City Council - December 11, 2006

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, December 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.

PRESENTATION Accessibility Awards

556. Mayor Porter and Jackie Koivu, member of the Disability Advisory Committee, presented the Accessibility Award to Keith Pierce of Angel’s Café.

PRESENTATION Ferndale Public Schools

557. Jessica Scott, Communications Specialist for Ferndale Public Schools, provided information on activities throughout Ferndale Public Schools.

558. Call to Audience

1. Jackie Koivu announced that on Sunday, December 17, 2006, the Zion Lutheran Church Children and Teen Choirs would present "We Three Kings" at 10:30 a.m., and the Church’s Holiday Concert at 4:00 p.m. She also announced that their annual Spaghetti Dinner would be held on February 14, 2007.

2. Brian Cooley, member of the Beautification Commission, announced that the Commission would tour the City on Wednesday, December 13, 2006, in order to award their annual Holiday Lights Display.

Consent Agenda

559. It was the consensus of Council that Consent Agenda Item 6F (Approval of the City Attorney expense statement submitted by Howard Shifman, P.C., to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee) be considered after the Regular Agenda.

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

A. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 27, 2006, as submitted by Deputy City Clerk.

B. Approved to refer establishment of an Art and Design Planning Committee to the Ordinance Committee, as submitted by City Manager.

C. Approved the scheduling of a Public Hearing on Monday, January 8, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., regarding the Special Land Use Application submitted by the Fresard Investments Limited Partnership, for the property located at 21800 Woodward, as submitted by CDS Director.

D. Approved the Amendment to the Development Agreement with Singer-Wolfson for an extension from December 31, 2006 until June 30, 2007, for the Mixed Use Development to be located at 211 E. Nine Mile Road, as submitted by CDS Director.

E. Approved the scheduling of a Public Hearing on Monday, January 22, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., regarding the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Application (OPRA) Application submitted by Foley Mansfield for the property located at 130 E. Nine Mile Road, as submitted by CDS Director.

F. Approved the bills, payrolls (as certified by City Manager) and City Attorney expense statement submitted by 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. Appointment to the Arts and Cultural Commission

560. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to appoint Robert B. Babut, 445 W. Woodruff Avenue, Hazel Park, Michigan, 48030, to the Arts and Cultural Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2007.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

B. Consideration of Tree and Green Space Advisory Committee

561. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, that Council adopt the Tree and Green Space Advisory Committee recommendation to create the Tree and Green Space Advisory Committee.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

C. Consideration of Wireless Oakland Agreement between Oakland County and the City of Ferndale and License Agreement

562. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to table the Consideration of Wireless Oakland Agreement and License Agreement between Oakland County and the City of Ferndale definitely to the next Regular Council Meeting and to appoint City Attorney Christ to bring forward any additional information to complete this process.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton; Mayor Porter NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Consent Agenda Item F- Approval City Attorney expense statement submitted by Howard Shifman, P.C., to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

563. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the expense statement submitted by Howard Shifman, 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

Call to Council

564. Fire Chief Schmidt wished everyone Happy Holidays and a fire safe holiday. He also wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors. Fire Chief Schmidt commented on the ISO cover letter.

565. Police Chief Kitchen wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors and wished everyone Happy and Safe Holidays.

566. County Commissioner Coulter commented on the article that appeared in The Daily Tribune regarding a new County Jail. He announced that there will be Oakland County Commission Meetings held in the evenings.

567. Deputy City Clerk Szalma wished everyone Happy Holidays and Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors.

568. City Attorney Christ announced that the State Senate was having discussions regarding Cable Franchise Fees. He wished everyone Happy Holidays and Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors.

569. Interim City Manager Renando thanked Council for the opportunity to be the Interim City Manager for the last five months and commented on his experience as Ferndale’s Interim City Manager.

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:42 p.m.

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

570. Councilman Lennon wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors. He requested an appointment to the Fiscal Review Advisory Board be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda. Councilman Lennon announced that the Ferndale Fire Department and the Ferndale Elks were collecting non-perishable food items, clothes and toys for those in need and wished everyone Happy Holidays.

571. Councilwoman Gumbleton wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors. She announced that she would have a report regarding her experience at the National League of Cities Conference held in Reno, Nevada, at a future Council Meeting. Councilwoman Gumbleton also wished everyone Happy Holidays.

572. Councilman Covey wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors. He commented on the Downtown Development Authority’s Ice Festival that was held last weekend. Councilman Covey also wished everyone Happy Holidays.

573. Councilman Galloway commented on his experience at the National League of Cities Conference held in Reno, Nevada. He wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors and everyone Happy Holidays.

574. Mayor Porter commented on having a youth delegate to be appointed to the City Council and requested that an appointment be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda. He wished Interim City Manager Renando well on his future endeavors and everyone Happy Holidays.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

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Robert G. Porter, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Sharon Szalma, Deputy City Clerk

Acting Secretary