City Council Minutes

There was a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the national tragedies occurring on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:31 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, questioned the condition of the street trees near the development on the corner of W. Dunlap and Center Streets. The Department of Public Works was directed to inspect the trees and plan for their eventual replacement if it was determined that they could not be saved.

"Fill the Boot Campaign / Northville Fire Department" was added to the agenda as New Business 9D.

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

City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of September 4, 2001

Approve Bills List: Checks #23201 - #23372

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Downtown Development Authority: 8/14/01

Housing Commission: 7/18/01

Receive Departmental Reports:

Downtown Development Authority: 9/01

Bottle Drive / Northville Public Schools Special Education

Reschedule Public Hearing for Reprogramming of Oakland County CDBG Funds

Motion carried unanimously.

River Park Place has requested to place temporary signs on public property along Baseline Road directing potential customers to the condominiums. The signs would be placed for a 12 month period at the following locations:

Sign A: One A-Frame, two-sided directional sign (36" x 48") located at the southeast corner of North Center Street and Baseline Road (weekends only).

Sign B: One two-sided, post-mounted directional sign (36" x 48") located in the county right-of-way on the south side of Eight Mile and Old Novi Roads.

Sign C: Three one-sided, post-mounted directional signs (24" x 24") at the west corner of Old Novi and Baseline Roads, Old Baseline and Griswold, and the southwest corner of Eight Mile Road and Griswold.

Scott Drummond, representing River Park Place, stated that the site’s seclusion, as well as the temporary closing of Griswold Street, has hindered potential customers from locating the condominiums. Although 8 of the 38 units have been sold, most of these units were sold during a marketing campaign at their Farmington Hills location.

Council Comments / Discussion: Discussion ensued relative to the sign locations as the locations are close to private homes, consideration of a shortened timeframe should the request be approved, granting this request and setting precedent, and the size of the signs proposed by the developer. Comments included:

Opposition to the request as the Sign Ordinance does not allow real estate signs unless they are placed on private property.

Difficulty in supporting semi-permanent signs of a substantial size without first exploring other marketing avenues. The suggestion of smaller signs, placed only until Griswold and Baseline are reopened, was offered.

There was concern that allowing this sign request would set a precedent for future sign requests. It was argued that the precedent was set when the City Council allowed the condominiums located behind the former High School to place directional signs along Walnut Street.

Concern was expressed relative to the size of signs, with a further comment that Sign B is not appropriate as it is not a directional sign. There was support of a "smaller" Sign A as it is directional, removable, and would only be out on the weekend when the office is open.

Favor the temporary placement of Sign A and Sign C to be used by the developer in conjunction with other marketing tools.

Suggestion that a shorter timeframe, i.e. six months, may be more appropriate.

Further comments that it is to the City’s advantage to have the units sold as soon as possible.

Request for the developer to provide periodic marketing reports to the City.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to approve the placement of Sign C (three, one-sided, post-mounted directional signs 24"x24"), located at the west corner of Old Novi and Baseline Road, Old Baseline and Griswold, and Griswold and Eight Mile Road, for a six-month period ending April 1, 2002, recognizing that permission must be sought from the Wayne County Department of Public Works for those signs proposed to be placed in the County right-of-way. Voice Vote. Yes: Johnson, Ayers, Swigart, Hartshorne. No: Mittman. Motion carried.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to approve the placement of Sign A (one two-sided, A-Frame directional sign) located at the southeast corner of North Center Street and Baseline Road, on weekends only, during the hours the office is open, for a six-month period ending April 1, 2002, said sign to be reduced to conform with the Zoning Ordinance temporary A-Frame sign standards. Further, the homeowner at this location shall be notified by River Park Place prior to placement of the sign. Voice Vote. Yes: Ayers, Johnson, Swigart. No: Hartshorne, Mittman. Motion carried.

The First Presbyterian Church is requesting to place a temporary trailer along Church Street. The trailer would be placed on the south end (west side) of Church Street, be used for adult education, and remain for the duration of the church expansion project. Alan Somershoe, Clerk of Session for the First Presbyterian Church, was available for questions.

Council Comments / Discussion: Brief discussion ensued relative to parking and safety concerns.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the request by the First Presbyterian Church to place a 10’ x 50’ trailer along Church Street, as proposed, subject to proper safety precautions, including fire and health inspections, until July 1, 2002. Motion carried unanimously.

Ameritech New Media has indicated its desire to sell its cable television service franchise to WideOpen West L.L.C. Ameritech New Media has filed Form 394, "Application for Franchise Authority Consent to Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise", in order to effectuate the ownership change. Local franchising authorities have the opportunity to review and comment on the ownership change. The City Attorney has reviewed the request and finds no compelling reason to oppose the ownership transfer. However, the resolution proposed by WideOpen West L.L.C. included unnecessary language and requests that the City need not consent to for this assignment. As such, the City Attorney drafted an alternate resolution for consideration.

Council Comments / Discussion: A question was asked relative to the financial condition of WideOpen West, as outlined in the City Attorney’s letter reviewing the Form 394 Application.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to adopt Resolution #01-029 consenting to the change of ownership transfer of the Ameritech New Media Cable TV Franchise to WideOpen West L.L.C. Motion carried unanimously.

On August 31, 2001 the Hillside Sub-Committee met with the City/Township Hillside Committee to present its final report on the Recreation Center at Hillside project. All project components have been identified, with the final project budget cost at $847,734. As previously approved, the entire project budget is divided between the City of Northville and the Charter Township of Northville: 50% of the project budget shared equally by the City and Township, with the remaining 50% loaned to Parks and Recreation by the Township over a 15 year period. The City of Northville share of the project now totals $211,933.50.

Council Comments / Discussion: A comment expressed concern relative to the cost sharing formula used to finance this project. It was felt that the Township should pay a higher percentage as they have a larger population and more residents using the Recreation Center than the City.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to concur with the recommendation of the Hillside Committee to approve the final project budget amount of $847,734. Further the cost to the City of Northville is $211,933.50, which is 25% of the total project budget. Voice Vote. Yes: Johnson, Mittman, Ayers, Swigart. No: Hartshorne. Motion carried.

In June 2000 City Council awarded a professional services contract to Dietrich Bailey and Associates,

P. C. (DBA) to design and oversee construction of E. Cady Street. To keep the annual street improvement program moving forward, DBA was asked to design and perform the construction management on the very east end of Cady Street (Griswold to E. Main Street). DBA was also asked to add other projects to their workload in order to keep the annual street improvement program moving forward. The proposed fees for the various projects for 2001, 2002, and 2003 are as follows:

The percentage for engineering costs versus construction costs is considered very good with the exception of Dubuar Street. Although a very small project, the Dubuar Street project has limited right-of-way, longstanding drainage problems, extreme grade, and actively involved residents requiring a significant amount of extra effort on the part of the City and its project engineer, making the entire project more difficult to manage.

Council Comments/Discussion: Discussion ensued relative to the W. Dubuar Street project. There was concern with drainage problems, the fact that the street will be 18 ft. wide which is smaller than other dedicated City Streets, the limited right-of-way available which does not allow the inclusion of a "turn around" for emergency and other service vehicles, and the pros and cons of private drives and dedicated City Streets. Further discussion focused on resident opposition of opening W. Dubuar to Caldwell Street.

A further comment expressed concern that the projects mentioned this evening encompassed future fiscal years, were projects Council was not familiar with, and that sufficient project background information was not provided in order to make a well-informed decision.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to approve the not-to-exceed fees of $202,000 to Dietrich, Bailey and Associates, P.C. for professional engineering services on the Randolph Street, Taft Road, W. Dubuar Street, and Hutton Street Extended projects. Voice Vote. Yes: Swigart, Johnson, Ayers, Mittman.

For the past several years, the Northville Arts Commission has worked to obtain and fund an art sculpture for the Northville Community. Following public input, the Arts Commission has determined that local artist, Charles Strain, would construct a sculpture known as "Treble Clef", with a proposed cost of $20,000. The City Attorney has drafted an agreement defining the arrangement for construction, delivery, and payment of the sculpture.

Council Comments / Discussion: A question was asked pertaining to funding sources for the sculpture. It was noted that the City does make a contribution to the Arts Commission budget. The Commission has also received private donations and other donations through fundraising efforts. Fundraising efforts continue.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the "Contract for Purchase of a Work of Art" (Treble Clef) agreement and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement on behalf of the City. Motion carried unanimously.

In response to the World Trade Center tragedies and loss of lives by the New York Firefighters, a "Fill the Boot Campaign" has been organized in southeast Michigan. Friday, September 21, 2001 has been designated as the day for the fundraising. The Northville Fire Department would like to participate in the solicitation effort on Friday, September 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All proceeds would be sent to the New York Fire 911 Relief Fund. Firefighters would be stationed at eight key intersections:

- Main and Center Streets - Main and Dunlap Streets

- Center Street and Eight Mile Road - Eight Mile and Taft Roads

- Eight Mile and Novi Roads - Center Street and Seven Mile Road

Council Comments / Discussion: A comment expressed that while the effort was supported, there was concern with fire personnel standing in busy intersections, risking injury.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Swigart to approve the request of the Northville Fire Department to participate in the "Fill the Boot Campaign" on Friday, September 21, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the identified intersections in the City of Northville. Voice Vote. Yes: Hartshorne, Johnson, Ayers, Swigart. No: Mittman. Motion carried.

Ayers: Commented on continued problems with Painter and Ruthenberg not sorting compost and trash, expressed appreciation relative to the Remembrance Parade held on Friday evening during the Victorian Festival, and commented on the bridge and adjacent eroded area, near the Rouge River, at the Cider Mill. It was noted that the bridge and surrounding area should be addressed with the Mill Pond Project.

Johnson: Complimented the Chamber of Commerce and the School District relative to the Remembrance Parade and other appropriate events honoring the victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

B. Staff Communications

Word: Will be attending the ICMA Conference in Salt Lake City next week.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk