City Council Minutes

Mayor Christopher Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Northville City Hall, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Mayor ProTem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman (arrived at 7:37 p.m.), and Thomas Swigart

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson, Deputy City Clerk Carol Kasprowicz, DPW Director James Gallogly, and three citizens

A. Citizen Comments: None

"Proposed Intergovernmental Agreement / Wayne County GIS," Consent Agenda Item 4I, 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:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of September 3, 2002

Approve Bills List: Checks #28528 to #28681

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Downtown Development Authority: 8/20/02

Housing Commission: 7/24/02

Parks and Recreation: 8/14/02

Youth Assistance: 8/13/02

Receive Departmental Reports:

Fire Department: 7/02

Parks and Recreation: 8/02

Police Department: 7/02

Youth Assistance: 8/02

Board and Commission Appointments:

Housing Commission: Ray Casterline (Appointment)

Bottle Drive / Northville High School Music Boosters

Resolution / Support of Northville Arts Commission Grant Aplication

Novi-Northville CROP Walk

At its regular meeting on August 5, 2002, the Northville City Council introduced for first reading the proposed Consumers Energy Gas Franchise Ordinance. The proposed ordinance would allow a 30-year revocable gas franchise to be granted to Consumers Energy in the City of Northville. In accordance with Section 13.2 of the City Charter, the proposed ordinance could not be adopted until a notice was published stating that the proposed ordinance is on file, in its complete form, in the City Clerk’s Office. Further, the ordinance must remain on file and available for public inspection at least four weeks. The franchise ordinance notice was published on August 15, 2002 and all requirements of the Charter have been met.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to waive second reading and adopt an ordinance granting a revocable gas franchise to Consumers Energy for a period of thirty years, with the ordinance becoming effective upon publication on September 26, 2002. Motion carried unanimously.

For FY 2003, the City’s capital improvement plan proposed improvements to Dubuar Street, west of N. Rogers Street. The improvements included transforming the gravel portion of the west end of Dubuar Street into a paved 18-ft. asphalt roadway. On June 18, 2002, the City accepted bids for the proposed improvements. There were two bidders on this project:

G & W Construction Co. of Ann Arbor $291,675.72

ABC Paving Co. of Trenton $282,060.00

The bids were significantly higher than projected and, as such, the City’s engineering consultants were directed by staff to re-design the project. The re-design was submitted to the bidders.

However, to accomplish street improvements, storm water collection issues were also to be resolved. When negotiations for a storm water easement with the developer of a project located on the extreme west end of Dubuar broke down, it became necessary to change the design of the storm sewer directing storm water east to the Randolph Drain instead of south down the planned easement. Changes in the storm sewer design, and elimination of items originally agreed to in exchange for the desired storm sewer easement, was presented to the low bidder, ABC Paving Company. Based on the revised plans, the contract amount has been reduced to $134,034.

Council comments: Questions were asked regarding the directional flow of the storm water, the width of road in front of the last home on Dubuar Street, further tree removal, and the temporary removal of storm water while the road is under construction.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Ayers to award a construction contract for Dubuar Street improvements in the amount of $282,060 to ABC Paving Company, approve a change order reducing this contract amount to $134,034, and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract and change order with ABC Paving Company for this project. Motion carried unanimously.

Resident Tom Prose, 590 Dubuar Street, complimented City Staff on their professionalism in working with himself and the neighbors for the past several years in resolving the Dubuar Street issues.

The City of Northville has received a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation for an amount up to $140,000 for placement of a bituminous bicycle path along Eight Mile Road between Center Street and Taft Road. To obtain this grant, it is necessary for the City to enter into an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to adopt a resolution approving the MDOT Agreement for the Eight Mile Road Bike Path Project subject to the review and approval of the City Attorney, and authorize the Public Works Director to sign said agreement on behalf of the City. Motion carried unanimously.

It was acknowledged and publicly reiterated that the City Manager position is unique when establishing overall compensation for this position. Additionally, City Council takes into account both local and nationwide compensation practices for city managers when establishing compensation.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to establish the City Manager’s compensation package for the 2002-2003 budget year as follows: salary at $93,500 retroactive to July 1, 2002 with payment of a non-base salary bonus of $1500; the schedule of post retirement health care vesting will be:

11 years of full time service (7/1/02) = 50% of City premium

12 years of full time service (7/1/03) = 60% of City premium

13 years of full time service (7/1/04) = 70% of City premium

14 years of full time service (7/1/05) = 80% of City premium

15 years of full time service (7/1/06) = 90% of City premium

16 years of full time service (71/07) = 100% of City premium;

and the acknowledgement of continuing to work toward an Employment Agreement. Motion carried unanimously.

Wayne County has developed and continues to develop Geographic Information System (GIS) data for the cities and townships in the Wayne County boundaries. In order to share the data with the various communities, Wayne County requires that each community enter into an "Intergovernmental Agreement for Access to GIS Data." The data that will be shared with the City is crucial to the implementation of the Court and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS) upgrade scheduled for the City’s Police Department dispatch operations.

Council comments / discussion: Discussion centered on the possible conflict, redundancy, and/or duplication of data, information systems, and equipment between Wayne County and Oakland County. Staff explained the specifics in developing the GIS system and reassured Council that both counties have been and continue to work together and the City is not at risk in signing the agreement.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for Access to GIS Data, authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Northville, and direct City Staff to inform Council of any change in plans or attitude by either County with regard to mutual cooperation in establishing the GIS system for the City of Northville. Yes: Ayers, Johnson, Mittman, Swigart. No: Hartshorne. Motion carried.

Johnson complimented staff on the hard work, cooperation, and coordination that contributed to the recent successful Victorian Festival.

Ayers requested an update on the Potomac sidewalk installation. DPW Director Gallogly stated it would be completed by the end of the month. Ayers also requested a possible sign review to insure that all traffic signs were, in fact, needed. After brief discussion, Ayers rescinded her request.

Mittman pointed out the upcoming Hines Drive tour invitation that has been extended to Council and encouraged all to attend. He requested a follow up report on the recommendations offered in the Traffic Study that was presented last year. He further questioned the placement of a curb cut and crosswalk at Cady and Center. Gallogly stated it would be installed as part of the sidewalk program.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz

Deputy City Clerk