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.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson, Director of Public Works James Gallogly, City Clerk Dianne Massa, Parks and Recreation Director Traci Sincock, DDA Executive Director Lori Ward (arrived 7:40 p.m.), Arts Commissioners Ken Naigus and Sonia Swigart, local artist David Barr, Reporters from the Northville Record, Northville Journal and the Community Crier, and seven citizens.

A. Citizen Comments None

The Arts Commission is proposing to commission local artist David Barr to link the past and present through the creation of an artistic historical monument for the City of Northville. The proposal calls for the creation of several pieces, which would be located on or near Baseline Road, throughout several communities in Michigan, including Northville. It is proposed that the Northville monument be located in an area at or near Hillside Middle School. Mr. Barr envisions a granite surveyor’s pole that uses natural light to create shadows pointing to informative markers located along Baseline Road. The markers would provide an educational experience, which would encourage people to explore the significance of Baseline Road in the history of surveying. The Arts Commission and Mr. Barr hopes to engage children from various communities to assist in determining the content of the educational markers.

City Council gave the project their support, commenting that it will offer a wonderful educational opportunity for children from various communities. It was also stated that the Historic District Commission was interested in the project’s correlation of history and art. Since it is likely that the Northville piece will be located on school property, Staff was directed to assist the Arts Commission in contacting the Northville Public School District for their support and assistance.

Fred Shadko, 47040 Timberline, Northville, is interested in donating a wooden sculpture to the Dog Park. The proposed sculpture would be carved from a hardwood tree log, possibly from one of the many Ash trees destroyed by the Emerald Ash Borer. Mr. Shadko offered photos that illustrated several of the wood sculptures located on his property. It was questioned whether a wood sculpture would be an appropriate use of the contaminated Ash trees (unknown at this time). City Council expressed their support of this project, provided that sufficient research indicated that the Emerald Ash Borer can be completely removed from the Ash tree log. Otherwise, an alternative tree log should be used.

"Oakland County West Nile Virus Reimbursement Fund Request" was added 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:

Regular Meeting of July 7, 2003

Approve Bills List: Checks #32743 to #32828 and Checks #32829 to #32975

Beautification Commission: 6/10/03

Board of Zoning Appeals: 2/5/03

Downtown Development Authority: 5/13/03

Historic District Commission: 4/16/03, 5/21/03, 6/18/03

Parks and Recreation: 5/14/03, 6/11/03

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 5/03, 6/03

Youth Assistance: 6/03

For several years, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has discussed parking expansion in downtown Northville. This year, the DDA directed Staff to proceed with a parking expansion plan that would impact Parking Lot #2 and Parking Lot #3 (Marquis Lot). The proposed funding source for this project is a limited tax obligation bond, which would be repaid with tax-increment funds from the DDA. Revenues from parking credits, related to new development, would provide supplemental funding for the project, if needed.

At its July 8, 2003 meeting, the DDA adopted a resolution requesting that the City proceed with issuing tax increment/limited tax obligation bonds. The bond amount is to be $5,000,000. The City’s Bond Counsel and Financial Advisor recommended that a higher amount than budgeted be included in the notice of sale. This is considered prudent when bonds are issued during the project design process. The actual bond obligation amount would likely be lower than the amount published, but cannot be higher.

The next step in the process for issuing tax obligation bonds is for the City Council to adopt a Notice of Intent Resolution and publish the Notice of Intent, giving rise to a 45-day right of referendum. During this 45-day period, the City Council may adopt a Bond Authorizing Resolution.

Council Comments / Discussion: Discussion ensued relative to parking expansion, issuing tax limited obligation bonds, and repayment of the bonds through tax increment funds generated through the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The following questions were raised:

Brief discussion focused on the statute that allows tax-increment financing (TIF), school tax revenues, and an explanation of the effects of Proposal A on school district funding. The following questions were raised:

Additional comments included:

Motion Mittman, seconded by Ayers to adopt the Notice of Intent Resolution and direct City Staff to proceed with publishing the Notice of Intent. Yes: Mittman, Ayers, Swigart, Johnson. No: Hartshorne. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Ayers questioned why Councilmember Hartshorne did not support the motion to publish the Notice of Intent. Councilmember Hartshorne stated that his "no" vote was the final chance the public had to object to the proposal as it exists today. Mr. Hartshorne acknowledged that, through the right of referendum, the public has a voice in the bond issue but not in the final project development plan. Mr. Hartshorne stated that, although he does not have a problem with the bond issue, he has reservations with the project in its present form. He further stated that his "no" vote represented the only opportunity to demonstrate the wishes of those who feel these projects are not appropriate. He felt a "yes" vote would infer his support for the project as a whole.

Many years ago, the City purchased a chime system for the town clock located in the downtown on Main Street. Several years ago, the system required service at an approximate cost of $3,000. Since the unit was not placed in a warm building, the manufacturer stated that problems would persist with the City’s unit. This has proven to be the case and the unit has not functioned properly for the last two years. The unit is no longer serviceable and the manufacturer will no longer warrant its services.

Staff researched the available chime systems, and found that a system manufactured and sold by Chime Master Systems has no moving parts, offers 100% digital bell recordings, programmable level control, built-in calendar, battery back up, a five-year warranty and free technical programming support. The watertight cabinet used to house the current chime system is sufficient for housing the new unit. The system can be programmed to play several kinds of music, including secular holiday music and patriotic songs on all federal holidays. Funding for this project would come from funds remaining in the DDA FY03 Street Furnishings Budget.

Council Comments / Discussion: A question was raised pertaining to the sound quality and it was noted that it was possible that the speakers may need to be replaced. It was suggested that the City’s website be used as an avenue to afford residents the opportunity to vote on the music choices.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the purchase of a 2003 Millennium Carillon System from Chime Master Systems of Ohio in the amount of $6,000. Further, the system is to be programmed and installed before the 2003 holiday season (November 14, 2003). Motion carried unanimously.

On July 15, 2003, the Parks and Recreation Department received bids for the annual printing and mailing of the 2003-04 Parks and Recreation activity catalog, which are summarized below.

Webco Press $15,600 60% owner $10,170

Robot Printing $31,422 no bid no bid

Nu-Ad $17,685 no bid no bid

Skene-Delonis no bid 60% owner no bid

40% vendor

Webco Press submitted an alternate bid of $14,175 using 50 lb. paper, which is acceptable to the Parks and Recreation Department. The budgeted amount for the catalog printing is $20,000, with $12,000 of the cost obtained by advertising sales. As such, Webco’s bid offers a favorable budget impact.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to award the 2003-04 Parks and Recreation activity catalog printing bid, along with advertising sales, to Webco Press in the amount of $14,175. Motion carried unanimously.

Both Oakland and Wayne County have adopted programs designed to assist local communities in funding expenses incurred with implementing a program to control the spread of West Nile Virus. The City is eligible to receive approximately $1,000 from each county. The Oakland County program requires the community to adopt a resolution in order to apply for expense reimbursement. The City’s mosquito control plan would be a two step approach, which would: 1) Utilize the summer addition of "Words from Works" to educate Northville residents on how to minimize their risk to West Nile Virus; and 2) Deposit methoprene larvicide briquettes in the City’s stormwater catch basins. It is estimated that one briquette can treat a catch basin for 150 days. The City ordered approximately 600 briquettes at a cost of $3.00 each.

Council Comments/Discussion: Questions were raised relative to environmental and safety issues and when the briquettes would be delivered (two weeks). A final comment suggested educating residents on the use of bat houses to assist in controlling the mosquito population.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Mittman to adopt a resolution authorizing an expense reimbursement request from the Oakland County West Nile Virus Fund. Motion carried unanimously.

Ayers requested updates on the Northville Community Park Expansion and the Allen Terrace Renovation projects. It was noted that the Township Board has not made a decision on the proposed expansion plan and has called a special meeting on July 31^st relative to this issue. The Allen Terrace Renovation project was re-bid with favorable results and the proposed bid awards will be presented to the City Council on August 4^th. Ayers also requested an update on the progress of the cemetery expansion. It was noted that the trees were removed and the next steps are road construction, fencing, and the plotting of grave sites. The City should be ready to sell these lots by the end of the year.

Hartshorne noted that in honor of Resident Appreciation Week, Allen Terrace would be hosting an ice cream social on Wednesday, July 23^rd at 4:00 p.m.

Swigart commended the Parks and Recreation Department on their professionalism and ability to rise to the challenge of organizing last weekend’s soccer tournament, in a relatively short timeframe. It is expected that the event organizers (Northville Soccer Association) will reimburse the Recreation Department for the full amount of the costs associated with this event.

The DPW Director stated that the South Lexington project is scheduled to begin on Monday. Notification letters were sent to the residents and the project should be completed within eight to ten weeks.

B. Staff Communications None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa

City Clerk