Ludington City Council, April 11, 2022: If There's Grass on the Field, Play Ball

[XLFD]

Historically, the April 11, 2022 meeting of the Ludington City Council will be remembered as the point at which the City of Ludington switched from an opt-out/wait-and-see approach to marijuana businesses to an opt-in/let's-do-this approach.  The long meeting, about 2 3/4 hours in open session, featured 18 people speaking during the first comment period (16 talking about the topic du jour) and 13 for the end-of-the-meeting forum. 

At that point the issue had been decided by the council.  With Councilors May, Winczewski, and Johnson of the first three wards deciding to continue the status quo, the day looked initially like things wouldn't change, since Councilor Terzano (who cheated towards opting-in during the original opt out in 2019, before he was elected onto the council in 2020) was the only one leaning towards opting in, and Councilor Stibitz, an elementary school teacher who determinedly opted out three years ago on behalf of the kids.  

Apparently, the kids have grown up in her viewpoint, as she decided that marijuana businesses now deserved to have a chance, but she expects a lot of regulation.  Councilor Wally Cain used the sourceless statistics provided in the packet to change his view also.  With the large crowd of about equal contingents of opt-out and opt-in advocates, along with their past voting records, both were likely afraid to be the one to cast the fourth vote either way.  

That vote fell to Councilor Bulger who referenced his position to being similar to the final senator not to impeach 17th POTUS Andrew Johnson.  Shortly thereafter he indicated he would be interested in potentially regulating it; and thus, love it or hate it, history was made.

  Gordon McDougall, father of LASD student Henry McDougall, whose tragic death was likely due to marijuana use, speaks against marijuana businesses

The vote was somewhat surprising had the councilors tallied the sentiments of those who spoke.  Of the 16 who expressed a view on the topic, ten spoke for continuing to opt-out, including the last six.  Their stories even appeared to be more compelling, Sam Hernandez indicating how downtown Ludington had changed in his lifetime, from offering every store one would need, to what it is now.  Gordon McDougall reminding earlier speakers that the proliferation of lottery ticket and windmills over time isn't the same as the drug under review, whose effects led to the death of his son.

Even with such controversy, the speakers comported themselves well during the initial discussion, after the decision had been made, seven of the twelve commenters at the end supported the council's decision, with a couple of the earlier pro-marijuana voices, Larry Ames and Jason Adam, pressing the issue a little further.  DDA member Adam, beneficiary of undue rental-rehab funds, threatened to put it on a future local ballot if the City dragged its legs.  Watch for him to be a retailer at the least.

The long meeting had other issues that deserve mention, albeit less historical as seen in the agenda packet.  

The council passed a 5-year agreement allowing those who have condominiums at Harbor Front to use the facilities at the Harbor View Marina (such as the clubhouse and the swimming pool) for a monthly fee.  It continues an existing pact between the private condo association and the 'public' HV marina leased from the state and ran by the City of Ludington.  Since HV marina does not offer this package to other organizations and individuals, in fact they totally exclude all others except this one private group (not slipholders) in their signage, the COL has set itself up for a potential federal lawsuit under the Fourteenth Amendment. 

They set the table to vote at the next meeting (April 25th) to do another historical move in creating their own Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA), rather than use the county's.  This will almost assuredly wind up as a bad deal for the citizen's of Ludington, as the council's mercurial temperaments and crony entanglements inside the city will likely have the COL's BRA give away a lot of resources under the hope that they can redevelop problem areas.  The biggest advantage I see for this move is that it should be easier to track the money trails.  

At the next meeting they will also likely enter into a three year contract through ordinance with Assessor Dan Kirwin, whose remuneration will remain the same as he currently receives.  They approved a couple of budget adjustments, with PM Township receiving a modest 'water refund' after having been found to be overbilled at a couple of locations.  

They also did these routines:  1) approved a resolution for them to apply for MDOT right of way permits along state highways in the city.  2) approved a letter of support for the carferry for a grant application (MARAD AMHA).  3)  adopted a proclamation in support of Lemonade stands, to benefit cancer research.  4) Approved the COLDNews Western Michigan Boat & RV Show for 2022 to be held at Rotary Park (rather than the city marina).   

Before the initial public comment, LPD Chief Kozal announced that they were promoting Mike Fort to be a sergeant.  After some effort, his oldest son pinned his new badge on him, and then they left shortly thereafter, expecting potential fireworks.  

Beyond the closed session held at the end of the meeting (where they once again botched it), two other topics came up that will be dealt with in a future post in some detail, including my comments that were admittedly, cannabis free, but not controversy free.

[Willy]

Thanks for the report X. I think people will end up regretting the dope deal, especially when they have to walk or drive past the stores that will be selling it. I can't imagine families walking past the shops and looking thru the windows at all of the drug paraphernalia on display. I would say to each their own but this goes far beyond that. Next we will be approving cocaine shops. I wonder if children will be allowed into these stores to look around. DDA member, Adam made a statement I agree with regarding to let voters decide. I could be wrong but didn't a majority of Ludington voters cast their ballots against the referendum to legalize pot? What's next?

[XLFD]

I got the impression that Jason Adam expected the issue to fail to move and had prepared the ballot threat speech or that he (as a city official himself) knew how the city can operate without proper inertia. 

Either way, I preferred the local ballot initiative myself when this first came up in 2019 and expected Jake Muzzo or some other RM activist to move that way in 2020.  One thing that works against such RM initiatives is that their advocates appear to be too mellowed out to go through the BS of getting it on the ballot.  I know if I was on the city council, I would have encouraged a vote on the controversial issue by the people of Ludington so that there would be a popular mandate for whatever turned out to win. 

In Ludington, if I remember right, RM passed in all but one or two wards, but that of course wasn't for the question of local Ludington RM businesses. I could see votes changing either way; it would be a great exercise in democracy.