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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 1999-05-20 t MINUTES OF THE 93rd REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 93rd Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:05 p.m., Thursday, May 20, 1999 in the 4th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Michael Polsinelli, Chairman Mr. Raby, Vice Chairman Mr. Rod Crider Mr. Scott Grace Ms. Toni Mette Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Marvin Walkon Mr. Duane Wolfgang Mr. Jerry Wordhouse Members Absent: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Dennis Kujawa Others Present: Mr. Mike Slater, Finance Director Mr. Robert Schron, City Engineer Ms. JoAnn Michaels, BRI Mr. Ralph Williams, Citizen Ms. Gloria Bradley, Wayne County SMART Office Mr. Dan Fredendall, Orchard, Hiltz& McCliment Mr. Mark Loch, Orchard, Hiltz& McCliment Ms. Susan Annibal, Secretary 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of April 15, 1999 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #99-35 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the 92nd Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on April 15, 1999 are approved. 1 3. Comments from Chairman: A letter was written by Mr. Nagy to the City Council relevant to the Streetscape Improvement regarding the elimination of the first parking spaces adjacent to the Plymouth Road sidewalk at each of the City's municipal lots. Also reported was the distribution of PRDA Newsletters to PRDA members, as well as owners of businesses along the Plymouth Road Corridor(updated addresses obtained via the City of Livonia Assessor's Office. Reappointments to the Authority by the Mayor were acknowledged: Rod Crider, Lowell Peterson and Jerry Wordhouse. A cumulative report to date of PRDA resolutions and actions was distributed in each Member's Meeting Packet, as well. 4. Budget Report: Mr. Slater reviewed budget figures for the months of March and April, 1999 (Construction Fund/Special Review Fund), as documented. In April, disbursements consisted mainly of the payment of an outstanding $385,000.00 on 1998 bonds issued; others were fairly minor (checks written on nine (9) items). Bonds were issued in May of 1998, just over a year ago. There was little Special Revenue Fund activity other than payment of the debt. Discussion followed on the topic bond issue subject. Planning Department staff support was anticipated. An increase in budget funds for financial services and Planning support from $400.00 to $600.00 for each were discussed, with a response of unanimous concurrence from Members. An estimate of the Authority's taxes next year anticipated a small decrease from 1998-1999's taxes of $2 to $2.5 million. Mr. Slater mentioned there was a bill pending in Lansing eliminating personal property from the tax rolls. It would have to be adopted by the local governments. The biggest movers of personal property had been Peregrine, Ford and GM, to the extent that their personal property had depreciated. The City's tax base did rise about $3.5 million, but the Authority's went down substantially. (The George Burns Theater was an example.) We've had two years of large gains from $1 million to $2 million over the long term. Mr. Slater will take a look and try to find out what went up and down. 5. Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment: Dan Fredendall and Mark Loch reported on the repaving and curb adjustments relevant to the right-turn lane improvements on Middlebelt Road. Discussion focused on traffic issues. In an area just west of Middlebelt Road, one of the lanes, the outside lane as it exists, is 18' wide, which could be potentially a traffic problem, although two cars could get in there. Recommendation to MDOT was to remove that curb line. Mr. Nagy though that perhaps it was something PRDA would be interested in, costing about $60,000-70,000 to remove the curb line to make the necessary drain improvements and to restore the right-of- way and provide about 6' of green space. Also, this work would be incorporated with the existing BRI Streetscape project into the next phase and would have to be done prior to the new light foundations because the outline would have to be revised after this curb adjustment. The north curb line would be moved to the south and take some of the roadway. Mr. Fredendall said that MDOT would pay for the widening of the south curb line. The subject turned to street signage. The old signs are still up and still visible was the sign stating, "Lane Ends," causing a problem of drivers using it as two lanes. Plymouth Road is regulated by MDOT. "If the City wanted to pay for it to go ahead," was MDOT's position. The desire was not to mix up the turning radius there. Major intersections were a worry, but there were no 2 identifiable signs. The area in front of