City Council Minutes

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:36 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

A. Citizen Comments None

City of Northville Police Chief Petres and Charter Township of Northville Police Chief John Werth provided an update of the consolidated dispatch update. Key items included:

• The joint dispatch has been in operation for four months. The addition of City runs increased the Township’s dispatch activity by 25%. The additional activity has kept the dispatchers busy, making them more proficient in their duties.
• Minor problems at the start of the dispatch consolidation were mainly due to the differences in department procedures. Policies were created or revised to make the departments more consistent.
• Only one citizen complaint relative to the perception of slow police response time to City businesses was investigated. It was found that there was no record of an actual call from the business/business owner.
• Problems related to call reception at Northville Downs were resolved with the addition of a call receiver. The time delay in resolving this matter was due to SBC taking one month to install the line needed to activate the additional call receiver. Since the installation, no further complaints were received. It was noted that the problem of call reception at Northville Downs was a problem prior to the consolidation.
• The new dispatch center will be functioning by March 2005 and City Council was invited to tour the new facility.

Council Comments / Discussion:

• A question was raised pertaining to the number of calls received through use of the phone in the City police department lobby. It was responded that the calls are very minimal and it was suggested that a video phone be installed. This enhancement would allow dispatch to view the caller and the lobby.
• It was voiced that citizens have noticed more Township cars in the City since the dispatch consolidation. This prompted discussion on the use of Township police cars to back City officers. It was pointed out that, historically, the City and Township have backed each other during runs. However, this is happening more frequently and quickly since dispatch now has knowledge of the location of City police cars. It is likely that residents are more aware of the Township cars since the consolidation.
• The joint dispatch operation has worked well. Remaining issues are due to the change from a paper system to a computerized system; a change that would have been made even without the dispatch consolidation.

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

Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of January 18, 2005

Approve Bills List: Checks #41821 to #41975, #41976 to #42058, and #42059 to #42206

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Board of Zoning Appeals: 1/5/05

Downtown Development Authority: 11/16/04, 11/30/04, 12/21/04

Historic District Commission: 12/15/04

Receive Departmental Reports:

Fire Department: 11/04

Board and Commission Appointments:

Historic District Commission: Tom Holleman – reappointment – four year term
(one time only) expiring 1/1/09 (per City Council action on 2/2/04)

Request to Canvass / The Fund for Public Interest Research

Request to Solicit / Knights of Columbus

Northville Rotary Lobster Fest / Mill Race Village / June 18, 2005

Request for Public Hearing / FY 2005 Wayne County CDBG Funds

Request for Public Hearing / Reallocation for FY 2004 Wayne County CDBG Funds and Program Income

Proclamation / Annual Celebration / April as Month of the Young Child

Disposal of Used Equipment / Computers, Printers

Proposed Hardship Exemption Guidelines

The operation of Northville’s water supply and water storage facilities has changed very little since the City began purchasing water from the City of Detroit in the 1960’s. The City has a 500,000 gallon underground storage facility and a 450,000 gallon elevated storage tank and tries to retain a large amount of this storage in reserve to protect the community from Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) water supply problems.

On July 2, 2004, DWSD experienced their maximum pumping day and logged their peak hourly use at 9:00 a.m. "Peak hourly use" is one of the elements used by DWSD to determine water rates and communities using water during the peak hour are penalized for this use. Earlier that day, DWSD experienced problems and was not able to adequately supply sufficient water to Northville City. A call was made to DWSD and water supply to Northville improved. However, taking all the water DWSD made available to re-supply the Northville reservoir made this time period the peak hour. As such, DWSD used this peak hourly usage to impose a significant water rate increase of 43% to the City of Northville. This rate increase is unacceptable and the City continues efforts with DWSD to reduce the proposed water rate assessment.

During hot summer days, it is not unusual for the City to be calling for water once every three hours to fill City storage facilities. This equates to a one in three chance of hitting the DWSD peak hour. The City must address how it operates its system to minimize future peak hourly costs. Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. (OHM) submitted a proposal in the amount of $13,000 to analyze the City’s water operations relating to water supply and storage. The analysis will explore changes and develop recommended modifications in the way the storage facilities are operated and the method the water supply is received from DWSD. This project will also require serious dialogue with the systems control division of DWSD, as improved reliability of DWSD water supply is critical to this effort.

Council Comments / Discussion: Questions and discussion pertained to water tower operations, the cost to build another water tower, and DWSD water rates.

Motion Ayers, seconded by Mittman to approve a contract with Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. (OHM) in the amount of $13,000 and a budget amendment in the City’s Utility Fund to cover the expenditure. Motion carried unanimously.

Racetrack breakage funds (in excess of the cost of police and fire department service provided to the racetrack) are recorded in the Public Improvement Fund. Over the past decade, those funds have mostly been used for capital outlay and construction related activities. The total amount of funds from FY 2004 is $353,581. In April 2004, $29,341 was designated for final payment on the Randolph Drain Special Assessment, leaving the City with $324,240 remaining for designation. Staff presented a list of fund designations for City Council consideration.

Council Comments / Discussion: Brief discussion ensued pertaining to the proposed designation of $50,000 to the proposed reserve for "Tax Base Stabilization" and it was voiced that this project did not follow the City Council policy of designating funds for public improvements. Suggestions to reallocate this amount included purchasing trees, filling sidewalk gaps, and reallocating the funds to Contingency/Grant Match. As funds for the Municipal Building Humidifier were inadvertently designated twice, it was suggested the proposed City Hall Capital Maintenance Plan be reduced by $7,000, which would be allocated to Contingency/Grant Match.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to designate FY 2004 breakage funds as follows:

Swigart spoke about his attendance at the Historical Society Annual Meeting, which prompted brief discussion on the archive section of the museum proposed for the house on Griswold.

Ayers will be out of town for the February 22, 2005 City Council meeting.

Mittman requested the City Manager review and report back with an update on the status of the neighborhood appeal of the Our Lady of Victory Church school expansion / BZA decision. City Manager annual evaluations are due by February 25, 2005.

Due to the late hour and that an Executive Session meeting was still part of the regular City Council meeting agenda, it was suggested that the continuation of the Goals and Objectives special meeting be rescheduled.

Motion Mittman, seconded by Hartshorne to reschedule the continuation of discussion of FY 2005/2006 Goals, Objectives and Priorities to February 22, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Staff Communications None

Motion Ayers, seconded by Hartshorne to recess the regular meeting to hold an Executive Session to discuss the status of labor negotiations. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Ayers to approve the tentative agreement between NPOA/POAM 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