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 Christopher Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem 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,  Police Chief James Petres, Fire Chief James Allen, City Clerk Dianne Massa, Northville Township Police Chief John Werth, Northville Township Manager Chip Snider, Reporters from the Northville Record and Northville Journal, and twenty-two citizens.

A. Citizen Comments None

"Consideration of Property Acquisition" was added to 10 C. Closed Session.

Consent Agenda 4G "Closure of Downtown Streets / Victorian Festival / September 17-19, 2004" was amended to include the approval, subject to review by the City Manager, of the Victorian Festival parade route for the evening of Friday, September 17, 2004.

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

Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Special Meeting of July 26, 2004

Regular Meeting of August 2, 2004

Approve Bills List: Checks #38911 to #39156, and #39157 to #39259

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Board of Zoning Appeals: 7/7/04

Parks and Recreation: 7/14/04

Planning Commission: 7/20/04

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 7/04

Housing Commission: Jacqueline Bousha / vacant term expiring September 15, 2007

Senior Advisory Council: Jacqueline Bousha / vacant term expiring March 31, 2007

Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day Event / Northville: August 21, 2004

Closure of Downtown Streets / Victorian Festival / September 17 – 19, 2004 (amended to include the approval, subject to review by the City Manager, of the Victorian Festival parade route for the evening of Friday, September 17, 2004)

Amendment to Cabling Contract / Northville Senior Community Center

Northville Public Schools is requesting to place signs at the City entry points, which would identify the Northville High School Girls’ Soccer Team as "Class A State Champs for 2003/04" and the Northville High School Girls’ Golf Team as "Class A State Runners-Up for 2003/04." Many communities place signs honoring exceptional high school teams at their entry points. Staff reviewed the request and suggested the following:

Signs to be no larger than 24" wide by 30" high

Signs would be placed in the vicinity of the "city limit" signs

Placed for a maximum of three years

Placed for "state champs" only and not for runner-up or division/regional titles

Applicant would cover the cost of the signs

Signs would be for high school academic and sports teams only

Council Comments / Discussion: As a similar request was made to Northville Township (which is a part of the school district), it was suggested that the signs be placed at city limit locations that do not abut the Township.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the placement of special signage honoring the Northville High School Girls’ Soccer Team, "Class A State Champs for 2003/04," following the criteria noted above, at the city limit sign locations of Taft Road, Novi and Eight Mile Roads, Novi Road, and the western end of Eight Mile Road. The request for placement of signs honoring the High School Girls’ Golf Team "Class A State Runners-up for 2003/04" is denied. Motion carried unanimously.

Mittman reported that on August 10^th, Our Lady of Victory Church received preliminary site plan approval from the Planning Commission, subject to several conditions. He also stated that he would be out of town for the September 20, 2004 City Council meeting. Mittman also questioned the use of permanent pavement markings on downtown streets during the recent NCBA Sidewalk Sale, suggesting that future approvals address this issue. Ron Bodnar, NCBA Co-President and present at tonight’s meeting, assured that this would not happen at future NCBA events.

Ayers stated that she would also be out of town for the September 20, 2004 City Council meeting.

Mittman spoke of the recall petitions submitted to the respective counties by Mr. Larry Parks, seeking recall for himself as well as Mayor Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem Ayers, and Councilmember Hartshorne. He expressed disappointment in the recall, which is based on one issue: the July 26^th vote to support the motion to approve the intergovernmental agreements between the City of Northville and Northville Township for emergency dispatch services and lockup services. Mittman viewed the recall as a disruptive process, which could cost the community approximately $8,000 - $10,000 per special election. He noted that the Mayor and a majority of the Council are up for election every two years and believed the local election process to be the proper avenue.

Mittman stated that each of the members proposed for recall have lived in the community for at least 25 years and have served the community for more than 20 years. The community today is better due to the commitment and dedication of the Mayor and City Council as well as those serving on the various commissions. Mittman stood by his decision, stating his belief that the City would have equal or better dispatch and lockup at a much lower cost. He asked the persons sponsoring the recall petition to reconsider and seek other ways to work together for the good of the community.

Swigart reported on the Township’s success in securing approximately 40 acres from the Seven Mile Road property, to be allocated 20 acres for school use and 20 acres for parks. He noted that the Parks and Recreation Commission would be proposing a minor change in the Parks and Recreation Mission Statement to address loss of green space. Swigart also reported that the Northville Public School District called a September 28^th special election for an operating millage proposal. This would enable the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation guarantee.

Ayers also spoke of the recall petitions, expressing concern with the community’s division on several issues and the long-term effects the recall process might have on the community. While Ayers acknowledged the right of the residents to pursue a recall, she believed her unopposed November 2003 reelection was a statement. Ayers declared that the recall process would not alter her commitment to continue to cooperate with the entire Council and administration and serve the residents to the best of her ability.

B. Staff Communications None

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to recess the regular meeting to hold a Closed Session for an update on labor negotiations and consideration of property acquisition. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the tentative agreement between MAPE and the City of Northville as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the tentative agreement between AFSCME and the City of Northville as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve the August 13, 2004 Memorandum of Understanding between AFSCME and the City of Northville as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa
City Clerk