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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2011-08-29 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD AUGUST 29, 2011 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Present: Conrad Schwartz, John Pastor, Brian Meakin and Laura Toy. Absent: James McCann, Joe Laura and Maureen Miller Brosnan. Elected and appointed officials present: Todd Zilincik, City Engineer; Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Don Knapp, City Attorney; former Councilmember Tom Robinson, and Jack E. Kirksey, Mayor. Senior Councilmember Toy announced two (2) Public Hearings to be held in the Auditorium of Livonia City Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, MI for the following items: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Robert Babcock, CFO of Helm, Inc., is requesting approval of a personal property exemption on new equipment in connection with the relocation of their warehouse and distribution operation from Plymouth, MI to 38150 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150, which will move approximately 50 jobs into the City. (Industrial Development Overlay District#112) Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Robert R. Dow, Controller, Hi-Vol Products, is requesting approval of an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for the purchase of new equipment in efforts to meet customer demands and stay competitive in the marketplace for their facility located at 12955 Inkster Road, Livonia. MI 48150. (Industrial Development District#78) AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. NEW BUSINESS 1. REQUEST TO WAIVE THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE: Dorothy Roberts, Philanthropy and Fundraising Event Manager, Marycrest Manor, re: to allow a band to perform during the kick-off of their 50th anniversary as well as the opening of Marycrest Heights, their new senior apartment complex, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Dorothy Roberts, Philanthropy and Fundraising Event Manager, Marycrest Manor, was present to answer any questions from Council. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 2 2. APPLICATION FOR MASSAGE APPRENTICE PERMIT: Office of the City Clerk, re: submitted by Yanwen Zhu in accordance with Chapter 5.49 of the Livonia Code of Ordinances, as amended. Yanwen Zhu, 1012 Canterbury Mews, Canton, was present to answer any questions from Council. Meakin asked if there was enough work at their location to keep him and the other massage apprentices working. His employer replied yes. Toy asked how many massage stations they had. Zhu's employer replied 4 chairs and 6 tables and indicated they intend to have 8 to 13 employees, some full time and some part time. He said people can get a massage in as little as 10 minutes on up to 60 minutes or longer. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 3. APPLICATION FOR MASSAGE APPRENTICE PERMIT: Office of the City Clerk, re: submitted by Chongling Xin in accordance with Chapter 5.49 of the Livonia Code of Ordinances, as amended. Chongling Xin, 36697 Seven Mile Road was present to answer any questions from Council. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4. APPLICATION FOR MASSAGE APPRENTICE PERMIT: Office of the City Clerk, re: submitted by Huazhen Lin in accordance with Chapter 5.49 of the Livonia Code of Ordinances, as amended. Huazhen Lin, 39505 Prentiss, Harrison Township, was present with William Leung to translate for her, to answer any questions from Council. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 5. REQUEST TO WAIVE SIDEWALK REQUIREMENT: Aimee Dahl, re: for her home being constructed at 18360 Laurel. Aimee Dahl was present to answer any questions from Council. 3 Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said they do not oppose the petitioner's request. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 6. REQUEST FROM THE MICHIGAN LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE REQUEST FROM METROPLITAN GRILL, LLC TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF A 2011 CLASS C LICENSE WITH OFFICIAL PERMIT (FOOD) AND SUNDAY SALES; AND REQUEST FOR A NEW OUTDOOR SERVICE AREA: Division of Police, re: for the business located at 36685 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI 48150. Roger Silvie, 211 E. Commerce, Milford, was present as the real estate broker on behalf of the buyers who were unable to attend the meeting. The buyers are experienced in the restaurant business. They want transition the business over time into their own concept. Initially, they will be doing just some cosmetic changes. The name will eventually be changed to Metropolitan Grill. They intend to make it more of a family restaurant rather than the high-end seafood restaurant that Herc's has been. They want to be part of the community and look forward to making it work. Meakin asked Silvie to ask the petitioner to be in attendance at the next Regular Meeting on September 7, 2011, he would like to meet them. Toy asked Silvie what type of restaurant experience the petitioners have. Silvie said it is a husband and wife with their two teenage sons. The wife's family has operated a restaurant on the east side of Detroit and that is where she has gained her restaurant experience. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Regular Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING REGULAR 7. REQUEST TO APPROVE FEE INCREASE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOW RESIDENT LIBRARY CARDS: Livonia Public Library, re: from $45.00 to $100.00 to cover the investment in library resources and services that go beyond a single year of tax revenue. Kathleen Monroe, City Librarian, presented the request to Council. She said they did a survey of surrounding communities some of their fees were higher and some were lower. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Regular Agenda. 