Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-25 41567 MINUTES OF THE ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 25, 2021 On January 25, 2021, the above meeting was called to order via remote Zoom technology by President Kathleen McIntyre at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Brandon McCullough led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called with the following result: Brandon McCullough (Livonia, Michigan), Rob Donovic (Deployed); Jim Jolly (Livonia, Michigan); Laura Toy (Livonia, Michigan); Scott Bahr (Livonia, Michigan); Cathy White (Livonia, Michigan); and President Kathleen McIntyre (Livonia, Michigan). 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; Curtis Caid, Chief of Police; Sergeant Eric Marcotte, Livonia Police Department; LaShawn Thomas, Director of Governmental Affairs; Sara Kasprowicz, Manager of Council Office; Casey O'Neil, Director of Information Systems; and Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan. On a motion by Jolly, supported by Toy, and unanimously adopted, it was- #18-21 RESOLVED, that the minutes of the 1912th Regular Meeting of the Council held January 13, 2021 are approved as presented. Councilmember McCullough commented on a story that appeared on a local news station and stated that he didn't think the story put everything perfectly into context, but it spoke to something that he regrets reflecting Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41568 on his first year on Council. He doesn't want to speak for any of his colleagues here on Council, and that doesn't mean that they don't agree with him, but he personally knows that he can do a better job in making those who speak during Audience Communication feel valued and feel hurt and he pledges going forward to do a better job. He also spoke on the progress being made in the City on diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Tonight's meeting has an agenda item that is considering a contract that will add mental health and social services support to our Public Safety infrastructure. This is going to put mental health professionals in a lot of difficult situations that our police officers often find themselves in. In addition, in our Study Meeting, we are beginning consideration of funding our PACT data transparency page that will pull data directly from the CLEMIS system, update more regularly, and in general more accessible. He just wanted to state for the record that we can do better and that he pledges to do better going forward. On a completely different and more interesting subject, he stated he wanted to wish his wife a very happy birthday this Saturday. President McIntyre stated there is New Data on Item No. 3. She then wished happy birthday to Paul Bernier and Brandie Isaacson, and former Councilmember John Pastor, former City Attorney Don Knapp, and former Councilmember Brandon Kritzman. She then welcomed special guests Judge Timothy Kenny and Judge Freddie Burton and thanked them for attending the meeting. Councilmember Cathy White, as Parliamentarian of Council, reviewed the rules for Audience Communication. During Audience Communication Jody White thanked the Council for taking the needs of Livonia's citizens very seriously and what they do for them. Colleen Badgero commended Councilmember McCullough's comments at the beginning of the meeting and stated she appreciates his ongoing openness for discussion. She then asked for the best way to communicate with Council members. President McIntyre replied to her comment saying that she makes every effort to respond to every communication she receives from residents. Councilmember McCullough stated that phone or email is always a good way to reach him. Councilmember Toy stated that phone or email is good for her as well. Councilmember Jolly stated he preferred email for contact. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41569 Councilmember White stated email is her preference. Vice President Bahr stated his contact information is on the website. Councilmember Donovic said email, Facebook, phone, are all good. John Hillers stated that he is excited that the City is moving forward on some progressive issues and related a story someone had shared with hm about profiling from five years ago. President McIntyre thanked Hillers for his comments and stated that the story and comments he relayed were hearsay, as he had not heard them himself. Chief Caid denied saying the comment that was attributed to him in the rendition of the story Hillers gave. Tom Evasic, a 50-year resident of Livonia, addressed Council on the Silver Sneaker Program offered at the Rec Center. Following discussion by Council, the following motion was made by Toy, supported by Bahr, and unanimously adopted, it was- #19-21 RESOLVED, that upon the motion by Councilmember Laura Toy, seconded by Council Vice President Scott Bahr, at the Regular Meeting held January 25, 2021, the Council does hereby refer the subject matter of the Silver Sneaker Membership Program at the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center to the Administration for its report and recommendation. White 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 2020-09-03-04) A roll call vote was taken on the foregoing ordinance with the following result: AYES: McCullough, Donovic, Jolly, Toy, Bahr, White and McIntyre NAYS: None The President declared the Ordinance duly adopted and would become effective upon publication. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41570 On a motion by Bahr, supported by Jolly, and unanimously adopted, it was: #20-21 RESOLVED, that having considered a communication from the Department of Law, dated December 16, 2020, in connection with a proposed Fifth Amendment to Lease Agreement between the City of Livonia and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, a Delaware LLC, as successor-in-interest to AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC, to which is attached a site plan, drawn by First Group Engineering, and certified by Dennis W. Cobb of First Group Engineering on October 4, 2020, for the proposed upgrade to be made pursuant to said lease, the Council does hereby authorize the Mayor and City Clerk, for and on behalf of the City of Livonia, to execute the proposed Fifth Amendment to Lease Agreement between the City of Livonia and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, as Successor-in-Interest to AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC, subject to approval as to form by the Department of Law, and the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby requested to do all things necessary or incidental to the full performance of this resolution. A communication from the Office of the Mayor, dated January 22, 2021, re: Crisis Support Team, was received and placed on file for the information of the Council. On a motion by Jolly, supported by McCullough, it was: RESOLVED, that having considered the report and recommendation of the Chief of Police, dated December 29, 2020, which bears the signatures of the Director of Finance and the City Attorney, and is approved for submission by the Mayor, the Council does hereby accept the quote of Hegira Health, Inc., 37450 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48154 ("Hegira") to provide two (2) full-time Master Degree Level Professional Social Workers to be embedded with the Livonia Police Department to provide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Co-Response Services to the residents of the City of Livonia for an amount not to exceed $190,000.00; FURTHER, the Council does hereby authorize an expenditure in an amount not to exceed $190,000.00 from Account No. 101-304-818-000 (Contractual Services) for this purpose; FURTHER, the Council does hereby authorize such action without competitive bidding in view of Hegira's long record of service to the community in conjunction with the Livonia Police Department; Hegira's valuable psychiatric resources located in Livonia; and the recommendation of the Wayne State University Center for Behavioral Health and Justice; and such action is taken in accordance with Section 3.04.140.D.2.a of the Livonia Code of Ordinances, as amended. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41571 Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan was called on to speak about this Agenda item. She stated she appreciates Council taking this Agenda item up tonight. As you are all aware, as I am, this is an issue that has been one that the Livonia Police Department has been talking about, has been researching, for well over a year now and we've been anxious to get this before you because we do believe that it is an amazingly comprehensive program and plan for our community. And Councilwoman Toy has set the bar really high for us tonight to step up, step in, and answer all the questions that you might have. I am confident that you are going to walk away from this meeting as confident as I am that this is the ideal program coming to our community at the ideal time. I want to start byjust giving you a little bit of history. When I took office around a year ago, I asked all of the Department Heads to come on in and share with me their top priorities. And this was a top priority for Chief Caid. It was one of the most important things that he was committed to delivering to our community. He cited instantly for me the need for additional resources in both behavioral and mental health in our community, seeing an increase and a rise in calls to the department that were outside of the realm of. And this is something that has been experienced by not only in the City of Livonia, it is a nationwide crisis. But it is one that our Police Chief and our Department was prepared to address and working hard to address, not just with our community here in Livonia but as leaders throughout the region. The Chief was working along with other Police Chiefs to try to make this more of a regional program. At one point in time we decided that Livonia just could not wait any longer so we moved full speed ahead and what you have before you tonight is the most innovative program that exists currently in Southeast Michigan. The move for a Crisis Support Team was escalated once Covid 19 hit. Clearly all the stresses, all the anxieties that people were feeling and were experiencing were exacerbated by the fact that folks were contained and not able to meet their normal schedules and the normal demands of daily life. All of that has led to an increase in the number of behavioral and mental health issues that our Police Department is dealing with. So I am really anxious to share with you what I believe is an added and critical social service tool to our Police safety tool kit. Livonia is not unlike other communities and oftentimes I hear about this on a regional basis because of my role on the Board of Directors at St. Mary Mercy Health. Every three years we do what we call a community news assessment. And in the last round of that news assessment, one of the top priorities, one of the top news areas for all of the communities that we serve was mental health, and lack of mental health services. So, again, I do believe that Livonia is going to be able to put together a program that is going to assist hopefully in providing better mental health on a more regional basis as a result of this program. Some of what is important to look at is that Livonia's community has put together a very unique, a very innovative program where we're partnering with Hegira, a trusted partner, one that we've relied on in the past, to help us embed in the Police Department two social workers. As I said, a first of its kind social work program in the region. And what it's going to give us is not only the ability to rise to the demand of a crisis. But the concern is to manage the care as a result of the crisis, even beyond the crisis that happens at the moment. Adding something the police work doesn't normally get a chance to do. So making sure that we've Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41572 got two embedded social workers in our department clearly puts us head and shoulders above other departments in providing care for the people in our community. I, along with the Livonia Human Relations Commission, stand in support of this program. I'm hoping that after you hear from the Police Chief as well as the experts that we've got assembled here this evening, that you, too, will join me in the support of the program. Nobody knows this area of work better than Chief Caid and nobody knows the impact of this work more than Judge Kenny and Judge Burton. They see it every day in their court, I'm anxious to hear from them from their perspective, the impact that this could have on a city like Livonia. So thank you very much, for your time, your attention to this matter tonight and for the time that you give us this evening and the time you've given to studying this project tonight. Thank you. President McIntyre asked the panelists who were appearing at the Zoom meeting to unmute their microphones and to make sure and identify themselves when speaking. Police Chief Curtis Caid gave an introduction and brief history of his involvement with this agenda item and introduced the panel of people in attendance at the meeting. The panel was comprised of these members: Judge Timothy Kenny Judge Freddie Burton Nancy Hambrick Jaime White Carol Zuniga Arnold Wicker Sergeant Eric Marcotte Chief Curtis Caid Following input given by panelists Kenny, Burton, Marcotte, and Hambrick and discussion by Council, Vice President Bahr, supported by Toy, made a motion in lieu of the foregoing resolution, to substitute the following: RESOLVED, that upon the motion by Council Vice President Scott Bahr, seconded by Councilmember Laura Toy, at the Regular Meeting held January 25, 2021, the Council does hereby refer the subject matter of an agreement with Hegira Health, Inc. to provide two (2)full-time Master Degree Level Professional Social Workers to be embedded with the Livonia Police Department to provide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Co- Response Services to the residents of the City of Livonia to the Committee of the Whole for its report and recommendation. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41573 A roll call vote was taken on the motion to substitute as follows. AYES: Donovic, Toy, Bahr, White and McIntyre NAYS: McCullough, Jolly The President declared the motion to substitute adopted. President McIntyre opened the floor for comments on the motion to substitute. The following people spoke on the motion to substitute: Sara Overwater Tina Lindsay Brooke Voeller Jody White Richard Glover Roy Johnson Victoria McCasey Penny Crider Ray McEvoy Julie McEvoy Following discussion a roll call vote was then taken on the proposed substitute resolution by Bahr, seconded by Toy, #21-21 RESOLVED, that upon the motion by Council Vice President Scott Bahr, seconded by Councilmember Laura Toy, at the Regular Meeting held January 25, 2021, the Council does hereby refer the subject matter of an agreement with Hegira Health, Inc. to provide two (2)full-time Master Degree Level Professional Social Workers to be embedded with the Livonia Police Department to provide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Co-Response Services to the residents of the City of Livonia to the Committee of the Whole for its report and recommendation. with the following result: AYES: Donovic, Toy, Bahr, White and McIntyre NAYS: McCullough, Jolly The President declared the resolution adopted. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2021 41574 During Audience Communication Sara Overwater asked Council to put on the Agenda a Citizen Oversight Board for the Livonia Police Department and to declare racism as a public health crisis in Livonia. Councilmember Toy invited Overwater to call her to share her information. Roy Johnson stated that he doesn't think the Livonia Police Department needs a citizen oversight board as the LPD is the most transparent agency. Brooke Voeller commented that she felt she was shorted on her public comment time earlier. President McIntyre stated she could have three minutes now to express her comments. Voeller then commented on the agenda item being put on the agenda when it was not ready to be voted on and that she agreed with Overwater on the Citizen Oversight Board. On a motion by Toy, supported by Bahr , and unanimously adopted, this 1,913th Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Livonia was adjourned at 9:26 p.m. on January 25, 2021. Susan M. Nash, City Clerk