City Council - October 8, 2007

FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, October 8, 2007

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, October 8, 2007, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Pro Tem Lennon called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Lennon led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon.

Absent: Mayor Porter.

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to excuse the absence of Mayor Porter.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

City Clerk Tallman requested the addition of an item to the Regular Agenda, to be Item 7I, Consideration of Resolution authorizing use of Receiving Boards for all elections conducted in the City of Ferndale.

Moved by Galloway, supported by Covey, to approve the agenda as amended.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

XXX. PRESENTATION Pub Crawl proceeds to Ferndale Auxiliary Police

Councilman Covey thanked the Auxiliary Police for their service and presented a donation to the group from the proceeds of the Pub Crawl.

XXX. CALL TO AUDIENCE

1. Kate Baker called attention to the special real estate section in Crain’s Detroit Business last week, noting that the feature did not mention Ferndale. She encouraged Council to take advantage of the redevelopment tools available such as Brownfield Redevelopment and to continue to look for ways to increase the tax base in the City.

2. Dave Coulter, County Commissioner, presented to the City of Ferndale an Oakland County flag for the Woodward/Eight Mile intersection and noted Senator Levin will soon be providing a United States flag that has been flown over the Capitol. Commissioner Coulter announced the formation of the Oakland County Women’s Commission, a program to solicit feedback on issues of concern to women in Oakland County. He expects the Commission to approve the program at their next meeting. Commissioner Coulter noted each Commissioner will be allowed to make one appointment and asked interested residents to contact him.

CONSENT AGENDA

XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Covey, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted:

a. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held September 24, 2007, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Adoption of Resolution authorizing Council Members and City Manager to attend National League of Cities Conference, as submitted by City Clerk

C. Approval of Interlocal Agreement for Ballot Layout and Coding Services with Oakland County, as submitted by City Clerk.

D. Approval to schedule Sidewalk Hardship Committee Meeting for Special Assessment District 2007 and to schedule a Public Hearing to confirm the Special Assessment Roll for the District, as submitted by DPW Director.

E. Approval of Lease Agreement to use two metered parking spaces by Lebandezers, Inc., as submitted by DPW Director.

F. Approval to schedule a Public Hearing for CDBG Program Year 2008 for the October 22, 2007 Council meeting, as submitted by CDS Director.

G. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting between the DDA and City Council held September 4, 2007, as submitted by DDA Director.

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

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

REGULAR AGENDA

A. Appointments of Janelle Rogers and Brian Brown to the Beautification Commission

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Gumbleton, to appoint Brian Brown and Janelle Rogers to the Beautification Commission for three-year terms.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

B. Reappointment of Alex Bellack to Ferndale Brownfield Redevelopment Authority

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to reappoint Alex Bellack to a three-year term on the Ferndale Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ending December 31, 2010.

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

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

C. Review of Ordinance No. 1011, Hybrid-High Mileage Vehicle Parking

XXX. Covey and Galloway explained the review was scheduled to assess impacts on enforcement and revenues. Galloway noted less than 20 people have applied for the Parking Permit to date. Neither the Police Department nor the Clerk’s Office reported any issues of concern regarding the Permit. Galloway suggested reviewing the Ordinance again in one year. City Attorney Christ noted the Ordinance calls for the Treasurer/Assessor to update the list of eligible vehicles administratively on an annual basis.

D. Consideration of Sign Appeal for Simply Storage

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Gumbleton, to table definitely consideration of a Sign Appeal for Simply Storage to the October 22, 2007 City Council meeting.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

E. Consideration of Right-Of-Way Use Permit Agreement with BBC-Equities, LLC and Bravata Holdings V, LLC

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to approve the Right-of-Way Use Permit License Agreement with BBC Equities LLC, predicated on final approval of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and a variance being granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

F. Consideration of Conditional Rezoning for Gage Products

XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to adopt the Conditional Rezoning Resolution as amended at the table and contingent upon the City Attorney’s review of the Statement of Conditions.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

G. Consideration to re-install equipment on new Police vehicles

XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve the bid of $9,000 of Cynergy Wireless, 2300 Buckingham, Troy, to re-install equipment on nine new police vehicles, and to charge the expense to the Vehicle and Equipment Fund, Account No. 661-775.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

H. Consideration of purchasing a new Rescue/Ambulance vehicle

XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Covey, to accept the bid from Horton Emergency Vehicles, of Grove City, Ohio, for a Horton Model 623 Type I Emergency Medical Vehicle Conversion on a 2008 International 4300 chassis, in the amount of $179,929. Funds for this purchase are available in the Vehicle and Equipment Fund, Account No. 661-000-977 ($150,000 budgeted in 661-000-977, with the balance to be transferred from the Fire Equipment Reserve via Fire Department Account No. 101-336-965-661).

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

I. Consideration of Resolution authorizing use of Receiving Boards for all elections conducted in the City of Ferndale

XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to adopt the Resolution Authorizing Use of Receiving Boards for All Elections Conducted in the City of Ferndale.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

CALL TO COUNCIL

XXX. Police Chief Kitchen thanked Councilman Covey for the generous donation to the Auxiliary Police.

XXX. Councilman Covey noted the deadline to register to vote in order to be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2007 election is Tuesday, October 09, 2007. He also noted the City Clerk’s Office is always accepting applications for Election Inspectors, a position that pays $7.15/hour.

XXX. Councilwoman Gumbleton acknowledged Commissioner Coulter. She noted Ferndale Public Schools is holding a Fall Festival on October 13, 2007, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at John F. Kennedy School, 24220 Rosewood, Oak Park. Councilwoman Gumbleton, in noting the closing of Karma Tea & Tonics, commented on the need to consider how to spend our money locally and support Ferndale businesses. She also commented that the State of Michigan phone system has a recording which suggests if residents spent $10 per week on local produce it would add millions of dollars to the State’s economy.

XXX. Councilman Covey thanked Mayor Pro Tem Lennon for doing a good job chairing the meeting. He announced the opening of a new business, Candlewick, on Nine Mile Road. Councilman Covey read some of SEMCOG’s five-year demographic projections for the City of Ferndale, including projected decreases in population and size of households. The report projects the largest growth area will be in health care and social services. Councilman Covey extended congratulations to the City of Ferndale, CDS Director Scheer and the CDS Department for winning a 2006 Best Practices Award from Oakland County for the CDBG Funds Program. Councilman Covey, noting a recently received highly critical email from a resident regarding his promotion from the table of AIDS fundraisers and charities, commented that one of the perks of being elected to public office is having a forum to promote issues and charities that are important to you. He stated he will continue to do so and invited members of the community to contact him with information on charities they would like promoted. Councilman Covey announced an upcoming fundraising event for AIDS Relief in South Africa to be held in December and a benefit for the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project being held this Sunday at the Hayloft Saloon in Detroit.

XXX. Mayor Pro Tem Lennon requested that residents help the City keep sewer grates from getting clogged with leaves by raking their leaves away from the curb. He reminded Department Heads of the Council’s Resolution stipulating that the City shall try to use local businesses whenever possible.

Mayor Pro Tem Lennon adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.