ESCANABA — It will be a night of public hearings Thursday during the regular Escanaba City Council meeting. Eleven separate hearings are planned, allowing residents to weigh in topics ranging from the use of side-by-sides on city streets to utility rates.

THE BUDGET

Thursday’s meeting will include the last of five public hearings on the city’s 2022-23 fiscal year operating budget. The hearing will be followed with a vote on whether to accept the budget, establish the city’s 2022-23 millage rate, approve the city’s capital improvement plan, and adopt the 2022-23 master fee schedule.

TAXES

Two public hearings are planned supporting the budget: one on the city’s 2022-23 appropriations ordinance and one on the city’s tax levy ordinance. Both are required for the city to implement the budget. In both cases, the council is expected to hold the second readings of the ordinances, final public hearings and adopt the ordinances at a special meeting planned for 9 a.m. on May 26.

Included in the ordinances is the city’s levying 17.442 mils ($17.44 for every $1,000 of taxable value) on properties in the city for city operations — a 2.6% increase in property taxes from the currently-levied 17 mils.

UTILITY RATES

Four public hearings are planned on the city’s utility rates. Only two utilities — electric and wastewater — are planning increases for the upcoming fiscal year. For electricity, residents can expect a roughly 1.75% increase both in their per kilowatt hour and availability of service charges. Wastewater increases are significantly steeper, with a 25% increase planned per 1,000 gallons and a 25% increase in the monthly availability debt service charge, which is based on the size of water meter installed. There is no planned increase in the water rate, however, wastewater is billed based on metered water consumption. The new per-thousand-gallon wastewater charge is $8.65.

SIDE-BY-SIDES

While listed on the meeting agenda as the second reading and public hearing for a proposed ordinance that would allow side-by-sides to operate on the majority of city streets, Thursday would actually mark the third time the ordinance has been discussed by the council. Multiple residents have spoken out against the proposal, citing concerns ranging from noise to the safety of allowing the smaller vehicles to share the roadway with pickups and semis. Those concerns led the city’s attorney, Laura Vogler, to request time to review the ordinance prior to the council voting on the issues at the last council meeting on May 5.

The latest version of the ordinance, which will be reviewed Thursday, has minor changes throughout. It also includes a new section requiring the owner of the side-by-side to carry either personal or commercial insurance on the vehicle. Insurance coverage must include comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage. Proof of the owner’s name and address and insurance must also be kept in the side-by-side at all times and be produced if requested by police.

ALLEY PAVINGS

Two public hearings are planned on special assessment projects that would pave alleys. The first project is between North 18th and North 19th streets and between 6th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North; the second is between Lakeshore Drive and Grand Avenue and between 17th Avenue South and 18th Avenue South. Both paving projects were sparked by petitions from property owners.

CONDEMNATION

A public hearing will be held on the condemnation of a home located at 1607 N. 20th Street. The building was partially burned due to a lightning strike and, according to the city, appears to be abandoned.

CITY MANAGER EVALUATION

While not a public hearing, the council will discuss the evaluation questions and past annual reviews of City Manager Patrick Jordan and make any recommendations or changes to the questions for Jordan’s next review.

STREET CLOSURES FOR EVENTS

The council will also discuss closing portions of Ludington Street for a series of events planned this summer. On the docket are Downtown Sidewalk Sales on July 29, the Krusin Klassics Fun Run car parade on June 3, the “Pulling for Honor” U.P. Honor Flight fundraiser set for Aug. 6, and the Eagles Club picnic planned for July 9.

JAIL ASSESSMENT

At the city manager’s request, the council will weigh entering into a letter of engagement with Piazza Appraisal Service for the appraisal of the four city-owned properties involved in the redevelopment of the former Delta County Jail and Chamber of Commerce sites. The assessments are required for the city to sell the properties through its land sale policy — a shift from the city’s prior redevelopment plan, which required developers to submit proposals to be weighed by the council. The total cost for all appraisals would be $8,900

BANKING

The council vote on entering into a three-year contact for banking services.