City Council - June 28, 2004

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2004, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, June 28, 2004, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:34 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 wished a Happy Birthday to Jennifer, Arianne, Del and Ray who recently celebrated birthdays and work and/or volunteer for the City’s Cable Department

PRESENTATION Property Tax System and Its Impact on the Community

XXX. Mayor Porter and Councilman Galloway made a presentation explaining Ferndale Tax System. Mayor Porter provided an introduction to the presentation on Property Tax System and its impact on the Community. Councilman Galloway explained the property tax system, including the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A and their effect on Ferndale’s revenue.

PRESENTATION June, 2004 Beautification Awards

XXX. Peggy Snow, Chair of the Beautification Commission, and Mayor Porter presented June 2004 Beautification Awards.

PRESENTATION Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Monthly Update

XXX. Dave Leonard, Chairman of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, provided information regarding upcoming activities.

XXX. Call to Audience

1. Tom Ness commented on why he started "The Green House" and his involvement in community service.

2. Dawn Ptaszynski inquired about the status of the City Manager and the inquiry regarding the cost of bricks on Nine Mile Road.

3. Patrick Harbin, Sr expressed concern regarding the recent school election.

4. Peter Yavello expressed concern regarding timing of lights at West Marshall and Pinecrest.

5. Donna Squalls expressed concern regarding the recent school election.

6. Ray White, member of the Board of Directors for the Ferndale Historical Society, announced that the Historical Museum was open every Saturday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Consent Agenda

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

A. Approval for Council to request the Plan Commission to consider the rezoning of a portion of Garbutt Park, as submitted by CDS Director.

B. Adoption of Resolution of Appreciation for Senior Services Volunteers, as submitted by Senior Services Director.

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

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Regular Agenda

A. Consideration of future status of City-Owned properties on West Oakridge

XXX. It was referred to the Plan Commission for review and recommendation back to Council.

B. Review of MDOT M-1/M-102 Study

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 9:09 p.m.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:11 p.m.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 9:16 p.m.

Councilman Galloway left Council Chambers at 9:16 p.m.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:27 p.m.

Councilman Galloway returned to Council Chambers at 9:29 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt the Resolution regarding Michigan Department of Transportation with the additional information provided at this meeting.

Dawn Ptaszynski indicated for the record that Council needs to put their efforts elsewhere instead of the bridge, since Michigan Department of Transportation has made their decision.

Mike Flotis indicated for the record that he supported removal of the bridge.

AYES: G,W,C;MP*

NAYS: None

ABSTAIN: L

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter explained his vote that he had reviewed the MDOT study and cannot support a flawed study.

C. Consideration of request to place Charter ballot question regarding Employees Retirement System on November, 2004 Election

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to adopt the Resolution requesting to place Charter ballot question regarding Employees Retirement System on November, 2004 Election.

Kay Watson indicated for the record that she doesn’t support Council having Control over the Pension Boards

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 10:51 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 10:54 p.m.

D. Consideration of METRO Act Unilateral Right-of-Way Telecommunications Application and Permit with SBC

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the METRO Act unilateral right-of-way telecommunications permit with SBC and to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

E. Consideration of Bid and Agreement for Street Pavement Repairs/Resurfacing

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, that the three-year unit-price bid from ABC Paving Company, to repair and resurface street-pavement cuts be accepted; that the first-year expense of $213,778 be charged to the Water/Sewer Fund, Repair/Maintenance, Account # 592-775; and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the Agreement, contingent upon review and approval of the bonds and insurance by the City Attorney.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

F. Consideration to award Installment Purchase Contract for 2004 HVAC Financing and authorization of related documentation

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to award the Installment Purchase Contract for financing HVAC improvement to City of Ferndale buildings.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

G. Consideration of FYE 2005 Budget Adjustments

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table FYE 2005 Budget Adjustments to the second Regular Meeting in July, 2004.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to schedule a Special Meeting on July 6, 2004.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Galloway indicated for the record that Council needed accurate numbers in order to make budget decisions and commented on mirco-management.

XXX. Call to Audience, continued

7. Dawn Ptaszynski inquired about the status of the Political Sign Ordinance.

8. Pat Cissell inquired about the status of the Political Sign Ordinance.

9. Mary Trenner, City Librarian, announced that the Library Annual Ice Cream Social would be held on Monday, July 12, 2004, at 6:30 p.m.

Call to Council

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that he was available for questions regarding the Woodward/Eight Mile Bridge.

XXX. City Attorney Christ provided an update regarding Michigan State Fairgrounds race track litigation.

XXX. City Clerk Pedro announced that those in Precinct 14 will have a new voting location at the Ferndale Activity Center, 1615 E. Lewiston, at Martin Road Park and announced she would set up a meeting with representatives from Ferndale Schools and Royal Oak Township as soon as possible. Mayor Porter announced that the Curling Club will host the Women’s National, the championship for women curling.

XXX. Councilman Galloway announced that Tiffany Building Services won an award from Crain Business News magazine and responded to the ad placed by the Ferndale Firefighters.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the 12th Annual Ferndale Art Show would be held August 7th and 8th, 2004, at Geary Park.

XXX. Councilman Lennon indicated that he had been in contact with Fred Nix from the Hazel Park Schools and that the school district will be on the agenda periodically providing updates of the happenings in the school district. He also encouraged people to apply to the Budget Review Committee and inquired if the Police Department still had Code Enforcement forms.

XXX. Councilman Covey announced that the Ordinance Committee was working on Code Enforcement Ordinances and commented that Council is striving to keep facilities open. He also commented on urban renewal of Columbus, Ohio and the movie Fahrenheit 911. Councilman Covey indicated that blues music was played every Wednesday at the New Way Bar and that the Pub Crawl would be held on July 31, 2004 and that the Midwest Finest Police Calendar Competition was a success.

XXX. Mayor Porter announced that counterfeiting and forgery crimes were up.

XXX. Mayor Porter proclaimed that July, 2004 as Recreation and Parks Month.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 11:43 p.m.