HOUGHTON — Houghton City Council will consider changes to its parking ordinance next month.

The council unanimously voted to introduce an amendment that would allow the council to adjust parking rates and fines through resolution instead of amendments to the ordinance. The current fine amounts will stay in effect. 

City manager Eric Waara said the move would give the city more flexibility in adjusting to a changing parking situation. The largest change in the near future is the impending demolition of the Lakeshore Drive parking deck, which would likely be replaced by some form of surface-level parking or an eventual new deck. 

“We’ve got a lot of changes coming to parking and the way we do parking in the City of Houghton, and having to pass an ordinance every time we want to do something certainly is a bit cumbersome,” Waara said. “And there’s still quite a bit of transparency, because changing by resolution will still be done in this venue right here.”

A public hearing on the change to the ordinance is scheduled for the Aug. 10 council meeting.  

In other action, the council:

• Heard from Waara the city had noticed an uptick in minor damage or graffiti at local parks. Residents are encouraged to report vandalism to police. 

• Heard updates on grants from Waara. Word on the city’s application for a Revitalization and Placemaking grant application should come this week or next. Houghton would put the grant towards streetscape improvements on Lakeshore Drive once the deck is torn down. The city also submitted a letter of interest to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for a community storytelling grant. It would provide technical assistance to the city in marketing itself. Cities in the Redevelopment Ready Communities or Main Street programs can apply. 

• Heard from Waara the Mattila Square dock should be between three-quarters and seven-eighths finished by the end of the weekend. Steel should be arriving soon to complete the section around the AT&T cables crossing the canal. A grand opening might be held in October. 

• Two big sailboats had already pulled in Tuesday night and docked near the Portage Lake District Library overnight, Waara said. 

• Approved payments of $22,6661.32 to U.P. Engineers & Architects for work as part of Phase 3 of the city’s water system improvements.

• Approved payments of $118,760.57 to UPEA and the Michigan Department of Transportation for work on Phase 3 of sewer system improvements.

• Scheduled a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing for 4019 Mariner Court, which is seeking a variance to add an outbuilding. The hearing was scheduled for Aug. 24.