the Red Lobster was noted. The State wasn't too concerned and only interested in the intersection. It was PRDA's decision to have this area studied further. The shopping center picks up a lot of traffic there; we would be moving the road closer to the southwest. Commentary followed on BRI's plans for easements, green space and lights relating to the lanes and curb adjustments, and the timeframe for installation of the light post bases. the paving of Plymouth Road starting in April, 2000. More discussion followed on the planned light poles, which would go in farther back than the existing ones. (BRI's input was necessary, because of the light pole installations and the resulting loss of green space.) Members had spoken before about the intersections, widening them to put in a turn lane and to make it safe for the cars to get through. The only place that was really going to widen and lose green space was the deceleration lane. This wasn't only a recommendation to the Authority but a safety issue at Media Play and the Red Lobster. Couldn't the same type of thing be done and still maintain the green space in this area as the deceleration lane at Wonderland Mall, which worked very well? Drivers would be decelerating there, and though' most drivers wouldn't pick up on it, since is was a fairly short distance involved. There were two tapers there; one would be eliminated with some of the stacking that came in during peak hours. There was no problem with the turn lane in front of Media Play. Mr. Polsinelli concluded that Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment was seeking PRDA's concurrence with the proposed changes. PRDA would look over these and get back with BRI. JoAnne Michaels said that Phase III should be done by December. 6. SMART — Bus Shelter/Refuse Collection: Gloria Bradley appeared representing Mary Miller, Supervisor of Installations. Much discussion included bus shelter(s) for the Livonia Mall site, as well as signage on same and a problem of trash and refuse collection. Ms. Bradley said shelters provided by SMART all came with signage from advertising sponsors. Signage was regulated by the City of Livonia regarding advertising. There had been discussions previously with the Mayor, who enforced no signage for such shelters. Ms. Bradley explained that the shelters came at no cost to the City with advertising signs. Without such signage on two sides, the cost to the City would be anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per shelter! However, it was possible to provide signage only for advertisers within the City, as an option. If elected, that option would have to be worked out with the advertising company SMART dealt with. The SMART bus route was spoken to pertinent to Wonderland and Plymouth Road. An alternative to the SMART shelters were those of a more open design and in use in New Orleans with landscape plantings, as well as in Chicago which were much more appealing. Those commenting on the bus shelter issue were Mssrs. Grace, Walkon, Raby and Polsinelli. BRI was looking at some receptacles for trash, as well as benches to tie a landscaped site together at the shelter site(s). Mr. Polsinelli requested that Ms. Miller get in touch with Mr. Nagy by the next meeting to see what could be worked out. The advertisements were enclosed in glass on two sides of each SMART shelter, which was "semi-graffiti proof." Ms. Mette wondered if we had to go through SMART for bus shelters? Perhaps, we could put up our own. Other municipalities had some very attractive shelters. A factor was maintenance and service for them; SMART maintained and serviced their own. Mr. Wordhouse thought the SMART facilities to be "totally unacceptable." They clashed in style with the period design we were going for. Ms. 3 Mette suggested something under canopies for the bus stops. What about catalogs of such items? Mr. Nagy interjected that we needed to know the bus route in correlation to the subject of shelters. Bus routes were subject to change, however. Mr. Walkon commented that all Members were in agreement for having no signage on the bus shelter(s). The topic of shelters would be addressed again. 