(Publisher’s note: Due to the storms that rolled in on Tuesday night, I did not attend the Chelsea City Council meeting. Buzz is not a fan of thunderstorms. So, this reporting is done from the video of the meeting that is produced by Randy Lee and can be found on the city’s website here.)
By a 4-3 vote, the Chelsea City Council meetings and all other public meetings that take place in the City Council chambers, will immediately return to Zoom meetings through Jan. 1, 2022.
The city declared a local state of emergency due to escalated transmission levels of the Delta variant and “so as not to place at risk members of the public, city staff, or members serving on appointed boards.”
Council Members Jane Pacheco, Jennifer Kwas, and Tony Iannelli as well as Mayor Melissa Johnson voted in favor of adopting the resolution and Council Members Peter Feeney, Charles Wiseley and Cheri Albertson voted no.
In other business, the City Council voted 7-0 to set a date of Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. as a review session for the city’s goals and objectives, and the elected officials encouraged all residents, especially those running for city council, to attend the meeting, which will be held via Zoom.
Council Members also approved a date of Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. for a public hearing for the draft 2021-2025 Parks and Recreation Plan, which is expected to be made available to everyone on the city’s website next week.
The City Council also unanimously approved the Chelsea POP 2.0 plan, which will include a number of traffic calming devices throughout the city. This year’s focus is on East and West Middle Streets, Van Buren. East, Madison and Washington streets. Included are bike lanes, speed cushions on Washington Street, and painted crosswalk markings. (See the end of this story for a map of the placements.)
Also in a 7-0 vote, Council Members approved a ramp project award for about $50,000 to Midwest Consulting to install five on-street van accessible parking spots downtown. This is part of a consent agreement to enhance accessibility in the city.
Also unanimously approved was an extension of the city’s social district plan downtown. With no complaints filed with either the city or the police department, Community Development Director Julia Upfal requested the extension through Jan. 2, 2022 on behalf of the participating restaurants. Included in the request is a closure of the district on Oct. 9 to accommodate the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce Backyard Beer Garden event, which will take place in Palmer Commons.
A map amendment to the city of Chelsea zoning Map for a property on 508 Grant Street from R-C (Recreational-Conservation) to R-1 (single family residential) was unanimously approved on first reading.
City Manager John Hanifan updated on the City Council that there will be fiber cable work that involves some trenching taking place downtown in various locations in October. It’s part of the Lyndon Township fiber network connections to the schools. He said there will be new concrete poured but that metal plates might be placed to cover the openings until the new concrete is poured.
