City Council Meeting

Portage (city), MI · · More Portage (city), MI meetings · More Michigan meetings

View original source →

Agenda

Agenda: https://portagemi.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFile(fileId=5962,plainText=false)

Full agenda packet (agenda plus every staff report and attachment): https://portagemi.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFile(fileId=5964,plainText=false)

[0:00] Proclamations:
[0:00] A.1. Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of the:
[0:00] A.1.a. Board & Commission Interviews of January 13, 2026
[0:00] A.1.b. Regular Meeting of January 13, 2026
[0:00] A.1.c. Special Meeting of January 20, 2026
[0:00] A.2. Approve the Accounts Payable Register of January 27, 2026, as presented.
[0:00] A.3. Take action to:Award a construction contract to Brenner Excavating of Hopkins, Michigan, for the Portage Road Reconstruction project for an amount not to exceed $4,477,268.10;Amend a contract with Wightman in the amount of $721,600 to provide construction engineering and right-of-way services for the Portage Road Reconstruction project; and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents related to the contract on behalf of the city.
[0:00] A.4. Award a construction contract to Michigan Paving and Materials Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan for the 2026 Local Streets Reconstruction Program in an amount not to exceed $1,862,255 and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents related to the contract on behalf of the city.
[0:00] A.5. Approve Contract No. 25-5607 between the Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Portage for the reconstruction of West Centre Avenue from Oakland Drive to Shaver Road and adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign all documents related to the contract on behalf of the city.
[0:00] A.6. Adopt the resolution setting the schedule for the 2026 Board of Review and approve the compensation rate for the Board of Review meetings and training.
[0:00] A.7. Accept a temporary moratorium ordinance pertaining to data centers and battery energy storage systems for first reading and consider ordinance adoption on February 24, 2026.
[0:00] A.10. Minutes of Boards & Commissions:
[0:00] A.10.a. Human Services Board of December 4, 2025
[0:00] A.10.b. Environmental Board of December 10, 2025
[0:00] A.11. Materials Transmitted.
[0:00] A.12. Calendar of Meetings:Historic District Commission: Wednesday, February 4 at 8:30 a.m. in the Heritage Room, Portage District Library (300 Library Lane)Park Board: Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Portage Parks & Recreation Building (320 Library Lane)Human Services Board: Thursday, February 5 at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1, Portage City Hall (7900 S Westnedge Ave)Planning Commission: Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the CIty Council Chambers, Portage City Hall (7900 S Westnedge Ave)Zoning Board of Appeals: Monday, February 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, Portage City Hall (7900 S Westnedge Ave)
[0:00] B. Communications:
[0:00] C. Public Hearings:
[0:00] E. Unfinished Business:
[0:00] G. New Business:
[0:03] Call to Order.
[0:27] Moment of Silence.
[0:40] Pledge of Allegiance.
[1:00] Roll Call.
[1:48] 1. Black History Month
[4:59] Petitions and Statements of Citizens (3 mins. per speaker).
[13:11] A. Consent Agenda:
[14:35] B.1. Presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association award.
[19:39] D. Regular Business Agenda:
[19:42] D.1. Confirm the appointment of Jereme Rowland as Director of Public Works.
[26:45] A.8. Accept for first reading the amendment to Chapter 18, Cemeteries, of the Code of Ordinances, and set the second reading for February 10, 2026.
[30:39] A.9. Adopt the Resolution confirming the ballot proposal language for the May 5, 2026 Special Election.
[52:15] F. Council Committee Reports:
[52:32] H. Statements of City Council and City Manager.
[1:09:52] Adjournment.

Transcript

Download: Text · SRT
AI TRANSCRIPT

This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person — it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.

[0:05] Good evening. I call to order the January 27th, 2026, ported state council meeting, and honor of all denominations and personal beliefs.
[0:14] And as we enter the new year, may we work together to make portage a stronger, more inclusive and unified community. Please rise for a moment of personal introspection and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
[0:37] Please join me in the pledge.
[0:39] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God,
[0:50] indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[0:58] And if I could ask the clerk to please call the roll.
[1:04] Yes, Madam Mayor, I'll start with Burns.
[1:09] One moment.
[1:10] Led better.
[1:12] Here.
[1:13] Homestead. Here. Pearson. Randall. Here. And young. Here. All right, just for the record.
[1:21] Dr. Pearson, our mayor, Potem is watching from afar due to the Open's Meetings Act, which changed after COVID.
[1:29] A member can tune in, but they cannot actively participate. So shortly, his picture should be appearing on the screen.
[1:35] I'm in moving on with our meeting, we have a proclamation this evening celebrating Black History Month that I would like to ask Council Member Jay Han Yeong to please read this into the official record.
[1:48] Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[1:51] City of Portage Proclamation, Black History Month, 2020-6.
[1:55] Whereas Black History Month is observed in February each year, and 2026 marks the 100th year,
[2:03] and whereas Black History Month was originally sat in February to coincide with the
[2:08] birthdays of Frederick Douglass in Abraham Lincoln, two key figures in the history of African
[2:13] Americans, and whereas Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, who became the second
[2:20] African-American to earn a PhD from Harvard University developed the idea for Negro History
[2:26] Week in 1926 to annually promote the history, culture, and achievements of African-Americans
[2:32] to be celebrated on a nationwide scale.
[2:36] And whereas the theme for Black History amounts 2026 focuses on a century of Black History
[2:42] commemorations, marking 100 years since the first National Black History Celebrations began,
[2:47] And whereas honoring a history of black history highlights the journey of recognizing
[2:53] and celebrating black life, history and culture over the past century, with the focus on promoting
[3:00] accurate and inclusive history amidst current challenges to black history, education, and whereas
[3:09] on February 10th, 1976, during the United States by Centennial, President Gerald R. Ford,
[3:17] became the first president to issue a message, recognizing Black History Month,
[3:23] followed by Congress passing, public law, 99, 244, and 1986,
[3:31] designating February as Black History Month. And whereas the City of Portage continues to work
[3:37] toward becoming a community in which all citizens, past, present, and future, are sustained,
[3:44] fortified, and respected for their contributions to our community, and beyond, and whereas
[3:51] to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month 2026,
[3:57] the city-apportage will host candidacy Taylor, leading Green Book, expert, and author of
[4:04] the best-selling book, Overground Rare Road, the Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America,
[4:10] a New York Times, most notable book of the year, as well as Oprah Magazine's Top 26 Travel
[4:17] Books.
[4:18] Ms. Taylor also curated the Negro Motorist Green Book exhibit for the Smithsonian Institute.
[4:26] Now, therefore, we resolve that I Patricia Ambrandle is the major of the city to hear
[4:30] by proclaim February as Black History Month in the city of Portage.
[4:34] Thank you for that.
[4:35] was a very nice job and the last part of it was promoting a black history month that the city
[4:42] is celebrating on February 6 at 6 p.m. at the air zoo. So check your portage for more details.
[4:53] All right. This brings us to opportunity for petition or statement of citizens of anyone
[4:59] would like to come forward. Now is the appropriate time.
[5:06] Good evening. Welcome.
[5:13] Judy Kanga Salters, Board of Jode Portage.
[5:18] I am here today. I can't stay long, so I have to be brief.
[5:22] I'm here in support of the phase one that you're working on.
[5:29] What makes me happy about it is the safety for the children that live around the Lake Center area.
[5:36] Also for the movement of the people that live on the west side of Austin Lake where they could ride
[5:41] They can soon ride their bikes school if they choose to in the spring or the fall of a year. I it's really a great thing
[5:48] The other thing that makes me very happy is
[5:54] From like few drive that it's gonna go straight across to the park
[5:59] That's going to be very important because I live right in close that intersection and it is a hazard
[6:06] I appreciate that when they moved it before, but it was the place that could have been just a little bit over for them worked out
[6:11] but I just want to let you know I am in support of the phase one. My concern is that when we move from
[6:18] stage one to our phase one to phase two is that we continue with that safety feature where we have the
[6:27] safety that moves through the isnes area. So I just want to make sure that we continue that
[6:34] talk that's not just gonna be phase one and then it ends and see what do whatever it takes
[6:40] to get to the next phase phase two because I know as where I talk to the residents on the
[6:47] west side and a lot of people do live out of town but they're here for the summer months and
[6:51] they have a lot of grandchildren and children they would love to be able to use their bicycles to
[6:57] go down, portage road, heading north and they're excited about those new back, those bike paths
[7:03] that I have been created, they'd like to be able to continue their journey with their families
[7:08] along that route. So I really look forward to seeing phase one, phase two, phase three, but
[7:13] I know phase one is the first step, but I look forward to seeing the the construction of all three
[7:19] phases. So thank you and keep up the hard work. Thank you. Still an opportunity for
[7:26] See you in the next video.
[7:32] High council, my name is Cheryl Sikore, I live at 10429, open drive, portage, Michigan. Okay, I'm just up here to go through as quickly as I can, some concerns that I have, a close-favorite valve around the garbage thing, and it's more about the meetings that have been taking place.
[7:55] This is Robert's Rules of Order.
[7:58] I've taken a class to several hours.
[8:01] It's a big bad book.
[8:03] I'm not next book.
[8:06] Sometimes things happen at meetings like last time I was here.
[8:09] There was accolades at the beginning and clapping and nobody said a word about that.
[8:14] But when people got out and spoke about a certain side of the scarby tissue,
[8:18] we were recommended.
[8:20] That's not the first time.
[8:24] Also, I spent quite a bit of time looking up about donations to the candidates that ran for City Council and Mayor.
[8:34] Nothing I found is against the law.
[8:37] It's camping finance laws.
[8:39] Anybody can give to any candidate.
[8:42] There's nothing that's been violated.
[8:46] Mayor, I think you got over $20,000.
[8:50] Some of it is from developers, real estate,
[8:58] yes, young, you've gotten quite a bit too.
[9:04] WMUK, wrote an article or put out a statement about campaign donations, and it was really one-sided.
[9:16] They talked only about the candidates that got donations from the way, which is the
[9:22] welcome to family.
[9:24] And I wrote to him on Facebook when they put a statement out about that, and asked him
[9:29] that they could give some listings of people that are already on the council that have
[9:34] something to do with our permitting, our zoning, and who they're campaigned, who donated
[9:39] to their campaigns.
[9:40] They said they told me they didn't have time to put that up there.
[9:44] So there's a theme going here that seems to intimidate people to not stand up here and say what they think.
[9:52] Are we violating robber tools of orders?
[9:54] Are we donating to the wrong people?
[9:57] Maybe people have a conflict of interest because of who donated to them.
[10:01] That is absurd.
[10:04] Because I can see all of these people here that have donated to other people they are already sitting on the council.
[10:12] So, I'm just saying,
[10:17] this is not the first time that the garbage thing has come up.
[10:20] It came up a couple of years ago, there was conflict there, and there's conflict now.
[10:25] And your job is to sit there and listen to the citizens now if they're swearing at you
[10:29] or something, that's one thing.
[10:31] But if they're clapping, then you shouldn't have clapping at the accolades.
[10:35] We shouldn't have clapping at the end of the accolades.
[10:37] Maybe we should just be completely silent.
[10:39] So that's what I'm getting from this. I'm getting that if you're not on a certain side or if you don't know this book
[10:48] Heart by heart and I'm not you've extended your time. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
[10:55] Still an opportunity for statement of citizens. If anyone else would like to come forward.
[11:02] Right. Seeing no one come forward. I'll ask if there are any callers on the line.
[11:08] Run button. There are two callers on the line. One moment.
[11:14] Go ahead, Carl.
[11:18] Hi, this is Brian.
[11:19] I'm live on Lake Francisco.
[11:22] I just had a question, I know this is in a Q&A period.
[11:26] But if this ballot initiative were to pass, I'm curious how that would affect the existing contract that we already have with waste management.
[11:36] And so I would just appreciate later on in the meeting if Council could address that if possible.
[11:43] All right, Brian, if this doesn't come full circle to you answer your question, if you would
[11:49] like to somehow leave your contact information with the clerk, I can have a city manager
[11:55] contact you tomorrow.
[11:59] All right, thank you for calling.
[12:09] My name is Debbie Morton, and I am on the research preparation committee.
[12:14] I was curious about the, I'm going to try to talk about some of the areas that they're
[12:19] meeting, and I didn't see a chance to really talk at that point.
[12:23] We had been talking about wanting to help improve our cemeteries, our historic cemeteries,
[12:30] and it's going to ask that when it gets moved over from the Parks and Rec to
[12:38] look like I don't have it on the screen.
[12:41] But what exactly is over to the-
[12:45] It was-
[12:46] It looked into our summer periods and the work been done there.
[12:50] I would like to ask that there is a historic population to be the upon the discussions
[12:53] Because the summer period didn't need some attention
[12:55] And it looked like a set partnership that we worked on.
[12:58] That's all.
[12:59] All right. Thank you for calling.
[13:02] Thank you.
[13:04] If that's it,
[13:06] Do you and A session is over.
[13:08] All right.
[13:09] Moving on.
[13:11] To our consent agenda,
[13:12] The content center agenda is available for review by visiting the City of Portage website where it can be found under the City Council
[13:18] Portage
[13:19] minutes in a gender section or you can come in any time during regular business hours and obtain a hard copy from the office of the city clerk
[13:28] At this time do any council members wish to have a consent agenda item or move for individual consideration
[13:34] Madam here please
[13:37] Hi
[13:38] I would like consent item number nine taken off the consent agenda as I will be
[13:44] refusing myself from this vote.
[13:46] All right.
[13:49] Better mayor.
[13:51] Please.
[13:51] Per the last call or number eight.
[13:55] All right.
[14:04] All right.
[14:04] I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented,
[14:08] excluding items number eight and item number nine.
[14:12] The moved.
[14:13] Second.
[14:14] And we'll call please.
[14:16] Start with red, better.
[14:17] Yes.
[14:17] Miller. Yes. I'm said. Yes. Randall. Yes. Young. Yes. And Burns. Yes. Thank you. All right.
[14:26] The two items that were pulled from the consent agenda will be discussed under regular business item, which is under item number D.
[14:34] Before that, we do have a communication, which is the presentation of a government finance officer's association award.
[14:40] And I would like to turn the mic over to the City Manager Mr. Pat McGinnis.
[14:48] Thank you very much, Your Honor. This is a privilege each year for the City of Portage to recognize our Finance Director and our Finance Department for a job well done.