7. Beckett & Raeder — Construction Progress Report: Joanne Michaels spoke to the Maintenance Contract for Plymouth Road. Bids went out; two came back: Charles P. Irish Co., Inc. came in at $90,212.50 and CMS for $49,675.00. Prices would be slightly less this year because Phase I wasn't completed, yet. Irish had a lot of big-name clients, i.e., AAA, HQ, etc. CMS, the second company, was located in Toledo, with references that checked out. Ms. Michaels felt that we might get a better service with the newer, smaller company for mowing and clean-up, as well as the hope of getting more personalized attention. There would be a contract, non-cancellation. Comment was made about the City Park at Plymouth and Inkster Roads and the collection of cigarette butts and other debris. BRI and Mr. Nagy would get a Memo of Understanding and bring it back to the Authority Members for signing at the first meeting in June (3`d). Mr. Nagy reported an exceptional number of calls from people who misunderstood that PRDA was going to maintain the affected easements as soon as they saw that the trees were being planted; the business owners, once responsible for that maintenance, now have let matters go for PRDA to handle. The Mayor commented that they can't do that on private property - only in the right-of-way. If we called tomorrow and had a contract to sign, we could start mowing the grass. Short Cuts had been out to the side streets and alleys and were notified that they needed to go down those side streets and alleys. Short Cuts was aware of that. Irrigation was in place, and they needed to re-sod those areas done by Irish in Phase II. On a motion by Mr. Pike, seconded by Mr. Wordhouse, and unanimously approved, it was #99-36 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby approve of and award the contract for the Maintenance Contract for Plymouth Road for Maintenance to CMS, Inc. for$49,675.00. Also, the topic of banners was discussed briefly, as was the Easement Agreement to be signed with the property owners (a standard one). Also, there had been a complaint channeled to Mr. Nagy via the Mayor's office about the lack of Plymouth Road street signage on sign poles on the side streets. The subject had been discussed before. Mr. Nagy had been directed to write a letter in response to the letter received. Ms. Mette spoke to the obvious tilt to some of the newly installed brick columns, which was being taken care of, assured Ms. Michaels. Also, some of the newly planted trees were turning brown and scheduled to be removed and replanted. S. Reports from Committees: 4 ) Public Relations Committee— Stan Anderson. In Mr. Anderson's absence, a comment (be by Mr. Raby that the Newsletter distributed at this PRDA meeting represented a job very well done was with the concurrence of the Members unanimously. Vacant Buildings Committee— Scott Grace. A building at 30441 Plymouth Road was being remodeled. A furniture building near the New York Carpet store would be occupied by a client of Jim McCann, who had signed a six-month lease, as a furniture store. There was no change in the Showcase Video building at 34800 Plymouth Road. This should be reported to the Inspection Department for enforcement purposes. Construction Committee—Bill Pike. Mr. Pike and Mr. Nagy had met at Mia's and had a couple of ideas on the problem of water drainage, but had to check on it before passing on anything concrete. Inspection Committee — Butch Raby. The Legacy Restaurant was looking good, but the place to the east of it looked terrible! The old HiFi station looked "real seedy." Mr. Grace recalled that the HiFi station was scheduled originally to open in 1998 or 1999; now it was 2000. Addressing the HiFi subject, Mr. Nagy explained it was for internal reasons that the property was left it in such poor condition. We could write a letter to them to see if, as the property owner, they could maybe level it and mow it and maintain it. Ms. Mette spoke to the grass cutting on the Phases, specifically to the question of who's responsibility it was to maintain that property — ours or the property 41w owners? Somehow communication had broken down with regard to that maintenance; once the improvements started, the property owners thought they didn't have to continue doing it. The question arose as to whether our responsibility was contiguous, even though the work wasn't complete. It would run into Phase III, because Phase II would get done. Mr. Nagy would write more of a notice than a letter, with BRI's help. Salem Lumber was brought up next, in that part of the signage on the pylon sign is excessive. A suggestion was made to contact the owner, Armand Leone. The Building Department would handle that; it was part of property maintenance. Mr. Nagy would ask Inspection to make a visit. Ms. Mette asked Ms. Michaels to report on the tilted brick column situation. Plymouth Square had two separate sandwich-type signs with different numbers on the signs. DiPalma's had an 8'x10' banner sign advertising specials. Wasn't there a new law on campaign signs where candidates had to have written permission from the property owner to display the signs, i.e., the George Burns Theater property? The assumption was that those candidates didn't have permission from anyone. Wouldn't that written permission be on file with the Clerk's Office? Herc's had banners that looked like 80% window coverage! Only 25% were allowed. Members had talked about some of our inspectors coming in to discuss the matter of window signage with the Director. Mr. Grace pointed out that the PRDA budget allowed for a full-time inspector or whatever the City would offer for just our area(to go up and down Plymouth Road). Mr. Polsinelli thought it possible. 