City Council Minutes

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Mayor ProTem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, and Thomas Swigart.

Absent: Councilmember Jerome Mittman (excused).

A. Citizen Comments None.

The Housing Director reviewed the Housing Needs Survey conducted by the Housing Commission and University of Michigan students in April 2001. 40% of the surveys were returned, with a majority expressing some interest in senior housing. Respondents expressed interest in ranch or garden style apartments, two-bedroom apartments, and alternative financing options.

Council Comments/Discussion: Questions were raised relative to the procedures followed and options available to seniors for whom living at Allen Terrace is no longer appropriate. Interest was expressed relative to the number of people interested in maintaining owner equity as opposed to renting, with Dearborn’s Henry Ford Village cited as an example. It was noted that subsequent, more in-depth surveys would be conducted.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Swigart to approve the agenda and consent agenda as presented. Consent agenda as follows:

City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of June 4, 2001

Approve Bills List: Checks #21797 - #22085

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Arts Commission: 5/15/01

Board of Zoning Appeals: 5/2/01

Downtown Development Authority: 4/10/01, 4/24/01

Housing Commission: 5/9/01

Parks and Recreation: 5/9/01

Planning Commission: 5/1/01

Senior Citizens Advisory Council: 4/20/01, 2/16/01

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 5/01

Street Closure / Abbey Knoll / 4^th of July Bike Parade

FY 2001 Millage Rate / Street, Drainage & Sidewalk Improvement Fund

Proposed Amendments to the 2000-01 Budget through May 31, 2001 and Related

Quarterly Reports Motion carried unanimously.

On May 7, 2001 the City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the Notice of Adoption and Intent to Enforce the Michigan Building, Michigan Mechanical, and Michigan Plumbing Codes in the City of Northville. This notice indicated the City’s intent to locally administer and enforce the State Codes. The current language in the Code of Ordinances references the BOCA Codes and requires modification to reference the Michigan Codes.

In January 2000 City Council also approved the Notice of Adoption and Intent to Enforce the Michigan Electrical Code. Although modifications to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Article III of the Electrical Code subsequently followed, several affected sections were inadvertently excluded. These sections have been included in the proposed amendments to Chapter 14. The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed modifications, with suggested recommendations included in the amendments.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to introduce for first reading, the modifications amending the City of Northville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Building and Building Regulations. Second reading and possible adoption are scheduled for July 2, 2001, with an effective date of July 31, 2001, to coincide with the effective date of the State Codes. Motion carried unanimously.

During FY 2001-02, the City proposes to reconstruct South Morgan Circle (Morgan Boulevard to Larry Drive) and Larry Drive (Morgan Circle to Jeffrey Drive). The scope of the project completely removes the existing concrete curb and pavement, including drive approaches, and replaces it with new concrete. Included in this bid was an alternate request to add Morgan Boulevard to the project. On June 8, 2001 the following bids were received:

The City’s consultant, Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc., reviewed the bids and recommends the project be awarded to the low bidder, Six-S, Inc. Although funding is not available to reconstruct all of Morgan Boulevard from Taft Road to Morgan Circle, there is sufficient funding to reconstruct the south half of Morgan Boulevard.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to:

1. Award the construction contract to Six-S, Inc., in the amount of $189,602.88, for the reconstruction of South Morgan Circle (Morgan Boulevard to Larry Drive) and Larry Drive (Morgan Circle to Jeffrey).

2. Approve the addition of the south segment of Morgan Boulevard (Taft to Morgan Circle) to the project contract. City staff is authorized to negotiate a change order with the contractor for this addition in an amount not-to-exceed the total project amount of $215,000.

3. Authorize the City Manager to sign a contract and possible change order for this project on behalf of the City. Motion carried unanimously.

In 1999 the City applied for federal funding through the Rouge Program Office (RPO) to assist the community with general stormwater related issues. The City proposed a unique program to address failing septic systems and to assist in eliminating illicit connections. The program identified properties remaining on a septic system, offered free system inspections, and waived interest costs to residents in Northville Estates with sewer assessments if they agreed to connect to the City’s sanitary sewer system. Following City Council approval in October 2000, the RPO reviewed and accepted the program.

