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 John Hardin, Kevin Hartshorne, and Thomas Swigart

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson, DPW Director James Gallogly, Police Chief James Petres, Deputy City Clerk Carol Kasprowicz, State Representative John Stewart, Reporter Lon Huhman and 25 citizens

20^th District State Representative John Stewart introduced himself, distributed newly printed State of Michigan maps, and spoke of job training grants being made available. Mayor ProTem Ayers requested Representative Stewart work toward a more equitable formula of the State-shared revenue with regards to small cities such as Northville.

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

City Council Minutes:

August 20, 2001

Approve Bills List: Checks #22928 to #23200

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Downtown Development Authority: 6/12/01

Youth Assistance: 7/17/01

Receive Departmental Reports:

Fire Department: 5/01, 6/01, 7/01

Downtown Development Authority: 8/01

Youth Assistance: 7/01

Boards and Commission Appointments:

Arts Commission: Sonia Swigart

Historic District: Ross Worley

Housing Board of Appeals: Robert Krueger, Bruce Turnbull (reappointments)

Call for Public Hearing / Reprogramming Oakland County CDBG Funds

Proposed Block Party / Novi Street / September 9, 2001

Proclamation / Week Without Violence / October 14-20, 2001

Street Closure / Main Street / Victorian Festival

In the past, the City has used contracted and temporary employees when vacancies have occurred or when there are special projects that cannot be completed using existing staff. These contracted employees have been obtained from various employment agencies. The City has not "bid" this service based upon the wording in the City’s purchasing ordinance. In recent developments, the Parks and Recreation Department is in need of temporary staff during an operational transition. Upon review of a revised contract from one of the employment agencies, the City Attorney has determined the purchasing ordinance needs clarification. The Attorney has suggested the addition of the words, "the hiring of a company to provide contract employees."

Council Comments: Clarification was made that the language proposed was an addition to the exemptions of the dollar amount specified in the ordinance.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to introduce for first reading an amendment to City Ordinance Section 2-182(c)(1) to insert the phrase "the hiring of a company to provide contract employees" with the second reading and possible adoption scheduled for the next City Council meeting on September 17, 2001. Motion carried unanimously.

At the August 6, 2001 Regular meeting, City Council heard a request from citizens to have stop signs placed on the corners of North Rogers and Dubuar, and North Rogers and Dunlap. After a lengthy discussion, Staff was directed to investigate the matter further and report back to City Council. City Staff met with several residents of North Rogers and a number of options were explored. After discussion, the option that gained the most favor was the placement of bump-outs on the west side of North Rogers. While the resident group favored this option, they were reluctant to commit for the neighborhood. Subsequently, they distributed a survey with a list of the options and received a response from 50% of those surveyed. Accordingly, the City was informed that there remained strong support for the placement of stop signs on both Dunlap and Dubuar streets as originally petitioned.

Chief Petres reviewed for City Council the pros and cons of the various options presented to the residents, the traffic patterns of the recent past, the accident history, and documentation from the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and the Uniform Traffic Code related to placement of stop signs.

A discussion ensued between the citizens and City Council members. The residents included:

Diane Zubkus, 201 N. Rogers Charla Andresen, 600 Potomac

Brenda Bielskis, 600 Potomac Sammy Jaffe, 368 N. Rogers

Jim Bress, 388 N. Rogers Reid Riddell, 131 N. Rogers

Marcia Frid, 374 N. Rogers Thomas McNamara, 645 Potomac

Jeff Feit, 384 N. Rogers Tracy Ortlieb, 207 N. Rogers

Tammy Sortor, 131 N. Rogers

Comments of the residents included the continued favoring by the residents of the placement of the two stop signs, the possible closing of Rogers Street at Potomac as a long term solution, the speeding of cars and school buses when the patrol car is absent, the absence of sidewalks on a section of Potomac, the use of bump-outs on one side of the street causing a "freeway" on the two remaining lanes, the obstruction factor of bump-outs when placed near driveways, and the suggestion to block the street at Potomac and Lexington or Potomac and Rogers.

Council Comments:

- Against the closure of streets; a psychological consequence of closed streets is the sense of isolation and exclusiveness.

- The need to have walkable sidewalks throughout the City including Potomac Street.

- Patrolling for stop sign adherence will take as much manpower as patrolling for speedsters.

- Alarm at the number and frequency of pedestrians in the street.

- The solution to speed on Rogers must not cause additional problems in another neighborhood.

- Bump outs not favored, stop signs not favored, there is no clear cut answer.

- Police enforcement is a top priority and a staggered irregular schedule would be more effective.

- Automated enforcement of speed in addition to red light adherence would be the answer to patrolling for traffic violations.

- Favor the temporary placement of both stop signs as requested.

- Suggestion to place an island at the corner of Potomac and N. Rogers.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to deny the request for placement of stop signs on N. Rogers and Dubuar and Dunlap. Voice vote: YES: Ayers, Mittman, Swigart. NO: Johnson, Hartshorne. Motion carried.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to direct City Staff to provide an increase in police enforcement activities for the next 90 days and report back to City Council, review the potential of an island on Potomac near Rogers, add 25 mile-per-hour speed signs on Potomac, purchase of the speed trailer as soon as possible and have it be used on Rogers and Potomac, and increase the priority status of placing sidewalks on Potomac. Motion carried unanimously.

Every year, approximately 300 City residents and 700 Township residents participate in the annual Household Hazardous Waste Program. The DPW Department has received numerous requests to hold this event more frequently than once each year. City staff has had discussions with the Wayne County Department of Environment and the neighboring communities of Northville Township, City of Plymouth, Plymouth Township, and Livonia regarding a reciprocal arrangement for the residents. It is expected that the cost of expanding the program to include these residents will be small because Northville will still only host one Hazardous Waste Day per year.

Council Comments: It was suggested that one of the Hazardous Waste events (between the four communities) be scheduled in the Fall of the year. It was also suggested that the residents become more aware that it costs the City $30 per delivery car regardless of the amount of hazardous material in the vehicle.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the concept of providing an enhanced Household Hazardous Waste service in conjunction with neighboring Wayne County communities and direct Staff to present a finalized program for 2002 for Council consideration. Motion carried unanimously.

Ayers requested that tree removal companies be sent a letter advising them of the City’s tree ordinance. It was also requested that mention of the tree ordinance be made in the DPW publication, "Words From Works."

Mittman suggested that a "newcomers’ package" be created that would contain information relevant to their residency in the City, i.e. dog licenses, trash pickup, tree ordinance, snow removal ordinance. Mittman also stated he will be unable to attend the September 17, 2001 City Council meeting.

City Manager Word reminded Council of the Volunteer Recognition Reception to be held Thursday, September 6^th at the Northville High School.

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,

Carol T. Kasprowicz