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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2009-03-16 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD MARCH 16, 2009 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Present: James McCann, Terry Godfroid-Marecki, John Pastor, Brian Meakin, Tom Robinson, and Laura Toy. Absent: Joe Laura. Elected and appointed officials present: Mayor Jack Kirksey; Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations); Sherron Schultz, City Assessor; Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent; Todd Zilincik, City Engineer; Mark Taormina, City Planner; and Maureen Cosgrove, Assistant City Clerk. Council President Toy asked for a few moments of silence for Jason Zogaib, son-in-law of Father George Shalhoub, St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Livonia, who passed away from a long battle with leukemia. Council President Toy welcomed new Councilman John R. Pastor to the City Council. Pastor thanked the City Council for appointing him to the vacant seat. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. Mayor Jack Kirksey thanked those who attended the State of the City Address. Department heads and other elected officials are considering trying to take leadership and give back to the City some of their established salaries and compensation with the direct objective of trying to save jobs of the employees of the City. There are about 675 full time and part time employees. The City is working through the problems. The budget is made up of 80% of the employees' salaries, and they are trying not to lay off anyone. NEW BUSINESS: 1. APPOINTMENT OF KEVIN MAILLARD AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF BENEFITS: Office of the Mayor, re: same. Mayor Jack Kirksey stated that Kevin Maillard came aboard early in March, but his appointment needs action by the Council. Kevin started March 2nd and brings worlds of experience to Livonia, and will be a great asset to the City. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 2. REQUEST TO ADOPT RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009 AS ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF LIVONIA- Bill Craig, Tree City Committee Chairman and James Zoumbaris, City Engineer — Operations, re: to be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. at Cass Elementary School. 2 Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations), stated that the City of Livonia has received their award for Tree City for the eleventh time in a row and received the tree growth award, which is unusual for most communities, for the fifth time in a row. He asked the Council to proclaim April 24th as Arbor Day. There will be three (3) trees that will be planted. Godfroid-Marecki said that the Tree Committee is a very active and well versed group of people. They do a lot of good work for the City. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 3. AWARD OF BID: Housing Commission, re: for the renovation of 108 apartment dryer and bathroom venting systems at the Silver Village housing community to conform with City Code. Brandie Isaacson, on behalf of Jim Inglis, stated that on February 24th, the Housing Commission received six (6) bids for the renovation of existing bathroom and dryer vent systems at Silver Village. These systems require approval at this time. The bath vents currently exhaust into the attic space, and the dryer vents are improperly constructed with multiple joints and extensions which are causing blockages preventing proper exhaust through the roof vents. This renovation will correct existing inefficiencies and will conform to the existing building code. The Housing Commission has evaluated the bids received and would like to request approval to award a contract to the lowest bidder, Michelini Custom Building in the amount of $19,856.00. This project will be funded from the budgeted Silver Village Building Maintenance fund. Michelini has done numerous projects for Housing. Last year, they did all the new exterior door renovations at Silver Village, and Housing is comfortable with them. Godfroid-Marecki commented that there is a big difference between the low bid of$19,856.00 and the high bid of$55,300.00 for the six (6) companies that bid. McCann stated that dryer vents should be checked and replaced because they are a very large cause of fires. One of the problems of having a bathroom with a shower vent without proper ventilation above it is that you can get mold. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4. REQUEST TO APPROVE AUDIT PROGRAM FOR 2009: Department of Assessment, re: to perform personal property audits for the year 2009 with no change in fees assessed by TMA. 3 Sherron Schultz, City Assessor, was present to request Council approval to continue the audit program which has been very successful. It began in 2004 as a State grant program with the City match, and it has evolved over the years, so they would like to continue the program. Godfroid-Marecki mentioned that since 2004, the City spent $225,000.00 for audits, which has resulted in additional tax dollars of $495,620.00, so this is very beneficial. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 5. REQUEST TO ACCEPT PROPOSALS FROM APPRAISERS: Department of Assessment, re: for appraisals to be used in Michigan Tax Tribunal Appeals on an as-needed basis, to be paid from funds 2008-2009 budgeted funds. Sherron Schultz, City Assessor, said there are over 100 full tribunals pending which they are confident in solving most of them without going to trial and without going through the expense of having an appraisal done. In the event they do have to have an appraisal done, they are asking Council for approval from the list in the letter so they can begin the process, if necessary. The reason for the price difference is that it depends on who is doing the work. If you have an appraiser staff person doing the research work, then you will pay a lower price than the MAI who is actually certifying the appraisal. McCann offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 6. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: for the remarciting of the Livonia Community Recreation Center Lap Pool from funds budgeted in the 2008-2009 budget. Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, stated that they sought written bids to remarcite the Community Recreation Center leisure pool. Remarciting of a pool usually occurs every five (5) to six (6) years, and service of the pool currently indicates that it needs resurfacing. They have been open six (6) years, so this is in line with that. After reviewing the bids by two (2) vendors, it is their recommendation that Advanced Pool Services, located in Milford, MI, be awarded the contract for $31,800.00, and funds have been set aside in the current budget. When they have gone out for prior bids, they usually ended up with one (1). This is the first time that two (2) have come in. The job is much bigger than originally anticipated; therefore, four (4) companies did not submit the bid. In terms of membership, they are currently down by 2% from two (2) years ago. There was an Open House in January, and they had an increase with seniors joining. The classes have also gone up. 4 They now have the high school swim meets just on Thursdays. They opened up an additional lane for lap swimmers. They have a dedicated time where all the lanes are open. In between two (2) swim teams using the pool, all lanes are open for approximately 1/2 hour. They have been in communication with two (2) or three (3) individuals that have offered some additional recommendations, and they will look at that too, but overall, the complaints have been resolved, and things have been running well. The pool will be shut down for remarciting for approximately five (5) to eight (8) days. Membership will be notified of the dates. The lap pool is shut down in the Spring as opposed to the Fall when they shut down the rest of the Community Center. They anticipate doing this work towards the end of April. Scott McKenzie, SAM LLC, 8510 Stonegate Drive, Northville, MI, asked who the other bidder was other than Advanced Pool. McCann stated that the other bidder was SAM LLC. Council President Toy stated that Advanced Pool was $31,800.00, and SAM LLC was $46,000.00. Mr. McKenzie said he is a sub- contractor and the largest plaster sub-contractor in the Midwest. They have done over $3,000,000.00 in sales in 2008. They have done over 220,000 square feet in commercial pools alone. Acapulco Pools, who originally built the pools, were plastered by his firm. He had heard that a portion of the pool in the area where the hydraulic floor is may not be getting resurfaced because of the conditions there. His bid reflects the floor and the side walls. Right now the tolerance between the marcite walls and the movable floor is very, very tight because they originally plastered it, and he knows the tolerances they had to have. He would like to make sure that Livonia is covered in that those three (3) walls where the raising floor and the floor underneath are resurfaced also. McCann asked Karen Kapchonick to verify this information before the voting meeting, so if there is a problem, Council can be notified before then. Pastor offered the approving resolution for Advanced Pool Services, Inc. on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 7. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: to purchase pump, filter and pump house addition for Botsford Pool from 2008-2009 budgeted funds. Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, stated their department opened sealed bids in February for replacing the filter, the pump, and extending the pool house seven (7) feet at the Botsford Pool. After reviewing the bids, it is their recommendation that B&B Pools and Spas, located in Livonia, be awarded the contract for $55,021.00. Sufficient funds have been set aside for this project. McCann stated that B&B Pools of Livonia was given the preference as low bidder. Advanced Pool Services of Milford, MI was only a $21.00 difference. 5 McCann offered the approving resolution for B&B Pools and Spas on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 8. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: to purchase surge tanks for Botsford, Clements Circle and Shelden Pools from 2008-2009 budgeted funds. Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, stated they sought out written bids to remove the current three (3) steel surge tanks and replace them with cement tanks. After reviewing the bids, it is their recommendation that Advanced Pool Services, Inc., located in Milford, MI, be awarded the contract for $89,000.00. Sufficient funds have been set aside for this project. Advanced Pool Services showed Shelden Pool as "no bid" for Option 1. This should have been under Option 2, which would not meet the D.E.Q. code. Parks & Rec did get that in writing as a clarification. For Shelden Pool, the surge tank is currently the original one which was built in the 1970's. Botsford and Clements Circle have had one (1) replacement about twenty (20) years ago. They are both rusting out. They looked at the option of awarding a bid to the same company for all three (3) items. They spoke with Advanced Pool and B&B Pools. Both felt that it would be okay for the individual groups in there. They would be done at different times, and therefore the work still would be done. As a department, they did look at the advantages to have one (1) company do all of them. After talking to those individuals, they felt that they would award to three (3) different companies. They have dealt with these companies in the past, and they have been very open and accommodating to Parks & Recreation, so that it will work for breaking these projects up. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 9. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: to purchase heater system for Botsford Pool from 2008-2009 budgeted funds. Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, stated that they went out for sealed bids in February to replace a 1988 pool heater at Botsford Pool. After reviewing the bids and discussing the project with all the contractors, it is their recommendation that Northstar Pools, LLC, located in Walled Lake, MI, be awarded the contract for $28,022.00, and sufficient funds have been set aside for this project. Pastor offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 6 10. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: to construct four picnic shelters at Bicentennial, Botsford and Beverly Parks, from 2008-2009 budgeted funds. Karen Kapchonick, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, stated they sought bids for the picnic shelters. Two (2) of them would be at Bicentennial, one (1) at Beverly Park, and one (1) at Botsford. These would be 20' x 20' shelters, and they are recommending Bedzyk Bros., Inc., located in Livonia, MI, to be awarded the contract for $59,700.00. Funds have been set up for this project. There are no electrical hookups at these shelters other than Beverly Park which has an existing shelter. They feel there is no need for electrical for the new shelters at Bicentennial and Botsford. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 11. REQUEST TO APPROVE PURCHASE: Public Service Division, re: of five (5) vehicles for the Parks Maintenance Section under the State of Michigan bid from the 2008-2009 Budget Capital Outlay account. Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations), said that the State of Michigan goes out for bids for vehicles and equipment. They take competitive bids, and they award contracts to the low bidders. In this case, Gorno Ford is the low bidder for these vehicles. They are purchasing these vehicles on the assumption that most of them are going to be used as part of the snow removal process. There are plows with a number of the vehicles. As they put them into service, they will pass the older vehicles down and trade in five (5) vehicles. The first vehicle is for Parks Maintenance and is a Ford F250 with a plow. The second one is for Roads Maintenance and is a Ford F250 with a plow. The third one is for Equipment Maintenance Department and used for towing and moving of equipment. The fourth vehicle is a stake truck for Roads Division and has a plow. The fifth vehicle is used by the Parks Department, and it has a lift operation to put up banners and do the lights and other things that require a higher elevation. This process is part of an overall plan to put more vehicles into snowplowing that do not require CDL, since they are trying to bring other personnel into the operation. They currently are having problems with bidding out for tandem and single-axle dump trucks. Sterling is no longer going to build dump trucks, so they may not be able to purchase these without a huge increase in price. They are looking to put more vehicles into the fleet to assist the current ones they have. They are seeking approval of these five (5) vehicles from budgeted funds for the Department of Public Works. They only go through the State of Michigan bid process. Bill Brown Ford chooses not to bid on this. They do not want to become involved in this type of bid. Larger vehicles, they do well for quotes, and often when they are available, Livonia Motor City has gotten a lot of the City's vehicles and trucks. 7 In this case, Public Works goes with the low bidder which is a State bid process, and it is the lowest bidder on these types of vehicles. Most dealers can bid on the State contracts. Most of the dealers are not interested in this type of bid because of some of the special things DPW asks for on the vehicles. It would take a lot longer going through the dealers first, and the State of MI bid process is lower. DPW does not call the local dealers. All of the vehicles except water vehicles are being charged to the Equipment Maintenance Department. The budget is set up for the Equipment Maintenance Department to purchase vehicles. Water & Sewer and Refuse has purchasing of vehicles also. The vehicles can be used by different departments. All these new vehicles would have the City logo, number, and current type of striping they have for vehicles with the department name on them. These are non take-home vehicles. McCann offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 12. REQUEST TO APPROVE PURCHASE: Public Service Division, re: of six (6) Toro ZTR mowers utilizing pricing obtained through the State of Michigan bid process. Jim Zoumbaris, City Engineer (Operations), stated that this is a State bid. The low bidder for these mowers is Commercial Lawnmower in Livonia. They have the equipment. They will be trading in other mowers. They have traded in two (2) mowers and will be trading in four (4) other mowers in the process of purchasing these six (6) mowers. They have an outside contractor who is doing grass cutting. They have increased his cutting this time when they went out for mowing. This is to keep the ball fields, ball diamonds, and some of the other parks cut weekly or bi-weekly, and if a special event comes up, they are able to take care of it. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 13. AWARD OF CONTRACT: Engineering Division, re: for the 2009 Lane Line Marking Program — Contract 09-H. Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, stated that in cooperation with the DPW, the Engineering Division put together the 2009 Lane Marking Program and it went out for bids. This project involves replacing and keeping the infrastructure up to date regarding the roads. They anticipate approximately fourteen (14) miles of lane line markings to be placed. In addition, they are improving the intersections by adding worn down legends, such as the "only lane" legends on the pavement with the arrows. In addition to that, they are also moving some of the old outdated locations where the school crossings have been closed. They received one (1) bid from R.S. Contracting, Inc. in the amount of$102,983.25. 8 They are asking approval to award this contract. R.S. Contracting has done the project from 1997 to 2008. Unfortunately, in this type of business, there are only two (2) major contractors out there that do lane line markings. One is PK Contracting and the other is R.S. Contracting. Typically, PK does a lot more state trunks and highways, so it is hard to get a good, qualified contractor on a lower scale to do some of these projects. On lane markings last year, they used water board, and this year they are going to try a sprayable thermal plastic to get more use out of the lane line markings. It cost a little bit more, but they are hoping to get a couple more years out of it instead of coming back every year. These prices are comparable to MDOT prices that are seen on Wayne County bid projects at the MDOT website. The only cost increase that can be seen over the years would be for the materials themselves. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 14. REQUEST TO APPROVE FINAL COST INFORMATION, TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES; AND TO INVOICE THE HOUSING COMMISSION FOR REPAIRS AT CITY OWNED HOMES: Engineering Division, re: for the 2008 Sidewalk Program — Contract 08-G. (CR 182-08) Todd Zilincik, City Engineer, stated that they are trying to finalize the 2008 Sidewalk Repair Program regarding Rotondo Construction and establish the final project cost. Regarding last year's project, they ran into some issues with the sidewalk ramps. Unfortunately, a lot of areas require the grade to be dropped down in an effort to maintain ADA compliance. This involves adding on curbs along the property line, and that involves touching some of the people's property sprinkler lines. Last year, they were concentrating on Section 22 which resulted in increased costs with ramp replacement. There were some additional repairs to be done as part of that. They are asking additional payment to complete the project. Mr. Rotondo has items to complete this year. They anticipate payment in the amount of $85,795.25 which will be taken from various funds to complete the project. The additional portion of the work should be reimbursed by the residents for their portion. The amount would be around $35,000.00. This year, they are trying to go out in the field, survey and identify these in advance to quantify the locations before it goes out for bids and get a better handle on the program. The tactile the systems that go into the ramps had to be inserted for a visually impaired person, and they run anywhere from $100.00 to $150.00. These prices keep changing every three (3) to six (6) months. All Engineering is asking for is the remaining portion of $85,795.25 at this time to close out the project. There is still approximately $26,000.00 in retainage that has not been released yet until the final details are worked out. Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. 9 DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 15. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2009-01-02-01 submitted by Allstate Billiards & Patio Furniture requesting approval for an outdoor display area on property located on the north side of Plymouth Road, between Merriman Road and Sears Drive (30650 Plymouth Road), in the Southwest '/4 of Section 26. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that Allstate Billiards & Patio outlet is located on the north side of Plymouth Road just west of Sears Drive. This is the former home of Leone & Sons warehouse and distribution facility, as well as Salem lumber. A number of years ago, the site was redeveloped into a warehouse. It is about an 80,000 square foot facility. The southerly portion of the property included about 10,000 square feet of the building which was rezoned last year to C-2 (General Business), whereas the balance of the building, which is about 70,000 square feet, is zoned M-1 (Light Manufacturing). Also, Allstate Billiards & Patio sells billiard equipment, spas, hot tubs, patio furniture, as well as fireplaces. They are asking to use a recessed portion of their front yard along the south elevation of the building for the outside display and sales of outdoor lawn furniture, as well as spas and hot tubs. They submitted a plan showing in detail how the area would be used for that purpose. It would be a fenced in area and secured. The Fire, Police, and Inspection Departments, as well as the PRDA have reviewed the plan. PRDA is recommending some changes with respect to the design of the fence, as well as additional landscaping. The petitioner has incorporated those changes into the design. The one other request they are asking for is that the sales be conducted for a period from March 1St through October 31St which is about two (2) months longer than they typically allow for these types of operations; however, the Council does have the ability to modify that special requirement of the waiver use by special resolution. Roger Greene, General Manager of Allstate Billiards & Patio, 3165 Davison Lake, Ortonville, MI, said that in an effort to bring more products to their existing customer base, they decided to go into pools this year. They take up an extensive amount of space, and they wanted to have an outdoor lifestyles area to show off their patio furniture and pools in their natural habitat. They may or may not extend the time of the outdoor area. The pools will have water in them, but the fence will be gated and customers will only be able to get into the area through the store escorted by a salesperson. There will only be a one-way gate leaving the pool yard and will also be used for emergency egress. Godfroid-Marecki offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 16. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2009-01-02-02 submitted by Verizon Wireless 1084 requesting approval to install a wireless 10 communications antenna for shared usage, and its accompanying equipment shelter, on property located on the west side of Farmington Road, between Lyndon Avenue and Five Mile Road (15125 Farmington Road), in the Northeast '/4 of Section 21. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that this is a request to construct a wireless communication antenna tower, normally referred to as a cell tower, located at the Livonia Board of Education property which is on the west side of Farmington Road between Five Mile and Lyndon Avenue. The proposed cell tower will be located along the westerly edge of the property which is adjacent to the Parkview Memorial Cemetery. The facility would be located within a 30 foot by 54 foot leased area adjoining the wooded portion of the cemetery. The tower itself would be 125 feet in height. The ordinance allows the towers to be 150 feet which is twenty five (25) feet lower than what it could be. It would be able to accommodate two (2) additional wireless carriers. The monopole structure would also include an eleven (11) foot by twenty six (26) foot shelter building for Verizon's equipment that would be about ten (10) feet in height. This would be on the large warehouse area on the school administration property. The bus storage area is on the south end. There would be an access easement provided to the proposed tower that would extend from Farmington Road. The setbacks of the structure are in full compliance with the zoning ordinance in terms of the distance away from any residential structures or street rights-of-way within the PL zoning category. The minimum setback from a residence is 300 feet and the minimum setback from any road right-of-way is at least the height of the structure, which in this case the tower will be over 900 feet away from the closest residence which is located south of the Livonia cemetery, and the closest right- of-way is Five Mile Road which is over 850 feet away. Lastly, the zoning ordinance requires that new communication facilities be located at least one half a mile distant from an existing antenna support structure. The Police communication tower is on the Civic Center property; however, that structure is fully loaded and cannot accommodate the additional equipment, and for that reason, the ordinance does allow the exception. There is a letter from Joseph Sellinger indicating that there is no more available space on the tower. Planning Commission is recommending approval of the petition as submitted. Sherron Schultz, City Assessor, stated that the City of Livonia can collect personal property tax on this property. Public Act 189 provides for assessing and collecting taxes for buildings on leased land that are exempt. Even though the school property is exempt, this can be assessed and taxed. Rob LaBelle, Verizon Wireless, 32543 Camborne, Livonia, MI, stated that the overall cost of it, some of which is not taxable as personal property and some is, would be somewhere around $400,000.00. The pole is 120 feet, but with the antennas added on top, another five (5) feet would be added onto that. It should improve the service by Verizon in this area, but he stated there is a very large dead area around Five and Farmington. Non-voice transmissions are now taxing the towers in being able to handle the load. 11 Meakin offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 17. WAIVER PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2009-01-02-03 submitted by Buddy's Pizza requesting approval for an outdoor dining patio (seasonal seating) at the existing full service restaurant located on the south side of Plymouth Road, between Farmington Road and Stark Road (33605 Plymouth Road), in the Northeast '/4 of Section 33. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that this is a request to construct an outdoor dining patio to the front of Buddy's Pizza restaurant. It would add forty eight (48) seats increasing the total seating capacity to 198 seats. Currently, this 6,000 square foot facility has seating for approximately 150 customers. They propose to add forty eight (48) seats to the outdoor dining area. In terms of parking with the additional outdoor seating, they are required to have a minimum of 103 parking spaces. The site provides for a total of 107 parking spaces including five (5) handicapped spaces, so there is a surplus under the ordinance guidelines. This would be a hard-surface patio about 830 square feet in total with overall dimensions of twenty six (26) feet by thirty two (32) feet. The entire front of the building would be covered by a fabric awning that would match the awnings that exist on the front of the building. There would be new French doors added to the front of the outdoor dining area to provide access from the interior of the restaurant. It would be a fully enclosed area with a thirty eight (38) inch high decorative metal fence similar to the design of the fencing around Plymouth Road. They would be eliminating a portion of a circular drive that presently exists in front. They would be extending the PRDA fencing about twenty five (25) feet across the front of the facility. They submitted a detailed landscape plan which would provide walkways and plantings. Overall, the site provides 22.6% of landscaping and complies with the ordinance standard of a minimum of 15%. They would provide brick veneer along the lower portion of the raised patio area, and they would not be providing any additional signage. Planning Commission reviewed this petition and is recommending approval as submitted. Richard Zischke, Architect representing Buddy's Pizza, 18690 Levan, Livonia, MI, stated that they are trying to expand the experience when people come to Buddy's. They are trying to draw more customers by adding an outdoor patio. The structure is year-round, and the awning is different from most awnings in that there is structural steel underneath that would support snow loads. Robinson offered the approving resolution on the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 18. MASTER PLAN PETITION: Planning Director on behalf of the Planning Commission, re: Petition 2009-02-07-01 requesting approval to distribute all 12 required entities the proposed plan to amend Part VII of the Master Plan of the City of Livonia, the Future Land Use Plan, with respect to changing the Future Land Use designation of 53 various locations throughout the City. Mark Taormina, City Planner, stated that the City Planning Commission is seeking to update the Future Land Use map with respect to fifty three (53) various locations throughout the City. For each of the proposed changes, the staff has prepared a map with information relating to the location, the size of the subject land area, current zoning information, existing land use information, and current, as well as proposed future land use plan designations. The purpose of these amendments is to have the Future Land Use Plan brought up to date and made current to be consistent with recent zoning changes and to reflect changes with respect to actual and/or proposed land uses. They are adding a new land use category called "Mixed Use". The Land Use Plan is a non-binding document that serves only as a general guide for Planning and the City Council in decision making when it comes to land use, developments, and rezonings. Under this "Mixed Use" designation, this use would provide for opportunities for a variety of potential uses including mixtures of retail office, institutional, and residential type developments. The category would also serve as a transition between low density residential and higher density developments. At this time, the Planning Commission is requesting that the Council authorize the distribution of the plan amendments to the various entities as prescribed by State law. Following a public notice period, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and then submit the final approved Future Land Use Plan to the Council for certification. There are still several months to go through the process. There is a notification in the papers, but will not require a notice to specific individuals. These are generalized land use areas. Council President Toy stated that there may be concern over these rezonings with regard to these being publicized. John Pastor said that as much information as possible needs to be out there. They did this ten (10) years ago trying to create suburban estates, and that was trying to protect the bigger property lots, and the residents were very concerned. There should be a little extra effort letting the public know. Robinson stated that the term "Mixed Use" is new and that term and concept can bring a lot of ideas and options to some older properties that are in the City. Paul Kerby, 37332 Bristol, Livonia, MI, representing the Kingsbury Heights Fenwick Park Civic Association, spoke of his concerns regarding the Clay School property which is now a Little Tots, and there has been talk in the past of changing it. They would like to be notified of whatever changes are going to be made. Council President Toy asked him to call the Council office, and they can put him on the list to be notified. Pastor suggested that Planning send a notification to the individual homeowners' associations, and then it would be an easier way to get the information out. 13 Taormina stated that there has been interest from the Kingsbury Heights Association from Day 1 on Clay School. Planning did invite the President of the Kingsbury Association to the Planning Commission work sessions that were held. He offered input. Robinson offered the approving resolution, as presented, for the Consent Agenda. Robinson offered a resolution referring to the Committee of the Whole for their report and recommendation on the subject of mixed use zoning for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: (1) APPROVING —AS PRESENTED CONSENT (2) REFER TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. Meakin congratulated Commissioner Cox for holding a task force meeting today in City Hall regarding governmental transparency. There were eight (8) of her colleagues at the meeting, a number of State representatives, and citizens from around Wayne County. Cox is putting the budget on a website and is recommending her other colleagues do the same. McCann wished Livonia a Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. Council President Toy congratulated McCann on his new position as Parliamentarian. As there were no further questions or comments, Council President Toy adjourned the Study Session at 9:25 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2009. DATED: March 20, 2009 LINDA GRIMSBY, CITY CLERK