Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL STUDY - 2014-03-03 CITY OF LIVONIA— CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF STUDY MEETING HELD MARCH 3, 2014 Meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by President Brosnan. Present: John Pastor, Brian Meakin, Laura Toy, Lynda Scheel, Susan Nash, Brandon Kritzman, and Maureen Miller Brosnan. Absent: None. Elected and appointed officials present: David Lear, Assistant City Engineer; Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Don Knapp, City Attorney; and Terry Marecki, City Clerk. President Brosnan presented Tom and Bridie Flynn, Grand Marshalls of the 56th Annual Detroit St. Patrick's Day Parade a commendation. They said they were proud to be representing the Irish and were very appreciative of the recognition. Kritzman presented Marie Brosnan, Queen, 47th Annual St. Brigid Scholarship Pageant, with a commendation. Marie Brosnan said she was honored to be representing the Irish and Livonia. President Brosnan announced there is new data on Item #14; also, there is an X-item that will be discussed following tonight's Agenda. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: Christopher Martin, 12275 Inkster Road, expressed his concerns regarding the medical marijuana law. NEW BUSINESS 1. BLOCK PARTY: Kathleen Fitzgerald, re: to be held on Monday, May 26, 20147 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Cranston Street, between Elmira and Orangelawn, with no rain date requested. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 2. RESIGNATION OF KATHLEEN E. MCINTYRE FROM THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: Kathleen E. McIntyre, re: effective upon Council approval of her appointment to the Livonia Planning Commission at the February 19, 2014 Regular City Council meeting. Kritzman offered the approving resolution to receive and file this Item for the Consent Agenda. 2 DIRECTION: RECEIVE & FILE CONSENT 3. APPOINTMENT OF JASON RHINES TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. Council Vice President Brian Meakin, re: to fill the unexpired term of Kathleen E. McIntyre, which expires July 12, 2015. Vice-President Meakin said it was his privilege to recommend Jason Rhines for the appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Jason Rhines, 11310 Auburndale, was present. He thanked Vice-President Meakin and said he was eager to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Vice-President Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 4. REQUEST TO WAIVE SIDEWALK REQUIREMENT: Emilio Fortuna, President, Fortuna Construction Corporation, re: for the new single family home being constructed at 16565 Savoie Street. Emilio Fortuna, 3439 E. Commerce Road, Commerce Township, Michigan, presented the request to Council. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 5. REQUEST TO REFER THE SUBJECT OF ESTABLISHING A TREE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF LIVONIA TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Bill Craig, Chair, Livonia Tree City Committee, re: to provide guidance for tree planting and replacement within City jurisdiction, establish a Tree Fund to receive donations, set standards and create a preferred species list. Bill Craig, 20050 Milburn, presented the request to Council. They are requesting Council refer the subject of establishing a tree ordinance to a Council committee to provide guidance for tree planting and replacement within the City's jurisdiction. Also to establish a tree fund so that they can receive donations, set industry maintenance standards and create a preferred species list. Toy offered the approving resolution referring the subject of establishing a tree ordinance to the Infrastructure Committee for its report and recommendation for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING - REFERRIING CONSENT TO INFRASCTURE COMMITTEE FOR ITS REPORT & RECOMMENDATION 3 6. REAPPOINTMENT OF GLEN LONG JR. TO THE LOCAL OFFICERS COMPENSATION COMMISSION: Office of the Mayor, for a seven-year term, which will expire on April 2, 2021. Dave Varga, Director of Administrative Services, said he is representing Mayor Kirksey this evening and has the honor of introducing Glen Long, Jr., and recommending his reappointment to the Local Officers Compensation Commission. Glen Long, Jr., was present to answer any questions Council may have. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 7. 401(a) DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2013: Board of Trustees, Livonia Employees Retirement System, re: as submitted by Great West Retirement Services. Robert Biga, Human Resources Director, presented the report to Council. Vice-President Meakin offered the approving resolution to receive and file this Item for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: RECEIVE & FILE CONSENT 8. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SELL CITY-OWNED PROPERTY PURCHASED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (CDBG): Livonia Housing Commission, re: the home located at 20121 Floral for a total sale price of$50,000.00. Jim Inglis, Executive Director, Housing Commission, presented the request to Council. He said the Livonia Housing Commission is requesting City Council approval to dispose of a single family home located at 20121 Floral, 48152. The sale of the home is pursuant to regulations stipulated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Housing Commission acquired the property through the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The home (two bedroom) has been utilized as a low income rental for numerous years. Currently vacant and recently rehabilitated the property is no longer viable due to its limited size at 842 sq. ft. The Commission has no plans to continue this rental therefore; disposal of the home for fair market value is permissible by HUD regulations. The Commission obtained an appraisal and solicited purchase offers for the home. The Housing Commission has received a purchase agreement from Mr. Cory Moore in the amount of $50,000.00. Therefore, the Livonia Housing Commission would respectfully request that the City Council authorize 4 the sale of the above property, place the home back on the tax rolls and allocate the proceeds from the sale to CDBG as program income. Pastor offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 9. REQUEST TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF STAR TRAC FITNESS EQUIPMENT WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS: Department of Parks and Recreation, re: through the State of Michigan authorized commercial dealer from budgeted funds. Lyle Trudell, Superintendent, Parks and Recreation, presented the request to Council. The Department of Parks and Recreation is asking Council to approve the purchase of fitness equipment from Star Trac, 4400 NE 77th Ave., Suite 300, Vancouver, WA 98662. Quantity Product Description Unit Price 5 Star Trac E-TRx9101 Treadmills $3,795.00 1 Freight & installation $1,260.85 Grand total for fitness equipment from Star Trac is $20,235.85. Funds are available in capital outlay account. It is recommended that Council authorize the purchase without competitive bidding. Star Trac is the authorized dealer for these commercial treadmills for the State of Michigan and no advantage to the City would result from competitive bidding. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 10. AWARD OF CONTRACT: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: for the towel service at the Livonia Community Recreation Center for the period April 14, 2014 to April 13, 2019. Lyle Trudell, Superintendent, Parks and Recreation, presented the request to Council. The Department of Parks and Recreation sought sealed bids for a five- year agreement for towel service at the Livonia Community Recreation Center. Specifications were prepared by the Department, and an advertisement for bids was placed in the Sunday, February 9, 2014 edition of the Livonia Observer and on the MITN website. Three (3) companies submitted bids which were opened in the presence of the Bid Committee at 2:00 p.m. on February 18, 2014. Based on the bids that they received, they would recommend that City Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a five-year contract from April 14, 2014 — April 13, 2019 with Gold Coin Laundries, LLC, 7866 Augusta Drive, Washington Twp., MI 48094, Brian and Susan Leirstein, owners, based on their Option 2 bid. 5 Nash offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 11. AWARD OF BID: Department of Parks & Recreation, re: for membrane installation and opening of Clement Circle Pool and membrane installation at the City Hall Fountain from funds budgeted for this purpose. Lyle Trudell, Superintendent, Parks and Recreation, presented the request to Council. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Public Works have taken bids for membrane installation and opening of Clement Circle Pool and membrane installation at the fountain at City Hall. Specifications were prepared by the Departments, and an advertisement for bids was placed in the Sunday, January 26, 2014 edition of the Livonia Observer and on the MITN website. Two (2) companies submitted bids which were opened in the presence of the Bid Committee at 2:00 p.m. on February 18, 2014. They are asking Council to award the bid to Discount Pool & Spas, Inc., 37613 Five Mile, Livonia, MI 48154, Mr. John Forrester, President, in the amount of $110,707.00. Copies of the bid specifications and results have been provided for Council's review. Bids are good for 120 days from bid opening. Further, they would recommend that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk execute a contract in the amount of$110,707.00. Sufficient funds have been budgeted. Scheel offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 12. AWARD OF BID: Department of Public Works, re: for parking, athletic, and street light electrical maintenance at four (4) specified locations and general electrical maintenance at all City buildings and facilities from funds budgeted for this purpose. Paul St. Henry, Superintendent, Public Services, presented the request to Council. The Public Service Division has taken bids for "Parking, Athletic, Street Light, and General Electrical Maintenance", in accordance with the requirements of the Finance Ordinance. Those activities are: 1. Parking, Athletic, Street Light maintenance at the following locations: • Location # 1 - Plymouth Rd (M-14) • Location # 2 - Ball Diamonds • Location # 3 - Parking Lots and Parks • Location # 4 - Miscellaneous City Facilities 2. General Electrical Maintenance at all of the City buildings and facilities. 6 • These are activities that require specific licenses and/or levels of certification that City staff no longer maintains. A request for quotes was placed in the Livonia Observer on Sunday January 19, 2014 and on the Michigan Inter-Governmental Trade Network (MITN). There was a mandatory pre-bid meeting held on January 21, 2014. Bids were opened on January 28, 2014. Three (3) bids were received. Copies of a tabulation of the three bids received have been provided to Council. It is the recommendation of the Public Service Division to award the contract to Retro-Tech Systems. It is the recommendation of the Public Service Division, that Council award a contract in an annual amount not to exceed $190,000.00 to the low bidder, Retro- Tech Systems, Inc., 853 Eastport Centre Dr., Valparaiso, IN 46383, which meets specifications, for completing all work in connection with the General Electrical maintenance, for a three year period, with the option of the City to extend for one additional year. Also, to authorize the use of the services of MAS Electrical Services, Inc., 31164 Eight Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48336, to complete work in connection with the General