THE CITY OF THE VILLAGE OF DOUGLAS
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Monday, May 19, 2008
7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Balmer

2. Roll Call
Members Present: Balmer, Harvath, Mayer, Moore, Waddell
Absent: Bailey, Hoexter
Also Present: Manager Kowal and Clerk Neve

3. Pledge of Allegiance - Mayor

4. Changes/Additions/Deletions to Agenda
Additions: Item #8B-11, Fire District Budget
Item #8B-12, Email RE: Small Harbors Group
Item #18, Closed Session, Review of legal opinion with Attorney
Andy Mulder

Motion by Moore with support from Mayer to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

5. Approval of Minutes
A. Committee of the Whole Meeting of City Council of May 5, 2008
B. Regular Meeting of City Council of May 5, 2008
C. Closed Session Minutes of City Council of May 5, 2008
Motion by Moore with support from Waddell to approve
meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried.

6. Appointments /Resignations
A. Motion to Appoint the Following Individuals to the City of the Village of
Douglas Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for the Terms Indicated. No
Alternate Members are scheduled for appointment at this time.
1) Kenneth Kutzel; term expiring June 30, 2009
2) Jeff Greenwood; term expiring June 30, 2010
3) Alexa Urquhart; term expiring June 30, 2010 (term to be limited to
the time Ms. Urquhart is a member of the City of the Village of
Douglas Planning Commission)
4) Tarue Pullen; term expiring June 30, 2011
5) Bill Schumacher; term expiring June 30, 2011

Motion by Waddell with support from Moore to approve
appoint of Kenneth Kutzel, Jeff Greenwood, Alexa Urquhart, Tarue Pullen
and Bill Schumacher to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the above noted
terms. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

7. Proclamations/Awards
None

8. Public Communications (Limit of three minutes for comments regarding
agenda items)
A. Verbal:
Terry Burns, Allegan County Commissioner, reported on Mobile
Computer Terminals in Police vehicles and mock emergency drills
held in conjunction with FEMA, Police, Fire and Homeland Security.

B. Written:
1. Letter from Mr. Michael Schwabe dated May 8, 2008 RE: Fence
that was constructed adjacent to his home at 137 N. Main St.
2. Email from Ms. Lisa Lungaro dated May 7, 2008 RE: Ms. Lungaro’s resignation from the Saugatuck/Douglas Area Business
Association (SABA)
3. Letter from Allegan County Continuum of Care RE: Allegan County’s 10-year plan to end homelessness
4. Letter from John Thomas dated May 13, 2008 RE: Expression of
thanks and appreciation to City Staff, City Council, and Contractors RE: Reconstruction of Center Street
5. Letter received May 12, 2008 from Mr. Thomas G. Doucette, 180
Union Street, RE: Opposition to proposed construction of varsity
baseball field at the site of Douglas Elementary School
6. Letter from Mr. James Wiley dated May 14, 2008 RE: Opposition to proposed varsity baseball field at the site of Douglas Elementary
School
7. Article from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Landfill Studies Complete; Cleanup Plan Being Written (Allied Paper/Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund Site); May 2008
8. Michigan Township Services Summary of Permits Issued; April 2008
9. Letter from City Manager to Library Director dated May 9, 2008 RE: Notice of denial of request to hang library banners on Center
Street light poles.
10. Press Release dated May 12, 2008 RE: City Manager’s intent to
recommend to City Council appointment to Robert Drexler as
City Treasurer/Finance Director.

11. Saugatuck District Fire Department 2008-2009 Budget
12. Email received RE: Small Harbors Group
Written communications noted as received and filed.

