Township Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
7:00 P.M.

Article 1. Supervisor Beahan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Beahan, Trustee Fox, Goldberg, Koessel, Lewis, Treasurer Peirce and Clerk Goodyke.
Absent: None
Also Present: Manager Cousins, Planning Director Peterson, Chief Sigg 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 Koessel and supported by Trustee Lewis to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 03/24/10.
b. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter from Dick Gottlieb & Mary Ane Olsen - re: Cascade Burton Park.
2. Letter from Charter - re: Changes to Service Offerings.
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Treasurer's Department February, 2010 Reports.
2. Building Department February, 2010 Report.
d. Education Requests
1. Steve Peterson - PA 615 - Public Financial Administration - Grand Valley University.
2. Bob Norris - 61st Fire Investigation School (training reimbursement request) - Tustin, MI - April 12 - 23, 2010.
3. Douglas Poolman - Annual IAAI Fire School & Conference - Mt. Pleasant, MI - May 11 - 14, 2010.
4. John Sigg, John Shipley, Todd Stevenson, Mike Buys, Andy Marsman, Jon Snyder and John Makuch - Basic Forcible Entry Operations and Basic Engine & Ladder Company Operations - Wyoming/ Cascade - May 8 - 9, 2010.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the Consent Agenda with the addition of the following:
e. Letter to the city of Grand Rapids - re: Cascade Development - File No 05075, PUD 80 Reibel Development.
Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of March, 2010 Payables, Payroll and Transfers.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the March, 2010 Payables, Payroll and Transfers. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 6. Public Actions
a. Public Hearing - Consider Cascade Burton Park Ordinance.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the Ordinance. Peterson stated that the Ordinance was pretty similar with our other park ordinances. Some of the differences are as follows:
" Bikes on the paved portion of the park
" Dogs on leashes…standard dog leash of 20 ft., which has been in place since 1999.
" Park hours
No real comments have been received from the public on the proposed draft.
Discussion followed.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to convene into Public Hearing. Motion carried unanimously.
Jim Aidala, 6840 Sunrise Court distributed a critique to the Board regarding his thoughts on the Park Ordinance. Some of the items discussed in the handout are as follows:
" Lack of a stated Purpose and Intent Section for Cascade Burton Park
" Rules regarding Township Vehicles
" Fencing
Dick Gottlieb, 7100 Hidden Ridge Dr., stated his concerns as the following:
" Skateboarding, roller blading and bike riding were not passive activities as stated in the first paragraph of the Ordinance.
" The Barn does not represent "quietude" or nature.
" Caretaker home removal rejected.
" Rejected the citizens request to have asphalt removed, because asphalt is not natural material.
" Fencing issues.
" Amplified music.
Julie Johnson, 6718 Burton St., stated her concerns as the following:
" Thought it was going to be a "quiet" park.
" Would like to see no cell phones being used.
" Shocked to hear that we are thinking about skateboards.
" Would like to see dog leash to be at least on a 6 foot leash.
" Would like it to look like Seidman Park.
" Picnic tables only in the parking areas.
" Traffic
" Should re-think the "bicycle thing".
Steven Underwood, 6858 Maplecrest, stated his concerns as the following:
" Had issues with the "no smoking". Was present to speak out against that portion of the Ordinance.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to close the Public Hearing and re-convene into Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously.
Article 7. Public Comments
Julie Johnson, 6718 Burton St., had a concern that the Naming Policy was not on the agenda. Her concern regarding the naming of Cascade Burton Park. The Park should not be named after a person.
Joanne King, 6820 Burton, wearing the hat of Cascade Historical Society… I am inviting the Township Board that we will be having a Tri-River Open House, May 1-2, from 11:00 - 5:00. It is free and the Tri-River organization is a support group for small museums on the Thornapple and Flat Rivers that flow into the Grand River. There will be 20 museums that will be open on that weekend.

