FERNDALE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday,
February 25, 2008
A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday,
February 25, 2008, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale.
Mayor Covey called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Covey, Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton,
Lennon.
Absent: None.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
082. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve the
agenda as submitted.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
4. PRESENTATIONS
083. Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
Mailè Ilac Boeder, Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Executive
Director, introduced two new members of the Chamber’s staff and
provided an update on upcoming events.
084. CALL TO AUDIENCE
AJ O’Neill, AJ’s Café, promoted the 50-hour Danny Boy marathon
from Saturday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 on St. Patrick’s
Day, March 17, and encouraged involvement, noting the proceeds go to
local charities.
Keith Dalton noted that piano, guitar and digital musical tracks
will be available to accompany singers in the Danny Boy marathon.
Mr. Dalton reported on current and upcoming programs on CMN,
including a 13-part program on the Ferndale Blues Fest,
presentations by Scott Ryder and Jeff Cohen, and a speech by Randy
Rhoades of Air America. Mr. Dalton congratulated Councilwoman Baker
and Mayor Covey on their elections.
Thomas Gagne promoted Ferndale Online.com, community online
website where anyone can register, contribute articles, and
participate in discussion groups about anything relating to
Ferndale.
CONSENT AGENDA
085. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve the
Consent Agenda as submitted:
A. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held February 11,
2008, as submitted by City Clerk.
B. Approved the expenditure of funds from Account # 101-215-900
in an amount not to exceed $9,700 for the publication of Supplement
1 to the Ferndale Code of Ordinances.
C. Adopted Resolution authorizing Mayor Craig Covey and Council
Members Lennon, Gumbleton and Baker to attend the National League of
Cities Conference in Washington D.C., March 8-12, 2008, on behalf of
the City of Ferndale, utilizing funds from Account No. 101- 101-873,
as submitted by City Clerk.
D. Confirmed reappointment of Steve Salvaggio of Western Market
to the Ferndale DDA Board of Directors for a 4-year term expiring
December 2012.
E. Approved the bills and payrolls as certified by City Manager
to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
REGULAR AGENDA
A. Consideration of expanding the 1.4 Mill Levy in the DDA to the
new boundary areas established June 11, 2007
It was noted DDA Executive Director Sheppard-Decius was not
present.
086. Moved by Galloway, seconded Gumbleton, to move Regular
Agenda Item A to the end of agenda, immediately preceding Call to
Council.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
B. Consideration of Library Renovation and Expansion Proposal
1) Amendment to Library Lease Agreement and Bond Cost Repayment
Agreement
087. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to approve the Lease
Amendment and Bond Cost Repayment Agreement between the City of
Ferndale and the Ferndale Public Library and authorize the Mayor and
Clerk to sign them.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
2) Resolution Authorizing 2008 General Obligation Limited Tax
Bonds (Library Facilities)
088. Moved by Baker, seconded by Galloway, to adopt the attached
Resolution authorizing the sale of General Obligation Limited Tax
Bonds for the purpose of making capital improvements to the Ferndale
Public Library in an amount not-to-exceed $4,700,000.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
C. Consideration of Fresard Dealership Brownfield Development
Agreement
089. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Lennon, to approve the
Development/ Reimbursement Agreement with Fresard Investments
Limited Partnerships and to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk
to sign the Agreement.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
D. Consideration of 2008-2009 Liquor License Renewals
090. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Lennon, to receive the report
and make it a matter of record and also direct that a Public Hearing
be scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., regarding
the non-renewal Class C Liquor Licenses and that the City Attorney's
Office prepare and have served appropriate legal notice of the
scheduled Hearing to the above-listed establishments that are in
question and/or those establishments that are delinquent in paying
taxes that were due on March 1, 2008, according to the
Assessor/Treasurer's report as of Noon on Tuesday, March 4, 2008.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:19 p.m.
E. Consideration of Signalized-Intersection Materials Purchase
091. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to approve purchasing
poles and mast arms for $25,965 for the intersection of Woodward
Heights Blvd. and Hilton from Carrier and Gable, 24110 Research
Drive, Farmington Hills, the sole supplier, and to charge the
expense to the Major Streets Fund, Capital, account no. 202-977.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Covey
NAYS: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
F. Consideration of Ordinance No. 1043 regarding Section 13-52 of
the Ferndale Code of Ordinances, which would provide for portable
pop-up tents to be allowed in public parks or playgrounds in the
City
092. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to adopt Ordinance No.
