City Council Minutes

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City of Northville
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
December 19, 2005

Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:47 p.m. in the Northville Senior Community Center, 303 West Main Street, Northville, Michigan.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Mayor Christopher Johnson, Councilmembers James Allen, Michele Fecht, and Thomas Swigart

Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Carolann Ayers (excused)

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nicolette Bateson,  Director of Public Works James Gallogly, City Clerk Dianne Massa, Housing Commissioner Sue Ellen Hooper, Planning Commissioners J. Christopher Gazlay and Marc Russell, Matthew MacDonell of OHM, Reporters from the Northville Record and Northville Journal, and nine citizens.

PRESENTATIONS:

Citizen Comments

Michael McClish, 647 Thayer Blvd., voiced concern with overly generalized statements in the draft December 5, 2005 City Council meeting minutes, which pertained to his recollection of the discussion regarding his previous interview for an appointment to the Planning Commission. He requested the City Council minutes be amended to correctly reflect his comments.

Following brief comments, City Council amended the December 5, 2005 City Council meeting minutes as follows:

…McClish replied that he did not recall his response in that way. He stated also believed that his interview was after the Planning Commission and BZA had made their decision on OLV’s new 2003/2004 special land use and site plan 1996-1997 application. McClish also stated he still believed he could be fair with respect to Our Lady of Victory.
(Amended 12/19/05 as shown with strikethrough and italics)

McClish also requested that Consent Agenda Item 4E pertaining to the appointment of Jerry Mittman to fill the vacancies on the Planning Commission and Senior Advisory Council be moved to the Main Agenda for further discussion. Comments included:

• The proposed appointments were unfair to Mr. Mittman as he left public service to enjoy personal activities.
• No pressing issues exist at this time, which would necessitate immediately filling the Planning Commission vacancy without interviewing other applicants.
• The lack of documents from previous interviews conducted by the Boards and Commission Selection Committee, and the lack of specific requirements to serve on the BZA or Planning Commission, demonstrate that a new liaison would have no difficulty in becoming familiar with the interview process.

McClish requested another interview and an appointment to the Planning Commission, noting his appointment to fill the vacancy would be a test to determine his impartiality. He offered to step down, should City Council find it necessary, during that six month period.

Comments and discussion by City Council included the following:

• Support for Mittman’s appointment to the Planning Commission as Mittman has proven he is a valuable member of the City Council and the Planning Commission and possesses appropriate qualifications to serve on this Commission.
• A comment noting this is an interim period of time for the Planning Commission and Mittman was contacted and expressed his willingness to serve the community on this commission.
• The belief that the appointment of Mittman to either commission circumvents the interview process and could be perceived as unfair. The value of encouraging others to serve the community on various commissions was noted.
• A comment that commission appointments should be objective and follow the interview process, with the need for more data (i.e. the number of applications on file and considered for each appointment) on the record to justify a recommendation in order for City Council to make an informed decision.
• Discussion concerning the proposed appointments to the Youth Assistance Commission, which were not interviewed by the Selection Committee prior to making its recommendation to City Council for appointments to this Commission.
• A suggestion to remove all proposed boards and commission appointments from the Agenda (Planning Commission: Jerry Mittman to fill vacant term expiring 6/30/06; Senior Advisory Council: Jerry Mittman to fill vacant term expiring 3/31/06; and Youth Assistance: John Buckland and Mary Culik to fill vacant and new positions with terms expiring 12/31/08).

Further discussion pertained to Consent Agenda Item 4H regarding the proposed appointment of Doug Bingham and whether he was qualified to fill the Downtown Steering Committee vacancy. It was responded that Bingham has attended past meetings, reviewed in depth the data acquired to date, and has considerable knowledge relative to consensus building.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA / CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion Swigart seconded by Allen to approve the agenda and consent agenda as amended.

Consent agenda as follows:

Approve City Council Minutes:

Regular Meeting of December 5, 2005 (as amended)

Approve Bills List: Checks #46830 to #46949 and #46950 to #47067

Receive Board and Commission Minutes:

Arts Commission: 9/14/05, 10/12/05

Board of Zoning Appeals: 10/5/05, 11/2/05

Historic District Commission: 9/28/05, 10/19/05

Housing Commission: 10/11/05, 11/9/05

Parks and Recreation: 11/9/05

Planning Commission: 10/4/05, 10/18/05

Receive Departmental Reports:

Parks and Recreation: 11/05

Board and Commission Appointments:

(All proposed appointments were removed from the agenda)

Request to Schedule Public Hearing for Proposed FY 2006 Wayne County CDBG Funds of $50,000

Resolution in Support of Regional Collaborative Efforts / Center of Regional Excellence

Proposed Appointment of Doug Bingham to the Downtown Steering Committee

Disposal of Used Equipment / Finance Department Printer

Policy and Procedures / Adoption of Social Security Number Privacy Act Policy

Policy and Procedures / Adoption of Disposal of Consumer Information Policy

Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Water Operation Modifications Phase Two – Water Supply

In May 2005, City Council authorized work on the City’s water system in an effort to improve local control on the amount of water the City of Northville requires from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). This decision followed a substantial rate increase from DWSD, which was partially caused by a peak hourly demand from Northville at a time when DWSD was least likely to supply it.

