City Council - June 23, 2003

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2003, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, June 23, 2003, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call showed the following members of Council present: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Weber; Mayor Porter. Absent: None.

XXX. Friends of the Ferndale Library and F.A.N.S. of Ferndale presented proceeds from the Memorial Day Ice Cream Social to Library.

XXX. Mayor Porter and Peggy Snow, Chair of the Beautification Commission, presented the June, 2003 Beautification Awards.

1. Jackie Koivu, on behalf of the Ferndale Youth Assistance (FYA), thanked Council for their continued support of FYA and on behalf of Zion Lutheran Church’s Youth Group, thanked those who contributed to help send children to camp. Ms. Koivu also announced that a blood drive would be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2003, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church.

2. Francine Hachem, member of the Arts and Cultural Commission, commented on the success of the Music In the Park and that music and the events in the downtown area the positive effect it was for the City.

3. June Derin commented on the events in the downtown area and the positive effect it was for the City.

4. Dawn Ptaszynski inquired about the status of her request of who placed the rainbow flags in the downtown.

5. Jim O’Donnell, member of the Integrated Pest Management Committee, thanked Jack Crowley for his information regarding dead birds to the Committee and requested Council consideration of adoption of the Committee’s Plan at an upcoming meeting.

6. Pat Cissell commented about the City’s website and items placed in a timely matter.

7. Michael Lary commented on the rainbow flags in the downtown, which he indicated he had purchased.

8. Dawn Ptaszynski inquired about the status of her request of who placed the rainbow flags in the downtown.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 7D and 7F be considered after the Regular Agenda.

Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to approve the amended Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held April 14, 2003, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Adoption of Resolution recognizing Credit Union One’s celebration of 65 years of service, as submitted by Mayor Porter.

C. Approval to purchase a LIDAR speed detector/distance-measuring device and related items from Kustom Signals, Inc., as submitted by Police Chief.

D. REMOVED FROM CONSENT-MOVED TO END OF REGULAR AGENDA

E. Authorization for the Assistant City Manager to sign the Firefighter Rollover Proposal from Ferndale Firefighters’ Association, Local 812, as submitted by the Finance Director/Assistant City Manager.

F. REMOVED FROM CONSENT-MOVED TO END OF REGULAR AGENDA

G. Approval of emergency repair to front-end loader of Michigan CAT, as submitted by DPW Director.

H. Approval to refer Ordinance No. 658 regarding Vegetation to the Ordinance Committee for review and recommendation, as submitted by CDS Director.

I. Approval of the bills and payrolls (as certified by City Manager), to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to recommend the request from L. Brooks Patterson to appoint of City Manager Barwin as a DARTA representative.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. It was consensus of Council to place appointments to the Disability Advisory Committee to the next Regular Meeting.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt Ordinance No. 970, with changes made at the Council Table, which amended Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Sidewalk Cafes.

AYES: C,G,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to purchase International truck/chassis and related items.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the proposal and agreement for consulting engineering services for Phase I and II Water Pump Station Renovation Project.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, to table the approval of the application and proposed lease with T-Mobile to co-locate a cellular facility on AT&T flagpole.

AYES: C,G,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the annual contract with Michigan Municipal League for testing services and for the City Clerk and City Manager to research using generic testing at a future date.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 9:22 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 9:24 p.m.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:50 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Galloway assumed the Chair

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:56 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to authorize the use of Geary Park for 2003 Ferndale Art Fair to be held on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, 2003 with City Council permission to allow the sale of articles, the advertising of the event, as authorize by Ferndale Arts and Cultural Commission who organizing the event and utilizing the parking plan as proposed by DPW Director Byron Photiades in his June 20, 2003, memo to the City Manager with the following additions: angle parking on the northside of Earle Blvd is the only parking allowed on the grass in Geary Park, that food vendor be allowed to drive once on to the park to set up and drive off once, taking care not to damage the baseball diamonds, the golf carts are allowed to drive over the grass and refer the parking on the southside of Earl to the Police Department for recommendation by Council’s next meeting.

AYES: W,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey explained his negative vote by indicating that he did support the event but did not like parking arrangements.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table the fees to the next Regular Council Meeting.

AYES: None

NAYS: C,G,W;MP

MOTION CARRIED

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the fee schedule as submitted by the Finance Director/Assistant City Manager and that Council direct the City Departments to provided information as to which fees have change and how it compares with other cities by the next Regular Council Meeting and that it be placed on that agenda for that meeting for consideration of adjustments to fees that Council adopt tonight.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Fire Chief LeGault requested to begin hiring process for a Fire Marshal. Councilman Covey requested the Chief to provide Council with a copy of the Fire Marshal job description.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to refer to the Labor Counsel for review of the City’s options under the collective bargaining agreement as to the provision of Fire Inspection Services and that Labor Council be directed to come back with a legal opinion in time for the next Regular Council meeting and that a Special Closed Session be held to discuss the information under the Attorney/Client privilege and for the Fire Chief to act in the capacity as the Fire Marshal.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that Fire Inspector Van Sparrentak will be the new Fire Chief in Walled Lake. City Manager requested residents to bring pictures from City Events in to him to be placed on the City’s Website and reminded everyone that the last Thursday on the Nine will be held on June 26, 2003, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. City Manager also announced that summer youth programs were being held at the Martin Road Park facility.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Councilman Covey, to the Fire Liaison Committee.

AYES: C,G,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Councilwoman Weber commented on grass and weeds compliance and pest management.

XXX. Councilman Covey thanked Larry Mills for the condolence pins for David Lennon and congratulated the Recreation Department for opening the Martin Road Park recreation facility. Congratulate city employees who cleaned out every single catch basin in the City.

XXX. Mayor Porter announced that a Special Tribute to David Lennon had been passed by the State Houses. Mayor Porter commented on communities in the northern part of Oakland and Macomb counties who rejected a new sewage system because the communities felt it would encourage urban sprawl. Mayor Porter also announced that the last "Thursday on the Nine" would be held on June 26, 2003 in the downtown area and hope the tennis courts at Ferndale High School would be open next week.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to invite Jacqueline Koivu, Michael B. Lennon, Joseph Trice and Dennis G. Whittie to interview for the vacant Council seat for the remaining term of Councilman David Lennon on Monday, June 30, 2003, at a Special Meeting be held in Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:50 p.m.