Article 8. Unfinished Business

Article 9. New Business

033-2010 Consider Approving Cascade Burton Park Ordinance
Discussion followed by Board Members with the following comments:
Trustee Peirce stated he agreed that bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards would not be allowed.
Trustee Goldberg questioned staff regarding the questions brought up by Mr. Aidala.
Trustee Koessel commented on the following:
" Hunting
" 6 ft. leash issue should be consistent in both parks.
" Should not allow any bike riding and/or skateboarding or roller blading.
Trustee Fox addressed the smoking issue.
Trustee Lewis stated that he like the public hearings when people come forth and point things out to us so that we can react and say "by golly" you are right. I agree that bicycles and skateboards and long leashes and "things like that" should be in the Ordinances.
Clerk Goodyke questioned the perimeter fence issue.
Trustee Koessel suggested that we might want to table this agenda item until the changes stated this evening can be made and come back to the Board at another meeting. Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Lewis to table voting on the Cascade Burton Park Ordinance until the Planning Director has a chance to make some revisions for us to review. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

034-2010 Consider Approval of Contractor for Re-Construction of Cascade Recreation Park Soccer Field.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the quotes for constructing a soccer field. We would be irrigating the fields, building underdrains, trying to establish a regular field there that is not in the condition that it is in today. We have had this budgeted for a number of years, it is well within the budgeted amount. In addition to the bid to build the field, there would be some additional costs, one is in regards to the well. Currently it doesn't have power to it…that estimate was around $4,000.00 to get the power to it. In addition to that, there would be some ongoing maintenance costs…mowing, fertilizing, aerating. Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Clerk to accept the bid from Turf Services in the amount of $75,375.00 for the Re-Construction of Cascade Recreation Park Soccer Field. Motion carried unanimously.

035-2010 Consider Approval of Contractor for Parking Lots at Cascade Peace Park.
Planning Director reviewed the construction bids with the Board. Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Goldberg to accept the proposal from Katerberg Verhage in the amount of $29,250.00. Motion carried unanimously.

036-2010 Approval of Proposed 2010 Board Goals.
Motion was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the Proposed 2010 Board Goals as presented. Trustee Lewis questioned the first goal regarding "video recording or streaming our Township meetings". Discussion followed. Motion carried.
Ayes - 6 Nays - 1 (Lewis)

Article 10. Manager's Comments
" Burton Park fence along north and east boundaries. The Master Plan for the Park that all internal fencing be removed. This is one thing that we have been working on in the park. The main reason for that is to make the park more accessible. A notice was sent out to the neighbors on the north and east sides of the park asking them whether they prefer the fencing be removed or that it be placed on the property line. For the majority property owners on the north side of the property, they said "just take it down we don't want a fence". Along the east property line, the property owners with one exception do want a fence between their property and ours. The reason it is being brought up this evening is to get your input/requirements are for this fence. Do we just remove the fencing and let the neighboring property owners put up their own fence if they wish to have a barrier …do we relocate it at a cost from anywhere from $12,000 - $20,000. Then lastly, there are still some interior fence around the small pole barn, and what are your wishes for that. Recommendations are as follows:
-on the north property line…to remove the fencing along that north property and put up the signage to let users of the park know that they are reaching the park boundaries. This would be done by our B&G staff.
Consensus among the Board member was to take this to committee.

Supervisor Beahan stated that he would put together a Committee of (3) Board members to discuss the fence issue.

Trustee Peirce asked if the third item on Manager Cousins memo could be taken care of outside of the issues that would be taken to this committee. Consensus among the Board was to have Item #3 executed (Two fences around the small pole barn near the caretaker house).

" We recently received our report for the Dam inspection. No repairs were recommended or required.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Trustee Goldberg offered the following comment:
" Expressed his gratitude to the citizens that showed up for the public hearing. They had what he thought for the most part were well made and well taken.
" A comment made by Julie that it would be nice if we put out some kind of reminder to the public that these are small lively traveled roads and it would be nice if they would show some courtesy to those who live on those roads as they make the use we hope they will make of the park. I don't see any reason of not to do that. It would make a nice little paragraph piece in our Cascade Connection newsletter in June.
Clerk Goodyke offered the following comment:
" Getting ready for the May 4th Election. We will be using the new Electronic Poll Books at this Election.
Trustee Lewis offered the following comment:
" Public Hearing at the Library on the "Roundabout" tomorrow night…it will be designed for business personnel. Next week it will be for the citizens of the Township.
Supervisor Beahan offered the following comment:
" We have a garlic mustard pull going on at Cascade Peace Park scheduled for the 29th of April from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Article 12. Adjournment
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Goldberg to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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