A Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance was introduced at the St. Ignace City Council meeting Monday, November 6, and a public hearing is scheduled at 8 p.m. Monday, December 4.

Ordinance 609, said City Manager Eric Dodson, will allow an easier process to allow multiple use development in the city.

"A PUD zone is where the public interest is considered for construction of a project if the public interest outweighs zoning regulations for that area," explained Mr. Dodson.

Councilman Don Gustafson admitted he could not determine the difference between a PUD and a special land use.

Planning Commission Chairman Art Underwood, sitting in the audience, said a special land use defines use for a single parcel of land, whereas a PUD covers a broader area and allows for multiple use.

"There can be trade-offs that aren't typically associated with special land use, such as curb cuts and road developments," he said.

"This is something we should have had done already," he added. "This gives us a tool to use in the future."

Council scheduled another public hearing for December 4, this one for a proposal from St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce to hold mud runs near Little Bear East Ice Arena during the summer.

The city will assist Allied EMS in its purchase of a new $90,000 ambulance. The city, under an agreement with neighboring townships and Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center, will pay $42,300, or 47 percent of the purchase price. The percentage of payment requested from each municipality is determined by the number of runs Allied EMS makes to that area.

Mr. Dodson said he will budget that figure into the city's 2007 budget. Allied EMS is seeking a loan through First National Bank with an interest rate of 4.5 percent.

Mark Wilk, Allied EMS' team leader, said the department's two vehicles are wearing out and replacement parts are hard to find. One vehicle has a 1998 ambulance chassis with 140,000 miles on it and a 1991 treatment cabin. The other vehicle was manufactured two years ago, in 2004, and has traveled more than 80,000 miles.

Representatives of the architectural firm DLZ, which was hired by the city and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to design and build the city's new bus station, assured Council that the city will be involved in every step of the process. DLZ is also involved in planning the design of the new welcome center in St. Ignace near the Mackinac Bridge.

"We want this to be very successful because, selfishly, we want to use this as a promotion for our next job and we need the city as a good reference," said DLZ Business Development Manager Brad Funkhouser.

Council granted a snowmobile trail permit for city-owned property on the railroad grade near Little Bear East Ice Arena. Mr. Dodson said the permit was requested by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to allow the department to better determine which lands are permitted for use.

At the request of Mayor Paul Grondin, Council will hold three regular meetings in different locations during the winter, to promote other city facilities. The St. Ignace Public Library will host the meeting January 15 at 8 p.m., Little Bear East Conference Center will host the February 19 meeting, and the LaSalle High School gymnasium will be the site of the March 19 meeting, with the student body as an audience.

"It will be a good learning experience in the political process for students," said Mayor Grondin.

Because three councilmen will be absent from the November 20 meeting Mayor Grondin suggested that public hearings for the PUD ordinance and paint ball course, that normally would be held that week, be moved to December 4, so that they can be heard in front of the entire council. Councilmen Willie LaLonde, Merv Wyse, and Paul Fullerton said they cannot attend the November 20 meeting.

Council also rescheduled its first meeting of 2007 from Monday, January 1, to Wednesday, January 3, owing to the holidays.