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Council Update - January 23

1/25/2017

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On Monday January 16, our Assistant City Manager/Planning Director Jonathan Seyferth and the consultants at McKenna Associates conducted the first public exercises (round table discussions) designed to be a part of updating the city’s Master Plan. Topics included Recreation/Transportation, Downtown, Neighborhoods, and the evening finale was a Community Meeting where citizens could provide input and comments. All and all, it was a day of solid input which equates to substantive value in the pursuit to define and map out the future growth of the city.
 
This process, although not totally unique to Coopersville or the generic planning process, reminds me of the metaphor “connecting-the-dots.” As most of us know, connecting-the-dots is an exercise of finding or associating one idea or event with another. The usual reason this exercise is practiced is to reveal the “big-picture” of an idea or event, or to bring meaning to an unknown. But before one can connect-the-dots, as author, actress and musician Amanda Palmer stated, “We can only connect the dots that we can collect.” The more dots we can collect, the better or the higher definition of the big picture we can create and thus invite action to be taken.
 
All day and into Monday night city staff, residents and non-residents, business owners, and consultants were collecting dots; lots of dots. Dots about recreation…dots about downtown…dots about sidewalks…dots about neighborhoods…dots about development…dots about signage…dots about housing…dots about transportation…dots about EVERYTHING. In the next few weeks and months, all of the dots collected will be part of the connect-the-dots exercise. This will be an exciting time as each dot is metaphorically connected to another dot over and over again. In time an image will begin to reveal itself and that image will be a new Master Plan for the City of Coopersville. It will guide the city, the community, as we grow and as we manage development while at the same time enhancing the unique character of this special place. Jonathan Seyferth and I will update this process to you in the coming months as new information becomes available.
 
We have a lengthy agenda which includes two ordinance related items, discussion on the proposed WWTP Upgrade Phase II, and the usual action to pay invoices. Have a great weekend and take advantage of winter’s reprieve if you so desire. Be safe out there!


Celebrate Coopersville

Yes, it’s that time of the year when the anticipation of bringing everyone together for great food, excellent conversation, and the chance to celebrate all that is positive about Coopersville gathers momentum. This year the event will be a bit earlier in the year than in the past, March 9, 2017 at 6:00 PM. We’ve already had over 60 RSVPs to date and we would be most pleased to receive yours as well. Tickets and table sponsorships are available at http://tinyurl.com/CelebrateCoops2017. As always, the silent auction is looking for donations to raise money for NEO Forum. More information will be forthcoming as we inch closer to the 9th. Please mark this date on your calendars, it’s always a special event!
 
 
Community Expo

March 18, 2017 is the scheduled date for the yearly Community Expo sponsored/organized by the Coopersville Area Chamber of Commerce. Most years, the city rents a booth with our elected officials attending along with available staff to answer questions and provide information concerning projects, recreation opportunities and other related topics.  As the date approaches more details will be provided by Anisa or myself.
 
 
Water Project Phase I – REPEAT
​

Just before the holidays, the City of Coopersville, Allendale Township, Polkton Township, and Ottawa County met to essentially re-establish where the city stands on this project. Allendale Township has a new supervisor so part of the meeting was also to make sure everyone was up to speed and to compare notes on any pending revisions to the original project. FYI, the meeting was positive and all parties appear to be in unison again.
 
We are to meet again soon once the city determines exactly the direction they want to pursue on the Water Project – Phase I. What I mean by this is that we have to determine what level of “risk” long-term we want to assume financially. The city needs a $12 million upgrade to its water system to prepare for the future and to increase reliability and redundancy to the current system. A $12 million upgrade also requires firm commitments from its largest water customers.
 
A lessor option at $5-6 million can provide basic improvements and less risk financially but does not provide the strong reliability and redundancy assets that the $12 million option provides. And that is the core discussion that is taking place. At this time, my goal and commitment is to have a firm decision made before the third quarter of our fiscal year is reached (March 31, 2017) which also means the UAC will be busy and eventually the council will be requested to make a few substantive and heavy decisions.    

