City Council Minutes

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:30 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart.

Absent: None

CITIZEN COMMENTS: None

The City Manager reviewed the status of the City Council’s 2001-2002 Project Priorities. Staff summarized their Fiscal Year 2002-2003 goals, objectives, and priorities as follows.

• Complete and implement an employee policies and procedures manual.
• Improve the aesthetic appearance, including signage, walkways, and streets, of the major City entrances.
• Finish and establish the City and DDA web pages for Internet access to Northville information and events.
• Retain the presence of the Northville Post Office in the downtown.
• Facilitate the growth and development of the City’s central business district.

• Focus on long-term funding options for employee benefits and obtain a revised actuarial analysis of the unfunded post-retirement healthcare liability.
• Continue to integrate web features for the public with City processes.

• Upgrade to BS&A General Ledger and Accounts Payable Software and develop an in-house Accounts Receivable system utilizing Microsoft Access.
• Continue implementation of GASB 34.
• Review the Water and Sewer ordinances.
• Monitor changes in the investment program for continued improvement.
• Provide customer education on the new Automatic Debit Program for utility billing. Testing on this phase of the implementation is expected to occur in late FY 2002.
• Offer employee education program for the increased use of direct deposit.

• Continue training on Internet research skills and e-mail system features.
• Replacement of desktop PC’s purchased in 1999.
• Continue implementation of the Document Management Information System Phase I (Police and City Clerk Departments) and begin planning for Phase II.
• Move forward with City Sight software acquisition for the Geographic Information System.

• Continue to seek temporary, part-time employees for office coverage during sick, personal, and vacation leave days.
• Continue formal staff training for new software upgrades and possibly host a joint training program with Northville Township.

Council Comments / Discussion: Questions were raised relative to the implementation of the Automatic Debit Program.

• Advance the design and construction of a watermain and sewer on Caldwell and Bloomcrest in advance of future street construction.
• Continue to perform an annual leak survey and repair identified leaks, as well as performing the annual Watermain Flushing Program and valve and hydrant repair and replacement program.
• Systematic reduction of the annual winter running water accounts (City waives cost for this additional water)
• Enhance the sanitary sewer cleaning program effort by 150% through the use of outside contractors, implement corrective sanitary sewer repairs based on 2001 sewer cleaning results, and file yearly report to the DEQ regarding the City’s Sanitary Sewer System Operation and Maintenance Work Plan.
• Comply with the requirements of the City’s General Storm Water Permit.
• Perform design of East Cady Street and Hutton Street extended, Taft Road, Dubuar Street, and design improvements to local streets in Pheasant Hills and Abbey Knoll subdivisions.
• Perform annual Sidewalk Replacement Program, the new pedestrian walkway on Eight Mile Road, and install new sidewalk on Potomac.
• Oversee the collection and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste within the City.
• Provide for proper and safe operation of the City’s compost facility, and provide for the annual fall leaf collection program.
• Facilitate the operation of a safe and legal Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and work with surrounding communities to expand household hazardous waste drop-off dates throughout the year.
• Utilize DDA funding to implement planned capital improvements in the central business district and assist the NCBA and the Chamber of Commerce with downtown activities and events.
• Provide for the proper operation and maintenance of City cemeteries and bid and begin construction on the first phase of the Rural Hill Cemetery expansion project.
• Provide for proper road maintenance and equipment replacement.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was questioned whether computers may be left at the hazardous waste collection sites (yes).

• Develop a department mission statement, current job descriptions for police department positions, a set of rules of conduct for police employees, and review other department policies and procedures for inclusion in the Department Manual.
• Update and improve Department equipment in order to improve the level of public service by continuing to participate in various County programs and services.
• Complete the purchase and installation of a communications recording system.
• Update and improve facilities, including the quality of the city hall cleaning service, appearance of the interior of city hall, complete the carport at the rear of city hall, and complete the storage building at the DPW yard.
• Work with the Department of Corrections on a proposal and cooperative funding in order to build a new firearms range as the property housing the current range has been sold by the City of Detroit.

Council Comments / Discussion: Questions were raised pertaining to the new firearms range, which included location and the need for indoor classrooms. Additional comments centered on training opportunities in relation to possible terrorist attacks. It was noted that an agreement between the City and the Northville School District has been in place for several years and provides for the use of schools, busses, and other equipment, in the event of a disaster.

• Continue to train the Medical First Responders to the Emergency Medical Technician level of certification.
• Work with the Building Department to implement the Rental Inspection Program.
• Conduct a fund-raising program to purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera, which is used to locate victims and hot spots in buildings.
• Hire a full-time firefighter to work on fire inspections, rental inspections, public education, equipment maintenance, and building maintenance, along with day-to-day firefighter duties.
• Offer training to department members relative to possible terrorist attack events.
• Continue to provide public education, safety programs, and CPR training to citizens.
• Provide the City with high quality, professional fire protection, and medical rescue services.

Council Comments / Discussion: Comments pertained to the consideration of a part-time firefighter and the possibility of a "testing" phase prior to implementation of the Rental Inspection Program.

• Continue to actively pursue parking ticket collections through use of the collection agency and the 35^th District Court.
• Review all current fees, fines, and charges in the Fees, Fines, and Penalties Schedule.
• Continue to assist the Finance Department with implementation of the Document Imaging Records Retention project and the City Website project.
• Offer liability training for all departments and insure that contractors and event sponsors provide the City with adequate proof of liability insurance.
• Research the cost to publish the Zoning Ordinance with Municipal Code Corporation, which would create a combined database for search and retrieval of ordinance information.
• Work with the State Elections Bureau relative to reapportionment district changes and accreditation for election inspector training.
• Attendance at the Master Academy in association with the goal of Master Municipal Clerk certification.

• Provide excellent and timely public service, assist citizens with City code and ordinance violations, and continue proactive code enforcement.
• Continue to work with the Fire Department to complete the development and implementation of the Rental Property Inspection Program.
• Continue to encourage staff computer training and development.
• Complete the updating of the various applications, procedural processing, and permit application process.

• Create a long-term vision statement for Northville community recreation and assist the City, Northville Township, and the School District with the planning of recreation facilities.
• Maintain and enhance existing recreation facilities through the standardization of park signage, additional landscaping at various recreation sites, renovating and improving the Community Center building, developing and implementing operating guidelines for Millennium Park, and miscellaneous improvements to Fish Hatchery Park.
• Develop new community recreation facilities including an improved location for senior adult programs and services, and plan for an off-leash community recreation area by spring 2003.
• Explore the purchase of a shared mobile skateboard/inline skate park with the City of Plymouth.
• Increase registration and facility reservation opportunities through use of the Internet and electronic communications.
• Encourage the preservation and enhancement of the natural historical and cultural resources of the Northville Community.

Council Comments / Discussion: Comments pertained to the landscape efforts in Ford Park, the reason for separate operating guidelines for Millennium and Community Parks, the need to clarify land identified as "park land" in the Master Plan, and the fact that the Recreation Master Plan is pivotal in setting the tone for recreation in the community.

It was noted that location plays a key role in determining the operating guidelines for Millennium and Community Parks. The Recreation Department recently filled the Cultural Arts position. This person will provide clerical assistance to the Arts Commission and the Recreation Department. Additional Arts programming, including noontime concerts, should begin in the near future.

• Continue to provide service to Allen Terrace residents, maintain high occupancy, and follow an economic budget.
• Collect estimates for capital improvements for boiler replacement, kitchen and bath renovation, common area renovation, elevator modernization and coupling, lintel and brick repair, activity room kitchen renovation, and HVAC replacement.
• Establish a replacement reserve for future capital needs expenses.
• Continue to explore the possibility of expanding senior housing in Northville and assist the Recreation Department in its effort to expand senior citizen programming and space.
• Research the possibility of developing a home repair program for low and moderate-income residents using Wayne and Oakland County CDBG funds.

• Complete the development of a DDA District website.
• Expand the DDA physical boundaries and revise and extend the TIF and Development Plan as recommended by the Downtown Planning Subcommittee.
• Plan and implement an expanded downtown parking system.
• Develop an outdoor open space ordinance or policy to regulate and maintain city-owned property including the Bandshell, parks, sidewalks, etc.
• Develop a public restroom program in the downtown.
• Continue to coordinate downtown business recruitment and retention by providing a marketing and development packet to prospective developers and business owners.
• Work with the local financial community to establish financial programs to encourage physical improvements to existing downtown buildings and businesses.
• Coordinate with and assist the Chamber of Commerce and the Northville Central Business Association with special events in the downtown.

• Service 10% more youths in all programs, including mentoring, tutoring, and homework help.
• Complete an interview with each mentor and mentee to evaluate the effectiveness of the mentoring program.
• Increase program visibility in the community through speakers on parenting issues, phone directory listings, and designing posters for community distribution.
• Create a youth summer activities program and a youth career opportunity program.

It was noted that establishing the City Council’s goals, objectives, and priorities for Fiscal Year 2002-2003 would be added to the Regular Meeting agenda. Additional discussion centered on the responses received from residents who completed the "Seven Minute City Survey", which was distributed by the City Manager as a means of determining the "state of the neighborhoods."

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk