001[Music] at 6:00. We'll call this meeting to order. Please uh rise for the pledge of allegiance and the invocation following. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Dear God, please bless our elected officials. Grant them the wisdom to know and the courage to do what is right for all citizens. Amen. Amen. Roll call, please. Alan here. Leafur here. Mravich here. Ricks here. Schultz here. Warren here. Yellen here. Good to see everybody here tonight. We have the approval of the minutes from the June 16th meeting. Is there a motion? I'll make the motion. Support. Motion been made and support. Is there any discussion? Being not. All in favor of the motion signify
002by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. We now move on to audience comments on any non-aggenda items. You guys are all on the agenda. So, unless you have something else you'd like to tell us about the city. Otherwise, is there anybody here tonight that's not on the agenda? Very good. We will move on. Mr. City Manager, any changes to the agenda? No changes. City Council, any changes? Being not, a motion to accept the agenda as presented would be in order. I'll make the motion. Support. Motion made and supported. Any discussion? Being not. All in favor say I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Is there a motion for the consent agenda? Make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. support. Motion made and supported according to our rules. There's no discussion on the
003consent agenda motion. All in favor say I. Against. Motion does pass. We move on to items for consideration this evening. We have 10. The first one being consideration of adopting resolution 2025-5 recognition of girls softball state championship. Mr. City Manager. The city council is scheduled to consider adopting resolution 2025-5, a resolution recognizing the 2025 state champion Richmond Blue Devil softball team. Similar resolutions have been adopted in previous years when sports teams have won the state championship and the resolution recognizes the softball team as a source of civic pride in the Richmond community. Thank you, sir. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2025-5, a resolution recognizing the 2025 state champion Richmond Blue Devil softball team as a source of civic pride. Sport motion made and supported. Coach Stewart, if you'd meet
004me up at the podium, sir. We're going to assume this is going to pass, but we can have conversation before. Okay. to prove that you deserve this and the team deserves this. That's going to be for you and your team, sir. This is a resolution uh uh dated 2025-5 uh recognizing of course the team and and your accomplishment as state champions. It reads like this. It says, "Whereas Richmond High School softball team has won the state of Michigan division 2 softball championship for 2025. And whereas on route to their third state championship, the softball team won their 33rd league title, 26th district title, and 15th regional title in team history. And whereas the 2025 in in 2025, the softball program was recognized in as an allstate academic team and also produced two first team allstate
005softball players. And whereas the Blue Devil victory is recorded as the 1,183rd win for head coach Howard Stewart. And whereas our city is proud of the Blue Devil softball team and appreciative of the state recognition that the team has brought to this community through their good sportsmanship and inspired team play. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Richmond City Council does hereby recognize and congratulate the Richmond High School softball team and their coach Howard Stewart for their dedication and diligence to the sport of high school softball and for winning the 2025 state championship. Uh and on behalf of the council and the people of our entire community, thank you. Thank your coaches for the hard work, the parents who stand behind these kids all these years, and of course to the team itself for
006pulling it together and and uh winning a tough fought uh game, especially those last two. They were very exciting games. Very exciting games. But congratulations again. Captain, want to say something? Absolutely. Good evening everyone. My name is Kate Telto and I am a member of the Richmond varsity softball team. Our team would like to thank the city council for inviting us here tonight and recognizing us amongst this huge accomplishment. Thank you. Is there anybody else that would like to speak to this? If not, we'll bring it back to the table. City council, any comments? You know, one of the things, girls, that will never ever be taken away from you. I get somewhat emotional over this is the fact that you're state champions. You'll never be able to take that away from you. That's something
007you'll carry their entire life. Uh mine's way back in ' 89 and 90 from uh travel ball. And it's just it it seems like it was yesterday. It just it it will take you through and you'll realize that at one time you were a champion and you'll go through life that way if you continue to work hard like you did to bring this team together and win this championship. It was hard fought. There's no doubt about it. So I'm sure you go long ways uh in life carrying that same type of attitude with you. So congratulations again. We're proud of you guys. proud you're here tonight and proud of the coaches, Kevin, John, Tom, uh all the work that you guys have done to make it what it is. Um you guys have worked very
008hard for many, many years. And Howard, of course, uh many, many years. What is it, Howard? 47 47 years now. Howard brought uh softball to uh Richmond High School and uh has done an excellent job as uh our resolution attests to. Uh but it takes good coaches, good support from everybody and of course hard work by the teams to get where they're at today. So again, congratulations to all of you. Thank you so much. You put Richmond in a great place by bringing this championship here. Is there any other discussion? Call for the motion. And all in favor say I. I. Against. I didn't think so. Motion does pass. Congratulations. You don't have to stay here. You younger classmate, you can use. [Laughter] Yeah. Take care you guys. Yeah. Bye. Bye. [Applause] Okay, we're moving
