City Council Minutes

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

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Mayor Protem Carolann Ayers, Council members Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman, and Thomas Swigart.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Director of Parks and Recreation Traci Sincock, Deputy City Clerk Carol Kasprowicz, Reporters from Northville Record and Northville Journal and 10 citizens.

A. Citizen Comments – Ms. Shirley Hallas, 1198 Concord Court, urged the Council to consider designating an additional dog park in reviewing open spaces in the City. Alternatively, she suggested extending the use of the present dog park beyond the present deadline of December 2004.

Ms. Sally Keys, Lexington Commons, reiterated Ms. Hallas’ request, and asked for a permanent larger site than the Cady Street site.

Director Sincock stated a committee appointed by Mayor Johnson was directed to review the open spaces in the City and make recommendations on the use of these open spaces. The committee, consisting of Matt Cowles (then Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission), Council member Jerry Mittman, Parks and Recreation Director Sincock, and Mark Russell. The committee’s recommendations were approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and were brought before the City Council in early 2003. These recommendations were now brought forth for further discussion.

Prior to review of the specific parcels of land, a discussion ensued as to the purpose of having the recommendations come before Council. A concern was expressed at designating any of the parcels for a specific purpose without consideration of the Parks and Recreation master plan. It was concurred that after a review of each parcel, a possible recommendation could be made, which would not necessarily be binding at this time.

In discussing the specific parcels, several questions arose that are to be addressed to the City Attorney. Specifically, what can the City legally do with property that is designated as a park? Also, is the City obliged to develop the park parcel or can it be left in a natural state?

The City-owned open space parcels, with recommendations by the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, are as follows:

Lot 374 (approximately three acres located north of Main Street and west of Rogers). Committee: leave undeveloped. City Council: defer recommendation until attorney answers above-mentioned questions.

Joe Denton Park (one-half acre located north side of Fairbrook between Eaton and Spring Drives). Committee: leave as undeveloped open space. City Council: designate it as a park.

City Hall Park (one-half acre at corner of Wing and Cady). Committee: designate as official city park, leave as undeveloped open space. City Council: defer recommendation until attorney answers above-mentioned questions.

Ford Field (four acres located west of Griswold Street). Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: designate it as a park.

Ford Field East (two acres directly behind the WaterWheel Centre building). Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: designate it as a park.

Gazebo/Bandshell. Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: defer recommendation until attorney answers above-mentioned questions.

Mill Race Village. Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: designate it as park, with questions to attorney on possible property restrictions.

Baseline/Carpenter Park (one acre located at corner of Baseline and Carpenter in Cabbagetown). Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: designate it as a park (not a unanimous recommendation).

Maplewood (three acre wooded site). Committee: designate it as a park, leave natural environment. City Council: designate it as a park.

Allen Drive Lot (one-half acre located at Allen Drive and Novi Road). Committee: designate it as a park. City Council: designate it as a park.

Non-City-owned parcels were briefly discussed. They included Hines Drive entrance (Seven Mile/Sheldon Road), Ameritech lot, buffer around Hillside Middle School, and Eight Mile/Taft parcel.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Deputy City Clerk