FERNDALE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday,
December 26, 2007
A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held
Wednesday, December 26, 2007, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road,
Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m.
Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor Porter, Mayor-elect Covey, Council Members
Galloway (arrived at 8:15 p.m.), Gumbleton, Lennon.
Absent: None.
592. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, seconded by Councilwoman
Gumbleton, to excuse the absence of Councilman Galloway.
AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect Covey, Mayor
Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
593. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, seconded by Councilwoman
Gumbleton, to approve the agenda as submitted.
AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect Covey, Mayor
Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
4. PRESENTATIONS
594. Recognition of Mayor Robert G. Porter
Mayor Porter was honored for his service to the City of Ferndale
by City Council, residents and staff.
595. Ferndale Youth Assistance
Gina Schoolcraft, Ferndale Youth Assistance, provided a brief
overview of FYA programs and events over the past year and shared
plans for 2008.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Street Vacating Request by Blumz
Councilman Galloway asked to be excused from consideration of the
request due to a conflict of interest, and left Council Chambers at
8:31 p.m.
Mayor Porter opened the Public Hearing at 8:32 p.m. and, there
being no comments from the public, closed the Public Hearing at 8:33
p.m.
596. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Mayor-elect Covey,
that the request to vacate property on the south side of 503 East
Nine Mile be tabled until the City Attorney completes the License
Agreement.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
Councilman Galloway returned to Council Chambers at 8:36 p.m.
597. CALL TO AUDIENCE
Tiffani Gagne thanked Ferndale Police Officers for their response
to a recent situation at her residence.
Tiffani Gagne asked that business owners in the downtown area be
given an opportunity to speak to Council about the proposed
Principal Shopping District.
Brian Cooley urged residents to take advantage of the programs
offered in the Parks and Recreation Winter 2008 Program Guide. Mr.
Cooley reported the new flags have been installed at Eight Mile and
Woodward. He concluded his statements by voicing support for
volunteers of the DDA, including Council Members.
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:51 p.m.
598. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway,
to approve the Consent Agenda as amended:
a. Approved the Minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings held
December 10, 2007, as amended.
B. Approved the Special Event Permit for the Blues Fest BBQ Rib
Battle to be held February 2, 2008.
C. Approved an amendment to the procurement policy.
D. Approved of Resolution and Annual Permit Application for
Activities on State Trunkline Right-of-Way (Woodward Avenue and on
Eight Mile Road).
E. Approved theBilateral Agreement – Sprint Telecommunications
Permit on Grand Trunk Railroad Right-Of-Way.
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, Mayor-elect Covey,
Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
REGULAR AGENDA
Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:54 p.m.
A. Appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals
599. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, seconded by Councilwoman
Gumbleton, to appoint Brian Brown and Robert Porter to a three-year
term on the Ferndale Board of Zoning Appeals, ending December 31,
2010
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
B. Consideration of Adopting Precinct Boundary Alterations
600. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Galloway,
to adopt the Precinct Boundary Alterations plan as presented by the
City Clerk.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
C. Purchase of Patrol Rifles by Police Officers and Agreements
601. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon,
to allow the City to purchase 20 patrol rifles from Michigan Police
Equipment for the purchase price of $22,000.00 to be paid back
through payroll deduction over the following eleven (11) months by
participating police personnel.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
COUNCIL APPOINTEE REPORT – CITY CLERK
602. Moved by Mayor-elect Covey, supported by Councilman Galloway
to accept the City Clerk’s written report as submitted.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
603. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
E. Transportation Riders United (TRU) – Councilman Galloway noted
the City of Ferndale is one of the inaugural members and advocated
continued involvement in bringing mass transit to the metro area.
CALL TO COUNCIL
604. Fire Chief Schmidt wished everyone a safe and prosperous new
year
605. Police Chief Kitchen extended his wishes for a safe New
Year’s celebration, urging the use of Designated Drivers.
606. Councilwoman-elect Baker thanked the City Manager and City
Clerk for organizing a Council Orientation Session and thanked the
Ferndale Firefighters for preparing lunch. She also thanked Mayor
Porter for his years of service to the City of Ferndale.
607. Manager Bruner announced the City will be hosting a Michigan
Municipal League on-site seminar called Effective Meeting Techniques
with Parliamentary Procedure. The seminar is open to all
Board/Commission chairs and vice chairs and any interested members,
and will be held at the Kulick Center on February 5.
608. Attorney Christ wished everyone a happy and safe new year.
609. Councilman Lennon wished everyone a healthy, happy and
prosperous new year. He commended the DPW staff for their excellent
work in clearing the roads after the recent snowstorm.
610. Mayor-elect Covey extended congratulations to Elections
Clerk Kerre O’Neil on the December 18th birth of her son, Wayne, and
to Michele Cadel on the adoption of her son, Alexi. Mayor-elect
Covey announced that Thursday, January 31, 2008 has been declared
Mayor Robert Porter Night as part of the Blues Fest with a dinner in
his honor to be held at Club Bart. He wished everyone a great New
Year and noted that Ferndale is a wonderful place to spend New
Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
611. Moved by Mayor Porter, supported unanimously to adopt a
Resolution of Condolence on the death of Charles L. Goedert.
612. Mayor Porter announced a 9.6% rate increase from Detroit
Water, and noted the increase is lower than the increases in many
other Oakland County communities. He thanked the residents of
Ferndale and all the other people he has had the opportunity to work
with over the past 12 years, wished the best to Council, and wished
everyone a happy new year.
613. Councilwoman Gumbleton wished everyone a happy, safe and
prosperous new year.
614. Councilman Galloway thanked Mayor Porter for his service to
the City and expressed appreciation that he will continue to serve
on the BZA.
CLOSED SESSION
615. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Mayor-elect Covey,
to adjourn to Closed Session for the purpose of considering a
purchase of real estate pursuant to MCL 15.268(d).
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor-elect
Covey, Mayor Porter
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 9:41 p.m.
and reconvened the Regular Meeting at 10:01 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 10:02 p.m.
