HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-06
REV. 7-14-20
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MINUTES OF THE ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDREDTH
REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 6, 2020
On July 6, 2020, the above meeting was held via Zoom remote meeting
technology and was called to order by President Kathleen McIntyre at 7:00 p.m.
Councilmember Cathy White led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll was called with the following result: Cathy White, Brandon McCullough,
Rob Donovic, Jim Jolly, Laura Toy, Scott Bahr, and President Kathleen McIntyre.
Absent: None.
Elected and appointed officials present: Mark Taormina, Director of Planning
and Economic Development; Todd Zilincik, City Engineer; Paul Bernier, City
Attorney; Susan M. Nash, City Clerk; Judy Priebe, Director of Legislative Affairs;
Casey O’Neil, Director of Information Systems; and Dave Varga, Director of
Administrative Services.
On a motion by Toy, supported by Jolly, and unanimously adopted,
it was:
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#180-20 RESOLVED that the minutes of the 1,899 Regular
Meeting of Council held June 22, 2020 are approved as presented.
The President declared the resolution adopted.
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.
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Minutes of the July 6, 2020 Regular Meeting
President McIntyre thanked former Mayor Jack Engebretson for being in
attendance on the Zoom meeting.
She then stated there is New Data on Agenda Item No. 11.
President McIntyre wished City Clerk Susan Nash a Happy Birthday which is
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coming up on July 14.
During Audience Communication Mary Weigle, a 49-year resident of Livonia,
stated her children attended Livonia Public Schools, that she and her husband
love this City and supportive of the Livonia Police Department and all of the other
people that service the residents. She commented that she is against the
billboard that has been put up and wishes more energy could be spent on
focusing on being kind to each other.
Michael, a 28-year resident of the City, 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 who protect Livonia 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. He indicated the LPD is one of the few police departments in
Michigan that’s been accredited by the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs and
that the Campaign Zero Program for safe policing has a number of standards,
and many of these standards the Livonia Police Department has had in place
since the 1990’s. He said he has had the pleasure to work with the Police
Department through the CERT Program and that they are a very well run
organization. He also 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 thanked Council for their selfless dedication and service to the
City. She expressed her full 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. He said Chief Caid leads the LPD in a most ethical and high
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standard performance way and the slander directed at the LPD by that billboard
is hard to fathom and asked if the Law Department could look into this slanderous
act and see if there is any recourse that may be available to the City.
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 stated as a teacher in Livonia she has
been fortunate enough to get to know some of the police officers assigned to her
building and she has heard many stories how they use their own money to fund
Christmas pet presents, to provide temporary lodging for families, they are
always active when they have their Goodfellow’s Food Drive at her school, and
are some of the best people she has gotten to know over the years in her service
at Livonia Public Schools. 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. The police in the City are not
unappreciated, the police in the City are in fact close to being worshipped. The
police have, as far as she can tell, have not been held accountable to the public
in any kind of formal or evidence based way in the recent past or possibly ever.
As far as racial profiling, she is hearing from many, many white people who do
not believe that racism exists in Livonia or that racial profiling does not exist in
Livonia. If they had data, they would be able to show whether this happens or
not but as some people may not know this data has been requested multiple
times in multiple ways and it’s either not information that’s collected, which is a
problem, or it’s not being provided to us which is also a problem. Racial profiling
exists, they have many, many, many stories from many people who live in
Livonia, who work in Livonia, who drive through Livonia who have experienced
it. Everyone has bias. To think that police officers don’t have it is naïve. The
billboard, which she is proud to have donated towards and which she firmly
believes in, is a response to the lack of information that was provided on multiple
attempts.
