Owosso workshop narrows priorities to infrastructure, curbside recycling and park accessibility

At a workshop of the Owosso City Council, staff presented a preliminary report and guided council members through three stations to prioritize capital projects and equipment, initiatives and policies, and teamwork improvements.

The exercise is intended to inform the city’s capital improvement program and a final implementation plan staff will deliver for the council’s Jan. 20 meeting, at which the council will be asked to adopt the report and implementation plan.

Staff said responses to a pre-workshop questionnaire showed close alignment between council and staff on top priorities, which include infrastructure repair and improvements, a state-mandated curbside recycling program, downtown revitalization and employee retention. The preliminary report and station materials listed roughly 100 master-plan-related accomplishments for fiscal years 2023–24, which staff used to illustrate progress and remaining tasks.

During the session staff explained how the exercise works: council members mark three top priorities and three second-tier priorities at each of three stations (capital projects and equipment, initiatives/programs/policies, and teamwork). Staff will combine the stickers and written additions with the preliminary report and produce a final implementation plan for the Jan. 20 meeting.

Curbside recycling received repeated attention. Staff described the curbside recycling requirement as a state mandate and said the council previously approved a work group with the Cook Family Foundation to prepare for public engagement. Staff noted there is time to prepare the program and that some implementation steps can be phased; they said the council has until 2028 to meet the stated deadline.

Parks and playgrounds were debated in detail. Staff said the new playground equipment at Grand Avenue Park will cost about $35,000 and described accessible-playground improvements as a priority raised in the parks and recreation master-plan survey. Council members discussed possible sites for accessible equipment, including Bentley and Grove Holman Park, and noted related needs such as parking and sidewalk access. Staff said a splash pad site has sufficient water pressure to support expansion but that cost will determine scale.

Staff described an existing water fill service at the Department of Public Works on Milwaukee Street that private contractors and pool companies use to fill tanks. The city stopped a direct residential pool-fill service in 2024 because of liability concerns for work on private property. Staff said private pool-fill companies remain available and that contractors pay a deposit (staff mentioned $16.50 as an example) and self-report usage on a written log.

Infrastructure topics included storm-sewer capacity and a potential overflow point where two 6-inch lines run under the river; staff said that one of those lines may be in poor condition. Flooding issues on Chesapeake and Westbound were cited and staff said they are pursuing engineering studies for those areas as well as work on Caledonia.

Council and staff also discussed improving meeting audio and video. Staff said Todd and Amy are working to replace the council chamber audio system and that recorded meetings or videos could be posted to a YouTube channel or the city web site; staff noted storage and hosting considerations.

Staff asked council whether they wanted quarterly progress reports on the implementation plan; staff said they plan to provide updates if the council prefers. The workshop concluded with a routine motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance Motion to adjourn — motion passed (voice vote: aye); five council members present and voted aye.

Ending Staff will compile the workshop stickers, notes and the preliminary report into a final implementation plan for the Jan. 20 council packet and will return to the council for formal adoption and quarterly updates as requested.