[15:00] I think she's been with the city 11 years. 11 years seems like just yesterday. But Lauren is here tonight and she'll be able to maybe say a few words, but I did just want to point out that we are a member of the government finance officers association, there's a national association that is the formal trade association for all the finance directors, all over the country and the award.
[15:31] Honors in various areas of governmental, local, governmental accounting and in
[15:37] portage we are considering each year for the excellence and finance
[15:41] financial reporting, which is kind of the accounting side of things. The
[15:46] distinguished budget presentation award, which takes a great deal of work, and then
[15:51] also the popular annual financial reporting award. And those three are like the
[15:59] and what's the other one, the pre-gnus, yeah, it's the triple crown, and that's what
[16:05] they call it.
[16:06] So, once again, in 2025, we're being awarded the triple crown, and I don't know if
[16:11] Lauren, maybe you want to say a few words about the honor, and what we do to achieve that
[16:16] each year.
[16:17] Sure, thank you, Pat.
[16:18] Thank you, Mayor, and Council members.
[16:21] I'm a lot of brief note on the financial perspective side.
[16:24] The GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award recognizes the city budget document for meeting national best practices.
[16:33] It confirms that the budget is not only balanced and compliant, but also clear transparent and useful as a communication tool.
[16:41] And as Pat mentioned, we have achieved what the GFOA refers to as a triple crown, which is the three awards that he has already mentioned.
[16:48] And together, these rocket missions reflect a commitment to accountability and excellence for the city's financial documents.
[16:56] This award is number 39 for us, our first award was in 1987.
[17:02] So we don't want to screw up and miss one of those.
[17:05] So next year, we'll be number 40.
[17:08] Also, the triple count is not for everyone.
[17:13] And so we are one of four cities in the entire state of Michigan, the Havas Award, along with Grand Rapids Holland in Rochester Hills.
[17:21] So we're very proud to have the Triple Crown status.
[17:25] Thank you.
[17:26] Wow, this amazing match.
[17:31] I think our taxpayers of desserts to know and recognize that their tax dollars are being carefully monitored and spent and balanced and thank you to your crew or to your staff.
[17:44] You're in and you're out for making the right decisions and doing what's in the best interest of the taxpayers.
[17:49] So thank you.
[17:51] We'll make us look good.
[17:54] And I guess I would like to present this very heavy marble plaque that we hang here at City Hall.
[17:59] So we don't forget next year when it's number 40.
[18:03] Make sure you look at this every day and get ready for that.
[18:05] Congratulations.
[18:07] Thanks so much.
[18:09] Madam Mayor, please.
[18:10] I mean, learn you highlighted two things.
[18:13] You said accountability and excellence and oftentimes
[18:15] our community asks for transparency.
[18:18] I will state that the reason that you deserved
[18:21] a round of applause, you stated how many years
[18:24] has we received this award?
[18:27] 39.
[18:29] We would be remiss if we did not give you a round of applause
[18:31] for that.
[18:32] The ability for the city of Portage
[18:35] to simply be one of four communities to receive this award.
[18:39] Triple Crown, which means that every single year, every single department must submit their budget.
[18:46] They must ensure that it is balanced in conjunction with the City Council reviewing it,
[18:53] ensuring that citizens who work for the City of Portage are paid appropriately,
[18:58] that every dollar, every dime, every penny is accounted for,
[19:03] which means that you are doing your fiscal duty,
[19:05] which means that we also have proper retention in our departments.
[19:10] We would be remiss not to thank you for that service.
[19:14] So thank you, day in and day out for what you do.
[19:16] And thank you to every other department for submitting that on time.
[19:19] And thank you for returning to us to do this work.
[19:23] Thank you for accepting this award on behalf of us.
[19:27] And thank you for ensuring to us that you are going to bring it back to us again for number 40.
[19:31] That's accountability right there.
[19:33] So thank you for that.
[19:34] Thank you so much.
[19:36] Thanks, Lauren.
[19:38] All right.
[19:38] We have another positive thing on our agenda.
[19:40] It is a conforming the appointment of Jeremy Rowland as Director of Public Works and
[19:47] Agana like to turn this over to the City Manager.
[19:51] Pat McInnis.
[19:53] Thank you again, Your Honor.
[19:55] Tonight it is truly an important night for Portage and Appointing, potentially
[20:01] appointing a new director of public works. We've had the privilege of having Rod Russell
[20:07] worked for us for about as long as Lawrence. I think I think about 11 years. He has been
[20:13] our public works director. He's done an amazing job and he's helped us create a transition plan
[20:23] where one of his own staff members who's been brought along, much of his tenure has been working
[20:30] And with Rod at Public Works, Jeremy Roland has been with the city for over 25 years starting
[20:37] out as a labor and coming up through all the different ranks and achieving promotion
[20:43] after promotion and making friend after friend all over the city and getting to know the
[20:48] community as well as anybody of the infrastructure from the deepest water line to our bridges
[20:55] and trails and parking lots and buildings, these are responsible for our fleet.
[21:00] He really has a complete grasp of everything needed to be a very effective leader there.
[21:08] He's earned the respect and support of senior management here at City Hall, but probably
[21:14] more importantly, the rank and file that people that do the snow plowing and the grave digging
[21:18] and the lawn cutting and everything else that goes into keeping portage looking and looking
[21:24] and running well. So it is a pleasure tonight under our city charter. It is my responsibility
[21:32] to appoint department directors and then it is up to the city council whether or not to confirm those appointments.
[21:39] So Mr. Rollins here tonight I was going to ask him to come forward, introduce himself,
[21:44] maybe his better half as well. And just say a few words, hopefully Jeremy is a familiar face after more than 25 years
[21:53] being here for a lot more than 40 hours every week, Jeremy.
[21:57] It's hard to follow up on that.
[21:59] That's quite an introduction.
[22:00] I love what I do.
[22:01] I love porridge.
[22:03] I started pure fresh right out of high school and we'd wacking around street signs and
[22:07] guardrails and I've been lucky to have opportunities to move up and learn and work side
[22:14] by side of the rod for the last 11 years.
[22:16] She's always said he's been grooming me for this position.
[22:18] Um, so, you know, it's kind of surreal to actually finally be here, um, sad to see him go, but, um, yeah, I just, I love what I do, I love the town, um, it's a way of love.
[22:30] If I was answering the phone, I was being here for the straight line wins in 2001 to the tornado in 2024 or 22 hours that night, until the next day, I love this town, I love what I do and I look forward to serving in this capacity moving forward.
[22:50] Thank you very much for coming in. You are familiar face. You have been at many budget meetings around city hall for decades.
[22:59] I like the idea of promoting from within.
[23:03] I think Mr. Rowland is very capable and very deserving of this.
[23:07] So I will be supporting the motion once it gets made.
[23:12] Any other comments?
[23:13] Madam Mayor.
[23:14] Please.
[23:15] Just recently my husband had celebrated 20 years at his job and I did some research to talk
[23:22] about what a big accomplishment that is. Less than I think it's 10% of people under the age of 60s
[23:31] stay at the same job for more than 20 years. So that says something about you, about the
[23:38] department, about that longevity because that doesn't happen. It is rare, so thank you. I appreciate
[23:46] the work that you've done in the past and looking outside. It's always going to be, there's
[23:52] is going to be more of a work to do. So thank you very much.