In early 2001 Northville Estates property owners with septic systems were contacted regarding the illicit connection program. Eleven of the twenty-five properties signed a statement agreeing to connect to the sanitary sewer within one year provided the interest charges were waived. Since then, the RPO has reviewed the City’s program and has withdrawn the grant funds. RPO felt the City’s original proposal was unclear, the use of funds was not consistent with federal guidelines, and grant funds could not be used to waive interest charges on a project constructed in the 1980’s. In order to proceed with this program, staff offered the following options:

Notify interested property owners that RPO has withdrawn its offer and no interest charges will be waived.

Notify interested property owners that RPO has withdrawn its offer and only the City’s committed half of the interest charges will be waived.

Notify interested property owners that RPO has withdrawn its offer; however, the City would waive all interest charges as promised.

Council Comments/Discussion: Discussion focused on the fairness of forgiving debt to those residents who refused to assume the debt. It was argued that many of those residents are no longer property owners in the community. For most residents, connecting is cost prohibitive and offering an incentive would assist residents and eliminate septic systems, moving toward the goal of having all residents connected to the City sewer.

Further discussion focused on the RPO decision to reject this program. While the MDEQ has forwarded correspondence praising this project, the RPO felt this program assisted the City and not the residents. RPO stated the grant money could be applied to another program; however, putting a program together within the next 30 days was not feasible. It was noted that special assessments are not recognized until the contract is executed. Waiving the interest fees would not create a negative cash flow in the Water and Sewer Fund should the Council choose to accept this option.

Final comments included a request to attempt to renegotiate alternate use of the grant funds and finding an appropriate mechanism to notify future property owners of water and sewer special assessments, which could be used as a negotiating tool at the time of sale.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to:

Waive all interest charges to the eleven property owners who committed to connect to the City sewer.

Cap the interest at the point the bonds were paid.

Direct the City Attorney to develop a legal mechanism, which would follow the property and alert future property owners of the special assessments required to connect to City water and sewer.

Contact the RPO and attempt to negotiate restoration of grant monies in another form (i.e. used to

cover tap fees). Motion carried unanimously.

The City has been using the services of Transworld Systems, Inc. (TSI), a collection agency, to assist in collection of delinquent parking tickets. Despite increased collections, a few accounts remain uncollected. Staff is proposing the use of TSI – Phase II services for those who continue to ignore requests for payment. Phase II is a more intensive collection process, with a collection fee of 50% of the amount collected as opposed to $10 per account for Phase I services.

The City Attorney has reviewed the Phase II agreement and recommends that the authorization to proceed would require unanimous approval as the possibility exists that, over time, the commissions could accumulate to more than $5,000. At their June 4, 2001 regular meeting, Council deferred action on this item in order to allow interested Councilmembers the opportunity to review the delinquent parking ticket list.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was noted that the amounts owed do not appear to be overly burdensome and that this is a reasonable step when all other collection methods have failed.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to authorize staff to employ the use of Transworld Systems, Inc. for Phase II services. Motion carried unanimously.

Consistent with the collective bargaining settlements, an amount of $44,500 was requested for salary adjustments for full-time and part-time non-union personnel, fire fighters, and crossing guards. The salary adjustments exclude the City Manager. The amount reflects the cost of a 3.25% – 4.0% wage and benefit adjustment. Consistent with past years, the City Manager requested $10,000 for merit incentive pay for the non-union personnel. The base adjustments would be retroactive to July 1, 2001.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to:

Authorize the City Manager to expend up to $44,500 for salary and benefit adjustments for non-union personnel (excluding the City Manager), effective July 1, 2001.

Authorize the City Manager to expend up to $10,000 for non-base merit incentive pay during

FY 2001-02. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Johnson introduced Oakland County Commissioner Hugh Crawford. Commissioner Crawford encouraged the City to contact him with questions or for assistance.

Ayers commented on the continued erroneous headlines published in The Northville Record, questioned whether the Dunlap sidewalk repairs would be completed prior to July 4^th(most likely), noted that the Art in the Sun signs were placed in prohibited areas and requested the Chamber of Commerce be informed of the current sign ordinance, and a final comment that Northville Youth Assistance has moved to a wonderful facility at Hillside Middle School.

Swigart stated that the Parade Committee continues to plan a wonderful celebration. The parade will be one of the top parades in Michigan.

B. Staff Communications None.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Ayers to recess the regular meeting to hold an Executive Session to discuss pending property acquisition. Motion carried unanimously.

There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk