Welcome to the City of New Buffalo: The Gateway of Michigan!

BOARD OF REVIEW - The City of New Buffalo Board of Review will meet at City Hall, 224 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo MI 49117 on the following dates:

Monday March 17, 2014 from 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm, 6pm-8pm

Tuesday March 18, 2014 from 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm

Saturday March 22, 2014 from 9am-12pm

To make an appointment, please call 269-469-1500

Letters of appeal must be received by 4:00pm on Friday March 21, 2014 to the Board of Review, 224 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI  49117.

 

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 BEACH PASSES - Beach passes will be available at City Hall after March 1, 2014. City of New Buffalo residents and property owners are allowed two beach passes per household at no charge. The City Council has set a total of 50 non-resident beach passes available only to New Buffalo Township residents and property owners for $50 each. 

 

City of New Buffalo residents that have a pass from last year will be able to re-use the same card.  If City residents have lost their pass, replacements are available for $10 each.

 

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 CHURCH PROPERTY COMMITTEE – looking for volunteers to service on a committee to explore ideas on how to ensure that Water’s Edge Church will continue as a historic building in the City of New Buffalo. Water’s Edge First United Methodist Church is building a larger Church and will be selling this property. The current building consists of 200 feet of frontage on Whittaker Street located next to Fifth Third Bank. The property has two tax id numbers, one for a parcel of vacant land and one that includes the church and brick residence.

 

The City and Township are asking for volunteers to work together at a committee to determine the feasibility of a non-profit, welcoming center, event and meeting center to take advantage of this beautiful property and central location.

 

Please email Karen Gear, at KGear@NewBuffaloSavings.com.  Karen is President of the Arts Council and has volunteered to organize a committee from the City of New Buffalo to work with the committee from the Township regarding this property.

 

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

 

Notice is hereby given that a Special Election will be held in the City of New Buffalo, County of Berrien, State of Michigan, on Tuesday, May 6, 2014

At City Hall, 224 W. Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI  49117 for the purpose of electing two Council Members. Nonpartisan office candidates must file with the New Buffalo City Clerk’s office by 4:00 p.m. on January 30, 2014. The polls for said election will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. For more information, please contact the City Clerk at clerk@cityofnewbuffalo.org or 269-469-1500.

 

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

 

SEASONAL HELP - The City of New Buffalo will be accepting applications for seasonal help for the transient marina, beach, lifeguards and the launch ramp. Applications are available at www.cityofnewbuffalo.org or can be picked up and returned to New Buffalo City Hall located at 224 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI  49117. Applicants must be 18 years of age to be considered. Applicants must be energetic, ambitious, responsible and be a team player. These positions are expected to work 32-40 hours per week including weekends. Applications will be accepted until all vacancies are filled.

 

LIFEGUARDS NEEDED - The City of New Buffalo will be accepting applications for lifeguards.  Applications are available at www.cityofnewbuffalo.org or can be picked up and returned to New Buffalo City Hall located at 224 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI  49117. Applicants must be 18 years of age and be Lifeguard and CPR Certified to be considered. Applicants must be energetic, ambitious, responsible and be a team player. Lifeguards are expected to work 32-40 hours per week including weekends from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. Applications will be accepted until all vacancies are filled.

 

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RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL COLLECTION SERVICES
 

Lakeshore Recycling and Disposal is the new recycling and waste contractor for the City, starting January 2, 2014. They will be delivering new containers starting the week of December 16, 2013. Please use your current containers until December 31, 2013. The first collection by Lakeshore will be January 2, 2014 for both recycling and waste.

 
All Reliable containers should be left streetside after the last collection December 31, 2013.

 
The new collection day will be every Wednesday, starting January 2, 2014.

 

Lakeshore Recycling and Disposal will conduct solid waste and yard waste/brush collection services every week on Wednesdays starting January 2, 2014. Lakeshore will also conduct recycling collection services every other week on Wednesdays, for 2014:

• January 2, 15 and 29
• February 12 and 26
• March 12 and 26
• April 9 and 23
• May 7 and 21
• June 4 and 18
• July 2, 16 and 30
• August 13 and 27
• September 10 and 24
• October 8 and 22
• November 5 and 19
• December 3, 17 and 31

 
All recyclables collected by Reliable will be collected by Lakeshore.

