Portage City Council Meeting - October 7, 2025
Portage City Council Meeting - October 7, 2025
The Portage City Council held its regular meeting on October 7, 2025. Key actions included awarding a contract for the new Farmers Market pavilion, approving a tax abatement transfer, making appointments to boards and commissions, and delaying first readings of two revised ordinances (solicitor/canvassers and secondhand dealers) to the next meeting. The council also heard public comments on cell tower regulation, storm debris removal, a proposed data center, and the new waste contract. The Planning Commission presented its annual report.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda as presented, excluding items 3, 6, 10, 11, and 12 which were pulled for individual discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alan Lovridge (53965 88th Ave, Marcellus, MI) requested the city create an ordinance requiring cell tower owners to pay 10% of fair market rental value to homeowners within 1,500 feet, fund a trust for mitigation measures, and disclose radiation levels. He cited property value declines and increased cancer risk.
- Justin Williams (City Purchasing Manager) introduced a group from the Southwestern Michigan chapter of Jack and Jill. Frederick Miles (Team President) asked the city to allow residents to cut up and use trees still on the ground from the May 2024 tornado, citing fire hazards and other issues.
- John Paver (5811 Forest Harbor Dr) expressed concerns about a proposed 1‑gigawatt data center in Pavilion Township and a battery energy storage system in Comstock Township. He argued the facility would consume 5–7 million gallons of water per day, provide few permanent jobs, and not generate sufficient tax revenue. He noted the state recently granted a sales/use tax exemption for such facilities.
- Jay Woodhams (4902 Bayside) questioned provisions of the newly adopted waste management contract, stating it did not match the original RFP. He raised concerns about a potential lien on property for non‑payment and asked about the opt‑out process, requesting clearer public explanation.
Discussion Items
- Planning Commission Annual Report (2025‑26) – Chair Dan Cardini presented the report. He highlighted the adoption of the Lake Center District Corridor placemaking study, the new Master Plan (August 15), continued work on Redevelopment Ready Communities certification, and zoning code updates (projected completion May 2026). He noted there are currently 11 active housing projects in the city. City Manager Pat McGinness added that the commission has approved 1,046 housing units in the past three years, contributing to 5–6% annual growth in the tax base. The council received the report.
- Public Hearing: Tax Abatement Transfer – The council held a public hearing on Resolution No. 4 to transfer an industrial facilities tax abatement certificate from DePay to CalBlue Group, Inc. for Unit One at 5870 South Sprinkle Road. The abatement runs through December 30, 2033, and the transfer involves no changes to terms. No public comments were offered, and the council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Appointments to Boards and Commissions – Following interviews, the council appointed individuals to the Construction Board of Appeals, Downtown Development Authority, Environmental Board, Park Board, Planning Commission, Senior Citizens Advisory Board, and others (see motion for full list). Approved by voice vote.
- Contract for Farmers Market Construction (Item 3) – Councilmember Young explained the item was pulled to highlight the project’s significance. Chief Operating Officer Haringa reported the city received eight bids for the $1,626,424.06 contract awarded to Quest Design Build. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for October 8, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. The council approved the contract unanimously.
- BSNA Software Maintenance Fees (Item 6) – Councilmember Burns pulled the item to discuss a provision allowing future renewals with up to 10% price increases without council approval. After discussion, City Manager McGinness and IT Director McKinder agreed to strike that language. The council voted to approve the amended motion (total $75,745) unanimously.
- Revised Solicitor and Canvassers Ordinance (Item 10) – Councilmember Urban expressed concerns about moving appeal authority from the city council to the city manager. He noted errors in the redline document and inconsistencies in language (e.g., "chief of police" vs. "director of public safety" and "moral turpitude"). The city manager explained the change was in response to a recent appeal that was awkwardly public. The city attorney clarified that closed‑session review might be possible under the Open Meetings Act only with a written legal opinion. Councilmember Urban moved to table the item to the next meeting (October 21) to correct language and consider the closed‑session option. The motion passed 7‑0.
- Revised Second Hand Dealers Ordinance (Item 11) – Councilmember Urban similarly objected to moving appeals from council to the city manager and noted identical inconsistencies. He moved to table the item to the next meeting concurrently with Item 10. The council approved the motion unanimously.
- Charitable Gaming License – Lady Husky Hoops (Item 12) – Councilmember Young explained that state law requires high school teams to obtain a gaming license for fundraisers like 50/50 raffles. The council adopted the resolution recognizing Portage Northern Women’s Basketball, Inc. as a nonprofit organization, allowing it to conduct charitable gaming.
Key Outcomes
- Farmers Market construction contract awarded to Quest Design Build ($1,626,424.06) – approved 7‑0.
- BSNA software maintenance fees approved as amended – approved 7‑0.
- Tax abatement transferred to CalBlue Group – approved 7‑0.
- Revisions to the Solicitor/Canvassers and Second Hand Dealers ordinances tabled to October 21, 2025 meeting – approved 7‑0 each.
- Charitable gaming license for Portage Northern Women’s Basketball – approved 7‑0.
- Board and commission appointments as listed – approved by voice vote.
- The council received the Planning Commission’s annual report.
- City Manager clarified waste contract: no lien provision, opt‑out available.
- Mayor announced Farmers Market funding: $1.75M from state appropriations and $1M from Charles and Lin Zhang.
Meeting Transcript
We have an aeronautical science. Good evening. I call to order the October 7th Portage City Council meeting in honor of all denominations and personal beliefs. And as we reflect in gratitude to the Rotary organization and its impact both locally and globally to create lasting change, promote goodwill and peace throughout our world. Please rise for a moment of personal introspection and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me in the pledge. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And if I could please ask the clerk to call the roll. Yes, Madam Mayor, start with Burns. Here. Ledbetter. Here. Miller. Here. Pearson. Here. Randall. Here. Urban. Here. And Young. Here. Thank you. All right. As you may have guessed, our proclamation for this evening is World Polio Day, and the Rotary President, Jose Santa Maria will read this into the official record. Good evening and welcome. Good evening, Mayor Patricia. The Rotary International Proclamation. Whereas Rotary is a global network of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities across the globe. And whereas the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, inspires members to provide humanitarian service, follow high ethical standards, and promote goodwill and peace in the world. And whereas Rotary in 1985 launched Polio Plus and in 1988 helped establish the global polo polio eradication initiative, which today includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to immunize the children of the world against polio. And whereas polio cases have dropped by 99.9% since 1988, and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease, with polio remaining epidemic in just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. And whereas polio cases, I'm sorry, and whereas to date, Rotary has contributed more than 2.7 billion and countless volunteer hours to protecting nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries. And whereas Rotary is working to raise an additional 50 million per year, which will be leveraged for maximum impact by an additional 100 million annually from the Gates Foundation. And whereas these efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical staff, laboratory equipment, and educational materials for health workers and parents. And whereas the processes Rotary helped bring to fight polio have also been used to protect communities from COVID-19 and other diseases. This illustrates the plus in polio plus. Thank you again, rotor Rotary and Rotarians for all being here this evening. The work that you do is amazing. And if you'd like to give us a heads up on some exciting things coming up in Rotary, or the floor is yours. Sure, thank you. Well, we're active in a many different ways. Currently, we are uh right this month we've got a blow drive that we uh operate. Um we're I think participating in the monster match again as we have with the city uh over the years, and we uh provide plus or minus $15,000 a year in small grants to local nonprofits uh in the community. Okay, rotary lunch and learn. And thank you. On October 29th at the Zhang Senior Center, uh, we meet on Wednesdays. We have a Rotary Lunch and Learn from for anyone that's interested in learning more about our club. Thank you.
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