009on. Item number two, consideration appointment of city assessor. Mr. City Manager, council is scheduled to consider confirming the city manager's appointment of Andrew Yankee to the position of city assessor in accordance with section 7.3 of the city charter. uh administration. The city uh since 2023 uh has been working with a firm assessment administration services to provide a city assessor uh to us. They work with many communities in Oakland, McComem, and St. Clair. Uh prior to this, uh Mitchell Lrod has been our assessor. uh they've uh re are restructuring their staff and so Andrew Yankee that's here with us tonight uh over at the department director's table uh is being assigned to the city of Richmond I've met with Andrew got over the expectations of the city and uh he began and so I would request
010that you confirm my appointment and Andrew is here to answer any questions you may have. Thank you very much Andrew. anything to add to our city manager's accolades about you? Um, I have not much to say. I've have about six years of collective experience in assessing. I've been with assessment administration services for about four and a half years. Um, I've been working in neighboring communities like Lennox Township, Richmond Township, Columbus, and in St. Clair and Greenwood, China, and East China Township. So, I look forward to bringing my experience that I learned there to the uh to the city here and meeting everyone at the community and growing with everyone here. Very good. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to confirm the city manager's appointment of Andrew Yankee to of the assessment
011administration services LLC to the position of city assessor in accordance with section 7.3A of the city charter for an indefinite term to serve as the pleasure of city manager. support. Motion made and support. Any discussion on this? Any audience comment on this? Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Welcome to the city. Look forward to working with you. Item number three is consideration special event request Richmond Band Boosters banner. Mr. City Manager. Council is scheduled to consider a request from the Richmond Band Boosters to have a banner across Main Street in temporary signage that would advertise and direct people to their 12th annual pumpkin craft and vendor sale which is scheduled to be held the weekend of October 4th from 9:00 to 4:00
012p.m. and October 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the special event application from Richmond band boosters for an across the road banner from September 19th through October 5th in conjunction with their annual pumpkin extravaganza on October 4th and 5th. Support made in support. Any discussion on this item participation on this back to the table? All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I against motion does pass. We have a second motion for other signs. I'll make a motion to approve the special event application from Richmond Bamb Boosters for temporary signage in conjunction with their annual pumpkin pumpkin craft and vendor sale October 5th 4th and 5th. The signs placed at the city limit will be allowed beginning Friday, September 19th
013subject to the following conditions. Number one, the applicant shall work with city staff on proper placement of the signs to minimize any site visibility issues. Supportment made and support. Is there any discussion on this item? It's something that was done last year. Also, we didn't have any problems, Mr. City Manager, with signage. Nope. Very good. Any audience participation on this item? Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Item number four, consideration of special event request, Richmond Lennox EMS. Mr. City Manager, City Council is scheduled to consider a mobile food vendor request from Richmond Lennox EMS for their employee appreciation picnic/50th anniversary event in BB Street Park. Richmond Lennox EMS has held their annual employee picnic there before uh at the pavilion. uh this
014year uh with the event also uh being uh in part to recognize their 50th anniversary uh they were looking to have food trucks to provide the catering. So they are requesting two food trucks. Uh the picnic will be on Sunday, August 24th and uh the event is planned to be a little larger with local officials and dignitaries being invited as well. And Jeff White is here to answer any questions. Thank you. Jeffrey, would you like to take the podium, sir? Certainly, Mr. Mayor, city council, uh the city manager summarized everything uh pretty well. Um guess, you know, haven't been here for all 50 of them, but can't believe as somebody who's been here 36 of them that it's gone by quite so fast. Uh so, um we just are asking city council to allow us
015to do this. Uh a lot of uh the young people work with us today are kind of akin to the food truck culture for lack of a better way to put it. And really like uh like city manager Moore mentioned, we're really just using this as opposed to hiring at a catering service. There won't be any uh food sold out of it to the general public. It'll all be for our our our private uh event. There's actually two food trucks. there is a a a place coming to serve some ice cream, I think, out of a and uh and we and we did hire somebody to professionally uh take care of the alcohol for us that day. So, we didn't have the liabilities that could go with with that in a in a in a
016public kind of event. So, um with that, uh unless there are any questions, the event begins at 3:00 as far as the the the public and the dignitaries go. Uh the the uh the staff has decided to play a quick softball game starting at 1:30 before that. Uh we won't look near as good as the young ladies that were just in here as far as our quality of play goes. Uh but uh but I'm sure they'll have a little bit of fun. And then we're asking uh the community uh members uh that are invited to join us. We're going to be reaching out to not only um all of you uh but as well uh folks who have served the EMS uh in the past that we've been identifying a list of that can uh
017that can be invited for this uh this celebration. Great. Very sounds good. Very good. Is there a motion? Somebody I'll make a motion to approve the mobile food vendor request from RL EMS to have two mobile food vendors, Buck and Dinks and Teia Flores and More for their employee appreciation picnic 50th anniversary event on Sunday, August 24th, 2025 held at the BB Street Pavilion. Support motion made and support. Any discussion on this item? All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Jeffrey, we look forward to your 50th anniversary. Thank you. If I can, I'm going to hand these to the city manager. They're just uh invites for all of you that have information on how to RSVP. We hope to see you all on the 24th at 3:00.
