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, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne and Thomas Swigart

Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers (excused), Councilmember Jerome Mittman (excused)

A. Citizen Comments

John Colizzi, 841 W. Main Street, spoke of the "preserve our neighborhood signs" displayed on the property of Orchard Heights homeowners. He stated that many of the Orchard Heights homeowners displaying signs are Catholic and that many care about the safety of the children. He briefly addressed the Our Lady of Victory (OLV) school expansion, verbally reiterating concern with the building’s size, increased traffic, and the overall future impact to the neighborhood. He invited the Mayor and Council to his home for the purpose of experiencing first hand the traffic that occurs daily at OLV.

"Bottle Drive / Northville High School Music Boosters" was added to the Consent Agenda.

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 September 7, 2004

Special Meeting of September 13, 2004

Approve Bills List: Checks #39494 to #39605, #39606 to #39673, and #39674 to #39837

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Housing Commission: 7/13/04

Parks and Recreation: 8/11/04

Senior Citizens Advisory: 5/20/04, 6/17/04

Cooke School Bottle Drive / Northville Public Schools Special Ed / September 29, 2004

Disposal of Used Equipment / Parks and Recreation / Computer Equipment, Pesticide Sprayer,

Woods Mower, Pick Up Truck

Northville-Novi Colts Parade Request / October 17, 2004

Street Closure Request / Johnson Street / October 2, 2004

Bottle Drive / Northville High School Music Boosters / October 9, 2004

The Arthritis Foundation has requested permission to hold the Jingle Bell 5K Run & Walk on Sunday, December 5, 2004. The events are planned for 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Set up will begin at 5:00 a.m. and post race activities should end at 11:30 a.m. This is the third year for this event. The proposed route is the same as last year and considerable work was done in the past to develop a route that would have less impact on those attending church services.

The organization has agreed to reimburse the City for Police and Department of Public Works expenses, provide a certificate of insurance, naming the City as an additional insured, with minimum coverage of $1M general liability and execute a "hold harmless" agreement.

Council Comments / Discussion: A question was raised pertaining to early outdoor music/entertainment. Scott Cleven of the Arthritis Foundation stated that any entertainment would be held at Northville Downs and would not impact the neighborhoods.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the request of the Arthritis Foundation – Michigan Chapter to hold the third annual Jingle Bell 5K Run and Walk, with related preparation and activities, on Sunday, December 5, 2004, between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; authorize the closing of streets on the proposed route as deemed necessary by the Police Department; and authorize the placement of temporary directional signs, subject to the Arthritis Foundation – Michigan Chapter complying with the following conditions:

Provide a Certificate of Insurance, naming the City of Northville as an additional insured, with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 no later than Tuesday, November 30, 2004.

Execute a "hold harmless" agreement approved by the City Attorney prior to the event (no later than Tuesday, November 30, 2004).

Reimburse the City of expenses related to the event.

At its August 2, 2004 meeting, City Council reached a consensus on the designation of specific City-owned parcels as parks. The parcels include: City Lot 374, Joe Denton Park, Ford Field, Ford Field East, Baseline/Carpenter Park, Maplewood Park, and the Allen Drive Lot. Staff was also requested to research the Mill Race Village deed of gift for any deed restrictions. Although there is no language in the deed of gift document that defines use restrictions, 1971 correspondence to Ford Motor Company from the Northville Area Economic Development Corporation indicates that the intent of the property acquisition was for recreational and historical purposes. As such, it would be appropriate to include Mill Race Village on the list of City-owned parcels designated as parks.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to adopt Resolution 04-25 to designate City Lot 374, Joe Denton Park, Ford Field, Ford Field East, Mill Race Village, Baseline/Carpenter Park, Maplewood Park, and the Allen Drive Lot as park property. Motion carried unanimously.

As part of periodic review of utility costs, Staff has been working with SBC to evaluate the current level of phone service. An analysis of telephone charges found that the per minute costs range from $0.089 to $0.14 per minute, in addition to flat charges of $130.20 per month.

Two alternate proposals include:

SBC three-year contract, with per minute costs range of $0.033 to $0.069 per minute, elimination of the $130.20 per month flat charges, with an estimated savings of $11,639.45.

SBC pricing under the State of Michigan six-year contract, with per minute costs range of $0.031 to $0.050 per minute, elimination of $130.20 per month flat charges, and estimated savings of $15,667.92.

Council Comments / Discussion: Concern was voiced over entering into a six year contract as opposed to a three year contract. It was responded that although there may be changes in the telecommunications industry within the next few years that might allow further rate reductions, the additional savings provided under the State of Michigan contract were difficult to ignore. It is expected that the State contract would result in over a 67% reduction in current usage costs.

Motion Hartshorne, seconded by Swigart to authorize City staff to proceed with implementing the revised phone plan under the SBC/State of Michigan contract subsequent to City Attorney review of any related contract documents. Motion carried unanimously.

Hartshorne spoke of the two bottle and can drive requests approved this evening. As the two drives are within 10 days of each other, he suggested that the High School be notified that there is a competing drive and consider conducting their drive on an alternate date.

Hartshorne also voiced concern with "left turn" safety at the Eight Mile and Beck Road intersection as many people continue to make their left turn after the light has turned red. Following brief discussion, the Police Department was directed to coordinate with Novi and Northville Township to assist with increased patrols at this intersection. The Department of Public Works was directed to contact the Oakland County Road Commission for possible widening of the intersection or installation of an upgraded traffic signal.

Johnson noted that the Victorian Festival was well attended. He thanked everyone involved in the event, including the Chamber of Commerce, DPW, Police and Fire, and Northville Township (for the loan of their mobile command station).

B. Staff Communications None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa
City Clerk