City Council - September 26, 2005

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2005, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, September 26, 2005, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:33 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 make an announcement if Council Members did not object. No Council Members objected. Mayor Porter announced that the proposed Zoning Ordinance was only "proposed" and asked that the residents provide input and be patient during the process. City Manager Barwin indicated that Town Hall Meetings would be scheduled in the near future to discuss the proposed Zoning Ordinance.

XXX. Brian Cooley, Vice Chair of the Beautification Commission and Mayor Porter presented Beautification Awards to the following: Commercial: Little Friends of Ferndale Veterinary Care, 1150 East Nine Mile Road (present); Hilton Family Cue, 2141 Hilton (present); Residential: William and Laura Anderst, 414 Wordsworth (present); Beatrice Voigt, 695 Spencer (present); Jessica Stone, 2854 Burdette (not present); Ann L. Forde, 723 Pearson (not present); Rental: Courtney Tighe, 326-328 West Breckenridge (not present); Zinnia Award: Lewis Realy, 1150 Orchard (not present).

XXX. Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, provided a brief history of Kulick Community Center since its opening in 2001 and activities of the Recreation Department.

XXX. Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing at 8:09 p.m. David McHugh indicated support. Mayor Porter closed the Public Hearing at 8:11 p.m.

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to establish a Plant Rehabilitation District on Tax Parcel 24-25-35-103-032; and an Industrial Development District on Tax Parcel 24-25-35-103-033, both as legally described in the attached Memo from the City Assessor/Treasurer dated September 8, 2005; and the Plant Rehabilitation is otherwise known as 1501 and 1503 Bonner and the Industrial Development District is otherwise known as 1505 Bonner.

AYES: G, L, W, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

1. Lawrence Burleson commented on the medical marijuana proposal, which is on the November 8, 2005 ballot.

2. Darlene Johnson-Bignotti, on behalf of the Library Board, encouraged residents to complete the library survey.

3. Brian Cooley, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, commented on vandalism in the parks and encouraged residents to be aware and report any vandalism.

4. Dawn Ptaszynski requested that any meeting regarding the proposed Zoning Ordinance be televised on Cable.

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:25 p.m.

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:25 p.m.

XXX. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Items 8D and 8E, be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

A. Approval to table Chapter 2, Article VI, of the Code of Ordinances regarding Noise, which was referred to the Ordinance Committee, to Monday, October 10, 2005 Council Meeting, as submitted by City Attorney.

B. Approval to table revised City Clerk’s Office Fee Schedule to FYE 2007 Budget Study Sessions, as submitted by City Clerk.

Approval of Parade Permit Application submitted by Ferndale High School to conduct Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 7, 2005, beginning at 5:45 p.m., as submitted by City Clerk.

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

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

F. Approval to purchase pickup trucks from Gorno Ford, and two snowplows and dump bodies installed from Knapheide Truck Equipment for the DPW, as submitted by DPW Director.

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

AYES: W, G; MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: C and L

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:28 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Chris Johnston, 22646 Woodward, to the Downtown Development Authority for a term expiring December 31, 2005.

AYES: W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: L

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:29 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to authorize Acting Chief Roger Schmidt to fill two vacant entry level Firefighter positions from the current certified Eligibility List.

AYES: C, G, L, W; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to grant permission to fill a vacant Public Works - Grade 3 position in the DPW.

AYES: L, W, G, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Council took no action on this Agenda Item.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 8:46 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 8:47 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, that an Agreement to use the City’s Southwest Storage Yard as a transfer site for leaves delivered by the City of Oak Park be approved and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign it.

AYES: L, W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, that the low bid of $33,946.00 from R & B Paving, Inc., to construct asphalt pads at the Southwest Storage Yard and the City Yard be accepted, and that the expense be charged to the Sanitation Fund, Capital, Account# 226-977.

AYES: W, C, G, L; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to authorize the purchase of six desktop computers and one laptop computer, per the attached specifications in the September 20, 2005 Memo from the Finance Director to City Council, in the amount of $11,981.32, to be billed to the accounts listed in the spending request.

AYES: C, G, L, W; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve purchasing one Dodge Caravan from Bill Snethkamp-Fleet under the State’s Extended Purchase Program for $20,285.00 and to charge the expense to the Vehicle Capital and Equipment Fund, Capital Account# 661-977.

AYES: G, L, W, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Acting Fire Chief Schmidt announced that the two Firefighters that had volunteered to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina had returned home and Royal Oak Township paid their first installment on the Fire Service Agreement.

XXX. City Clerk Pedro announced the last date to register to voter was Tuesday, October 11, 2005, and the website for information for the new voting equipment was www.michigan.gov/sos.

XXX. Councilman Covey announced that a Candidate Forum would be held in October, 2005. He also announced that "Heart In the Park", a fundraiser to benefit evacuees of Hurricane Katrina who are in southeast Michigan, would be held Sunday, October 2, 2005, at Martin Road Park. The Ferndale Community Foundation Auction and Chili Cook-Off would be held at the Curling Club, at Martin Road Park, in conjunction with "Heart In the Park". Councilman Covey requested that tattoo parlors be looked at for an Ordinance amendment as not to classified it as an adult business and referred this to the City Attorney. He also requested that an appointment to the Arts and Cultural Commission be placed on the next Regular Council Agenda.

XXX. Councilman Lennon requested an update on the status of hiring a permanent Fire Chief and Fiscal Review Advisory Committee. He also requested that an update and guidelines be placed for the Fiscal Review Advisory Committee be placed on the next Regular Council Agenda.

XXX. Councilman Galloway encouraged people to register to vote and to vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2005.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber commented that this week was designated as "Race Equality Week" and announced some of the Ferndale Community Foundation’s Silent Auction Items to be held on Sunday, October 2, 2005, at the Curling Club.

XXX. Mayor Porter complimented City Manager Barwin for receiving an award for Governing Leadership, 2005, from Board of Directors of Preservation Wayne. He announced that the Railroad crossing would be repaired in November. Mayor Porter also announced that Flu Shots would be given at the Kulick Community Center on November 4, 2005, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon, and the Detroit Water and Sewage Department will have meetings to discuss the rate structures on Wednesday, September 28, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. at Summit Park, in Canton Township. He commented about a Telecommunication Bill in Lansing and its potential impact on the City of Ferndale and requested a Resolution be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting in opposition of this Bill.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:32 p.m.