Melissa Becotte

The meeting agenda for the City Council included several key new business items. These included a presentation of the 06/30/2025 audit results by Clark Schaefer Hackett representatives. The Council was set to consider approval for a contract with CUPPAD to update the Recreation's Five-Year Plan, an agreement with the Community Foundation for Delta County to establish the City of Escanaba Community Benefit Unendowed Agency Fund, and a proposed lease agreement with the Escanaba Yacht Club. Furthermore, the agenda listed seeking approval for two resolutions (26-01 and 26-02) related to adding streets to the ACT 51 system and changing street names, respectively.

The City Council meeting agenda for the Regular Meeting included a Public Hearing for input regarding the 2026-27 Fiscal Year Budget Preparation, marking the first of five scheduled hearings. New Business items involved seeking Council approval for the Water Treatment Plant Boiler Replacement, contracting Berger & King for the project, and awarding a contract to Giles Engineering for a Geotechnical Evaluation related to the Whitetail Solar Farm for the Electric Department. The agenda also covered appointments, board/commission/committee reports, and general public comment. The document also includes minutes from a prior Work Session where budget preparation for 2026-27 was discussed extensively with various department heads.

The meeting included the adoption of the agenda and a motion to accept the financial report, with the 2024 Year End paperwork discussion tabled until the next meeting. Key old business items included accepting the Orkin bed bug treatment plan and establishing Orkin as the sole pest control company, provided no current contract exists, with treatment proceeding regardless. Progress was noted on the Air Handler project and a tour of the new Camera System was completed. A decision was made to add a door to the Smoke Shack, and moving forward with hiring a new full-time employee was discussed. The Director's Report mentioned the success of the Thanksgiving dinner and plans for the Christmas dinner.

The session focused on the preparation for the 2026-27 Operating Budget, where various departments provided updates and sought Council input. Key budgetary discussions included revenue sharing, tax revenues, general fund expectations, inflation impacts, street and grant projects, labor union negotiations, and the City Manager vacancy. Department-specific updates covered capital and operating budgets for Electric, Water/Wastewater, Recreation, and Harbor Master services, staffing levels, equipment purchases (including a plotter printer/scanner and computer), security improvements for payment processing, property assessment considerations, technology projects like a security camera update, and updates on the Whitetail Solar Facility and downtown development.

The agenda for this meeting included several key items. Public hearings were scheduled for a Zoning Map Amendment at 800 Ludington Street, which staff recommended for denial due to noise concerns and potential property devaluation, and a review of a resolution from the Zoning Board of Appeals to modify its membership. New business items comprised a site plan review for a proposed condominium project at 3000 3rd Ave South, a home occupation request for a tattoo parlor at 523 1st Ave South, and a review of the draft 2026 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule. The associated minutes from the previous meeting on November 13, 2025, detailed the recommendation to City Council to deny the Zoning Map Amendment for 800 Ludington Street, and discussions concerning draft chapters of the Master Plan, including land use maps and sections on redevelopment, manufacturing support, and environmental coordination.