City Council Minutes

Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:28 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson (arrived at 8:20 p.m.), Mayor ProTem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson, Director of Public Works James Gallogly, Police Chief James Petres, Deputy City Clerk Carol Kasprowicz, Reporter Scott Spielman, and four citizens.

A. Citizen Comments - None.

The Consent Agenda Item, "2003-2004 Project Priorities," is to have a minor correction regarding the year the Post Office lease expires.

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

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of February 3, 2003

Regular Meeting of February 10, 2003

Special Meeting of February 18, 2003

Regular Meeting of February 18, 2003

Approve Bills List: Checks #30791 to #30896

Checks #30897 to #30979

Checks #30980 to #31034

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Historic District Commission: 1/15/03

Planning Commission: 1/7/03, 2/4/03

Youth Assistance: 1/16/03

Board and Commission Appointments: None

Request to Solicit / Knights of Columbus / Livonia

2003-2004 Project Priorities

City Code provides for a parking violations fine schedule that includes the penalty if paid within seven days of the issuance of the ticket, the penalty if paid after seven days of issuance, and the penalty if paid after 30 days of the issuance of the ticket. The current supply of parking violation tickets is running low and, as the first two steps are printed on the ticket, it is an appropriate time to address any change in the fee schedule. It is proposed that the late fees be increased to cover the administrative costs associated with dealing with delinquent violations. The City Clerk’s office sends late notices if violations are not paid; and if the fine is not paid within three weeks after notices are sent, the matter is turned over to a collection agency.

Council Comments: Questions were asked regarding specific violations, and the methods of payment available to violators.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Swigart to adopt the resolution, "Modification of Fees, Penalties, and Fines Schedule," which will:

- Change the fine for "Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant" from $20 to $25.

- Increase the fine for violations paid between 7 and 30 days to $10 above the basic fine for all violations except "Reserved for Handicap," which will remain at $75.

- Increase the late fee for parking violations not paid within 21 days of the date a late notice is mailed, or within 30 days of the date the ticket is written, whichever is later, by an additional $25 above the fine set for violations paid after 7 days. Motion carried unanimously.

Upon being arrested on a warrant, a person is able to pay a bond to obtain personal freedom from being held at the police station. The warrant, at times, originates from a jurisdiction other than the arresting location. Public Act 631 of 2002 permits a law enforcement agency to collect a fee of up to $10 from the person who posts a bond following an arrest on a warrant. The money is to be used to help defray the cost associated with the "receiving, depositing, and delivering the bail or bond money" to the Court originating the warrant. The new statute is unclear as to whether the fee can be collected for each warrant or once for each person arrested. As warrants from multiple courts require more work, charging the fee for each court would seem appropriate.

Council Comments: A question was asked clarifying as to who pays the $10 fee. Answer: the defendant.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to adopt a resolution authorizing the Police Department to collect a $10 fee when processing the bond for a person arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by a court. The fee is to be collected for each court for which bond is processed. Motion carried unanimously.

Permits to operate a horse-drawn carriage business in the City of Northville are issued in accordance with Chapter 94, Article III of the City of Northville Code of Ordinances. In reviewing the ordinance, staff had found that the ordinance did not address issues such as the licensing period, license expiration date, late renewal fees, adequate lighting and signage, references to the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code as necessary, and the requirement that carriage and driver licenses be displayed or available for review upon request.

Council Comments: Questions were asked regarding the lighting requirements. A suggestion was made that the language regarding late fees for renewals after December 31^st be removed.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to accept for first reading the proposed amendments to Chapter 94 Vehicles for Hire, Article III Horse-Drawn Carriages, with second reading and possible adoption scheduled for March 17, 2003. If adopted, the ordinance would become effective within 10 days upon publication. Motion carried unanimously.

The 20-year street improvement program, approved by the voters in 1997, established a priority for repairing/reconstructing streets in the City. For FY03-04, Staff is requesting direction regarding the improvement of Taft Road. A choice between resurfacing or reconstructing Taft Road would dictate the division of funds for the next two years. Resurfacing Taft Road (which costs less than reconstruction) would allow for funds to be spent in FY03-04 and 04-05 toward the reconstruction of S. Lexington Boulevard and Springfield Drive, and new pavement and curb and gutter for Caldwell and Bloomcrest. Reconstruction of Taft Road in FY03-04 and 04-05 would postpone the Springfield and Lexington resurfacing for another three or four years. However, the Taft Road reconstruction (which would include a boulevard design) would last three to four times longer than that of a resurfacing. Reconstruction of Taft Road is more desirable in light of expected increased traffic on the Taft/Randolph/Center Street corridor due to the planned relocation of the Novi Expo Center to the north end of Taft Road.

- Eliminate improvements on Caldwell and Bloomcrest at this time at the request of the residents.

- Do cursory improvements on Taft and do the reconstruction in the summer of 2005.

- Resurface Taft Road and place an island to slow traffic.

- Improve the Taft Road hill near Eight Mile.

- Work on one residential street, preferably S. Lexington Boulevard.

- Continue the annual crack sealing program.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Mittman, in giving direction to the budget preparation of FY03-04, to reconstruct South Lexington Boulevard from Potomac to Eight Mile Road, patch parts of Taft Road, and continue the annual sidewalk program. Motion carried unanimously.

