Mount Clemens opens public hearing and adopts downtown maintenance assessment rates

The Mount Clemens City Commission on Nov. 7 opened a public hearing on its downtown maintenance program, described a proposed $54,900 assessment to fund street sweeping, trash removal and snow clearing, and adopted rates to fund the program while setting a second hearing for Nov. 21, 2016.

During the hearing the chair said the enclosed materials show primary and secondary assessment areas and noted the program’s 2016–2017 expense is $54,900, with a primary rate of $9.24 and a secondary rate of $4.23. Resident and downtown stakeholders sought clarity about what services the assessment covers and who pays.

“Is there something in writing somewhere that we can see what the program is?” asked Eric Blackback, a downtown resident. City staff and downtown representatives described the service as regular street sweeping, trash removal and contract snow removal. Mickey Weiss of the Downtown Development Authority said the program is funded through assessments paid by downtown businesses — effectively collected through rents — not from the city’s general fund: “That is paid for by the individual business through our rent.”

After discussion, a commissioner moved to close the public hearing, adopt the proposed assessment rates and instruct the assessor to prepare a special assessment roll; the motion passed on a roll call vote. The commission set a second public hearing for Nov. 21, 2016 to finalize the assessment roll and rates.

Why it matters: The assessment directly charges downtown property owners and businesses for routine maintenance that supports downtown cleanliness, snow removal and the customer-facing environment. Officials said the program was established in response to a downtown merchants’ request and is intended to provide more consistent, centralized services than ad hoc vendor or merchant efforts.

What’s next: The assessor will prepare the special assessment roll for the downtown district and the commission will reconvene on Nov. 21 for a second hearing before any assessment is levied.