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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2001-01-18 fitso MINUTES OF THE 121ST REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 121st Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:08 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2001 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Michael Polsinelli, Chairman Mr. Jerry Wordhouse,Vice Chairman Mr. Scott Grace Mr. Dennis Kujawa Ms. Toni Mette Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Adelard Raby Mr. Duane Wolfgang Members Absent: Mr. Stan Anderson(Excused) Mr. Rod Crider(Excused) Mr. Marvin Walkon(Excused) Cr' Others Present : Mr. John Nagy,P.R.D.A. Director Mrs. JoAnn Marshall, BRI Mr. Scott Reinholt,BRI Dr. Robert Auth,Rosedale Gardens Homeowners Association Mr. Ralph Williams,Livonia Citizen Mr. Larry O'Connor,Livonia Observer Ms. Susan Annibal, Secretary 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of the December 7, 2000 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded unanimously adopted, it was #2001-01 RESOLVED,that the Minutes of the 120th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on December 7, 2000 are approved. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. 3. Comments from Chairman: The Chairman was in receipt of thank you notes from Carol Swales and Karen Kapchonick for the certificates to Outback from the Board sent in gratitude for their outstanding work as co-chairs of the Golden Winter Wonderland Holiday Parade in November, the 3rd such event. With the ladies coming on board, their expertise resulted in a tremendous program for the parade. Everybody has been impressed, also, with the improvements on the Plymouth Road Corridor. Everyone has been complimentary. That was partly because the P.R.D.A. is part of the City of Livonia, and partly due to the efforts of the Members of the Board themselves. He again extended his personal thanks to each one. 2 too4. Election of Officers — Lowell Peterson: After explaining election procedure and announcing nominees, ballots were distributed, counted and results announced: Jerry Wordhouse is the new Authority Chairman, and Duane Wolfgang assumes the position of Vice Chairman. Plymouth Road Development Authority Chairman Mike Polsinelli stepped down after three years as the Authority's Chairman. Members all agreed he had done a superb job and extended a thank you for the job well done. 5. Budget Report—Mike Slater: To be presented at the February 15th meeting.. 6. BRI—Construction Update: Jo Ann Marshall stated there were no additions to the informative mailing sent to the Board prior to the meeting. Jo Ann announced that bids will be taken for the new Maintenance Program as changes in the program had come up in the project regarding areas of more detailed planting and expanded areas which needed more attention. BRI felt more comfortable with getting new prices that are more current. A torn banner has been taken down to be repaired. Banner Sign had extra material on hand for making repairs. The Maintenance Contract will request a quote for snow removal from sidewalks. The Mayor advised that this may be a problem with those citizens who are paying for snow removal themselves when they learn that Corridor residents have their sidewalk cleared and paid for through tax dollars. Mike Polsinelli asked that perhaps snow removal could include the entire Corridor with a single contract and a single assessment to avoid the use of tax dollars. The Mayor commented that a plow could accommodate sidewalk snow removal by raising the plow at locations where someone is not included in the snow removal program. The problem this year has been the amount of snow to be dealt with all at one time. When the plows came through residents were left with a three or four foot pile of snow. Plow brushes have a hard time to take care of that amount of compacted snow. The Mayor stated that fines for not meeting the deadline for property snow removal will be a maximum of$500.00 including court costs and with no prior Inspection notice. John Nagy emphasized that by adding this new sidewalk snow removal to the quote, we will find out what it will cost us for this service. We could take a poll of business owners if we have a ball park figure of how much it would be for a year to see if there is any support. Mr. Nagy stated that currently we do 17 bus plazas and would like to expand the snow removal contract to cover the intersection plazas. As those continue to expand and as we get through with Farmington and Merriman and one or two others, a contract will be drawn up for that. It may be cost effective for the contractor to do all sidewalks as part of his contract. The Chairman suggested that the subject be tabled for the time being. When the bids come in we will take a look at it at that time. Phase V Landscape Plantings Contract is coming up and includes Middlebelt to Farmington Roads, basically behind the sidewalk. Merriman will fall under Phase V. Phase VI will be a design project for 2002. First Federal hasn't been willing to give us the easement, because of their sign and parking there. The question would be whether we would want to make Merriman a main intersection without the full plaza design. We have to find a satisfactory way to resolve these issues with the bank. Maybe we can go back and talk to the bank. The other three