The Alma City Commission on the regular agenda approved several resolutions and routine actions: two zoning ordinance adoptions, a conditional rezoning agreement, awards for annual chemical procurement for the wastewater treatment plant, a $21,104 engineering purchase order for the Charles Avenue sidewalk extension, designation of permitted depository institutions for city funds, the appointment of city legal counsel, investment ratifications and adoption of poverty-exemption guidelines.
Key items approved include:
- Ordinance No. 846: conditional rezoning of 245 East Warwick Avenue from OS (Office Services) to B2 (General Business) to allow a drugstore/pharmacy near the hospital. The commission adopted the ordinance and separately authorized execution of a conditional rezoning agreement between the city and RZJ Properties, LLC; the agreement reverts to OS if the property ceases the specified use but is transferable under the conditions stated in the agreement.
- Ordinance No. 847: rezoning multiple city-owned parcels in State Street Plaza from B2 (General Business) to WF (Waterfront) to facilitate flexibility for waterfront redevelopment and to allow sale and future redevelopment of the former transportation office building and adjacent parcels.
- Purchase order: approved request for purchase to OM Advisors for engineering and project oversight services on the Charles Avenue sidewalk extension and boardwalk project in the amount of $21,104; the project is funded in part by a $168,000 grant to complete the Charles Avenue multi-use path.
- Chemical procurement awards: low bids accepted for ferric chloride and sodium hypochlorite (sodium hypochlorite price referenced at $1.72 per gallon; ferric chloride approximately $1,145 per dry ton); staff reported stabilizing prices compared with last year.
- Designation of depositories: the commission designated a list of banks and credit unions as approved depositories for city funds.
- City attorney appointments: the commission appointed Adam Flory as city attorney and Pamela Mundellow as assistant city attorney and accepted that the firms held their prior two years' rates.
- Investment ratification and adoption of poverty-exemption guidelines: the commission ratified several short-term investments and adopted poverty exemption guidelines required for the March board of review.
- Federal transit authorization: the commission approved project authorization for Section 5311 operating formula grant funds for rural transit services (application/project 2022-bridal-05/p7 FY 2025) and authorized the mayor and clerk to execute the agreement.
Most measures passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition on the meeting transcript. Where discussion occurred it was brief: staff advised the commission that rezoning to WF is intended to streamline redevelopment opportunities for city-owned State Street parcels and that the OM Advisors engineering purchase would allow construction to be coordinated with neighborhood street work. Several items were routine annual or procurement approvals required by ordinance or grant processes.