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

Absent: None

A. Citizen Comments None

Linda Dzwigalski offered a presentation regarding a proposal for an off-leash recreation area (dog park) within the Northville park system. The presentation outlined three points which included space, benefits, and City Council endorsement. The proposal suggested that a section of Ford Park be used for the proposed recreation area. Discussion followed with comments focusing on funding, maintenance costs, health concerns, and alternate sites for the recreation area. Following the discussion, the Council offered conceptual support of an off-leash recreation area with specific issues, including location and funding, to be further examined by the Recreation Commission.

Item 4H / FY 2002-03 Project Priorities was moved from the Consent Agenda to the Agenda as New Business 9C.

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

Approve City Council Minutes:

Special Meeting of February 4, 2002

Regular Meeting of February 4, 2002

Approve Bills List: Checks #25535 to #25709

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Downtown Development Authority: 11/13/01, 11/27/01

Parks and Recreation: 1/9/02

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 1/02

Additional Funding / 2002 Wayne County CDBG Funds

2002 "Welcome to Northville" Signs

Amendment in Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) Recreation Bond Program Project

Agreement/Ford Field Renovation – Resolution 02-02

In the past, permits for moving buildings in the City of Northville were issued under the provisions of the Michigan Building Code. However, problems the City encountered in the summer of 2001, relative to a building being moved from Grace Street to a location outside the City, demonstrated the need for the City to develop an ordinance to cover moving buildings in the community. The proposed ordinance defines permit procedures, establishes standards for moving buildings, outlines general insurance requirements, allows the collection of fees, and establishes fines for violations pertaining to moving buildings in and through the City of Northville.

Council Comments / Discussion: Discussion focused on modifications to the ordinance language, application fees, application review process, and route approval. It was noted that Council wants to ensure that buildings are moved in a reasonable and safe manner. The ordinance offers a comprehensive review process and allows the City to deny the permit if the route is deemed unsafe. The ordinance is very clear in the fact that an application must receive approval from the Police Chief, Building Official, and the Director of Public Works or the permit is denied. A further comment noted that the City Council would back City staff’s decision to deny a permit to a potential applicant, if warranted.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to introduce for first reading the Moving of Buildings Ordinance, with the following modifications:

Section 14-364: Change section heading to read "Compliance With Law"

Section 14-367(8): Remove the words "he/she" and insert the words "Building Official"

Second reading and possible adoption is scheduled for March 4, 2002. If adopted, the proposed ordinance would become effective within ten days upon publication (March 14, 2002). Motion carried unanimously.

Every five years, Michigan Parks and Recreation Departments are required to prepare and submit an updated five-year Recreation Master Plan document to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). An approved Recreation Master Plan creates eligibility for grant funding through MDNR, as well as serving as a broad planning tool for recreation services development and improvements during the five-year period. Public input for the proposed plan was received through a variety of methods including results of the recent community futuring process, strategic planning done by Northville Township, meetings with youth associations, public data gathering meetings, and a public hearing. The Parks and Recreation Commission adopted the 2002-2007 Recreation Master Plan on February 6, 2002. Planner Lucy Forton, Carlisle-Wortman Associates, assisted the Recreation Commission in planning the proposed Recreation Master Plan and was available to answer questions.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was noted that the MDNR requires communities to use the 1983 National Recreational Standards as a model when preparing their Recreation Master Plan. It is difficult to apply 1983 standards and accurately reflect the community’s current recreational needs. Further comments focused on the possibility of enhancing the process to determine the recreational needs of the community, setting local standards through use of the 1995 studies, and fulfilling the recreational needs of the community with a limited number of resources. Effective recreational planning is a challenging balancing act of fulfilling the definite interests and needs of the various groups with a limited amount of resources. The master plan serves as a blueprint to write grants, a planning tool to set sequential priorities, provides long-term focus, and can be amended at anytime. An additional comment suggested the use of a consultant to assist in a coordinated effort to research and review more current models to aid in determining the recreational requirements of the community. It was noted that the proposed master plan provides for an off-leash recreation area and a skateboard park. City Council encouraged the Parks and Recreation Department and the Recreation Commission to continue to initiate new programs.

Following further review of the master plan document, Council requested the Master Plan be modified by removing the Northville Baseball Softball Association data sheets that follow Appendix F – page 55 (as this information is summarized on page 55 and the data sheets are not germane to the state report), remove the word "analyze" from Table 9: Capital Improvement Schedule / Off-Leash Recreation Area - Page 22, and include the Recreation Commission Goals as an appendix as referenced on Page 18.

The City Council recognized the Parks and Recreation Director’s ability to work with several governmental entities to achieve the common goal of recreational activities for the entire community.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to concur with the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission and adopt resolution #02-03, approving the Community Recreation Master Plan for years 2002-2007, as amended. Motion carried unanimously.

On February 12, 2002 the Fire Department received one bid in the amount of $11,992.20 plus freight, from Advanced Wireless Telecom, for the purchase of 30 Motorola Minitor III Pagers. The pagers would replace the pagers currently used by Fire Department personnel. The bid amount is within the budgeted amount of $12,000.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was unknown whether the new pagers would be compatible with the pagers used by other City departments. A final comment questioned the advantages of having more general pagers for City personnel.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to award a bid to Advanced Wireless Telecom, in the amount of $11,992.20 plus freight, for the purchase of thirty Motorola Minitor III Pagers for Fire Department personnel. Motion carried unanimously.

At the special and regular meetings of the City Council on February 4, 2002, City Council established its project priorities for the City as part of the FY 2002-03 budget preparation process. The project priorities were summarized and presented to the City Council for their consideration.

Council Comments / Discussion: The following modifications were requested:

Long-Term Financial Stability: Adjust the General Fund Balance percentage from 30-40% to reflect 25-30%.

City, Township, and Schools Facilities Development Plan: Replace the word "geriatric" with an alternate word.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the established City Council FY 2002-2003 Project Priorities as amended. Motion carried unanimously.

Swigart commented on the dedication of the Lincoln Museum in the City of Plymouth.

Hartshorne referenced an article from the Oakland Press relative to rising insurance premiums as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was explained that the City would likely see a higher premium when it renews its policy. However, the increase would mostly be due to the downward turn of the investment market and the economy, a trend that began prior to September 11^th terrorist attacks.

B. Staff Communications None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa
City Clerk