Bay City Commission approves $220,000 CDBG sidewalk contract, receives planning report and confirms two mayoral appointees

The Bay City Commission on the consent agenda approved a contract with Customer Concrete and Excavating LLC of Fennville, Michigan, not to exceed $220,000 for the 2025 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) sidewalk replacement project.

The approval drew extended discussion from commissioners concerned about whether CDBG funds were being used fairly across wards and whether sidewalk dollars could be reallocated for street repairs. "This money was set aside for sidewalks," Rachel, a city staff member who answered commissioners' questions, said. "We do have $500,000 from the CDBG that's going towards local streets. We'll be doing that construction this summer. We're in the middle of design right now." Rachel said the $220,000 award is part of money already earmarked for sidewalks and that streets and sidewalks have separate allocations in the capital improvement program, which is posted online.

Commissioner Bernie Overshaw asked that the item be referred back to staff so the commission could consider using funds for streets or pothole repairs, noting he believed the city had "$5,000,000" available; the referral motion received no second and died on the floor. Commissioners requested that staff provide a ward-level list of planned street and sidewalk projects. Rachel said the sidewalk program is prioritized using a 2021 inventory and a heat map identifying the worst sidewalk conditions, and the city’s GIS coordinator is updating that inventory.

Also on consent, the commission voted to receive planning commission minutes (various 2024 dates) and zoning board of appeals minutes, and it received the planning and zoning department annual report for 2024. That annual report vote prompted questions from Commissioners about whether the zoning board of appeals had been meeting regularly and whether neighborhood residents had received notice about a downtown project called Water Street Lofts. Terry Maultain, a planning staff member, said the Water Street Lofts project required planning-commission action as a special use because it is proposed at four stories; he said the city follows the Michigan Planning Enabling Act for public hearings and mailing notices to property owners within 300 feet and advertises required notices in the Bay City Times. Maultain also said a separate inquiry described in an email concerned 1113 Center Avenue and that the 1113 Center Avenue matter was not a low-income housing project.

On the planning report vote, Commissioner Bernie Overshaw voted no; the motion otherwise carried.

Finally, the commission confirmed two mayoral appointments to the Midland Street Management Board — Garrett Whaley and Jeffrey Dodick — for terms to expire June 30, 2027. Commissioner Tenney moved the appointments, Commissioner Morris seconded, and the appointments were approved. City staff said there are six total openings on that board and several applications under review; staff described appointment selections as made by the mayor with commission consent.

Votes at a glance: - Consent item 6 — Contract award to Customer Concrete and Excavating LLC for the 2025 CDBG sidewalk replacement project, amount not to exceed $220,000. Motion passed (roll call recorded 9 yes). Mover: Commissioner Runberg (recorded as the member who moved the consent item); Second: Commissioner Prince. - Consent item 10 — Receive planning commission meeting minutes (dates: 7/17/24; 8/20/24; 9/18/24; 10/16/24; 11/20/24). Motion passed (roll call recorded unanimous among those voting). - Consent item 11 — Receive zoning board of appeals meeting minutes (dates listed in packet). Motion passed. - Consent item 12 — Receive planning and zoning department annual report (2024). Motion passed (roll call recorded 8 yes, 1 no — Commissioner Bernie Overshaw voted no). Mover: Commissioner Coakley; Second: Commissioner Runberg. - Consent item 14 — Approve mayoral appointments Garrett Whaley and Jeffrey Dodick to the Midland Street Management Board, terms to expire 06/30/2027. Motion passed (roll call recorded 9 yes). Mover: Commissioner Tenney; Second: Commissioner Morris.

Why it matters: The CDBG sidewalk award and the planning and zoning report address near-term capital spending and neighborhood change; commissioners sought clarity on how federal CDBG dollars are prioritized across wards and on whether public-notice requirements were followed for major downtown projects. The commission asked staff for ward-level lists and updated sidewalk inventory material that will inform upcoming construction this summer.

What’s next: Staff said sidewalk design work is underway and that the local-streets construction funded by CDBG is planned for this summer. Commissioners requested that staff provide lists showing which streets and sidewalks are scheduled per ward and additional detail on the sidewalk inventory updates.