City Council - May 23, 2005

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, May 23, 2005, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:30 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 to vary from the Agenda for a recognition and no Council Members indicated objection. Mayor Porter recognized cable volunteer Ray White on his accomplishments and on his upcoming 80^th birthday.

XXX. Bill Axtell, on behalf of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, provided information regarding the activities of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

XXX. Mr. Cordino of Michigan Department of Transportation, provided a brief overview of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT).

1. Cristina Sheppard-Decius from the Downtown Development Authority, provided information on activities of the DDA.

2. Harold Kirkwood, on behalf o the Ferndale International Soccer Club and the National Soccer Association, presented a check to Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, in the amount of $1,400.00.

3. Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, thanked the sponsor and all those involved in the recent Foot Frolic. She announced that the Recreation Department received a grant from the Ferndale Community Foundation for an after school program. Ms. Mellert provided information on upcoming activities of the Recreation Department.

4. Mary Tsouris requested an update on the parking configuration on Hilton near the new development site.

5. Reese Gary, on behalf of Michigan Alliance to Strengthen Social Security and Medicare, requested that Council consider adoption of a Resolution opposing privatization of Social Security. Mayor Porter requested that this be placed on the next Council Agenda.

6. Kevin Rogers, President of the Ferndale Memorial Association, and Bill Axtell, provided information and encouraged attendance at the 87^th Ferndale Memorial Day Parade.

7. David Coulter, Oakland county Commissioner, announced that the County was offering a new program to provide the services of Plante Moran to all jurisdiction in the County. He also provided information on activities of the Ferndale Library Board.

8. Tyler Vecere, expressed concern regarding the condition of a neighboring house and property.

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 9:01 p.m.

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

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

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

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

C. Approved bid from Spiritech, Inc., for installation of surveillance cameras at the Withington Parking Lot to monitor the City’s commercial solid waste compactor, as submitted by DPW Director.

D. Approved emergency repair charges to replace the door on the City Hall’s elevator, as submitted by DPW Director.

E. Adopted the Resolution recognizing June, 2005, as Gay Pride Month, as submitted by Councilman Covey.

F. Approved bills and payrolls (as certified by City Manager) to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Weber; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Councilman Lennon

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 9:06 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to increase Police Department’s staffing levels for Police Sergeant from five to seven and to authorize proceeding with established hiring process.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Lennon, Weber, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to adopt the Resolution regarding future budget processes.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Weber, Covey, Galloway; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 9:19 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey assumed the Chair.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that the low bid of $210,667 of Michigan Joint Sealing, to provide crack-sealing and street-repair services under the Pavement Preservation program, Contract #PP-05, be approved; that the expense, based on final street quantities, be charged to the Major Streets Fund and the Local Streets Fund; and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign the contract between the City and Michigan Joint Sealing.

AYES: Council Members Weber, Galloway, Lennon; Mayor Pro Tem Covey

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Mayor Porter

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, that approval be granted to fill the vacant Public Works Grade 3 position in the DPW.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Lennon, Weber; Mayor Pro Tem Covey

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Mayor Porter

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:26 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to table consideration of the Department of Recreation and Senior Services to enter into a contract with Active Community Solutions to obtain the web based Recreation Management Program ActiveNet to the next Regular Meeting of City Council.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Weber, Covey, Galloway; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item B- Approval for the City Clerk’s Office to resume the annual administration of the Business Registration Ordinance, with the City Attorney to draft the appropriate amendment to the Business Registration Ordinance, as submitted by City Manager.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to continue with the moratorium regarding Business Registration, and to refer this item to the Ordinance Committee to provide a new Ordinance.

AYES: Council Members Weber, Covey, Galloway, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

9. Brian Cooley announced that the Beautification Commission was looking for nominations and Committee Members were needed. He also announced the activities of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen thanked the Rotary Club for their donations for the bike rodeo. He announced that the Police Department had received a number of grants.

XXX. Councilman Lennon requested that an appointment to the Beautification Committee be placed on the next Council Agenda.

XXX. Councilman Galloway announced that he was accepting donations for a South Oakland Boys and Girls Club fundraiser.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the first annual meeting of the Ferndale Community Foundation would be held on May 24, 2005.

XXX. Councilman Covey requested that an appointment to the Ferndale Arts and Cultural Committee be placed on the next Council Agenda. He announced June 12, 2005, was the date for the renaming of Mapledale Park to Lennon Park; commented on an inaccurate newspaper article regarding Gage Products, and announced that Dine-Out Detroit would be held on Friday, June 3, 2005.

XXX. Mayor Porter addressed the inaccurate newspaper article, which appeared in the Oakland Press, regarding Gage Products.

Moved by Mayor Porter, supported unanimously, to adopt a Condolence Resolution for Carl Orlando.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

Mayor Porter commented on the Memorial Day parade and announced that storm season was approaching and for the public to take appropriate precautions.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:09 p.m.