Parking Changes

Community Newsletter Fall 2015

Activities and Events CornerThe Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market will continue to run through October 31 during its normal days and hours on Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Island Park and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot, 320 W. Broadway St.

Shoppers can make purchases using their debit/credit cards, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC Project Fresh, Michigan Bridge Card and Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH coupons.

Don’t forget about the FREE Outdoor Yoga at Saturday’s Farmers’ Market. Starting at 10 a.m. on August 8, September 12 and October 10, rejuvenate your mind, body and soul in a free yoga session.

Farmers’ Market AUGUST Aug. 1-18: Art Walk Central throughout Downtown Aug. 1: Movies by Moonlight Cinderella, 9 p.m. City HallAug. 6: Planning Commission7 p.m. City Hall Aug. 8: NRU Night Out 6-11:30 p.m. City Hall Parking LotAug. 8: Movies by Moonlight The Lego Movie, 9 p.m. City Hall Aug. 10, 24: City Commission 7 p.m. City Hall Aug. 15: Movies by MoonlightSingin in the Rain’, 9 p.m. City Hall Aug. 26: Zoning Board of Appeals7 p.m. City HallAug. 29: Max & Emily’s Summer Concert Series- Jeff Daniels and the Ben Daniels Band7 p.m. Downtown Mt. Pleasant

SEPTEMBERSept. 3: Planning Commission7 p.m. City HallSept. 7: City Offices ClosedSept. 14, 28: City Commission7 p.m. City HallSept. 22: Parks and Recreation Commission 7 p.m. City HallSept. 23: Zoning Board of Appeals7 p.m. City Hall

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OCTOBEROct. 1: Planning Commission 7 p.m. City HallOct. 12, 26: City Commission7 p.m. City HallOct. 27: Parks and Recreation Commission7 p.m. City HallOct. 28: Zoning Board of Appeals7 p.m. City Hall

See the full City calendar at www.mt-pleasant.org

T he City Commission took final steps to adopt a Residential Neighborhood Only Parking (RNOP) program in two neighborhoods adjacent to CMU’s Campus at their June 8 public hearing. The City has been evaluating possible changes in the City’s on-street parking regulations as part of a series of pilot studies that began last fall. The City Commission approved a contract with Walker Parking Consultants in 2013 to evaluate parking and traffic patterns in these areas related to commuters to CMU’s campus.

The RNOP pilot study was implemented as part of the recommendation outlined by Walker to determine what affect the changes may have on the neighborhoods.

According to Brian Kench, Building Official, who headed up the project, “The most notable change occurred along Fancher Street off Bellows where 50 or more vehicles would routinely line the street in front of homes, making it difficult for residents to exit driveways safely and provide access for trash or leaf pickup when needed.”

The goal of the study was to determine what changes were necessary to on-street parking regulations in order to ensure:

• A balance in addressing the needs of the residents, the institution and the students.

• Owner-occupied neighborhoods are not experiencing increased parking by students, faculty and staff.

• A reasonable amount of on-street parking is available for residents and their guests.

• Increased use in designated parking areas, including metered parking locations.

• Sufficient travel lanes for general circulation, non-motorized transportation, public safety access and municipal and institutional operations.

Other changes to the City’s parking program that were implemented on a permanent basis as a result of the findings from the study, included: expanding the City’s parking enforcement contract with CMU, increasing available on-street parking along West Campus between Bellows and Preston Streets and overnight on-street parking regulations in non-downtown areas changed to December 1 - April 1.

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Residential Neighborhoods Only

The City received seven City Commission nominating petitions for the three seats that are available in November’s election.The City Commission Candidates are:• Keith Cotter• Lisa Ferden• Lori Gillis• Nicholas Madaj• Allison Quast-Lents• Rick Rautanen• Petro J. TolasThe election will be held November 3, 2015. The current Commissioners Jon Joslin, Rick Rautanen and Matthew Sous are expiring on December 31, 2015. There are seven candidates competing for three City Commissioner seats on the November ballot. Three full-term City Commission positions will be available for the term January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.

July is Auto Theft Prevention Month. Taking some precautionary measures can minimize your chances of becoming a victim of auto theft. In the United States, a vehicle is stolen an average of every 21 minutes. Auto thefts cost victims time and money, and drive up insurance premiums, too. Below are some tips you can use to avoid being an auto theft victim:• Never leave a running car unattended • Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked• When possible, always park in high traffic, well- lit areas• Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle titles, or credit cards in your vehicle• Copy your license plate and vehicle identification number (VIN) on a card and keep them with you. The police will need this information to take a report• If vehicle is stolen, report it to the police immediately

Just short of a year in construction, Hannah’s Bark Park opened July 18. The park is a collaborative effort between the City of Mt. Pleasant, Union Township and the Friends of the Dog Park.

The previously heavily wooded area of Mission Creek Park has been cleared, fenced and an electric key-fob system installed to allow access to the park by members with registered pets.

The 3.6 acre dog park has separate fenced areas for large dogs over 30lbs. and small dogs less than 30lbs. The park also features:• Accessible parking and entry• Secure key-fob access• Drinking fountains with dog bowls • Dog waste bag stations• Shade structures• Grass areas• Trash receptacles• Seating

The public is invited to provide feedback on proposed ordinance changes related to M-2 zoning district redevelopment projects at the Planning Commission’s August 6 meeting. The ordinance changes will include:

• Limitations on unit occupancy for redeveloped M-2 properties adjacent to residential districts as well as redeveloped Rooming and Boarding dwellings and Registered Student Organization dwellings.

• Codification of elements of the current redevelopment procedure, including the involvement of both the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission in project approval and the availability of bonus occupants as a redevelopment incentive.

