City Council - October 24, 2005

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

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, October 24, 2005, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:36 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 proclaimed America Recycles 2005 in the City of Ferndale.

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

1. Peggy Thorp indicated support and encouraged voters to vote yes on City Proposal D, regarding medical marijuana.

2. Laurie Brown indicated support and encouraged voters to vote "Yes" on City Proposal D, regarding medical marijuana.

3. Ann Heler announced that Citizens For a Fair Ferndale will hold a candidate forum on Sunday, October 30, 2005, at the Kulick Community Center, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

4. Doris Harmon commented on the East Woodland Chili Festival and the proposed rezoning.

5. Donal O’Leary indicated support and encouraged voters to vote "Yes" on City Proposal D, regarding medical marijuana and announced his group’s new website, which is www.ferndalecares.org and thanked Councilman Covey for his help with the website. He also announced that he would be at the forum at the Kulick Center on October 30, 2005.

Amy Roemer commented on the proposed rezoning.

7. George Westerman, member of the Board of Directors of Affirmation Lesbian and Gay Community Center, expressed appreciation for the support the City provided at the groundbreaking for their new Community Center on West Nine Mile Road.

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

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

Approval of Discharge of Mortgage regarding CDBG Loan Repayment for Fashion Center located at 320 West Nine Mile Road, and authorization for the City Clerk to sign the Discharge, as submitted by City Attorney.

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

C. Approval of the bid from Goddard Coatings Company to re-color-coat and re-stripe the basketball courts at Wanda Park and Lennon Park, as submitted by DPW Director.

D. Approval to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, November 14, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., to consider the Brownfield Plan submitted by AKT Peerless Environmental Services for the redevelopment of the property located at 23101 Woodward, into a mixed use retail/loft development, as submitted by CDS Director.

E. Approval to host the Holiday Ice Festival event in downtown Ferndale on December 8 - 10, 2005, and approval of related unenforced parking in public parking lots and bays for this event, as submitted by DDA Manager.

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

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table the authorization for Acting Fire Chief Schmidt to fill the vacant Captain position and the subsequent lower ranks to the next Regular Council Meeting to be held November 14, 2005.

AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION

Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to amend the original Motion to allow the Fire Chief to post the vacant Captain position and subsequent lower rank positions with nothing else to transpire until the next Regular Council Meeting to be held November 14, 2005.

AYES: L, W, C; MP

NAYS: G

AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION CARRIED

MOTION NOW READS:

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to table the authorization for Acting Fire Chief Schmidt to fill the vacant Captain’s position and the subsequent lower ranks to the next Regular Council Meeting, to be held November 14, 2005, but to allow Acting Fire Chief Schmidt to post the vacant Captain position and subsequent lower rank positions with nothing else to transpire until the next Regular Council Meeting to be held November 14, 2005.

AYES: L, W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:23 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to fill the vacant Custodian position at the Gerry Kulick Community Center.

AYES: L, W, G; MP

NAYS: None

ABSENT: C

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:26 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to table this Agenda Item to rename the Ferndale Police Station to the Patrick Sullivan Law Enforcement Building to a future Regular Council Meeting after a policy is created to rename buildings, parks, streets and various other City properties.

AYES: W, C, G, L; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Weber, to approve the hayride route on public streets and parking on the south side of Pearson between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the 24^th Annual Family Fall Fun Fest on Saturday, October 29, 2005.

AYES: W, C, G, L; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:32 p.m.

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

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to enter into a one year License Agreement with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which grants the City, as a whole, the right to use music in most public performances, and in City facilities, to be charged to Account# 101-805.00-818 and to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement.

AYES: C, G, L, W; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilwoman Weber, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt Ordinance No. 1000, which amends Chapter 9 of the Code of Ordinances, adopting the 2003 Edition of the International Fire Code with the changes made at the Table.

AYES: G, L, W, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to approve the delinquent accounts to be charges as a lien against the respective properties and to be collected as Special Assessment with the Winter 2005 taxes in terms of the Applicable Charter Provision.

AYES: L, W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the Special Event Application from the Meade Group, for 2006 AWD IS250/GS300 Lexus Tour to be held on Thursday, October 27, 2005, from 5:00 p.m. to

10:00 p.m., in front of Via Nove, with the stipulations that any damage to the streetscape and or City property be reimbursed by the applicant and for the Meade Group to work with Via Nove’s valet service regarding parking request, as submitted by City Clerk.

AYES: W, C, G, L; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Interim Fire Chief Schmidt announced that the Goodfellows Annual Paper Sale will be held on Friday, December 2, 2005. He also announced that the Historical Society’s Annual Banquet and Election of Officers will be held Friday, October 28, 2005 at the Kulick Community Center.

XXX. Deputy City Clerk Szalma reminded residents that Absentee Ballots were available; City Clerk’s Office would be open on Saturday, November 5, 2005, for Election business only; and encouraged people to come out and vote. She announced that the City would be using their new voting machines and there was a video playing on cable and information on the City’s website, www.ferndale-mi.com. Deputy City Clerk Szalma also reminded residents that if they were interested in being a valid Write-In Candidate that a "Declaration of Intent" form needed to be filed by Friday, November 4, 2005, no later than 4:00 p.m., at the City Clerk’s Office.

XXX. City Manager Barwin wished Cable volunteer John Faunt and his sons "Happy Birthday". He commented on the recycling proclamation that was proclaimed earlier in the meeting and complimented the Fire Department for the report they published. City Manager Barwin provided information to Council regarding a conference about Collaborate Governments and Regional Stewardships in Louisville, Kentucky.

Councilman Lennon inquired about water bills for senior citizens and low income residents He congratulated the Police Department on the capture of armed robbers. Councilman Lennon requested that an area near the railroad at Hilton Road, which had trash, needed to be looked into and to see if there was a possibility to change the date that the water bills are mailed to customers. He inquired if City Staff was trained to use the defibulators.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the Ferndale Memorial Association would hold a commemoration on November 11, 2005, honoring the men and women who have served their country, at the Ferndale Memorial Hall on Livernois.

XXX. Councilman Covey indicated that he respected the views of Councilman Lennon on marijuana. He announced that the lights in the City Hall parking lot and on Vester were not illuminated. He reminded residents to be careful on Halloween Night and to watch out for children who were out that night. Councilman Covey announced that he was working on a recycling program to properly discard electronic devices. He also announced on Thursday, November 17, 2005, that there would be a "Gay American Smokeout" to be held at Soho’s and that Ferndale’s First United Methodist Church Gala and Auction would be held on Saturday, November 5, 2005. Councilman Covey inquired about the proposed body decorating ordinance.

XXX. Councilman Galloway reminded people to vote on November 8, 2005 and indicated support for keeping the Police and Fire Board. He announced that there was a conference at Wayne State regarding Collaborate Governments. He indicated that there was a streetlight out on Kensington. He commented on the Woodward Project at 9 Mile.

XXX. Mayor Porter announced that Police patrols were increasing at the south end of Ferndale. He announced that Habitat for Humanity had built a house at the State Fairgrounds and that it was now at its proper location in Detroit. He commented on the Police and Fire Board and indicated support to eliminate the Board. Mayor Porter commented on research regarding urban sprawl and addressed handicapped parking on Hilton. He also commented on a memo received from the DDA regarding the Dream Cruise and Councilman Galloway requested that discussion for the Dream Cruise be placed on a future Council Agenda in November.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:31 p.m.