City of Coopersville
  • About
    • City Services
    • History
    • Demographics
    • Education
    • Location & Transportation
    • Economic Development
    • Codified Ordinances for the City of Coopersville
  • Departments
    • Building Department
    • City Assessor
    • City Clerk >
      • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
      • Business & Peddler Licensing
      • Codified Ordinances
      • Elections
    • City Manager
    • City Treasurer >
      • Property Data Records
      • Bid Opportunities
    • Coopersville Historical Museum
    • Department of Public Works
    • Fire & Rescue Department
    • Human Resources
    • Ottawa County Sheriff's Branch
    • Parks Department
    • Planning and Zoning >
      • Master Plan
    • Recreation Department
    • Water & Sewer >
      • CCR
  • Forms
  • Government
    • City Council
    • Boards & Commissions
    • Ottawa County
    • State of Michigan
    • United States of America
  • Community Links
    • Discover Coopersville
    • Churches
    • Coopersville Area Community Foundation
    • Coopersville Area District Library
    • Coopersville Area Public Schools
    • Coopersville - Polkton Cemetery
    • Downtown Development Authority
    • Property Tax & Utility Billing Lookup
    • Senior Guidance
    • Utilities, Realtors & Rentals
  • Meeting Minutes
    • City Council Meeting Minutes
    • Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
    • Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes

Council Update - January 23

1/25/2017

0 Comments

 
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.    

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Archives

    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015


    Categories

    All
    Bridges & Roads
    Celebrate Coopersville
    Chamber Of Commerce
    Citizens
    City Hall
    Construction
    Coopersville
    Council
    DDA
    Del Shannon Days
    Downtown
    DPW
    Economic Outlook
    Elections
    Finances
    Historical
    Legacy
    Master Plan 2035
    Medical Marijuana
    Museum
    NEO Forum
    Planning
    Recreation
    Rescue
    Second River Crossing
    Sewer
    Snowlplowing
    Staff
    Technology
    Volunteer
    Water
    WWTP


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.