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, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart.

Absent: None.

Mary Ellen Patterson Hollis, 114 Walnut, requested an update on the trees that were damaged and removed during the unsuccessful relocation of a house from Grace Street. The Department of Public Works is assessing the damages and the trees will be trimmed or replaced. City Staff continues to review the house relocation permit process. The Police Department is assembling a list of all costs incurred by the City including tree damage, tree removal, and trespassing, which will be submitted to the contractor’s insurance company.

Shari Peters, Northville Community Foundation Executive Director, thanked the City Council for their support of the Fourth of July parade.

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

City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of August 6, 2001

Approve Bills List: Checks #22793 - #22927

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Beautification Commission: 7/10/01

Board of Zoning Appeals: 6/6/01

Historic District Commission: 6/20/01

Parks and Recreation: Regular Meeting 7/11/01, Annual Meeting 7/11/01

Planning Commission: 7/17/01

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 7/01

Board of Zoning Appeals: James Haveraneck, John Rae (alternate)

Victorian Festival Three-Mile Fitness Walk

Cemetery Walk Motion carried unanimously.

Currently, Fund Balance provides the City’s financial software applications, with the exception of the property tax and assessing systems. The FY 2002 budget provides for software upgrades to the Fund Balance utility billing and cash receipts software as they are DOS-based programs and Fund Balance will discontinue program support on September 1, 2001. Prior to commencing with the budgeted upgrades, other options to the Fund Balance system were reviewed. BS&A, the current provider of the property tax and assessing software systems, has released utility billing and cash receipts software that competes with the Fund Balance software. Upon further analysis by City Staff, it was determined that the City would be better served by converting to the BS&A utility billing and cash receipts system.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to authorize City Staff to proceed with the acquisition of utility billing ($5,295) and cash receipts ($2,795) software and related service as proposed by BS&A. Motion carried unanimously.

During the FY 2002 budget process, City Council directed staff to investigate enhancing the existing open area located at the northwest corner of Eight Mile and Novi Roads. This area is public right-of-way under the jurisdiction of both Oakland and Wayne County. The City’s Planning Consultant has developed an improvement plan of a Victorian theme, including placement of a white pergola, night accent lighting, space for a new "Welcome to Northville" sign and future art sculpture, and new sidewalk.

The conceptual plan was presented to the Planning Commission at their July 17, 2001 meeting. Following discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously supported the project with the recommendation that the City Council consider enhancing other major entrances to the City. The project’s estimated cost is $100,000 and is not included in the FY 2002 budget. However, this project could be considered during FY 2003 budget discussions or as a Public Improvement project.

Council Comments/Discussion: Discussion ensued on the conceptual plan, estimated cost, maintenance, pedestrian safety. For a more pleasant, quiet, and safe atmosphere, it was suggested that the sidewalk be directed through the wooded area behind the Tree Tops Apartments. While the Council found the proposal interesting, it was expressed that this plan would be better suited for a "park" area as opposed to a busy intersection. Following further discussion, City Council requested that Staff meet with the Planning Consultant to redefine the project, which should include overall decorative landscaping consisting of trees, quality planting materials, perennials, entrance signage, irrigation, appropriate lighting, and sidewalks.

Consistent with last year, for safety purposes, the following street closures within the Historic District are proposed for Halloween Night.

Main Street / from Wing to Rogers

Dunlap Street / from Wing to Rogers

Linden Street / from Main to Dubuar

West Street / from Main to Randolph

High Street / from Main to Randolph

In addition, on street parking will be prohibited on North Rogers Street (Main to Dubuar), Dubuar Street (Rogers to Linden), and on Linden Street (Dubuar to Randolph). Notices will be delivered to each household in the street closure area on Monday, October 29^th to inform the residents of the planned closures. DPW and Police staff time costs for enforcing the street closure plan will be absorbed into the existing "Civic Events" budgets for each department.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was questioned whether there were complaints from residents last year (no).

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to authorize the closures and parking restrictions as outlined above during the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Halloween Night, October 31, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.

It is the policy of the City of Northville to recognize the unique position of a city manager in the City’s total employee group when establishing overall compensation for this position. Further, the City Council recognizes and takes into account both local and nationwide competitive basis and compensation packages for city managers when establishing manager compensation. The compensation package is not, nor is it intended to be, neither a simple repetition of, nor a model for other employee compensation packages.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to approve the City Manager compensation package as follows:

The manager’s yearly salary will be $89,900 retroactive to 7/1/01.

A bonus in the amount of $1500 will be paid.

Vacation will be accrued at the following schedule:

10 years of employment 25 days

11 years of employment 26 days

12 years of employment 27 days

13 years of employment 28 days

14 years of employment 29 days

15+ years of employment 30 days

4. A commitment to continue working toward an Employment Agreement. Motion carried unanimously.

Ayers extended congratulations to the City Clerk on obtaining the Certified Municipal Clerk designation. An update on the various construction projects was requested.

Griswold: The storm sewer is installed and the roadway is graded and ready for concrete. County engineers state the project should be completed in early September. DPW and the County continue to resolve the issue concerning Mr. Paver and access to his driveway.

Randolph: Brief discussion relative to bridge deterioration and the stacking lane. Estimated completion is September 1, 2001.

E. Cady: Work has begun on the opposite side. Estimate completion is September 1, 2001.

S. Morgan: Punch list items to be completed.

Baseline Watermain: Groundwork continues; various testing is required prior to connection. Estimated completion is the first week of September.

Rural Hill Drive: Scheduled to begin this week. Estimated completion is October 2001.

Sidewalk Replacement: Sidewalks have been marked for replacement; the project will begin within the next two weeks. Estimated completion is one week after the contractor begins.

Crack Sealing: Contractor is waiting for cooler weather.

Utility Cut: Contractor has begun this project.

Hartshorne had questions relative to the sidewalk replacement on Dunlap and North Center Streets near Sparr’s.

B. Staff Communications

Nickie Bateson, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director, offered a brief update on the Website project.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to recess the regular meeting to hold an Executive Session to discuss pending litigation. Motion carried unanimously.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk