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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2011-06-27 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD JUNE 27, 2011 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Present: Brian Meakin, Joe Laura, Laura Toy, Maureen Miller Brosnan, Conrad Schwartz, John Pastor, and James McCann. Absent: None. Elected and appointed officials present: Todd Zilincik, City Engineer; Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Don Knapp, City Attorney; and Jack E. Kirksey, Mayor. President McCann announced Item #5 has been removed from the Agenda. President McCann wished his son Trevor a Happy 24th Birthday tomorrow. Toy congratulated all those responsible for another great Livonia Spree. President McCann thanked Dan Spurling, President of the Livonia Spree Committee, and all of the Spree volunteers on another great Spree this year. Graham Beal, Director of Detroit Institute of Arts, spoke of their recent renovation and outstanding collection of art; some of which is 6,000 years old and some of which is just a few months old. He indicated due to modern technology they have been able to do what they like to call Random Acts of Culture and display some of their works of art in 20 surrounding communities. He said Livonia is one of those communities. Their "Nut Gathers" piece, an 1882 painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, is one of the most popular pieces at the Detroit Institute of Arts; their Random Act of Culture version of this will be displayed in Livonia. Also, he added Livonia residents can come to the DIA on Sunday, July 17, 2011 and enjoy free admission to the museum and see the original piece along with many other original works of art on display. Citizens must show ID for proof of residency. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: Marcella Vance, 15901 Auburndale, suggested the Music in the Park be moved to a nicer Livonia park such as Rotary Park. NEW BUSINESS 1. BLOCK PARTY: Stacie Pettit, re: to be held Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Louisiana, between Oregon and Kentucky, with no rain date requested. Stacie Pettit, 8937 Louisiana, was present to answer any questions from Council. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. 2 DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 2. BLOCK PARTY: Marcella Vance, re: to be held Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Auburndale, between Myrna and Five Mile Road, with a rain date requested of Sunday, August 21, 2011. Marcella Vance, 15901 Auburndale, was present to answer any questions from Council. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 3. BLOCK PARTY: Jeanine Miller, re: to be held Saturday, August 6, 2011, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Woodring, between Vermont and Oregon, with a rain date requested of Sunday, August 7, 2011. Jeanine Miller, 9311 Woodring, was present to answer any questions from Council. Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4. REQUEST TO WAIVE THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE: Erin Churgin, Fundraising Coordinator, Livonia Blue Jays, re: in connection with a "movie night" they are planning on Friday, July 22, 2011, outside at Bentley Field, with the movie to begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. Erin Churgin, 7871 Randy Drive, Westland, was present. Toy asked her to explain the details of the event. Churgin explained they hired a company to come in and set up and operate the projector and audio equipment. The audience will be sitting in the bleachers. She said they will be charging $1.00 to cover the cost of hiring the company to operate the projector. The kids will get one drink and a bag of popcorn. Toy asked Churgin how they were going to make money. Churgin replied they aren't and said the funds raised are just to cover the cost of the event. Toy asked what movie they planned to view. Churgin replied a PG rated movie titled "Kicking and Screaming" starring Will Farrell who plays the role of a soccer dad. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 3 5. REQUEST TO APPROVE CONTRACT WITH SOLE SUPPLIER, EAST JORDAN IRON WORKS, FOR A PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS: Water and Sewer Board, re: for the purchase of stormwater, water main and sanitary manhole-related items in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 annually. (CR 07- 10) President McCann said this Item has been removed from the Agenda. 6. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO ACCEPT TREE PLANTING GRANT: Public Service Division, re: in the amount of $5,000.00 from ITC Holdings Corp. to be used to maintain the City's urban forest and/or replace undesirable species with species that will not present potential conflicts with electric transmission lines. Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said ITC Holdings is a good corporate citizen in Livonia. They are offering a $5,000.00 grant to be used to maintain the City's urban forest and/or replace undesirable species with species that will not present potential conflicts with electric transmission lines. He said there is a representative from ITC Holdings here to answer any further questions. Jaime Kryscynski, ITC Holdings Corp., said they know their company has an impact on the community when it comes through the area for line clearance. He said ITC Holdings Corp. owns the high voltage electric lines. This is their way of giving back to the City. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 7. AWARD OF BID: Engineering Division, re: for the Fire Station #1 drive and the Police Station rear parking lot improvements — Contract 11-E. Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, said this project started about 9 months ago. They met with the Fire Department and Police Department to improve the rear parking lot and the front of Fire Station #1. They went out for bid, conducted a mandatory prebid meeting on June 10, 2011 with 7 contractors in attendance and received 5 bids. They are recommending the contract be awarded to Nagle Paving Company in the amount of $387,750.05. In addition, they are also looking at having Spalding DeDecker provide material testing and inspection for this project in the amount of $33,300.00 for a total project cost of $421,050.05. Zilincik said in order to stay under budget they will only be painting carport C. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4 8. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2011-05-02-06 submitted by R&B Coffeehouse of Livonia, L.L.C. requesting approval to operate a limited service restaurant (Biggby Coffee) within the Millennium Plaza shopping center, located on the south side of Seven Mile Road, between Farmington Road and Irving Boulevard (33443 Seven Mile Road) in the Northeast '/4 of Section 9. Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented the request to Council. This is for a proposed Biggby Coffee within the Millennium Plaza, the property is zoned C-2. The Planning Commission is recommending approval. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. Vice-President Laura asked if the petitioner was present. Bob Perry, 10025 Dorian, Plymouth, was present on behalf of R&B Coffeehouse of Livonia, LLC, to answer any questions from Council. Vice-President Laura asked the petitioner if he owned any other Biggby Coffee shops. Perry replied no and added that he did not own any other businesses. Toy asked the petitioner what got him interested in Biggby Coffee. Perry replied that he has worked in the corporate world for Blue Cross Blue Shield. He said during college he ran fast food restaurants and decided that he wanted to get into franchising. Toy asked if there would be a drive-thru or any outdoor seating. Perry replied no drive-thru but yes to outdoor seating. He said the Planning Commission approved the outdoor seating concept but he has to go back to them with a detailed plan for final approval for the outdoor seating. President McCann asked Taormina if they could approve the outdoor seating subject to the Planning Commission's review, Taormina replied yes. Vice-President Laura asked Taormina where they would have the outdoor seating. He replied along the easterly edge of the building to the sidewalk along Fillmore. Vice-President Laura asked how many seats in the outdoor area; Taormina replied 10 seats. Toy asked that the detailed plan come back to Council for review prior to Council approving the outdoor seating area. Pastor suggested to the petitioner to have the detailed plans for the Outdoor Seating area to Council prior to the next Regular Meeting. Fabrizio Pesce, the landlord, said he appreciated Council's support for the petitioner. He believes it will be good a business for the area. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 5 9. SITE PLAN PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2011-05-08-05 submitted by Unique Design Services in connection with a proposal to renovate the exterior of the commercial building located on the south side of Six Mile Road, between Middlebelt Road and Oporto Street (29419 Six Mile Road), in the Northeast '/4 of Section 14. Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented the request to Council. He said this building is on the south side of Six Mile just west of Middlebelt Road. The previous tenant was Shooters Service which occupied this space for over 20 years. They moved across the street into the old Jimmy's Rustics building. This building is now empty and the owner would like to renovate the structure to make the space more marketable. The building is zoned C-2, general business. Rendered drawings showing proposed renovation were shown. They are proposing to add some landscaping to the site as well. He did indicate that they will have to obtain a variance from the Construction Board of Appeals through the Building Department for window and door openings on the east side of the building. Toy asked Taormina why they had to go the Construction Board of Appeals. Taormina replied because of fire code requirements. The setback along that side is only about four feet which limits the number of openings they are permitted with that setback. It is a state code requirement but the Construction Board of Appeals can waive or modify that requirement. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. Ron Khamou, Unique Design Service, 28103 Everett, Southfield, was present to answer any questions from Council. Meakin asked the petitioner if he had any idea of what type of business or tenant he would be looking for to occupy the space. Khamou replied retail, either a clothing store or dollar store. Meakin through the Chair to Taormina, asked if this has any bearing on the approval process. Taormina said if the business that would occupy the space requires a waiver use then it would come back to Council. Taormina added general retail businesses should be allowed without having to obtain a waiver use approval. Vice-President Laura asked Taormina if a Dollar Store were to occupy the space would it require waive use approval. Taormina replied no. Vice-President Laura asked that this item be placed on the Regular Agenda. Pastor asked Taormina about the parking for the property. He asked if there was a variance regarding the parking and with the new business if a variance for parking would be required. Taormina said that the use is still the same and that a variance would only be required if the required parking is beyond what was previously required. Pastor said the building is 5,000 square feet and 1 parking spot for every 150 square feet is required. Additionally, there is the restaurant 6 parking that is required. He indicated he feels there is not sufficient parking. Khamou said the owner has indicated to him that he is not really interested in a Dollar Store at this point but rather he is more interested in a clothing store or a medical equipment and supply store. President McCann asked Khamou if the owner was present. Ahead Almasarweh, 5034 Maple, Dearborn, owner of the property was present to answer any questions from Council. He has owned the property for six years. He said he is not interested in putting in a Dollar Store at this location. He said they are looking at a medical equipment company, Snap Fitness, and Working Gear which is a professional clothing company. He said his studies show that this is a blue collar area and the median household income for the area is $80,000. President McCann asked the owner if he owned the restaurant next door. He said he owns the property but sold the business. Vice-President Laura said that he did not agree with the owner's statistics about the median household income in that area being $80,000. Vice-President Laura through the Chair to the Don Knapp, City Attorney, for the Law Department asked if a Dollar Store could be a prohibited use for that property. Knapp replied not under the current Ordinance. Vice-President Laura said then he (the property owner) can do whatever he wants once this is approved. Knapp responded by reiterating whatever is permitted by Ordinance is what would be allowed. President McCann said Livonia was known as the richest City in the U.S. back during the 1970 Census of any community. Livonia is known for its hard working families and he doesn't doubt that the owner's statistics are accurate. He said he would appreciate a copy of the owner's studies. President McCann asked Knapp if the owner could lease the building to any one of those companies and just paint the building. Knapp replied that is absolutely correct. Pastor asked the owner to consider freshening up the rear wall of the building during the renovation. The owner said he would consider it. Toy said once the building is renovated she feels he will be able to attract the types of businesses he mentioned. She thanked him for improving the building. DIRECTION: APPROVING REGULAR AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. As there were no further questions or comments, Council President McCann adjourned the Study Session at 8:50 p.m. on Monday, June 27, 2011. DATED: July 1, 2011 TERRY A. MARECKI CITY CLERK