City Council Minutes

Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the City of Northville Municipal Council Chambers, 215 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of September 19, 2005

Approve Bills List: Checks #45577 to #45663

Checks #45664 to #45806

Checks #45807 to #45926

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Downtown Development Authority: 8/16/05

Historic District Commission: 7/20/05, 8/31/05

Planning Commission: 8/16/05

Youth Assistance: 8/9/05

Receive Departmental Reports:

Youth Assistance: 9/05

Board and Commission Appointments:

Downtown Development Authority: Richard Shaffner (reappointment) Term expires September 30, 2005

Optical Scan Voting System Additional Equipment Purchase

Proposed MERS Resolution / Service Credit Purchase

Proposed List of Authorized Financial Institutions – Addendum

Proposed Playground Cleaning Services / Parks and Recreation

Holiday Decoration Request / All Aglow Program / Mothers Club and Northville and Northville Public Schools

The City has received a request from the Northville Community Foundation to place signs in the City right-of-way advertising the activity "Corn Maze" at Maybury Farm during the weekends of October. The signs are to be placed at the corner of Eight Mile and Novi Roads near the City entrance sign, and at the corner of Eight Mile and Center Street on the northeast corner in the City right-of-way. The signs are to be in place from 4:00 p.m. Friday until 9:00 p.m. Sunday for the four remaining weekends in October.

Council Comments / Discussion: It was requested that the Northville Community Foundation be urged to use the City entrance signs for advertising this activity in the future.

The Planning Commission has proposed revisions to the Northville Zoning Ordinance related to overbuilding on existing lots in the City. After holding a public hearing, the Planning Commission is recommending the revised text amendments to the City Council for consideration and approval. The revisions include:

• A definition of the term "attic"
• A modification of the term "basement"
• A modification of the term "building height"
• The definition of the new term "grade plane"
• The modification of the term "lot coverage"
• Modifications to the Schedule of Regulations
• Restrictions on finished attics
• Restrictions on the height of a foundation wall placed out of the ground
• Clarifications on allowable grading and drainage of property.

Council Comments / Discussion: Discussion took place on the configuration of side yard setbacks in Footnote 20 of Section 15.02. Clarification is to be sought from the Planning Consultant prior to the submission of the amendments for second reading. Questions were asked regarding habitable space and building size. The Planning Commission was commended for the hard work and diligence in dealing with the growing problem of overbuilding in existing neighborhoods.

The Planning Commission has made changes and modifications to the Tree Preservation Ordinance to improve the enforcement ability and increase fees and fines associated with tree removals. The first reading of the proposed amendments to the Tree Preservation Ordinance took place at the September 19, 2005 City Council meeting. Clarification was sought regarding minor review and major review. It was noted a major review is to be undertaken by the Planning Commission and would be performed as part of a site plan, subdivision, condominium, and/or lot split review process. A minor review is to be undertaken by the Building Inspector and would be performed for all applications not required to go to the Planning Commission.

Representatives from Plante & Moran highlighted major factors and findings of the year ended June 30, 2005 audit. The City was commended on its fiscal responsibility and conservative spending in light of diminishing property tax capabilities and state-shared revenues. The City was also commended on its dedicated staff, and innovative methods of providing services such as the joint dispatch operation. It was noted the City is one of few communities that have increased their fund balance.

A quick review was given of the percentages of revenues and expenditures toward the designated categories, and a comparison with the data of the past two years. Additionally, the Water and Sewer System and the Refuse and Recycling System showed a profit, which is maintained in the fund.

Several factors that have an impact on the City were reviewed. These included reduced state-shared revenue, lower Act 51 receipts, reform of the Michigan Single Business Tax, and new personal property tax tables for utilities. Additionally, the City was encouraged to monitor the requirements placed upon municipalities regarding postemployment benefits other than pensions.

Significant financial highlights include:

• The City’s property tax base, net of captured taxable value, for fiscal year 2005 was $327,346,592, which represents an increase of $17,904,041 or 5.8%.
• State-shared revenue, the second largest revenue source, decreased by approximately $10,600 this year. This represents a 2% decrease from the prior year.
• As a result of close monitoring by the City of discretionary spending, the fund balance of the General Fund increased by approximately $29,000.

Council Comments / Discussion: Questions were asked regarding the City’s contribution toward the postemployment benefits and the establishment of a defined trust plan for this purpose. Questions were also asked regarding the City’s pension fund. High praise was extended to the Finance Department which in turn praised the teamwork of the City’s Department Heads for the excellent financial state of the City.

Plante & Moran has submitted a proposal to continue as auditors for the City’s current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2006. The proposed fee is a not-to-exceed amount of $37,780. This fee represents a 2.5% increase from the current year. The above fees are not-to-exceed estimates. Plante & Moran has indicated that they will continue to provide City Staff with information that may allow those fees to be reduced.

On July 18, 2005, City Council awarded a contract to Structural Preservation Systems to undertake maintenance and repairs to the Cady and MAGS decks. During the course of the work, the Contractor discovered several items which require attention. The items included:

• Repair of the entrance pole on the Cady deck at a cost of $2,500.
• Removal and replacement of surface concrete between the pavement and the structural tees at a cost of $4,875.
• Replacement of all joint sealant at a cost of $28,000.

The change orders were approved by the Downtown Development Authority at their September 20, 2005 meeting.

Dixon Engineering has performed professional services and maintenance oversight on Northville’s elevated water storage tank for the past 20 years. In 2002, Dixon recommended that the storage tank be painted both on the inside and outside and also recommended the replacement of the cathodic protection system in the tank, which is designed to retard rust and corrosion and extend the life of the new paint. Dixon Engineering was recently asked for a proposal regarding this project. Dixon will prepare technical specification and contract documents, advertise the project, address any questions bidders may have, review bids, recommend the award, hold a preconstruction meeting, provide project inspection services, and recommend final payment o the selected contractor. It is anticipated the tank will be painted in May 2006.

Council Comments / Discussion: Questions were asked regarding the color of the tank (white) and the removal of the communications equipment presently attached to the tank.

On September 14, 2005, the City received bids for the painting of 154 decorative street lights in downtown Northville. The project calls for the cleaning, priming, and painting the street lights with a semi-gloss black finish. The bids were as follows:

Seaway Painting L. L. C.     $23,646
Charles J. Burke                 $ 6,156

Seaway Painting routinely performs this type of work on street lights owned by DTE Energy. Charles J. Burke is a local painter who has painted several buildings in Mill Race Village and most recently the Bandshell. Funding for street light painting is to come from the DDA budget. The project was approved at the September 20, 2005 DDA meeting.

City Manager Word reminded all of the Visioning Workshop, facilitated by Beckett & Raeder, which will be held Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 7 p.m. at the Senior Community Center.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Deputy City Clerk