St. Joseph public meetings in 2025

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee will consider re-certification as a Bee City USA and discuss expanding pollinator habitat. Other items include discouraging mosquito fogging, reviewing a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and a report on housing density.

• Bee City USA February re-certification discussion
• Expanding pollinator habitat
• Mosquito control and discouraging fogging
• Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty update
• Report on housing density in St. Joseph

The committee approved the meeting minutes and the pollinator certification without dissent. It also welcomed a new committee member and passed a resolution supporting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, each by unanimous vote.

• Approved meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved pollinator certification as written (unanimous)
• Welcomed new committee member (unanimous)
• Passed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty resolution (unanimous)

City Commission

The City Commission will hold an organizational meeting following the November 4 general election. The main actions are selecting the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Public comment will be accepted in person, and the meeting is also viewable via Zoom.

• Results of November 4 general election presented
• Selection of Mayor
• Selection of Mayor Pro Tem
• Public comment period

The City Commission held an organizational meeting following the November 4 general election, seating five commissioners for the 2025-2027 term. They unanimously elected Brook Thomas as mayor and Michael Fernandez as mayor pro tem.

• Seated commissioners for November 2025-November 2027 term (unanimous: 5-0)
• Elected Brook Thomas as mayor (unanimous: 5-0)
• Elected Michael Fernandez as mayor pro tem (unanimous: 5-0)

City Commission

The St. Joseph City Commission will hold a special meeting on November 19, 2025, to conduct routine business, including a resolution authorizing bank signatures. Public comment will be taken in person only. No other substantive decisions are on the agenda.

• Resolution Authorizing Bank Signatures

The St. Joseph City Commission unanimously approved a resolution designating authorized bank depositories and signatories for the period November 19, 2025 through June 30, 2026, listing Mayor Brook Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Michael Fernandez as signatories along with Finance Director Ben Reynnells. The commission also approved several committee appointments, including replacing Mayor Thomas on three boards and appointing commissioners to the Audit, Appointment, and Hospital Finance Authority committees.

• Approved resolution authorizing bank depositories and signatories for Nov 19, 2025–Jun 30, 2026 (5-0)
• Appointed Commissioner Vetne and Commissioner Ulrey to the Audit Committee (5-0)
• Appointed Commissioner Ulrey to the Appointment Committee (5-0)
• Appointed Commissioner Sarola to the Hospital Finance Authority Subcommittee (5-0)
• Approved replacement of Mayor Thomas on Employees Retirement System Board with Commissioner Fernandez (5-0)
• Approved replacement of Mayor Thomas on Parking Subgroup with Commissioner Vetne (5-0)
• Approved replacement of Mayor Thomas on Public Works Facility Subgroup with Commissioner Fernandez (5-0)
• Mayor Thomas volunteered to give up three committee seats; commissioners stepped in

Library Board

The St. Joseph Library Board will hold a regular meeting with procedural approvals, a treasurer's report, and new business items. Key discussions include a first reading of the Library Programming Policy, edits to the Employee Policy Manual, and a website redesign proposal. The director will also report on strategic plan progress.

• First reading of Library Programming Policy
• Employee Policy Manual edit
• Website redesign proposal
• Treasurer's report with October 2025 financials
• Strategic Plan Project Report for November 2025

The board approved a $18,500 contract with Library Market to redesign the library's website, contingent upon legal review. They also formed a new Personnel Committee and accepted the October financial reports.

• Approved $18,500 website redesign contract (Library Market) contingent on legal review
• Created new Library Board Personnel Committee with Staude, Elwell, Clapper, and Leahy
• Accepted October financial reports and bills totaling $29,754.82
• Accepted October meeting minutes with two corrections
• Appointed Sharwarko to Donor Committee and Streufert to Facilities Committee
• Tabled Library Programming Policy and Employee Policy Manual edit to first reading

City Commission

The City Commission will hold a second reading of an ordinance to amend the Chapter 10 Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Financing and Development Plan. Other business includes a resolution opposing the Ax MI Tax, a Michigan Gas Utility Franchise Ordinance, and adoption of a traffic control order. The consent agenda covers routine items such as new employee introductions, a proclamation, and approval of invoices and meeting minutes.

• Second reading of ordinance amending DDA tax increment financing plan
• Resolution in opposition to Ax MI Tax
• Michigan Gas Utility Franchise Ordinance
• Baseball & Softball Field Use Policy Revision
• Armor Level IIIA Bullet Proof Vests

The Commission unanimously approved a resolution opposing the Ax Mi Tax initiative, which would eliminate property taxes statewide and cut $17.5 billion in local funding. They also approved a traffic control order establishing a school speed zone at Lincoln School, and passed the second reading of an ordinance amending the Downtown Development Authority tax increment financing plan. Consent agenda items included appointment of a city assessor, a pole banner policy, baseball field use policy, and purchase of bulletproof vests with a grant.

