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Council Update - June 26

6/26/2017

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VOLUNTEERISM: The principle of donating time and energy for the benefit of other people in the community as a social responsibility rather than for any financial reward. (Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 2014)
 
Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Rotary, Del Shannon Car Show, the Santa Parade, and many, many more events and organizations in this community and the immediate area function because of volunteers. Centers of worship function because of volunteers. The Outhouse 500, landscaping assistance around the city have been touched by volunteers. Various events at the school happen because of the efforts and investments by volunteers. It’s a very positive and bold statement about the character of a community and the affection that motivates people to volunteer and give back to the community.
 
The City of Coopersville also functions and relies on volunteers through its various boards from the Recreation Advisory Board to the Planning Commission. There is also the DDA Board (Downtown Development Authority), the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Cemetery Board, Construction Board of Appeals, Election Commission, Local Officers Commission, and the Board of Review. We also rely on individuals to give of their time for a minimum monetary payment to serve in the Emergency Services as first responders on medical emergencies. The Coopersville-Polkton Fire Department heavily relies on volunteers to serve as first responders for fire calls, significant accidents on I-96, and mutual aid to surrounding communities.
 
Without volunteers, the City of Coopersville and the community at large would cease to function properly. Sure, the city has the administrative staff which manages the mandates and requirements of the City Charter and the State of Michigan as well as the day-to-day responsibilities of answering questions of the public, managing the various financial funds required to provide services to the residents, and providing support for the city council. The Department of Public Works removes snow from our streets, maintains various landscaping tasks, empties trash containers, sweeps the streets, and many more tasks to make the city look attractive. The Water and Sewer Departments provide and maintains these utilities to the highest standards.  

However, to name but a few:
  • Policy is determined by city council members, NOT city staff.
  • The Planning Commission takes action on development within the community and makes recommendations to the city council on ordinance language and updates; NOT city staff.
  • The DDA Board oversees the economic development of the DDA District to enhance the economic growth within the city; NOT city staff.
  • The Zoning Board of Appeals acts on requests to make a variance on existing ordinances; NOT city staff.
 
I could go on and on, but the point is fairly simple and profound. Volunteers are the life blood of a city and its community, without them there is no functioning city or community. The reason for this memo is this; we are having difficulty filling vacancies in most of the boards, Emergency Services, and the Fire Department. It will be critical within a year especially for our medical first responders in the Emergency Rescue Department. We will have multiply vacancies at the end of this year on the DDA Board. 
 
All of our lives have become busy, complicated, and the societal distractions are endless. When I pause and evaluate what I have done in the “volunteering mode” I’m a little embarrassed as I probably could do more. It’s difficult to carve out a couple more hours a month for yet another item on our “To Do List”, and we all have that annoying list. I hope all of us can at least consider where we might be most effective in the areas mentioned above and at least contact city hall and ask a few questions. Until then, thank you for reviewing this memo and enjoy your summer.
“Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don't live in a world all of your own.”
― Albert Schweitzer
 
“It's impossible to be involved in all situations, but there's no excuse not to be involved in something, somewhere, somehow, with someone. Make an ounce of difference.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway
 
“The interior joy we feel when we have done a good deed is the nourishment the soul requires.”
― Albert Schweitzer
 
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
― H. Jackson Brown Jr.
 
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Monday night we have a fairly “light” agenda, relatively speaking. There are a couple of resolutions which I will detail later in this memo. Enjoy your weekend, and be safe out there.


Water Project Phase I
​

The application to the EDA (Economic Development Administration) is still being processed by staff and Ken Rizzio at Lakeshore Advantage. Application is on schedule to be sent to the EDA before the end of June. As always if you have questions please contact me.
 
 
REPEAT - Muskegon Waste Water Treatment Plant Option 

Nothing new to report at this time. There have been some rumblings as to possible funding mechanisms, but nothing of any substance. As information becomes available, and is sharable, I will keep members of this council. Please contact me if you have comments or require answers to questions.
 
 
REPEAT - Master Plan Update: Jonathan Seyferth

We are nearing the end of feedback window on the draft master plan which has been ongoing since mid-February. The end of the feedback window back in March started a timeline that, if all goes according to plan, should allow the master plan to be considered for final adoption in July.
The timeline is as follows:

  • Late June – The 9-week feedback window will close in late June which is also the June Planning Commission meeting date.

