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1. When can I appeal my assessment?
2. What are the grounds for an appeal?
3. What happens if I’m not happy with the decision of the March Board of Review?
4. Why can’t I protest my taxes when I get my tax bill in July?

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1. What if the information on my property record card is incorrect?
2. Is all of the Assessor information available online?
3. What is the role of the City Assessor?
4. Where do I change my mailing address?

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1. What is the time period considered in the 2021 sales study?
2. What is the time period considered in the 2022 sales study?
3. What is the time period considered in the 2023 sales study?
4. How is your property value estimated?
5. What causes property values to change?
6. What is a State Equalized Value?
7. What is Capped Value?
8. What is Taxable Value?
9. Why isn’t my new assessment 50% of my purchase price?
10. Sale prices are going down in my neighborhood, why hasn’t my assessment gone down?
11. How do I qualify for the homestead or PRE exemption?

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1. How does Proposal A affect my local taxes?

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1. Do you have any cemetery plots available?
2. How do I purchase a plot?
3. What does the plot cost cover?

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1. What Marijuana Businesses does the City allow?
2. Is there a limit on the number of Marijuana Business Permits the City will issue?
3. Is the City continuously accepting applications, or are there application windows?
4. Why is marijuana sometimes spelled with an "h" and other times spelled with a "j"?
5. Does a business need to have Prequalification Status from the CRA in order to apply for a Marijuana Business Permit from the City of Portage?
6. What are the permit fees?
7. I want to open a Marijuana Business in the City of Portage? How do I look for potential sites?
8. Do I need to have a medical marijuana license before applying for adult use?
9. I already applied for a permit but was notified I was missing information. How long do I have to respond?
10. How will I hear about my application from the Office of the City Clerk?
11. How soon do I need to renew my existing City of Portage Marijuana Business Permit?

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1. Who needs a Solicitor’s Permit?
2. How do I get permission to hold a block party?
3. How do I get a liquor license for a bar or restaurant?
4. How do I get a beer and wine liquor license?
5. How do I get a packaged (SDD) liquor license?

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1. When may I register to vote?
2. Do I have to register for each election?
3. Where can I register to vote?
4. May I register to vote by mail?
5. Can I vote by absentee ballot?
6. Can you automatically mail me a ballot for each election?
7. May I pick up an absentee ballot for my spouse?
8. I have power of attorney for my family member, can I pick up an absentee ballot for him/her?
9. How do I get to vote absentee in every election?
10. How can I be added to the Permanent Absentee Application List?
11. I’m on the permanent list, why didn’t I receive a ballot?
12. If I am on the list or receive an absentee ballot do I have to vote absentee?
13. What more can you tell me about the voting machines?
14. How is by mail voting (i.e. "absentee ballot voting") kept secure?
15. How do I know election security procedures are being followed?
16. How are election results verified?

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1. How can I file a complaint about city services?
2. What is the role of the City Manager?
3. Where can I view the Portager Newsletter?

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1. What are PFAS?
2. How could I be exposed to PFAS?
3. Can I bathe or swim in water containing PFAS?
4. My home is connected to city water. Should I be worried?
5. My home is connected to a private well. Will the city test my well?
6. What is the Lifetime Health Advisory Level?
7. How can I connect my home to city water?
8. What is the source of the PFAs contamination in Portage?
9. How were PFAS identified in this area?

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1. What construction codes (building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical) does the City of Portage administer and enforce?
2. Is a building permit required for my project?
3. Is an electrical permit required for my project?
4. Is a plumbing permit required for my project?
5. Is a mechanical permit required for my project?
6. If a homeowner is doing the work is a permit (building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical) still necessary?
7. Do I need a permit to construct a driveway or work in the public right of way?
8. Do I need a permit for a new roof?
9. Do I need a permit for a fence?
10. When do I have to get a sign permit?
11. Do I need a permit to run a business from my home?
12. Do I need a permit to have an outdoor promotional event for my business?
13. I want to build a shed. What are the requirements and do I need a building permit?
14. I am planning a residential building project. What are the requirements and do I need a building permit?

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1. I’m a business owner and want to build a new facility in Portage. What is the process?
2. What type of business incentives are available from the City of Portage?
3. I am a State of Michigan licensed contractor, how do I become registered to perform work in your city?