Phase One modifications, which included limiting how much the City’s main valve would open at any given time to control the amount of water accepted into the reservoir, along with the introduction of mandatory alternate day water restrictions, and changes to rate calculations used by DWSD, resulted in a reduced 2005 peak use factor and a proposed 2006 rate reduction to Northville by DWSD.

In an effort to further enhance Northville’s control of its water supply and accumulate local data for use when dealing with DWSD on future issues, Phase Two enhancements should be considered. Phase Two enhancements would allow the operation of Northville’s controls through access to a high-speed, secured website and provide DPW the ability to implement changes to water flow in the reservoir and respond to and address alarms via the website without actually being on site.

Phase Two control modifications would include an initial radio path survey. The establishment of a radio signal between the DWSD meter pit at Baseline and Center Street and the water reservoir at the west end of Baseline Road would eliminate the cost for fiber-optic hardwiring.

Phase Two costs are summarized as follows:

Possible Contingency Costs:

Funding would come from the "Working Capital Reserve" in the Water and Sewer Fund.

Council Comments and Discussion: Should a radio path not be possible, it was questioned whether a receiver transmitter could be installed at Hillside in order to avoid the cost of fiber optic hardwiring. It was responded this possibility would be explored during the study and it is hoped that hardwiring would not be necessary.

Motion Allen, seconded by Swigart to extend existing contracts with Hamlett Engineering Sales Company (HESCO) of Warren, Michigan, and Orchard Hiltz and McCliment, Inc. (OHM) of Livonia, Michigan, in an amount not to exceed $56,500 (including contingencies) for Phase Two Modifications to Northville’s water system controls. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Joint Planning Session – Downtown Strategic Plan

Task 6 of the Downtown Strategic Plan calls for a joint planning session to specifically discuss a framework for future business district revitalization. At this planning session, information compiled from Tasks 1 through 5 will be reviewed. The discussion at the meeting will then focus on a comprehensive approach to address physical improvements and design, organization, promotions and marketing, and economic development.

Beckett & Raeder, Inc., the City’s consulting firm facilitating the planning process, requested three representatives from the following groups be at the discussion table for this meeting: City Council, Planning Commission, Historic District Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Parks and Recreation, Northville Township, and the Downtown Steering Committee.

Dates being considered by the Downtown Steering Committee at their December 20th meeting include January 19th, 24th, or 25th.

Council Comments and Discussion: Johnson, Allen, and Fecht expressed an interested in serving as the City Council representatives at the joint planning session.

Discussion ensued relative to the joint planning session and it was suggested this should be a public meeting in which the public is encouraged to attend. An additional comment voiced the belief the meeting is premature as public consensus has not been achieved.

It was responded that while the public may attend, the purpose of the joint session is to hold a planning meeting to review information compiled to date to determine a concept plan. In February, a concept plan would be introduced to the public. The concept plan will basically ask the question "did we listen correctly" to the information provided by the focus groups during the information gathering process. The concept plan is reviewed by the public and altered through suggestions, modifications, and revisions received through public feedback.

Motion Allen, seconded by Fecht to select Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Allen and Fecht as the City Council representatives for participation at the table for the Downtown Strategic Plan – Task 6 joint planning session. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Proposed Goals and Objectives Meeting / FY 2006-2007

Traditionally, the Northville City Council has met in late January or early February to determine goals, objectives, and priorities in preparation for the next fiscal year budget. Over the next few weeks, City Department Heads will be working on their respective department goals and objectives. A summary of their efforts will be presented to the City Council prior to the date selected by City Council for this purpose.

Motion Swigart, seconded by Allen to call a special meeting on January 23, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. to determine its goals, objectives, and priorities for FY 2006-2007. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS:

A. Mayor and Council Communications

Johnson wished everyone a happy holiday.

B. Staff Communications None

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

Adjournment: 8:26 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dianne Massa, CMC
City Clerk

Approved as submitted: 1/3/06