Electrical maintenance in the event the low bidder is unable to perform the services. Sufficient funds are budgeted in various contractual services and lighting maintenance accounts. Kritzman offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 13. REQUEST TO APPROVE PROPOSED 2014 SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM: Engineering Division, re: which includes approximately 580 scattered locations throughout the City. (CR 784-82) David Lear, Assistant City Engineer, presented the request to Council. The proposed 2014 Sidewalk Repair Program consists of resident requested repair location along with those locations called in through citizen complaints throughout the City. The lists indicating where sidewalks require installation, repair and or replacement adjacent to private property are included. This years' program consists of approximately 580 locations. Also provided to Council is a recommended resolution that, if adopted, will require the property owners shown on the lists provided to Council to arrange for the installation, repair, or the removal and replacement of certain unsafe sections of sidewalk by July 1, 2014. Vice-President Meakin offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT 7 14. SITE PLAN PETITION: Planning Commission, re: Petition 2014-01-08-01 submitted by 6 Mile Properties L.L.C. in connection with a proposal to demolish an existing gas station and construct a multi-tenant retail building in its place, located on the northeast corner of Farmington Road and Six Mile Road (17108 Farmington Road) in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 10. Mark Taormina, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented the request to Council. This is request to redevelop a property that is located at the northeast corner of Farmington Road and Six Mile Road. This is currently a site of a gas station. Most recently it was occupied by a BP gas facility. The property is about four-tenths of an acre in size. It has 135 feet of frontage on Farmington Road and an equal amount of frontage along Six Mile Road. The zoning of the property is C-2, General Business. Currently the site has three vehicle repair bays and a small convenience store within the building, which is about 2,200 square feet in size. The building is located in the northeast corner of the property at an angle. The canopy above the dispenser islands is located at a similar angle but in the central portion of the property. There are four points of ingress and egress to the property. There are two driveways off of Farmington Road as well as two driveways off of Six Mile Road. The Burton Hollow shopping center is to the north and east of this property. To the west across Farmington Road, there is a Mobil gas station, and south across Six Mile Road is a Walgreens drug store. The site plan shows a one story multi-tenant retail building that would be in the northeast corner of the site. There are four potential lease spaces that could operate out of this building. Three of those spaces face west toward Farmington Road. The fourth space is located on the corner facing both Farmington and Six Mile Road. The proposed building is slightly larger than the building that exists on the property today. This is 3,790 square feet, not quite twice as large, but it is larger than the building that is there currently. The C-2 zoning requires setbacks from both Farmington Road and Six Mile Road to be at least 60 feet. This plan shows the building being 81 feet from the property line adjacent to Farmington Road, which is conforming, but only 52 feet from the property line along Six Mile Road. So that is deficient by a distance of 8 feet and would require a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The revised plan shows 18 parking spaces which would be adequate. The location of the trash dumpster is near the southeast corner of the property. The gates would face west towards Farmington Road. The redevelopment also includes the elimination of two existing driveways. These are the two that would be closest to the intersection, one off of Farmington and one off of Six Mile Road. When the approaches are eliminated, they would be replaced with landscaping. The plans do not indicate how the site's stormwater would be handled; however, that will be a requirement and based on the limited size of this property, all of the stormwater would have to be handled underground. The areas of landscaping constitute slightly less than 15 percent of the total site area. It's certainly an improvement over what exists today, which is very little landscaping on the site. They also have to maximize the amount of parking and that impacts the amount of greenspace that is available on the property. The landscaping requirement can be waived; however, the Planning 8 Commission is recommending that a more detailed plan be brought back to the Commission for review. All four sides of the building would be constructed of a combination of brick or smooth face block, which is the lighter color material shown along the bottom portion of the building and some of the areas extending vertically between the windows. The darker pattern on the elevation view represents a face brick, but the lighter patterns along the bottom and between the windows is split face block. Windows would be located on three sides of the building, most predominantly on the west elevation of the building facing Farmington Road. That's the long side of the building where all four of the spaces would face Farmington Road. At the top of the building along the parapet, there is an E.I.F.S. cornice treatment. Each tenant would be entitled to one wall sign per unit at a ratio of one square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage. At this point, not knowing who the tenants are going to be, no signage is illustrated. The site plan does show the location of a ground sign that would be right at the corner, a similar location to