Township Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
7:00 P.M.

Article 1. Supervisor Beahan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Beahan, Trustee Koessel, Lewis, Fox, Goldberg, Treasurer Peirce.
Absent: Clerk Goodyke (excused)
Also Present: Manager Cousins, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Fire Chief Sigg, Planning Director Peterson and those listed on Supplement #1.

Article 2. Supervisor Beahan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Article 3. Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 02/24/10.
b. Receive and File Communications
1. Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Kent - re: Act 50 of 1999 Reporting.
2. Letter from Comcast - re: Digital Entertainment.
3. Notice of Public Hearing - re: City of Grand Rapids Water System on the proposed Drinking Water Revolving Fund Project Plan.
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Fire Department Monthly Report for February, 2010.
2. Fire Department Annual Report for 2009.
3. Building Department Monthly Report for February, 2010.
4. Treasurer's Report on 2009 Tax Collections.
d. Education Request
1. Oxana Sourine - Michigan Municipal Treasurers Basic Institute - April 25 - 30th - Mt. Pleasant, MI
2. Ken Peirce - Michigan Municipal Treasurers Basic Institute - April 25- 30th - Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Trustee Goldberg noted there were a couple of typographical errors in the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 02/24/10. Deputy Clerk Biegalle duly noted changes. Motion carried.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of February, 2010 Payables, Payroll and Transfers.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the February, 2010 Payables, Payroll and Transfers. Motion carried.
Article 6. Public Actions
a. Public Hearing - Consider an Ordinance Prohibiting False Fire Alarm Activations.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to adjourn the public meeting and convene into Public Hearing. Motion carried. Supervisor Beahan asked Fire Chief Sigg if there had been any correspondence/phone calls regarding the proposed Ordinance. Chief Sigg responded that there had been none. No public comment was heard from the audience.. Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Koessel to close the public hearing and reconvene into Public Session. Motion carried.
b. Public Hearing - Consider the Cascade Peace Park Ordinance.
" Cascade Peace Park Master Plan
" Cascade Peace Park Hunting Rules
Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Koessel to adjourn the public meeting and convene into Public Hearing for all Public Hearings on the current agenda. Motion carried. Planning Director Peterson reviewed each aspect of the Ordinance, Master Plan and the Hunting Rules.
Sara Homeyer, 3539 Quiggle was present to say that the Board had done a good job with the rules and is very happy that it is going to meet the goal which they had which was a quiet place to go and to enjoy nature.
Tom Rooks, 9244 36th St. stated that he thinks that if we do have any questions about management, we use the Conservancy's Model because I think they have a good one about what is passive and what is not. Mr. Rooks had some questions regarding the Hunting Rules. Mr. Peterson stated that most of the Rules were recommendations made by the Kent/Ottawa County Conservation Officers.
Charles Homeyer, 3539 Quiggle, was present to say thank you. Would like to say a quick word about "passive recreation". To enjoy quiet nature…to give people a chance to be in a setting like the Cascade Peace Park and to listen to the frogs, birds, etc… and to recognize that there is something bigger than ourselves and beyond us.
c. Public Hearing - Consider Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Rezoning Property to create a New Farmland Preservation Zoning District.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the Amendment to create a new Farmland Preservation Zoning District. The District attempts to mirror the area identified by the Grand Valley Metro Council as desirable locations for farmland preservation in the County. This district would affect the Zoning and the Sub-Division Ordinance as well as the Zoning Map.
Mr. Bravo from Ada-Cascade AYSO asked if the 30 acres owned by Ada Bible would still be able to develop the land as Soccer Field for AYSO with a concession area. Planning Director Peterson stated that would still be permitted.
Tom Rooks, 9244 36th St. was present and stated that he was in that area and happy that people would be able to preserve farmland more easily. Tom questioned the open space component.
d. Public Hearing - Consider an Ordinance Amendment and Rezoning for New Transitional Industrial Zoning District.
Planning Director Peterson stated that this ordinance was a result of the new Master Plan. One of the goals in the Master Plan is the creation of an additional zoning district for the Industrial Zone. The main goal was to recognize the changes taking place in the market as well as providing some flexibility with our requirements. In an attempt to accomplish this goal the Planning Commission has created the new Transitional Industrial Zone. This zone allows for the same uses as the industrial zone and in addition allows for the mixing of uses and reduction in setback standards.
The additional uses that we are introducing into the Transitional Industrial district are stand alone office and for the property located along Kraft Ave. and at the corner of 36th and Patterson, providing for standalone retail, restaurant and personal service establishments provided they are limited to no more that 30% of the site.
James Baker, 3333 Kraft was present to ask how long this process would take to get approved. If this is approved, we would publish the ordinance and it would take effect 30 days after that.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene into regular session. Motion carried.

Article 7. Public Comments
Richard Gottlieb, 7100 Hidden Ridge Dr., was present to comment about Burton St. Park. Please consider any decision…in light of the public's understanding of preservation of natural lands.
Joann King, 6820 Burton St., have been involved with Cascade History Group since 1976…I was shocked at our meeting when comments were made by the vice-president regarding putting some history stuff in the "barn" on the Tassell estate. Comments were made regarding the Burton St. Park and Neighbors for Serenity.
Eric Larson, 2215 Cascade Lakes, was present to let the Board know he was running for State Representatives in the 72nd District.

