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Council reviews redline revisions to code chapters 16–19 covering sidewalks, parking, hoverboards and water rules
Summary
Staff presented redline changes to chapters 16–19: updates include DPW authority for temporary street closings, sidewalk repair and petition rules with cost caps, inclusion of hoverboards in skate/roller rules, revised overnight parking hours, and updates to water regulations to reflect EGLE cross-connection control rules.
Council reviewed a comprehensive redline of chapters 16–19 of the village code in a multi-part presentation from staff and a consultant.
The redline proposes procedural and technical edits across street and sidewalk sections: changes include granting the DPW superintendent authority to issue emergency street openings and temporary closings, clarifying that property owners are responsible for ditches and private culverts, and adding a provision allowing property owners to petition the village to cover up to 50% of sidewalk replacement costs with a maximum cap (the draft language included a $10,000 cap in the petition program). Staff also proposed that the village assume responsibility for sidewalk repair costs caused by direct village action.
Chapter 17 updates were largely administrative (website-location updates and fee-date language removed to avoid future date errors). In the traffic and parking chapter staff recommended restricting parking on public streets between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. (the drafter noted some earlier language showed 2 a.m.) and replacing references to a "parking violations bureau" with the police department. The redline included increases to several nominal fine amounts to make enforcement practical.
Chapter 19 (utilities and water) adds cross-connection-control language in line with EGLE requirements, updates department names (village vs. department wording), and modernizes material references (for example, PVC for service lines). Staff discussed billing cycles (quarterly, ~91-day cycles), a 10% late penalty after the due date, and a $20 fee for turning water service off and on. Council asked staff to include a statutory misdemeanor citation (MCL references discussed) related to tampering with service.
The council highlighted grammar/capitalization fixes, asked the presenter to standardize departmental titles (village clerk vs. village Clerk), and signaled they intended to send the revised code through the planning commission and the required 30-day review prior to a public hearing.
Why it matters: The redline bundles substantive policy and technical changes that affect everyday administration — who can temporarily close streets, how sidewalks are repaired, overnight parking enforcement, and water-service rules tied to state regulatory requirements. Several items (sidewalk petition caps, fee changes, and cross-connection rules) have direct cost and compliance implications for property owners.
What to watch for: The council must follow the procedural 30-day review and public-hearing steps; staff indicated grammatical edits and statutory citations will be corrected before the next reading.
