ESCANABA — A number of items that have filled the Escanaba City Council agendas over the past few months will be revisited Thursday.

MARIJUANA

The council will continue a discussion on the future of retail marijuana sales in the city.

Prior discussions have revolved around where retail establishments could be located. Early maps limited the establishments to non-residential zones and locations that were 1,000 feet from any school, church, library or commercial daycare facility.

Council Member Karen Moore, who has pushed for a significantly more restrictive set of rules for marijuana establishments than the rest of the council, argued at the last city council meeting the city should establish what she described as a “dedicated zone” for retail sales. Distinct from a change to zoning, her plan would establish what is commonly referred to by urban planners as an “overlay district.” Overlay districts establish areas where a special use may take place without rezoning the underlying area or modifying the rules for an existing zoning classification.

Specifically, Moore suggested the Lincoln Road corridor as a possible area, which was in line with one of the suggestions brought to the meeting by City Manager Patrick Jordan.

CITY MANAGER ­EVALUATION

The council will approve the results of Jordan’s annual review during Thursday’s meeting.

The council spent more than an hour in closed session at its July 7 meeting to discuss the city manager’s performance. When the council reconvened in open session, Council Member Ron Beauchamp proposed the creation of a council to redraft Jordan’s contact — something that had taken place when Beauchamp served on the council previously.

“I wasn’t planning to do this, but in light of some of the last comments that were made during the closed session, I’d like to suggest that council form a committee (of) at least two — only two — council members to look at drafting a new contract for the city manager, and present that document to council for consideration,” said Beauchamp at the meeting. “I would ask that I be appointed and I would recommend the mayor, but only because he is the mayor.”

The council approved the creation of the committee with only Moore voting against the motion.

JAIL REDEVELOPMENT

The council will hear an update from Jordan on the future redevelopment of the sites of the former Delta County Jail and Delta County Chamber of Commerce buildings. Jordan has been working with three local developers interested in purchasing the properties to construct a hotel, condos and expand the existing North Shore Marine Terminal and Logistics ship repair operations.

PROPERTY SALE

The council will readdress a potential sale of a city-owned lot to Kelli Van Ginhoven, who wishes to construct a home on the lot, located at 419 South 32nd St.

At the July 7 meeting, the council discussed Van Ginhoven’s bid of $22,500 for the property, which has been appraised by the city assessor at $34,000 and privately at $36,000. Jordan was directed to continue working with Van Ginhoven to develop an acceptable purchase price after the council found the original bid to be too low.

ROAD CLOSURE

The council will consider closing Ludington Street from 10th Street to 14th Street for Yooperfest on Saturday, Sept. 10. The event will feature live music from ten bands and alcohol and food vendors.

DAVIS BACON

As part of the city’s ongoing water infrastructure projects, the council will vote on whether to hire the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) to conduct a Davis Bacon Act wage review at a cost not to exceed $13,325. The review is required for projects funded through the state’s Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund and funds are available and allocated through the fund.

CONDEMNATION

The council will vote whether to condemn a home located at 1002 Stephenson Avenue, which has been deemed unsafe to occupy in its current condition. The city has been working with the property owners and other interested parties since April of 2021. In June, the city was informed a foreclosure sale is pending on the property, and as a result, Code Compliance Inspector Blaine DeGrave is asking the issue be readdressed in August.