Bob Stevenson, former Chief of Police in Livonia, and current Executive Director
working with the Association of Chiefs of Police. He is calling in to express his
disgust in the bulletin board that was put up which is extremely damaging to the
fine officers of the Livonia Police Department. Unfortunately one of the hardest
things is to disprove a negative. When somebody throws out this type of
allegation, it’s very difficult to disprove it so he would like to talk about actual
things that we have done and the Department has done. During his tenure as
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Police Chief for seven years, they received two complaints to the Michigan
Department of Civil Rights with regard to racial complaints. Both of those he’s
proud to say were unfounded. They were very much active in training their
officers about bias based policing and then after he left the Department, he’s
proud to say Chief Caid took it to another level. He’s trained his officers in implicit
bias which the previous caller talked about. Somebody else had mentioned the
Department had become accredited through the Michigan Association of Chiefs
of Police. Many of today’s buzz words such as bias based policing, emergency
warning systems, the Livonia Police Department has had in place for many years
and this is all under the leadership of Curtis Caid. Anybody who wants to talk
about transparency, to 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, that they’ve been
extremely proactive in addressing these issues, they have trained their officers
and it’s extremely unfortunate that somebody has put out this type of information
which is so hard to disprove. He stated he is proud of the Livonia Police
Department and he is proud of the City of Livonia.
Mr. Carlo stated he is a professional engineer, he help to tutor statistics to the
students in Livonia, he’s been doing it about ten years, it’s something that he
likes and statistics helps us to understand, how to interpret data, how to make
decisions properly using a scientific principle. And I do not believe too many
people in the world, because statistics are very hard, appreciate the fact how to
make decisions using statistical tools. The reason he brings that up is that some
comments have been made this evening where people would like data. I’m sure
that 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. This is year 2020 and it is his belief that the percentage of police officers
that are not doing their job properly is very small, that is his opinion, I believe that
something can back that up. And for us as a nation now to start beating up on
police officers or insulting them it’s just unconscionable. He respects the police,
even though he’s been pulled over multiple times, maybe no turn on red, rolling
through a stop sign, you what, it’s okay. I pay my fines. The police are doing
their job but the police are doing much more than that. They are protecting us.
And I would hate to see it, Madam President and others, that if we dampen the
spirits of the police force, I would hate to see it that some of them decided that
they were going to leave or not be able to draw very talented people that we do
need in a police force. And he and his wife took a ride on Telegraph, driving
northbound towards I-96 and they saw this sign here, the sign said, “Driving
While Black, racial profiling just ahead, welcome to Livonia.” They were quite
insulted. He took a photograph of it and they were very insulted because they
don’t believe that racial profiling is being practiced but what they do believe is
being practiced is statistical and probability based type stops. I might be stopped
because I’m driving erratically or for a number of reasons so he would urge
whoever is behind this movement to consider carefully. We have a very good
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police force. We want to keep the talent on board. They protect us, they protect
all of us. And tutors, I accept all comers. Whoever wants my services, I do not
care what their skin color, ethnicity, religion, he does not care. He has taught
everyone that has emailed him and continues to do so. This is 2020 and we
have to have a different mindset. We have a very good nation here. There’s
very few bad apples.
On a motion by Jolly, supported by White, it was:
#181-20 RESOLVED, that having considered an application from Jim
Rumell, Ray Franges, Pearl Franges and Ari Wilson, 14430 Brentwood,
Livonia, Michigan 48154, dated May 29, 2020, requesting permission to
close Brentwood, between Jacquelyn and Meadowlark, on Saturday,
August 22, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., for the purpose of
conducting a block party, the Council does hereby grant permission as
requested, including therein permission to conduct the said affair on
Sunday, August 23, 2020, in the event of inclement weather, the action
taken herein being made subject to the approval of the Police Department.
#182-20 RESOLVED, that having considered a communication from
the Department of Assessment, bearing the signatures of the Planning
Director and the City Engineer, dated May 26, 2020, approved for
submission by the Mayor, with regard to a request from Benjamin
Baumgarten, 14060 Hillcrest, Livonia, MI 48154, and in accordance with
the provisions of 1967 PA 288, as amended, as well as Code of
Ordinances Section 16.32.030 and Section 18.46 of Ordinance No. 543,
both as amended, the Council does hereby determine to deny the request
for dividing Tax Item No. 46 091-01-0022-000, located on the east side of
Hillcrest Avenue, between Schoolcraft Road and Lyndon Avenue, in the
Southwest ¼ of Section 23 (14060 Hillcrest), into two (2) parcels, since
the same would be in violation of the City's Zoning Ordinance and law, as
well as for the reason that the proposed lot split would not be consistent
with good planning and zoning practice.
#183-20 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and
recommendation of the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, dated
June 5, 2020, which bears the signature of the Director of Finance, is
reviewed by the City Attorney, and approved for submission by the Mayor,
to which is attached a proposed Lease Agreement for the Fox Creek
Clubhouse Restaurant between the City of Livonia and George Murphy’s,
LLC d/b/a Coach’s Corner, the Council does hereby approve the lease
agreement between the City of Livonia and George Murphy’s, LLC d/b/a
Coach’s Corner, 36000 Seven Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152, for
the Fox Creek Clubhouse Restaurant for a period of five (5) years,
commencing January 1, 2021 and terminating December 31, 2025, with
an increased lease payment for the first five-year term and two (2) five-
year extension options; FURTHER, the Council does hereby authorize
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the Mayor and City Clerk, for and on behalf of the City of Livonia, to
execute the proposed Lease Agreement, subject to approval as to form
and substance by the Department of Law, and to do all other things
necessary or incidental to the full performance of this resolution.
#184-20 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and
recommendation of the Director of the Housing Commission, dated June
11, 2020, submitted pursuant to Council Resolution 178-19, which bears
the signature of the Director of Finance and is approved for submission
by the Mayor, the Council does hereby accept the bid of Genoa
Contracting LLC, 24019 Lakewood, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082, for
performing all work required in connection with the installation of new
concrete pathways at the Glendale Archery Range, to include removal of
its existing mulch and dirt pathways, for an amount not to exceed
$50,625.00, the same having been in fact the lowest bid received and
meets all specifications; FURTHER, the Council does hereby authorize
an expenditure in an amount not to exceed $50,625.00 from the 2019-
2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget, Account No.
238-800-818-681, for this purpose; and the Director of the Housing
Commission is hereby authorized to execute a contract, approved as to
form and substance by the Department of Law, for and on behalf of the
Livonia Housing Commission with the aforesaid company and to do all
other things necessary or incidental to the full performance of this
resolution.
`#185-20 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and
recommendation of the Assistant Director of Public Service and the
Director of Public Works, dated May 20, 2020, which bears the signature
of the Director of Finance, and approved for submission by the Mayor, the
Council does hereby accept the bid of Trugreen, 48932 Wixom Tech Dr.,
Wixom, MI 48393 for performing all services required in connection with
the City of Livonia’s 2020 and 2021 Vegetation Control Program at the
City Buildings and sports fields for a total amount not to exceed
$24,392.16 ($12,196.08 annually); FURTHER, the Council does hereby
accept the bid of Landscape Services, Inc., 22932 Rasch Dr., Clinton
Township, MI 48034, for performing all services required in connection
with the City of Livonia’s 2020 and 2021 Vegetation Control Program for
the County Road Medians and Schoolcraft Fence Line for a total amount
not to exceed $9,340.00 ($4,670.00 annually); the same having been in
fact the lowest bids received which meet all specifications; FURTHER, the
Council does hereby authorize an annual expenditure in an amount not to
exceed $12,196.08 from funds budgeted in Account No. 101-704-818-000
(Parks Maintenance) payable to Trugreen, 48932 Wixom Tech Dr.,
Wixom, MI 48393 and an annual expenditure in an amount not to exceed
$4,670.00 from funds budgeted in Account No. 101-463-818-000 (Roads
Maintenance) payable to Landscape Services, Inc., 22932 Rasch Dr.,
Clinton Township, MI 48034 for this purpose; and the Mayor and City Clerk
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are hereby authorized to execute contracts for and on behalf of the City of
Livonia with Trugreen and Landscape Services, Inc. and to do all things
necessary or incidental to the full performance of this resolution.
