Public invited to learn more about the City of Mt. Pleasant’s Proposed 2050 Master Plan

The City will hold a series of public open houses regarding the proposed 2050 Master Plan. The proposed plan can be viewed online at www.mtpleasant2050.com.

On Wednesday, March 25, project consultant McKenna Associates will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Rotunda of the University Center on the campus of Central Michigan University.

On Thursday, April 23, McKenna Associates will hold two open houses. One will occur at Cops and Donuts – Central Precinct, 1327 S. Mission Street, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The other will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant’s City Hall, 320 W. Broadway Street.

Hundreds of community members participated in formal and informal activities during a four-day event in April 2019, hosted by the City and McKenna Associates. Participants shared their vision for Mt. Pleasant in the year 2050. In addition, hundreds of additional stakeholders participated in online surveys to further refine and validate the vision.

“The proposed plan establishes a clear vision for the City’s future,” said Mt. Pleasant City Planner Jacob Kain. “We are excited for the community to review the plan and learn more about how it will guide the community over the next several decades.”

The plan is organized around specific goals and objectives including Sustainable Land Use, Connected Mobility Systems, Focused Redevelopment, Exceptional Parks and Public Spaces, and Innovative Services and Aspirations.

A series of public hearings will follow later this year leading to formal adoption of the plan.

Mt. Pleasant launches rental subsidy program for new downtown businesses

Beginning January 20, 2020, a rental subsidy program will be offered to new downtown Mt. Pleasant businesses. Fully Funded by Lake Trust Credit Union, and administered by the City’s downtown development office, the Make It Mt. Pleasant Program is designed to support new retail, dining, arts and entertainment businesses. The program focuses on first floor commercial spaces within the downtown TIFA district.

Up to two businesses will be accepted and funded per year. Selected applicants will receive 12 months of rental assistance, not to exceed $4200, as well as a City fees and charges waiver not to exceed $2500. The City fees and charges waiver includes costs associated with building, sign, outdoor merchandising and outdoor dining permits.

“Lake Trust Credit Union is committed to being an engine of community well-being. By funding the Make It Mt. Pleasant program we are providing pathways to entrepreneurship and fostering economic development. Supporting a thriving downtown delivers value and drives economic impact in Mt. Pleasant,” said David Snodgrass, President and CEO, Lake Trust Credit Union. “This program creates an important bridge for business owners toward long-term success.”

Michelle Sponseller, Downtown Development Director added, “The Make it Mt. Pleasant program provides entrepreneurs valuable start-up assistance, and the opportunity to establish their business in the downtown district.”

Applications will be available starting January 20, 2020. Interested parties must schedule a pre-application meeting with City staff prior to submitting an application. Contact Michelle Sponseller at (989) 779-5348 or msponseller@mt-pleasant.org to schedule an appointment. To download a copy of the Make it Mt. Pleasant guidelines and application please visit:
http://www.mt-pleasant.org/departments/division_of_community_services/downtown_development/

Innovation and resourcefulness leads to DPS building gear dryer

At the Division of Public Safety (DPS) commitment to safety is not only the focus of service calls, but is embedded in all they do. This philosophy is bolstered by their innovative thinking and resourcefulness. The latest example is the in-house construction of a state-of-the art turnout gear dryer for its firefighters.

After last year’s significant $11,000 investment in a turnout gear washer, Director Paul Lauria and Fire Chief Rick Beltinck began researching turnout gear dryers. They became aware that self-constructed dryers made out of PVC pipes were much more economical and rivaled their commercial counterparts which cost upwards of $10,000 – $15,000.

Lauria and Beltinck shared a picture of a completed PVC dryer with the department’s fire sergeants. Fire Sergeant Rich Clark refined the design and distributed it to all Mt. Pleasant Fire Department (MPFD) shifts for suggestions. All full-time firefighters worked on the construction of the dryer with Shift 3 (Fire Sergeant Rich Clark, Equipment Operator Roger Fuller, Equipment Operator Bernie Schafer) taking the lead. After one month the dryer was completed.

The MPFD dryer possesses a capacity to dry 10-11 sets of gear at a time, whereas commercial dryers generally can handle only four sets at once. The total cost of the MPFD dryer was only $2,500 which included the PVC pipe, fittings and blower which is significantly lower than the $10,000 – $15,000 cost of a commercial dryer. Since the average cost of turnout gear is $3,000 per set, this limits the number of spare sets of turnout gear available. Therefore, it is imperative gear is quickly dried and ready for the next call.

Turnout gear collects chemicals/hazardous materials which can cause a higher rate of cancer if not cleaned properly. These hazardous materials are byproducts of combustion from a fire. The full-time firefighters were dedicated and pleased to be able to build this gear dryer for their Paid-On-Call Firefighters as it is these first responders who enter structure fires.

