BE A GOOD OUTCOME TO THIS IF WE DENY IT.
BECAUSE IF WE DENY IT, THEY WILL SUE US, AND WE WILL SPEND YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DEFEND A LAWSUIT THAT IS INDEFENSIBLE.
WHAT ARE OUR CRITERIA FOR DENYING IT? I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY THIS IS BASED ON LAND USE AND ALL THE LAND USE CRITERIA HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBER DISCUSSION, TRUSTEE MCCURTIS.
>> I LIVED IN OKEMOS FOR 23 YEARS, AND WHEN THIS REFERENDUM CAME OUT IN 2022, I VOTED YES, WHICH MEANS NO BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE WAS SO CONVOLUTED.
I WILL TELL YOU, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM TELLING THE PUBLIC, THE OPT-OUT FAILED, I DIDN'T WANT MARIJUANA SHOPS, BUSINESSES IN MY COMMUNITY, I HAVE THREE SONS [INAUDIBLE], 12, AND 11 THAT I RAISED IN OKEMOS, SINCE WE MOVED HERE, I SPOKE WITH MANY RESIDENTS, I SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.
I SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS AFTER MEETINGS, I SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS ON THE PHONE, I COMMUNICATED WITH RESIDENTS BY EMAIL.
[03:20:06]
I EVEN TALKED TO BUSINESS AND THE TENANTS IN THE PLAZA.I WENT TO THE BARBERSHOP, WENT TO THE TOBACCO PLACE, SPOKE WITH THOSE TENANTS, AND THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THIS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS DONE IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE WITH DUE PROCESS.
EVEN THOUGH THE VOTE IN 2022 DIDN'T GO MY WAY OR YOUR WAY AS WELL, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HERE, THE PEOPLE DID SPEAK.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SLIM MARGIN, THE PEOPLE DID SPEAK.
I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFERENT VOTE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, BUT THE PEOPLE DID SPEAK, AND SO HERE WE ARE TODAY AFTER THE PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE.
IF IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE IT WAS A CHOPPY, SLOPPY PROCESS, THEN I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT.
BUT UNDERSTAND, I HAVE THREE SONS, TOO, I HAVE KIDS, SO I QUESTION CRITERIAS 4 AND 5.
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY SUBSTANTIAL THAT WE CAN USE TO DENY IT AND THE CRITERIA HAS BEEN MET.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I VOTED NO JUST NOW. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> LIKE, TRUSTEE MCCURTIS, I OPPOSED IT.
IN FACT, I WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT PUT TOGETHER THE VOTER REFERENDUM.
I TOOK THE PETITIONS TO DOOR TO DOOR TO GET THEM SIGNED.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN WE LOST BY SUCH A NARROW MARGIN.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE REFERENDUM TO OPT-OUT FAILED, I VOTED WITH THE BOARD TO OPT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PROTEST VOTE TONIGHT AND VOTE AGAINST THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT BECAUSE IT'D MAKE ME FEEL GOOD AND MAKE YOU ALL FEEL GOOD, IF AT LEAST ONE OR TWO BOARD MEMBERS SAY NO.
THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE NO LEGAL STANDING TO DO THAT.
AS TREASURER, I HAVE EVEN HIGHER FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM A CLOSE AND PRUDENT GARDENING OF YOUR MONEY, AND TO SPEND $50,000 ON A LAWSUIT THAT WOULD ONLY DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS OR MAYBE MORE BECAUSE THE APPLICANT COULD SUE US FOR ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR LOST REVENUE FOR THE TIME THEY HAD TO FIGHT THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A GOOD USE OF TOWNSHIP RESOURCES.
I WISH THIS HAD TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY, I WISH IT HAD TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY IN AUGUST OF 2022.
I DON'T LIKE MARIJUANA, I DON'T THINK WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THE MAJORITY SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT, AND THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD IS PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE TOWNSHIP IN LEGAL JEOPARDY BY SIGNALING OR MAKING A PROTEST THAT WOULD FINANCIALLY JEOPARDIZE THE TOWNSHIP.
I DO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. CLERK GUTHRIE. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND, SORRY.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PHIL AND HIS ASSESSMENT.
IT'S NOT UP TO US AT THIS POINT, WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE AND IT'S BEEN APPLIED ACCURATELY, THE SUP, AND SO THIS IS WHERE WE STAND.
I MAY NOT AGREE EITHER WITH RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR ASSETS TOO.
>> THERE'S NO TALKING AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC, AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THAT THE BOARD FOUND WITH THE APPLICATION AND THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OPINIONS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR OPINIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS, AND I TAKE THOSE TO HEART.
MY ISSUE IS NOT WITH THE APPLICANT, IT IS NOT WITH THE PEOPLE, IT'S NOT WITH THE BOARD, MY ISSUE IS THAT I STILL CANNOT ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS IN THE SUP.
[03:25:03]
I HEARD DIRECTOR SCHMITT SAY THERE ARE OTHER SUPS THAT HAVE STRICTER CRITERIA FOR OTHER THINGS.MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS TYPE OF SUP. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I STILL AM NOT SATISFIED WITH QUESTION NUMBER 4 AND QUESTION NUMBER 5.
I APPRECIATE TRUSTEE MCCURTIS' COMMENTS REGARDING WHAT HE SAID IN REGARDS TO THAT CRITERIA.
BUT THEY'RE, ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD SET OF THIS SUP AND THE CRITERIA THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT, WELL, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE TABLED THIS AND SPENT SOME TIME TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I STILL HAVE WITH THE SET OF CRITERIA.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO VOTE NO AGAINST IT.
I WOULD LOVE TO FIND SOMETHING, ANYTHING, AND I EMPATHIZE AND SYMPATHIZE WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
>> BUT WE ARE IN A POSITION WE'RE IN BECAUSE OF DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE TWO AND THREE YEARS AGO TO ADOPT THIS.
TWENTY-TWENTY HINDSIGHT SAYS MAYBE THIS ISN'T A GOOD SITE FOR ALL OF THE REASONS YOU SAID, BUT WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT IN CONNECTION WITH AN SUP.
WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ORDINANCES, THE PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.
I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY, AND SYMPATHIZE, AND EMPATHIZE WITH ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND I TRULY BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAID IS OF PERSONAL IMPORTANCE TO YOU.
I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF BOARDS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ONE WHERE I DIDN'T ACCEPT THE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, WHETHER I AGREED WITH THEM OR DISAGREED WITH THEM, WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THAT THEY ARE LEGITIMATE FEELINGS, COMMENTS, AND ARGUMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE.
I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I DON'T EVEN DISAGREE WITH WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
BUT I DON'T HAVE A LEGAL BASIS TO CHANGE WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> SIR, I'M SORRY, THERE'S NO SPEAKING FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME.
IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO SO YOU WILL BE REMOVED.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S FINE. I CAN GO.
>> SIR, THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE MEETING, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AGAIN.
>> [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] ALL THE DATA YOU SHOWED IS 2020, FOUR YEARS OLD.
>> SIR LET ME SPEAK [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT AT THIS MOMENT.
>> [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] DON'T LIE TO US, THAT'S THE POINT.
THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO US.
>> GOOD TO KNOW THAT BOARD MAKE THE DECISION WITHOUT PUBLIC CONSENT.
[BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE BASING YOUR DECISION FOUR YEARS OLD DATA.
>> ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER DISCUSSION?
>> SORRY, GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT.
[03:30:04]
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE RECORD TOO THAT I WISH THAT OUR TOWNSHIP WASN'T IN THIS POSITION.
WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THINGS.
I TRULY WISH WE WEREN'T IN THIS POSITION.
EVERYTHING HAPPENED IN A DEMOCRATIC WAY.
I DO APPRECIATE AND THANK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT AND MAKING THE COMMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE.
THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU. I GREW UP IN A COMMUNITY A LOT LIKE THIS.
WE WERE A COMMUNITY WHO VALUED OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS EXCELLENT, AND STILL IS TO THIS DAY.
IT WAS AT A TIME WHEN MARIJUANA WAS NOT LEGAL IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
BUT IT WAS AVAILABLE CONTINUOUSLY, AND EVERYBODY KNEW WHERE YOU COULD GET IT.
I DID NOT, IN PART BECAUSE I WAS SAT DOWN EARLY AND OFTEN BY MY PARENTS AND GIVEN THE TALK, AND THAT WAS THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN MY DECISION ALL ALONG THE WAY.
IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE.
I HAD MADE A CHOICE FOR MYSELF, WITH THE HELP OF MY FAMILY, NOT TO DO SO.
TODAY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LEGAL MARIJUANA, RECREATIONAL ADULT USE MARIJUANA, WHICH IS, BY THE WAY, AND WE'VE LOST THIS IN THIS DISCUSSION, ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE 21 AND UP, IN THE SAME WAY THAT ONE WOULD BUY LIQUOR.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS A BARRIER TO YOUNG PEOPLE FINDING THEIR WAY TO IT.
BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS, IT'S IN OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT'S IN EAST LANSING, IT'S IN WILLIAMSTON, IT'S IN LANSING.
IT'S WITHIN MERE MILES OF THE FACILITY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
IT IS MY OPINION, WHICH IS TRULY UNRELATED TO THE QUESTION BEFORE US THIS EVENING ABOUT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, THAT NO AMOUNT OF US SAYING YES OR NO TO A FACILITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PLACE IS GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN INDIVIDUAL DECISION MAKING AND THE ROLE THE FAMILY HAS IN HAVING THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
I'M A PARENT. MY KIDS ARE SIX AND THREE.
WE WILL HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, WHETHER THERE'S A MARIJUANA STORE IN THIS PLACE OR NOT.
I WILL HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT THIS THAT MY PARENTS HAD WITH ME ABOUT THAT, AND IT IS CERTAINLY MY HOPE THAT IT RESONATES AS WELL WITH THEM AS IT DID WITH ME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LAND USE DECISION.
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE POINTED OUT, THIS IS A QUESTION OF LEGALITY.
THIS IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICATION BEFORE US MEETS THE CRITERIA THAT ARE OUTLINED IN OUR ORDINANCE.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I CAME INTO THIS ROOM WITH MY MIND NOT MADE UP.
HAD I BEEN CONVINCED, THROUGH A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE, THAT FOR SOME REASON THIS APPLICATION DID NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA, I COULD HAVE VOTED EITHER WAY TONIGHT.
I HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT NOT THIS LOCATION, OR NOT MARIJUANA, AND THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE NOT UP FOR DEBATE WITH THIS ACTION ITEM.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT, AS WE TAKE A VOTE MOMENTARILY.
I DO JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ALSO THANK TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TOPIC, AND I KNOW IT'S ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR BRAVERY, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DEBATE IT IN GOOD FAITH WITH US ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR STORY HAS BEEN VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME.