Rural Hill Cemetery, owned and now within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Northville, is in the process of expansion and development. Land Planning and Design Associates of Ann Arbor, which specializes in cemeteries, has assembled a team of professionals to perform the final design of the expansion. The team and their proposed fees are: The Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio (landscape design) at $18,360, McNeely & Lincoln Associates (engineering) at $34,500, and William Lawrence, Forester (tree management) at $8,000. These fees are based on the following cost estimates: infrastructure construction at $183,540, landscaping at $35,000, and tree removal at $30,000.

Council Comments: Questions were asked regarding the removal of trees in accordance with the tree ordinance, the style and cost of mausoleums, planting of trees and shrubs, and platting of graves.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Johnson to award professional service contracts for the design of Phase 1 of the Rural Hill Cemetery Expansion Project to McNeely & Lincoln Associates, Inc. in the amount of $34,500, to the Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio in the amount of $18,360, and to Mr. William Lawrence, Forester in the amount of $8,000, totaling $60,860. Motion carried unanimously.

For FY2003, City Council set aside funds for improvements to the Mill Race Village parking lot. As such, City Staff and the Northville Historical Society have developed a plan to place a second entrance to the parking lot directly across from Butler Street on Griswold. In addition, 11 parking spaces will be added, spot repairs will be made to the existing pavement and curb, and a chain will be placed across the second entrance. Staff had requested a proposal from McNeely & Lincoln to design the proposed parking lot improvements, perform contract administration, obtain a Wayne County permit for the new entrance, and carry out project inspection. Following the City’s request, McNeely & Lincoln submitted a proposal in the not-to-exceed amount of $7,700.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to award a contract to McNeely & Lincoln Associates, Inc. in the amount of $7,700 for professional services necessary for the design and construction management of the Mill Race Village Parking Lot Improvement Project. Motion carried unanimously.

At a special meeting on February 18, 2003, City Council approved funding for the removal of ash trees affected by the Emerald Ash Borer. On February 19, 2003, the City received bids for the complete removal of approximately 100 trees including stumps. The City received three bids for this project:

Horton’s Tree Service $20,500

Stuart Leve, Inc. $14,900

Council Comments: Questions were asked regarding the exact placement of the new trees, the disposal of the infected trees, and the use of the City’s contract by private citizens in disposing of infected trees on private property.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Ayers to award a contract to Stuart Leve, Inc. in the amount of $14,900 for the 2003 Tree and Stump Removal Program. Motion carried unanimously.

At a special meeting on February 18, 2003, City Council approved funding for the replacement of infected ash trees with a mixture of other popular street trees, including Red Maple, Norway Maple, Sweet Gum, Tulip Trees, Horse Chestnut, Crimson King Maple, Red Oak, Greenspire Linden, Bradford Pear, and Ginkgo. On February 19, 2003, the City received bids for the planting of 100 trees. The contract specifications calls for replacement planting of 2" to 2 ½" trees. Larger trees of the same species will be offered to property owners who are willing to pay the extra cost for the larger tree. The City received four bids for this project:

Adams Tree Service $33,625

Stelmach Landscaping $33,360

Stuart Leve, Inc. $28,200

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to award a contract to Stuart Leve, Inc. in the amount of $28,200 for the 2003 Tree Planting Program. Motion carried unanimously.

Recent performance matters with the Citywide computer network necessitate some hardware and software upgrades. These upgrades will help to prevent any lost data or critical applications crashing during system intensive procedures such as utility bill processing. Upgrades include Main Network Server and Firewall

Server, Network Switch, and the Network Database Software. Quotes were received from four firms. A combination of three vendors provide for the lowest cost approach.

Main Network Server and Firewall Server Memory Upgrade Tower Computer Services $1,290

Network Switch Upgrade Computer Group Inc. (CGI) $2,973

Main Network Server Increased Hard Drive Capacity Computer Group Inc. (CGI) $ 698

Network Database Software Upgrade (Pervasive.SQL Software) CDW-G $1,625

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Swigart to authorize City Staff to proceed with the purchase of memory upgrade components from Tower Computer Services Inc. for $1,290, network switches from CGI for $2,973, hard drive components from CGI for $698, and Pervasive.SQL Software from CDW-G for $1,625. A 3^rd Quarter budget amendment is to be prepared to accommodate these purchases. Motion carried unanimously.

One of the higher priority projects proposed in the "Report on City of Northville Sidewalks is the placement of an asphalt walkway/bike path from Griswold Street, through Ford Field, along Northville Road to Seven Mile Road. City Staff has partnered with Northville Township and Wayne County in preparing and submitting an application for a GreenWays Initiative grant from the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan. In September 2002, a $41,200 grant was awarded for the design of a pedestrian walkway/bike path that would run along Northville Road from Griswold to Six Mile Road. There is no local match requirement for the design portion of the project. However, it is estimated that the City’s local share for the construction of this pathway will be $52,000. An Intergovernmental Agreement has been prepared by Wayne County to be entered into by Wayne County, Northville Township, and the City. Modifications to the agreement are needed before it is acceptable for signature by the City Manager.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve a resolution authorizing City Staff and City Attorney James Kohl to work with Northville Township and Wayne County in creating an acceptable document for signature by the City Manager on behalf of the City of Northville. Motion carried unanimously.

Hartshorne: Asked that the "speed bump" that has appeared on Randolph be monitored during these winter months.

Ayers: Spoke of the Community Dialogue that had recently taken place and expressed a wish to receive a formal document on the results of the evening’s activities.

Swigart: Mentioned a Johnson Creek meeting that will take place on March 12^th.

Mittman: Requested a resolution stating the City’s position on restoring the Maybury Farm.

B. Staff - None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz, Deputy City Clerk