 
Lakeshore will also be collecting all yard waste from April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014 every Wednesday. Materials collected include grass, brush, leaves, weeds and limbs up to 4" in diameter no longer than 4 feet. All material other than limbs should be in biodegradable bags, 32 gallon can or bundle tied with a 50 pound limit. Residents may lease a 95 gallon cart from Lakeshore at a rate of $3.00/month billed to the resident, please contact Lakeshore, 269-231-5623 or 877-LAKE-877 (877-525-3877).

 
The City will continue to collect leaves raked to the curb in the fall and collect brush resulting from storm damage.

 
Please contact City Hall at 469-1500 with any questions or concerns.

 

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NEW BUFFALO ARTiGRAS!

National Call for Entries for 2014 Juried Art Festival

 

The New Buffalo ArtiGras! Art Festival features all types of original art by artists, and for the first time ever will welcome artisans and antique dealers. ARTigras! will now be held the last weekend in June: June 28 – June 29, 2014. ArtiGras! is celebrated in Downtown New Buffalo, just two blocks from beautiful Lake Michigan. Craft beers, local wines, food and light music add to the event.

 

New Buffalo ARTigras! is offering artists the opportunity to apply online for the summer's exciting line-up of festivals. Artists can visit amdurproductions.com and click "Apply Now," then follow the prompts to submit their work electronically. For more information, please see their flyer.

 

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NO PARKING & SNOW REMOVAL FROM SIDEWALKS

 

As the winter months approach, we need the help of our residents to ensure the safety of all. Parking is prohibited on all streets in the City of New Buffalo from October 1st through April 1st, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. to facilitate the removal of snow.

 

New Buffalo City Ordinance Section 18-4 states that no person who is the owner of any lot or premises within the City of New Buffalo shall permit any snow or ice to remain upon the sidewalks in front of or adjoin such lot or premises. Sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after a snow fall.

 

Failure to remove snow could result in the issuance of a citation. Second home owners and absentee landlords are advised to make arrangements to have snow removed in their absence.

 

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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

 

The City Council will hold a public hearing on November, 19, 2013 at 6:30 PM, at City Hall, 224 W. Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117, to receive public comment concerning an ordinance to form a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) pursuant to the provisions of Public Act 197 of 1975, as amended.

 

The public hearing concerns establishing a Downtown Development Authority that will make the City eligible to secure certain state funding assistance for selected redevelopment projects and other activities for the benefit of businesses and properties located in the district illustrated on the proposed DDA map.

 

At the public hearings, all interested persons, including residents, property owners, business owners and workers, and officials from any taxing jurisdiction whose millage may be become subject to capture or abatement if a development and tax increment financing plan is adopted or a tax abatement application is approved at a future date by the City Council will be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Written comments may be submitted by mail or in person until 4:00 PMof the date of the public hearing at City Hall. All written comments will be read at the public hearing and entered in the official hearing minutes.

 

This public hearing is accessible. Persons requiring auxiliary aides and services or other accommodations should contact our office at 269-469-1500.

 

Background

In August 2009, the Business Improvement District Board of Directors conducted a Downtown Study.
 
The results from this Downtown Study were used by the Business Improvement District (BID) Board of Directors to create the BID's Downtown Streetscape Plan, completed January 2010.
 
The City has used the research of this Plan to get grant funding to pave South Whittaker Street in 2014. Downtown infrastructure and streetscape is a priority project of the City Council.

 
In August 2013, the Business Improvement District Board of Directors approved a resolution requesting the City Council establish a Downtown Development Authority. The City Council has been moving forward with this request.

 

Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Act
A quick reference guide on DDA's
Michigan Municipal League (MML) DDA Act synopsis
MML DDA Qustions and Answers
MML Downtown Development Guide
MML Financing downtown development projects

 

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NEW RECREATION PLAN
 
The City of New Buffalo is pleased to share our new Parks and Recreation Master Plan (appendices are still being added.) Thank you to everyone who contributed: everyone who came to our public hearings and meetings, everyone who completed a survey, everyone who served on the Master Planning Steering Committee, Harbor Commission, and Park and Recreation Board, as well as staff members, especially at the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission. Thank you, all! Next up: the Master Plan – stay tuned!