City Council - January 10, 2005

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2005, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, January 10, 2005, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

XXX. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Third Grade Class at Wilson School.

XXX. The National Anthem was performed by Netty Lenaway, Ferndale High School student.

XXX. The Invocation was provided by Reverend Dennis Paulson.

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

XXX. Mayor Porter presented a plaque to former Plan Commissioner Maria Fernandez for her dedicated work on the Commission

XXX. Liz Kannon, Outreach Committee for Ferndale Public Schools, provided an update on activities throughout Ferndale Public Schools.

Councilman Galloway left Council Chambers at 7:48 p.m.

Councilman Galloway returned to Council Chambers at 7:50 p.m.

XXX. Fred Nix, Assistant Superintendent of Hazel Park Schools, introduced Sharon Hawkins, Community Education Director. Ms. Hawkins provided an update on activities throughout Hazel Park Public Schools.

XXX. Peggy Snow and Mayor Porter presented Holiday Lights Beautification Awards to the following: Commercial: Extreme Truck Accessories, 23000 Woodward (not present) and Rusted Moss 255, W. Nine Mile Road (not present); Residential: Scott Wilmoth, 443 W. Woodland (present); Pat and Al Cavender, 342 E. Saratoga (present); Adam Knox and Ken Arnold, 149 E. Breckenridge (present); and Dee and Bob Pollington, 333 St. Louis (not present).

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, supported unanimously, to adopt the Resolution for Robert and Dee LeGrand in recognition of their volunteer work.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

1. Dennis Emmi expressed concern regarding a potential location of a High School Academy at Wilson Elementary School.

2. Ray White encouraged residents and Council to purchase the book that was written by Interim Fire Chief Roger Schmidt, entitled Tough As Nails.

3. David Coulter, Oakland County Commissioner, announced that an Open House will be held at Community Services of Oakland on Wednesday, January 26, 2005, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. He also announced that on the third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m., the Library Board holds their meetings at the Library and encouraged participation and input by the public.

4. Mary Tsouris, owner of Helena Salon and Institute of Reflexology, inquired if money from the recently awarded to the City under the "Cool Cities" grant would be allocated to the Hilton Corridor.

5. Shawn Stewart of Royal Oak Charter Township invited Ferndale Residents to their Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program, to be held on Monday, January 17, 2005, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Township’s Recreation Center.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Item 11A be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:31 p.m.

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

B. 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,W;MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: L

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter requested that "Reappointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals" be inserted as Regular Agenda Item B, as it was inadvertently omitted on the Agenda, with the balance of the Agenda Items to be relettered accordingly. No Council Members indicated objection.

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Todd Gustke, 371 W. Oakridge, as Ferndale’s representative on the Community Media Network Board.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:35 p.m.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Christopher Dengate, 967 Alberta, to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a term expiring December 31, 2007.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to authorize the Police Department to go forward with the EMPCO personalized examination for the position of Sergeant for a cost of $2,100.00 and to authorize the Department in conjunction with the City Clerk to conduct oral board examination for that position.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:43 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:45 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the hiring of three Police Officers to fill the three vacated budgeted positions, as indicated by the Chief of Police.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the sale of the westernmost 120 feet of the City-owned Academy property west of Hilton, as is, by quit claim deed, as subdivided into three 40 foot lots per the attached City Assessor/Treasurer’s legal description, to Miller, Wright, Chess and Ruszkowski for the price of $100,000, to be developed as single family dwellings as proposed and generally laid out in the attached plans to the City Manager’s

January 5, 2005 communication to Council and consistent with City codes and procedures, with title insurance and land survey to be completed at the cost of the purchasers, with new development to be substantially completed in 2005, contingent upon the City Attorney’s final review and acceptance of a completed Offer to Purchase consistent with this motion.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:08 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:12 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to receive the Police Department Reports for October and November, 2004.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that the City had received two grants to improve the Eight Mile Corridor and the Livernois Corridor. He welcomed a new business, Whiteside Communication at 1911 Burdette and announced that Mayor Porter would help kick-off the United States Senior Women Championship that would be held at the Curling Club on Thursday, January 13, 2005. City Manager also announced that Oakland County had released community property performance for the last year and that Ferndale had increased 7.2%. Mayor Porter thanked everyone involved for their hard work in order for the property rates to increase over 7%.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to appoint DPW Director Byron Photiades as the Alternate Representative to the Eight Mile Boulevard Association.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Councilwoman Weber commented on Royal Oak Township’s Dr. Martin Luther King Program and on her experience at the South Oakland Chapter of NAACP recognition dinner.

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, supported unanimously, to adopt a Resolution honoring Dr. Quarles for her work with the South Oakland Chapter of NAACP.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

XXX. Councilman Galloway thanked Maria Fernandez for her work on the Plan Commission. He announced that the Friends of the Ferndale Library are looking for people interested in leadership positions. Councilman Galloway also thanked the Department of Public Works for their efforts in snow removal.

XXX. Councilman Lennon thanked the Department of Public Works for their efforts in snow removal, but expressed concern that some businesses did not clear the snow from their sidewalk. He commented on pictures he received regarding properties that have code violations. Councilman Lennon announced that a Town Hall Meeting would be held on January 24, 2005, at the Kulick Community Center regarding Senior and Youth Sport Programs. He requested that Resolutions regarding the City’s bidding process and labor issues to be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda.

XXX. Councilman Covey thanked Mayor Porter for organizing the "New Year" program that was at the beginning of this Council Meeting. He commented about businesses not shoveling their sidewalks after snowstorms. Councilman Covey indicated that the Ferndale Community Foundation will announce the availability of grants through the Foundation and that Appointee Evaluations need to be completed. Mayor Porter requested the City Clerk to schedule Appointee Evaluations as soon as possible. He announced that the calendar, "Midwest Finest" was still on sale with funds being present to Thin Blue Line and MI Cops charities in February or March. Councilman Covey announced Woodward Avenue Brewery and its employees donated $1,720.00 to Ferndale Youth Assistance and Ferndale Education Association. Councilman Covey commented on the program called "Sobriety Court" that Judge Longo and his staff do in order to help convicted drunk drivers. He announced the Annual Ferndale Metro Blues Festival will be held February 1 through 5, 2005, and volunteers were still needed.

XXX. Mayor Porter complimented the Department of Public Works and Jack Crowley on their hard work and commented about a memo from Fire Inspector regarding fire suppression that is not being addressed at a local business. He congratulated Leslie Thompson, who is the Director of Affirmations in Ferndale, on being named to a national board position. Mayor Porter commented about a business in Ferndale called "Octane". He commented about an article regarding Detroit area urban sprawl, which appeared in the Planning and Zoning News.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:44 p.m.