[03:35:06]
I THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND FOR SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH HONESTLY AND OPENLY WITH ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A FURTHER TWO HOURS.
WE'LL CALL A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND BE BACK AT 9:50.
THE BOARD WILL STAND A RECESS AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.
[BACKGROUND] WE WILL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 9:53 P.M. ONE NOTE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED HERE.
WE'VE GOT A BOARD RULE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUSPEND RELATIVELY SOON AS WE ARE NOT TECHNICALLY PERMITTED BY OUR BOARD RULES TO TAKE UP ACTION ITEMS AFTER 10:00.
I FOR ONE WOULD PREFER NOT TO PUMP THINGS AT OUR MEETING FOR THE REST OF OUR AGENDA.
IN A MOMENT I'LL ASK SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE UP ALL THE REMAINING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA AFTER 10:00 P.M. WITH THAT, WE FIND OURSELVES BACK AT WHAT IS NOW ITEM 12B,
[12.B. Senior and Community Center Millage]
SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER MILEAGE WITH INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER TIM SCHMITT.BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, CAN WE GET THE PROCEDURAL BIT OUT OF THE WAY.
MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE AN ITEM UP AFTER 10:00 P.M [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE UP THE REMAINING ISSUES OF OUR AGENDA.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION OF OUR RULES PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. OUR RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
WE MAY TAKE UP THE REMAINING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA AFTER 10:00 P.M. NOW, MANAGER SCHMITT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR. I WILL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS MORE OF A CONVERSATION DISCUSSION QUESTION THAN ME ORATING.
THE BOARD HAS HAD A GOAL FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TO RESEARCH, IDENTIFY, DEVELOP, DESIGN, BRING FORTH A SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IN LIGHT OF CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL BEING FUNCTIONALLY TORN DOWN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF THAT WORK, AND LED VERY ABLY BY TRUSTEE MARNA WILSON, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE.
I WILL LET TRUSTEE WILSON SPEAK TO THE TASK FORCE HOWEVER SHE SO DESIRES.
BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING IS THE FINANCIAL BASIS FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROJECT.
THE REQUEST THAT STAFF, HAVING GONE THROUGH AN EXTRAORDINARILY DETAILED ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION, AND I CANDIDLY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER, AND DIRECTOR BUDZYNSKI, AND THEIR EXPERTISE ON THE OPERATION SIDE.
I HANDLED THE EASY SIDE, WHICH WAS THE CONSTRUCTION PIECE.
THIS IS THE BASE CASE TO GET TO SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE YOUNKERS FACILITY AT MERIDIAN MALL.
IT'S A 1.1996 MILLAGE THAT THE BOARD WOULD PUT ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.
IT WOULD RAISE AN ESTIMATED 2,737,308 IN THE FIRST CALENDAR YEAR BASED ON OUR CURRENT TAXABLE VALUE.
FUNCTIONALLY, THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO OPERATE THE FACILITY IN A MANNER BEFITTING A PRIME COMMUNITY SUCH AS OURSELF, AND WOULD ALLOW US TO CONSTRUCT IT IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY AS WELL.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE, AND WE ARE SHORTLISTED FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT CURRENTLY IN OUR BUDGET AT $750,000, WHICH WAS THE MINIMUM WE PUT IN THE APPLICATION.
THAT MAY COME IN HIGH, BUT WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE MOST CONSERVATIVE SCENARIO HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT.
WE ARE ALSO ONLY ASSUMING 1.5% GROWTH AS OPPOSED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF GROWTH ON THE INFLATION SIDE THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS RIGHT.
THIS WILL REQUIRE ABOUT SIX-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF EITHER GENERAL FUND, OR DONATION, OR OTHER GRANTS THAT WE ARE STILL GOING TO NEED TO SORT OUT.
I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THAT IF THE ENTIRETY OF THAT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT WE CAN DO IT.
[03:40:03]
IT WILL BE A HEAVY ASK BUT WE CAN DO IT.THIS IS THE BASE CASE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION, CURRENTLY ABOUT 22-$25 MILLION, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU ACCOUNT FOR ESCALATION, HOW YOU ACCOUNT FOR YOUR CONTINGENCY, HOW YOU ACCOUNT FOR PREVAILING WAGE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH, IT'S NOT A PURCHASE AGREEMENT YET, IT IS A LETTER OF INTENT TO PURCHASE THE SPACE FROM THE MALL.
THE CURRENT ASKING PRICE IS $2.75 MILLION WHICH IS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR ABOUT 1.9 MILLION OF OPERATIONS TO START, WHICH IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE TO NEED.
I'LL LET DIRECTOR BUDZYNSKI AND DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER SPEAK FURTHER TO THE OPERATION, SHOULD THE BOARD CHOOSE TO GET INTO THAT DETAIL AT THIS TIME.
THE RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED OUTLINING THE SPECIFIC MILEAGES AND AMOUNTS THAT WOULD BE COLLECTED.
IF THE BOARD DOES WISH TO DO A DIFFERENT MILEAGE NUMBER, WE WILL NEED A COUPLE OF MINUTES JUST TO RUN AND RECALCULATE REAL QUICK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER.
BUT WE CAN DO THAT. WE HAVE RUN SEVERAL SCENARIOS, AND SO IT WON'T TAKE US MORE THAN A COUPLE MINUTES.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE DO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.
>> TRYING TO COVER ALL BASES AS BEST WE CAN.
AT THAT, I WILL STOP AND TURN THIS BACK OVER TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS, WHATEVER WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU AT THIS POINT.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, A COUPLE OF PROCEDURAL NOTES, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION COMING BEFORE THE BOARD.
I WILL SOON BE ASKING FOR A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPICAL TWO-HOP PROCEDURE THAT WE TAKE FORWARD WITH ALL ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE OUR AGENDA.
THE REASON WHY IS THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO HOLD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE CURRENT OCCUPANTS OF THE SENIOR CENTER.
WE HAD THREE LISTENING SESSIONS THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD IN THE MONTH OF JUNE AND WE HAD TWO COMMUNITY CENTER SPECIFIC.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL THEM CHARETS, BUT THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY CHARETS, WHERE THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE DETAILED PICTURES AND SCHEMATICS THAT WE HAD, REQUEST ADDITIONAL CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
ALL OF THAT, TO SAY THAT OUR LAST COMMUNITY SESSION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE WAS JULY 24TH, WHICH WAS AFTER OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THE FEEDBACK FROM THOSE MEETINGS, GO BACK TO OUR ARCHITECT, AND GET UPDATED COST ESTIMATES SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW IN DETAIL WHAT IT WOULD COST TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT IN FULL AND LATER OPERATE THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
IT TOOK A LOT OF PUBLIC EFFORT, A LOT OF MEETINGS THAT WE HAD WITH THE PUBLIC ON THIS TOPIC AND HERE WE ARE.
THE REASON WHY IT'S COMING BEFORE US NOW WITH ONE HOP INSTEAD OF TWO IS BECAUSE THERE IS A DEADLINE IN STATE LAW FOR A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS FOR NOVEMBER.
THAT DEADLINE IS AUGUST 13TH, WHICH IS BEFORE OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON IT IN ORDER TO PUT IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
NOW, FOR A MATTER OF OPINION, I BELIEVE IT'S WISE TO PUT IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT AND THE REASON IS THE TURNOUT EXPECTED AT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT WE SEE IN AN AUGUST ELECTION AND IT'S EVEN MORE SO THAN IN A MAY ELECTION AND IT'S MY CONTENTION THAT WHEN WE ASK THE VOTERS, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO DO NO MATTER WHAT, TO PAY FOR SOMETHING, THAT IT IS WISE FOR US TO ASK AS MANY OF OUR VOTERS AS IS POSSIBLE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY WE WILL HAVE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TO GET THE MOST PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS MILLAGE QUESTION.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT FOR MY PART, I WILL RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND
[03:45:04]
IF THEY RETURN A REJECTION OF THIS MILLAGE IN NOVEMBER, IF WE CHOOSE TO PUT IT ON TONIGHT, THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THE WILL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO SUPPORT A PROJECT LIKE THIS.I WILL BE OUT CAMPAIGNING IN FAVOR OF IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM BUT I WILL TAKE THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC AT THE BALLOT BOX IN STRIDE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR OUR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING TO HEAR FROM BOTH DEPUTY MANAGER OSIMER AND PARKS DIRECTOR BZINSKI, WHO HAVE DONE A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATIONS.
THEY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE ON HOW THEY REACHED THE 1.9 MILLION DOLLAR NUMBER THAT THEY'VE PRESENTED IN THE $1.9 FOR THE OPERATING COSTS, 1.19 FOR THE MILLAGE.
THEY CAN TALK TO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD URGE US TO REACH OUT TO HAVE THEM COME UP AND SPEAK TO WHAT OPERATIONS WILL LOOK LIKE.
I GUESS I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE REST OF THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEFORE WE CONTINUE ON HERE. TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
I WAS JUST WONDERING AND MAYBE THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.
OUR CURRENT SENIOR CENTER, I THINK WE HAVE UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> WE HAVE FOUR YEARS SO WE DON'T NEED TO RUSH TO A DECISION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF ALONG THE WAY AND MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THIS IN THE COMMENTS BUT HAVE WE CONSIDERED ANYTHING A LITTLE BIT SMALLER FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTER? HAVE WE RESEARCHED ALL THE ANGLES BECAUSE WE'RE GOING FROM A SMALL SENIOR CENTER TO A VERY LARGE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME QUESTION AS TO FULL UTILIZATION.
OF COURSE, THERE ISN'T ANY POOL UNLESS WE DIG UNDER THE YOUNGERS.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE'VE ADDRESSED ALL THOSE ISSUES ALONG THE WAY.
>> I THINK I'LL LET TRUSTEE WILSON WHO CHAIRED THE TASK FORCE GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT THE TASK FORCE CONSIDERED AND DID NOT CONSIDER ALONG THE WAY.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT IT DOES TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO BUILD OUT A FACILITY LIKE THIS, AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO START DOING THAT UNTIL AFTER ANY MILLAGE QUESTION THAT IS BEFORE THE VOTERS OCCURS.
IF WE DO DELAY, THERE MAY BE AN OVERLAPPING PERIOD WHERE THERE IS NO SENIOR CENTER AND SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT IN TERMS OF SCHEDULING SINCE THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION AND FOR WHAT DID WE CONSIDER, I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO TRUSTEE WILSON, WHO CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT.
THE TASK FORCE WAS FORMED IN FEBRUARY OF 2023 SO IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 18 MONTHS THAT THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN MEETING.
THE STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TASK FORCE HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG THE COORDINATOR OF THE SENIOR CENTERS BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US THAT THE INFORMATION WE WERE LEARNING WOULD BE RELAYED BACK TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT SENIOR CENTER.