[23:56] Madam. Please. Councilor Burns. I had a citizen right in who wished to be here tonight, but couldn't
[24:01] be because of a conflict and they gave me some comments to read if it's okay. So I'll do this.
[24:07] This is in support of Mr. Roland. It says in my 33 years working across the street,
[24:12] starting with the city of Portage, and now is an employee of Yolia. I've had the pleasure of working with
[24:17] many exceptional people and Jeremy is at the very top of that list. I remember when he first
[24:22] started in 1999 as a young energetic kid, even then it was clear there was something special
[24:27] about him and he was destined for a leadership role like this. Although I have never worked
[24:31] directly on on side him or for him, the respect he has earned from virtually everyone is truly
[24:37] unmatched. I am proud to have witnessed his growth and dedication as he's climbed the ladder,
[24:41] always keeping the city's best interest set heart. As a citizen of this great city and someone
[24:45] fortunately enough to call Jeremy a great friend, I am confident that the council can feel assured
[24:48] the public works department will be in excellent hands for many years to come thanks for your
[24:53] timing consideration Dan Cordini. So a nice endorsement there from Mr. Cordini I don't know
[24:58] if you've been up to it but Jeremy thanks for your long service to the city and looking for
[25:04] to see what you have in store in this leadership role.
[25:08] Please.
[25:10] There's something to be said about growing up in the department. You've seen the good,
[25:15] the bad ugly. You know what to reinforce as far as the positives and you know what to do to
[25:23] make sure that the negative comes up to par. So having a history really does help as opposed
[25:30] to coming from the outside.
[25:33] So I hope everyone, you're going to be fine. So don't be distracted
[25:39] about the naysayers and all that stuff. Keep your head up and keep doing what you're doing.
[25:42] There's a reason why you're here tonight.
[25:45] Congratulations.
[25:47] All right.
[25:48] There are no further comments.
[25:49] What is the pleasure of the council?
[25:51] Perfect.
[25:51] Please.
[25:52] I need to confirm the appointment of journey role as the director of public works.
[25:56] Support and roll call please.
[25:59] I'll start with Miller.
[26:01] Yes.
[26:01] I'll upset.
[26:02] Yes.
[26:03] Randall.
[26:05] Burns.
[26:06] Yes.
[26:06] And let better.
[26:10] Yeah.
[26:13] Congratulations and welcome to leadership and I'm going to hard week ahead of you with all
[26:21] the snow plowing but we'll look for great things and thank you to your wife for the dedication
[26:27] and the commitment she has to our community to allow you to work these long hours. Thank you.
[26:39] All right moving on to the items that will remove from our consent agenda number eight was removed
[26:44] by Council Member Miller, and this is dealing with an amendment to chapter 18 regarding the
[26:53] cemeteries and court of ordinances with the second rating being on February 10th, Council
[27:00] Member Miller.
[27:02] Thank you, Mayor.
[27:04] For this item, I was wondering if maybe we could have the city manager or whoever the
[27:12] on for the historic board is maybe bring up how they can be more involved with the
[27:21] the cemeteries and maintaining them if there's any preservation and everything since that's
[27:25] who we've designated to be on our historic board. I believe thank you to the caller from earlier
[27:32] but I do believe that this is just the ordinance that we're addressing so some of the concerns
[27:37] that she had might not be acceptable in this ordinance, but wanted to bring it to light
[27:43] for staff to see if there's any relationship that can be done between the historic board
[27:48] and some of the more historic cemeteries that we haven't for it.
[27:52] City manager Mr. McGinnis.
[27:55] Thank you. We can certainly do that and see if there are any ideas about our policies or our
[28:01] ordinance, and I just wanted to point out that in the current case we were clarifying some
[28:07] things.
[28:08] You'll remember your last meeting we had a request for a variance in the dimensionality,
[28:13] and as we looked at that, it started looking around at our summitaries.
[28:17] We noticed a few things that could be cleaned up, so I don't think there were any changes
[28:22] proposed here that are of an historical nature, a preservation nature, but I'll maybe let
[28:28] Comin' on Mac, she's in the thick of this every day, Erica.
[28:33] Thank you.
[28:34] Yes, we are in the thick of this every day, and I do want to point out to counsel that,
[28:38] well, I may be in the clerk's office, my master's degree is in historic preservation.
[28:42] So, I was the former liaison of the historic district commission, and this is my first specialty.
[28:50] So, preservation of the older parts of the cemetery and knowing that they're not getting any younger or any better looking
[28:56] is on our minds and the city has joined the Michigan Association of Municipal Cemeteries
[29:03] in terms of wanting to ensure that we are following best practices. So that is something that
[29:07] has been on our minds recently. And so the callers concern is timely and also on our minds as well.
[29:12] So we'll make sure to ensure that we involve the historic district commission where appropriate
[29:18] and that it's not something we neglect.
[29:24] I just wanted to comment as a cycle of
[29:26] pull over at different cemeteries sometimes just to take a break and schoolcraft has some really
[29:33] nice markers that recognize different families that originally inhabited that area and I know
[29:41] we tried to do some tributes in salary flats or along the walkway to there but if we know the final
[29:49] The resting grounds of some of those early settlers and it might be nice to consider something along that line and sort of just preserving it.
[30:00] Celebrating the history in a more permanent way.
[30:05] What is the pleasure of the council?
[30:07] Madam Mayor, please. I'm going to accept for first reading the amendment to chapter 18,
[30:12] Cemetery of the Court of Audiences and set the second reading for February 10, 2020.
[30:20] Support and we'll call, please.
[30:25] I'll start with.
[30:26] Yes.
[30:28] Randall.
[30:30] Yes.
[30:31] Birds.
[30:32] Lead better.
[30:34] Yes.
[30:34] And Miller.
[30:35] Thank you.
[30:35] All right.
[30:36] Moving on.
[30:38] Council Member Oamsted.
[30:39] You have taken number 9 off, which is a resolution confirming the ballot proposed
[30:45] language for the May 5th, 2026 special election.
[30:49] I'll turn the mic over to you at this time.
[30:54] I'm going to excuse myself and sit down in the audience for this vote.
[30:59] Please, as I have throughout the discussion of this process, I'm pretty advice of the attorney.
[31:05] I'm reducing myself because of an indirect personal financial conflict interest.
[31:09] And so I'll go back also and let you guys deliberate and return when this item is over.
[31:13] All right, thank you too both.
[31:16] All right.
[31:17] Moving on, does anyone have any other comments regarding this item?
[31:23] Madam Mayor, please.
[31:24] I had just a few questions about the wording of the ordinance and probably for the city attorney and I'm not sure if there will be a response tonight, but I was as reading through the ordinance.
[31:39] Just wondering if the ordinance is accepted as presented, how it could impact leaf pickup services that the city provides, because the city provides those as a single holler, as well as the recycling and then we have the village for the recycling.
[31:57] So if accepted as written, do we have any ideas or do you want to get back to us?
[32:02] Well, all I can say is just so everyone understands, this ordinance is prepared and submitted by the committee who initiated the ordinance, it will be taken exactly as they prepared it.
[32:16] So it does provide that there could be no exclusive contract or any type of collections, so that would include both recycles that would include lawn waste, et cetera.
