City Commission Adopts International Property Maintenance Code

City Commissioners recently adopted the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), which establishes minimum and consistent maintenance requirements for existing residential, rental and commercial buildings.

History and Implementation of IPMC

Established in 1999 by the International Code Council, the IPMC is widely used in more than 40 states as well as the following comparable Michigan communities: Allendale, Alma, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Brighton, Charlevoix, Grand Rapids, Iron Mountain, Kalamazoo and Royal Oak. In Mt. Pleasant, the IPMC has been in effect for rental properties since 2007.

Benefits

The IPMC ensures consistency across all building types, and is compatible with International and State Codes. This provides clear expectations for property owners and occupants and specifically defines the Code Official’s role. With the IPMC, additional grant funding may be available.

Notification, Education and Enforcement

If a property has an exterior maintenance issue, city staff will contact the resident and/or property owner directly. The city will then follow these steps:

Provide education regarding property standards and responsibilities.
Suggest how to remedy the situation.
Share grant funding information, if applicable.
Issue a citation if the matter is not rectified.
Appeals are heard and ruled upon by the Building, Fire and Sanitation Sewer Board.
Appeals of board decisions go to Isabella County Court.

With IPMC, what property maintenance ordinances will remain the same?

Tall Grass Ordinance (96.05)
Solid Waste Ordinance (50.02)
Lighting Standard (96.13)

For more information regarding the IPMC and examples of exterior maintenance issues visit: www.mt-pleasant.org/IPMC.

Summary of Minutes of the City Commission Meeting – June 12, 2023

Summary of Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held Monday, June 12, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 320 W. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with virtual options.

Received petitions and communications.

Approved the following items on the Consent Calendar:

8) Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held May 22, 2023.

9) 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan.

10) Resolution granting a nine-month extension of Rio’s Happy Tree’s conditional authorization.

11) Payrolls and Warrants.

Discussed possibility of a City information and engagement booth at the Mt. Pleasant Farmer’s Market. City Manager Desentz will work with staff to develop a plan.

Director of Planning & Community Development Manuela Powidayko gave a presentation and led a discussion on owner-occupied residential incentive program. Commission agrees to not bring back the program.

Adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.

Topics to Watch at the Mt. Pleasant City Commission Meeting – June 12, 2023

Here are the topics to watch at the next in person, as well as virtual Mt. Pleasant City Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, June 12, 2023 at 7 p.m.

Consider approval of the proposed 2024 – 2029 Capital Improvement Plan.
Consider resolution extending conditional approval of a Class A Adult-Use Marihuana Grower and Adult Use Marihuana Retailer for Rio’s Happy Tree, LLC at 1012 N. Landing Street.
Discussion on Owner-Occupied Residential Incentive Program.

To view the entire meeting packet visit:

Click to access E-Packet%20for%20June%2012,%202023.pdf

How to follow public meetings:

The City Commission Meeting will be held in person in the City Chambers/City Hall (320 W. Broadway Street) with virtual attendance options as well. Non-voting participants may view the meeting live on the City’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/MtPleasantMi/, on Spectrum Charter channel 188 or via Zoom.

If a virtual option becomes unavailable due to technical difficulties, the meeting will continue as scheduled. Residents who would like to provide a comment during the appropriate time are welcome to come to the meeting at City Hall, or email their statement to comments@mt-pleasant.org.

To participate via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88222114197?pwd=NlBOS09laWh1OWU0RUF6QWJHZE9RZz09

Meeting ID: 882 2211 4197

Passcode: 016166

Phone dial-in: (312) 626-6799

Audio and video will be muted for members of the public and then unmuted by the host during public comment periods.

For participants accessing via computer or smartphone please use the “Raise Your Hand” icon to indicate you would like to speak. First, click on the “Participants” icon at the bottom of your screen. Next, click on the “Raise Your Hand” icon near the bottom right corner of the screen.

To raise your hand for telephone dial-in participants, press *9.

Members of the public may be muted or removed if using abusive language or if they become disruptive to the meeting.

Virtual attendance to the meeting and participation during public comment periods will be conducted as follows:

Members of the public are asked to provide their name and address with any comments.
Comments/Questions may be sent ahead of the meeting, or during the meeting via email to comment@mt-pleasant.org. Comments sent via email will be read aloud to the Commission during the public comment period.

Individual commissioners can be contacted at the following email addresses:

Mary Alsager malsager@mt-pleasant.org

Brian Assmann bassmann@mt-pleasant.org

Elizabeth Busch ebusch@mt-pleasant.org

Bryan Chapman bchapman@mt-pleasant.org

Maureen Eke meke@mt-pleasant.org

Amy Perschbacher aperschbacher@mt-pleasant.org

Boomer Wingard bwingard@mt-pleasant.org

Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate may call the Human Resources office at (989) 779-5314. Persons requiring speech or hearing assistance may contact the City through the Michigan Relay Center at 711. A 48-hour advance notice is necessary for accommodation.

Sidewalk Snow Plowing Reminders

Sidewalk snowplowing by City staff does not start until the City streets, alleys and parking lots have been cleared. City staff snowplows 25 miles of residential sidewalk, no salt is used.

For a map on which sidewalks are plowed visit: https://bit.ly/3JwVpAu. For those residential sidewalks not currently being plowed by City staff, please keep the safety of your family and neighbors in mind and remove the snow from your sidewalk and mailbox approach as soon as practical after inclement weather.

For Commercial and Industrial Property Owners: City ordinance requires commercial and industrial property owners to clear sidewalks within 18 hours after sleet, freezing rain or snow stops falling, with the exception of Sundays and holidays (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day). In this case, snow must be cleared by noon the day following the Sunday or holiday. If the snow or ice is too hard to remove, the owner must spread enough sand or other abrasive material to make travel safe and as soon as weather permits, and must clear a path of at least 48 inches in width.

Cross Connection Inspections to Begin on Residential Properties

A cross connection is a point in a plumbing system where it is possible for a non-potable substance, such as a chemical, to come into contact with the potable (safe) drinking water supply. Most cross connections occur beyond the customer’s service connection, within residential, commercial, institutional or industrial plumbing systems.

Michigan’s Safe Drinking Water Act protects drinking water and prevents cross connections that may pose a hazard to the potable water supply. In the past, the Water Department has focused its efforts on addressing cross connections at commercial and industrial properties due to their greater risk for potential contaminants. While these inspections will continue, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is now requiring inspections of potential cross connections with residential properties. Most residential cross connections are found at a home’s exterior hose bib connection (your outside hose connection), or with a residential irrigation system.

At the end of May Hydrocorp, the entity conducting the exterior residential inspections, will be sending letters to some residents to inform them when their property will be inspected. Residential inspections will be completed in phases over a multi-year process. Underground irrigation systems will likely need to have their backflow prevention device tested. If so, the property owner will be notified.