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, Jerome Mittman and Thomas Swigart

Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers (excused)

Also City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette

Present: Bateson, Director of Public Works James Gallogly, Parks and Recreation Director Traci Sincock, City Clerk Dianne Massa, Arts Commissioners Ken Naigus and Sonia Swigart, Reporters from the Northville Record and Northville Journal, and four citizens.

Larry Parks, 632 N. Center Street, raised questions relative to combined dispatch operations, including the availability of quarterly evaluations, the criteria used during the evaluation process, and whether copies of dispatch update reports were available to the public. It was responded that the evaluation process is ongoing; however, dispatch update reports are available to the public and that Mr. Parks had copies of the same reports provided to Council. It was also noted that the Northville Township Police Chief would present a dispatch operations update during the February 7, 2005 City Council regular meeting.

Frances McClish, 647 Thayer Blvd., voiced concern with the demeanor of the Board of Zoning Appeals during the January 5, 2005 appeal hearing. She alleged that some members did not act appropriately, citing laughter between two commissioners, a perceived lack of interest, and the absence of comments by some commissioners prior to voting as examples. Ms. McClish concluded by stating that she would have preferred the BZA members convey some pretense of interest during the appeal hearing.

Arts Commission Chairperson Ken Naigus presented an update on the Art House project (formerly known as the Senior/Scout Building located at 215 W. Cady). Topics included interior and exterior refurbishment progress; arts activities; financial needs to make the project sustainable, including the exploration of potential support from Northville Township; future plans for Art House and arts programming; and the March 4^th grand opening.

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

Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of January 3, 2005

Approve Bills List: Checks #41582 to #41698, and #41699 to #41820

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Board of Zoning Appeals: 12/1/04

Parks and Recreation: 12/8/04

Planning Commission: 12/7/04

Youth Assistance: 12/14/04

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 12/04

Police Department: 11/04

Youth Assistance: 12/04

Board and Commission Appointments:

Arts Commission:

Darcel Deneau – new appointment - three-year term expiring 6/30/08

Board of Review:

Margaret McMichael - reappointment – three year term expiring 1/1/08

Economic Development Corporation:

William Demray – reappointment – six year term expiring 1/1/11

Historic District Commission:

Walter Coponen – reappointment – three year term expiring 1/1/08

Juliet Culp – reappointment – three year term expiring 1/1/08

Thomas Gudritz – reappointment – four year term (one time only) expiring 1/1/09 (per City Council action on 2/2/04)

Parks and Recreation:

Nancy Darga – reappointment – three year term expiring 1/1/08

School Tax Collection Fee

Proclamation / Rotary Day in Northville / February 23, 2005

Proclamation Honoring George D. Goodman, Director / Michigan Municipal League

Proposed Amendments to the 2004-05 Budget through September 30, 2004 and Investment Report

Proposed Amendments to the 2004-05 Budget through December 31, 2004 and Investment Report

Election Consolidation / Administration of School Elections

At its regular meeting on January 3, 2005, the City Council created the 50^th City Anniversary Commission to help celebrate Northville’s 50^th anniversary as a City. During the January 18^th meeting, the Mayor offered a list of persons to be considered for appointment to this Commission.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Swigart to approve the following persons to serve on the 50^th City Anniversary Commission, with support from City staff: Bill Sliger, Bruce Turnbull, Todd Culp, Francis Gazlay, Lesa Buckland, Ann Willis, Michele Fecht, Bridget Bodnar, and a Northville High School Student Junior (to be named at a later date). Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the budget process, City Council traditionally schedules three special meetings in the month of April to review the proposed budget.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Mittman to set the dates for the fiscal year 2006 budget review meetings, to be held at the Northville City Hall, 215 W. Main Street, Northville, Michigan, 48167, at 7:00 p.m., as follows: Wednesday, April 6, 2005; Monday, April 11, 2005; and Tuesday, April 12, 2005. Motion carried unanimously.

Hartshorne spoke about the cost of gas for the Pheasant Hills gaslight district. He questioned whether the cost for gas streetlights was higher than the cost of electric streetlights and if the lumens be lowered to offset any increased gas costs. It was responded that the Director of Public Works is still gathering data and would report back to City Council.

Hartshorne also commended Staff on the City’s 10.27% water loss control. He also questioned whether the City had resolved the Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) proposed rate increase for peak time usage to fill the City of Northville water tower. It was responded that City staff was meeting with DWSD on January 19^th to attempt to administratively resolve the matter.

Johnson commented on the January 18, 2005 Downtown Steering Committee update submitted by Joan Wadsworth.

B. Staff Communications None

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

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa
City Clerk