Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2002-07-18 MINUTES OF THE 136th REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 136th Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:00 PM, Thursday, July 18, 2002 in the 4th floor conference room of City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Jerry Wordhouse, Chairman Mr. Scott Grace, Vice Chairman Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Stan Anderson Mrs. Toni Mette Mr. Marvin Walkon Mr. Duane Wolfgang Mr. Dennis Kujawa Mr. Rod Crider Mr. John Walsh Members Absent: Mr. Mike Polsinelli(excused) Mr. Rod Crider tre Others Present: Mr. John Nagy, Director Mr. Rich O'Brien, Beckett &Raeder Mr. Steve Levesque, Commercial Mowing Service Mr. Mark Taormina, Livonia Planning Director Dr. Robert Auth,Rosedale Gardens Homeowners Association Mr. Ralph Williams, Citizen Mrs. Robby Williams, Secretary 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of amended 135th Regular Meeting minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #2002-14 RESOLVED, that the amended Minutes of the 135th Regular Meeting held on May 16, 2002, by the Plymouth Road Development Authority are hereby approved. Mr. Wordhouse, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. 3. Comments from Chairman: I have received a copy of a letter from the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture, dated July 11, 2002, regarding Emerald Ash Borer which I will pass around for the Board members to read. If you recall, 1 Christopher Martin, a Livonia citizen, attended our meeting in May and asked if he could address the board. He suggested it would take about 20 minutes. Since it was getting late, I asked him to hold those issues. He said he would like to have some time with us and would like to appear at our next meeting. John has written two letters to him, left three calling cards at this front door and has asked him to stop in to see him and discuss these issues. He has not responded. I am going to have John contact Mr. Martin and advise him that we will give him five minutes for his presentation if he does not contact John before this meeting. I don't want to limit his participation but by the same means there are proper means to bring issues to the board and that is through John, the administrator. 4. Finance Report: Mr. Slater was detained due to a previously scheduled meeting. 5. At the request of Ron Parz his agenda item will be rescheduled for a later meeting. 6. Construction Report—Beckett &Raeder: Rich O'Brien reported that one item is still remaining for Phase IV and that is there is some rusting of the fence and that they have asked Right Way Fence Company to remove the rust and include rust prevention. It was suggested that some of their payment be held in escrow. Mr. Nagy advised that there will be a retainage fee of$25,000 and that there is a one year warranty on the fence. When this one year begins is under discussion. Mr. Wordhouse asked if there is an agreement that this money not be released until the issue of the rusting is resolved? There was general agreement to hold the retainage money until there is agreement on the rust removal. Mr. O'Brien advised that the traffic signals were done. The cost for the two additional street name signs for each pole was not affordable at this time. The Phase V hardscape is well underway. Various irrigation lines have been cut but as of last week they have all been repaired. There was general discussion regarding the trees that are dying. There are 46 to 47 trees that will have to be replaced. There could be anywhere from 46 to 170 trees that will need to be replaced. They are dying due to a disease called Emerald Ash Borer. These trees are no longer under warranty. These trees are located between Middlebelt and Inkster. Mr. Nagy advised that there have been discussions with the Law Department regarding the warranty and what direction to take. The trees along Inkster and Middlebelt are no longer covered by the warranty and will have to be replaced. The cost will be approximately$13,000 to $14,000. Phase III is still under warranty but Irish is taking exception to our claim that their company failed to property care for the trees. Mrs. Mette suggested that more than one type of tree be planted in case there is a problem in the future similar to this one. We need some suggestions as to what type of trees to plant. Mr. Nagy explained that there will be a problem with the removal, maintenance and labor contract with CMS because now we are talking about hundreds of trees. We should ask for a quote for the whole job. (1110, The Mayor stated that there are a lot of different issues and that makes it more complex. There is a matter of timing and looking to see whether we should 2 diversify more. Would the new trees actually be planted where the diseased trees were?That may not be as urgent as getting the dying trees out. Mr. Wordhouse suggested having a consultant come in and help with this problem. Mr. O'Brien advised the board that the DAV is asking for an additional bus plaza in front of their store on Plymouth Road by Levan. The next one is at Levan. They are willing to pay for it. On a motion by Mr. Walsh, seconded by Mrs. Mette and unanimously approved, it was #2002-15 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby approve and authorize that a bus plaza and bench be added in front of the Disabled American Veterans store on Plymouth Road near Levan. Mr. Wordhouse, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mayor reminded everyone about the watering schedule of odd/even days and not to water between 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. —9:00 p.m. The Mayor also asked for a chart from Mr. Levesque to show when the