Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSYNOPSIS - 2020-07-06 th SYNOPSIS OF THE MINUTES OF THE 1,900 REGULAR MEETING LIVONIA CITY COUNCIL – JULY 6, 2020 ______________________________________________________________________ Meeting was held via Zoom and called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President McIntyre. Present: Cathy White, Brandon McCullough, Rob Donovic, Jim Jolly, Laura Toy, Scott Bahr, and Kathleen McIntyre. Absent: None. #180-20 Resolution by Toy and Jolly, unanimously adopted, approving the minutes th of the 1,899 Regular Meeting of the Council held June 22, 2020. President McIntyre presented a commendation to President Jeffress who is retiring from Schoolcraft College. Councilmember Toy spoke about the values and commitment of Dr. Jeffress and all that he has done for the community. Vice President Bahr also spoke of his experience with Dr. Jeffress. Councilmember White spoke about the kindness Dr. Jeffress gave to everyone he met. President McIntyre wished City Clerk Susan Nash a Happy Birthday which is coming up th on July 14. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION Mary Weigle, stated she has raised her family in Livonia and she and her husband love this City and support the Livonia Police Department and commented she is opposed to the billboard put up. Michael, a Livonia resident, stated he has raised his family here and has experienced firsthand Livonia’s diversity and he is proud of the City and its First Responders and thanked the City leaders for their dedication. Jim Baringhaus stated he feels it’s important to show his support for the Livonia Police Department as well as the entire Livonia community. He said the Livonia Police Department has a history of a high level of service and professionalism to the community and commended Mayor Brosnan’s efforts to have a conversation on equality in the City of Livonia with all residents. He thinks the billboard unfairly communicates an unfair claim against both the Livonia Police Department and the Livonia community. Char Baringhaus expressed her support for the Livonia Police Department and Chief Caid who continue to keep Livonia as one of the safest cities in which to live. They enforce our laws without regard to age, race, or gender. She spoke of her past experiences with the members of the Livonia Police Department and their fine character. She stated the billboard that went up on the freeway in no way represents who we are as Livonians or our Livonia Police Department. Former Mayor Jack Engebretson commended Council and staff for their participation in doing their job through the Zoom meetings and during this difficult time. He echoed the comments of Jim Baringhaus. He stated he is concerned about the billboard and is offended by it and the implied message it contains that are just not true. th SYNOPSIS OF THE MINUTES OF THE 1,900 REGULAR MEETING 2 LIVONIA CITY COUNCIL – JULY 6, 2020 Martha Ptashnick thanked Chief Caid for his leadership and all the men and women who serve our community and keep us safe here in Livonia and urges her fellow citizens to do the same. She said she hopes more citizens will come forward and share positive stories about our Livonia Police Department, whether it’s on social media or talking to their friends because they need to know how much we actually appreciate their service. Livonia is a great city and it’s a safe city and they are a huge part of that, so if you see a Livonia Police Officer, make sure you thank them. Heather, a Livonia resident, stated she is looking for the City Council to make a formal statement regarding their commitment to antiracism as so many other organizations around the world have. She is requesting City Council assist residents with obtaining information about the Police Department, information which should be easily available to them. She expressed her belief the police have not been held accountable to the public in any kind of formal or evidence based way in the recent past or possibly ever. Bob Stevenson, former Chief of Police in Livonia, and current Executive Director working with the Association of Chiefs of Police. He expressed disgust with the bulletin board that was put up which is extremely damaging to the fine officers of the Police Department. He encouraged anyone who is interested in transparency should go to the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, look at the accreditation drop down and you will see every single policy that the Livonia Police Department has, along with the minimum standards that they have to have to attain that accreditation. He’s extremely proud