4 DIRECTION: APPROVING REGULAR 8. REQUEST TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER TO THE 2011 CONCRETE ROAD REPAIR PROGRAM (CONTRACT 11-C): Engineering Division, re: in the amount of $75,000.00 to allow Hard Rock Concrete, Inc. to complete emergency repairs to approximately 32 locations on existing concrete curbs, catch basins and concrete pavement. (CR 106-11) Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said this request is being brought before Council because they have an unused portion of their Joint Ceiling Program. They thought it would be beneficial to repair some of the 32 catch basins that are in desperate need of repair throughout the City. They are hoping to get this work completed before the cold weather. Schwartz offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 9. REQUEST TO VACATE STORM DRAIN EASEMENT THAT TRAVERSES THE LIVONIA MARKETPLACE PROPERTY: Engineering Division, on behalf of Lormax Stern Development Company, re: in connection with the relocation of approximately 260 feet of sewer that needed to be relocated to accommodate the proposed Kohl's store. (Petition 2011-08-03-02) Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said they had 2 weeks of dry weather and they were able to relocate the sewer. They are requesting approval to vacate the storm drain easement. Karl Zarbo, Director of Operations, Lormax Stern Development Company, gave an update on the project. They are excited about the site, there continues to be interest and they are optimistic about more tenants breaking ground in spring 2012. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. Toy asked Zarbo how the tenants were doing at the location. He said they are doing fairly well. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 10. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE TO COUNCIL RESOLUTION 209-11- Engineering Division, re: the subject of whether a Special Assessment District for the proposed Bell Branch Streambank Stabilization Project (Rennolds' Ravines) can include property owners on the north side of the Creek, and recommending scheduling a Public Hearing on Necessity on this matter. (CRs 210-11 and 44-99) 5 Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said they a recommending approval to schedule a Public Hearing on the Necessity of whether a Special Assessment District for the proposed Bell Branch Streambank Stabilization Project (Rennolds' Ravines) can include property owners on the north side of the Creek. They hope to have the project completed by December 2012. He reminded Council this project enabled them to take advantage of$400,000.00 of stormwater grant money. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. Pastor asked Zilincik if this would include the 2 businesses on the north side. Zilincik replied yes, the 2 businesses on the north side just west of Golfview Drive. Zilincik said they have budgeted $375,000.00 for the project and since grant money is available they might as well take advantage of the grant. Toby Sloan, 36028 Parkhurst, said her neighbors were not here tonight but did attend a previous meeting on the matter; her and her husband were present to try and justify why their 6 homes have possibly been assessed $23,000.00. They are wondering why the other properties on the other side of the creek were not being assessed. She said being a retiree for the past 15 years; $23,000.00 is a lot of money. Also, she said that the interest rate on the assessment was 6%. She is hoping at the Public Hearing to get a better justification. Pastor said he did talk to Zilincik about a 2% or 3% interest rate on the assessment. Pastor said in talking with Zilincik, they do realize that $23,000.00 is a lot of money; however, they are able to take advantage of the grant money at this time. If they put the project off for now and lose the grant money, this could potentially cost these property owners $70,000 a few years down the road when the erosion is worse. Toy asked if there were only 6 houses and the 2 businesses along the streambank. Zilincik explained there were more houses; however, with the limited grant money they could only do a portion of the streambank and looked at the area where the need was great and would benefit the most from the work. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 11. REQUEST TO APPROVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LIVONIA AND THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT); AND REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURE: Engineering Division, re: for the milling and resurfacing of Old Highway M-14 (Plymouth Road) from Market Street to Farmington Road, and to replace illuminated street signs and transporting mast arms at various locations to be funded by the City with no federal participation, with the City of Livonia participation to be $134,000.00, or 3% of the total project cost. 6 Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said they are seeking Council approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Livonia and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the milling and resurfacing of Old Highway M-14 (Plymouth Road) from Market Street to Farmington Road, and to replace illuminated street signs and transporting mast arms at various locations to be funded by the City with no federal participation, with the City of Livonia participation to be $134,000.00, or 3% of the total project cost. Meakin asked Zilincik if the City would have control over road closures to minimize any inconvenience to the businesses affected by the road construction. Zilincik said yes they would and indicated they plan to have access to all businesses and will also be working at night to keep the disruption to a minimum. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. As there were no further questions or comments, Senior Councilmember Toy adjourned the Study Session at 8:45 p.m. on Monday, August 29, 2011. DATED: September 1, 2011 TERRY A. MARECKI CITY CLERK