• Reduction in the impact of parking by allowing stacked parking under certain circumstances.

• Prohibition on the combination of existing lots for redevelopment projects.

A draft of the proposed ordinance, and other useful information about the M-2 district, is available online at http://www.mt-pleasant.org/m_2_redevelopment.

The City of Mt. Pleasant is hiring a new Code Enforcement Officer. The position has been approved and its primary responsibilities will be enforcing ordinances in the M-2 zoning area and developing partnerships and neighborhood groups.

The hiring process will be completed in September. The City intends to assign an existing Code Enforcement Officer to the area as the students start returning to town in August.

The City of Mt. Pleasant and the Washington Street Neighborhood Group are having discussions about renovating Potter Playground. Owned by the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, the playground was leased to the City to allow for recreation enhancements and improved maintenance. Some potential ideas that have been discussed are:•Bikeracks•Waterfountains•Picnictablesandasmallshelter•Benches•Playscapeandswings•Grills•Landscaping A follow up meeting with residents and the City’s Parks department was held July 19. Draft plans for the playground can be viewed at www.mt-pleasant.org/Potterplans.

The dog park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week. Registration and memberships are needed to access the park along with an up-to-date dog license.

All pets must be registered at the Mt. Pleasant Parks and Recreation office located on the lower level of Mt. Pleasant City Hall.

Find out more about Hannah’s story, registration, memberships and more by visiting www.mt-pleasant.org/barkpark.

Potter Playground Update

Recycled Tires in Roads

New Solid Waste Ordinance

City Commission Candidates

Complete Streets According to Jacob Kain, City Planner, the

City of Mt. Pleasant is already one of the most walkable and bikeable communities in the state. With the adoption of the Complete Streets ordinance on June 22, the City took another step forward in creating a healthy and vibrant community.

Complete Streets is a design approach that considers all legal roadway users from the outset and in all aspects of the design process. Although City practice throughout the years has been inclusive of all users, the ordinance validates our commitment to provide safe and convenient transportation for everyone.

The ordinance was identified as a priority in the City’s 2014 Master Plan and furthers the vision of the Greater Mt. Pleasant Area Non-Motorized Transportation Plan.

“The Complete Streets ordinance ensures that the City will continue to build upon its existing assets and become an even better place to live, whether you travel by car, bike or foot,” said City Planner Jacob Kain.

The City is the 26th local government in the State to implement a Complete Streets ordinance. You can learn more about Complete Streets at http:// www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets.

Auto Theft Prevention

Movies by MoonlightFor the third year in a row, the City of Mt. Pleasant partnered with local businesses to bring you Movies by Moonlight.

This year’s movies include:

August 1 Cinderella August 8 The Lego MovieAugust 15 Singin’ in the Rain Movies by Moonlight started in 2012 as a joint project with Max & Emily’s, Isabella Bank and Central Michigan University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts.

Movies and promotional costs are underwritten by local businesses and organizations such as Mercantile Bank,

WCFX, and the City’s Neighborhood Resource Unit, NRU.

The NRU will sponsor The Lego Movie on August 8 while bringing along some activities for families. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be D-I-Y activities with Home Depot, games, car seat safety checks and child identification kits. This will be hosted by area law enforcement agencies. All movies are free and start at dusk.

Questions regarding Movies by Moonlight can be directed to Michelle Sponseller at (989) 779-5348.

New Code Enforcement Officer

Any resident who would like to receive email notice of scheduled public hearings can send an email to news@mt-pleasant.org

The email notice provides a general overview of the public hearing along with contact information.

In addition, hearing notices are published in the Morning Sun and can be accessed online at www.mt-pleasant.org/notices.

Sign up for public hearing notices

The City of Mt. Pleasant received $58,100 to repave Bellows and Livingston Streets with rubber-modified asphalt. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) granted the City $58,100 to fund 50% of the project cost. This is the City’s first use of rubberized asphalt. The MDEQ Scrap Tire Market Development grant is meant to give incentive to the City to use this new technology as the state seeks to increase and find new ways to use scrap tires.

During the June 8 City Commission work session, the Commission requested City staff to suggest ordinance language changes, for the Commissioners consideration, that would modify the solid waste ordinance in three areas. The proposed ordinance was introduced on July 13 and included the following:1. A one-year pilot program to expand curbside recycling pickup to rooming, multi-family and condo style homes in three potential areas (all properties between Bellows and High Streets, between High Street and Downtown and north of Downtown).2. Require trash cans be removed from street view by a certain time, preventing overflow of trash from carts and dumpsters and requiring screening for carts stored in side yards.

3. Allow condos, multifamily and rooming houses to have the option of choosing the bag/tag programs as a trash pickup method.“It’s been a goal of the City to increase recycling,” John Zang, Director of Public Works, said. “It lowers the cost of solid waste and helps the environment.”Residents are invited to a public hearing to provide their input on the proposed changes to the solid waste ordinance at the City Commission Meeting August 10. Written comments on the proposed ordinance may be sent to the City Manager’s office, 320 W. Broadway Street, Mt. Pleasant or via email at manager@mt-pleasant.org.

M-2 Redevelopment

Hannah’s Bark Park Opens

Rubber modified asphalt is a mix of asphalt and recycled rubber from scrap tires. The City chose to work on Bellows and Livingston Streets because they are the next street thin layover projects in the Capital Improvement Plan sized to meet the grant amount with the match. The rubber modified asphalt overlay will be on Bellows street between Crapo Street and Isabella Road and on Livingston Street between Lyon and Broadway Streets. On Bellows, bike lanes will be added to both sides of the street from Mission Street to Isabella Road. The project work will be completed by Pyramid Paving, and both projects are expected to be completed by late August.