corners are already on board. Do we take one piece out of the four corners or scale it down? Further discussion followed on various possibilities to solve the problems we are encountering there. Dr. Auth commented that historically there was talk a few years ago about closing every other street. There was an uproar,the biggest problem the business people had was it would tear up the alley back there. It has been a longstanding problem. The Chairman asked Dr. Auth to poll some members of the Old Rosedale Civic Association on their opinions. The doctor responded that he will contact Mike McGee. The Mayor asserted that, after talking to residents, the new right turn lane added to the southwest corner of Merriman Road solved a lot of issues on Arden. Mr. Polsinelli mentioned that he had forwarded to John Nagy an article, Web savvy, highlighting downtown shopping districts downloaded from the Internet, which was distributed to Board members in attendance.. He feels that we really aren't getting our information out far enough. Downtown 3 400 Plymouth's page was highlighted in the piece. Mr. Polsinelli was appointed coordinator for the proposed web page. He will find out what we can do and bring that information back to the Board. 7. Reports from Committees: Public Relations—Mr.Anderson: Absent. Vacant Buildings—Mr. Grace: No report. Construction—Mr. Pike: No report Inspection —Mr. Raby: He drove the Corridor once more this year and was impressed with the color banners. The Chairman spoke to the subject of signage at the Farmington corner at the old Total station. There are three new signs,two on the front and one on the side,which are wider, longer and higher than the old Total sign used to be. Discussion followed. 8. Director's Report: Mr.Nagy announced the upcoming EXPO, February 27 and 28, 2001, at the Burton Manor. P.R.D.A. has been requested once more to pay 2/3 of the City's cost for renting two booths at the event. This amount will be $933.00 of the total expense. On a motion by Mr. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Polsinelli and unanimously approved, it was #2001-02 RECOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby determine to provide funds in the amount of$933.00 to the City of Livonia to cover two-thirds of the cost of renting two booths at the EXPO to be conducted by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce on February 27 and 28, 2001 at Burton Manor with the condition that space be allotted for P.R.D.A. matters, thereby giving some exposure to the P.R.D.A. in exchange for its financial support, and does hereby authorize the Accounting Department of the City of Livonia to issue a check in the amount of$933.00 made payable to Livonia Chamber of Commerce for two-thirds the rental of two 10'x10' booths at EXPO. Mr. Wordhouse, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr.Nagy reported that the City Council did not support the P.R.D.A. recommendations for Worldcom to follow route on Five Mile. Our letter included some back-up for our recommendation and why Plymouth Road should not be used. Mr. Peterson stated that Worldcom has to come down Merriman Road to Ameritech so that route was the most reasonable. The route will come down Merriman Road to Plymouth Road and go easterly to Redford Twp. It is cheaper to come down Plymouth Road than going the other way. It wasn't certain when the project would begin. Discussion continued regarding rights- of-way and boring to be done within the work area and any damage that might be done to the P.R.D.A. work already done.. 8. Polling of Board Members: Mr. Polsinelli said he is starting to become very comfortable sitting on `this' side of the table. Mt. Kujawa passed. Mr. Raby passed. 4 Mr. Wolfgang passed. Mr. Pike passed. Mayor Kirksey stated that on March 28 will be the State of the City presentation once again. I hope you will be in attendance. Mr. Grace said one thing he had noticed on Plymouth Road west to Middlebelt where we put in more of a green belt where this lane ends,the lane is gone but the sign is still there. Another thing was in reference to the old Terrace Theater. What was the decision on the changeable sign when Bill Brown moved down there? It wasn't known for sure whether the petitioner got relief from the ZBA. The desired conclusion was that he take the top of the sign off and downsize it. Mr. Peterson commented that there was an article in the paper regarding the former Peregrine property about traffic signals P.R.D.A. was paying for at Hartel west of Harrison,the street that parallels the property on the west side. Mr.Nagy advised Mr. Peterson that because large volumes of truck traffic to be generated by a new warehouse and distribution center coming in, new traffic signals at that intersection will be required and P.R.D.A. agreed to pay for these signals to match the new mast arm design now in use. Mr.Kujawa passed. Ms. Mette extended her appreciation to Beckett & Raeder for keeping things going last year. Hopefully,we'll have another good year. 9. Audience Communication: None. 10. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted,the 121st Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on January 18, 2001 was adjourned at 4:16 p.m. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on February 15, 2001 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at City Hall . Z4t4*_i__) Susan Annibal, Secretary