018Thank you. Item number five, consideration of wastewater treatment clarifier weir installation. Mr. City Manager council scheduled to approve the installation cost to replace the final clarifier we clarifier we at the wastewater plant are the final process in the treatment chain where the liquid sledge and the water are separated. Uh originally we received quotes on three different parts of the uh um installation. One for the removal of the we for painting one for installation. However, uh the DPW upon further inspection of what it'll take to remove the existing wears believe they can do that inhouse. Um so we have uh two motions. One is for the uh painting which the low bidder was PCS construction and one is for the installation of the new we process piping and Jim is here to answer any questions you
019may have. Jim, anything to add to this? uh ju just that uh council previously authorized purchase of the new we so this was brought to the board uh previously and we have worked with process piping quite uh a few times in the past so we're very confident in their abilities to install them properly and as the city manager mentioned we we feel uh for cost savings that DPW can with the help of the plan staff can safely remove uh the existing wees at a at a savings to the project. Very good. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to authorize the expense of $41,72 to PCS construction for painting of structural steel and piping in both final clarifiers tanks with expense charge to the appropriate line item wastewater treatment plant equipment replacement
020fund. Support made and supported. Any discussion on this item? Knew it was coming. and uh was been budgeted for. So going through the process anything on this back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. We also need a motion for the installation of the new weir. I'll make a motion to authorize the expense of 48,200 to process piping for installation of the new wear and through assembly in both final clarifier tanks with the expense to charge the appropriate line item in the wastewater treatment plant equipment replacement fund. Support most made and support. Any discussion on this item? Anything from the audience on this item? back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I against. Motion does pass. Thank
021you for all that information, Jim. Item number six, consideration of wastewater treatment plant sewage electrical. Mr. City Manager, council is scheduled to approve the purchase of the raw sewage pump control panel at the wastewater plant. Uh there's two motions here. one is for the electrical which is through AC/DC. uh due to the uh kind of the work being performed there and the uh working relationship that we have with ACDC um we're requesting that we wave the purchasing ordinance requirement as they've done a lot of the work already uh associated with this uh and then uh for Midwest Power Systems uh to uh perform uh the installation of the sewage pumps. So, uh there is one clarification on the second page there. The first motion, motion number one, is a roll call as we're waving. The
022second motion is not uh as there was a bidding process followed. So, there the second motion does not need to be a roll call. Very good. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to wave purchasing ordinance to requirements due to section 64-53D and authorized expenses of $42,676 to ACDC electrical for electrical trades related to the raw sewage pump installation. The expenses charged to appropriate line item wastewater treatment equipment replacement fund. Supportment made and supported. Any discussion on this item? Also budgeted for correctly Jim. That's correct. Any audience participation on this? That's why we kept you last so that we had an audience. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Go on. You can see what happened. They all left. You know, back to the table. All in favor of the motions. Roll call. I'm sorry. Roll call.