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1. What type of housing assistance is available through the City of Portage?
2. How do I receive approval to vary from the requirements from the Zoning Code for my development or construction project or similar activity?
3. What types of property maintenance concerns are violations of the City Code? How do I request assistance from the city to help resolve property maintenance concerns?
4. What is zoning and what is my property zoned? Can the zoning be changed?
5. Can you tell me where my property lines are? On the City website it looks like my house is located on or near one of my property lines.

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1. What was the goal of the Draft Lake Center District Corridor & Placemaking Study?
2. What is the purpose of Draft Lake Center District Corridor & Placemaking Study?
3. Where is the Study Area?
4. What was the study timeline? What opportunities were there for public participation?
5. How did the city provide notice to the public? How did the city get public input?
6. What did the community say at public meetings about the Lake Center District?
7. What is the Draft Lake Center District Corridor & Placemaking Study solving for?
8. Where can I learn more about the Draft Lake Center District Corridor and Placemaking Study?
9. When was the Steering Committee appointed, and in what City Council meeting was this discussed and announced?
10. Who appointed the Steering Committee members?
11. Who are the members of the Steering Committee?
12. What are the city’s financial priorities?
13. Where are the funds coming from to pay for these projects?
14. What time period does the proposed plan cover?
15. What is this plan going to cost?
16. When is all of this happening? 
17. Does this plan go to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval?
18. Does the Draft Lake Center District Corridor & Placemaking Study involve plans to modify Lakeview Park?
19. What is happening with the former West Lake Drive In?
20. Do the drawings and renderings in the draft study show exactly what’s happening? Are they to scale?
21. Will the City of Portage use eminent domain to acquire property in the Lake Center District?
22. What happens next?

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1. How often are vendor payment checks mailed?
2. As a vendor providing goods and/or services to Portage, am I able to have my payment deposited directly to my bank account and avoid the lag time inherent in processing a check?

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1. When are my tax bills mailed and due?
2. What are your hours of operation?
3. When should I get my utility bill?
4. Can I pay my bill with a credit card?
5. I have a pool and/or a lawn irrigation system. Do I get billed sewer charges for the water that goes into my pool, or on my lawn?
6. Can I pay my Utility bill via a credit/debit card?
7. When should I get my utility bill?
8. How do I pay my Utility bill?

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1. What is the purpose of the alarm permit and is there a charge?
2. Does the permit expire?
3. What if the alarm monitoring service is stopped or restarted?
4. What happens if the Fire Division responds to a false alarm?

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1. What do I need to do to have a recreational fire at my house?
2. Do I need a permit to burn my leaves?
3. Does the Fire Division do tours or programs?
4. Does the Fire Division recharge fire extinguishers?
5. Can I get a smoke detector at the Fire Division?
6. Does the Fire Division install car seats?

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1. Are there currently any job openings?
2. How can I apply for a job?
3. Can you tell me about the On-Call Firefighter program?
4. Can I work for the city if I have a felony conviction?
5. How old do I have to be to work in these positions?
6. Do I have to come in to City Hall to apply for a job?
7. Can I check on an application I submitted?
8. How often and when does the city test for Police and Firefighter positions?

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1. How does the city recruit and hire Election workers?
2. Does the city provide training to election workers?
3. Are election workers paid?
4. How can I volunteer with the city?

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1. How will the city protect the water quality of West Lake with the proposed changes?
2. What will the canal changes mean for lake-to-lake connectivity between West Lake and Austin Lake?
3. Page 16 of the study shows pontoon boats in the canal - why is this image still in the study if these large boats will not be coming through the canal/drain?
4. What, if any, are the actual proposed changes to the canal/drain?
5. Will the public be able to weigh in on whether docks will be installed, even if they’ve been moved to future options?
6. Do the proposed changes require any acquisitions or only lane changes?
7. How will a rebalanced Portage Road be able to handle the increased traffic from proposed housing developments, including 1,100 residential units?
8. How does bringing in more visitors and traffic to the Lake Center District balance out with the reduction of lanes on Portage Road?
9. Where is the money coming from if it will not affect the operating budget?
10. Is there a plan or process for how public dollars/grant funds will be used to improve private businesses in the study area?
11. What are all of these changes going to cost?
12. Can the City Administration better explain the tax tool that is referenced in the study?
13. Does anyone on the Steering Committee or City Council have a monetary or financial stake in the proposed changes?
14. Can the city provide clarification on form-based code and how this will affect existing businesses?
15. Are taxpayer funds being used to acquire the property 9303 Portage Road?
16. Could the city please ensure that residents are notified of all future Lake Center District projects as they will be brought before the Council in order to maximize opportunities for public feedback?

