Township Board Minutes

MINUTES
CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
7:00 P.M.

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Julien, Clerk Goodyke, Treasurer Carpenter, Trustees Beahan, Currier, Koessel and Parrish.
Absent: None
Others Present: Manager Cravens, Deputy Clerk Biegalle, Planning Director Petersen, Building Inspection Department Head Visser, and those listed on Supplement #1.

Article 2. Supervisor Julien led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Article 3. The revised agenda was approved on motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Parrish. The motion carried.

Article 4. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 2/22/05
2. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 3/21/05
3. Cascade Township Library Advisory Board Meeting of 3/7/05.
4. Kent County Road Commissioners Board Meeting Minutes of 3/8/05.
b. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter to Melvin Williams of Michigan Department of Transportation - re: Future of the Kentwood Industrial Railroad Spur.
2. Brochure from Calvin College - re: Confrontational Politics versus Finding Principled Common Ground.
3. Letter from Cascade Thornapple River Association - re: CTRA Special Use Permit.
c. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Building Department March Report
2. Treasurer's Department Bank Balance Report for January, 2005.
The Consent Agenda was approved on motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Carpenter. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Bills, Transfers and Payroll for March, 2005
Motion to approve Bills, Transfers, and payroll for March, 2005 was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Clerk Goodyke. Trustee Koessel questioned a bill to Kenowa Municipal Credit Union, Treasurer Carpenter stated it was employee payroll deductions. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Consider Approval of Public Utilities Financial Reports for March,
2005.
Motion to approve the Public Utilities Financial Reports for March, 2005 was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Treasurer Carpenter. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Consider Approval of General/Special Funds Financial Reports for
March, 2005.
Motion to approve the General/Special Funds Financial Reports for March, 2005 was made by Trustee Parrish and supported by Treasurer Carpenter. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Consider Approval of Resolution to Amend the 2005 Fire Fund
Budget.
Motion to approve a Resolution to amend the 2005 Fire Fund Budget was made by Trustee Beahan and supported by Trustee Koessel.
Manager Cravens reviewed the amendment. He stated the costs incurred were for actual costs/improvements for Buttrick Station. Chief Sigg was present for any questions. Supervisor Julien asked why these items were not budgeted. Manager Cravens explained that some of them were but others were not determined at the time the budget was approved. Bills for the Buttrick improvements were approved last year but we did not receive them until this year.
Motion approved by roll call vote.

Article 6 Public Actions (None)

Article 7. Public Comments (None)

Article 8. Unfinished Business
029-2005 Consider Approval of Resolution for Charitable Gaming License for Stop ALS Foundation.
Motion to remove from the table made my Trustee Koessel and supported by Clerk Goodyke. Motion carried unanimously.
Clerk Goodyke updated the Board on a meeting that was held with the applicants. The applicants submitted all the supporting documents that the Board had asked at the previous Board meeting on the 23rd of March. Clerk Goodyke explained that the Township does not actually give the license/permit; our purpose is that we are aware that this is happening in our Township and that we understand the ramifications of this action.
Trustee Koessel stated the committee was comfortable with the purpose of what they were attempting to do, it was legitimate. All issues were addressed during the meeting and feel the Township should move forward. Clerk Goodyke also stated the group had indeed filed their 1099.
Trustee Parrish thanked the group for taking the extra two weeks time to review all the issues.
Motion by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the Resolution for a Charitable Gaming License for Stop ALS Foundation. Treasurer Carpenter addressed the applicants with a few questions. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Article 9. New Business
030-2005 Consider Approval of a Type II Special Use Permit to allow for the construction of a boat launch to be used for members of the Goodwood Plat Owners Association on the east side of Goodwood Dr. just north of Placita Ct.
Planning Director Petersen reviewed the Type II Special Use Permit application. The property in question is a Vacant/Access point for Plat owners to the Thornapple River in the Goodwood Plat. The piece of property itself is about ¾ of an acre, about 70 feet wide, 450 ft. deep to the river. Our Keyhole Regulations limit the access to water bodies in Cascade Township. Essentially limiting them to one per every 100 feet of river frontage and if they want to have more than one family, one unit access per lot you have to go thru either the PUD rezoning process or this special use permit process. At this point we have never had a project proposed within the Township where they are proposing some sort of common area to get to the water body. The plat itself was approved back in 1950. The subdivision consists of forty-three lots today. Twenty-two have direct access to the river. Special Use Permit again, is required. They are expanding the use beyond what has historically been there, even though the original plat deed allowed this property to have access for all those lots to the river that does not have a ramp on it. Since our keyhole regulations were adopted, we view this as an expanded use, therefore requiring the Special Use permit. Planning Director Peterson reviewed the model submitted by the Goodwood Plat owners. The proposal included fencing in the entrance.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the recommendations of the Planning Commission on the approval of the Type II Special Permit:
1. The Goodwood Plat Owners (GPO) Association add a rule that would require the Association to notify the Township Board of any proposed rule changes to the use and restriction for the launch site.
2. Compliance with the Fire Dept request to be given two keys and to allow other government agencies access to boat launch.
3. No fueling done on site.
4. Work with the neighbors to the north and south of the proposed launch site on an agreement for landscaping or other buffer between the launch and their homes.
5. Amend Board ramp rule 4.e.a to read that only GPO watercraft can be launched to GPO members.\
6. Come back to the Planning Commission in two years for a review of the special use permit.
Planning Director Petersen stated staff was in support of the conditions but would suggest that condition #4 be clarified that it is voluntary if it can be agreed to between the association and the neighbors. Also that condition #6 be modified to require any review to be done by the Township Board.
Trustee Koessel asked Planning Director Petersen a question regarding the keyhole provision as it relates to the property being deeded fifty years ago.
Supervisor Julien asked for clarification on the rule change regarding the launching of boats outside of Goodwood owners.
Supervisor Julien noted that the Township has been advised by our legal counsel that they have been notified by legal counsel for a property owner nearby that intends to bring a lawsuit if this boat ramp goes forward. The Board has been advised by our attorney, is to pass this subject to a formal fnding of fact. Similar to what we did with the gravel pit on 48th St. This would create a written record that in effect memorializes the deliberative process what we believe the reasons were for the actions that we take assuming that we go forward and approve this. Our attorney's said we could pass this with it being contingent on the attorney drafting an appropriate resolution which would be approved at the Board's next meeting.
Supervisor Julien stated that he is very much in favor of the Goodwood Property owners Association having this boat ramp for the simple reason that it was a right that they have had since 1950.
Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Koessel that the request for special use approval for the boat ramp as recommended by the Planning Commission be tentatively approved contingent upon the Township Attorney and Township Staff drafting an appropriate Resolution and such Resolution being approved at the next Township Board Meeting.
Supervisor Julien asked there was anyone in the audience that would care to address the board on this matter. Several residents (see supplement #1) addressed the Board on their concerns with the approval of the Special Use Permit.
Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