OUR THEN-CURRENT PARKS DIRECTOR, LUANNE MEISNER, FOLLOWED BY OUR NOW-CURRENT PARKS DIRECTOR, COURTNEY BAZINSKI, AND ACTUALLY, BOTH WOMEN HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN OUR MEETINGS.
AT THE TIME WE HAD MANAGER FRANK WALSH INVOLVED, WE HAD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TIM SCHMITT, WE HAD PHILDA SHANE AS A BOARD MEMBER, WE HAD PAT HERRING JACKSON AS OUR SUPERVISOR, AND ME.
>> WE HAD TOWNSHIP STAFF, WE HAD THE COORDINATOR OF THE SENIOR CENTER, AND WE HAD THREE INTERESTED BOARD MEMBERS.
WHEN PAT RETIRED FROM THE BOARD,
[03:50:01]
SHE WAS NOT REPLACED WITH SOMEONE ELSE SO WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF US AND THAT WAS THAT THE SENIOR CENTER IS A PART OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.IT IS A TOWNSHIP-RUN ENTITY LOCATED IN A SCHOOL AT CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOLS, IT'S THE ODDEST ARRANGEMENT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WE ACTUALLY PAY THE SALARY OF THE COORDINATOR AND THE ASSISTANT WITH TOWNSHIP DOLLARS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL TO PAY THOSE 1.5 INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS HOW IT'S GOTTEN TO BE AN INTERESTING ARRANGEMENT.
WE KNEW THAT THE SENIOR CENTER WAS GOING TO GO AWAY BECAUSE THE CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED AND I'M HEARING VARYING TIMES.
IT'S BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR YEARS SO WE KNEW WE HAD TO TAKE SOME ACTION FAIRLY QUICKLY.
WE STARTED OUT BY LOOKING AT WHERE WE MIGHT LOCATE A SENIOR CENTER BUT THEN WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN FOR FIVE MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS PROVIDED THAT AND IN THAT LANGUAGE, IT SAID, COMMUNITY CENTER AND SENIOR CENTER SO WITH THAT FIVE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BROADER THAN JUST A SENIOR CENTER SO WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT WE COULD OFFER TO THIS COMMUNITY AS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL ENTITY THAT WOULD SERVE EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT I LIKE TO SAY IS EVERY AGE AND ABILITY SO WE COULD SERVE YOUNG CHILDREN PRESCHOOL, WE COULD SERVE OUR SPORTEES FOR SHORTIES PROGRAM, WE COULD SERVE OUR TEENAGERS, OUR ADULTS, AND OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE MORE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT CONCEPT AND DID THE LITERATURE SEARCH ON WHAT OTHER CENTERS ARE DOING, THIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL APPROACH IS EXACTLY WHERE SENIOR CENTERS ARE EVEN GOING AND WE LOOK TO EAST LANSING, WHICH IS A COMBINED FACILITY.
WE LOOK TO A FACILITY IN HOWELL THAT IS NEW, WAS BUILT IN 2021, AND INCORPORATES THE SAME KIND OF PHILOSOPHY OF MULTI-GENERATIONAL.
THEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHERE MIGHT THIS BE LOCATED AND WE LOOKED AT OUR MUNICIPAL COMPLEX BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS LAND AVAILABLE IN OUR MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SO WE LOOKED AT THE NOKES SITE, FOR INSTANCE, WE LOOKED AT THE SOCCER FIELDS RIGHT OUT HERE TO OUR WEST, WE LOOKED OVER BY THE SENIOR CENTER, WE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT PROPERTIES BY THE SERVICE CENTER, AND THEN WE LOOKED AT A PARCEL THAT'S BETWEEN THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION AND THE OKEMS POST OFFICE.
SEVERAL OF THESE WERE ELIMINATED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH BUILDABLE AREA.
THERE WERE TOO MANY WETLANDS, TOO CLOSE TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS, TOO MUCH IN USE, LIKE OUR SOCCER FIELDS OVER HERE, AND IT'S ALSO VERY WET OVER THERE.
IT CAME DOWN TO ONE AREA WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY BUILD THIS AND THAT AREA WAS BETWEEN THE POST OFFICE AND THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION.
WE HAD IT EVALUATED WITH A WETLANDS EVALUATION, AND THERE WAS NO WETLAND ON THAT PROPERTY, AND WE COULD BUILD A 40,000-SQUARE-FOOT COMMUNITY CENTER ON THAT PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE DOWN 300 TREES IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND WE LOOKED TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE OF HOW WE TRY TO ACT IN THIS TOWNSHIP AND PRESERVE OUR TREE COVER AND PRESERVE OUR WETLANDS AND WE SAID THIS IS NOT GOING TO FLY BECAUSE IT'S 300 TREES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE DOWN AND NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE PAD WOULD BE COVERED WITH THE BUILDING AND THE PARKING.
THEN WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT, WHAT IF WE WERE TO REUSE A BUILDING THAT WOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH AND CENTRALLY LOCATED, BECAUSE ONE OF OUR CRITERIA WAS, RATHER THAN HAVING A SENIOR CENTER IN THE MIDDLE OF OKEMOS, WE WANTED TO SERVE BOTH HASLETT AND OKEMOS EQUALLY AND MAKE IT EQUAL DISTANT IF WE COULD SO WE LOOKED TO OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AND LOOKED AT SITES THAT MIGHT HAVE A FOOTPRINT LARGE ENOUGH TO DO A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
THERE WERE NONE, EXCEPT YOUNKERS AND YOUNKERS INITIALLY WE THOUGHT IT'S SO BIG,
[03:55:06]
BUT WE COULD GET IT FOR A DECENT PRICE, IT IS A STANDALONE BUILDING, IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE MALL IT HAS ITS OWN HVAC, LIGHTING ROOFING SYSTEM, WE COULD CREATE SEPARATE ENTRANCES.THE PARCEL WAS OFFERED TO THE TOWNSHIP WITH 190 PARKING SPACES, WHICH IS PART OF THAT FOOTPRINT.
IT WAS ON A BUS LINE SO IT CHECKED A LOT OF BOXES, AND WE STARTED TALKING TO THE FOLKS OVER AT THE MALL.
IT'S NOT ONLY CBE, I BELIEVE, IS THE NAME, TIM?
>> CBL, WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE MALL ITSELF, BUT IT'S THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT UNDERLAYS IT, WHO OWNS THE LAND.
AND WE CAME TO A PRICE THAT WAS FEASIBLE TO REPURPOSE THE BUILDING.
WE ENGAGED A COMPANY CALLED NOW PROGRESSIVE WAS PROGRESSIVE AE, BUT THEY CHANGED THE NAME TO PROGRESSIVE.
PRINCIPLES IN THAT FIRM INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION, MARKETING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY WERE PART OF AN RFP PROCESS.
WE LOOKED AT NINE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY BRING IN TO PARTNER WITH US TO HELP US UNDERSTAND USAGE AND DESIGN.
WE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED FIVE COMPANIES AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT PROGRESSIVE AE WAS THE BEST FIT FOR OUR GROUP AND THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2024.
THEY'VE OFFERED THE EXPERT ADVICE THAT YOU SEE OUT IN THE HALLWAY, THE DESIGN OF THE PROPERTY BASED ON THE NEEDS THAT WE SAW THAT WOULD MEET AGAIN, WHO MULTIGENERATIONAL AGES AND THEY CAME UP WITH A DESIGN WITH A DRAWING THAT WAS REFINED AND REFINED AND REFINED, HOW MUCH LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE IN THE BUILDING, WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURE WE WOULD NEED AND STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS IF WE WERE TO BUILD A REGULATION-SIZE GYM, YOUTH AREA, DEDICATED SENIOR AREA, AND AUDITORIUM, WARMING KITCHEN, AND, OF COURSE, THIS VERY LARGE GYM THAT COULD BE USED FOR VOLLEYBALL, PICKLEBALL, BADMINTON, AND BASKETBALL.
WHAT WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WAS A BUILDING THAT COULD HAVE FULL UTILITY FOR ALL THE HOURS THAT IT WOULD BE OPEN AND REALIZING THAT OUR SENIORS DID WANT A DEDICATED SPACE THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD GET INTO AND USE WHERE THEY COULD STORE THEIR MATERIALS AND HAVE THEIR TABLE TENNIS
>> WHATEVER. TABLE TENNIS TABLES AND ALSO THEIR BILLIARDS TABLES, AND THOSE WOULD BE TRANSPORTED THEY'RE TWO OF EACH FROM THE CURRENT SENIOR CENTER OVER TO THE CENTER, AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE AREA DEDICATED TO SENIORS.
DURING THE DAY, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED FOR THE USE OF SENIORS, AND THEY WOULD HAVE FIRST DIBS TO THOSE ROOMS AND THERE ARE MEETING ROOMS THAT IMMEDIATELY ARE ADJACENT TO THE SENIOR CENTER ITSELF.
THE ACCESS TO THE SENIOR CENTER WOULD BE CONTROLLED WITH A FOB SYSTEM AS WOULD BE THE WHOLE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE ENTRANCE TO THE MALL, BECAUSE SECURITY IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.
WE WOULD ALSO HAVE THE OFFICES FOR STAFF, PART OF THE STAFF, BUT A GOOD PORTION OF THE STAFF FROM PARKS AND RECREATION AND ALSO A SENIOR COORDINATOR TO BE IN THE BUILDING DURING THE DAY.
WE HAVE LOCATED THOSE OFFICES SO THAT THERE'S DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT INTO THE DEDICATED SENIOR CENTER.
WE ALSO OFFERED TWO ROOMS AND IF YOU GO LOOK AT THE DRAWING, YOU'LL SEE THESE, AND IT'S RIGHT OUT IN THE HALLWAY, AN EXERCISE AREA WHERE THEY COULD DO WHATEVER PARTICULAR EXERCISE TAI CHI OR WHATEVER IN THAT ROOM, AND ALSO A ROOM THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO A CIRCUIT TYPE EXERCISE ROUTINE, WHERE YOU COULD GO FROM MACHINE TO MACHINE BUT THE KEY TO THAT BEING THAT WE'RE NOT IN COMPETITION, WITH PLANET FITNESS AND HEAVY WORKOUTS THIS WOULD BE DESIGNED FOR SENIORS AND LOWER-ABILITY FOLKS.
[04:00:03]
THE CENTER ITSELF WOULD BE 100% HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE AND WOULD HAVE WHATEVER AMENITIES ARE NEEDED.WE TALKED TO THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIMITED ABILITIES, WOULD NEED IN A CENTER AND HOW THINGS LIKE A BLACK RUG WILL STOP AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT FROM WALKING ACROSS IT.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DETERMINE WHAT BEST WE SHOULD HAVE IN THIS CENTER.
THEN AS PART OF THIS, WE ALSO LOOKED TO FUNDING.
WE KNEW WE HAD FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IN A GRANT FORM.