1043 regarding Section 13-52 of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances,
which would provide for portable pop-up tents to be allowed in
public parks or playgrounds in the City without the need for Council
approval.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Covey
NAYS: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:23 p.m.
G. Consideration of Ordinance No. 1044 to Add Article III,
Utility Emergency Response Cost Recovery, to Chapter 9, Fire
Prevention and Protection of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances
093. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Lennon, to adopt Ordinance
No. 1044 to Add Article III, Utility Emergency Response Cost
Recovery, to Chapter 9, Fire Prevention and Protection to the
Ferndale Code of Ordinances.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
094. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to adopt the same fee
schedule that Council approved on July 24, 2006 for vehicle
accidents and fires and apply it to Ordinance No. 1044, Article III,
Utility Emergency Response Cost Recovery, Chapter 9, Fire Prevention
and Protection, of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
H. Consideration of Ambulance Fees
095. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Lennon, to raise the Fire
Department charges for ambulance service as follows:
BLS Resident from $325 to $400. BLS Non Resident from $425 to
$475
ALS Resident from $530 to $600 ALS Non Resident from $600 to $650
Mileage from $7.00 to $8.50
The new rates are to take effect, March 1, 2008
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
Mayor Covey left Council Chambers at 8:28 p.m. and returned at
8:29 p.m.
COUNCIL APPPOINTEE REPORT – Fire Chief
Fire Chief Schmidt provided a status report on his FYE 2008 Goals
& Objectives.
096. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
E. Transportation Riders United (TRU) – City Manager Bruner
announced a Mass Transit Summit, hosted by Congresswoman Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick on Monday, March 3, 2008, 9am to 2pm at Wayne State
University's Community Arts Center. Mr. Bruner will be attending.
REGULAR AGENDA (continued)
A. Consideration of expanding the 1.4 Mill Levy in the DDA to the
new boundary areas established June 11, 2007
097. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to adopt the
Resolution for levying of the DDA Operating ad valorem tax to the
properties in the extended boundaries of the Downtown District
established June 11, 2007, to now include the entire Downtown
District boundaries, to be effective starting July 1, 2008, as
submitted by Ferndale DDA Executive Director.
Comments from the public in favor of the expansion of the levy
were made by:
Michael Hennes
Comments from the public in opposition to the expansion of the
levy were made by:
Tiffani Gagne
Daryl DePottey
Tony Smith
Wyll Lewis
Don Oatman
Wayne Teppard
Thomas Gagne
John Fitzpatrick
Marvin Bernstein
Norton Berg
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Covey
NAYS: Council Member Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
Explanation from Councilman Lennon: In his last election campaign
he promised that unless there was overwhelming support for the PSD
and/or the DDA expansion he would not support it.
Explanation from Mayor Covey: Although he was opposed to the PSD
during his campaign he voted in favor of the expansion of the levy
because the amount is significantly lower than the proposed PSD and
because of the positive impact the DDA has had on Ferndale’s
downtown.
CALL TO COUNCIL
098. Councilwoman Baker requested an update on the status of the
liquor license application for the Kulick Center. Recreation
Director Hall reported she is researching information requested by
the Ordinance Committee. Councilwoman Baker commented she remembers
what downtown Ferndale looked like in the 1980’s and commended the
DDA for its work in turning it around. Councilwoman Baker referenced
the free clinic project, noting that volunteers with medical billing
experience are needed. Donations of medical equipment are also
needed.
099. Councilman Lennon requested the City Clerk prepare a
Resolution for Council’s consideration in support of No Reason
Absentee Voting. Councilman Lennon requested that businesses be
diligent in snow removal from their sidewalks.
100. Councilwoman Gumbleton acknowledged Council for working well
with the new goal setting and performance evaluation processes.
101. Councilman Galloway explained that the DDA having its office
downtown is a Best Practice recognized by Main Street USA, an
organization which is in the business of helping revitalize older
downtowns. He also commented that DDA Executive Director
Sheppard-Decius has been through extensive training and is a
professional in a skilled field. He reported that Council’s study of
downtown development issues show that the Ferndale DDA is on the
right track, and further noted that it is hard to argue with a 4%
vacancy rate. Councilman Galloway encouraged interested business
owners to volunteer their time to help the DDA and to work to make
it better.
102. Mayor Covey reported the Blues Fest charities will gross in
excess of $33,000 from this year’s event. Mayor Covey explained the
Council and City administration are interested in historic
preservation and are researching ways to preserve the heritage of
Ferndale while continuing redevelopment.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no objections, Mayor Covey adjourned the meeting at
9:46 p.m.