• Approved resolution opposing Ax Mi Tax initiative (unanimous)
• Approved second reading of Ordinance to amend DDA tax increment financing plan (unanimous)
• Approved traffic control order for Lincoln School speed limit zone (unanimous)
• Approved first reading of Michigan Gas Utilities franchise ordinance (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda: invoices, assessor appointment, pole banner policy, field use policy, purchase of 22 bulletproof vests ($35,200) with $17,600 grant, meeting minutes
• Noted MOCC salary increase of 4% for commissioners (effective automatically, no vote required)
• Approved proclamation for National Care at Home Month (unanimous)

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on a variance request from Sterling and Rose Massey to reduce the secondary front building setback from 30 to 27 feet along Langley Avenue at 1340 Margaret Place, to accommodate an irregularly shaped four-seasons room. The board will also consider approval of prior meeting minutes and discuss board changes, including appointment of a vice-chair.

• Public hearing on variance for 1340 Margaret Place (Massey) to decrease setback from 30 to 27 feet along Langley Avenue
• Approval of meeting minutes from previous session
• Board changes and appointment of Vice-Chair

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will hold a regular meeting on November 13, 2025. Items include a special event application for a Revolutionary War remembrance, a proposed revision to the baseball and softball field use policy, and discussion of the five-year master plan. The board will also receive updates and committee reports.

• Special Event Application - Lest We Forget - Revolutionary War
• Baseball & Softball Field Use Policy Revision
• Discussion of 5 Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan
• Approval of October meeting minutes
• Public Comment period

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved the October minutes, a revised Baseball & Softball Field Use Policy, and a recommendation for the City Commission to adopt a 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan with specific edits.

• Approved October minutes (6-0)
• Approved Baseball & Softball Field Use Policy revision (6-0)
• Recommended City Commission adopt 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan (6-0)
• Directed staff to review policy changes regarding field reservations and holidays
• Directed staff to include kayak rentals as a Riverview Park amenity
• Directed staff to add St. Joseph & Benton Harbor Harbor Shores trail systems to Linear Parks
• Directed staff to add Parks Board Mission Statement to plan
• Directed staff to assess alternative parking solutions for Tiscornia Beach

Planning Commission

The commission will review the city's Certified Redevelopment Ready Status. The meeting also includes a referral regarding Housing Choice and Supply Options.

• City obtains Certified Redevelopment Ready Status
• Housing Choice and Supply Options - City Commission Referral

The Commission discussed options for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) following a referral from the City Commission. Members noted that ADUs should not be used for short-term rentals or home occupations. The Commission also recognized that the city has achieved Certified Redevelopment Ready Status.

• Approved October 2, 2025 meeting minutes as amended (unanimous)
• Acknowledged City received Certified Redevelopment Ready Status from MEDC

Recreational Harbor Authority

The St. Joseph Recreational Harbor Authority will consider minutes, financial reports, and bills paid. Old business includes a discussion on marina parking. New business covers an annual employee review and a late fee request. Reports from the boat launch and manager will also be presented.

• Marina parking discussion
• Annual employee review
• Late fee request
• Boat launch report
• Manager's report

The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting and authorized payment of pending invoices. A waiver of late fees for David Wallach’s slip renewal was granted, with the condition that full payment be made by October 31. The board agreed not to pursue a gate or paving project near the marina, and decided that the city will remove the boat launch docks and winterize the facility, with staff handling off‑season repairs.

• Approved previous meeting minutes (motion carried)
• Approved invoices for payment (motion carried)
• Granted late fee waiver for David Wallach, full payment due Oct 31 (motion carried)
• Decided not to pursue gate or paving proposals near the marina (consensus)
• Stated authority lacks jurisdiction over west‑side Ridgeway parking (no action)
• Ordered city to remove boat launch docks and winterize facility (planned)
• Assigned staff to perform off‑season dock repairs (planned)

Library Board

The St. Joseph Library Board will discuss new business items including a DDA TIF Resolution and a New Mover Service, along with old business on the Design Institute Challenge 2025. The board will also receive the treasurer's report with September financials, a statistical report, and the director's report covering a website RFP and strategic plan project. Meeting minutes from September will be approved.

• Design Institute Challenge 2025 (old business)
• New Mover Service (new business)
• DDA TIF Resolution (new business)
• Website RFP (director's report)
• Strategic Plan Project Report (director's report)

The Library Board unanimously approved the September 2025 bills totaling $11,423.96 and a resolution to exempt library taxes from Tax Increment Financing Capture. The board also accepted the September financial and statistical reports.

• Approved September 2025 bills ($11,423.96)
• Approved resolution exempting library taxes from TIF Capture
• Accepted September financial reports
• Accepted September statistical reports
• Accepted September minutes with two typo corrections
• Approved agenda for October 28, 2025
• Approved adjournment at 8:10 p.m.
• Approved Animal Aid event for early December