City Council - September 11, 2006

C - COUNCILMAN COVEY

PROPOSED MINUTES

FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2006, 7:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, September 11, 2006, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:35 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.

XXX. Mayor Porter proclaimed September 21, 2006, as The International Day of Peace in the City of Ferndale.

XXX. Mayor Porter requested that an Agenda Item be added to the Council Agenda, which was a presentation by Councilman Covey of proceeds from the Pub Crawl. No Council Member indicated objection. Councilman Covey presented checks in the amount of $3,000.00 to the Ferndale Community Foundation and $3,000.00 to the Ferndale Police Auxiliary.

XXX. Stephanie Hall, Director of Community Relations for Ferndale Public Schools, introduced Jessica Scott, who is the Communication Specialist for Ferndale Public Schools, and they both provided information on activities throughout Ferndale Public Schools.

XXX. Sharon Hawkins, Community Education Supervisor for Hazel Park Schools, provided information on activities of the Hazel Park Public Schools.

XXX. Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing regarding the Alley Vacating between 157-185 West Cambourne and 244-286 West Breckenridge. Dan Manville indicated support for the alley vacating. Mayor Porter closed the Public Hearing at 7:53 p.m.

Councilman Covey indicated he would from voting, as this alley ran parallel to his property..

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to adopt the Resolution approving the alley vacating.

AYES: G, GU, L; MP

NAYS: None

ABSTAIN: C

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing regarding the Application for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate requested by Progressive Metal Manufacturing Co., at 7:56 p.m. David LaPorte, Vice President of Finance for Progressive Metal, Christine Roeder, representing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Therese Still, representing Oakland County Economic Development Group, indicated support.

Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to table this Public Hearing until after Agenda Item# 8 (Public Hearing for an Application for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate requested by Garden Fresh Salsa Co., Inc., for the property located at Sidwell No. 24-25-35-103-032, commonly known as 1501-1503 Bonner, and Sidwell No. 24-25-35-103-033, commonly known as 1505 Bonner).

AYES: G, GU, L, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Council took no action on this Agenda Item at this time, as the Public Hearing was tabled until after the next Agenda Item.

XXX. Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing regarding the Application for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate requested by Garden Fresh Salsa Co., at 8:20 p.m. Anthony LaTell, Chief Operating Officer for Garden Fresh Salsa, Therese Still, representing Oakland County Economic Development Group, and Christine Roeder, representing the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, indicated support. Mayor Porter closed the Public Hearing at 8:23 p.m.

Councilman Lennon disclosed that he owned vending machines that were located at Garden Fresh Salsa. No Council Member indicated objection to Councilman Lennon voting on the Agenda Item.

Councilman Covey disclosed that Garden Fresh Salsa had given monetary support to M.A.P.P.

Mayor Porter announced that since Ferndale was a small City that typically Council Members know individuals that were involved with the Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate. He inquired if any Council Member would be uncomfortable in voting on this Agenda Item and if any Council Member objected to another Council Member voting on this item. No Council Member indicated they would not vote and no Council Member objected to another Council Member voting on this issue.

Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to grant a 12 year tax abatement after the Public Hearing was held.

AYES: GU, L, C, G; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Mayor Porter resumed the Public Hearing regarding Application for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate requested by Progressive Metal Manufacturing Co., at 8:27 p.m.

Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to table this definitely to the next Regular Council Meeting, to allow both parties and Attorneys from the City of Ferndale and Progressive Metal Manufacturing, Co. to confer with one another.

AYES: G, GU, L, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:43 p.m.

Councilman Galloway left Council Chambers at 8:45 p.m.

Councilman Galloway returned to Council Chambers at 8:45 p.m.

1. Ed Burns, President of Friends of the Library, provided information on activities of the Ferndale Library.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:45 p.m.

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

A. Approval to purchase Recording System from DSS Corporation, as submitted by Police Chief.

B. Approval of Contract with Michigan Pay-Tel, to supply cellblock telephones at the Police Department and authorization for the Police Chief to sign Contract, as submitted by Police Chief.

C. Approval to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, September 25, 2006, at 7:30 p.m., regarding the removal of the parking restriction on the south side of Jewell, between the Woodward Alley and Hilton, as submitted by Police Chief.

D. Approval to table the Minutes of the Special Meetings held May 1, and August 14, 2006, and the Regular Meetings held July 24 and August 14, 2006, as submitted by City Clerk.

E. Approval to award Beautification Segment of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year 2006 to Sherman Nursery Farms; approval of the Contract, and authorization for the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Contract, as submitted by CDS Director.

F. Approval of 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.

Councilman Covey left Council Chambers at 8:48 p.m.

Councilman Covey returned to Council Chambers at 8:49 p.m.

PASSED

PASSED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 8:59 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Lennon assumed the Chair

Councilwoman Gumbleton left Council Chambers at 8:59 p.m.

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

PASSED

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen thanked Councilman Covey for the check to the Police Auxiliary from the proceeds of the Pub Crawl.

Councilwoman Gumbleton returned to Council Chambers at 9:03 p.m.

XXX. Fire Chief Schmidt thanked Joe and Barbara Mahan for organizing the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. He announced that he had received a warning from the City of Pontiac that a person posing as a Fire Inspector was conducting inspections and charging for them and announced that Fire Marshal Batten does not charge for his inspections. Mayor Porter announced that there was another scam involving people receiving a shut off notice from Detroit Edison or Consumers Energy.

XXX. Interim City Manager Renando commented on the Council streamlining.

XXX. City Attorney Christ commented on the potential need for an ordinance regarding Open Burning and requested it be referred to Ordinance Committee.

XXX. Councilman Lennon thanked Councilman Covey and the staff for a successful Pub Crawl. He thanked Joe and Barbara Mahan for organizing the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. Councilman Lennon requested Interim City Manager Renando to research outside school districts reserving parks and sports fields.

XXX. Councilwoman Gumbleton announced that the Art and Public Places Planning Committee would like to make a presentation at a Special Meeting the week of Monday, October 16, 2006.

XXX. Councilman Covey requested that the street lights on Withington be addressed in the near future. He announced that the David A. Lennon Foundation would have their annual Golf Outing on September 30, 2006, and wished Councilman Lennon and Nancy Lennon a Happy Birthday. Councilman Covey thanked volunteers who worked the Pub Crawl for a successful event. He also announced that the Annual A.I.D.S. Walk was Sunday, September 17, 2006, in Royal Oak and that M.A.P.P. would hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at the Monkey Bar to raise money for W.A.G.S. and encouraged people to bring their pets to the event. Councilman Covey indicated that the Hometown Festival would be on Saturday, October 7, 2006, that was sponsored by the Ferndale Community Foundation at the Ferndale Activities Center. He also commented on an article about Ferndale by Detroit Free Press writer Brian Dickerson.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Galloway to approve the Special Event for Saturday, October 7, 2006, for the Hometown Festival, contingent upon approval of the Special Event Committee.

AYES: G, GU, L; MP

NAYS: None

ABSTAIN: C

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. Councilman Galloway thanked the Ferndale Fire Department for their help when a relative was in need of medical services and commented on the freedom enjoyed by Americans.

XXX. Mayor Porter commented on State Representatives and their positions on issues and AT&T trying to change the telecommunications law. He requested that Interim City Manager Renando research large recreational vehicles parking in residential driveways. Mayor Porter congratulated Paramount Bank on their opening. Mayor Porter thanked Firefighter Patrick Sheehan for his volunteering.

XXX. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to pay $2,500.00 in dues to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.

AYES: G, GU, L, C; MP

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.