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Council Update - January 9

1/6/2017

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Happy New Year, and all that jazz.
 
As I thought about this memo, I also thought about the word “new.” What does that word mean besides its use as an adjective and the other obvious meanings? What is the historical significance of the word and where does its originate? As I scrolled through various reference materials and other resources, I found myself a bit distracted and was drawn to what nouns “new” was placed before. I know, a squirrel moment, but regardless I was intrigued by all that is “new.” I also realized my original desire to unearth the origins of “new” would be a journey I didn’t have time to experience. Below is a list of a few concepts involving “new”:
  • New Age (Politics, Sociology)
  • New Class (Politics, economics)
  • New complexity (Music)
  • New Criticism (Literary Theory)
  • New Deal (Economic)
  • New fiction (Literary)
  • New historicism (Literary Theory)
  • New left (Politics)
  • New mathematics (da)
  • New Music (European based, artistic high ground)
  • New Orleans (gotcha)*
  • New riddle of induction (Philosophy)
  • New right (Politics)
  • New simplicity (Music)
  • New wave (Originally French cinema)
 
Obviously, the list can be much longer with a bit more research and a whole lot more time. However, I learned something “new” as I studied the definitions and historical backgrounds of each “new” version of the original definition of the noun. It reminded me that the original goal, or intent of finding the origins of the word “new”, diverted by a squirrel moment, can reap unintended rewards that bring a fresh and “new” life to established beliefs or established norms. It’s a reminder not to be so focused on a goal or desire that we are not aware of our surroundings to discover something “new” that was not in our original field of vision. Perhaps another variation on the “unknown, unknown” maybe. Just a thought; plus it can be darn fun.
 
That being stated, looking forward to a “new” year in Coopersville and working with you, city council members, and city staff to continue our quest to make this city one of the best. Happy New Year! Enjoy your weekend, be safe driving and we’ll see each other Monday night as we begin the new year deliberating the varied issues of Coopersville. 


WWTP Upgrade

There has been significant movement for resolving the direction of the WWTP Upgrade - Phase II Project.  I will be scheduling the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) to review the specifics that include what CDF and fairlife have agreed to, and ultimately what the scope of the end project will look like and how it fits the intermediate and long-term goals of the city.
 
As we all are very aware, this has been a very long process up to this point. Much of it has been the uncertainty of funding which so often dictates all other attributes of a project. In this case, I believe there is now a definite direction that all parties can agree to and now it’s time to dig in and get it done. Council will be advised once the UAC and I have met and there is a comprehensive understanding of the proposed project.
 
 
Water Project Phase I

Just before the holidays, the City of Coopersville, Allendale Township, Polkton Township, and Ottawa County met to essentially re-establish where the city stands on this project. Allendale Township has a new supervisor so part of the meeting was also to make sure everyone was up to speed and to compare notes on any pending revisions to the original project. FYI, the meeting was positive and all parties appear to be in unison again.
 
We are to meet again soon once the city determines exactly the direction they want to pursue on the Water Project – Phase I. What I mean by this is that we have to determine what level of “risk” long-term we want to assume financially. The city needs a $12 million upgrade to its water system to prepare for the future and to increase reliability and redundancy to the current system. A $12 million upgrade also requires firm commitments from its largest water customers.

A lessor option at $5-6 million can provide basic improvements and less risk financially but does not provide the strong reliability and redundancy assets that the $12 million option provides. And that is the core discussion that is taking place. At this time, my goal and commitment is to have a firm decision made before the third quarter of our fiscal year is reached (March 31, 2017) which also means the UAC will be busy and eventually the council will be requested to make a few substantive and heavy decisions.    
 

Picture
*New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French as Nouvelle-Orléans, on the site of an abandoned Quinpissa village. The city was named in honor of the then Regent of France, Philip II, Duke of Orléans, the brother of Versailles-builder and prosperous King of France, Louis XIV. 
 
(source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_New_Orleans)
​
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