WE KNEW THAT THE TOWNSHIP WANTED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT.
WE KNEW THAT WE HAD GONE OUT FOR A FEDERAL GRANT THAT WILL BE DECIDED IN DECEMBER, AND WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THE VALUE OF THAT IS GOING TO BE, BUT WE WILL HEAR IN DECEMBER BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANTED TO MOVE AHEAD.
WE ARE LOOKING AT PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO LARGE DONORS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN NAMING RIGHTS TO ROOMS OR TO THE BUILDING ITSELF BECAUSE THAT COULD BRING IN ADDITIONAL MONIES AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS CRAFTED AS A BALLOT PROPOSAL UP TO BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON FINDING THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO FUND THIS FACILITY.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR NOW? WE WOULD BUILD OUT THE FIRST FLOOR, WHICH IS 42,000 SQUARE FEET.
WE COULD DO EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE FIRST FLOOR BUT THERE IS ACCESS TO THE UPSTAIRS.
A PORTION OF THE UPSTAIRS, ABOUT 60% WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED, WHICH REQUIRES SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE BASKETBALL COURT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE 35 LINEAR FEET TO HAVE THE TWO REGULATION-SIZED BASKETBALL COURTS BUT THAT LEAVES US SUBSTANTIAL ROOM 24,000 SQUARE FEET THAT IS ACCESSIBLE VIA ELEVATORS AND STAIRWAYS TO GO UPSTAIRS AND THIS IS BUILDING FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
AS OUR COMMUNITY GROWS, AS INTEREST IN THE CENTER GROWS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
ONE OF THE BIG THRUST FOR ADULTS IS HAVING GATHERING SPACE.
WE BECAME SO ISOLATED IN COVID, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE VERY ISOLATED IN THEIR HOMES AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO HAVE GATHERING SPACE FOR PEOPLE, TO HAVE A MEAL, HAVE A MEETING, HAVE A CONFERENCE.
WE HAVE A VERY LARGE AUDITORIUM WITH A RAISED STAGE IN IT THAT WE CAN USE FOR MEALS ON WHEELS ON A PERIODIC BASIS BECAUSE IT WILL SIT 120 PEOPLE AT TABLES AND CHAIRS BUT WE CAN ALSO TAKE THOSE TABLES OUT AND ARRANGE UP TO 190 SEATS TO HAVE A LECTURE OR A FILM OR WHATEVER ELSE THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THERE.
>> POINT OF ORDER. IT IS 10 O'CLOCK OR 10:20.
YOU'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE FLOOR TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO DISCUSS THIS.
WE'VE ALL HEARD THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE.
>> OUR PUBLIC HAS NOT HEARD IT, AND I JUST WANT TO BRING FORWARD THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKED TO TELL YOU THE PROCESS.
>> YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING THAT PROCESS.
I THINK THAT WAS INFORMATIVE BOTH TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND ALSO HOPEFULLY TO TRUSTEE SUNDLAND, WHO HAD ASKED THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.
THANK YOU BOTH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU. MANY OF US TO THE BOARD HAVE HAD SOME TIME TO MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH STAFF TO DISCUSS THIS PROPOSAL AND SPECIFICS THAT WE DON'T HAVE FOR THE PUBLIC TONIGHT AND HERE'S WHAT I'VE GATHERED.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH BACKED UP BY THE MEMO HERE.
THE INITIAL COST FOR THIS WOULD START AT ABOUT $78.4 MILLION WITH CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, INTEREST IN BONDING COSTS FOR THOSE 20 YEARS AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE 6.5 MILLION OF OUR $11 MILLION IN OUR RESERVE FUNDS THAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD FOR TO BE EMPTY.
THAT WOULD LEAVE US WITH 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN A RESERVE FUND WHICH IS PROBABLY BELOW THE NUMBERS WE HAD SET EARLIER.
I HAVEN'T CHECKED IT, BUT IT'S DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THAT.
I'VE SERVED ON THE SENIOR TASK FORCE COMMITTEE
[04:05:02]
AND THIS PROPOSAL DID NOT COME FROM THE SENIOR TASK FORCE COMMITTEE, WHICH FORMER TRUSTEE SCALES ASKED ABOUT, THAT TASK FORCE HAS NOT MET IN NEARLY TWO MONTHS.THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK NONE WHATSOEVER.
IT HASN'T MET, SO WE COULDN'T RECOMMEND IT.
I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS MILLAGE FOR A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THESE FIVE REASONS.
TWO, IT LACKS STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THREE, IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO USE A LARGE PORTION OF RESERVE FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT.
FOUR, WE DON'T HAVE HAD ANY CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND THE COST THAT WE'RE TAKEN ON BY ACQUIRING THIS VERY LARGE PROPERTY THAT WILL BE OURS IN PERPETUITY.
FIFTH I THINK THIS WHOLE PROJECT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED.
IN SHORT, THIS IS THE WRONG TIME FOR A TAX INCREASE OF ANY KIND.
IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN TAXES ON AVERAGE 32% SINCE 2018.
IN TWO MILLAGES WE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.
THE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE, 1.4 MILLS, AND THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT MILLAGE, 1.9 MILLS.
39 28 SEN WIN IS AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.
YOU CAN LOOK IT UP ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU LIKE WITH A TAXABLE VALUE OF $130,600, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR TAXABLE VALUES.
IN 2016, THEIR TAXES WERE 5168.
WITH THE NEW MILLAGE, THERE'LL BE OVER $7,000. THINK ABOUT THIS.
THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IN RODON TOWNSHIP IS PAYING NEARLY $2,000 MORE THAN THEY WERE PAYING EIGHT YEARS AGO, $2,000.
THAT IS A LOT OF ADDITIONAL TAXES.
WE'VE RAISED BY 3.5 MILLS IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
THIS WOULD PUT IT CLOSE TO FIVE MILLS THAT WE WERE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO PAY.
POLICE AND FIRE MILEAGE WAS A REAL NEED.
WE NEEDED MORE OFFICERS, WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THAT FIRE TRUCK.
OUR ROADS WERE FALLING APART. THEY'RE BEING FIXED NOW.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT IT'S NOT A NEED.
WE NEED TO REPLACE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THAT'S I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT A NEW PROPOSAL.
TRUSTEE SOUTHERN POINTED OUT A SMALLER PROPOSAL FOR A NEW SENIOR CENTER BUT WE DON'T NEED A LARGE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE MAY WANT IT, BUT WE DON'T NEED IT.
SO FAR, THIS LACKS STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
NO PRIVATE MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED.
THE IDEA HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2023 SO 18 MONTHS, NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD AND SAID, I WANT TO HAVE MY NAME ON THAT BUILDING.
WE REALLY NEED THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
PORTAGE HAS BUILT ONE FOR $12 MILLION, AND THEY RAISED THREE OR FOUR MILLION DOLLARS MILLION FOR THEIRS WITH NAMING RIGHTS.
NO CITIZEN OR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS HAVE COME FORWARD AND SAID, YOU REALLY GOT TO DO A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE GROUP WE'VE HEARD FROM HAVE BEEN THE SENIORS WHO SAID, WE DON'T THINK THIS CONVERSION FROM OUR SENIOR CENTER TO THIS SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IS GOING TO GO WELL.
WE DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE IT.
BUT NO OTHER GROUP HAS COME FORWARD AND SAID YEAH, ABOUT TIME WE GOT A COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE ISN'T A INTEREST GROUP THAT'S PUSHING FOR THIS BESIDES TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND THE STAFF.
NEXT, THE BOARD IS RUSHING TO ACT ON THIS MILLAGE PROPOSAL, WITH VIRTUALLY NO PUBLIC INPUT ON COST.
OUR DELIBERATIONS ON THE COST OF THIS CENTER HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED IN ORDER TO GET THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
I BENDED THE THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN TWO OF THE CHARETTE MEETINGS, AND I GOT ASKED AGAIN, AND AGAIN, WHAT'S THIS GOING TO COST AND THE ANSWER WAS, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE COST IS.
ONLY THIS WEEK HAVE WE ANNOUNCED THE MILLAGE AMOUNT AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO FUND IT.
THE COMMUNITY HASN'T HAD ANY CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THESE COSTS.
DOES THE COMMUNITY WANT TO TAKE ON MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR COST FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER? THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE UNTIL YOU KNOW, 10 O'CLOCK ON THIS MEETING.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD REQUIRE US TO SPEND $6.5 MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR $11 MILLION ON RESERVE FUNDS TO PAY THE $25 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT IT.
NOW WE HAVE OTHER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES COMING UP, WHERE WE DON'T KNOW THE COST OF.
THE NEW DORMITORY FOR THE FIRE STATION.
WE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE AN ELEMENT OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS GOT TO BE REPLACED.
THAT COULD BE A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT THERE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT LITIGATION IS GOING TO TURN OUT YET, WE'RE USING OUR RESERVE FUNDS SO THAT IF WE NEED MORE, THERE WON'T BE MORE TO GET BECAUSE A CERTAIN BASELINE OF RESERVE FUND,
[04:10:03]
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AND TAKING MORE THAN HALF OF IT FOR THIS COMMUNITY CENTER IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.THIS COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE 85,000 SQUARE FEET, THAT THE TOWNSHIP WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN MAYBE FOREVER.
CURRENTLY, ALL TOWNSHIP PROPERTIES ARE 50,000 SQUARE FEET SO WE'RE TAKING ON 170% MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN, WE'VE GOT A HEAT, WE'VE GOT TO COOL, WE'VE GOT TO ENSURE, WE'VE GOT TO DO THE IF ONE, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE FIRE SUPPRESSION IS THERE, WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE SAFETY ON.
IT'S OURS. IT COMES OFF THE TAX ROLL, SO WE'RE NOT GETTING TAXES FOR, AND NOW IT BECOMES OUR EXPENSE.
LASTLY, I FEAR THIS DESIGN IS FLAWED.
I'LL SAY I LIKED IT INITIALLY.
THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE, WE'RE NOT GETTING MUCH FOR THIS MONEY.
THE SENIORS UPSET BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEWER DEDICATED SQUARE FOOTAGE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THEY GOT CLOSE TO 10,000 IF YOU USE THE SHARED SPACE BUT THAT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WILL IT WORK IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT 200 MEMBERS NOW AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
IF WE HAD 1,000 MEMBERS, 500 MEMBERS.
OBSOLETE THE DAY WE OPENED UP.
WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR 500 SENIORS IN THAT FACILITY.
WE PROBABLY HAVE ROOM FOR OUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP.
WE'RE ALREADY AT THE CEILING FOR WHAT CARRYING CAPACITY AND AS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER, IT'S NOT QUITE THERE YET.
WE HAVE A BIG GYM WITH PICKLEBALL COURTS AND BASKETBALL COURT.
THAT'S GOOD. WE HAVE SOME MEETING SPACE. THAT'S GOOD.
YOUTH ROOM IS JUST AN EMPTY SHELL NOTHING MORE RIGHT NOW.
COMMUNITY CENTER, I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, THEIR MEETING ROOMS AND A BIG GYM, AND THIS LEADS TO THIS FEAR OF BECOMING A MONEY PIT.
THIS CENTER DOESN'T INCLUDE A BACKUP GENERATOR, THIS PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE SOLAR PANELS, DOESN'T REALLY INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE VOTING PLACE AND THERE'S REALLY NO DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECOND STORY PLAN.
FUTURE BOARDS ARE GOING TO WANT TO SOLARIZE IT.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO SOLARIZE ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES BY 2030.
THAT ONE'S GOING TO BE POLARIZED.
DEBRA'S TALKING ABOUT NEEDING IT FOR A VOTING CENTER.
WE WANT TO USE IT AS A HEATING CENTER.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A BACKUP GENERATED TO ALLOW FOR A POWER OUTAGE.
WHAT WILL BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN YEARS TO COME TO MAKE THIS CENTER WHAT WE HOPED IT WILL BE AND BY TAKING THIS STEP, WE'RE LEADING FUTURE BOARDS SO THEY'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS.
THIS PROJECT COULD EASILY COST 85-$90,000,000 BY THE TIME THESE ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE ADDED IN.
MY FEAR IS BY PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING IT AND WE ALL KNOW, AND TIM, THE SURVEY RESULTS YOU SHOWED US, TOWNSHIP BERTHONS ARE VERY GOOD AT PASSING A REFERENDUM, ESPECIALLY THAT HAS A SEXY NAME LIKE COMMUNITY CENTER, SENIOR CENTER THEN THEY'LL COME IN THE NEXT YEAR AND GIVE ME AN EARFUL ABOUT THEIR TAXES GOING UP AGAIN.
THEY DON'T REALLY CONNECT THE TWO VERY WELL.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS TO CITIZENS BY PUTTING IT IN THE BALLOT.
THE IDEA THAT WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM CHOOSE.
NO, THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO PUT PROPOSALS LIKE POLICE AND FIRE MILLAGE, LIKE THE ROAD MILLAGE AND I THINK TO PUT IT ON THERE IS TO SAY, WE ALL THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND I THINK IT'S A DESIGN THAT HAS TO BE WORKED AND POSSIBLY GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO DO ON A SENIOR-ONLY CENTER TO BEGIN WITH.
SHOULD THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT BUILD FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER? WE COULD BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT NEXT TO IT, BEHIND IT, WHATSOEVER.
OUR TASK NOW IS TO REPLACE THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITHOUT TRAINING IN OUR TOWNSHIP RESERVE FUNDS, AND HOPEFULLY WITH NO DEBT AT ALL AND WITH THE FIVE MILLION FROM THE STATE AND ONE MILLION FROM SLOTKIN, AND MAYBE A COUPLE MILLION FROM OUR RESERVE FUNDS WE COULD BUILD A DECENT SIZED SENIOR CENTER WITH NO NEW DEBT AND FOR STAFFING, USE THE EXISTING STAFFING AND PARTNER UP WITH OKEMA SCHOOLS.
THEY PUT A SENIOR CENTER ON THE BALLOT.
LET THEM PONY UP NOW. WHERE'S YOUR STAFF? YOU'RE ADVERTISING YOUR MILLAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A SENIOR CENTER.
THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT MIGHT BE VERY INTERESTED IN PUTTING RESOURCES TO IT.
WE SHOULDN'T TAKE THIS WHOLE THING ON OURSELF.
IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT FUTURE BOARDS FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
THIS IS A HUGE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK A VERY LIMITED RETURN FOR THIS HUGE FINANCIAL RISK.
>> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO TALK TO A COUPLE OF THOSE.
>> BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY CONCERNS THAT SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AS WELL.
[04:15:01]
>> EAST LANSING HAS A COMMUNITY CENTER.
PRETTY NICE ONE. WILLIAMSTON HAS A COMMUNITY CENTER.
DEL HIGH TOWNSHIP HAS A COMMUNITY CENTER AND A SENIOR CENTER.
LANSING HAS FOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
BATH TOWNSHIP HAS A COMMUNITY CENTER AND A SENIOR CENTER.
WE ARE THE ONLY COMMUNITY FOR 10 MILES THAT DOESN'T.
IT'S REMARKABLE. THIS QUESTION IS COMING UP OUT OF NECESSITY BECAUSE OUR SENIOR CENTER WILL CEASE TO EXIST IN A MATTER OF YEARS, BE IT THREE OR FOUR.
IT WILL CEASE TO EXIST IF THIS BOARD DOES NOTHING.
WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF OUR SENIORS WHO ARE OUT THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THAT WHILE I MAY DISAGREE WITH THEM ABOUT A NUMBER OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, ONE THING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH IS THAT WE CANNOT SIMPLY DO NOTHING AND LET THE SENIOR CENTER CEASE TO EXIST.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY, AND A COMMUNITY CENTER WOULD BE A NEW ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY.
YOU TALKED ABOUT GROWTH AS ONE OF YOUR RATIONALES FOR WHY YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.
THE SENIOR CENTER HAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MEMBERS, AND I HOPE, AS I THINK MOST OF US DO, THAT WE SEE THAT USAGE INCREASE AND DO SO QUICKLY.
CERTAINLY, BY PUTTING IT CENTRAL TO THE TOWNSHIP, WE OPEN IT UP TO AN ENTIRE POPULATION OF AZAR RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT WISH TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE GROWTH EXPANSION.
THAT'S PART OF THE VIRTUE OF HAVING A FACILITY OF THIS SIZE.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER THIS WAS POPULAR.
POLLING SHOWS THAT TWO MILLAGES THAT WERE TESTED BY AN INDEPENDENT FIRM ARE 63% POPULAR.
WE HAD THAT INFORMATION SHARED WITH US IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING, 63% OF OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY POPULAR.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COST ANALYSIS OF IT AND THE USE OF OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.
HALF OF WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS SET ASIDE FOR PROJECTS JUST LIKE THIS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
THE $6 MILLION NUMBER THAT WAS QUOTED THIS EVENING IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, ASSUMING THAT WE GET ZERO DOLLARS FROM PHILANTHROPIC DONORS.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE EXPECT THAT WE WILL GET MONEY FROM PHILANTHROPIC DONORS, BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATE DONORS AS NAMING RIGHTS WILL GO QUICKLY FOR THESE ROOMS. JUST TALKED ABOUT TAXES.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED THE HOUSE ON SUNWIND AT 160, 130 SOMETHING?
>> A HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE THOUSAND.
>> A HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE THOUSAND.
>> I BOUGHT MY HOME IN DECEMBER OF 2015, AND MY TAXABLE VALUE WAS 135.
I'M YOUR AVERAGE VOTER WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY VALUES.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT IN THE TIME THAT MY TAXES WENT FROM 5,000 TO POSSIBLY 7,000, MY HOME VALUE ALSO DOUBLED IN PRICE DUE TO THANKS TO A RECENT ASSESSMENT THAT I JUST GOT FROM MY REALTOR.
IT'S NOT THAT THESE THINGS HAPPENED IN A VACUUM.
YES, THE TAXES ARE INCREASING, BUT THE HOME VALUES ARE ALSO INCREASING.
YOU SAID IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS? WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLLING NUMBERS, BUT WHAT I DIDN'T MENTION WAS THAT IN 2021, WE SURVEYED OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR TRIANNUAL SURVEY ASKING ABOUT WHAT IT IS THIS COMMUNITY WANTS.
WE DEDICATED COMMUNITY CENTER WAS AMONG THE TOP THREE RESPONSES.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT AS RECENTLY AS THREE YEARS AGO, THIS COMMUNITY DID EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN HAVING A COMMUNITY CENTER HERE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO CONSIDER.
IT'S A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS THAT WE CAN SEE.
[04:20:01]
AS I SAID BEFORE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT AND GATHERING THE PUBLIC'S OPINION ON THIS PROPOSAL.THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR DECISION REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SAY AT THIS TABLE.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
LIKE I SAID, I'LL BE OUT STUMPING FOR IT.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO STUMPING AGAINST IT, IF YOU LIKE, AS WELL.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US, ONE THAT WE CAN PUT IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS, AND THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT THIS EVENING.
>> THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS I DO AGREE THAT SENIOR CENTER IS AN ASSET THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN SOMETHING THAT, YOU NAMED ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A SENIOR CENTER.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS FEASIBLE AND WHAT'S DOABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR US.
FIRST THING I THINK ABOUT IS THE OLD ROLLING STONES SONG, TIME IS ON MY SIDE.
THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THE CURRENT SENIOR CENTER, IT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WE HAVE THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUSH IS HURRY UP.
I GET IT, WE WANT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT, BUT WE HAVE FOUR YEARS AND WE CAN ALWAYS DO ANOTHER ELECTION, PUT IT ON THE BALLOT ONCE WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A FACILITY THAT'S AFFORDABLE.
I'M AFRAID THIS ACTION ITEM LACKS TRANSPARENCY AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE DURING THE LISTENING SESSIONS IN JUNE AND JULY, RESIDENTS, THEY LOVE THE PICTURES AND HEARING ABOUT IT, TRUSTEE WILSON, WHEN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THOSE LISTENING SESSIONS.
BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, AND I SAID IT BEFORE, I'M SAYING AGAIN, THAT THEY ASKED IS, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER AT THAT TIME.
DURING THE DESIGN REVEALS, I WENT TO ONE AT THE PAVILION, RESIDENTS ASKED ME HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
NONE OF US HAD ANSWERS AT THAT TIME, BUT NOW IT'S LIKE A MONTH LATER OR A FEW WEEKS LATER, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, NOW WE HAVE AN ANSWER AND THE $78 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.
THEN A COUPLE OF TWO MEETINGS AGO, WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A QUESTION.
SOME TRUSTEES DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A QUESTION ABOUT THE MILLAGE ON THE SURVEY.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO ASK IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT A SURVEY.
NOW WE'RE SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE A MILLAGE, AND WE WANT TO PUT THAT ON A PROPOSAL.
THAT SEEMS A BIT DISINGENUOUS TO ME WHEN SOME TRUSTEES ORIGINALLY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO ASK ABOUT A MILLAGE.
NOW WE'RE PROPOSED WITH, SHOULD WE PUT A MILEAGE ON A BUDGET PROPOSAL OR AN AUDIT BALLOT PROPOSAL.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEING RUSHED AND NOW THAT THERE'S THIS BIG HEFTY PRICE.
JUST IN MY EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, WE INTRODUCE A SUBJECT AT INITIAL MEETING, AND THEN REMOVE THAT SUBJECT WITH ACTION AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE GOOD INPUT AND SOME RESIDENTS CAN HAVE SOME BUY IN, AND THEY CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE ASKING AND THEY CAN DO SOME THOUGHT.
