City Council - December 26, 2007

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.