Article 8. Unfinished Business

Article 9. New Business
014-2010 Consider Extension of P.U.D. rezoning and site plan for the Spees Realty project.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the P.U.D. Planning Director Peterson explained that Section 16.08.2 of the Zoning Ordinance requires that construction begin within one year after final approval is awarded. To date nothing has been started on site. The section of the Ordinance also allows the Board to approve an extension of the P.U.D. rezoning upon "good cause" shown. They have asked that the Township Board approve the extension for another year. Discussion followed. Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the extension of P.U.C. rezoning and site plan for the Spees Realty project. Motion carried.

015-2010 Consider Resolution for the Replacement of a Light at 6877 Cimarron Dr.
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Resolution for the Replacement of a Light at 6877 Cimarron Dr. Motion carried by roll call vote.

016-2010 Consider Approval of Ordinance prohibiting False Fire Alarm Activations.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the Ordinance regarding False Fire Alarm Activations. Motion carried by roll call vote.

017-2010 Consider Approval of the Cascade Peace Park Ordinance.
Motion was made by Treasurer Peirce and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Cascade Peace Park Ordinance. Motion carried by roll call vote.

018-2010 Consider Approval of the Cascade Peace Park Master Plan.
Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the Cascade Peace Park Master Plan. Motion carried.

019-2010 Consider Approval of the Cascade Peace Park Hunting Rules.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Cascade Peace Park Hunting Rules. Motion carried.

020-2010 Consider Approval of Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Rezoning Property to create a New Farmland Preservation Zoning District.
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Goldberg to Approve the Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Rezoning Property to create a New Farmland Preservation Zoning District. Motion carried by roll call vote.

021-2010 Consider Approval of Amendment to the Sub Division Ordinance to create a New Farmland Preservation Zoning District.
Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Goldberg to Approve the Amendment to the Sub Division Ordinance to create a New Farmland Preservation Zoning District. Motion carried by roll call vote.

022-2010 Consider Zoning Ordinance Amendments and Rezoning for New Transitional Industrial Zoning District.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the Zoning Ordinance Amendments and Rezoning for a New Transitional Industrial Zoning District. Motion carried by roll call vote.

023-2010 Consider Letter of Support from the Township Board for Business Improvement Zone.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Lewis to support the manager's recommendation to get behind the Letter of Support for the efforts of Centennial Office Park Owners Association (COPOA) to change a Michigan Law that would permit the creation of a Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) in townships throughout the state. Motion carried.

024-2010 Consider Approval of Request from Robert Riley to Utilize Township Property Along the Thornapple River at 7476 Cascade Rd.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the request of Mr. Riley to make some landscape changes to the Township's property in order to construct a seawall at 7476 Cascade Rd. Mr. Riley needs Board approval because the area between the wall and his property line is actually Township owned riverfront property because it is below the 666 water elevation. The area is approximately 20' wide between the river and Mr. Riley's property. Staff recommends approval of the request provided that he receives a permit from the MDEQ. Discussion followed. Motion was made by Treasurer Peirce and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the request from Robert Riley to Utilize Township Property Along the Thornapple River at 7476 Cascade Rd. Motion carried.

025-2010 Report from Don Stypula, Executive Director of the Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) - Re: The workings of the GVMC.
Don Stypula from the Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) was present to review the services and benefits offered by membership in the GVMC. Discussion followed.

Article 10. Manager's Comments
Manager Cousins offered the following comments:
" Getting ready to get started on the rework of Ostema Blvd. at the airport. Pre construction meeting is this coming Monday.
" I also have a telephone conference meeting this Monday regarding the Cascade Dam.
" Reminder…Infrastructure meeting meets Friday morning at 7:30 a.m.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Trustee Koessel offered the following comments:
" Just a quick question regarding an e-mail from Bill…you mentioned there would be further things to follow. I just happen to notice on it that we as a Township have until the 31st to make a decision on whether we stay in or excuse ourselves from that Class Action issue. I think we have another Board meeting, I don't know how much we are going to discuss this or what our input is going to be but, we have a short time frame to decide, otherwise we are in. Manager Cousins stated that if there was to be open or closed session, it would be done on March 24th.
Trustee Lewis offered the following comments:
" Wanted to compliment the story in the newsletter about the taxes…comparing our taxes to other communities. He has received more positive feelings from that story than anything else that has appeared in the newsletter. On the flip side, Trustee Lewis also stated that citizens who have gone to Florida have relayed to him some discontent regarding their water & sewer service for a month and found that their water and sewer bills higher than the year before need some answers. He also stated that the township has, and continues to, explore different options for our water and sewer supply. He would like the citizens to be brought up to date with an article in the newsletter.

Article 12. Adjournment
Motion was made by Trustee Lewis and supported by Trustee Fox to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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