023Do it every time. Yes. Mr. Robich? Yes. Ricks? Yes. Schultz? Yes. Warren? Yes. Yellen? Yes. Allen? Yes. Motion does pass. I uh we also have a uh motion for the uh Midwest Power Systems for installation of the pumps. Is there a motion? Make a motion to authorize the expense of 36,000 to Midwest Power Systems for installation of raw sewage pumps. Uh number one and number three with expenses charged to appropriate light item wastewater treatment plant equipment replacement fund. Support motion been made and supported. Any discussion on this item? No. Valerie. No. You sure? Okay. Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. Against. Motion does pass. [Applause] Item number seven is consideration of additional HVAC repairs at city hall. Mr. City Manager. Council scheduled to consider approving a
024quote from Tony's Heating and Cooling to repair additional components of the city office HVAC system. Uh this additional work is related to the replacement of the rooftop AC unit and HVAC control system. All of the quotes that were uh we received when we bid that work out uh included some uh form of additional cost uh once they got into the system. Knowing that uh a lot of our variable volume boxes that control the air flow and the heat reheating coils and some of those and the heating valves on the fin tube throughout the building uh were often uh original to the 1994 construction. So, we knew that uh we we would have these repairs. We didn't anticipate or didn't know exactly how many we would have. So, as they've been going through replacing all the
025thermostats and uh hooking all of the different zones to the to the new control panel, uh they were able to then identify uh and put into a quote uh in in your packet how many needed to be repaired. Uh to be honest, it's actually lower than what we anticipated quite a bit. So, um, uh, we're recommending that you approve the quote from Tony Heating and Cooling. Thank you. Jim, anything to add to this? Uh, just again to clarify, we knew there would be extra extra cost. This is not something we could have known or properly bid with the original AC unit installation. So, this was as anticipated. They'd go through, find some issues, presented it, and like the city manager said, uh, this is less than what we we thought it would be. We did
026know there there would be repairs. So, and Tony's has so far done a very good job on the original install. Very good. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to award city hall HVAC repair quote rooftop AC unit replacement project to Tony's heating and cooling in the amount of $14,98810 with expenses charged to the appropriate line items and general major street local street TIFA sanitary sewer and water funds and request TIFA to consider funding their portion support made and supported any discussion on this item good that it came way under what we thought it was going to cost us. Has that got anything to do with the repairs we've been doing on the building since the day it was built pretty much on the HVAC system? I'm not sure exactly why we've
027replaced, you know, some of these have been replaced. It's more getting them to communicate properly. So, some of it I think is related to the fact that in 10 years ago when we moved over here, there were some valves and stuff replaced at that time. Um and so part of it's that and very good very good anything else council comments anything back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I against motion does pass. Item eight is consider consideration of designating an MML voting delegate for the annual conference. Mr. city manager. The annual Michigan Municipal League convention will be held September 17th through the 19th in Grand Rapids. The league's annual meeting is scheduled for 400 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17th. Uh pursuant to the league bylaws, council is being requested
028requested to designate an official who will be in attendance at the convention as the city's official representative to cast the vote. Thank you. Uh, was council like to drop their rules and have an open discussion on this before a motion is taken? Sure. Have consensus. Is there anybody that would like to go to this? Last year, we did not go to it. Michael, you have gone to it. I've gone. Yeah, I I'll go. I mean, I'm available, but somebody else wants to go. Does anybody else want to go? I didn't think so. Yeah, I'll go. Sure. You want to go? Okay. Very good. Yeah. Pleasant. By the way, I'm also part there's a part of the Michigan Municipal League that uh that I'm a part of which is the elected officials academy where you learn
029and get credits for things. So, and I'm on the board of directors. So, there is some activity around that that goes on as well. So, yeah. Good. Very good. All right. It's always good to have a representative there for the yearly vote anyhow. So, uh it's Grand Rapids. uh not like what was it Meno or something last year and we we weren't real fond of uh going up to Meno last year. So um much closer this year. Well, appreciate that. All right. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to designate Michael Mravich as the city's official MML representative to cast the vote of the city of Richmond at the annual meeting. Support. Motion made and support. Any other discussion on this item? Uh before we get to it, does anybody want to be
030an alternate? I haven't heard anybody who wanted to be an alternate. Yeah, tell them. Okay. Are we okay? Um Valerie, you have anything that you'd like to bring up on this item? No, I will not be an alternate. Oh god. Maybe next year. Yeah, you could get the star award, you know, like they, you know, do for what is it? Uh online there where you you come to so many, you know, things. You come to more meetings probably than most people do in one year's time. Probably. Yeah. Uh back to the table if there's nothing else. Michael, thank you. All in favor say I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Item number nine, consideration of special event request, Richmond Community Theater Banner. Mr. City Manager. Council is scheduled to consider a request from the Richmond Community
