Summary
FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday,
December 22, 2008 at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale.
Mayor Covey called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Covey, Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton,
Lennon
Absent: None
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
510. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Galloway, to approve the
agenda as amended.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
4. PRESENTATIONS
A. Fire Department - Citizen Awards.
Fire Chief Schmidt presented awards to Dina Krause and Breanne
Nelson for their actions in reporting a fire and saving two dogs
which were in the house. The quick report led to rescue of other
animals in the house by the Fire Department. Chief Schmidt also
presented an award to Susan Pagen for her quick response to a fire
at her place of business which saved the Pioneer Building from
serious damage.
B. Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
DDA Director Shepard-Decious, Sharon Chess and Peggy Snow
presented awards to the winners of the Warm Hearted Cookie Challenge
and Winterfest Windows Competition; acknowledged the Holiday Ice
Festival volunteers; and recognized retiring DDA Board members.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Consideration of a Special Land Use application submitted by
Amneh Ftouni for outdoor sales/storage at 22500 Woodward (Mobil Gas
Station).
Mayor Covey opened the public hearing at 7:56 p.m.
A representative for 22500 Woodward spoke on behalf of Ferndale
Mobil and advocated for an amended special land use permit to allow
outdoor sales/storage.
Bob Porter explained the original prohibition against outdoor
storage was to address concerns about vehicles in various stages of
repair being left in the lot. Mr. Porter supported the petitioner’s
request and also suggested removing the requirement for two
employees to be on-site during hours of operation.
Eric Bennett supported a compromise to allow outdoor
sales/storage of some items.
There being no further comments, Mayor Covey closed the public
hearing at 8:12 p.m.
511. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Gumbleton, to table
consideration of the Special Land Use amendment to permit outside
sales/storage at 22500 Woodward until the Plan Commission, no later
than their February meeting, can review a site plan from the
petitioner’s addressing what they want to do and addressing the
seven points outlined in CDS Director Scheer’s memo for Agenda Item
5A.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
6. CALL TO AUDIENCE
Julie Glazier, Ferndale Youth Assistance, announced Tim Horton’s
is awarding two camp scholarships, and promoted the upcoming Blues
Festival.
Donna Stern, By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), announced BAMN is
continuing and intensifying their campaign against the Ferndale
School District for operating two separate and unequal high schools
in Ferndale. Five others, including Kelly Lewis, Liana Mulholland
and Nonica Smith, also spoke on the issue and encouraged Ferndale
City Council and residents to join their cause.
Mary Tsouris complained that the limited parking bays on Hilton
Road were not cleared of snow.
Wyll Lewis, American Pop, relayed his wish that the cookie
challenge include the downtown bakeries as he feels the current
format competes with the businesses.
Tiffani Gagne thanked the Ferndale DPW for doing a great job on
snow clearing on Friday, and expressed her disagreement with BAMN’s
characterization of Ferndale.
Greg Pawlica thanked the Police and Fire Departments for their
work in this cold weather and DPW for their quickness at clearing
the streets of snow. Mr. Pawlica inquired about the number of
tickets issued for vehicles not pulled off the streets during the
snow emergency and about the procedure.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
512. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Baker, to approve the
Consent Agenda as submitted:
A. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held December 8,
2008, and the Special Meetings held December 12 and December 13,
2008, as submitted by City Clerk.
B. Approved the Minutes of the Special Meeting held May 29, 2007,
as submitted by Deputy City Clerk.
C. Approved the purchase of two Motorola Motor Data Terminals at
a cost of $10,390 (drug forfeiture expenditure) from Motorola
Corporation and the removal and the installation of these MDT’s by
Wireless Resources at a cost of $590, for a total project cost of
$10,980.
D. Authorized payment to R & R Fire Truck Repair of Northville,
Michigan in the amount of $8,257.17 for emergency repairs to the
1989 Seagrave aerial ladder truck. Funds for this expenditure are
available in Account # 661-000-977, Motor Pool Capital Outlay..
E. Adopted Resolution authorizing Councilman Galloway to attend
the National League of Cities Green Cities Conference and Exposition
to be held in Portland, Oregon, from April 18-22, 2009, on behalf of
the City of Ferndale.
F. Reappointed Veronica Lujic to the Downtown Development
Authority (DDA) for a term ending December 2012.
G. Approved the bills and payrolls as certified by City Manager
to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
8. REGULAR AGENDA
A. Appointments/Reappointments to Boards and Commissions
1) Consideration of appointment of John Skok to fill the
remainder of Susan Hicks’ vacant term on the Board of Zoning Appeals
for a term ending December 31, 2010.
513. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Baker, to confirm the
appointment of John Skok to fill the remainder of Susan Hicks’
vacant term on the Board of Zoning Appeals for a term ending
December 31, 2010.
AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
2) Consideration of appointments of Tom Macdonald and Kevin
Vettraino to the Planning Commission for terms ending December 31,
2011, and Jason Arnold to the vacated term ending December 31, 2009.
514. Moved by Baker, seconded by Lennon, to confirm the
appointments of Jeff Helminski and Kevin Vettraino to the Planning
Commission for terms ending December 31, 2011.
AYES: Council Members Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
515. Moved by Baker, seconded by Lennon, to appoint Luke
Forrest to the Plan Commission to fill the vacated term ending
December , 31, 2009.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
3) Consideration of reappointment of Luke Forrest to the Plan
Commission for a term ending December 31, 2011.
