City Council - November 28, 2005

PROPOSED MINUTES
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2005, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, November 28, 2005, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:39 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 announced that it was not on the Agenda, however, he requested Police Chief Kitchen to introduce the three new Police Officers. Police Chief Kitchen introduced Police Officers Janessa Schalk, Joseph Brugnoli, and Lowell Phillips.

XXX. Mayor Porter introduced Councilwoman-Elect Tomiko Gumbleton, who was present in the audience.

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

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 7:47 p.m.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 7:48 p.m.

XXX. Brett Tillander, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Oakland County, made a presentation updating Council and the community on their after school program for Middle and High School Students at Ferndale High School.

XXX. Acting Fire Chief Schmidt provided information regarding the activities of the Ferndale Goodfellows.

Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the annual donation of $300.00 that is included in the FYE-2006 Budget, Account# 101-172-885.

AYES: C, G, L, W; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter announced City Staff could request to place items on the Agenda, and therefore beginning with this Council Meeting, any City Staff who wished to speak during Call to Audience would do so only after members of the public have been heard.

1. Stephanie Loveless commented on the proposed Zoning Ordinance and the need for this Ordinance to be placed on the ballot for a vote of the resident. She asked that Council have a waiting period of six months for public input.

2. Ray White, Vice President of Ferndale Historical Society, announced that the Historical Society’s new 2006 Calendar was available for sale.

3. Susan Trescott expressed concern regarding the impact of the proposed Zoning Ordinance.

4. Gina Schoolcraft, from Ferndale Youth Assistance, commented on the success of "Safe Night", which was held on November 11, 2005, with over 700 children attending.

5. Susan Trescott requested that Council wait on voting on the Proposed Zoning Ordinance until after the first of the year.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to approve the Consent Agenda, as submitted.

A. Receive the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the 43^rd District Court and the Ferndale Association of Court Employees for the period covering July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2007, as submitted by Labor Attorney.

B. Adoption of Social Security Number Privacy Act Policy, as submitted by Finance Director/Assistant City Manager.

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

AYES: G, L, W, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to appoint Scott Helmer, 224 West Lewiston, to the Fiscal Review Committee.

AYES: L, W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Susan Christin, 1281 West Saratoga, to the Arts and Cultural Commission to fill the unexpired term, expiring December 31, 2005.

AYES: W, C, G, L; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to table Regular Agenda Item C (Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1001, which amends Article XIV, Section 14.02, of the Zoning Ordinance regarding Body Decorating) and Regular Agenda Item D (Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1002, which amends Article XXIV, Section 24.01, of the Zoning Ordinance regarding Body Decorating) to the next Regular Council Meeting with a report from the DDA Manager with her thoughts on location and the issue itself, and that requirements from the current Zoning Ordinance; current map; Proposed Zoning Ordinance and proposed map regarding Body Decorating be attached as background material.

AYES: C, G, L; MP

NAYS: W

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:51 p.m.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:52 p.m.

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 8:58 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Covey assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 9:02 p.m.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to appoint Councilman Lennon as the City Liaison to the Downtown Development Authority Board for the Woodward Dream Cruise.

AYES: G, L, W, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the Amendment to the Ferndale/Pleasant Ridge Fire Protection Agreement, including the following suggestions made by the City Attorney at the Table:

Paragraph No. 1 replace the words "fire marshall" with "fire inspector"

Paragraph No. 1 delete the last sentence as follows: In the event that budgetary cuts or other factors cause Ferndale to reduce the number of firefighters employed by it while the RO Township Contract remains in effect, such reduction shall be applied to and reduce the Base Level Staff of Firefighters."

AYES: L, W, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen thanked Council for allowing him to introduce the new Police Officers and commented on the high quality of candidates for the position of Ferndale Police Officers.

XXX. Acting Fire Chief Schmidt announced that if anyone had any name of a needy family from Ferndale or Pleasant Ridge or wished to make a donation to call the Fire Department.

XXX. City Manager Barwin announced that the Canadian National Railroad would be delaying repairs to the railroad crossings until Spring, 2006.

XXX. Moved by Mayor Porter, supported unanimously, to adopt a Condolence Resolution for Margaret Bensch.

ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY

XXX. City Attorney commented that the Plan Commission needed to make a recommendation to Council regarding the proposed Zoning Ordinance, before Council could vote on it.

XXX. Councilman Galloway commented on the long and hard work of the Plan Commission, who has been working on the Proposed Zoning Ordinance for the last eight years.

XXX. Councilwoman Weber announced that the Holiday Ice Festival would be held December 8 through 10, 2005, in Downtown Ferndale. She commented on the need to look into managing the skunk population in Ferndale.

XXX. Councilman Covey announced that Citizens For a Fair Ferndale held its 2005 Good Neighbor Strong Community Awards and announced those who had won: Ed Burns, Jean Davis, Charles Goedert, Francine Hachem, Jackie Koivu, Monica Mills, Janet Narich, Delmar Schmidt, and Charles Sink. He commented on the 2006 Annual Blues Festival and a new recycling program that recycles electronic devices and raises funds for A.I.D.S. education and prevention programs. Councilman Covey reminded everyone that Thursday, December 1, 2005, was World A.I.D.S. Day and a dinner will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2005, at 6:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church.

XXX. Councilman Lennon announced that his sign at the last Council Meeting was meant to be humorous. He requested that the City Manager look into training City Staff at City Hall and the Kulick Center on how to use the defibrillators. Councilman Lennon reminded residents and business owners to shovel their walks after a snow storm.

XXX. Mayor Porter reminded residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks after a snowstorm. He commented on a concern about an unusual odor in the City and encouraged people to report any noxious odors. Mayor Porter thanked SEMCOG for keeping up with grant funding for the study of the transit system. He thanked those that attended the recent Proposed Zoning Ordinance Meeting. Mayor Porter announced that MDOT would hold a meeting on December 1, 2005, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon to discuss transportation. He congratulated Conan Smith from the Michigan Suburbs Alliance on his article about Property Tax Rules.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:41 p.m.