  • July 17 – The Planning Commission would hold a Public Hearing on formal adoption of the master plan – step one in a two-step adoption process. If approved by the PC, it is sent to the City Council for final adoption.
 
  • July 24 – At the second City Council meeting in July, the City Council will be asked to take the second step in the process with a final adoption of the master plan.
 
A draft and executive summary of the Master Plan can be found at  www.plancoopersville.com. Updates and comments on the final draft will also be accepted on the website. ​

By Mark Horoszowski, Next Avenue Contributor 

(This article previously appeared on MovingWorlds.org.)

The 
power of volunteering has been documented for the last 2,500+ years, however a slew of recent research is shedding even more light onto its surprising benefits. Science now proves what great leaders and philosophers have known for years:

“One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” - Gordon Hinckle


Here are five surprising benefits of volunteering:


1. Volunteering time makes you feel like you have more time. 
Wharton professor Cassie Mogilner wrote in the Harvard Business Review that her research found those who volunteer their time feel like they have more of it. This is similar to other research showing that people who donate to charity feel wealthier.

Said Mogliner: “The results show that giving your time to others can make you feel more ‘time affluent’ and less time-constrained than wasting your time, spending it on yourself, or even getting a windfall of free time.”


2. Volunteering your skills helps you develop new skills. 
In my experience, skills-based volunteering is an excellent opportunity to develop talents to help you get ahead in your career. In fact, an article in Stanford Social Innovation Review called skills-based volunteering overseas “the next executive training ground.”

At MovingWorlds, 
we’ve found that skills development in technical and leadership-related areas is the primary reason corporations invest in international skills-based volunteering programs.

(
MORE: Volunteering Pays for Job Hunters)

3. Volunteering your body helps you have a healthier body. 
A Corporation for National & Community Service report noted: “Research demonstrates that volunteering leads to better health… those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”

The fact that volunteering has been proven to make you healthier is reason enough to engage in pro bono activities. For more information on this, read “
Can Volunteering Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease?”

4. Volunteering your experience helps build your experience. 
We consistently see this with highly skilled professionals like investment bankers and business consultants. Also, volunteering in a new industry will give you knowledge to help you switch fields. And if you want to move from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, volunteering first can help prove your commitment.

Beyond our own research, 
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Next Avenue have published articles about how volunteering can help you earn your next job.

As the Journal wrote: “According to the survey of 202 human-resource executives, skilled volunteer work — such as helping a nonprofit with its finances — makes job applicants look more appealing to hiring manager.”


5. Volunteering your love makes you feel more love. 
Admittedly, love is a hard thing to measure. But when researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Volunteering builds empathy, strengthens social bonds and makes you smile  — all factors that increase the feeling of love.
​
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Council Update - June 12

6/12/2017

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We have a special council meeting Monday night in that we honor the tenure of Rodney Lloyd as Coopersville’s Mayor from November 2013 to April 2017. Representative Roger Victory will be on hand to present former Mayor Rodney C. Lloyd with an Honorarium. The city will also present Mr. Lloyd with a gift of appreciation for his outstanding service to the city and its citizens. Mr. Lloyd had to step down as mayor because his residency changed from the City of Coopersville to Wright Township. I want to thank Mr. Lloyd for his service, his dedication, and his enthusiasm for this community and for the voters that placed him there and the trust that was bestowed to him.
 
Running for public office and serving in an elected position is one of the basic tenets of our form of government. I applaud those that choose to serve in an age where other events, responsibilities, and social distractions vie for everyone’s time and attention. Late night workshops, personal appearances at city events, and of course council meetings can put a strain on one’s personal and professional life. But as I have witnessed, there is a personal commitment to the betterment of Coopersville and it is reflected by those that “serve” not only on city council but on the Planning Commission, the Downtown Development Authority Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and others. Elected and appointed officials are the foundation to the continuation of this endeavor called local government.
 
As Coopersville continues to grow economically, it fortunately has kept its essence as a friendly community with a rich tradition and a desire to continually improve its quality of life. Those that serve can take  significant pride in this fact as they have influenced the energy that has made it a reality. So again, thank Mr. Lloyd for your service, and thank you to all the other elected and appointed individuals that continue to respect and love this community.
 