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1. What are the dates and hours of operation of the Portage Farmers Market?
2. What type of vendors will be at the Farmers Market?
3. Where is the Farmers Market located?
4. What types of payment will be accepted at the Portage Farmers Market?
5. What type of licensing do vendors have? What laws must they follow?
6. How do I know that my "organic" products are really organic?
7. Can I contact my favorite vendors outside of market hours or after the Farmers Market has ended for the season?
8. Can I bring my pet to the Farmers Market with me?
9. Where can I park?
10. Are you open on Holidays and Holiday weekend?
11. Does the market operate during rain, cold or snow?
12. Is the Portage Farmers Market Handicap Accessible?
13. Is there an ATM at the Portage Farmers Market?
14. How can I become a market volunteer?
15. How do I contact the market about playing music?
16. How do I contact the market about a potential event or activity?
17. I have a question not answered here or have experienced an issue with the Farmers Market and/or a vendor selling at the Portage Farmers Market. Who do I contact?

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1. What are the dates and hours of operation of the Portage Farmers Market?
2. What size are the vendor stalls at the Portage Farmers Market?
3. What will I need to provide for my market stall?
4. How much does a market stall cost?
5. How much notice do I have to give for a cancellation?
6. Can I use the word "Organic" to describe my products?
7. What type of vendor am I?
8. What time do I need to be set up by?
9. Am I required to participate in food assistance programs?
10. Am I required to have liability insurance?
11. Will there be assigned spaces for vendors?
12. Can I hand out literature and promotional material at the market?
13. Can Cottage Food producers sell food at the Farmers Market?
14. Can I give out samples to customers at the Farmers Market?
15. How can I become a vendor?
16. What can I sell at the Market?
17. How do I bring and event or activity to the market?

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1. If vehicles are prohibited on park trails, why do I see Parks trucks on trails?
2. Why are park restrooms closed in the fall?
3. I have a complaint/question about the condition of a cemetery lot. Who can I speak with?
4. Why aren’t bicycles allowed in the South Westnedge Skatepark?

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1. Do I have to be a Portage resident to rent a Portage parks facility?
2. How far in advance can I reserve a parks facility?
3. If I want to reserve a parks pavilion or facility, how do I go about it?
4. Is there an admission fee to Ramona Park?
5. Can I charge admission to my event at a Portage park?
6. Can I rent additional picnic tables?

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1. Can I set up a tent/canopy?
2. Are single use inflatables, climbing towers or dunk tanks allowed in Portage parks?
3. Is alcohol allowed in Portage park facilities?
4. When will the city observe Trick-or-Treat this year?

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1. Will the police respond if I lock my keys in my car?
2. What should I do if I am involved in a traffic accident?
3. How long must I wait for a copy of my police report?

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1. Will the police respond to noise complaints?
2. Will the police respond to a barking dog complaint?
3. How do I compliment/complain about an officer or other employee?
4. After I make a complaint about an officer, what happens?

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1. Where is the Portage Police Division?
2. Where do I visit/communicate with someone the police have arrested?
3. How can I start a Neighborhood Watch in my neighborhood?
4. How can I get my fingerprints taken?
5. When I call the police for service, what information should I have ready to give them?
6. What should I do if a police officer stops me while I am driving?
7. Can I report a crime without having a police officer come to my home/business?

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1. What do I do if this is an emergency or if online incident reporting is not right for me?
2. What do I do if the incident took place outside of Portage city limits?
3. What is a known suspect and what do I do if I have that information?

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1. When will the city pickup leaves in my area?
2. What can I do with leaves that fall after leaf pickup is completed?

