FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, November 26, 2007
A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday,
November 26, 2007, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale.
Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor Porter, Mayor-elect Covey, Council Members
Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon.
Absent: None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Lennon, to approve the agenda as
submitted.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
4. PRESENTATIONS
XXX. Chamber of Commerce
Maile Ilac Boeder, Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, announced the
Annual Chamber Gala Winners, issued an invitation to the Holiday
Party and reported on new things to expect in 2008.
XXX. 2007 Audit of Financial Statements by Rehmann Robson
Tom Darling, Rehmann Robson, presented the audited financial
statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
XXX. Woodward Avenue Action Association
Heather Carmona, WA3 Executive Director, presented the final
design concept for the Woodward Tribute project and requested City
Council’s consideration to fund the remaining $30,000.00 balance not
covered by grants for the installation and completion of the Tribute
XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to approve the
Woodward Avenue Action Association’s (WA3) request for $30,000.00
contribution during this fiscal year, for the Woodward Avenue
Tribute, contingent on City Council’s final approval of the design;
and to appoint Councilwoman Gumbleton and Councilman Galloway as a
two-person committee to assist with the review of the design as well
as to monitor final budget issues with the project. The contribution
is further contingent on an understanding with WA3 that, should the
actual construction costs be less than the costs described in the
budget submitted by WA3 in the November 26, 2007 Council Packet,
those savings be refunded to the City of Ferndale up to its
commitment of $30,000.00.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor-elect Covey,
Mayor Porter
NAYS: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Ferndale Labs Establishment of Industrial Development District
(IDD) No. 38
Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing at 8:48 p.m., and, there
being no public comment, closed the Public Hearing at 8:49 p.m.
XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Covey, to adopt the
Resolution establishing an Industrial Development District, as
requested by Ferndale Pharma Group, Inc., for property commonly
known as 670-780 West Eight Mile Road, Ferndale, to be designated as
the "City of Ferndale Industrial Development District Number
Thirty-eight (38)".
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
B. Great Lakes Landscaping Special Land Use Permit, 2000 W. Eight
Mile
Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing at 8:55 p.m., and, there
being no public comment, closed the Public Hearing at 8:55 p.m.
XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Lennon, to adopt the Resolution
approving the Special Land Use application for outdoor storage at
Great Lakes Landscaping / Game Courts located at 2000 West Eight
Mile Road.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
XXX. CALL TO AUDIENCE
Councilwoman-elect Baker drew attention to downtown business
owners wishing to speak on Regular Agenda Item 8A.
Cristina Sheppard-Decius, DDA Director, announced an amended
proposal for a Principal Shopping District will be presented to City
Council in January.
Craig Turset announced that Record Time on Nine Mile is closing.
Jeff Brandon asked that the Ordinance granting reduced parking
passes for hybrid/low mileage vehicles be reviewed because the EPA’s
new testing standards will disqualify all 14 of the low mileage
vehicles which currently meet the Ordinance’s standards.
Ms. Shepard-Decius noted that the closing of Record Time is in
response to the growing number of consumers who are purchasing music
on-line.
Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 9:10 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council agreed to remove Items 7C and 7H from the Consent Agenda
to be considered after the Regular Agenda.
XXX. Moved by Covey, seconded by Galloway, to approve the Consent
Agenda as amended:
a. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 12,
2007.
B. Scheduled a Public Hearing on Monday, December 10, 2007,
regarding parking restriction change on East Hazelhurst.
C. REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA TO BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE REGULAR
AGENDA
D. Approved Nortel Telephone System Extended Service Agreement.
E. Adopted Notice of Intent Resolution for Library Bond Sale.
F. Approved Service Contract for Water Booster Station
G. Approved Invoice for Leaf-Vacuum Repair.
H. REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA TO BE CONSIDERED AFTER THE REGULAR
AGENDA
I. Approved the bills and payrolls as certified by the City
Manager to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance
Committee.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor-elect Covey,
Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
REGULAR AGENDA
Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 9:14 p.m.
A. Consideration of Holiday Ice Festival Street Closing and
Unenforced Parking
XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Lennon, to approve:
• Unenforced (free) parking in public parking lots and parking
bays for the month of December until 7:00 p.m. daily.
• Unenforced (free) parking in public parking lots and parking
bays for December 6, 7 & 8, 2007 for the Holiday Ice Festival.
• Approval to host the Holiday Ice Festival event on the
sidewalks in downtown Ferndale on December 8th, which will include
strolling musicians, Santa giving out gifts to good boys and girls,
ice sculpture carvings and displays on sidewalks, and hot beverages
and treats for customers on-street.
• Approval to close Planavon from Nine Mile to the edge of the
alleys on December 7th at 4:30 pm and reopen on December 8th at 11
pm.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
B. Consideration to Refer Sandwich Board portion of the Sign
Ordinance to the Ordinance Review Committee
XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Covey, to refer the portion
of the Sign Ordinance regarding sandwich board signs to the Plan
Commission and request that City Departments and the DDA offer their
comments by the end of December, 2007, with a report back to Council
for possible referral by the Plan Commission to the Ordinance Review
Committee no later than March 1, 2008.
AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Porter
NAYS: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
CONSENT AGENDA (continued)
7C. Consideration of Resolution approving Interlocal Agreement
for Participation of the Ferndale Fire Department in the Oakland
County Mutual Aid Association.
XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Covey, to adopt the
Resolution for the approval of the Interlocal Agreement for
Participation of the Ferndale Fire Department in the Oakland County
Mutual Aid Association and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to
sign the Interlocal Agreement creating the Oakland County Fire
Mutual Aid Association and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
7H. Consideration of Annual Monetary Donation to the Ferndale
Goodfellows.
XXX. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve the
annual donation of $300 included in the FYE-2008 Budget, 101-172-885
Account to the Ferndale Goodfellows.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
XXX. COUNCIL APPOINTEE REPORT – FIRE CHIEF
Fire Chief Schmidt reported on progress made toward his 2007
goals.
XXX. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
No reports.
CALL TO COUNCIL
XXX. City Clerk Tallman reported the January 15, 2008 Partisan
Presidential Primary Election will be held as scheduled, and
reminded the public that due to a recent decision by the Michigan
Court of Appeals city clerks may no longer automatically mail
applications for Absentee Voter Ballots to voters over the age of
60. All registered voters who wish to vote absentee must now request
that an application be sent to them.
XXX. City Manager Bruner presented the Red Seal Award for Coolest
Neighborhood bestowed on the City of Ferndale by Ambassador
Magazine.
XXX. Councilman Lennon asked the City Manager to remind
Department Heads they should, per City policy, be using local
businesses for purchases whenever feasible.
XXX. Councilwoman Gumbleton announced that Noel Night in downtown
Detroit kicks off on December 1 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
XXX. Councilman Galloway encouraged Ferndale residents to do
their Christmas shopping locally, noting that shopping within the
City is also environmentally friendly.
XXX. Mayor-elect Covey announced a variety of events in
conjunction with World AIDS Day.
Mayor-elect Covey announced the Ferndale Community Foundation, in
association with Gracey’s, Howe’s Bayou and Dino’s, is hosting a
Celebration of the 74th Anniversary of the End of Prohibition on
December 5, 2007.
Dino’s will be hosting a BBQ Rib Battle on the last day of the
Blues Festival and is seeking sponsors and competitors.
XXX. Mayor Porter urged residents to drive safely during the
holiday season and to be vigilant against theft and robbery.
Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:33 p.m.
