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Home My WebLink AboutS08092023 MinutesCITY OF LIVONIA – CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD AUGUST 9, 2023 Meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by Council President Jim Jolly. Present: Scott Morgan, Brandon McCullough,Kathleen McIntyre, Vice President Toy, Scott Morgan, and President Jim Jolly. Absent: Scott Bahr Elected and appointed officials present: Susan Nash, City Clerk; Paul Bernier, City Attorney; Mark Taormina, Planning and Economic Development Director; and Todd Zilincik, City Engineer. Councilmember Morgan led the Pledge of Allegiance. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: Christopher Martin, resident, spoke about DTE and power outages in Livonia. Andrea Hanania, Burton Hollow resident, voiced her concerns over the Public Safety Family First and Zoning approval procedures for a privacy fence. President Jolly explained Ordinances along with the roles of the Zoning Board and City Council. Andrea would like Council to change the Ordinance to allow privacy fencing. NEW BUSINESS REQUEST TO BARRICADE CITY STREET: Toni Joseph, re: to be held Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Floral Street, between Curtis and Lathers Streets. Jeff Joseph, resident, presented the request to Council. Vice President Toy offered a motion for an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 2.BLOCK PARTY: Stephanie Estereicher, re: to be held Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., on Bretton Drive between Norwich and Pollyanna Streets. Stephanie Estereicher, resident presented the request to Council. Councilmember Morgan offered a motion for an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 3.REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE EMERGENCY WARNING UPFITTING PACKAGE: Livonia Fire and Rescue, re: for the new Shift Commander response vehicle, from budgeted funds. (CR 58-23) Livonia Fire Chief Jennison presented the request to Council. Councilmember McCullough offered a motion for an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 4.AWARD OF BID: Department of Public Works, re: for the Professional Architecture Services of the Civic Center Library Chiller Replacement Design, from budgeted funds. Jacob Rushlow, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the request to Council. Councilmember McIntyre verified that this is for the architectural work only and not the chillers. She asked how old the current chillers are and if we will have a similar life span with the new chillers. Mr. Rushlow indicated they are the original chillers, and he cannot give an answer as to the new chiller lifespan, but this is the next step in trying to figure out what type of unit will be used. Councilmember Donovic verified that OHM projects the new AC unit will cost 1.1 million dollars. He indicated the amounts being spent on just the air conditioning unit totals 1.3 to 1.4 million dollars and it shows how costly it will be for the City to rehabilitate any one of the old libraries. He pointed out this doesn’t include cosmetic repairs, structural repairs, windows, doors, roofs, or boilers. President Jolly indicated there are a whole lot of pieces for one issue. Councilmember McCullough is pleased this will offer a long-term solution. Councilmember McCullough offered an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 5.AWARD OF BID: Department of Public Works, re: for the Professional Architecture Services of the 2023 Generator Replacement Project for Fire Stations 3, 4, and 6, and the DPW building maintenance facility, from budgeted funds. Jacob Rushlow, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the request to Council. Councilmember Morgan verified that the cost will be $64,000 for just the design phase. Councilmember McCullough offered an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 6.REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION: Department of Public Works, re: for the unexpected trimming and removal of trees resulting from winter storms in 2022-2023, from the Forestry Fund. Doug Moore, Assistant Director of DPW, presented the request to Council. Christopher Martin, resident, asked if these trees are right of way trees and shared his opinion regarding the process used by the contractors performing the work. Councilmember McIntyre verified that the contractor would be held responsible for any damage due to the sidewalk because of their services, with City Engineer Todd Zilincik. Andrea Hanania, Burton Hollow resident, voiced concerns about DTE and tree trimming. Vice President Toy offered an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 7.REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF 50 CASES OF NATULAR XRT TABLETS: Department of Public Works, re: for the 2023 Mosquito Treatment Program, from budgeted funds. Doug Moore, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the request to Council and pointed out that this is the 2024 Mosquito Treatment Program. Christopher Martin, resident, spoke about retention ponds not being cared for and feels those are a bigger attraction for mosquitos than our sewers. Councilmember Donovic pointed out that retention ponds are privately owned and the sewers are owned by the City. Councilmember Donovic offered an approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 8.REQUEST TO ENTER INTO LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CHARGE EV, LLC: Department of Public Works, re: to provide electric vehicle charging stations for the City of Livonia. Jacob Rushlow, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the request to Council. Councilmember McIntyre verified that these are for public use and the fees will be paid by the user. She also asked if these are permanent fixed stations at three locations and why we would use fixed charging units rather than portable units. Mr. Rushlow indicated that he is not aware of portable units available due to the amount of electrical power needed underground. Vice President Toy asked if the City will get a percentage of the fees collected. Mr. Rushlow indicated the City will get 3 cents per kilowatt hour in revenue share. Vice President Toy invited Jim Baringhaus of the Greenleaf Commission to the podium to explain the results of the Greenleaf study done on this issue. Jim Baringhaus, 37195 Weymouth, indicated they studied several communities and interviewed different companies on the issue. He said this item, as presented, is a good arrangement for the City of Livonia. Councilmember Donovic asked why there are two lease agreements. Paul Bernier said it is because the Recreation Center was set up by a Commission and is legally a different entity. Councilmember Donovic asked if we know what will happen at the end of the 10-year lease agreement and if the City would then be responsible for utility costs and maintenance. He also asked about the early termination provision in the contract which indicates stations averaging less than 50 kilowatts an hour per month could be removed. Mr. Rushlow said it is hard to say since no one has reached that tenure and technology is changing so quickly. He also said he would be surprised if any would be removed after investing the upfront capital to run the electric lines, install meters, and get set up with DTE. Councilmember Donovic verified that we are not paying the utility bill regardless of the revenue share. A representative from Charge EVwas present to answer any questions. President Jolly stated there are additional stations at businesses throughout the city where people often park to charge and then go about their daily business, leaving the station unavailable for others. He asked Mr. Bernier if we could consider an Ordinance to put a parking time limit to prevent these situations. Mr. Bernier said we could consider a parking limit as part of an Ordinance. Councilmember McCullough offered approving motion for the Consent agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALCONSENT 9.PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO LIVONIA CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS AMENDED AND REQUEST TO REMOVE CR 283-21 FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: Councilmember Brandon McCullough, Tree Committee, re: to add Sections 015, 045 and 055 and amend Sections 020, 040 AND 050 TO Title 12, Chapter 24 (Trees and shrubs), therefore, resolving the subject matter item in committee. Councilmember McCullough and Doug Moore, Assistant Director of Public Works, presented the request to Council. President Jolly said this is a good thing for our community and it will make us better in the future. Councilmember Donovic verified that this Ordinance doesn’t include trees on private property. Mr. Bernier indicated the only exception would be a private property tree obstructing traffic and deemed hazardous. Councilmember Morgan asked if this was previously a misdemeanor and if DTE is exempt. Mr. Bernier said everything in our Ordinance that isn't spelled out as a civil infraction is a misdemeanor and DTE is exempt by State and Federal law. Brent Sabo, 14587 Blue Skies, said the adoption of these sections of the ordinance would be a victory for the City and something that we should celebrate. He said the Urban Forrester for the DNR plans to use Livonia as an example for other cities. Councilmember offered an approving motion for the Regular agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVALREGULAR AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None For the Regular Meeting of August 21, 2023 SUSAN M. NASH, CITY CLERK