9. Unfinished Business
None

10. New Business
A. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 36-2008 Appointing Robert Drexler as
Treasurer/Finance Director of the City of the Village of Douglas
Motion by Waddell with support from Harvath to approve
adoption of Resolution No. 36-2008 appointing Robert Drexler as
Treasurer/Finance Director. Motion carried unanimously by roll call
vote.
B. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 37-2008 Renewing the City of the
Village of Douglas Health Insurance Plan with Priority Health (Plan
Year July 1,2008 through June 30, 2009)
Motion by Moore with support from Waddell to approve
adoption of Resolution No. 37-2008 renewing Priority Health Plan.
Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
C. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 38-2008 Supporting the Blue Star Bridge
Pier Cap Transportation (MDOT) Local Bridge Program Grant Funding
Application
Motion by Moore with support from Harvath to approve adoption of Resolution No. 38-2008 supporting bridge program grant funding application. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
D. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 39-2008 Approving a Proposal from
Pittman Asphalt Maintenance to Perform the 2008 Roadway Crack
Sealing Program for the City of the Village of Douglas (Blue Star
Highway)
Motion by Moore with support from Mayer to approve adoption of Resolution No. 39-2008 accepting proposal from Pittman Asphalt Maintenance. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
E. Motion that the City of the Village of Douglas Authorize the Law Firm of
Kreis, Enderle, Callander & Hudgins, P.C. to Institute Litigation Against
the Owners and Developers of Waterview Ventures, Inc. to Enforce the
Promises made as part of the PUD Approval Process for the Development
of Felker Woods Condominium, Including Promises Regarding the
Construction of an Improved Park Street and to Seek Recovery of Costs
and Attorney Fees Related Thereto
Motion by Waddell with support from Harvath to authorize litigation against Waterview Ventures, Inc. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
F. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 40-2008 Approving the Request from
Corkscrews, LLC for a New Small Wine Maker License from the
Michigan Liquor Control Commission for a Proposed Business to be
Located at 20 E. Center Street, Douglas, Michigan, Allegan County,
Conditional Upon Receiving Site Plan Approval by the City of the
Village of Douglas Planning Commission.
Motion by Waddell with support from Mayer to approve adoption of Resolution No. 40-2008 for Corkscrews, LLC liquor license with the condition of approval of site plan by the City Planning Commission. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
G. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 41-2008 Appointing David R. Kowal as
Planning and Zoning Administrator of the City of the Village of Douglas.
Motion by Moore with support from Waddell to approve adoption of Resolution No. 41-2008 appointing David R. Kowal as Planning and Zoning Administrator of the City of the Village of Douglas. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
H. Commence Review of DRAFT Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget. In
accordance with Section 9.2, Budget Procedure, of the City Charter, the
City Manager shall compile and review department budget requests and
then prepare his budgetary recommendations and submit them to the
City Council at its meeting nearest to the third Monday in May of each
year (to be forwarded Monday, May 19, 2008)
Discussion followed on proposed budget. More detailed explanations and
descriptions of funds will be ready for a public hearing held at the June
16th meeting. Council requested a work session on the budget prior t
the public hearing.

11. Staff Reports
A. Building/Planning/Zoning/Enforcement
1. Letter from City Manager/Zoning Administrator Kowal dated May
8, 2008 to Philip J. Sheridan, Attorney at Law, Denying his
Request to Schedule a Hearing on Behalf of his Client, Mr. Chad
Kalkman, Before the Douglas Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Pertaining to Mr. Kalkman’s Property Located at 127 Water Street,
Douglas, MI
Brief review of letter included in packet.

B. Finance/Budget
1. Revenue/Expenditure Report for the Period 7/1/07 to 4/30/08
2. Cash Balances Report for the Month Ended April 30, 2008
3. Summary of Wire Transfer/ACH Payments for the Month
Ended April 30, 2008
4. Investment Schedule as of 4/30/08
A number of amendments are needed to the current budget and
will come before council in June.

12. Committee Reports
A. Zoning Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee
The zoning ordinance rewrite is in the Planning Commissioners hands
for review.

B. Planning Commission
Next meeting is May 21, 2008

C. Community Recreation Advisory Board
No report

D. Police Commission
The May meeting was cancelled. No report.

E. Kalamazoo Lake Sewer & Water Authority
No report.

F. Park Improvements Implementation Ad Hoc Committee
The committee has met and walked thru parks. By joining a nationwide
group the City would have the ability to purchase playground equipment
with a large number of municipalities.

13. Council Comments
Harvath commented on how nice Center Street paving looks.
Moore asked about the meeting with the Saugatuck School Administrators.
Mayer offered compliments on Center Street.
Waddell thanked Manager and Staff for the work done.

14. Mayor’s Report/Comments
Balmer asked council how they want to proceed with the list of goals
established at the retreat.
Kowal suggested getting through the budget process and then schedule goals
for the first meeting in July.

15. Approval of Invoices
A. Consideration of Approval of Invoices dated 5/15/08
Motion by Waddell with support from Mayer to approve invoices dated 5/15/08 totaling $56,747.02. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

16. Manager’s Report
A. In the proposed budget the line item for cemetery maintenance payment to Saugatuck Township will be eliminated.
B. Fleis & VandenBrink, Aggregate Associates, and Ron Meyer Excavating
all did a good thing by stepping up and taking responsibility for the
Center Street paving project. The repaving was done a no cost to the
City. Ron Meyer really went above and beyond and completed a couple
of other smaller jobs while his equipment was here.
C. The job title and description of the City Clerk has been changed to
include Human Resources / Risk Manager.
D. The first new banners are in place on Center Street with the Blue Star
Bridge banners being installed this week.

17. Hear from the Audience (Limit three minutes for general comments)
A. Gay Japinga, 429 Summer Grove, offered her thanks for the
repair of Wiley/130th Street.
B. Bill Winters, Saugatuck, encouraged all entities to work together to
work out differences in support of the Saugatuck Public Schools.

18. CLOSED SESSION - Review legal opinion and pending litigation with
Attorney Doug Callendar and Attorney Andy Mulder.
Motion by Moore with support from Mayer to go into closed session at
9:30 p.m. to discuss a legal opinion and pending litigation with attorneys via
telephone conference. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Motion by Waddell with support from Mayer to end the closed session at
10:26 p.m. Motion carried.

19. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 p.m. on motion and support by Waddell
and Mayer.

Respectfully submitted by:

Jean E. Neve, CMC
Clerk

Approved by: ____________________________________________________________
Matt Balmer, Mayor