As a reminder, the NEO-Forum Golf Outing is scheduled for Saturday, June 17 at Western Greens Golf Course, just southeast of Coopersville on Johnson Street. This golf outing is a “scramble” so don’t be too intimidated if you are not a good golfer or not a golfer at all. It’s really a great day of fun, an outstanding catered lunch, and a chance to receive some very nice gifts. Above all else, the golf outing is a fund raiser for the NEO Forum, a program that provides “counseling services, education, support and resources to youth in order to reduce substance abuse, violence, juvenile delinquency and other risky behaviors. The NEO Forum staff is a unique combination of a full-time counselor and an on-site Sheriff Deputy who work closely with the school personnel and community members to help our youth.” Hope to see you there, but if you have conflicts please consider sponsoring a “hole” where your name or business will be placed at the “tee-box.” Sgt. Dennis Luce has all the particulars plus there is a brochure enclosed in Council Information.
 
 As always, please have an enjoyable weekend now that decent weather has enveloped us. See you all Monday night; be SAFE out there!


Medical Marijuana Dispensary Discussion
There is a meeting at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville June 20, 2017 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM for township officials and city council members. There are a couple of keynote speakers as well as a panel discussion on the subject of Medical Marijuana that include County Prosecutors from Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan Counties, as well as the WEMET Section Commander. If you are interested, seating is limited so please contact me or Anisa Williams and we can register you; free to attend but you must register. 
 
 
REPEAT: Medical Marihuana (marijuana): Jonathan Seyferth
Due to scheduling conflicts the May 15, 2017 medical marijuana presentation was cancelled and is tentatively rescheduled for June 19, 2017 at the next Planning Commission. The public is always welcome.
 
Over the next few months we are going to engage in a long-term and slow education process on Michigan’s new medical marihuana law. That education process will include hearing from groups on both sides of the topic. At the conclusion of that education process (likely in June or July) the City Council and Planning Commission can then decide if it would like to tackle any changes to the city’s current medical marihuana ordinance.
 
This is being precipitated for two different reasons. First off, in December 2016 the state legislature passed a new law regarding commercial activities related to medical marihuana. This change authorizes five different type of commercial activities that can be engaged in when explicitly allowed by a municipality. Secondly, the city has received requests that the city consider allowing one or more of those five activities.
 
Our current ordinance regulating medical marihuana, which is found in Section 1280.21 – prohibits any commercial activity related to medical marihuana. This was put into place in July 2013. Several communities throughout the state enacted similar ordinances in the absents of clear state action on the topic. 
 
The state’s new law, the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (PA 281 of 2016) will come into effect in December 2017. The delay on implementation is to allow communities to determine what (if any) of the five activities they’ll allow and to allow the state to develop permitting for these activities.
 
The Michigan Municipal League (MML) has produced a few brief documents on the topic, I’ve included those for your reading pleasure. The MML memos outline the five activities and provides a FAQ sheet on the topic.
 
The good thing about the new state law is it gives municipalities a lot of flexibility. 1. Communities do not have to explicitly outlaw medical marijuana facilities – it’s an opt in law. 2. It’s not an all or nothing thing, a municipality can choose which of five activities to allow and how many of each it would allow (again, if any at all).

 
REPEAT - Muskegon Waste Water Treatment Plant Option
Nothing new to report at this time. There have been some rumblings as to possible funding mechanisms, but nothing of any substance. As information becomes available, and is sharable, I will keep members of this council. Please contact me if you have comments or require answers to questions.

Water Project Phase I

SEE AGENDA ITEM 8. A.
 
 
REPEAT - Master Plan Update: Jonathan Seyferth
We are nearing the end of feedback window on the draft master plan which has been ongoing since mid-February. The end of the feedback window back in March started a timeline that, if all goes according to plan, should allow the master plan to be considered for final adoption in July.
The timeline is as follows:

  • Late June – The 9-week feedback window will close in late June which is also the June Planning Commission meeting date.

  • July 17 – The Planning Commission would hold a Public Hearing on formal adoption of the master plan – step one in a two-step adoption process. If approved by the PC, it is sent to the City Council for final adoption.
 
  • July 24 – At the second City Council meeting in July, the City Council will be asked to take the second step in the process with a final adoption of the master plan.
 
A draft and executive summary of the Master Plan can be found at  www.plancoopersville.com. Updates and comments on the final draft will also be accepted on the website. 

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