031-2005 Consider Approval of a Resolution for the Installation of a Streetlight at the intersection of 48th Street and Sequoia.
Manager Cravens reviewed Resolution and mentioned Trustee Beahan had requested a downcast light (flat lens). Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Treasurer Carpenter to approve the Resolution for the Installation of a streelight at the intersection of 48th Street and Sequoia. Motion carried by roll call vote.

032-2005 Consider Approval of a Resolution to allow the Clear Meadow Estates neighborhood to hold a block party on Clear Ridge Drive.
Motion to approve made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Koessel. Discussion followed. Motion approved by roll call vote.

033-2005 Consider Approval of 2005 Budget for Music Performance Series at Leslie E. Tassell Park.
Manager Cravens stated he had been working with a small sub-committee regarding Summer Concerts at Tassell Park. The Community Foundation had contacted Manager Cravens stating they were interested in participating in at least two concerts this summer. The date that was chosen was the second Thursday of the month. One group was secured prior to coming to the Board. The groups name is Mustards Retreat, who have been performing at least thirty years.
Several issues still needed to be addressed:
a. location in pavilion
b. weather alternative
c. parking
d. advertising
Trustee Currier asked how confident Manager Cravens was in the budget he was asking for. Manager Cravens stated that if more dollars were needed, he would come to the Board with full justification of the additional dollars.
Motion by Trustee Beahan and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve a 2005 Budget of $8,000.00 for a Music Performance Series at Leslie E. Tassell Park. Motion carried unanimously.

034-2005 Consider Approval of Repairs to Tassell Park Fountain
Manager Cravens turned the discussion over to Building Inspections Director Visser. Director Visser reviewed all aspects of the re-building of the Fountain. The total cost presented to the Board for all the anticipated work was $59,158.00. Motion by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Parrish to approve the quote submitted to the Board less the $2,088 for the gray broom finish or swirl texture, leaving the final dollar amount $57,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
Article 10. Manager's Comments
Township Manager Cravens submitted the following items for Manager Comments:
· The Building & Grounds Thronbrook location site plan will be submitted at the next Board meeting for approval.
· Forest Schools need for a new water line. Need to come into compliance by January.

Article 11. Board Member Comments
Treasurer Carpenter informed the Board of a fund raiser for the Cascade Historical Society thru D& W.
Trustee Koessel reminded the Board that he will not be at the next regular Board Meeting on April 27th.
Trustee Beahan reported the Zoning Board (Jack Lewis) passed the opinion what they thought of term limits. Their consensus was they would prefer no term limits. They were OK with the 3 terms, but would prefer no limits. When the fountain repair starts could there be some communication displayed (laminated sheet) that the fountain is broken and will be fixed in 6 weeks.

Article 12. Adjournment
Trustee Parrish supported by Trustee Currier moved to adjourn. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Deputy Clerk

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