City Council - November 22, 2004

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

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, November 22, 2004, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:32 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, requested that this Agenda Item be postponed until such time as a representative from Hazel Park Schools arrived and then Council would return to this Agenda Item.

XXX. David Leonard, provided information regarding the activities of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

1. Ed Burns, on behalf of the Friends of the Ferndale Public Library, commented that the book sale was a success and thanked the volunteers who worked the event.

2. Brian Cooley, on behalf of the Beautification Commission, announced that on December 15, 2004, the Commission will be judging holiday displays; announced that the annual park clean-up would be held on the last Saturday in April, 2005, and Arbor Day will be celebrated on the last Friday in April, 2005, by planting a tree. He thanked Council for placing the Resolution to proclaim Arbor Day in the City of Ferndale and the request approval to submit an application for Ferndale to become a "Tree City U.S.A." on tonight’s Consent Agenda.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Item 6G to be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

A. Approval to refer Charter Amendment passed at the November 2, 2004 Election regarding Employees Retirement System to the Ordinance Committee for development of an Ordinance for the Employees Retirement System, as submitted by City Attorney.

B. Adoption of Resolution proclaiming Friday, April 30, 2004, as Arbor Day in the City of Ferndale, and approval for the Beautification Commission and Department of Public Works to submit an application to have the City of Ferndale designated as a "Tree City USA," as submitted by City Manager.

C. Adoption of Resolution and Adoption Agreement for the Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan administered by ICMA-RC; and authorization for the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Adoption Agreement, as submitted by Finance Director/Assistant City Manager.

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

E. Approval to file claims for compensation under the Michigan "Telecommunication Cable" Railroad Corridor Class Settlement and to designate the DPW Director as the City’s designated representative to file the claims, as submitted by DPW Director.

F. 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,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to adopt the original Resolution, also referred to as the "Pink Copy", without the redline.

AYES: L,C

NAYS: G,W,MP

MOTION FAILED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to approve the hiring of a Police Officer, as requested by the Chief of Police.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:54 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the annual donation of $300.00, included in the Fiscal Year End 2005 Budget, Account# 101-172-885 to the Ferndale Goodfellows.

AYES: W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT L

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:58 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that Change Order No. I, for $24,500.00 for the City Hall Re-Roofing Project, be approved and that the expense be charged to the Public Improvement Fund, Contractual, Account# 245-818.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:00 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:02 p.m.

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

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 9:11 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to refer considering of what to do with the Business Registration to the Ordinance Committee and that Council suspend enforcement of Ordinance No. 881, until such time as the Ordinance Committee makes a report back and that we continue to make the forms available in the City Clerk’s Office.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt the Resolution regarding the initiating the process of refunding of General Obligation Unlimited Tax (GOUT) Bonds, as submitted by Finance Director/Assistant City Manager.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Interim Fire Chief Schmidt announced that Fire Inspector Batten was working with a company to help develop a book that would be distributed to school children to promote fire safety.

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen announced that on Tuesday, November 23, 2004, at 9:00 a.m., the Police Department would have a demonstration of their new video arraignment system. He congratulated those involved with successfully prosecuting Coral Watts for murder. Police Chief Kitchen also wished everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

XXX. DPW Director Photiades announced that Friday, December 3, 2004, is scheduled to be the last day for leaf pick-up, weather permitting. He also announced that the City is ready for winter and snow removal.

XXX. Finance Director/Assistant City Manager Hubanks announced that City Hall would be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26, 2004, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. She also announced that the Holiday Ice Festival would be held in the Downtown area on December 9, 10 and 11, 2004, which will include unenforced parking in parking lots, strolling musicians, Santa, ice sculptors, and hot beverages and treats for customers.

XXX. City Clerk Pedro wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

XXX. City Attorney Staran thanked Council for allowing him the opportunity to attend this meeting.

XXX. Councilman Lennon announced that residents who are 60 years old and older, can order free rock salt by calling 248-544-6767 and delivery would be held during the week of December 6, 2004. He also announced that Mike Jenkins, Recreation Supervisor, has called a Town Meeting on Monday, November 29, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., at the Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois, to discuss ways to bring recreation programs lost by budget cuts. Councilman Lennon commented on the proposed Liquor License policy that was discussed earlier in the meeting and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

XXX. Councilman Galloway commented on the National League Conference, which he will be attending in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the near future.

XXX. Councilman Covey commented Appointee Evaluations will need to be scheduled in December and on the proposed Liquor License policy that was discussed earlier in the meeting. He wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and encouraged everyone to drive safely during the holiday. He also thanked David Chess, who owns a roofing company, and who donated a new roof to a low income family. Councilman Covey requested that an appointment to the Arts and Cultural Commission be on the December 13, 2004 Council Agenda. Councilman Covey announced that the Ferndale Pub Crawl Committee was approached by the Royal Oak Restaurant Association to help hold a Royal Oak Pub Crawl on February 8, 2005, and that the 4th Annual Blues Festival will be held on February 1 through 5, 2005. He announced that the Pub Crawl Committee met with representatives of the 2006 Superbowl Host Committee and that they were looking to making the Blues Festival a part of the Official Event for the Superbowl. Councilman Covey announced that December 1, 2004, was World A.I.D.S. Day and that an agency called "Higher Ground" that supports people who have H.I.V. and A.I.D.S., is sponsoring a blanket drive for those who are impacted by H.I.V. and A.I.D.S.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that today was the anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination. She also announced on Tuesday, November 23, 2004, the annual "Thanks Forgiving" will be held at Angel’s Cafe and that on December 15, 2004 a Transportation Summit will be held at Michigan State University.

XXX. Mayor Porter reminded residents to be careful when disposing fireplace ashes and also reminded residents to make sure that they have working smoke detectors.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m.