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1. The plow left some snow at the end of my driveway. Can you send someone to clear it?
2. Can you tell me exactly when my street will be plowed?
3. Why don't the trucks plow and salt on the way to their routes?
4. Why does my cul de sac have so much snow?
5. I just cleared my sidewalk and the plow filled it in. Is there something you can do?
6. Why don't you plow down the middle of the street, to open it to traffic faster?
7. I hire someone to plow my driveway. Is there anything I should know?
8. Why do you sometimes salt instead of plow, or plow instead of salt?
9. I saw a plow parked at a gas station during a snow storm. Why wasn't it out working?
10. Why do I sometimes see plow trucks on the streets when it's not snowing?
11. Why aren't plows on the roads in anticipation of a big storm in the forecast?
12. Salt corrodes my car, sidewalk, and driveway. Can you use sand instead?
13. I have a heart condition. Can you plow my street in case there is an emergency?
14. What are the winter parking rules?
15. What should I do if a plow hits or damages my mailbox?
16. Who is responsible for plowing sidewalks?
17. What do we spend on snow plowing?
18. Why can't you plow my street now?

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1. Who do I contact for street maintenance issues (potholes, drainage problems, sidewalk damage, street reconstruction, etc.)?
2. Will the city pickup dead animals?
3. My mailbox was damaged during snow plowing operations. What do I do?

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1. Who do I call if I have a question about Purchasing and the City of Portage and I can't find an answer?
2. How can I find out which services or commodities are currently being solicited?
3. Do you have some type of list that I can get on to do business with the City?
4. How often does the City hold auctions?

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1. Do you have to live in Portage to attend the Center?
2. Is membership to the Center required?
3. What does membership cost?
4. What are your hours of operation?
5. Is the Center open evenings and weekends?
6. May my children travel with me on one of the Center's trips?
7. Does the Center close due to the severe weather?

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1. Will a new temporary pumping permit be issued by the state before winter?
2. Will the temporary permit allow for a one-time pumping or repeat pumping?
3. What was the final cost of the emergency pumping that was performed in the spring of 2019?
4. What is the new high-water level for the Hampton Creek Wetland Area?
5. When did the consultant measure the Hampton Creek water temperatures? Will the proposed drainage project affect Portage Creek as a certified trout stream due to its low temperatures?
6. What is the expected cost of the proposed design for the permanent storm water outlet?
7. Will there be alternate solutions if the state doesn’t like the proposed stormwater outlet design?
8. What will the effect of the proposed long-term drainage project be to the lake on the Moorsbridge golf course?
9. Did the city’s consultant factor in any potential future developments in the surrounding area that may affect the stormwater levels?
10. What is the current definition of a 100-year storm event? Has the definition changed in light of recent years and storm events?
11. Does the Greenspire Bog vary in water levels as much as the Hampton Bog?
12. Will the proposed project address the surface level water or the ground water levels?
13. The City of Portage project is considered a passive water level remediation project (as compared with the Texas Township active pumping project). Does EGLE have a position on the passive form of
14. Will the proposed passive outlet system address the levels of ammonia and varying pH levels in the area water features that were found as part of the Fishbeck study?
15. Does the proposed plan require easements or permissions?
16. How soon should results be noticeable following completion of the permanent solution?
17. What is the timeframe for getting the new permanent solution in place, including a permitting and construction timeline?

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1. How do I know where my property lines are?
2. Where does the rain water from my street go?
3. Do I need a permit to construct a driveway or work in the public right of way?

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1. Where can I find out about work on I-94?
2. When can I find out how long a road will be under construction?
3. How often are streets swept in Portage?

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1. Who do I contact if a streetlight is out?
2. Who do I contact if a traffic signal light is burned out or appears to be not operating correctly?
3. How is the placement of traffic signals determined?
4. How do pedestrian signals work?
5. Is it really necessary for me to push a button to activate the pedestrian signal, or can I just wait for the light to change?
6. Why does it always say, "Don’t walk" before I've completed crossing the street?

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1. How do I report a water main break?
2. How do I report a sewer line back up?
3. How much does it cost to get connected to the city's water and sewer service if I have a well and septic system now?
4. How do I know if water and sewer is available at a given address?
5. Who do I contact if I think my water bill is wrong?
6. Where do I go to pay my water bill?
7. What do I do if my meter is leaking, I have low water pressure or feel that my water is discolored and/or has an odor?