City Council - September 22, 2003

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2003, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, September 22, 2003, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:59 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

XXX. Mayor Porter apologized for the delay in the start of this meeting due to a Special Meeting which ran over in time.

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

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen presented a Citizen Award to Richard Nash during a recent robbery at CVS on East Nine Mile Road.

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

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

1. Dawn Ptaszynski announced that a voter registration drive would be held on Sunday, September 28, 2003, at the "V Building", 701 Bermuda from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and wished Mayor Porter good luck for his back surgery.

2. Ray White, President of the Ferndale Historical Society, announced that the Society will hold their Annual Election Dinner of Officers on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, at 5:00 p.m. with wine and cheese and the dinner at 6:00 p.m.

3. David Coulter, Oakland County Commissioner, announced that the CDBG formula was voted on recently to keep the formula the same.

4. Brian Cooley encouraged residents to take advantage of the money available through the county for home improvement.

5. Pat Cissell commented on a section in the Code of Ordinances regarding political signs. CDS Director Marsha Scheer indicated that all the candidates were mailed a copy of the ordinance regarding political signs. Police Chief Kitchen indicated that he has discussed this issue regarding political signs with the City Attorney.

6. Brian Cooley inquired if there would be any upcoming meetings regarding the 8 Mile Bridge. Mayor Porter announced that there would be an environmental study meeting, Thursday, September 25, 2003 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Edison Oakland School.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 7B, 7C, 7F and 7G be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

A. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting held September 8, 2003, and the Regular Meeting held September 8, 2003, as submitted by City Clerk.

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

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

D. Approval to purchase replacement body armor for each Police Officer from Second Chance Ballistic Vest Company, as submitted by Police Chief.

E. Approval of the Special Event Application from Ferndale Area Churches CROP Walk for Annual Crop Walk to be held on Sunday, October 12, 2003, throughout Ferndale from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., as submitted by City Clerk.

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

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

H. Approval to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, October 13, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., regarding an amendment to the Brownfield Plan for the property located at 1300 E. Nine Mile Road, as submitted by CDS Director.

I. Receive the Police Department Report for August, 2003.

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

AYES: C,G,T,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to adopt Ordinance No. 971, which amends Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Traffic and Motor Vehicle Code.

AYES: G,T,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the addendum to the contract as review by the City Attorney and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the contract with EMPCO.

AYES: T,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter asked if any Council Member had any objections to suspending the Rules of Procedure to allow the public to speak of Agenda Item 8C, Discussion and update regarding DIFT, even if a motion wasn’t on the table and it was consensus of Council to suspend the Rules of Procedure to allow the public to speak without having a motion on the table.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to have the City Manager to work with the City Attorney to draft a Resolution opposing the proposed DIFT expansion by M-DOT, listing the City’s objections to be sent to appropriate governmental entities and other bodies associated with this proposal and that the Resolution be presented to the Council at the next regularly scheduled Council Meeting.

AYES: W,C,G,T;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to award the bid for the beautification segment of Program Year 2003 to Michigan Turf, Inc. in the amount of $11,000.00 and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the contract.

AYES: C,G,T,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, to approve the purchase of ten Taser X26 weapons with 20 cartridges and ten holsters for a price of $8,553.08 from LLEBG, Account# 101-310-977 with deployment of weapons delayed in such time as Police and Fire Board in conjunction with the Police Department can develop a policy for their implementation.

AYES: G,T,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the purchase of one Elliptical Trainer, one Recumbent Bicycle and on Inversion Table from Fitness Things, Inc., for a price of $6,376.50 from LLEBG Account.

AYES: T,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt the Travel Resolution pertaining to the National League of Cities Conference in Nashville, Tennessee to be held December 8-14, 2003.

AYES: W,C,G,T;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, that a Hardship Committee meeting to review the payment requests of property owners in Sidewalk Special Assessment District 2003 be scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, 2003 and that a public hearing to confirm the Special Assessment Roll for the district be scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Monday, October 13, 2003.

AYES: C,G,T,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, to authorize the Fire Department to begin testing for position of sergeant as soon as EMPCO comes into place.

AYES: G,T,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that MDOT would host a forum regarding the 8 Mile/Woodward Bridge at Edison Oakland School on Thursday, September 25, 2003 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 p.m.

XXX. City Clerk Pedro reminded Ferndale residents that the last day to register to vote would be Monday, October 6, 2003, to be eligible to vote in the November 4, 2003 election.

XXX. Councilman Trice discussed his experience at the MML Conference and announced the amendment to the legislative policies. He congratulated the DPW with their work in the fight against the West Nile Disease. Councilman Trice thanked those who were at the Intermodal Meeting representing the City of Ferndale.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:46 p.m.

Pro Tem Galloway assumed the chair.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced welcomed a new business in Ferndale, The Cabinet Design Studio at 624 Livernois, Suite 100 and announced they would host an open house on Thursday, September 25, 2003 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. She also announced that SOCCRA has agreed to refund monies to participating cities and that Ferndale’s share is 98,600.00.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:51 p.m.

XXX. Councilman Galloway requested that the Sign Ordinance be referred to Ordinance Committee for review.

XXX. Councilman Covey requested that the weeds be trimmed in front of Pronto and send them a bill and congratulated the Police Department for winning the "Dirt Run" in Hell, Michigan. He commented on Senator Debbie Stabenow attending M.A.P.P.’s charity art auction and congratulated the success of the West Breckenridge Block Club. Councilman Covey also announced he participated in the annual A.I.D.S. walk in Royal Oak this past weekend and wished good luck and a speedy recovery to Mayor Porter for his back surgery.

XXX. Moved by Mayor Porter, supported unanimously, for a Resolution congratulating Hannah Hall on her 100th Birthday.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

XXX. Moved by Mayor Porter, supported unanimously, for a Resolution of Condolence for the family George Grieb.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

XXX. Mayor Porter commented on his upcoming back surgery. He requested to see there was a board or commission opening for an individual who had applied, requested that on the next Council Agenda that a Business Representative needed to be appointment to Woodward Avenue Action Association and announced the Michigan Suburb Alliance had received $52,000.00 from the MOTT Foundation.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:01 p.m.