Mt. Pleasant Christmas Celebration Firework Display Update

Due to private fundraising efforts falling short of the $10,000 goal, there will not be a firework display at the 2019 Mt. Pleasant Christmas Celebration.

https://www.themorningsun.com/news/local/fireworks-might-be-part-of-downtown-christmas-festival/article_f01966ce-ef36-11e9-8e81-7bf7f08ce3e0.html

The Christmas Celebration, in its 26^th year, will feature two full days (December 6-7, 2019) of holiday activities beginning with a sing-along and tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday at Town Center (Broadway and Main Streets.)

Saturday highlights include the Jingle All-The-Way 5K and 5 Mile Run starting at Max & Emily’s; registration begins at 7 a.m. A pancake breakfast with Santa is scheduled from 9 a.m. – 12 noon at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, admission is $7 per person and children under four are $5. The festivities will conclude with the lighted parade which will wind through the streets of downtown starting at 6 p.m.

For a complete list of activities visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/551071875677259/

Topics to watch at the City Commission meeting – October 28, 2019

Here are the topics to watch at the next Mt. Pleasant City Commission meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2019 at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway Street.

Consider contract for environmental consulting services
Consider resolution in support of the 2020 Census.
Consider amendment to prior approval for the purchase of self-unloading trailers and appropriate budget amendment for the same.
Receive an ordinance amendment to Chapter 133: Fireworks to comply with state law and set a public hearing for November 11

To view the entire meeting packet visit: http://bit.ly/MtPMeetingAgenda

Mt. Pleasant Police Department to host first Fair and Impartial Policing Training Session for Community Members

As one component of a multi-faceted plan to promote impartial policing, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department provides its personnel with Fair and Impartial Policing (FIP) training. This state-of-the art instruction is based on the modern science of bias; recognizing that all individuals, and even well-intentioned individuals, have implicit biases which impact perceptions and behavior.

Stemming from a request from Mt. Pleasant’s Director of Public Safety, Paul Lauria, a FIP Training Session was designed specifically for community members. During this inaugural session, community members will (a) learn about the science of implicit bias and the training that the agency is providing to its personnel, (b) reflect on how implicit bias can impact police personnel and individuals in every walk of life, and (c) discuss skills that police and others can use to reduce and manage biases. During the interactive session participants will also learn about the Mt. Pleasant Police Department’s comprehensive efforts to promote fair and impartial policing.

Facilitator: FIP Master Instructor Mary Hoerig, Inspector of Police (ret.)

Mary Hoerig was a member of the Milwaukee Police Department for 25 years, and retired in 2016 as an Inspector (Deputy Chief). She served in many areas, most notably in Criminal Investigations, Internal Affairs, and Strategic Analysis. Hoerig received her BA in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University. She is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety (Police Staff and Command) and PERF’s Senior Management Institute of Police. Hoerig studied Law Enforcement Leadership at Marquette University and received her Master of Business (MBA) from Alverno College. Hoerig is a Master Instructor with the International Association of Chiefs of Police-Women’s Leadership, and former Instructor for the University of Illinois-Chicago in Procedural Justice.

This training is free and open to the public. The session is slated for November 14, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Division of Public Safety Building. Limited seating is available. To register, contact Christy Dush at cdush@mt-pleasant.org or (989) 779-5148 by November 1, 2019.

Island Park Arts Pavilion inaugural concert and ribbon cutting slated for August 5

Music lovers. Meet here. Music lovers now have a place to gather to enjoy free concerts in the park thanks to the vision of Taylor Idema, a 2019 Mt. Pleasant High School graduate. The Island Park Arts Pavilion project, in the works for four years, is the end result of Idema’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. In 2016 Idema pitched the arts pavilion idea at the United Way’s Pitch-Er event and won first place honors along with the $5,000 seed money to launch her project.

For the past few years Idema has been working with Chris Bundy, Mt. Pleasant Parks and Public Spaces Director to make her vision a reality. More than $200,000 was raised through grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe 2% Distribution, and generous donations from the Morey Foundation, W.E. Martin Fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, Isabella Bank, Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Community Credit Union, Doug and Melissa LaBelle Family Foundation, Mercantile Bank of Michigan, City of Mt. Pleasant Parks Partnership Fund, United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties, Mt. Pleasant Jaycees, Mt. Pleasant Agency, Inc. – Central Insurance.

Idema shared, “Mt. Pleasant is an active community with many talented citizens interested in not only attending fine arts events, but performing in them as well. The Island Park Arts Pavilion provides a venue for local citizens of all ages to perform, and enjoy a myriad of events close to home.” Idema continued, “Potential pavilion events include; concerts, theater and dance performances, art exhibits, ceremonies, public speeches, holiday celebrations, auctions, reunions, weddings and more.”

The public is invited to celebrate the opening of the Island Parks Arts Pavilion on Monday, August 5, 2019. This free event will begin at 6 p.m. with a short program and ribbon cutting ceremony. At 6:30 p.m. Jim McKeith, a one-man acoustic rock band, sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, will perform. At 7:15 p.m. the Central Michigan Area Concert Band will take to the stage to perform a full concert. Food will also be available for purchase from the Cruisin’ Chef Food Truck.