I KNOW WE HAD LISTENING SESSIONS AND EVERYTHING, BUT THERE'S FOLKS WHO SPOKE TODAY THAT'S PART OF THE SENIOR COMMUNITY AND PART OF THE SENIOR CENTER THAT'S SAY, YEAH, WE WANT A SENIOR CENTER, BUT NOT THIS TYPE OF SENIOR CENTER.
YES, IT WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET, BUT AT 85,000 SQUARE FEET AND AT $78 MILLION, IF WE GO THROUGH THIS AND IF IT'S VOTED, IF IT'S PUT ON THE BALLOT AND THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR IT, AND IT GOES AND IT PASSES, OUR CAP CAPACITY IS GOING TO BE JUST ABOUT CAPPED OUT.
THERE'S THAT. WE HAVE STAFF POSITIONS THAT WE STILL NEED TO FILL, WE HAVE INFLATION THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, WE HAVE MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AND PHIL ALREADY LAID THAT OUT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THOSE THINGS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER.
[04:25:01]
EVEN OUR INTERIM MANAGER SAID THAT IT CAN BE DONE, WE CAN DO IT, YOU PICKED UP ON THE INFLATION.TO ME, I INTERPRET THAT, WE COULD DO IT IS GOING TO BE HARD AND I DON'T WANT OUR TOWNSHIP TO BE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET, TRYING TO ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL, NO OFFENSE.[LAUGHTER] THAT'S NOT.
WE WANT TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
I THINK A $78 MILLION SENIOR CENTER IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
YES, WE WANT A SENIOR CENTER AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT, BUT NOT AT $78 MILLION, ESPECIALLY AT IN A BUILDING RIGHT IN THE MALL, WHERE IT'S JUST SO ROBUST.
I'LL END WITH THIS, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO PUT THIS PROPOSAL ON A BALLOT, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT RESIDENTS, THEY RELY ON US BECAUSE WE REPRESENT THEM, TO GIVE THEM A RESPONSIBLE PROPOSAL.
IF YOU PUT THIS ON A BALLOT, CHANCES ARE IT'LL PASS BECAUSE THEY TRUST OUR THOUGHT PROCESS, THEY TRUST OUR DECISIONS, THEY TRUST WHAT WE TELL THEM BECAUSE THEY VOTED US HERE.
IF WE PUT THAT ON THERE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
OH, THIS MUST BE SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOOD.
THEN THE STICKER PRICE OR THE STICKER SHOCK AND IS COMING IN LATER THE NEXT YEAR.
WAIT A SECOND, WHY IS IT $78 MILLION? WHAT DID OUR BOARD DO? TO ME, IT JUST SEEMS DISINGENUOUS.
SO WHEN WE VOTE FOR THIS, I WILL BE VOTING NO BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS. THAT'S THE END.
>> ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. QUICK BETH.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
WELL, I LOVE THE IDEA OF A SENIOR CENTER AND A COMMUNITY CENTER.
I LOVE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND THE TASK FORCE.
I'VE WANTED A COMMUNITY CENTER AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR THE LONGEST TIME.
WHEN I WAS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
I USED TO WALK DOWN TO FRANK'S OFFICE AND SAY, WE DON'T LOOK LIKE A COMMUNITY CENTER.
EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ONE, WE DON'T HAVE ONE, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY.
I DO WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER, I DO WANT A SENIOR CENTER, I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S DISPUTING THAT FOR CERTAIN.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT ANYTHING THAT OTHER TRUSTEES HAVE SAID AND BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID.
BUT I HAVE DEEPER CONCERNS ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP AND WHERE WE'RE AT A AS A TOWNSHIP AND A SENIOR CENTER/COMMUNITY CENTER TAKING AWAY THE FOCUS FROM A FOUNDATION THAT I THINK THAT WE STILL NEED TO BUILD.
WE JUST HAD THIS CULTURE ISSUE INTERNALLY IN THE TOWNSHIP.
I THINK MAYBE TREASURER DESCHAINE AND I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE SLIGHTLY.
I'M SURE YOU HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME.
BUT I HEAR IT FROM MY OFFICE A CONSTANT COMPLAINT AT THE FRONT COUNTER ABOUT TAXES.
I HEAR IT AT MY OFFICE, TAXES.
PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AND UPSET AND COMING IN AND THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT TAXES AND I'M NOT EVEN IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
BUT I CAN HEAR IT AND I HEAR STAFF TRYING TO DE-ESCALATE ON A REGULAR BASIS ON THE PHONE, AT THE COUNTER TRYING TO MAKE, I DIDN'T MAKE THE TAXES, I DIDN'T DO THE UTILITY BILLING, I DON'T SET THE RATES, I'M JUST COLLECTING.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN MORE THAT WAY THIS YEAR THAN MAYBE IT'S THE ASSESSMENT THAT WAS HAD ON EVERYONE THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
[04:30:05]
I DO HAVE A CONCERN FOR STAFF AND I DO HAVE A CONCERN FOR THE BOARD AND FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TOWNSHIP.>> I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A BOARD, AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GET OUR BOARD IN PLACE AND MANAGER IN PLACE AND HEAR FROM STAFF DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS OF WHAT NEEDS THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY STRETCH STAFF TIME.
I KNOW THAT THEIR TIME IS STRETCHED ALREADY.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HOW MUCH MORE TIME IS THIS GOING TO STRETCH FOR STAFF IN THIS ON TOP OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR TRUSTEE AND OUR TREASURER.
I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE VOTERS.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR LIKE 40-PLUS YEARS.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT VOTERS SAY NO TO EXCEPT THE LIBRARY.
OTHER THAN THAT, VOTERS PRETTY MUCH IN THIS TOWNSHIP ARE LIKE, YES, WE WANT THESE MILLAGES.
WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK VOTERS, DO YOU WANT TO GET SOME MILLAGE? THEY WILL BE LIKE, YEAH, WE WANT THAT.
I GOT TO TELL MYSELF, NO, MY PERSONAL LIFE ALL THE TIME.
I CAN'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE CASE FOR THIS, OR MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO JUMP INTO IT.
I THINK THOSE MONIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US, WE CAN ASK THE QUESTION NEXT YEAR.
I'M SURE IF DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER WERE IN HERE, HE COULD GIVE US SOME COST ESTIMATES AS TO HOW MUCH MORE COSTLY IT WOULD BE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT OUR ROADS, AND WE'VE HAD TO PUT A FEW MORE MILLION INTO OUR ROADS TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH ROADS BECAUSE THE ROAD MILEAGE ISN'T EVEN KEEPING UP.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE FISCAL CONCERNS THAT OUR TREASURER DISCUSSED.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE VOTING NO AS WELL TO PUT THIS ON IN NOVEMBER.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T WANT TO ASK IT IN THE FUTURE, I AM HIGHLY INTERESTED IN BRINGING THIS TO THE COMMUNITY, I JUST DON'T FEEL IT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME AT THE MOMENT.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DESIGN THAT'S PROPOSED, I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE COSTS THAT RESULT.
I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROCEDURE.
I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO PUT IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOTS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE'D HAD THIS NUMBER THREE WEEKS AGO DURING THE [INAUDIBLE], AND PEOPLE SAID, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? WELL, OVER 20 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO COST $70 MILLION TO RUN IN THIS OPERATION, 25 MILLION TO BUY IT AND REMODEL IT.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING.
WE WEREN'T AWARE THAT THEY WORK THIS LATE.
WE WILL NOT HAVE MOSQUITOES WHEN WE WALK OUTSIDE.
>> WELL, YOU GET RID OF THE WASPS TOO.
>> NEXT, WE'LL WORK ON BEES AND WASPS.
>> YES. WASP, THE TRIED TO GET MARNA EARLIER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IF WE'D SAID TO OUR PUBLIC AT THESE MEETINGS THAT, WELL, IT'S ONLY $25 MILLION TO BUILD IT AND REMODEL IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST $78 MILLION TO RUN FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
>> THAT'S TOTAL. YEAH, SO $50,000,000 FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, I'M NOT SURE THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME ON ANY SURVEY.
IT FEELS WRONG TO ME AT THIS POINT TO PRESENT THIS SUMMARY TO THE BOARD TO APPROVE A MILLAGE WITH NO FINANCIAL NUMBERS BACKING IT THAT THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN.
WE'VE SEEN THEM BECAUSE WE GOT A BRIEFING THIS WEEK, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS WEEK, LIKE YESTERDAY, THAT WE SAW THE NUMBERS AND WE'RE LEFT WITH 24 HOURS TO CONTEMPLATE.
I, AT THIS POINT, CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS MILLAGE TONIGHT.
I'M NOT AVERSE TO PURSUING IT, IT'S JUST I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING
[04:35:03]
FORWARD ON THIS WITHOUT SOME PUBLIC INPUT AND KNOWLEDGE.>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH FROM THE DISCUSSION WE'VE BEEN HAVING THAT THE BOARD WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF PUTTING THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TABLE A RESOLUTION THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE, THERE'S SO MUCH LANGUAGE IN THIS THAT'S SPECIFIC TO NOVEMBER.
>> MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE CONTINUE FORWARD TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND THEN CONSIDER THE MOTION BEFORE US, AND IF THERE'S A QUORUM TO DENY IT, THEN WE DENY IT.
WELL, I'LL SAVE THE REST FOR MY COMMENT WHEN WE ACTUALLY VOTE.
I THINK PROCEDURALLY, WE SHOULD SUSPEND OUR RULES, TAKE UP THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM, AND ALLOW FOR A VOTE AS WE INTENDED IN OUR AGENDA, AND THEN WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE FALLOUT AFTER THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE THIS ACTION ITEM UP?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PROCEDURE AND TAKE THIS MOTION UP ON TONIGHT.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE, SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING OUR RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> I WOULD MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BALLOT PROPOSAL FOR A 20-YEAR COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER MILLAGE AND TO SUBMIT THE QUESTION TO THE VOTERS AND AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024.
>> MOVED BY TREZISE, SUPPORTED BY WILSON.
I WILL ADD THAT I SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD TOO.
HOWEVER, I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES, AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR REASONS WHY THEY HAVE TREPIDATION.
I THINK THIS PROPOSAL CAN AND SHOULD UNDERGO SOME NECESSARY REVISION AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO WAYS TO PROVIDE OUR SENIORS WITH A SENIOR CENTER, AND I BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE WITH A COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL IF WE GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT AND WE PRESENT A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PLAN TO OUR VOTERS THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
I WILL BE VOTING YES TO APPROVE THIS, THOUGH I KNOW THAT IT WILL NOT PASS [LAUGHTER] THIS RESOLUTION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF A SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER TO TAKE THIS TIME THAT WE ARE GIVING OURSELVES AND SEE IF WE CAN'T SHARPEN OUR PENCILS, EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS, AND SEE IF WE CAN DELIVER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS WE ALWAYS HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? CLERK GUTHRIE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BY THE WAY, I WILL RESTATE THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE BALLOT PROPOSAL FOR THE MILLAGE FOR THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER. CLERK GUTHRIE.
