City Council - May 24, 2004

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 24, 2004, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, May 24, 2004, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Pro Tem Covey called the meeting to order at 7:41 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call showed the following members of Council present: Council Members Galloway, Lennon, Weber; Mayor Pro Tem Covey. Absent: Mayor Porter.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to adopt the following Resolution:

Section 10 of Chapter III of the Charter of the City of Ferndale, Oakland County, Michigan provides that absence from five consecutive Regular meetings of the City Council shall automatically operate to vacate the seat of the member of the Council unless the absence is excused by Resolution setting forth such excuse and entered upon the journal; and

Mayor Robert G. Porter had cause for his absence from the Regular Council Meeting of May 24, 2004.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor Robert G. Porter be excused from the Regular Council Meeting of May 24, 2004, for the reasons stated above, as provided by Section 10 of Chapter III of the City Charter.

AYES: G,L,W;MTC

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Councilman Galloway requested that the presentation of Property Tax System and Its Impact on the Community be on the next Regular Council Meeting of June 14, 2004.

1. Dawn Ptaszynski inquired about replacement of bricks at 9 Mile and Woodward after construction is finished on Woodward.

2. Mary Trenner, City Librarian, on behalf of the Library Board and Friends of the Library, thanked those who participated in a survey of Library Services. She also announced that SEMCOG would have the following informational displays at the Library: June 7-21, 2004, information on what SEMCOG is, and June 21-July 5, 2004, information on Regional Transportation Plan.

3. Jameson Turpening and Brian Nicholl inquired about relocating their business in Ferndale and creating a residential development.

4. Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, announced the following events: Annual Trunk and Treasurer Sale, June 5, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Bike Rodeo, June 12, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Martin Road Park and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Geary Park. She also announced that bathrooms at the parks would be open 9:00 a.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m., as long as there wasn’t any vandalism and that the picnic tables at Geary Park had been vandalized.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 5A, 5B, 5G and 5H be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

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

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

C. Approval to purchase Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) cylinder refill system from West Shore Fire, Inc., to be purchased with FEMA grant money, as submitted by Fire Chief.

D. Approval to move the polling location for Precinct 14 to the Ferndale Activities Center, 1615 E. Lewiston, as submitted by City Clerk.

E. Appoint a Representative and Alternate to the Board of Trustees of the Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority (SOCRRA), as submitted by City Manager.

F. Approval to table the Animal Control Contract to the Regular Council Meeting of June 14, 2004, as submitted by City Manager.

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

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

AYES: L,W,G;MTC

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. No items were on the Regular Agenda.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table the Minutes of the Special Meetings February 23 (held prior to the Regular Council Meeting), February 23 (held after the Regular Council Meeting), March 10, and March 15, 2004, and the Regular Meetings held February 23 and March 10, 2004, as submitted by City Clerk to the next Regular Meeting to be held on Monday, June 14, 2004.

AYES: W,G,L;MTC

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Covey, supported unanimously, to adopt the Resolution regarding Health Care Coverage for Michigan residents.

AYES: All

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to receive the Police Department Report for April, 2004.

AYES: G,L,W;MTC

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to approve 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: L,W,G;MTC

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Fire Captain Schmidt, on behalf of Fire Inspector Batten, announced that a program, directed at seniors entitled "Fall and Fire Prevention Class" would be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., at the Kulick Center. He reminded that if any Ferndale resident needed a smoke detector and couldn’t afford one, they were available free of charge at either Fire Station. He also announced that those who need help in installing a smoke detector or changing the battery could contact the Fire Department. Fire Captain Schmidt also announced that open burning was illegal, except for cooking food, according to the City’s Open Burning Ordinance.

XXX. Mayor Pro Tem Covey announced that the Selection Committee application deadline for the Troy/Allen project was June 4, 2004.

XXX. Councilman Lennon requested that the Labor Attorney bills be more detailed and commented about photos that he received regarding buildings on major streets that had Code violations. He also requested that Assistant City Manager Hubanks and City Manager Barwin research the idea of adding a 5 cent liquor tax to businesses to help pay for services. Councilman Lennon announced that he spoke with the Chamber of Commerce and would also like to be on the Council Agenda to provide information of happenings in their organization and requested the City Clerk to place this item on the Agenda. He also announced that Dennis Whittie had applied to be on the Citizen Finance Committee and encouraged others to apply. He commented on the services he received from emergency personnel and announced that he would not be in favor of restructuring Fire Department personnel or the closing of a Fire Station.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, supported unanimously, to adopt the Condolence Resolution for Beverly "Sue" Emmi.

AYES: All

NAYS: None

ABSENT: MP

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Councilman Galloway commented on the Oakland County Home Improvement Program and encouraged people who were in need to apply. He requested the scheduling of a Special Meeting to receive the Fire Department report formally and to review it prior to the next Regular Council Meeting.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber inquired about Precinct 14 being moved and wished everyone a Happy Memorial Day.

XXX. Mayor Pro Tem Covey commented on Flower Day Sale and encouraged residents to keep their property up to Code. He encouraged residents to come out and watch the Memorial Day parade and requested that a Travel Resolution for the Mayor to attend a conference in Chicago be placed on the next Special Meeting Agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Covey encouraged people to participate in the following events: "Dine Out Detroit" on Friday, June 4, 2004, a fundraiser for M.A.P.P.; Thursday, June 3, 2004, was the first "Thursday on the Nine"; Sunday, June 6, 2004, Annual "Motor City Pride Festival"; Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., would be the first meeting for volunteers for the Annual Pub Crawl, which would take place on Friday, July 30, 2004 and on June 18, 2004, at Boogie Fever, "Midwest Finest" Calendar Competition would be held and all the proceeds from the calendar will be given to MI Cops and Thin Blue Line. He also reminded residents that Monday, June 14, 2004, was the annual School Board Election.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m.