Votes at a glance: Muskegon commission approves NAZ certificates, nonunion COLA, Frebel amendment, SRO contract and demolition concurrences

MUSKEGON — Actions from the City of Muskegon’s Nov. 25 general session included the following formal motions and outcomes.

- Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificates (438 & 444 East Isabella Ave.): Motion to close the public hearing and approve 15‑year NAZ certificates and authorize city clerk and mayor to sign passed by roll call (unanimous among members present).

- Cost-of-living adjustment for nonunion employees: Finance Director Kenneth Grama recommended a 3% COLA effective Jan. 1, 2026. Motion by Commissioner German to approve a 3% increase was approved by roll call.

- Building inspection services contract: Staff recommended Safe Built; after extended debate the motion to award Safe Built (mover Commissioner German) did not carry (yes: Commissioners Gorman, Kilgo, German; no: Commissioner Cochin; abstentions: Mayor Johnson and Vice Mayor St. Clair). Commission requested comparative fiscal projections; staff will present updated analysis at LPC prior to Dec. 9.

- Amendment to purchase agreement (former Frebel Elementary / Samaritas LIHTC): Commission approved an addendum to split the lot so the city retains vacant land to enable future RFPs and LIHTC scoring; motion passed.

- School resource officer (SRO) contract: Annual SRO contract renewals for Muskegon Middle and High School were approved.

- Housing Board of Appeals concurrence — demolition orders: Commissioners concurred with HBA determinations to demolish 1763 McKellridge, 1853 Sanford and 275 Draft Street. Staff estimated demolition cost at roughly $13,000–$15,000 per property; owners have 21 days to seek judicial writ of superintendence, which would stay demolition while the court considers a challenge.

Vote details and provenance for each item are recorded in the meeting transcript and minutes. Where the meeting produced abstentions or split outcomes, staff will return with additional fiscal and legal detail before scheduled future votes.

Quote: "We need to make sure we're being judicious with limited resources," Mayor Johnson said when asking staff for more fiscal detail before final contract decisions.