City Council - August 14, 2006

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, August 14, 2006, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at

7:40 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call showed the following members of Council present: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter. Absent: None.

PRESENTATION Recreation Director - Ferndale Pet Expo

399. Marsha Mellert, Recreation Director, provided information on the Ferndale Pet Expo, which will be held August 26 – 27, 2006, at Martin Road Park and the Ferndale Activities Center.

400. Call to Audience

1. Linda Daly-Schneider expressed concern regarding rats in her neighborhood.

2. Tiffany Gagne expressed concern regarding skunks in her neighborhood. She complimented Councilman Lennon on his efforts in naming the Police Station after former Police Chief Patrick Sullivan. Ms. Gagne commented on the role of Council and Councilman Galloway’s comments made at the July 24, 2006 Council Meeting regarding the naming of the Police Station.

3. Thomas Gagne welcomed Interim City Manager Renando. He commented that a City Manager should not have a political agenda or ambitions, as that was the role of City Council.

Consent Agenda

401. It was the consensus of Council that the Consent Agenda be approved as submitted, with the exception of the Special Meeting Minutes held May 1, 2006; with those Minutes being placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda.

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

A. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meetings held March 27, May 8, and May 22, 2006, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Adopted the Resolution regarding Ballot Language for Human Rights Ordinance to be placed on November, 2006 Ballot, as submitted by City Attorney.

C. Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Quit Claim Deed regarding the Academy property, as submitted by City Attorney.

D. Approved the Tentative Agreement between the Court and the Ferndale Association of Court Employees, as submitted by Labor Attorney.

E. Approved the payment in the amount of $3,000.00 for the annual Oakway Hazardous Materials Response Team dues, to be billed to Account# 101-336-740, Operating Supplies, as submitted by Fire Chief.

F. Approved the Special Event Application from Joe Mahan, to hold a 9/11 Service on Monday, September 11, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Geary Park Memorial Garden, and approved the erection of bleachers, as pursuant to Section 13-52 of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances, as submitted by City Clerk.

G. Approved the Special Event Application from Ferndale Labs to hold their 7th Annual Picnic on Saturday, September 9, 2006, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Garbutt Park, and approved a Bungee Run, Kiddie Crawl and a tent/canopy for the event, pursuant to Section 13-52 of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances, contingent upon receipt of proper insurance at least five days prior to the event, and approval of the insurance by the City Attorney, as submitted by City Clerk.

H. Approved the Special Event Application from Joyce P. Young for the Young, Jefferson and Hudson Family Reunion on Saturday, September 2, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Geary Park, as submitted by City Clerk.

I. Adopted the Taxi Cab Deregulation Policy, which was approved at the

June 13, 2005 Regular Council Meeting, subject to a review in one year, as submitted by City Clerk.

J. Approved the purchase in the amount of $37,875.00 for trees from Snow’s Nursery, to be billed to Account# 101-441-740, DPW General, Operating Supplies, as submitted by DPW Director.

K. Approved the invoice payment in the amount of $5,313.00 to Seaway Painting, L.L.C., for repainting City-owned light poles, for $4,265.00 to be billed to Account# 101-441-775, DPW General, Repair and Maintenance, and the remaining $1,048.00 to be billed to Account# 585-775, Auto Parking, Repair and Maintenance, as submitted by DPW Director.

L. Approved the bid in the amount of $10,855.00 from Sherwin-Williams for a LineLazer IV 5900 Paint Striping Machine, to be billed to Account# 661-977, Vehicle and Equipment Fund, Capital, as submitted by DPW Director.

M. Approval of bid in the amount of $58,327.00 from Gaglio, Inc., to repair deteriorated segments of nine concrete public alleys, to be billed to Account# 592-775, Water and Sewer Fund, Repair and Maintenance, as submitted by DPW Director.

N. Approved scheduling of a Public Hearing on Monday, September 11, 2006, at 7:30 p.m., regarding vacating the alley between 157-185 West Cambourne and 244-286 West Breckenridge, as submitted by CDS Director.

O. Approved the bills, payrolls (as certified by City Manager) and City Attorney expense statements submitted by Howard Shifman, P.C., and Hafeli, Staran, Hallahan, Christ & Dudek, P.C., to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Regular Agenda

A. Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1013, which is the Bond Authorizing Ordinance

402. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt Bond Authorizing Ordinance as prepared by Miller Canfield, Ferndale’s Bond Counsel, and authorize the City Clerk to publish the Ordinance as adopted.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Call to Council

403. Police Chief Kitchen indicated that he would research the duties of the Animal Control Officer, specifically related to issues of rats and skunks.

404. Fire Chief Schmidt announced that water flow testing would be held throughout Ferndale on August 22 and 23, 2006, which could result in rusty water for a period of time.

405. Interim City Manager Renando commented on his experience in Ferndale. He announced that there would be two Industrial Development District Projects requests before Council in the near future and that City Staff was working to simplify the process. Interim City Manager Renando commented on the appearance and the need of maintenance for City Hall. He also commented on a grant that the City had received and that in the near future Council would need to make a decision on how to spend the grant money.

406. City Attorney Christ announced that although authorization for the Mayor and City Clerk to sign for the Quit Claim Deed for the Academy property was approved by Council, the closing date on the property has been delayed.

407. Councilwoman Gumbleton announced that she was a member of the Ferndale Art in Public Places Planning Committee, which was looking for ways to better direct traffic and building signage, and indicated that a presentation would be made in September by the Committee. She commented that the Crow’s Nest would be a nice presence at the Woodward Dream Cruise.

408. Councilman Galloway commented on his experience at the Green Cruise and announced that he was researching to make Ferndale a certified bicycle friendly community. He announced that Republican Shirley Johnson was to be Dick DeVos’ running mate. He welcomed Interim City Manager Renando and requested that job performance evaluations that needed to be reviewed be scheduled in the near future.

409. Councilman Lennon welcomed Interim City Manager Renando and requested Mr. Renando to look into improving the City’s website. He wished everyone a safe and enjoyable Woodward Dream Cruise. Councilman Lennon also wished Mirror Newspaper reporter Renee Saunders, who was leaving the paper, well on her future endeavors.

410. Councilman Covey wished everyone a safe and enjoyable Dream Cruise and thanked voters for passing the renewal of the SMART Transportation Proposal that was on the August, 2006 Ballot. He announced that low cost home improvement loans were available through the County and requested that the Ordinance Committee meet regarding the Bartending License Ordinance. Councilman Covey indicated that the Pub Crawl was successful and presented Councilman Lennon with a gift basket that he had won in a raffle during the event. He commented on his experience at the Green Cruise. Councilman Covey requested that Ferndale become a member of the National League of Cities’ "Partnership Working for Inclusive Communities". He also announced a "Hometown Festival" would be held in Ferndale sometime in October, 2006.

411. Mayor Porter announced that the City of Troy was working to build a transit center to coordinate trains, cabs and buses and thanked Interim City Manager Renando for his work so far. He reminded residents to be safe and have fun during the Woodward Dream Cruise and commented that the Crow’s Nest was a symbol of history for the City, as well as a public draw, which reflected increased business in the City.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.

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Robert G. Porter, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Karen Pedro, City Clerk