No action was taken.
B. Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1063, an Ordinance
Amending Chapter 7, Business Regulation, of the Ferndale Code of
Ordinances.
516. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Baker, to adopt Ordinance
No. 1063, an ordinance to amend Chapter 7, Business Regulation and
Licenses Generally, Article VI, Business Registration, of the
Ferndale Code of Ordinances.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
C. Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1064, an Ordinance
amending Section 4.10 A. Permitted Uses, C-2, General Commercial
District of the Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 1004, to permit
Massage establishments provided that they do not fit within the
definition of an adult business, to Section 4.10 C-2 zoning
districts.
517. Moved by Baker, seconded by Gumbleton, to adopt
Ordinance No. 1064, an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance to
permit Massage establishments provided that they do not fit
within the definition of an adult business to Section 4.10 C-2
zoning districts.
AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 9:16 p.m.
D. Consideration of adoption of Ordinance No. 1065, an Ordinance
amending Section 4.04, R-1 Residential District, of the Zoning
Ordinance, Ordinance No. 1004.
518. Moved by Baker, seconded by Gumbleton, to adopt
Ordinance No. 1065, an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance No.
1004 to permit existing duplexes in the R-1 zoning district as a
permitted use.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Covey
NAYS: None
Absent: Lennon
MOTION CARRIED
Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 9:20 p.m.
E. Consideration of Resolution requesting the City of Detroit to
place a moratorium on water and sewer rate increases.
519. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Galloway, to adopt the
Resolution requesting the City of Detroit to place a moratorium on
water and sewer rate increases.
AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
F. Consideration of Amendment to Council Rules of Procedure to
require a public hearing before Council on all Special Land Use
requests.
520. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to adopt the
amended Rules of Procedure to add 8. Public Hearings for Special
Land Uses, to Section II. Meeting Procedure.
AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
G. Consideration of Amendment to American Legion Hall Purchase
Agreement.
521. Moved by Baker, seconded by Galloway, to approve the
addendum supplementing the Agreement of Sale effective December 8,
2008 between Ferndale American Legion Memorial Home Association and
the City of Ferndale for the land and premises situated at 1741
Livernois.
AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Mayor
Covey
NAYS: None
MOTION CARRIED
9. COUNCIL APPOINTEE REPORT – City Manager
City Manager Bruner reported on his progress toward 2008 goals
and objectives.
10. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS - none
6. CALL TO AUDIENCE (cont)
Wyll Lewis encouraged Council to consider changes to the Zoning
Ordinance regarding outdoor sales/service.
Bob Porter thanked Mayor and Council and staff on their work to
keep Ferndale the city it is, which he characterized as a step above
the rest, and wished all a happy holiday.
11. CALL TO COUNCIL
522. DPW Director Photiades provided an explanation of the
City’s snow removal process. Woodward and 8 Mile have top priority,
followed by the 25 miles of major streets including Cambourne, then
the 15 miles of local streets, and finally metered parking bays. Mr.
Photiades noted the City is still under the state of snow emergency.
523. Fire Chief Schmidt reported Ferndale Goodfellows raised
a total of $11,651.70.
524. Chief of Police Kitchen issued a reminder that cars
parked on the street during a snow emergency will be ticketed, and
after 48 hours will be declared abandoned and towed.
525. City Manager Bruner noted snow removal is funded by the
State’s vehicle gas and weight tax, not by property taxes. Mr.
Bruner reported he will be meeting with the South Oakland Shelter
regarding their plans to open administrative offices in the First
Baptist Church building in Ferndale and will report on his findings
after the first of the year. Mr. Bruner emphasized there are no
accommodations for a shelter in the subject building.
526. Councilman Lennon wished all a Merry Christmas and a
happy holiday season. Councilman Lennon excused himself from the
meeting at 9:52 p.m.
527. City Attorney Christ wished all a safe and happy
holiday.
528. Councilwoman Baker announced the first annual
fundraising dinner for FernCare to be held on April 2, 2009 at 6:00
p.m. at the Royal Oak Elks Club. Anticipated cost of tickets is
$30.00. Councilwoman Baker expressed wishes for a happy Hanukah and
happy holidays.
529. City Clerk Tallman recognized part-time staff member
Marne Schmidt for her exceptional work in the Clerk’s office.
530. Councilwoman Gumbleton wished all a happy holiday season
and thanked council and staff for participating in the recent goal
setting process
531. Councilman Galloway noted 2008 was a good year and that
Ferndale is poised for a good 2009. Councilman Galloway made note of
the coming economic stimulus package. Councilman Galloway recognized
Strategic Energy Solutions on Woodward, a geothermal energy leader
in Michigan. Councilman Galloway wished all a Merry Christmas, happy
Hanukah, and encouraged all to enjoy the holidays.
532. Moved by Mayor Covey, supported unanimously to adopt the
Resolution of Condolence to the family of Kenneth Crafts.
ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY
533. Mayor Covey recognized Loving Touch, a new pool hall in
the City.
534. Moved by Mayor Covey, supported unanimously to adopt the
Resolution of Condolence to the family of Robert (Bob) Mills.
ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY
535. Mayor Covey wished all a safe holiday.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no objections, Mayor Covey adjourned the meeting at
10:00 p.m.
J. Cherilynn Tallman, City Clerk
