HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2005-08-18 MINUTES OF THE 171st REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD
tre DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
The 171st Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of
Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, August 18, 2005, in the 4th
floor conference room of City Hall.
Members Present: Wes Graff, Vice Chairman
Stan Anderson
Scott Grace
John Hiltz
Dennis Kujawa
Toni Mette
Greg Meyer
Lowell Peterson
Jerry Wordhouse
Members Absent: Jack Engebretson, Mayor
John Walsh, Chairman
Marvin Walkon
Others Present: John J. Nagy, PRDA Director
Steve Levesque, Commercial Mowing Services
Ben Baker, Beckett& Raeder
Ralph Williams, Resident
Robert Auth, Resident
Christopher Martin, Resident and Business Owner
Marge Watson, Secretary
1. Roll was called. A quorum was present
2. Adoption of the 170th Regular Meeting Minutes.
On a motion made by Anderson, supported by Mette, and unanimously adopted, it
was
#2005-24 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of the 170th Regular Meeting, held on
July 21, 2005, by the Plymouth Road Development Authority are
hereby approved, as amended.
Mr. Graff, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
3. Finance Report: The Financial Statements of the Authority's Special Revenue
Fund for the year ending July 31, 2005, were presented by John Nagy, Director.
tre The Balance Sheet reflects total assets in the amount of $1,152,831.97, total
liabilities in the amount of$583,286.70 and a total fund balance of$569,545.27.
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On a motion made by Grace, seconded by Kujawa, and unanimously adopted, it
was
#2005-25 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does
hereby accept and approve the Financial Statements of the Authority's
Special Revenue Fund for the month ending July 31, 2005.
Mr. Graff, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
4. Revised Fiscal Year 2006 Budget: In a letter dated August 10, 2005, Michael
Slater, Director of Finance, submitted a revision to the PRDA Fiscal Year 2006
Budget and requested the Board to adopt the proposed budget. The revision
eliminates funding for capital outlay as a result of Ford Motor Company's appeal to
the Michigan Tax Tribunal disputing the taxable valuation of its properties on
Plymouth Road.
On a motion made by Peterson, seconded by Hiltz, and unanimously adopted, it was
#2005-26 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does
hereby accept and approve the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget, as revised, as
submitted by the Director of Finance in his letter dated August 10,
2005; it is further resolved, that the Plymouth Road Development
Authority does hereby rescind and repeal Resolution#2005-23.
Mr. Graff, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
5. Beckett & Raeder: (1) Benjamin Baker, representative from Beckett & Raeder,
stated that the fence to complete Phase 6 has been ordered. (2) The repainting of
the light poles, including under the clam shell bases, will begin next week. Mr.
Hiltz inquired if the work schedule that was to be provided by Holophane, including
the warranty to be offered by Seaway, the paint contractor, had been received. Mr.
Baker responded in the negative. The issue of only a three year warranty period
was questioned and Mr. Baker said he would address the length of the warranty
period with the supplier. (3) The benches along Plymouth Road were installed in
2001 are not under warranty. Ms. Mette asked for a cost estimate to sand, prime
and repaint the benches. (4) Mr. Grace inquired about water pooling at various
sidewalk locations, the status of the sign for the park at Middlebelt and Plymouth,
and the cost for replacing pavers that have been crushed by trucks turning at various
intersections. Mr. Baker stated that he has submitted plans to John Nagy for
replacing the pavers at Middlebelt and Merriman.
6. Committee Reports:
Construction Committee: (1) Ms. Mette requested a quotation for repainting the
benches and trash receptacles along Plymouth Road that shows signs of rusting. (2)
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Commercial Mowing will replace any sprinkler covers that are missing. (3) The fir
(1101 trees that are obscuring parts of Dunkin' Donuts will be pruned by Commercial
Mowing before the September meeting. Mr. Nagy stated all the trees along
Plymouth Road need pruning and may be included in the work program budget for
2006. (4) The bushes need to be trimmed in front of the gas station on the southeast
corner of Merriman and Plymouth. (5) Greg Meyer provided Commercial Mowing
with a solvent to remove the solid base paint markings on the pavers made by utility
companies to identify underground pipes. Even without the solvent, the paint
should fade within 6 to 8 weeks. (6) Stan Anderson noted that crab grass is growing
along the sidewalk between Middlebelt and Inkster. Steve Levesque, Commercial
Mowing, suggested that sod replacement for salt-damaged grass early in the
growing season would help alleviate the problem.
Public Relations: Stan Anderson stated that the committee did not meet but is
waiting on FCS for a list of businesses in the Plymouth Road Corridor so that the
information can be put on the web site.
7. Directors Report: (1) Mr. Nagy stated that he has received numerous phone calls
from other businesses who have problems similar to what Dunkin Donuts
experienced with landscaping obscuring their business fronts and signs, and he
suggested that a pruning program should be initiated to address the problem all
along the Plymouth Road corridor. (2) The multi-stemmed crab apple trees were
pruned at the Lutheran Home for the Aged. (3) The concrete base of the pedestrian
(Iry crosswalk in front of the Crestwood Lounge will be removed by city work crews,
and the lawn will be repaired as needed at our cost.
8. Resident Communications:
Dr. Robert Auth inquired about four old street signs along Plymouth Road near the
Rosedale Subdivision, and Mr. Nagy replied that city crews will remove them. He
also stated that the lighted street signs at Farmington are still not working.
Christopher Martin presented improvement plans for his new business, Martin's
Yard Accents, 12275 Inkster Road, located on the west side of Inkster and south of
the railroad tracks. Mr. Martin asked the Board to endorse the installation of a
seven-foot high fence that would require a variance from the Zoning Board of
Appeals as it does not comply with City ordinance requirements. Several board
members requested that letters of support from the neighboring property owners be
submitted to the Board as that would be helpful in their evaluation of this proposal.
Mr. Nagy stated that Mr. Martin is asking the Board to endorse a development
proposal that requires a variance from the ordinance, and that it is not a land use
issue. It is directly in conflict with the ordinance, and neither the Planning
Commission nor the PRDA Board can approve such a variance. This property is
within the PRDA TIFA district, not the improvement district, so development
money must be spent on properties that have direct exposure and benefits for
Plymouth Road. However, since Mr. Martin was not asking for funds, it was
to
agreed to support in concept the proposed improvements to the site without
commenting on the specific project details.
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On a motion made by Anderson, seconded by Wordhouse, and unanimously
ihro adopted, it was
#2005-27 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does
hereby support in concept the improvements as presented by
Christopher Martin to Martin's Yard Accents, located at 12275 Inkster
Road,but does not comment on the specific project details.
Mr. Graff, Acting Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
9. Polling of Members:
(a) Lowell Peterson advised that the Moose Lodge has new siding; the Muffler
Shop has been sold and the new owner has painted the building; and Furniture
Express has closed its business. (b) John Hiltz expressed concern over the Ford
Motor Company property tax appeal. (c) Toni Mette inquired if Schostak Bros. is
planning to have another town meeting to present the results of the previous
neighborhood meetings concerning the redevelopment of Wonderland Mall. Mr.
Nagy stated that Schostak is expected to submit plans this week to the Planning
Department, and that the City Administration did not support their request for
Brownfield financial assistance and that appears to be the reason the company has
decided not to attend today's meeting to request possible financial assistance. .
Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the 171st
Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on August 18,
2005, was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on
Thursday, September 15, 2005.
Marge Waeson, Secretary
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