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR WEIGHING IN ON THIS.
THANK YOU TO OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE BEEN A VOCAL PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
CERTAINLY, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED, AND CERTAINLY, I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A PRODUCTIVE CONCLUSION AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS WHENEVER THAT MAY BE.
THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, ALSO, WHO I KNOW HAVE PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS TO PREPARE FOR THIS MEETING AND THE MONTHS OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS PROCESS AND TO OUR VENDOR PROGRESSIVE FOR ALSO HELPING TO SUPPORT THESE CONVERSATIONS.
CERTAINLY, IT'S MY HOPE THAT AS WE CONTINUE ON THAT WE CAN WORK FORWARD AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.
[12.C. Ordinance 2024-05 – Liquor License Regulations Update – Final Adoption]
AS WE SO OFTEN DO TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS NOW AGENDA ITEM 12C, I'M GOING TO STOP SAYING IT EVENTUALLY, LIQUOR LICENSE REGULATIONS UPDATE.WE HAVE, MAYBE, WHEREVER SHE IS, DIRECTOR CLARK HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO SO PATIENT AND GIVING UP YOUR ENTIRE EVENING.
[04:40:03]
>> I FEEL BAD FOR MY OTHER PEERS WE'RE GOING TO HANG OUT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT TOGETHER.
TONIGHT BEFORE US IS ORDINANCE 2024-05: LIQUOR LICENSE REGULATIONS UPDATE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON LOCAL LICENSE FOR A LITTLE MINUTE HERE.
WE HAD A FINAL IMPROVEMENTS TO LANGUAGE, CLARIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT, EXPENDED DEFINED TERMS RELATED TO LICENSEES AND PREMISES, OTHER ESSENTIAL DOTTING THE I'S AND CROSSING T'S FOR THE REST OF THE ORDINANCE.
TONIGHT, THE MOTIONS ARE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, AND IN THE ORDINANCE, THAT DOES ALSO ELIMINATE THE MORATORIUM BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE MORATORIUM ON LIQUOR LICENSE RIGHT NOW.
THEN THE SECOND MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FOR FEE SCHEDULE, SO THAT WILL GO INTO THE BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR CLARK ON THIS ITEM? TRUSTEE WILSON.
OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HAS REVIEWED THESE, AND DO THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THEM WAS RECEIVED.
>> WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS IN OUR PACKET SHOULD WE WISH TO CONSIDER THEM IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC.
BOARD MEMBERS. FOR THOSE FOLLOWING IN OUR PACKET, WE'RE ON PAGE 65.
>> I KNOW IT'S LATE. SOMEONE'S GOT TO MAKE A MOTION. TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-05 TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REGULATE THE ISSUANCE, TRANSFER, RENEWAL, AND REVOCATION OF LIQUOR LICENSES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE THE PROCESS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE IN GETTING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HELPING TO CRAFT A MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL ORDINANCE THAN WE HAD BEFORE, WHICH WAS BASICALLY NOTHING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO OUR ATTORNEYS FOR WORKING ON THIS.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS AN EFFORT TO MODERNIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE OUR TOWNSHIP CODE.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? SINCE THIS IS A NEW ORDINANCE, WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL. HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S MY BAD.
>> WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL THOUGHT, CLERK GUTHRIE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE CONFUSION, WE MIGHT AS WELL ERR ON THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD, CLERK.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS MOTION 1.
DO WE HAVE MOTION 2? TRUSTEE TREZISE.
>> THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE LIQUOR LICENSE FEE SCHEDULE.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE FEE SCHEDULE? I THINK THESE FEES ARE RELATIVELY REASONABLE ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
>> PREPARE, PLEASE FOR THE TIME FOR SURE.
>> THAT'S ALL FROM ME.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AS WELL.
SINCE THIS DOES INVOLVE MONEY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE CLERK GUTHRIE ONCE AGAIN CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU. WE GOT YOU OUT HERE IN APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES AFTER ALL THAT.
NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12D.
[12.D. Text Amendment #2024-04 – Local Prosecution of Marijuana Violations OrdinanceIntroduction]
I'M REALLY HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING TRACK OF THE LETTERS NOW.[LAUGHTER] WHICH IS THE TEXT AMENDMENT INTRODUCTION FOR LOCAL PROSECUTION IN MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS.
I SEE MR. [INAUDIBLE] DIDN'T WANT TO BRAVE THE MEETING TONIGHT.
>> I GAVE COLIN THE NIGHT OFF.
>> ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THE BOARD HAD NO MAJOR CONCERNS AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU GOT ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, THIS IS THE SAME ORDINANCE.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING YOU INTRODUCE IT THIS EVENING.
IT DOES REQUIRE A ROLL CALL VOTE I'M BEING TOLD BY MY ATTORNEY.
>> ALL RIGHT. BOARD, WE DID SEE THIS ONCE BEFORE AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND SO THIS IS OUR SECOND OF THREE STEPS TO INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE?
>> MANAGER, WOULD YOU SCROLL UP TO TAKE THE DISPLAY?
>> WE NEED YOU TO BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE, PLEASE.
[04:45:04]
PAGE 82. TREASURER DESCHAINE?>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION ORDINANCE 24-04, AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS.
>> MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE, SUPPORTED BY CLERK.
THE MOTION BEFORE US IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION ORDINANCE 2024-04, AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST JOINING US, WE DID DISCUSS THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THIS BASICALLY ALLOWS US TO CAPTURE THE FEES AND FINES RELATED TO THESE VIOLATIONS.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY COPYING AND PASTING STATE LAW INTO OUR OWN LOCAL ORDINANCE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
FOR THAT, WE'LL HAVE CLERK GUTHRIE CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 A,
[12.E. Ordinance 2024-07 – Rezone Two Parcels at 350 Haslett Road and the Adjacent Vacant Parcel from RR, Rural Residential, to RA, Single-Family Residential-Introduction]
B, C, D, E, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE 2024-07, REZONING TWO PARCELS AT 350 HASLETT ROAD AND THE ADJACENT VACANT PARCEL FROM RR, RURAL RESIDENTIAL, TO RA, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL FOR INTRODUCTION.ALSO FROM INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER TIM SCHMITT.
>> YES, SO THIS IS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING, THE FUTURE PHASES OF COPPER CREEK SUBDIVISION.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS.
THERE ARE NO PLANS YET, THERE'S NO DESIGN, NOTHING'S BEEN SUBMITTED.
THIS IS STEP 1. THIS WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING ZONINGS, CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
PLANNING COMMISSIONER BILL HELD A PUBLIC HEARING IN JUNE AND RECEIVED NO COMMENT AND RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TO THE BOARD.
THE BOARD REVIEWED THIS AT THE LAST MEETING IN JULY AND HAD SOME DISCUSSION, BUT WERE IN SUPPORT OF US BRINGING IT BACK FOR INTRODUCTION, SO THAT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF THIS EVENING.
STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE, AND YOU HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION OF SAID ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MANAGER SCHMITT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OR DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE?
>> I'M MOVING TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INDUCTION, ORDINANCE 2024-07, ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE TWO PARCELS AT 350 HASLETT ROAD, PARCEL ID NUMBER 33-02-02-12-400-003, AND THE ADJACENT VACANT PARCEL PRIME ID 33-02-02-12-200-015 FROM RURAL RR TO RURAL RESIDENTIAL, TO RA, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
>> MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
SIMPLY TO RESTATE, WE ARE MOVING TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING ORDINANCE 2024-07 FOR THE TWO PARCELS AT 350 HASLETT ROAD AND THE ADJACENT PARCEL WITH ALL THE DASHES IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
>> [LAUGHTER] FROM RR RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO RA SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION ON THIS.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT SINCE HE IS HERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] SORRY, I'VE GOT TO GIVE UP. [LAUGHTER]
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR STAYING.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE FIVE HOURS NOW.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT YOUR COPPER CREEK IS GOING VERY WELL, AND YOU'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO PHASES 3 AND 4.
>> YES, IT'S WENT EXTREMELY WELL, ESPECIALLY IN THE MARKET WE'RE IN.
I'M A LITTLE BEHIND ON GETTING THIS MOVING TO NOT RUN OUT OF LOTS AND HAVE A GAP HERE IN PROGRESS ON THAT.
>> IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR MIDDLE HOUSING? YOU BUILD A BEAUTIFUL HOME, BUT IT'S BEEN OUT OF THE REACH OF MOST YOUNGER FAMILIES.
>> YES, I HAVE A CONCEPT THAT I WANT TO INCORPORATE INTO THIS PARCEL WE'RE REZONING.
I WANT TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PRICE RANGES.
WE'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT WE THINK WE CAN GET INTO A REASONABLY AFFORDABLE BUT REALLY COOL PRODUCT. SINGLE FAMILY.
>> GREAT. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT WHEN YOU BRING IT FORWARD.
>> OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. THIS REZONING THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US HERE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MASTER PLAN AND THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
CERTAINLY, THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE KNOWN HAS BEEN COMING FOR A WHILE.
I PERSONALLY KNOW OF SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS AREA, SO VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK IT'LL BE A WONDERFUL WAY TO WELCOME SOME NEW FOLKS INTO THE TOWNSHIP.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS REZONED IN
[04:50:04]
ACCORDANCE WITH OUR MASTER PLAN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?>> CLERK GUTHRIE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK GUTHRIE VOTES YES. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12F,
[12.F. Selection of Firm for Township Manager Search]
THE SELECTION OF FIRM FOR TOWNSHIP MANAGER SEARCH.AT THIS POINT, I WILL MENTION THAT I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERNAL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER POSITION.
BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS DISCUSSION AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WHOEVER WE CHOOSE WILL EVENTUALLY END UP INTERVIEWING THOSE APPLICANTS, I WOULD ASK THAT THEY PROVIDE THE PROFESSIONAL COURTESY TO LEAVE THE ROOM SO THAT WE MAY DISCUSS THIS MATTER IN THEIR ABSENCE.
I'LL GIVE A MOMENT FOR THAT TO ALL OCCUR.
THEN AS WE PREPARE TO TAKE THIS ITEM UP, THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH OUR SCHEDULE THAT WE LAID OUT AND AGREED TO BACK IN MAY OR JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN A YEAR. IF WE ARE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD AGREED TO BACK IN JUNE, WE WOULD INDEED NEED TO SUSPEND OUR RULES TO TAKE ACTION ON THE SELECTION OF A SEARCH FIRM THIS EVENING.
WE ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO, WE MAY WAIT UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING TO SELECT IT.