031Theater to have a banner across Main Street that advertises their new theater season and reminds people that Richmond does have a community theater uh similar to the way uh Little League does it where they have uh two different times a year that they put their registration banner up. Uh the uh community theater was hoping to have uh two weeks in July and two weeks in November to put their banner up to announce their season. and their season does kind of go between from now and into the new the next calendar year. So, Mr. City Manager, for clarification, this is on the north end. Yes, we in the past we've put it on their north end. Um with uh the uh um in speaking with the community theater, they're very flexible. Uh so if nothing else
032is going on in July, we may put it where there's a little bit more traffic, but certainly they could also with with them being on the north end, it makes sense to put it up there. Well, the July I say this because the July one is the next thing on uh our items for consideration for uh St. A's festival. That's July would be, you know, conflict. Yeah. The same time. Okay. Is there a motion? I I'm sorry. Go ahead. I make a motion to approve the special event application from the Richmond Community Theater for an over the road banner from July 21st through August 3rd and November 17th through November 30th. Port. Motion made and supported. Any further discussion on this item? Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying
033I. I. Against. Motion does pass. Finally, Valerie, we got to you. Consideration of a special event request, St. Augustine Parish Festival. Mr. City Manager, council is scheduled to consider a special event request from St. Augustine Church Catholic Church to have an across the road banner, signage around town, and designate a portion of Howard Street parking near the church as handicap parking. Uh we have approved this request or similar request uh for several years and Valerie is here to answer any questions. Thank you. Valerie, would you like to add to any of that or tell us? Sean said it perfectly. You've sat here for half an hour. You have the microphone all to yourself now. You sure? Positive. Yes. All right. Do we have a motion? First one would be for the crossroad banner. I'll make
034a motion to approve the special event application from St. Augustine Catholic Church to have six temporary signs in conjunction with their annual parish festival on July 28th through August 11th with the following conditions. One, the applicant shall work with city staff on proper placement of the signs to minimize any site visibility issues. Number two, the signs are allowed to be displayed July 28th through August 11th, 2025. Support. Motion made in support. I was on the wrong motion. I'm sorry, Valerie. Anything to add to that? No. Okay. Council, any other discussion? All in favor? Say I. I. Against. Okay, that one passes. Go on to motion number two. I'll make a motion to approve the special event application from St. Augustine's Catholic Church uh to have a cross the road banner in conjunction with their annual
035parish festival to be displayed July 28th through August 11th, 2025 and direct the city clerk to submit the application to MDOT. Support made and supported. Valer, anything to add to that? No. Okay. City council, any comments? All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I against. Motion does pass. We have a third motion. I'll make a motion to approve the request from St. Augustine P uh Parish Festival to make the 13 parking spaces on Howard Street between the two church driveways handicap parking for the St. Augustine Parish Festival on August 7th through August 10th, 2025. Support. Motion made and supported. Balor, anything on this? No, sir. Back to the table. All looks good. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. Against. Motion does pass. Good luck on your festival. Hopefully
036we got good weather for you. Oh, I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you all. Moving on. Miscellaneous matters from the city manager. Uh with the uh wrapping up of the municipal parking lot project and getting very close on the Oaken pre-step project, uh we are moving into the next uh summer project which is the main street water mane replacement which should start tomorrow. They were starting to kind of drop off some signage and things, but uh the contractor's been in touch with Jim and they should be starting tomorrow. Good. Great. Great. All right. City council comments, Michael? Uh no, I'm all set. Thank you. All set. Thank you, Jim. Uh I just have one thing. My wife went to the uh music in the park um last week. I I believe it was. She said
037it was very very nice. Unfortunately, there was not even a handful of people that attended. Um I don't know whether there's any way that we could advertise it better or something. certainly the group that was there and I should have went because was the older music and uh but they did an outstanding job. Mhm. Very good. Very good. Maybe we could send that message on to our parks and recreation department. Yep. Emily, nothing tonight. Thank you. Nothing, Nick. All set. Well, I guess I'm all set. I'm going to go to the calendar here. Today being the 7th, we have a cable commission meeting tomorrow uh at 6:30 right here at city hall. On Thursday the 10th, we have a 700 p.m. planning commission meeting. I did not hear that there's a BCA. There is not
038a BCA meeting. Okay, very good. Um and then uh a week from today, council will be having a special meeting. Uh it's our quarterly workshop meeting at 5:30 is what I have written down. Is that correct? Okay, that is on the 14th. EDC will be meeting on the 16th here at 7:00 and 2 weeks from tonight will be our regular city council meeting. Again, summer hours, the city council meeting starts at 6:00. Uh I will remind everybody uh in the July calendar that um the community garage sale in BB Park will be on Saturday the 26th. You can call 727-3064 to talk to the parks and wreck if interested. And that is it for now. Yeah. Hopefully everybody had a great Fourth of July and celebrated our independence. And we will move on to uh
039other business of the city council. Is there any? If not, motion to adjourn and be in order. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Support. It's been made and supported. There's no discussion on the motion. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. Against. Motion does pass. Thanks for being with us. [Music]