#186-20 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and
recommendation of the City Engineer, dated June 4, 2020, submitted
pursuant to Council Resolution Nos. 36-19, 176-18, 98-17, 261-16, 163-
15 and 283-14, which bears the signature of the Director of Finance, is
approved by the Director of Public Works and is approved for submission
by the Mayor, the Council does hereby authorize a one-year extension of
the contract with Michigan Joint Sealing, Inc., 28830 West Eight Mile
Road, Suite 103, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, for completing all work
required in connection with the 2020 Joint and Crack Sealing Program
(Contract 20-D) by extending the Contract 14-D unit prices for Contract
20-D, for a total cost not to exceed $150,000.00; FURTHER, such action
is taken without competitive bidding because there is little or no
competition in the joint and crack sealing business at the present time,
and Michigan Joint Sealing, Inc. has shown itself to be the most
competitive market participant by, among other things, honoring their
2014 pricing, such that the City would receive no advantage from
competitive bidding per Code of Ordinances Section 3.04.140D3;
FURTHER, the Council does hereby authorize an expenditure in the
amount of $50,000.00 from funds already budgeted in Account No. 202-
463-818-117 (Major Roads) and in the amount of $100,000.00 from funds
already budgeted in Account No. 203-463-818-117 (Local Roads) for this
purpose; FURTHER, the foregoing amounts are based upon the
Engineering Division’s estimate of units involved, and are subject to final
payments based upon the actual units completed in accordance with the
unit prices accepted in 2014 (Contract 14-D); and the City Engineer is
hereby authorized to approve minor adjustments in the work as it
becomes necessary but this authorization does not entitle the City
Engineer to authorize any increase in the not to exceed amount or to
contract with other parties.
#187-20 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and
recommendation of the City Engineer, dated June 9, 2020, which bears
the signature of the Director of Finance, is approved by the Director of
Public Works, and approved for submission by the Mayor, regarding
additional expenditure for additional costs incurred for the 2019 Sidewalk
Pavement Replacement Program – Water Main Breaks (Contract 19-F),
pursuant to Council Resolution No. 180-19, adopted on May 20, 2019, for
concrete pavement improvements at the DPW Fleet Maintenance
Building, the Council does hereby determine as follows:
1. To authorize an additional expenditure in an amount not-to-exceed
$20,000.00 from Account No. 401-000-971-000 (Capital Outlay) for
additional costs incurred related to the 2019 Sidewalk Pavement
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Replacement Program – Water Main Breaks (Contract 19-F), for
concrete pavement improvements at the DPW Fleet Maintenance
Building; and
2. To authorize a not-to-exceed payment in the amount of $20,000.00
payable to Rotondo Construction Corp., 38807 Ann Arbor Road,
Suite 2, Livonia, Michigan 48150 for work related to Contract 19-F;
and
3. To authorize the action herein without competitive bidding in
accordance with Section 3.04.140.D.3 of the Livonia Code of
Ordinances, as amended, since no advantage to the City would
result from competitive bidding, and the City Engineer is hereby
authorized to approve minor adjustments in the work as it becomes
necessary but this authorization does not entitle the City Engineer
to authorize any increase in the not to exceed amount or to contract
with other parties.
A roll call vote was taken on the foregoing resolutions with the following
result:
AYES: White, McCullough, Donovic, Jolly, Toy, Bahr, and McIntyre
NAYS: None
The President declared the resolutions adopted.
Toy took from the table, for second reading and adoption, 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
NAYS: None
The President declared the foregoing Ordinance duly adopted, and would
become effective on publication.
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Bahr took from the table, for second reading and adoption, 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
NAYS: None
The President declared the foregoing Ordinance duly adopted, and would
become effective on publication.