the sign that exists there today for the BP. It's a little further back from the right-of-way. In fact, it's required to be further back. In the case of gas stations, they're allowed to be 5 feet from the sidewalk. In this case for these retail buildings, they have to be back 10 feet. So he is showing a conforming sign with this petition. Toy asked Taormina about the proposed plan and whether or not deliveries would be made at the rear of the building and how many feet there was back there. He replied there was 3 feet. The original plan showed a door which is no longer back there; it has been removed on the revised plan. All deliveries would have to be made in the front of the building. She asked what type of business would be occupying the building. Taormina replied, so far, just an insurance office. Michael Beydoun, NSI Construction, 4320 Pratt, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 and Hani Kasab, 2124 Park Circle, Keego Harbor, Michigan. Mr. Beydoun said he is the designer of the property and Mr. Kasab is a co-owner of the property. Beydoun said they originally wanted a liquor store but it was denied. They opened a gas station there but it didn't do well. They are now back with a plan to demolish the existing building and build a new small multi-tenant building at the location. They have been working with the Planning Commission and Planning Director on the plan. Beydoun brought some samples of the brick and block material for Council to look at and make any comments regarding preferences. Kritzman asked Beydoun about the sizes of the block and face brick. Beydoun replied 4 x 9 x 23. Kritzman also asked him what material would be used for the dumpster enclosure. Beydoun replied block and face brick to match the building. Vice-President Meakin asked Beydoun how they determined whether to make the building a single tenant or multi-tenant building. Beydoun said they will build it and they know they will have the one tenant move in and then it will depend on the tenants that come in and how much space they need as to how many square 9 feet they need. Vice-President Meakin said he appreciates their investment in this corner but thinks they need to work on it together before finalizing plans. Vice-President Meakin offered the approving resolution referring the matter to the Economic Development Committee for its report and recommendation for the Regular Agenda. Toy said she would also like an opportunity to further discuss the proposed plan in detail in a Committee forum. Pastor said he didn't have any issues with the proposed plan. He said as long as the petitioner can get together with Councilmember Kritzman and address his concerns about the block and face brick to be used everything else looks good to him. He said with respect to the landscaping, he didn't think that it was necessary to go back to the Planning Commission and Council; he said as long as the Planning Director gives his approval it should be fine. Pastor offered the approving resolution with the Planning Director to approve the Landscape Plan for the Regular Agenda. President Brosnan asked if the air conditioning units on the top would be visible. Beydoun said no they would not be visible. Beydoun did note that time is of the essence and if the matter were to drag out for months that it could possibly impact their ability to move to forward with the project. He said they have the funds now and would like to just move forward with the project. He said that the Planning Commission recommended rezoning this property to a C1 District. Taormina did mention that if a small restaurant or hair salon were to occupy space they would have to get a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. He said depending upon Council's action, they will immediately turn around and file for the rezoning of the property. Scheel asked Beydoun if the air conditioning units would be completely out of site. Beydoun said yes they would. DIRECTION: 1) REFER TO ECONOMIC REGULAR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 2) APPROVING W/ LANDSCAPING PLAN TO PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR APPROVAL X1. PROPOSED CELL TOWER AGREEMENT FOR ROTARY PARK CELL TOWER: Department of Law, re: with American Tower Delaware Corporation 10 (Management and Marketing Firm) and NEW PAR, d/b/a Verizon Wireless (Lessee) for a term of five years, with three additional five year renewal terms. Don Knapp, City Attorney, said as Council may or may not recall, back last year there was a bid created by the Administration to lease out the City Cell Tower over at Rotary Park. There was much discussion about that and the winning bidder was American Tower Delaware Corporation due to the $275,000 bonus their bid offered. He said that left them to negotiate the balance of the terms of their contract. Since that time the Law Department has been negotiating with American Tower and they have a proposed contract for Council approval. Toy offered the approving resolution for the Consent Agenda. DIRECTION: APPROVING CONSENT AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION: None. Toy wished congratulations to President Brosnan and all the Irish and wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Pastor wished a Happy Birthday to his sister-in-law Sharon, his sister-in-law Connie, his brother Craig and brother-in-law Ron. President Brosnan said the Motor City Youth Theatre has asked them to invite the public to their musical production of The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree on March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 8:00 PM Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00 PM Sundays at the Motor City Theatre located at 27555 Grantland, Livonia. As there were no further questions or comments, President Brosnan adjourned the Study Session at 9:28 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2014. DATED: March 14, 2014 TERRY A. MARECKI CITY CLERK