watering is being done on Plymouth Road. (Ir 7. Reports from Committees: Public Relations Committee: Mr. Anderson—nothing to report right now. Mr. Wordhouse suggested he add the information about the trees in the next issue. Vacant Buildings Committee: Mr. Grace—nothing to report. Construction Committee: Mr. Peterson reported that the street signs that were being considered, which would cost approximately$27,000, would be put on hold and that spending any additional monies at this time would not be considered until sometime in the future. Mrs. Mette suggested putting the signs in on a kitty corner angle and still covering it from four angles. Inspection Committee: Ms. Mette— Suggested that with some of the planters bare, only filled with dirt, why not plant them with begonias? I think they should have some flowers. Right now there are weeds. Maybe we could contact the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts to assist in planting the flowers. Development Assistance: Mr. Grace - Nothing to report. I do have a comment about New Car Alternatives. When a company goes in are they told how many cars they can put out there? They always park on the ingress and egress. They park right up to the sidewalk. Isn't there something that can be done? 3 Web Site: John Walsh commented that Mike Polsinelli had a couple of girls going up and down Plymouth Road to get information for the web page. 8. Director's Report—Mr. Nagy—The Ameritech lines are the only utilities that remain on the utility poles at the Ashley Tech Center westerly to Camden Avenue. We are always working to try and get those poles removed and replaced underground. Ameritech wants us to reimburse them for their costs to replace these lines with an underground system. There are about nine or ten poles. What they are asking us to do is pay their engineering costs up front. It would be anywhere from$300 to $700 for their engineers costs. That would be the cost whether we go ahead with the replacement or not, from Deering to west of Camden Avenue where the Lutheran Home is. They would bury the cables underground. If their engineering cost analysis is acceptable, we would not have to pay their time to prepare this analysis. A letter to MDOT is required to authorize the installation of the right turn arrow lane at Farmington, Middlebelt and Merriman. On a motion by Mayor Kirksey, seconded by Mr. Walsh and unanimously approved, it was #2002-16 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby approve and authorize payment to Ameritech in the amount not to exceed $700.00 for the engineering cost analysis for the removal of cable and poles kr, in front of 28400 Plymouth Road. Mr. Wordhouse, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. Mr. Anderson inquired as to who was replacing the flags of sidewalk. Mr. Nagy replied that Basile is going to do that replacement as an addendum to his contract. Mr. Nagy advised that the banners are still being designed and waiting for the specs. The banner committee will then meet to discuss these new ideas. Mr. Wordhouse advised that since Mr. Slater did not make it to the meeting, if there are any questions from the board members regarding the finance report, we would try to answer them. After the board members reviewed the financial reports, there were no questions. 9. Polling of Board Members: Stan Anderson—the exit from Harrison off of the Roush property—what is the status of the curbs where the trucks drive over them? Mr. Nagy reported that Ashley Capitol is going to do that work themselves. The situation there is particularly bad as it is caused from the truck traffic related to the Farmer Jack warehouse at the back. tee Mayor Kirksey reported that it may be a while before the George Burns Theater comes down. It looks like the Phoenix Land Development has redesigned the 4 units and has downsized the development to 100 units. The corner strip includes a Walgreens. The wetland issues have been resolved. They were ready to move ahead but wanted to delay for a design change. We have asked them to be placed on hold until we can look at the total site plan. We did not want the corner to go in before the residential went in. The timing is a very serious problem for them. If they had not made these changes, the theater probably would have come down in about a month or so. The Middlebelt—Walgreens people and the owners of the strip mall have agreed in their negotiations to make improvements to the overall shopping center. Since the time of the first presentation to the P.R.D.A., we have met with the people on that corner and have requested that improvements at the shopping center be made before the drug store goes in. With reference to the Wonderland Center, the present owners, have indicated they are close to securing a major anchor to come into the shopping center. The center is not doing well but there is still interest here from others in that shopping center. It looks very bleak now, but there is still some future for that shopping center. The Mayor mentioned the millage coming up August 6. Shostak has purchased the Ward property. The K-mart property is owned separately. Mrs. Mette praised the Livonia Police Department for their excellent work involved with the Logan tragedy. The Mayor also added additional comments and praise for the Police Department. Mr. Grace advised that the Rosedale Cleaners is complaining about the trees blocking his sign. He wondered if we could trim the trees. Mr. Nagy advised that it would be taken care of. 10. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted,the 136th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority was adjourned at 4:30 pm. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2002. Ro by , Secretary /rw C 5