City Council Minutes

Mayor Pro Tem Ayers called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:32 p.m. in the Northville City Hall Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson (arrived 7:33 p.m.), Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers, Councilmembers Kevin Hartshorne, Jerome Mittman and Thomas Swigart

Absent: None

Larry Parks, 632 N. Center Street, voiced concern with the height of the Real Estate One sign located on the corner of Rayson and Center Streets. The sign’s height makes it difficult for vehicles on Rayson to see Center Street traffic and he questioned whether the sign height met the zoning ordinance requirements.

While it was believed that the sign meets the current zoning ordinance requirements and is appropriate, the City Manager was directed to further review the issue and report back to City Council.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Hartshorne to approve the agenda and consent agenda as presented.

Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of December 20, 2004

Approve Bills List: Checks #41440 to #41492, and #41493 to #41581

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Historic District Commission: 11/17/04

Housing Commission: 10/13/04

Planning Commission: 11/16/04

Youth Assistance: 11/9/04

Receive Departmental Reports:

Youth Assistance: 11/04

Board and Commission Appointments: None

Disposal of Excess Municipal Equipment / Department of Public Works

Proposed Cancellation of Downtown Shuttle Program

The City received a request to purchase two parking credits as a result of a change of use at 150 Mary Alexander Court. The new business is a chiropractic service (Optimize Your Health Chiropractic LLC), which will occupy the space previously used by Healthy Solutions, a vitamin and health foods store. When developers within the central business district are unable to provide on-site parking, City policy allows the purchase of parking credits in accordance with Section 17.03 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. In accordance with the Parking Space Credit Policy, the City Council considers each purchase request on its own merit.

Council Comments / Discussion: Brief discussion followed regarding the City’s parking credit policy, the parking credit application process, the need for applicants to understand the parking credit policy, and the Gibbs report. It was reiterated that the purchase of parking credits does not give the business exclusive right to any parking spaces. It was suggested that City Council review the current parking credit fees and the off-street parking ordinance at the February 7, 2005 Goals and Objectives meeting.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Hartshorne to:

Determine that the need for parking space credits at 150 Mary Alexander Court meets the criteria for sale of the credits under established City policy.

Allow the sale of two parking credits at an established price of $3,200 per parking space credit for a total of $6,400.

Authorize City staff to prepare and effectuate a special assessment agreement to allow the payment of parking space credits over a ten-year period with an interest rate of 6% to be applied against the unpaid balance. Motion carried unanimously.

In 1955, the electorate of the Village of Northville voted approval of the new City Charter and elected the first City Council. The City of Northville City Charter became effective concurrent with the meeting of the first City Council on December 19, 1955. It was suggested that the City Council consider appointing a nine member ad hoc committee or commission to review and plan how the community would celebrate its 50^th anniversary as a City. The committee/commission would meet on regular basis to formulate celebration plans during 2005, utilizing an allocated budget of $5,000 and staff support from the City Manager’s office.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was voiced that a budget of $5,000 might be inappropriate, with a suggestion for the committee/commission to consider approaching local businesses to sponsor the event.

The Mayor will offer a list of proposed committee/commission members at the next City Council meeting.

Ayers stated that she will be out of town for the January 18, 2005 City Council meeting.

Mittman expressed appreciation to City Staff for a good year. Mittman also had questions relative to Painter and Ruthenberg’s recycling procedures. He observed Painter & Ruthenberg personnel removing cardboard from the recycling bin and placing it on the curb where it was placed in the trash hauler along with other non-recyclable trash. Staff was requested to review and report back to City Council.

Brief discussion followed pertaining to the City’s recycling efforts. City Council requested a report along with statistics indicating whether recycling efforts are working.

Mittman also questioned if the City had received a report from the Northville Community Foundation regarding the use of funds for the 2004 Independence Day Parade. The report was part of the approval of the $3,000 request for funds and would need to be provided to the City Council prior to approving a request for 2005 funding. It was responded that the Community Foundation has chosen not to request funds in 2005 as they do not wish to provide the City with a report on the use of those funds.

B. Staff Communications None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa
City Clerk