City Council - December 8, 2003

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2003, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, December 8, 2003, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:51 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

XXX. Mayor Porter apologized for the late start, due to other meetings held prior to the Council Meeting. Mayor Porter inquired if any Council Member had objections to Councilman Trice making a statement regarding an article, which recently appeared in The Daily Tribune.

XXX. Councilman Trice indicated for the record that there were inaccuracies in the newspaper article, which appeared recently in The Daily Tribune, and he did not accuse any person, City Department, or Public Official of deliberately poisoning him or endangering his life. He indicated that his efforts have been to determine the origin of his adverse health reaction after opening his City mail and looked forward to closure of this matter for all concerned.

1. Mary Trenner, City Librarian, announced the Ferndale Public Library would participate in the "Winter Tale" event by providing beverages and snacks on Thursday, December 11, and Saturday, December 13, 2003. She announced that ice sculpturing would be performed Saturday on the lawn of the Library during the event. Librarian Trenner also announced that to help raise money for tables and chairs for the Library, residents could purchase a star for the Library’s holiday tree for a $1.00.

2. Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, announced that the Recreation Newsletter had been mailed and registrations were now being accepted. She also announced upcoming programs and encouraged residents to buy gift certificates for classes held at the center.

3. Cristina Sheppard-Decius, DDA Director, provided information on the "Winter Tale" event to be held in the downtown.

4. Mary Tsoursis commented on parking for her business on Hilton and also on the proposal passed by the voters at the November 4, 2003 Election authorizing Council to sell City property on Hilton.

5. Peggy Snow, Chair of the Beautification Commission, announced that the Commission would be touring the City to judge holiday displays on Thursday, December 18, 2003, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. She requested nominations for holiday displays be phoned in to the City Yard.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 4C and 4D 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 Regular Meetings held October 27 and November 10, 2003, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Adoption of Resolution regarding securing an annual permit from Michigan Department of Transportation to work in its State right-of-way at Woodward and Eight Mile, as submitted by DPW Director.

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

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

E. Approval of the bills, payrolls (as certified by City Manager) and City Attorney expense statements submitted by Howard Shifman P.C., and Beier Howlett, P.C., 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 Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt Ordinance No. 973, which will re-zone 926 LaPrairie and 399 West Marshall, Sidwell Number 25-34-180-001, from R-3, Medium Density Residential District, to C-1, Local Business District.

AYES: G,T,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 8:47 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Galloway assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to the Council Chambers at 8:50 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, to create the Ferndale Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise Commission, which will consist of no less than seven (7) members to be appointed by the Mayor and City Council; which shall consist of a single representative from Downtown Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, the Police and the Fire Departments, Department of Public Works, a City Council Liaison and the City Finance Director. This commission will replace the Ferndale Dream Cruise Committee and assume all duties and responsibilities of that entity. Each member will be a voting member. Terms of office shall be consistent with Article II., Section 2-17. of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Ferndale, Michigan. Four (4) members of theh Dream Cruise Commission shall constitute a quorum and a lesser number may adjourn any meeting at which a quorum is not present. The Dream Cruise Commission shall serve without compensation, elect its own officers from its membership, adopt its own rules of order and procedure, and shall provide a copy of the minutes of all Dream Cruise meetings which shall be filed with the City Clerk for transmittal to the City Council and to the City Manager.

AYES: T and W

NAYS: C,G;MP

MOTION FAILED

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, that the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise Commission, along with representatives of the Downtown Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, the Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Public Works and the Recreation Director meet before the second regularly scheduled Council Meeting in January, 2004 to develop a list of concerns and issues that needs to be addressed by the Dream Cruise Committee Commission for the 10th Anniversary Dream Cruise. That the Commission have as its head Mr. Ken Miller. That the Commission report to Council on a monthly basis as to the findings of that report and proceedings with the Commission and their liaisons from the different departments. Furthermore that the this Resolution as prepared by Councilman Trice be table definitely until the second Regular Council Meeting in January, 2004.

AMENDMENT

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, not to table the motion by Councilman Trice, that the motion be included in Council packets for Agenda Item regarding the Discussion of the Woodward Dream Cruise at the second regularly Council Meeting scheduled in January.

AYES: W,C,G,T;MP

NAYS: None

AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION CARRIED

MAIN MOTION NOW READS:

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Trice, that the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise Commission, along with representatives of the Downtown Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, the Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Public Works and the Recreation Director meet before the second regularly scheduled Council Meeting in January, 2004 to develop a list of concerns and issues that needs to be addressed by the Dream Cruise Committee Commission for the 10th Anniversary Dream Cruise. That the Commission have as its head Mr. Ken Miller. That the Commission report to Council on a monthly basis as to the findings of that report and proceedings with the Commission and their liaisons from the different departments. Furthermore that the this Resolution as prepared by Councilman Trice be table definitely until the second Regular Council Meeting in January, 2004. Furthermore that the this resolution as prepared by Councilman Trice be included in Council packets for Agenda Item regarding the Discussion of the Woodward Dream Cruise at the second regularly Council Meeting scheduled in January.

AYES: C,G,T,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Trice left Council Chambers at 9:23 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table definitely to the first regular Council Meeting in February, 2004, the consideration of a proposal and contract for assistance in completing the Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency Response Plan until research is completed and a clear pattern of compliance and requirements can be established.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: T

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, for approval be granted to exercise the option year under the First Amendment to Solid Waste Contract with Great Lakes Waste Services and that the Contract be signed by the Mayor and City Clerk.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: T

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that pursuant to paragraph 14 of the City of Ferndale’s Procurement Policy, the First Amendment to 2003 Sidewalk Replacement Contract be approved and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the Amendment.

AYES: C,G,W;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: T

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to accept the Interim Financial Forecast from the Finance Director, deleteing the medicare reimbursement adjustment of $120,000 from the expense side of the Interim Financial.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: T

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Council took no action on this Agenda Item.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 10:18 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Galloway assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 10:20 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to receive the Police Department Report for October, 2003.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: T

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen announced that the Police and Fire Board approved the Taser policy and those weapons should be deployed by the end of the year. He also announced that they are moving forward to fill the two police officer vacancies. He announced that the department arrested a murderer, who had appeared on "America Most Wanted", and provided holiday shopping safety tips.

XXX. City Manager Barwin thanked and announced that St. James Church offered to display the City’s nativity scene

XXX. Councilman Galloway announced others who had contributed to the Ferndale Library Book Sale: The Mirror Newspaper, Gloria Sherman and Ed Burns. He also announced that another resource for parents to send their children to was the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County in Royal Oak.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) would have their next meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at the Holiday Inn on Southfield Service Drive in Detroit.

XXX. Councilman Covey announced that a D.O.C. would soon be located at Nine Mile and Woodward; an agency was looking at the F&M building and that a computer data company was looking at the Temple. He announced that Hazel Park was interested in sharing services with the City of Ferndale. Councilman Covey also announced the next meeting for the 3rd Annual Blues Festival would be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at Club Bart’s at 7:30 p.m. Councilman Covey commented it was his brother, who was in the audience, that helped develop his appreciation for blues music and that it was his father, also in the audience, and his aunt, who helped develop his interest in politics.

XXX. Mayor Porter commented on a seminar he hoped to attend at the National League of Cities Conference in Nashville regarding globalization and world politics. Mayor Porter announced that the American Cancer Society would be hosting National Lung Cancer Screening Trials University of Michigan and Henry Ford Hospital for smokers between the ages of 55 and 74, who have not had cancer.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:36 p.m.