of the Livonia Police Department and prouder of the current Administration. Mr. Carlo stated he is a professional engineer who tutors students in statistics. He indicated many people are inquiring about data but he was not sure the data can be provided but he is absolutely sure that there are policies in place within our Police Department, as there are in some 20,000 cities across this nation. He expressed his respect for police, even though he’s been pulled over multiple time and stated they are doing their job. He stated he and his drove by the billboard and were quite insulted. The following item was received and filed: A communication from the City Engineer, dated July 1, 2020, re: request to abandon Ryder Drain submitted by Livonia Comfort Care, LLC for property located at 34020 Plymouth Road. The following resolutions were offered by Jolly and White: #181-20 Approving block party request for August 22, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 rd p.m. on Brentwood Street with a rain date of Sunday, August 23. #182-20 Approved proposed lot split for property located at 14060 Hillcrest. (Petition 2020-03-LS-02) #183-20 Approved lease agreement for Fox Creek Restaurant with increase in lease payment for first five-year term and two options to renew for an additional five years each. #184-20 Awarded bid for Glendale Archery Range Project, to be funded by the 2019- 2020 CDBG Program. (CR 178-19) th SYNOPSIS OF THE MINUTES OF THE 1,900 REGULAR MEETING 3 LIVONIA CITY COUNCIL – JULY 6, 2020 #185-20 Awarded bid for a two-year contract for the City’s Vegetation Control Program, from budgeted funds. #186-20 Approved waiver of bid process and approved proposed 2020 Joint and Crack Sealing Program (Contract 20-D) by extending Contract 14-D unit prices with Michigan Joint Sealing, Inc. (CR 36-19, CR 176-18, CR 98-17, CR 261-16, CR 163-15 and CR 283-14) #187-20 Approved waiver of formal bid process and approval of additional expenditure for the 2019 Sidewalk and Pavement Replacement for water main breaks at the DWP Fleet Maintenance Building (Contract 19-F) for an additional amount not to exceed $20,000.00. (CR 180-19) A roll call vote was taken on the foregoing resolutions with the following result: AYES: White, McCullough, Donovic, Jolly, Toy, Bahr, and McIntyre. NAYES: None. Toy gave Second Reading to the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE VACATING THE USE OF PORTIONS OF STREET, ALLEY AND PUBLIC GROUND. (Petition 2020-02-03-01) A roll call vote was taken on the foregoing Ordinance with the following result: AYES: White, McCullough, Donovic, Jolly, Toy, Bahr, and McIntyre. NAYES: None. Bahr gave Second Reading to the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE VACATING THE USE OF PORTIONS OF STREET, ALLEY AND PUBLIC GROUND. (Petition 2020-02-03-02) A roll call vote was taken on the foregoing Ordinance with the following result: AYES: White, McCullough, Donovic, Jolly, Toy, Bahr, and McIntyre. NAYES: None. #188-20 Motion by Bahr and Jolly, unanimously adopted, approving noise ordinance waver requested for wedding ceremony and reception in backyard of home located at 20269 Gillman Street on October 3, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. #189-20 Motion by Toy and McCullough, unanimously adopted, approving abandonment of Ryder Drain for property located on the north side of Plymouth Road, between Farmington and Stark Roads (34020 Plymouth Road), on behalf of Livonia Comfort Care, LLC. (CR 442-18) AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION Dillon Breen stated that he would like to commend the professionalism of the Police Department and Chief Caid for his willingness to engage in th SYNOPSIS OF THE MINUTES OF THE 1,900 REGULAR MEETING 4 LIVONIA CITY COUNCIL – JULY 6, 2020 a deep level of dialogue. He said he had the privilege of serving on the Livonia Human Relations Commission and has had an opportunity to hear all the steps the Police Department implements in their bias trainings and interactions with community members. He invited people who are having a dialogue to open themselves to being able to listen to our Police Department and really be willing to engage at an honest level. th By Bahr and Jolly, unanimously adopted, adjourned this 1,900 Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Livonia at 8:04 p.m. on July 6, 2020. SUSAN M. NASH CITY CLERK *The foregoing is a summary of the Council’s proceedings in synopsis form as authorized by CR 1158-68. The full text of the official minutes of this meeting is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and is available to the public upon request.