[32:27] So at this point in time, I can't make any opinion on how the city would handle those that are currently exclusive contracts if this is adopted, but I can say that's what this ordinance does say.
[32:43] And so that everyone understands, you know, I guess if adopted, this is the ordinance that would be adopted and it will become.
[32:50] Um, how do the city code?
[32:53] So just to clarify, the city currently is the exclusive holler for the citizens of the
[33:00] portage in regards to, um, leaf pick up.
[33:06] So if this ordinance would pass, that would mean that as an exclusive holler citizens would
[33:14] then need to find a holler to pick up their leaf service.
[33:18] If this ordinance, if we reviewed this ordinance in this specific language of a past at tonight,
[33:25] if the city currently is the exclusive holler to pick up leaf service, that would mean that the city no longer
[33:34] would be able to pick up leaf services for citizens.
[33:38] I'm going to ask Mr. McGinn as he looks like he wants to comment.
[33:42] Mr. McGinn?
[33:44] Thank God, in the event this ordinance where to pass, we would work within the four corners
[33:50] of that new ordinance, which is very explicit that exclusive collection would no longer
[33:56] be allowed.
[33:57] And we would take the most conservative approach to that and likely be looking very carefully
[34:01] at whether or not we could continue to collect brush, whether or not we could continue to
[34:06] collect leaves, whether or not we could continue with our composting program.
[34:11] that's an exclusive agreement and we would seek for a legal review because we wouldn't want
[34:18] to expose the city to any unnecessary liabilities. So we will be looking at that very closely
[34:23] and probably within the next 30 days will be prepared to discontinue those services.
[34:29] If in fact it looks like that's what the new ordinance would require now. We do have some current
[34:34] contracts in place so we would plan on observing and recognizing and following through on with
[34:40] We've entered into contracts that we are obliged to fulfill, but those areas that we're
[34:47] doing it ourselves, I believe that could be construed as being exclusive and I wouldn't
[34:51] want to put a set risk to legal challenges so people may need to contact private hollers
[34:58] to come in and pick up their leaves and their brush.
[35:01] I hope that answers the question.
[35:03] completely.
[35:06] It does. Attorney Kaufman, what is the last date upon which we must submit this?
[35:15] So that this council have the ability to review this or I guess my concern here would be
[35:22] I, you know, our ability to to make a decision on this. I am concerned for the citizens
[35:27] supportage and for what position this would put the city in to make a decision on this this evening.
[35:35] Well, because I'm just trying to think through this.
[35:37] We have until February 10th, I believe, is a clerk at the office set at 4pm to approve the ballot
[35:47] language.
[35:49] You have a meeting on February 10th, but we'd have to schedule a special meeting at 4pm before
[35:55] four o'clock to decide on bail at language. So keep that in mind. The bail language is proposed
[36:03] tonight in this resolution was the language that appears on the top of the petition and upon
[36:12] consult with the local council, Moody cited to use that language and not to amend it or change it.
[36:20] So there would be no change from the petitioners or the committee that brought forward the
[36:25] question, it's exactly as they stated on their petition.
[36:29] If we wanted to change that language in any way, I recommend, and we would work with
[36:36] outside council as well, that we're going to have to have an agreement from the petition
[36:42] committee, the ballot committee, that brought this forward, because if we in any way change
[36:46] their language, they have to agree to that change, we don't want to change as to what we
[36:53] decided is the council should be the ballot language when it was brought forward under
[36:58] by petition in the ordinance was brought forward to initiated the ordinance is drafted.
[37:04] So we have until February 10th before 4 p.m. to approve ballot language, the clerk has to submit
[37:10] that ballot language to the county clerk by February 12.
[37:16] Councilwoman, will I better?
[37:17] So, if I have suggestions on some wording within this language, how do I go about to propose a mending said language?
[37:28] And a link.
[37:30] A, from the gist of the ordinance, it just gives a more clarity.
[37:38] Are we talking about the language to go on the ballot?
[37:41] Yes.
[37:42] Okay. Then we should have that discussion tonight, because either myself or the other outside legal council
[37:50] have to go back to the attorneys representing the ballot group, the petition group, and say
[37:57] the council would like to amend your language in the following way for the ballot.
[38:03] And we need to have agreement from them.
[38:06] We don't want someone to change the ballot language as we decide it should read.
[38:11] And it, you know, challenged that even before it goes to vote of the people.
[38:16] So do I make my suggestions now or do I wait or wait?
[38:18] I think right now would be appropriate.
[38:23] Madam Mayor, I think that because they'll have the floor.
[38:31] As I read this, what it says, persons, the ordinance to require the registration of persons
[38:39] who collect in the disposal process garbage, the set of same persons I would prefer to say providers.
[38:48] So, anyway, that there's a person I think providers should be better.
[38:54] And then,
[38:57] we're says,
[39:05] people say they can choose, this should be select,
[39:17] and I think that's all that I have.
[39:20] All right, Council Mobile.
[39:37] Would this change in any way, Attorney Kaufman, would this change in any way, how someone signed their petition?
[39:47] No, at this point, the only what we would want to make sure what would happen is that
[39:57] the proponents of the ballot initiative initiated ordinance agree with these proposed
[40:03] changes.
[40:03] If this is what the Council directs us to move forward with, that we would have to contact
[40:09] them, you know, have a correspondence with them, get them to agree, abandon a situation
[40:15] to be forward the municipality approved a variation of language, thinking it clarified the ballot
[40:20] question for the voters in fact we were challenged by the original initiating group and
[40:28] so then you have another form of location on going before you even get to the ballot box.
[40:33] So we would recommend also working with outside council that any proposed revisions go back to them
[40:39] that they are accepted by that group, so that we are all clear as what's going on the ballot
[40:45] and you can adopt that by resolution sometime before February 10th at 4 p.m.
[40:52] Thank you. Please, city manager, Pat McGinnis.
[40:57] Attorney, I'm wondering because to me, they seem like an Oculus request, you know, provider versus
[41:05] person select versus choose, if that was all, would it be possible so that we don't need
[41:12] to hold a special meeting for that?
[41:14] Single purpose for a couple words, if there are to approve the amended language, pending
[41:19] review and approval by council, by our own council and the council for the petitioner, would
[41:26] that be something that could take place tonight?
[41:31] Well, you do have to submit a resolution to the county clerk, and that has to include the approved language.
[41:39] So if we could kind of submit this resolution to say the following language with these changes is approved by the council, and if approved by the representatives of the committee,
[41:55] Maybe forwarded to county clerk as present or as approved tonight. I think we can do that
[42:02] And that would avoid another meeting.
[42:08] I guess I I agree with the two changes
[42:12] I was a little confused why the word person
[42:16] Which person to use for collection services?
[42:20] Wouldn't that basically allow
[42:23] Anybody with a truck to come and pick up garbage?
[42:28] Well, that is interesting because we're in the ordinance itself with defines collectors
[42:33] and those are the only people that are allowed to collect in the city and they are required
[42:37] to register and meet different standards.
[42:41] So the use of the word persons was crafted by the people who brought for this ordinance.
[42:47] I do think there's some, you know, a question is to what that actually means.
[42:51] so I think the points are valid.
[42:54] We can certainly take it back if it's the council's pleasure
[42:57] to the proponents representatives of the takeback
[43:00] of the trash and see if they agree with any proposed changes.