On a motion by Bahr, supported by Jolly, and unanimously adopted, it
was:
#188-20 RESOLVED, that having considered a communication from
Ashley Olds and Andrew Murray, received by the Office of the City Clerk
on June 9, 2020, which requests permission to waive Section 8.32.070
(Noise Control) of the Livonia Code of Ordinances, as amended, in order
to host a wedding ceremony and reception with music in the backyard of
their home located at 20269 Gillman Street, scheduled for Saturday,
October 3, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m., the Council does hereby
determine to waive Section 8.32.070 (Noise Control) of the Livonia Code
of Ordinances between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. in
connection with this event to be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
A communication from the City Engineer, dated July 1, 2020, re: Request
to Abandon Ryder Drain, was received and placed on file for the information of
the Council.
On a motion by Toy, supported by McCullough, and unanimously adopted,
it was:
#189-20 WHEREAS, Livonia Comfort Care, LLC, has applied for a
permit from Wayne County to vacate and abandon the Ryder Drain
(County) Drain on property located on the north side of Plymouth Road,
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between Farmington and Stark Roads (34020 Plymouth Road), in the
southeast ¼ of Section 28, and
WHEREAS, Livonia Comfort Care, LLC, will make the necessary
applications and pay applicable permit and cash bond fees and agree to
the conditions applicable, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City of Livonia to co-apply to vacate
and abandon the Ryder Drain (County) Drain on the property located on
the north side of Plymouth Road, between Farmington and Stark Roads
(34020 Plymouth Road), in the southeast ¼ of Section 28, and
WHEREAS, said portion of the Ryder Drain, under the jurisdiction of the
Wayne County Drain Commissioner, is no longer necessary or conducive
to the public health, convenience, or welfare of residents of the City of
Livonia or the County of Wayne, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Livonia Comfort Care, LLC,
be advised to contact the Wayne County Department of Public Services,
Permit Division, for permits to fill the drain in the approved manner and
method of construction without any cost to the City of Livonia, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the City of Livonia
Department of Public Works is authorized to sign, on behalf of the City of
Livonia, an agreement between the City of Livonia, the County of Wayne,
and Livonia Comfort Care, LLC, subject to approval as to form and
substance by the City of Livonia Department of Law, pertaining to the
vacation and abandonment of the existing drain and any recorded or
implied easements in connection with the below-described portion of the
drain, and any lands to be added to the drainage district that is consistent
with the with the terms and conditions of this resolution, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the portion of the drain for which
abandonment and vacation are hereby approved is further described as
follows:
RYDER DRAIN EASEMENT-TO BE ABANDONED
30 FEET WIDE DRAIN EASEMENT 15.00 FOOT EACH SIDE OF THE
CENTERLINE OF THE DRAIN BEING FURTHER DESCRIBED AS PART
OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 28, T1S-R9E, CITY OF
LIVONIA, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, COMMENCING AT THE
SOUTH 1/4 CORNER OF SAID SECTION; THE NORTH 88°20'34"
EAST. 580.00 FEET ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID SECTION;
THENCE NORTH 02°55'00" EAST, 33.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF
BEGINNING; THENCE CONTINUE NORTH 02°55'00 EAST, 411.00
FEET; THENCE NORTH 29°21'00" WEST, 154.00 FEET; THENCE
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NORTH 61°59'00" W, 125.00 FEET; THENCE NORTH 35°14'00" WEST,
4.85 FEET TO THE POINT OF ENDING
During Audience Communication Dillon Breen stated that he would like to
commend the professionalism of the Livonia Police Department and Chief
Caid for his willingness to engage in a deep level of dialogue. He said he had
the privilege of serving on the Livonia Human Relations Commission for six
years, including two years as Chairperson of the Commission and he truly
believes if the residents of Livonia and the residents of our surrounding
communities really had an opportunity to hear all the steps that the Livonia
Police Department implements in their bias trainings and their interactions
with community members, then many of these fears that they have expressed
over the past several weeks would be alleviated. 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 with our
department. Again, the thanked the police for their professionalism and Chief
Caid for all the work he’s done.
