City Council - September 25, 2006

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, September 25, 2006, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:38 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.

PROCLAMATION Dyslexia Awareness Month

October, 2006

459. Mayor Porter proclaimed October, 2006, as Dyslexia Awareness Month in the City of Ferndale.

PRESENTATION Beautification Awards

September, 2006

460. Peggy Snow, Chair of the Beautification Committee, and Mayor Porter presented the July, 2006 Beautification Awards to the following: Commercial: Elks, 22856 Woodward (present); Rental: Marion Manor, 346 W. Breckenridge (present), Zinnia Award: Charles Hemlock, 1578 Leroy (not present); Residential: Luis Garcia, 512 West Troy (present), Brita Brooks, 754 Gardendale (present). Ms. Snow reminded everyone that Saturday,

September 30, 2006, would be the Beautification Committee’s Perennial Exchange at the Kulick Community Center.

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 7:51 p.m.

PRESENTATION Recreation Department Update

461. Marsha Mellert provided information regarding Recreation Department Activities.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 7:53 p.m.

462. Call to Audience

1. Kristin Cameron expressed concern regarding the speed of traffic on West Troy near Allen. She submitted a petition that requested to have the intersection of Allen and West Troy converted to a dead end.

2. Julie Music also expressed concern regarding the speed of traffic and requested all options be looked into to alleviate the traffic.

3. Mary Schusterbauer commended Council on unanimously passing the placement of the Human Rights Ordinance on the November, 2006 Ballot.

4. Robert Payne questioned the status of his request for the fee amount of a handrail appeal.

5. Norman Kovalchick expressed concern regarding limousine parking and a shortage of parking on West Breckenridge.

6. Brian Batten, Ferndale Fire Marshal, announced that October 8-14, 2006, was National Fire Prevention Week.

7. Sam Shin expressed concern regarding water rates and the effect on his coin laundry business.

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

Consent Agenda

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

A. Approved the Minutes of the Special Meetings held May 1, August 14 and September 18, 2006, and the Regular Meetings held July 24 and

August 14, 2006, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Approved the rescheduling of the Public Hearing regarding the removal of the parking restriction on the south side of Jewell, between the Woodward Alley and Hilton, to a Regular Council Meeting in October, 2006, as submitted by Police Chief.

C. Approved the Parade Permit Application submitted by Ferndale High School to conduct the Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 29, 2006, beginning at 5:45 p.m., as submitted by City Clerk.

D. Adopted the Travel Resolution authorizing attendance at the NLC Conference to be held December 4-10, 2006, in Reno, Nevada, as submitted by City Clerk.

E. Approved the contract with SMART for the Specialized Services Operating Assistance Program Third-Party Contract for the period covering July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Contract, as submitted by Recreation Director.

F. Approved the bills and payrolls (as certified by City Manager) to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Councilman Covey

MOTION CARRIED

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

Regular Agenda

B. Consideration of Resolution granting Application for Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate for Progressive Metal Manufacturing located at 1200 Channing, 1300 Channing and 1460 Channing

464. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to grant a 12 year personal property tax exemption certificate abatement to Progressive Metal Manufacturing, 1300 Channing, per the adoption of the attached Resolution approving the Tax Exemption Certificate as drafted by the City Attorney; and to adopt the Industrial Facility Exemption Certificate, authorize the City Clerk and Mayor to sign the Agreement; and that both documents be filled in with the information as represented this evening.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

A. Consideration of City of Ferndale Industrial Tax Abatement Policy for granting Industrial Facility Exemption Certificates

465. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt the Industrial Tax Abatement Policy for granting Industrial Facility Exemption Certificates as presented by the Interim City Manager at the September 25, 2006 Council Meeting.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

C. Consideration to fill vacant Police Dispatcher position

466. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, that Council authorize the Police Chief to fill the vacant Police Dispatcher position as he sees fit.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

D. Consideration to fill vacant Fire Captain position and subsequent Fire Sergeant position

467. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to authorize Fire Chief Schmidt to fill the vacant Fire Captain position and subsequent Fire Sergeant position from the current certified Eligibility Lists.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

E. Consideration to fill vacant entry level Firefighter position

468. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to authorize Fire Chief Schmidt to fill the vacant entry level Firefighter position from the current certified Eligibility List.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

F. Consideration to purchase computers with related software licensing equipment and professional services for the Fire Department

469. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the purchase of new computers and licensing for the Fire Department in the amount of $16,614.30, from EDS of Plano, Texas and that funds are available for this purchase in Account# 101-336-977, Capital Outlay and Account# 101-336-740, Operating Supplies as described by the Fire Chief this evening.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

G. Consideration of Billing Service Agreement with Accumed Billing, Inc.

470. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, that Council approve the new Billing Service Agreement with Accumed of Riverview, Michigan, as submitted by the Fire Chief and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign it.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

H. Consideration of Agreement with the City of Oak Park regarding use of the Southwest Storage Yard from October 9, 2006 through December 8, 2006

471. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, that Council approve the Agreement for using Ferndale’s Southwest Storage Yard for a transfer site for leaves by the City of Oak Park as submitted by DPW Director be approved, and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Porter left Council Chambers at 8:57 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Lennon assumed the Chair.

Mayor Porter returned to Council Chambers at 8:58 p.m.

I. Consideration of South Oakland Meals on Wheels Program Nutrition Site Agreement, as amended by City Attorney

472. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the Nutrition Site Agreement as presented to Council and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Agreement on the City’s behalf.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

J. Consideration of recommendation from Parks and Recreation Advisory Board regarding use of EDI Grant monies for Kulick Community Center and authorization to select architectural firm

473. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to authorize the City Manager and City Staff to proceed with the use of the $400,000.00 EDI Grant to expand and enhance the health and fitness areas of the Gerry Kulick Community Center; to authorize the City Manager and City Staff to select an architectural firm to design the addition, which then would come back to Council for final approval on selection of architect and then approve the plan of action.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Call to Council

474. Interim City Manager Renando announced the street lights on Withington were turned off due to the number of complaints. He also announced that the tuffet was being used in front of Dunkin’ Donuts on Woodward.

475. City Clerk Pedro announced that the last day to register to vote would be Tuesday, October 10, 2006, and people could register at the City Clerk’s Office, Secretary of State or at the Oakland County Clerk’s Office. She also announced that people could find their polling location and see if they were registered to vote through a link on the City’s website.

476. Councilman Lennon inquired about improvements at City Hall and Interim City Manager Renando announced that he would provide a report at the next Regular Council Meeting.

478. Councilwoman Gumbleton encouraged people to work the November, 2006 Election as poll workers and also encouraged students to work part-time at the polls as well.

479. Councilman Galloway indicated that people were inquiring about the status of hiring a full time City Manager. He commented on the striping of the bike paths and requested that the bike path stripes be repainted. Councilman Galloway requested that Interim City Manager Renando draft a Resolution of support for the K-12 Initiative to be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda and commented on a memo received from the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

480. Mayor Porter encouraged residents to be informed and to vote in November, 2006 Election. He congratulated the DDA on the Art Fair that was held this past weekend and wished Councilman Lennon a "Happy 50th Birthday".

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:22 p.m.

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Robert G. Porter, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Karen Pedro, City Clerk