City Council - January 24, 2005

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2005, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, January 24, 2005, 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 asked if any Council Members had an objection to allow an announcement to be made at the beginning of the meeting. No Council Member indicated any objection.

Police Kitchen announced that a suspect was in custody regarding the murder that happened at the recording studio on West Eight Mile Road.

XXX. Fire Inspector Brian Batten thanked Chuck Van Housen, Community Safety Net, for encouraging businesses to donate and the 83 businesses that donated $11,747.50 to help published the Fire Prevention Handbook that will be given out to 3rd graders to Ferndale School District and Webb Elementary and books that will target 4th and 5th graders as well. He gave special thank you to Hank Kinzey & Associates and Grand Central Storage for their donation of $1,150.00 which cover the cost of the books for an entire school.

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

1. Brian Batten, Ferndale Fire Inspector, thanked businesses and residents who removed the snow away from fire hydrants.

2. Samuel Wright, Boy Scout Troop No. 1204, announced that he was here to observe the meeting as part of his scouting activities.

3. Sean Senecal expressed concern regarding business owners not shoveling snow in the Hilton and East Nine Mile Road area.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 6A, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6G be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

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

B. Adoption of Resolution in recognition of the retirement of Michigan Municipal League President George D. Goodman, as submitted by City Clerk.

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

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

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

F. Approval to use City Hall parking lot and employee kitchen for annual "Trunk and Treasure" Sale to be held on Saturday, June 11, 2005, as submitted by Recreation Director.

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

H. 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 Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Kimberly Beebe, 511 East Drayton, to the Board of Zoning Appeals, for a term to expire December 31, 2007.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Ralph Sherman, 2535 Bonner, to the Arts and Cultural Commission, to fill an unexpired term expiring December 31, 2005.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, to appoint Mark Mio, 200 West Nine Mile Road, to the Downtown Development Authority, for a term to expire December 31, 2008.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to approve the Offer to Purchase Real Estate as amended at the table and also the commercial plan development agreement as presented in its latest form and authorize the Mayor and City to sign documents.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, that $25,000.00 of the receipt received from the North and South Hilton Properties sale be reserved through the City Manager’s recommendation for improvement including parking on Hilton Road.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to adopt the Resolution as written by Councilman Lennon, however, exchanging the word "shall" for the word "may" following the word preference in the fourth paragraph, second line.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to accept the proposal from Wade-Trim Associates Inc. in the amount of $11,470.00 to develop the City’s of Ferndale’s 2005-2009 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and authorize the City to sign the Professional Service Agreement, and charge the Public Improvement Fund, Account# 245-818.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that the Technical Support Program Agreement between Siemens Building Technology, Inc., and the City of Ferndale to provide preventative-maintenance and emergency-repair services for the HVAC systems in city-owned building be approved; and that the initial-term cost of $10,500.00 be charged to the Public Improvement Fund, Contractual Services, Account# 245-818.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item A- Approval to refer from the 2003 Legislative Session, State House Bills Nos. 5216, 5217, 5218, 5219, 5220 and 5224, to the Ordinance Committee, as submitted by Councilman Galloway.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to approve the referral from the 2003 Legislative Session, State House Bills Nos. 5216, 5217, 5218, 5219, 5220 and 5224, to the Ordinance Committee, with copies to Judge Longo, CDS Director Scheer and Police Chief Kitchen for their comments.

AYES: G,L,W,C;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item C- Adoption of Resolution authorizing the City Clerk to submit a grant application to the State for new voting system and related software, as submitted by City Clerk.