[43:04] So there are a motion that I mean we need to make a move.
[43:07] You would need to make a motion to adopt this resolution
[43:11] with revisions such that those proposed changes is outlined
[43:15] by you council member led better would be incorporated
[43:18] to the ballot language if approved by both county or city attorneys as well as attorneys
[43:27] or representatives for take back the trash.
[43:32] Erica, did you get that?
[43:36] I do have a question.
[43:38] What do we do in the event that the attorneys for take back the trash they know,
[43:48] the
[43:48] you're just having had a special meeting in which we determine the language. I guess that
[43:55] is my concern. If we provide a motion, pending this language, and then they determine they
[44:02] do not want this language, we're then at a stalemate, and I do not want this council to be
[44:08] at a stalemate, in which we have proposed a motion, pending language, and they come back and
[44:14] say, well, yes, we will take select, but we will not take provider, and thus we have, you
[44:23] know, half of a motion, then I guess my question would be, what would be the lack of a benefit
[44:31] to simply having a special meeting to determine the language at that point?
[44:36] I think the only challenge with this special meeting is scheduling it and holding it with
[44:43] they are attorneys. Well, I'm not even talking about their attorneys. There's literally hopefully
[44:48] by that point, there have an agreement or if we don't have an agreement, you're going to have
[44:53] to decide what language you put on the ballot without an agreement. Are we allowed to do that?
[45:00] Well, obviously, the language is proposed in this resolution is what they do after it imprisoned. So, you know, there would be a pretty good understanding that they would accept this language because they proposed it. So, you know, that would be where you may get to if we cannot reach a resolution with them on the proposed changes of persons to providers and choose to select.
[45:28] Okay. I have a, please, questions, that's okay. So trying to understand what council member
[45:37] young was saying, and I interpreted it correctly that if we put forth the motion to accept
[45:43] it with the revisions today, and then they come back and say they don't want the revisions,
[45:49] then we could have this special venue. Yeah, so I think she's saying is there any point
[45:54] even putting forth an amended motion to resolution tonight when you may have to come back
[45:59] for a special meeting anyways. I think that's what she's saying. In my thought, it helps
[46:06] cut down a little bit because if we wait until a special meeting and then ask for the changes
[46:10] then we have even more time to talk with their council and see if they'll accept them. So
[46:17] my thought is if we did it tonight it would speed things along so that we can still meet that
[46:22] a February time deadline.
[46:26] I'm interested in that correctly.
[46:28] Yes.
[46:28] Okay.
[46:31] Just a more clarification.
[46:33] If that happens and they disagree and we go back,
[46:40] and we miss that deadline because of this,
[46:44] is that against us or how do we?
[46:46] We can't miss that deadline.
[46:48] That's what I'm going to say.
[46:49] We can't miss that deadline.
[46:51] So if in fact we can't agree,
[46:52] We're going to have to schedule a special meeting before February 10th at 4 p.m. and decide on some language.
[46:58] Which would probably be what's in front of you tonight, which is essentially I'm not saying it's bulletproof, but it's what they propose themselves.
[47:06] So they would have no reason to challenge it. Does that make sense?
[47:09] Yep. So what I'm hearing is that if the two words
[47:16] ability to select and provider are accepted, then we do not have to reconvene in if they decide
[47:24] one or both are not acceptable, then we do have to call a special meeting.
[47:30] So I just want to make sure that the people that are up here are available at some point
[47:36] the first week in February.
[47:43] I have another question on the word case that a turning coffin had brought up when Council
[47:52] member led better said person or providers.
[47:57] If there's already a definition further in our court of court of ordinances that says collectors,
[48:03] I would rather keep that name the same.
[48:09] I was trying to pull up the code of ordinances and look through not as fast as has come from a member, urban, but it is a different section.
[48:20] So if we already have definitions somewhere where we're calling them collectors, and I know, I found this spot where it says, you know, they have to register within the city, so I get the selecting from whose register in the city.
[48:32] But, and I might just be fighting over one little word that doesn't matter so much, but if we already have it defined somewhere, I'd rather use the same word.
[48:45] Attorney Kaufman, is it my understanding that it wouldn't be the ordinance as it currently is it'd be the ordinance on the back of the petition?
[48:51] It'd be the ordinance on the back of the petition.
[48:54] So, the ordinance is proposed by take back the trash.
[48:58] And that does define the proposed ordinance does define collector as a person register with the city to perform collections services.
[49:10] So whether it's persons, whether it's providers, whether it's collectors, I think it's all very close to the same thing.
[49:19] The only thing about collectors, it means they have to be registered.
[49:22] And so if you look at, you know, to require the registration of collectors, it's registration
[49:29] is already a component of that term.
[49:33] So either, you know, I don't think we necessarily have these collectors, but I think providers
[49:39] is fine.
[49:40] I think persons is fine, but any of those could work, I understand trying to clarify it as much
[49:48] as possible so that the voters know exactly what they're going to vote on.
[49:58] All right, what is the pleasure of the council?
[50:03] Madam Mayor.
[50:04] Please, council member, let better.
[50:06] I like to make the motion based on what the attorney said about a certain
[50:10] dis what the proposed changes the provider and select to this language
[50:19] so that we can move
[50:21] forward with this.
[50:26] Do I have a second?
[50:32] Madam Mayor, if I may, no, this is a little out of order.
[50:35] It says, should the motion also include, at this point, the, you know, extending it, accepting it, and if they don't accept it, bring it back, should it be all one full motion, or do we do the wording first and then?
[50:51] It's my understanding that when you said based on the city attorneys recommendation that was encapsulated in it.
[50:57] Yes, everything is easy.
[50:59] Thank you.
[51:02] Support.
[51:03] Any further discussion?
[51:06] very non-vocal call please. Start with rainbow. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes.
[51:15] Let better. Yes. And Miller. Yes. Thank you. All right. Thank you for following up on
[51:22] me out and keeping us abreast of what the situation is and if I have to call this
[51:27] special meeting I will. I will work with Mr. McGinnis. We'll contact the representatives
[51:33] take back the trash with this proposed language change and I asked them to respond as quickly as
[51:39] possible. All right. Thank you so much. All right. Any council committee reports?
[51:48] Oh, we need to call our two other members back.
[52:15] All right. We are at item app, which is council committee
[52:18] reports. Has anyone on the council attended a subcommittee, which they would like to share with the
[52:22] just a console.
[52:27] Nobody's been out in this miserable weather.
[52:30] We will just move on. There's no new businesses this evening, and we have statement of city council and the city manager I'd like to start to my left this evening with council member on stud.
[52:42] Thank you, Madam Mayor. I have two items. The first one is in the consent agenda. There was a moratorium to place data centers and battery energy system storage on hold until December 31.
[52:57] I don't know if you've read it, but I can provide it to you, it's really a huge thing.
[53:04] Once approved of the Motor Touring of the Effect until December 31st, 2026,
[53:08] or until any amended or new city ordinance addressing this issue are effective,
[53:13] it is greatly appreciated that the city and the city council acknowledge that data centers
[53:18] and battery energy storage has its systems may result on negative impacts on land uses
[53:23] and harm and health of the public safety.
[53:27] And Portage right as evidence.