For information on how to reserve the Island Park Arts Pavilion contact the Mt. Pleasant Parks & Recreation Office at (989) 779-5331.

City of Mt. Pleasant receives certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

Designation facilitates private investment, improves economic development opportunities

For their efforts in establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipality assets, the city of Mt. Pleasant has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced.

The MEDC will formally present the award on Monday, March 11. A reception will be held at the Middle Michigan Development Corporation from 4:30 – 5:30. Attendees will hear remarks from city, state and legislative attendees. MEDC representatives will also be on hand at the 7:00 p.m. City Commission meeting for a brief presentation and formal awarding of certification.

Mt. Pleasant joins 30 other Michigan communities which have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning to remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors.

Other certified RRC communities include:

Allegan
Alpena
Battle Creek
Bessemer
Boyne City
Dearborn
Eastpointe
Escanaba
Ferndale
Grand Haven
Grand Rapids
Grayling
Howell
Hudsonville
Jackson
Kalamazoo
Lansing
Lathrup Village
Manistee
Marshall
Meridian Charter Township
Middleville
Muskegon
Oak Park
Petoskey
Pinckney
Roseville
Southfield
Traverse City
Ypsilanti

“Our mission at MEDC is to empower communities so they can proactively shape their future; a future built on a solid foundation of retaining and attracting business investment and talent,” said MEDC Senior Vice President Katharine Czarnecki. “Mt. Pleasant’s commitment to continuous improvement and community-focused development will pay dividends for many years to come. We look forward to further strengthening our relationship with the city and its other economic development partners.”

As an RRC participant, the city of Mt. Pleasant received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. The program evaluates and certifies communities which integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.

“The city of Mt. Pleasant prides itself on being a welcoming community,” said Mayor Will Joseph. “To be the first community in Region 5 to receive this designation, highlighting efficiency and transparency, is truly an honor and speaks volumes to the commitment of our city staff and Commissioners.”

To reach certification, the city of Mt. Pleasant undertook several notable projects: a new city-wide, character-based zoning ordinance; an update to the city’s economic development strategy; improvements to the development review process and production of a new brand and marketing strategy to guide the efforts of the city and its partners.

“We have developed and implemented new initiatives in the planning and economic development arena to keep our city attractive to not only current and prospective businesses, but residents as well,” said City Manager Nancy Ridley. “We are happy that the effort, innovative thinking and dedication of our team has been acknowledged, enabling our community to achieve this honored designation.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Nominations for Historic Preservation Improvement Awards due March 31

The City of Mt. Pleasant’s Historic District Commission (HDC) is currently seeking nominations for the 2019 Historic Preservation Improvement Awards.

The awards are presented each year to honor exterior improvements of residential and commercial properties in the City of Mt. Pleasant in four areas – Preservation, Restoration, New Construction or Downtown Historic District Choice. Nominated properties must be at least 25 years old, and improvements must have been completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2018.

The HDC will evaluate applications that best reflect the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Details can be found at http://www.mps.gov/tps/standards.htm. Winners will be announced on May 13 as part of National Historic Preservation month.

Michelle Sponseller, Downtown Development Director shared, “These awards offer individuals an opportunity to recognize and express appreciation to their fellow residents who not only take pride in maintaining their property, but are dedicated to retaining its historic character.” She added, “Over the past three years we have honored three commercial properties which have safeguarded the historical charm of our downtown area and in 2019 we are hoping to receive nominations for residential properties as well. This impressive commitment to preserving the past while offering modern amenities continues to be a draw to our many year-round visitors.”

Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m. on March 31, 2019. Nomination forms can be found on the City’s website at http://www.mt-pleasant.org/boards_and_commissions/HDC.asp.

For more information, contact Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller at (989) 779-5348 or msponseller@mt-pleasant.org.

City to hold fourth Citizens’ Academy of Mt. Pleasant; now accepting applications

The fourth Citizens’ Academy of Mt. Pleasant is now accepting applications. Presented by the City of Mt. Pleasant, the academy is designed to engage members of the community and to expand their knowledge of the structure and functions of local government.

Participants will attend seven, three-hour weekly sessions beginning Tuesday, February 19. Each session will offer an in-depth look at the fundamentals of the City’s administration and budget; public works and utilities; parks and recreation; public safety; and community development. Additional topics covered include the basics of local government, elections and more.

The Citizens’ Academy is open to anyone living, working, owning property or attending school in the City.

“The Citizen’s Academy is an opportunity for residents to capture a close up view of how a municipality operates.” said Mt. Pleasant City Planner Jacob Kain. “Past participants have indicated the program is informative, enjoyable and has broadened their insight into local government.”

Registration for the academy is free and space is limited. Sessions will occur on the following Tuesdays: February 19, February 26, March 12, March 19, April 2, April 9, and April 16. Graduates of the academy will be recognized at the April 22 City Commission meeting.

Applications are available at City Hall or online, and are accepted until January 31, 2019. Find the application and learn more at www.mt-pleasant.org/citizensacademy