HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2011-01-06 MINUTES OF THE 224th SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA
The 224th Special Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the
City of Livonia, Michigan, was called to order at 3:10 p.m., Thursday, January 6,
2011, in the 4th floor conference room of City Hall.
Members Present: Wayne Glass, Chairman
Betsy McCue, Vice Chairman
Jack Kirksey, Mayor
Scott Grace
John Hiltz
Greg Meyer
Lowell Peterson
Dan West
Absent: Toni Mette
Jeff Staebler
Others Present: Mark Taormina, Economic Development & Planning Director
Christopher Martin, Resident
Margie Watson, Secretary
1. Roll was called. A quorum was present.
2. Proposed Special Assessment District. Mr. Glass explained that the
purpose of this Special Meeting was to obtain approval of the Board to
proceed with creating a Special Assessment District (SAD) for the purpose
of maintaining the irrigation system along Plymouth Road. Mr. Glass
provided some background to the decision to move forward on the SAD.
The idea of an SAD originated from the public meetings held in October
2010. Business owners at the meeting suggested that an SAD might serve
to generate the necessary revenue to pay for the irrigation. The cost of the
SAD would be borne by those businesses benefitting from the irrigation.
After conversations with the City, other means of generating revenue do not
appear viable. The SAD process starts with a petition from benefitting
property owners to the City Council. The Council then refers the matter to
the Engineering Department, which develops the detailed costs for the
services the SAD will fund. Subsequent public hearings allow for additional
public comment before the Council either approves or disapproves the SAD.
The entire process will take months, so it is imperative that the petition to
initiate the process be circulated for signatures as quickly as possible. A
letter to businesses along the corridor has been drafted, which outlines the
plans the PRDA and City have made thus far — using District Court
probationers, asking businesses to maintain the landscaping on their rights
of way, etc. This letter, a petition for the SAD and a short explanatory note
about the SAD will be sent as soon as possible to businesses that have
frontage on Plymouth Road. Drafts of the petition and a cover letter that
January 6, 2011
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would be sent to the Plymouth Road businesses were distributed to the
Board for their input, and Mr. Glass requested that any proposed changes
be emailed to him; he will then incorporate them and provide a final draft to
the Board before mailing to business owners. Wayne Glass and Mark
Taormina will be listed as the contacts for any questions regarding the
S.A.D. A date certain will be indicated for when the petition should be
returned and to whom. All Board Members will be assigned a portion of
Plymouth Road to personally contact property owners to explain the process
and solicit their support. Greg Meyer suggested that the Chamber of
Commerce provide a list of members along Plymouth Road for this purpose.
Mr. Taormina agreed that this would be a better list than one that could be
generated from the City's assessment data base. The Engineering
Department will be asked to provide a preliminary cost for talking purposes
with business owners.
On a motion made by Hiltz, seconded by McCue, and unanimously adopted,
it was
#2011-01 RESOLVED, that the Plymouth Road Development Authority
does hereby agree to proceed with the process of creating a
Special Assessment District for the purpose of maintaining the
irrigation system along Plymouth Road, with the funds created
by the S.A.D. to pay for all of the expenses to operate the
tre system, including labor, water, maintenance, repairs and
replacement of parts.
Mr. Glass, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing
resolution adopted.
Mr. Glass advised that a volunteer has come forward and expressed
interest in helping the PRDA. Her experience is in marketing. Her name
will be retained to contact in the future, as a need arises.
Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted,
the 224th Special Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on
January 6, 2011, was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on
Thursday, January 20, 2011.
Margie Watson, Secretary
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