[53:28] Thank you to all the City Council's city manager, Pat,
[53:31] Chief Development Officer, Pierre Dame,
[53:33] and to all the others and the residents
[53:35] that help put this moratorium into action.
[53:38] Thank you.
[53:40] Number two is looking forward to America,
[53:43] 250's birthday.
[53:45] We're moving forward and besides a strong
[53:47] group of veterans, the Portage Historical District Commission
[53:52] is also partnering with this event.
[53:55] They will bring in ideas and events, rich in portage history, and they also have plans to continue
[53:59] on for the entire year.
[54:01] In fact, there is one opening left on this commission.
[54:04] If you weren't architect or interested in portage history, please feel free to contact me
[54:08] at kaffling.omstead at portagemissigan.gov and I will forge your information on.
[54:13] Thank you.
[54:16] Thank you.
[54:16] Consumable.
[54:17] I'd better.
[54:17] as well. Thank you. First of all, just receiving a lot of acclays about the snow removal
[54:27] keeping abreast of that. There's missing clanks too, but side streets are always secondary.
[54:33] But the main roads have been done, been done, and doing a great job, especially with snow
[54:39] in the fall. So, you know what you got to, you know what you got to look forward to, bro.
[54:47] Speaking of that, please, this is a pet peeve in mind. I think a lot of people shared
[54:53] as with me. If I'm traveling south-western, I'm going to post a speed limit, of course.
[55:02] And
[55:02] you come up with a size street and you try to take off and your tires are spinning and you're
[55:09] looking at me as you're spinning, trying to cut me off, take an extra moment and look
[55:15] behind me because nine times out of eleven, there's nobody behind me, wait till we
[55:21] pass to do that, be safe, especially if you're trying to, traction is not the same, I've
[55:26] got a 4x4, sometimes I just need to wait the extra 5 seconds, let somebody pass before
[55:34] you do that. Thank you.
[55:40] I'm to the person who talked about the calm and clapping. I just
[55:44] like to make a few statements about that. We celebrated Betty Angley's 100th birthday. That's
[55:51] a milestone. What Terry Urban did, that's a milestone. And so it's appropriate to clapping
[55:59] a plot and recognize that. What she was talking about this for is the meetings. These meetings
[56:05] have been very contentious, and the lack of the column is what we're talking about.
[56:10] The people would allow people to express their point of view whether you agree with it or not
[56:16] and not try to antagonize by clapping and saying, that's right and have to be reminded over and
[56:21] over again to refrain from that, then it would be no issue. But I just wanted to point out
[56:26] those two differences. And lastly,
[56:32] we heard from our finance,
[56:33] person how we are doing well with the taxpayers money, but now because of what we just went
[56:41] through with this ordinance, with best way,
[56:47] who I'm disappointed in with this process, not
[56:51] the taxpayers have to pay $55,000 for a special election that we shouldn't be going through.
[57:00] And then on top of that reading this amendment, not only at this pass, you get to choose your trash,
[57:08] but also you get to choose who's going to pick it and believe, who's going to pick about
[57:11] as other stuff that you're losing over trash.
[57:14] So people need to understand what's at stake.
[57:17] You may win by choosing your trash provider.
[57:20] But look at everything else that you're going to lose in the interim as well.
[57:25] So people need to be aware and what's going on.
[57:28] And again, the taxpayers are faced with $55,000.
[57:31] I'm very disappointed with that.
[57:33] Thank you.
[57:36] Councilmember Miller.
[57:37] Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[57:40] A couple things.
[57:42] I'm looking forward to attending Southwest Michigan First Economic State of Economic Development
[57:46] next week on the fifth of February with a few others from the city.
[57:52] And I believe Councilmember Young.
[57:54] It's always been a great event to learn about the big
[57:57] projects that are going on in the area and how portage factors into those.
[58:02] So I look forward to being able to talk about that at our next meeting.
[58:05] And then I did want to highlight that you might as coming back to the Kalamazoo reports.
[58:12] You know, it's been gone for about four years now, three years.
[58:17] And they are returning strong.
[58:19] They are going to return with four flights a day to Chicago.
[58:22] So, well, yes, that looks nice and everything.
[58:27] The airport director Craig Williams did share with us that this will greatly impact those
[58:33] businesses that are surrounding portage and your portage and have employees that live
[58:39] in portage.
[58:40] So currently, Denzo has three one-stop options, and now with United being added in to get
[58:52] This has no non-stop options or no one-stop options to their facility in Nebraska and so
[58:58] with you ready to come in and they're not going to have four options to get back
[59:00] and forth to Nebraska.
[59:02] Landscape forums has no one-stop options to their facility in Duluth and now with United
[59:08] that's going to give them three options and the United Flights add 12 additional international
[59:16] destinations for other businesses in business travel with one-stop options in Chicago
[59:21] that are going to now expand to Ottawa, Edmonton, Brussels, São Paulo, Zurich, Milan, Edinburgh,
[59:30] Tel Aviv, Belize City, and St. Lucia. So these are big options for our businesses during the
[59:38] area as well as those that travel for leisure. It was pointed out that any big 10 lovers now adds
[59:44] One stop service to get to Penn State Oregon and Purdue.
[59:49] Thank you and it was a great event this morning with members from the community there to listen and hear the announcement about United coming back to the area.
[1:00:00] Just plays a lot of confidence in the area, and we're really going to help with our economic development in the area.
[1:00:08] That's it. Wonderful news. Come to my big yellowing.
[1:00:13] Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[1:00:16] We have some fun activities that are coming up. You've got ice skating, once the temperatures go back to normal.
[1:00:24] So do take advantage of that. Last year we didn't get to do it as much because the ice rink wasn't quite as frozen,
[1:00:33] But luckily it is, so take advantage of the opportunity to go out with your family and enjoy.
[1:00:39] In regards to that, please be sure to shovel your sidewalks.
[1:00:44] It's a little difficult for those who do like to run outside.
[1:00:47] I'm not one of them.
[1:00:49] So we do have some who like to brave the elements and run and oftentimes they run on the street.
[1:00:55] So please be sure to shovel your sidewalks.
[1:00:59] Also because we have kiddos who need to stand outside for the bus.
[1:01:02] When those temperatures get back to normal and they don't have snow days, so please be sure
[1:01:06] to take care of that.
[1:01:08] Also, I think of your neighbor.
[1:01:09] If you have a snowblower and you are taking care of your driveway and you see that your
[1:01:13] neighbor is out there with the shovel, think of if you can help your neighbors out, we really
[1:01:18] need to think of one another.
[1:01:20] This country is not in the best place right now as it should be, and we really need to take
[1:01:24] a little more compassion and care to think of one another and take a moment and stop and breathe
[1:01:30] and ask someone else how they're doing, you really need to.
[1:01:35] It's really imperative that we do that.
[1:01:37] Turn off the news, turn off yourself on alerts.
[1:01:42] It's a tough time for a lot of people.
[1:01:45] And you need to take an opportunity to have empathy for another person.
[1:01:49] And you need to ask them how you're doing.
[1:01:51] It's tough for a lot of people.
[1:01:53] It's not that easy for some who may be shut in right now.
[1:01:56] Some people were expecting to go to work, and they've been home on snow days, and not everybody gets paid when they don't go into work and their job is closed.
[1:02:07] And so you need to take the opportunity to think about your neighbor and ask them how they're doing, and just see if they're okay because that's a part of being in our community.