HOWEVER, IF WE DO, WE WILL BE OFFICIALLY BEHIND SCHEDULE, THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
IF WE DO WISH TO TAKE ACTION ON IT THIS EVENING, IT'S AVAILABLE TO US IF WE SUSPEND OUR RULES, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE TO.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO OUR HR DIRECTOR ABBY TITHOF WHO'S BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY WITH US THIS EVENING.
>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU. HELLO, SUPERVISOR AND BOARD.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLED SOME INFORMATION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE PUT OUT THE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, AND WE RECEIVED SIX OF THEM IN RESPONSE.
IN THE HOPES OF CLARIFYING SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE TRYING TO [INAUDIBLE] DOWN, I CREATED A COMPARISON CHART, JUST A LITTLE OVERVIEW WITH ALL SIX OF THE PROPOSALS AND DRILLED DOWN INTO THE PARTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR JUST SO THAT YOU COULD SEE IT RIGHT AT A GLANCE.
I JUST PUT THEM IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT JUST GIVES THE OUTLINE OF THE HISTORIES OF THE FIRMS, THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, THE TIMELINES THAT THEY WOULD PROPOSE THAT THEY COULD COMMIT TO US TO DO THIS SEARCH, AND THEN REFERENCES FROM BUSINESSES OR MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THEY'VE DONE SEARCHES BEFORE AND PRIOR SEARCHES, OF WHICH SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE DONE NUMEROUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SEARCHES.
THEN THERE'S AN OUTLINE OF PROPOSED COSTS AND FEES.
SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER.
AS YOU NOTICED, UNDER CLOVITY AND THE 100K JOB HUNT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING IT DOWN INTO JUST HOURLY RATES OR MONTHLY RATES, AND THEN OTHERS HAD PROVIDED JUST A LUMP SUM FOR THE TOTAL PROCESS, AND THEN THEY ALL SEEMED TO HAVE OTHER ADD-ONS, SOME OF THEM OPTIONAL, SOME OF THEM STILL PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE SEARCH FIRM STAFF WHO WOULD BE PERFORMING THE WORK FROM EACH OF THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE DESIRE TONIGHT IS TO TAKE ACTION IF WE WANTED TO WALK THROUGH EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY OR HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TIME FRAME, OR IF WE NEED TO STAY RIGIDLY ON IT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO SOME DISCUSSING ON THAT TOPIC AND BE BACK WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.
[LAUGHTER] BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> ONE OF THE CANDIDATES STOOD OUT FOR ME, AND PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE WAS THE FIRST AMY [INAUDIBLE] REALLY IMPRESSED ME WITH HER PRESENTATION, BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION.
I THINK STARTING THIS DISCUSSION AND YOU TAKING US THROUGH THE PROPOSAL
[04:55:01]
IS A GREAT IDEA SO WE CAN LOOK AT ALL SIX OF THEM.EVEN THOUGH IT WILL PUT US BEHIND, I THINK IT'S WORTH TO BE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT MAYBE PUT THIS FIRST INTERACTION AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN GET TO IT AND CHOOSE THIS FIRM.
>> OKAY. HOW DO BOARD MEMBERS FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> IT'S A LITTLE LATE, UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> I'M NOT PREPARED TO DISCUSS IT AT 11:10 AT NIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THEN WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL OUR AUGUST 20TH.
>> YEAH. IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE IT'S THURSDAY TODAY.
THERE IS STILL THURSDAY, I CHECKED.
>> OH, THAT'S RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO TABLE TO AUGUST 20TH.
>> I MOVE. GO AHEAD, I'M SORRY.
>> I MOVE TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NATIONAL TOWNSHIP MANAGER SEARCH UNTIL AUGUST 20TH OF 2024.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
I'M SO SORRY. WE'RE GOING TO REWIND THE TAPE ABOUT TWO MINUTES HERE.
>> AS CLERK GUTHRIE HAS LEFT US, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A DEPUTIZED CLERK IN THE ROOM, WE DO NEED TO MOVE TO HAVE A TEMPORARY CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL.
WE NEED A MOTION TO APPOINT A TEMPORARY CLERK TO DO SO. TREASURER DESCHAINE.
>> I MOVE TO APPOINT TRUSTEE JAMES MCCURTIS AS OUR TEMPORARY CLERK.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING TRUSTEE MCCURTIS AS OUR TEMPORARY CLERK, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. TEMPORARY CLERK.
[LAUGHTER] NOW, WE NEED THE MOTION ON THE TAPE END IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.
>> I MOVE TO TABLE THE NATIONAL TOWNSHIP MANAGER SEARCH UNTIL AUGUST 20TH OF 2024.
>> SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TABLING THE MOTION BEFORE US, NATIONAL TOWNSHIP MANAGER SEARCH UNTIL AUGUST 20TH, 2024, A DATE CERTAIN, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? [INAUDIBLE] HAS TABLED THE MOTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. STEVEN, WOULD YOU MIND?
SHE'S GOING TO BE SO PLEASED I REMEMBERED TO DO A TOWNSHIP TEMPORARY CLERK. [LAUGHTER]
>> SHE WILL BE. IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
>> SHE'S BEEN A BUG IN MY YEAR ABOUT THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BOARD MEETS OFTEN THIS LATE AND LATER IN THE 2012, THE 2016 [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'D LOVE IF HE WAS HERE, WE COULD ASK HIM.
>> WOW. THAT CONCLUDES OUR ACTION ITEMS FOR ITEM 12 THIS EVENING.
NEXT UP IS BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS. ANY BOARD MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? WE'VE HAD NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TONIGHT.
TRUSTEE MCCURTIS WAS OUR TEMPORARY CLERK IN YOUR ABSENCE. HE'S GOT NOTES FOR YOU.
[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.ANY PUBLIC MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS THIS EVENING? I DON'T HAVE GREEN CARDS FOR YOU, BUT BARBARA'S ON HER WAY TO THE PODIUM.
I'M SURE WE HAVE YOUR CARD HERE SOMEWHERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK THE BOARD.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU GAVE TO THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE MEMO TO THE BOARD THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WAS PUT TOGETHER BEFORE WE KNEW THAT THE MILLAGE DISCUSSION WAS GOING TO BE TONIGHT.
THAT REALLY PERTAINS PRIMARILY TO YOUR PROCESS [NOISE] FROM HERE FORWARD, SO I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THAT TO HEART.
IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THE SENIORS OVERALL HERE, WE DON'T FEEL THAT WE'RE IN DANGER OF NOT HAVING A SENIOR CENTER IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE WAY BACK IN WINTER OF JANUARY '23, AFTER THE BALLOT VILLAGE PROPOSAL PASSED FOR THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, SUPERINTENDENT HOOD CAME TO MEET WITH THE SENIORS AND ASSURED US WE WOULD HAVE A HOME AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE A TEMPORARY HOME IF IT NEEDED TO BE IN THE INTERMEDIATE, WELL, CONSTRUCTION WAS GOING ON AND SO FORTH, BUT WE WILL HAVE A HOME.
I WOULD REALLY URGE THE BOARD TO EXPLORE COOPERATING WITH THE OKEMOS SCHOOLS AND WITH THE HASLETT SCHOOLS TO
[05:00:01]
SEE IF WE CAN GET A PLAN TO GET A SENIOR CENTER AND THEN A SYSTEM THAT WILL EXPAND TO HAVE MORE [NOISE] JOINT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT HOOD WOULD LIKE THIS.
I HAVE NOT MET THE NEW HASLETT SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR BRINGING THE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND COOPERATING.
>> THANK YOU. MS. ESSA, RIGHT?
>> ESSA. PARDON ME. PARDON ME, ESSA.
>> IT'S NICE TO WITNESS SOME REALLY THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AFTER THE BIG IMPASSIONED DISPENSARY CONVERSATION, SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.
I LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS IN ACTION.
I'VE BEEN TASKED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ASK TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
ONE IS, IS THE SUP AND THE EVIDENCE THAT THE TOWNSHIP REVIEWED TO VERIFY THE SUP AVAILABLE FOR OUR REVIEW?
>> I'M SORRY. WE CAN'T RESPOND TO QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE CAN TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.
BUT THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK TO US.
>> OH, I'M SORRY, I GUESS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. OH, OKAY. THEN THE OTHER THING, MARNA, YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER.
WHAT IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED, WHICH YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD ON IS, IS THIS A PURCHASE OF PART OF THE MALL? ARE YOU GOING TO BE A CONDO PROJECT? IS IT A LAND LEASE? WHAT ARE THOSE COSTS GOING TO BE? THEN I'LL JUST ASK YOU AFTER THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? CHIEF HAMEL, A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
>> I'M SORRY, I KNOW IT'S LATE. I JUST HAVE TO THANK A LOT OF PEOPLE BRIEFLY.
AS YOU KNOW, I WAS OFF FOR SEVEN WEEKS.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO TOOK ON SOME OF MY PROJECTS, MELISSA MASSEY.
YOU HEARD THE SIRENS GOT COMPLETED THIS WEEK, BUT I WANT TO THANK MY FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT RAN SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ME, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD THING.
[LAUGHTER] BUT MYSELF AND THE BATTALION CHIEFS, RYAN AND RUDY AND TAVIS MILLEROV AND BRIAN, OUR TRAINED CHIEF.
OF COURSE, MY WONDERFUL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, CHRISTINE, WE LAID OUT A HECK OF A PLAN THE FRIDAY BEFORE MY SURGERY.
IT WENT SMOOTHLY, AND I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT IT.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, THE TOWNSHIP FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
IT WAS A REALLY LONG SEVEN WEEKS BEING OFF.
BUT I'M STANDING TODAY BECAUSE OF A GOOD SURGEON.
BUT I WANT TO THANK PEOPLE PUBLICLY FOR THEIR SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP, ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND THE BOARD, AND MY STAFF. THAT'S IT.
>> WELCOME BACK. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY FOR GETTING YOU BACK TO US AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID.
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
IT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 15 OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.LOOKED LIKE WE HAD NONE A MOMENT AGO.
TREASURER DESCHAINE, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. THIS IS ABOUT MY 200TH MEETING IN THE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, AND CERTAINLY THE LONGEST AND MOST CONTENTIOUS, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
I THOUGHT THIS BOARD DID VERY WELL IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH THOSE RESIDENTS.
I THOUGHT EVERYONE'S RESPONSE TO THEM WAS GENUINE, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FELT LIKE WE WERE LISTENING TO THEM BECAUSE WE WERE LISTENING TO THEM, AND I THOUGHT WE RESPONDED AS WELL AS WE COULD TO THEIR QUESTIONS.
I WAS REALLY PROUD TO BE ON THE BOARD TONIGHT.
>> WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE ONE MOTION LEFT.
IT IS ADJOURNMENT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ADJOURNMENT SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 11:31 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.