14 FSBO's had been counted; garage sale signs were supposed to have the permit number clearly displayed on them. The Inspection Department had kind of overlooked the myriad "Help Wanted" signs; perhaps the Authority might want to get involved in the subject of that signage. However, when you get too specific about that and other things, we are to enforce it. Mr. Raby thought 5 perhaps PRDA could contract with someone in the Inspection Department on a weekly basis, somebody who could spend a couple of hours going up and down and spot things. Mr. Grace thought it would be easier if we had someone full-time. This was to be passed on to Inspection. 9. Update on Plymouth Road —John Nagy. The following Monday, Mr. Nagy would be appearing before the City Council on an item to remove the parking spaces on City lots, as alluded to earlier at this meeting. We'd have to get those sign adjustments in the Fall; we were approving the concept. Mr. Wordhouse wondered if there was any way to designate that as public parking. It was possible; a banner was suggested. Was it possible to get the Thoracic Clinic to sell that parking lot and then have a wall go all the way through? Mr. Nagy thought it was possible, if PRDA could show the property owner that the City was doing it on their lot and if he wanted to follow suit with what the City was doing. With regard to the wetland issue on the Phoenix Land proposal, Steve Schafer asked for some written support to D.E.Q. Mr. Nagy had written a letter to the D.E.Q. regarding the low-quality wetlands. The zoning for the residential and the site plan for the residential component is at the Public Hearing level for residential development. Units have been reduced from 240 to 220. When the residential component catches up with the commercial development, which is in the Committee of the Whole, then, they'll come together. They'll have the whole package in front of them. Mayor Kirksey commented that they didn't want the commercial going in and then the residential. They weren't sure there was that much money in it. The council is weighing the commercial package. 10. Polling of Board Members: Mr. Pike spoke to Mr. Nagy's retirement party and to Marvin Walkon, giving kudos for a job well done. As opposed to having our meetings on the 4th Floor at City Hall, PRDA might want to rotate them along the Plymouth Road Corridor or the Chamber or the new nursing home, General Motors or Ford. A local business, Body Works has also mentioned they'd like to host meetings. Times and meetings could be considered. Members could then go out and look at some of the items. Mr. Polsinelli said it was possibly a good idea. It could be done on a day when there was little business and no guest invited. All were comfortable with the idea. Mr. Walkon addressed Media Play on Pmouth Road and the Ameritech office and the building in place. Shelden Center was sold; hopefully,they would be upgraded. Mayor Kirksey reported that he schedules his Leadership Staff Meetings outside of City Hall. The last meeting was held at Wonderland in the Community Room there, and Bob Schostak was there to greet the attendees. Meetings had also been held at Body Works. It was an excellent way to get together and a nice change. It seemed to make a difference. On June 17th there will be the Y2K Seminar in the Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. and will be an excellent opportunity to see what the City has done and some of the energy providers are doing to prepare for this event. People would be pleasantly surprised at the detail. 6 } Mr. Grace stated that the Legacy of Livonia has a drive-through, although at first there was no drive-through (it had been added). The Purple Rose property owner had done a lot of landscaping work out in front, and it looks better. Bill Faris is pretty much done except for the landscaping. He was going to do blacktop, but it's cement. If the cost was $3,000 for a bus stop shelters along Plymouth Road, do we want to design a shelter with a bench, not only as a practical provision but also for drive-by appeal? We want to do something more aesthetically pleasing. Joanne Michaels wanted to have a chance to look for something like that. Ms. Mette passed. Mr. Peterson asked about sending a letter to Mr. Faris; it was on Mr. Nagy's list of letters to write. Mr. Wordhouse passed. 11. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 93rd Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on May 20, 1999 was adjourned at 5:15 PM. The nest meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on June 3, 1999 in the 4th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Susan Annibal, Secretary L 7