[1:02:16] And celebrate the wins, celebrate the big ones, celebrate the small ones, and see how you can help.
[1:02:22] We did a great job last year donating too many of our food banks, but some of our food banks are still
[1:02:28] needing some help.
[1:02:29] So, see if there are maybe some snacks that you just didn't eat, maybe over the holidays,
[1:02:33] you thought that that would be a great idea, but you just decided you weren't going to use that anymore.
[1:02:39] See what you can do to donate if you have a little bit of free time going volunteer because it's
[1:02:43] really important to give back to our communities.
[1:02:46] February 6th, doors will open at 530 p.m. for our Black History Month program, and it's
[1:02:52] going to be a wonderful opportunity coming out to the air zoo. We actually moved our
[1:02:56] Black History Month program. We had it in the senior center last year and spaces filled
[1:03:00] up. So we moved it back to the air zoo. So there will be plenty of parking, plenty of space.
[1:03:05] We really want you to come out next Friday. It's going to be a wonderful event.
[1:03:14] And
[1:03:15] time. We are going to be having our portage business community town hall and that's very exciting.
[1:03:20] That's going to be February 10th from 830 to 10 a.m. And this will be your first opportunity
[1:03:26] to tour the new ZAP Zone XL, which will be in the new location that was formerly Sears. So this
[1:03:33] will be the first time that you'll be able to walk around and tour that location. See what
[1:03:37] it's all about. I know Council Member Miller and I will be there as well as City Manager McGinnons.
[1:03:42] And so take time to come out and see what we have going on in our small business community.
[1:03:48] Also want to highlight that we do have warming shelters here in the city of Portage.
[1:03:53] The Portage Senior Center is open if you haven't already gotten your membership in your senior in our community.
[1:03:59] Now we'll be a great opportunity.
[1:04:01] You can also go over to the Portage District Library if you need to.
[1:04:05] And then you can go to the County County Government webpage and they have a listing of different locations you can go to.
[1:04:11] for warming shelters and there is also free transportation if you should need that as well.
[1:04:18] So if you know of someone in our community who might need a place to warm up, please take
[1:04:22] advantage of that.
[1:04:24] Thank you again to all of those who came out and brave the elements for the meeting this evening.
[1:04:28] We appreciate you and to everyone who is watching online and it's wonderful again to see all
[1:04:33] my fellow council members who brave those elements.
[1:04:37] Council Member Burns.
[1:04:39] Thank you.
[1:04:39] Yeah.
[1:04:39] In addition to celebrating new director Roland, I also wanted to say thanks and congratulations
[1:04:45] to outgoing director Russell, the Department of Public Works, who is retiring after 16 years
[1:04:50] of service to the city of Portage.
[1:04:53] The Department of Public Works is very comprehensive and important department for the city.
[1:04:57] They do a lot of things and in my time working with director Russell, I've been really impressed
[1:05:03] by his dedication in the city and his creativity, in particular saving and taxpayer dollars
[1:05:08] on particular projects.
[1:05:10] When I was growing up in Portage, at celery flats, we had a sort of old rundown building
[1:05:14] there where today we have a beautiful pavilion, well, and public may not know, but when we
[1:05:19] went out for bid for that pavilion, my understanding is the bids came back in higher than
[1:05:23] we were expected, and director Russell said, we can give a little creative in our department
[1:05:27] and take care of some of that work in house and save the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars
[1:05:32] on that one project alone, so I know we have good things to look forward to in a similar
[1:05:37] vein from New Director Roland, and it's a real testament, I think, to the whole organization
[1:05:41] that twice in recent months we've had an internal promotion from a long-tenured staff member
[1:05:47] taking over as at the director level, really impressive, and I'm just very grateful to all
[1:05:53] the staff, but also to our new director's hard work for the city.
[1:05:57] All right.
[1:05:58] City Manager Mr. McKinnis.
[1:06:01] Thank you, Honour. I did want to echo what Councilman Burns just said about Rod Russell.
[1:06:10] We are having a farewell on the 6th of February. It'll be a week from this Friday. Yes,
[1:06:18] one week from this Friday. So that I'm about 10 days. And I believe that's going to be 11.30
[1:06:23] to 12.30 at the Public Works Garage. So those that have worked with Rod over the years
[1:06:28] if they'd like to stop by and give them their given the best wishes, that's their last
[1:06:32] chance.
[1:06:32] I didn't want to do anything like a typical DBW guy, very humble, but certainly did give
[1:06:39] him to the pressure and agreed to let us get him some cake and see if they're well
[1:06:44] properly.
[1:06:46] This Saturday, February 5th, is that the Saturday?
[1:06:51] February 1st.
[1:06:52] February 1st.
[1:06:53] Sunday.
[1:06:53] That's when our closing market is, at the Parks and Rec building, if you want to come
[1:06:58] kind of a craft fair of all cozy things at our Parks and Rec Department, 11 to 3 this Sunday.
[1:07:07] That's kind of a new thing I think, and I think it's a wonderful idea, because it's
[1:07:11] a chance to get together.
[1:07:13] And finally, I did just want to comment that if you do see people out on-house people
[1:07:18] in portage during these terribly terribly cold nights,
[1:07:23] Kells, who County has appropriated some funds to find ways to get these people into local hotels.
[1:07:30] So if you see that and you want to dial 911 and let our public safety know about it, those officers know what the resources are and how to connect with them.
[1:07:40] It's a terrible thing to think that there are people out in these elements when it gets this bad.
[1:07:45] So I just wanted to share that tonight and assure our population that we do look out for those people that don't have a place to go and we find them somewhere warm whenever we can.
[1:07:57] So that's all I have to know you're on.
[1:07:58] All right.
[1:07:59] Thank you all for showing up at such a blastery day.
[1:08:04] Couldows to our staff who we don't close city hall.
[1:08:09] If we can get here, people will be here to serve the public.
[1:08:14] And I check with Mr. McGinnis periodically.
[1:08:16] When I see that all the schools are closing,
[1:08:18] and we have many parents that are employees.
[1:08:21] And when I come in, there's always people here.
[1:08:24] So thank you to Department of Public Works for keeping the roads open, congratulations, Mr.
[1:08:30] Rowan, congratulations to the outgoing Rad Russell.
[1:08:35] I will try to be there on February 6th again, as Council Member Young said, that's a big
[1:08:40] day for our Black History Month celebration here in Portage.
[1:08:45] So I think perhaps going to be going to that as well.
[1:08:49] We did not answer the call that we did not really address the question.
[1:08:54] about what the contract being effective waste management, regardless of the ballot, if the ballot passed,
[1:09:00] what the contract be for waste management, be in effect.
[1:09:05] There are a lot of things that we are unsure of at this time, and we have outside council that is guiding us through this
[1:09:12] at the taxpayer's expense.
[1:09:14] And as council member Ledbetter said, this election is costing us $55,000.
[1:09:20] We will get you the answers as we go forward and as we've learned what our guidance is telling us.
[1:09:28] The council is trying to stay abreast on this issue because many people are asking about it.
[1:09:35] So stay tuned and we will try to give the public updates as we know them.
[1:09:40] Thank you for all the people that are plowing for police officers that are working 24-7 to keep us safe.
[1:09:46] And I hope the schools get back in session so with that the meeting is adjourned.