City Council - March 22, 2004

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2004, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, March 22, 2004, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

XXX. Mayor Porter proclaimed April, 2004 as National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in the City of Ferndale.

A. Jester’s One, Inc. 22848 Woodward

B. Blue Nile 545 West Nine Mile Road

C. Dino Drop, Inc., 22740 Woodward

D. Magic Bag 22920 Woodward

E. Posh 22061 Woodward

F. Pronto 1810 Planavon/344 West Nine Mile Road

XXX. Public Hearings were not held for Jester’s One, Inc., Blue Nile, Magic Bag, and Posh, as these establishments corrected outstanding issues, which originally placed them on the Agenda. Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing at 7:41 p.m. City Attorney Christ asked City Manager Barwin questions regarding Dino Drop, Inc. and Pronto about the amount of tax monies owed to the City of Ferndale. City Attorney indicated for the record that he provided to both Dino Drop, Inc. and Pronto by certified and regular mail, Notice of the Public Hearing this evening. No one came forward to speak during the Public Hearing. Mayor Porter closed the Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m.

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that the Resolution attached to the March 12, 2004 correspondence, with correction to the amount owed by Pronto from $8,067.83 to $9,216,98 as prepared by the City Attorney, be adopted relative to Dino Drop and Pronto.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

1. Jackie Koivu thanked the community for their support due to the death of her mother-in-law. Thanked Councilman Covey and Monica Mills for accepting the check on her behalf for the Ferndale Youth Assistance (FYA). The FYA’s annual Bowl-A-Thon will be held Saturday, March 27, at Luxury Lanes and that bowlers, raffle prizes and lane sponsors are still needed. She also announced that on April 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church a Spaghetti Dinner fund-raiser would be held to aid a single mother and her three children who recently loss their belongings due to a house fire.

2. Harriet Burnstein read a letter which expressed concern regarding cuts at the Library.

3. Michael Nelson and Perry Thorton expressed concern regarding the condition of houses in his neighborhood.

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:04 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:05 p.m.

4. Mayor Charles Goedert, City’s Liaison for D.I.F.T., announced that M.D.O.T. will hold a meeting on March 29, 2004, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Building, 1120 W. State Fair, Detroit regarding D.I.F.T. He also announced that people could comment on the D.I.F.T. project by calling 1-800-780-7221 or e-mail them to Bob Parsons at parsonsb@michigan.gov.

5. Andy Meisner, State Representative, commented on the proposed D.I.F.T. Resolution and its negative impact on Ferndale and announced that Lieutenant Governor Cherry visited today with various City Representatives.

6. David Coulter, Oakland County Commissioner, announced that Oakland County Board of Commissioners Meeting would be held on Thursday, March 25, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. and that Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick would be present to discuss water rates.

7. Mike Flores announced that he had just moved to Ferndale and complimented on Ferndale being such a diverse community.

8. Police Lt. William Wilson, representing the Michigan Tactical Officers Association presented Reverend Tom Hansen a plaque for serving as chaplain for the Michigan Tactical Officers Association.

9. Brian Cooley commented on the D.I.F.T. meeting and encourage the public to attend the meeting and discuss their concerns. He also announced that Earth Day would be on April 22 and Arbor Day would be held on April 30 and that Beautification Commission would soon be approaching Council with a Resolution to reinstate the City as a "Tree City U.S.A." Mr. Cooley also announced that on April 24 would be the Annual Park Clean-Up and May 15 would be the Annual Flower Day from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:40 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:41 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted:

A. Approval to schedule Public Hearing regarding 2004 Sidewalk Replacement Program (Special Assessment District No. 2004) on Monday, April 12, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., as submitted by DPW Director.

B. Approval of the bills, payrolls (as certified by City Manager) and City Attorney expense statement submitted by Beier Howlett, P.C., to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt Ordinance No. 974, which amends Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Swimming and Wading Pools.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to adopt Ordinance No. 975, which amends Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances regarding 2000 Edition of the International Fire Code.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt a Resolution opposing Federal Constitutional Amendment banning same sex marriages with changes made at the table.

AYES: C,G,W;MP

NAYS: L

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to direct the City Attorney to draft an appropriate Charter Amendment and take the necessary steps to place on the November, 2004 ballot a charter amendment defining the Employees Retirement System by Ordinance rather than by Charter language.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Fire Chief LeGault announced that this week is "Severe Weather Awareness Week" and Oakland County Emergency Response for preparedness will test all emergency sirens at 10:30 a.m.

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that the Senior Services would hold their annual Trunk and Treasure Sale on Saturday, June 5 and donations are welcomed. He also announced that Congressman Sander Levin will hold a forum on April 26, 2004, at the Kulick Community Center, at 6:30 p.m. City Manager Barwin announced that he was invited to give the "State of the Region Address" by the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the World Futures Society on March 30, 2004, 7:00 p.m. at the Kulick Community Center.

XXX. Councilman Galloway thanked State Representative Meisner and Lieutenant Governor Cherry for speaking with Council earlier today and also commented on an article that appear in the Detroit Free Press regarding the elimination of Ferndale from the Oakland County Main Street Program.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the Ferndale Educational Foundation and the Ferndale Fine Arts Boosters will have the 8th Annual Golf Classic on June 16 both golfers and sponsors are needed.

XXX. Councilman Lennon commented about the blight in the southwestern portion of the City and commented on the budget.

XXX. Councilman Covey requested that the Resolution regarding the opposition of a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriages should go to the President of the United States, Michigan’s two U.S. Senators, U.S. Representative and the cities that border Ferndale. He also commented on the David Lennon Memorial that he attended that raised money for a foundation. He commented that Oakland, California is looking for ways to revitalized their downtown and is looking at Ferndale as a model and that he was quoted in an article in the San Francisco Business News. Councilman Covey also requested that he’s bowling in the Bowl-A-Thon this weekend but is in need of two more bowlers to complete his team.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, supported unanimously, to adopt the Condolence Resolution for Belle Koivu.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

XXX. Mayor Porter thanked State Representative Meisner and Lieutenant Governor Cherry for being in Ferndale today to discuss issues. He reminded residents that M.D.O.T. will hold a meeting on March 29, 2004, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Building, 1120 W. State Fair, Detroit regarding D.I.F.T. Mayor Porter thanked those who helped sponsored the youth delegate to the recent National League of Cities.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:19 p.m.