Councilmember Toy stated that she heard a lot of talk about data in tonight’s
meeting and that Mayor Brosnan’s letter which is a part of the record contains
significant information and her plan moving forward as well as the Chief of
Police also sent a letter to Council by email, and wanted to ensure they were
part of the record so if anyone every questions Council on what we were doing
or not doing or what we communicated, that that is in our file and we are all
privy to that information. She said she wanted to make sure there is a paper
trail of those excellent letters that were written that had explanation in them
will be part of the record and file and she wanted to do that in a public meeting
so that others that might be listening or watching or calling in would have that
knowledge.
She then went on to state she has a huge concern in looking at the Charter
for our community, it was written many years ago, by well meaning people,
there are even amendments to the Constitution, and in talking to a couple of
her colleagues, she asked if they had looked at the Charter recently regarding
different things in the City and some of it is outdated with regard to some of
what it has in it. And the Charter as we all know, if we were to change
anything in the Charter, it has to go to the vote of the people because the
people vote on the Charter but she thinks that a review of the Charter needs
to begin and where that belongs and if President McIntyre were to set up a
committee or whatever her choice would be on that, it would be most
appropriate because she thinks it’s going to take some to review some of
those elements that are in that Charter and Council being a legislative body,
she thinks it behooves them to begin the process in an expedited manner.
There are some things in there as we look at a new Administration in our
community and new Council people both now and in the future to get some
fresh eyes and ears on that as well. She stated the two new Council members
could add a fresh set of eyes and Jim Jolly with his expertise in the law would
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be a welcome addition as well as Cathy White who has served this City for
many years. She said she honestly thinks it’s long time overdue to begin to
look at that and Council being a legislative body, they’re able to take a sharp
look at that get some things done.
President McIntyre responded that perhaps they should look at this issue and
determine whether it belongs in a current committee or whether explore an
ad hoc committee and take that up as an item of business at the next Regular
meeting.
Vice President Bahr stated he wanted to make one point because the
billboard is there and several people referred to it, and he’d be blind not to
acknowledge it. He referenced earlier his time with a group called Livonia
Community Marketing in the late 2000s and back at that time that was a group
of marketing professionals that came together for the purpose of trying to put
together a consistent branding message for the City which we felt was absent
at the time. He’ll also say not all but some of the motivation for that at the
time was some accusations that similar to now that were also just as baseless
from a data perspective as now. He’s not going to say racism doesn’t exist,
of course it does, he’s not going to say it doesn’t exist in Livonia, of course it
does. And maybe at another time when it feels appropriate he’ll even talk
through some of those examples and his thoughts on that. But for now he
just wants to say this: that group, we decided at the time strategically that our
efforts were not best served to put together a fancy slogan, to put together
commercials, to put together literature, although we did do a little bit of that.
But we very strategically said if we have 95,000 people roughly in the City
who go to work, go to their sports leagues, go to their churches, go wherever
every day and those people from time to time get asked about why they live
in Livonia, and those 95,000 people are way more effective at marketing this
City than any brand or coordinated campaign could do. And so we focused
our efforts on providing messaging to help with that. And he wants to finish
tonight by saying this: Amongst all the things that could be said that billboard
does not define us. What defines us is the people that live here who by and
large have chosen to live here for a reason and appreciate the fact that we
live in a safe City, and we live in a friendly City, and we live in a City that is
welcome to all, that we live in a City that is responsibly run and it makes a
place that’s economically feasible and socially an inviting place for what I
argue is the best place in Michigan to raise a family. For however long that
billboard is there, as unfortunate as it is, and as unproductive and divisive as
he thinks it is, to the rest of Livonia out there, this does not define us. It hasn’t
defined us, it doesn’t define us now, it’s not going to define us. Keep telling
people why you chose Livonia for your home, that’s what defines us.
41380
Minutes of the July 6, 2020 Regular Meeting
On a motion by Bahr, supported by Jolly, and unanimously adopted, this
1,900th Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Livonia was adjourned at
8:04 p.m. on July 6, 2020.
_____________________
Susan M. Nash, City Clerk