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

That the City Council for the City of Ferndale wishes to apply to the Secretary of State for a grant to purchase an optical scan voting system and related Election Management System (EMS) software, compatible with the requirements of City of Ferndale Charter, to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA); and

The Ferndale City Council has chosen to submit a grant application for a new optical scan voting system in 2005; and

The County Clerk must have this Resolution as Proof of Authority for entering into upcoming Grant Agreements with the State by the end of January 2005, in order to meet the wishes of the majority of the local clerks in this county that Oakland County qualify for ordering the new voting system in the 05-1 order period in early February 2005.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ferndale City Clerk is authorized to submit this grant application on behalf of the City of Ferndale, Oakland County on this 24th day of January, 2005.

AYES: L,W,C,G;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item D- Approval of extension of sick leave for Firefighter, as submitted by Acting Fire Chief.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to extend Firefighter Patrick Sheehan’s sick leave by twenty work days, effective first scheduled work day following his using up of all of his 2005 vacation time, which may occur February 3, 2005.

AYES: W,C,G,L;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, that the quote of $18,400.00 from Wireless Cynergy for eight Tomar light bars/sires and siren-light controllers for new police patrol cars, be accepted and that the cost be charged to the Vehicle and Equipment Fund, Capital, Account# 661-977.

AYES: C,G,L,W;MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item G- Approval of wage increases for Downtown Development Authority staff, retroactive to July 1, 2004, as submitted by DDA Manager.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, Councilwoman Weber, that Council approve the DDA staff merit increases of 1.5% retroactive July 1, 2004, including Executive Director Cristina Sheppard-Decius salary increase to 50,545.99, DDA Ambassador Ann Steslicke hourly rate increase to $11.96 and DDA Aide Erika Breen hourly rate increase to $10.455, and amend accounts 248-000-00-706 and 248-000-00-707 to accurately reflect these changes.

AYES: G,W,C;MP

NAYS: L

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen thanked all of those involved in capturing the murder suspect.

XXX. Interim Fire Chief Schmidt announced that businesses that did not remove snow from fire hydrants would be ticketed.

XXX. City Manager Barwin congratulated the Police Department and all of those involved for their success on capturing the murderer suspect of the Eight Mile Recording Studio owner. He also thanked the Department of Public Works for their prompt snow removal and those that worked on the North and South Hilton Development projects. City Manager thanked Ferndale School Superintendent Meier and the Police Department for meeting regarding concerns for the University High School.

XXX. City Attorney Christ announced that the Ordinance Committee did meet and has started to review the new Zoning Ordinance and the Committee is also looking at recommended changes of the City’s Massage Ordinance.

XXX. Councilman Lennon indicated for the record that he applauds the School Board effort for bringing the University High School to Ferndale, but opposes it being at Wilson School. He commented on e-mails that he has received regarding houses that had code violations. Councilman Lennon requested that appointments to the Citizen Budget Review Committee be on the next Regular Council Agenda. He thanked Hank Kinzey & Associates and Grand Central Storage for their donation for the Fire Prevention Handbooks and wished Florence Murphy "Happy Birthday".

XXX. Councilwoman Weber commented on Roeper Schools theater production called "A Piece of My Heart" that will be on stage this weekend with proceeds from the show will be donated to Work for Peace. She commented about the National League of Cities holding a leadership academy in late March that concerns the Municipal role in supporting young children.

XXX. Councilman Galloway complimented the DPW for their snow removal and suggested Jared Karr as a consultant regarding regionalization for fire services. He announced that there was a vacancy on the Civil Service Board. He also requested that a three parent advisory be established and to be placed on the next Regular Council Agenda.

XXX. Councilman Covey that the 1st United Methodist Church "Youth Group" will sponsor a youth dinner and chose Mayor Porter as their "Person of the Year". He requested that Council consider for their next Regular Council Agenda to change "Mapledale Park" to "Lennon Memorial Park" and commented the good job that the Cable Department does. Councilman Covey also reminded everyone that the Blues Festival would be held from February 1 through 5, 2005 and volunteers were still needed.

XXX. Mayor Porter commented about snow removal and complimented Assessor/Treasurer Singh on following up on taxi issue and the death of Johnny Carson.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:24 p.m.