Council Agenda item 9K

Oval Beach Pass Request, Hope College for Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area Research

City Council, Monday, March 23, 2026

Download these 1 page, 512 KB Whole packet, 220 pages, 25.4 MB

9B, Resolution No. 260323-A - Adopting Early Voting Site and Municipal Agreement for Election Services Between the City of the Village of Douglas, Saugatuck Township, and City of Saugatuck, pages 7 to 18
9C, Resolution No. 260323-B - Approving the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Interurban Transit Authority to Add the City of Fennville as a Member of the Authority, pages 19 to 51
9D, Resolution No. 260323-C - To Amend the Budget of the 2025/2026 General Appropriations Act, pages 52 to 63
9E, Resolution No. 260323-D - Approving Michigan Recreation Passport Grant Program Development Project Agreement, pages 64 to 78
9H, Miedema’s Rangerbid Proposal and Agreement for Current and Future Surplus Equipment Auctions and Authorization for City Manager to Sign Titles, pages 93 to 115
9K, page 126, this item
11A, Ordinance 260323-A - An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the City of Saugatuck by Approving a Planned Unit Development Overlay and Associated Plan for 640 Water Street, pages 131 to 169
13A, Ordinance 260323-A - An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the City of Saugatuck by Approving a Planned Unit Development Overlay and Associated Plan for 640 Water Street. (Roll Call), pages 131 to 169

Item 9K is page 126 of the 220-page packet.

Page 126

Text of page 126

City Council Agenda Item Report FROM:

Ryan Cummins, City Manager

MEETING DATE:

March 23, 2026

SUBJECT:

Oval Beach Pass Request – Hope College for Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area Research

DESCRIPTION: In past years, Hope College was provided a free Oval Beach pass for their ongoing coastal dune environment research in the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. Associate Professor, Suzanne Devries-Zimmerman, is requesting a pass this year as well. The City Council’s 2010 policy states, “[a]ll other complementary Oval Beach parking permits have been discontinued at this time unless otherwise approved by City Council”. There are public benefits to the research work that is occurring. For anyone interested, Professor DeVries-Zimmerman has provided publications of their work. She also provided a link to a recent Michigan Public Radio piece on their work: https://www.michiganpublic.org/2025-07-28/fulfilling-a-childhood-dream-studyingmichigans-unique-dunes LEGAL REVIEW: N/A at this time. SAMPLE MOTION: Motion to approve the Hope College request for one Oval Beach pass for Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area research.