City of Marquette

The meeting commenced with a review of attendance, followed by the approval of the agenda. Public comment featured detailed discussions on traffic safety, snow removal practices that force pedestrians into the street, and the city's response to unhoused population needs, particularly regarding facility options. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) presented its annual report, mandated by PA 57 of 2018, covering its mission to prevent business district deterioration, promote economic growth, and increase property values. The DDA presentation detailed district expansion history, financial summaries showing TIFF revenues exceeding expenditures, and an analysis of parking operations, including the management of 1,340 parking spaces, revenue generation, and various maintenance achievements such as repairs to the Bluff Street ramp and painting the Main Street elevator tower. The DDA maintenance staff's year-round duties, including winter snow clearing and summer landscaping, were also highlighted.

The meeting addressed commission appointments, including the appointment of Martha Fitzgerald to the Marquette Housing Commission and the reappointment of Kevin Kle and Steve Lori to the Planning Commission. Commissioners praised the experience of the reappointees, especially Steve Lori. During public comment, residents discussed concerns regarding safety on Wilson Street due to high traffic volume and the lack of sidewalks, strongly supporting the city engineers' application for a multi-use path grant. Another resident expressed concerns about recent commission action supporting House Bills 4007 and 4283 regarding natural gas classification, viewing it as greenwashing. The commission also discussed a resolution on the acceptance of donations versus grants, with city staff providing clarification on the definitions. New business included the approval of Phase Two of the Seven Grandfather Teachings monument, featuring a sculpture titled Ishkaday, funded through a grant from the Forecast Public Art Foundation.

The meeting served as a background and educational session for the Commission regarding data center development, driven by trends such as cloud computing, AI, and remote work. Key discussion points included defining data centers and why they differ from other industrial resources (high power/cooling, strong security, low long-term impact). The discussion also covered proposed revisions to zoning codes, including changes to temporary retail sales regulations, parking standards (minimum/maximum spaces, reduction formulas), joint parking, and accessory use calculations. Specific attention was given to specific parking lot scenarios, sideyard setbacks, and proposed revisions to ordinance section 638, with an emphasis on making the code more precise and user-friendly, particularly concerning mobile food vendors.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and a roll call confirming all commissioners were present. The agenda was approved, followed by the first round of public comments. A resident raised concerns regarding safety issues on East Magnetic Street due to overgrown banks obstructing visibility and parking, and requested action. The resident also requested a statement regarding a thank you note to Gilbert's Dairy for a significant milk and butter giveaway event in November and December. The consent agenda, including an ordinance and a resolution regarding an off-leash area, was approved. The primary new business involved a resolution supporting Michigan House Bills 4007 and 4283 of 2025. Commissioners discussed that these bills are crucial to allow the Board of Light and Power (BLP) to continue operating the Marquette Energy Center and FD Kuster generating stations (natural gas units) through their useful life, thus preventing significant increased costs for ratepayers from premature decommissioning or importing power. Commissioners noted that this action honors the substantial investments made to replace coal plants and provides necessary interim stability while planning for future renewable energy integration. The resolution passed unanimously. The second public comment session included the resident raising the issue again regarding the BLP performance during the 2025 winter storm and requesting an update.

The meeting included discussions on approving the agenda and minutes from a previous meeting, conflicts of interest, and public hearings. A key item was the review of 2026 planning commission meeting dates. The commission reviewed and updated site plans, including administrative reviews and a presentation of site plan reviews from the last year, with a focus on 2025 submissions, and discussion of a traffic impact study related to the potential redevelopment of College Heights and the old hospital site.