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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRDA MINUTES 2000-09-21 MINUTES OF THE 117TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLYMOUTH ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA The 117th Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority of the City of Livonia, Michigan was called to order at 3:02 p.m., Thursday, September 21, 2000 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at City Hall. Members Present: Mayor Jack E. Kirksey Mr. Michael Polsinelli, Chairman Mr. Jerry Wordhouse,Vice Chairman Mr. Scott Grace Mr. Lowell Peterson Mr. Bill Pike Mr. Adelard Raby Mr. Stan Anderson Mr. Marvin Walkon Mr. Duane Wolfgang Members Absent: Mr. Rod Crider Mr. Dennis Kujawa Ms. Toni Mette tore Others Present : Mr. John Nagy, Director, P.R.D.A. Mr. Mike Slater, Finance Director Mr. Gerald Snider, Ford Motor Company Mr. William Bartling, Ford Motor Company Mr. Chuck Columbus,Ford Motor Company Mr. Fraser Anderson,Ford Motor Company Mr. Clyde Gee,Ford Motor Company Mrs. JoAnn Marshall, BRI Mr. Ralph Williams,Livonia Citizen Ms. Susan Annibal, Secretary 1. Roll was called. 2. Adoption of the August 3,2000 Minutes: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted, it was #2000-90 RESOLVED, that the Minutes of the 116th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on August 3, 2000 are approved. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. 3. Comments from Chairman: Mr. Polsinelli expressed appreciation for refreshments that were provided. 4. Budget Report: Mike Slater offered summaries of Financial Statements of the Board's Special Revenue Fund for the months of July and August, 2000, the account for revenues generated from capture of property taxes and related expenditures, giving a total liabilities and fund balance of$4.7 million. Next, the proposed budget for next year was part of the hand-outs 2 [ to Board members. The Finance Director reported that Chairman Mike Polsinelli and John Nagy had gone before Council on September 18th asking for approval of an additional $2 million, to be added to this year's budget, which happened simply because P.R.D.A. had spent all the Construction Fund money and was now using money from recaptured taxes. This request will appear on the Regular Council Agenda for the September 25 meeting.. Chairman Mike Polsinelli explained that we had earlier been before Council to explain the Development Assistance Program and give an update. One of the things we weren't aware of at that time was that our budget did not incorporate the dollars approved for all of these construction projects. This was more or less a bookkeeping matter. The P.R.D.A. budget is new every year, so approval was necessary from the legislative body, the City Council, regarding the expenses to be incurred for that year. All bond dollars are gone. 5. Approval of Budget— Mr. Slater reviewed the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2000-2001 for the Board, reflecting a unique decrease of$600,000, due to the change in the state law regarding personal property taxes, particularly for Ford and GM facilities along the corridor; however, we don't have to pay anything back. After discussion, it was agreed to adopt a resolution approving the proposed budget. On a motion by Mr. Raby, seconded by Mr. Pike and unanimously approved, it was #2000-91 RESOLVED,that the budget for the Fiscal Year 2000-2001 be approved as prepared. Mr. Polsinelli, Chairman, declared the motion is carried and the foregoing resolution adopted. 6. Ford Expansion Project Announcement: Mr. Gerald (Jerry) Snyder, Local Governmental Relations Manager, Ford Motor Company, Livonia Transmission Plant„ came seeking advice, counsel and support from the Board for an impending improvement project, for which the corporation would be seeking tax abatement for 12 years. Mr. Snider was accompanied by several other gentlemen from the Transmission Plant: Fraser Anderson, Plant Manager; William Baffling, Tax Counsel; Chuck Columbus, Human Resource Manger and Clyde Gee, Financial Specialist.. Mr. Anderson reported that Ford was about to embark on a $145 million renovation of the Livonia Transmission Plant for new machinery and equipment to facilitate the implementation of a new 6-speed automatic transmission to meet the demands of the market. Ford is in competition with others regarding this new transmission. Mr. Snider commented that Ford has to win this new business and has to prove to Ford that they can make enough profit, and that's why taxes are important. Mr. Wolfgang asked that the record show that he abstained and moved away from the table. Ford felt it was imperative that they get this business, worth approximately $450,000 in new taxes to the taxing units in Livonia. The City of Livonia will get new money, although it's only half of what they would ordinarily get due to the tax abatement. Mr. Pike suggested that the Board send a letter to the City Council stating that the Board supports Ford's expansion to the full extent and recommends that the Council vote for a 12-year tax abatement. The Mayor also offered his support, adding that Ford Motor Company is clearly the largest tax payer in the community and the best corporate citizen, as well. Currently, the plant makes only transmissions (along with some components for other plants). There were no plans to make any other components at this time. The Mayor said this was a very precision operation with highly skilled workers. On a motion by Mr. Pike, seconded by Mayor Kirksey, and unanimously approved, it was 3 #2000-92 RESOLVED,that the Plymouth Road Development Authority does hereby support the proposed improvement as presented by Ford Motor Company, a 145 million-dollar project for machinery and equipment to implement 6-speed automatic transmission production capabilities at the Livonia Transmission Plant at 36200 Plymouth Road. 7. BRI — Construction Update: Joann Marshall reports that, regarding the Ford Parts Plant location at Plymouth and Middlebelt,there will be brickpavers and a brick wall replacing a chain link fence along Plymouth Road. All four corners will have a similar design. Poles are in at Harrison and Deering for the new street signs and traffic signals, estimated to be operational by the end of next week. Detroit Edison is taking down some poles, but BRI wants all of them done at one time. It has taken quite a while to get all the easements for Plymouth Road intersections. The demolition and stockpiled materials by Middlebelt has been in pretty bad shape for a little while, but we should be all cleaned up to that intersection by parade time. Sod will be in and growing in place for people to walk on at the time of the parade. It needs to be planted now to allow it time to root. Marc Dutton is due in within a week to put the sod in. Throughout the corridor the irrigation pipes are "sticking up in the air." We've made progress in pricing out repair work, and Dutton will come in and make the replacements. As for the banner schedule, Banner Sign will be putting the banners up; they should be up in three (3) weeks. Easement acquisitions are going well, with 6 of the 17 remaining. Basile will be on site to do demolition (i.e., Comerica) and to remove the berm area and sod. The Middlebelt corner will be partly finished by the end of the year, although the brickpavers may not be in place. Drainage will be in place and there will be space for people to walk there. MDOT has some structural components stockpiled at that corner. Weather has been a problem for contractors, so a lot of water has been pumped out causing them to be spending a lot of extra time going backwards. The bus stops look nice. Mr. Nagy has gotten more compliments on the bus plazas than the new lights. Mr. Anderson reminded Board members that the Clements Circle Fall Newsletter deadline was coming up soon and asked for suggestions to enhance the issue. Perhaps a picture of one of our new bus shelters would be of interest to the residents. Wonderland would be getting one, although we are encountering trouble with MDOT concerning placement of a structure on that corner. Also, it might be helpful to report that the paving of Plymouth Road is not in connection with the P.R.D.A. or our dollars or plans. Rather, it's being done by MDOT. The big restoration at Inkster and Middlebelt was done for us. Another suggestion was to mention that Mr. Nagy is working on a loan program (Development Assistance) and hopes to have it in operation by the first of the year. The Ford Transmission Plant was featured in an article in the Historical Records of Plymouth Road Today. 8. Reports from Committees: Vacant Buildings: The Red Lobster is engaged in a paint-up, fix-up project and will get rid of the maroon color and tone it down a little bit bringing in some earth tones. Armand Leone Foods believe they can market their property better with some of the buildings removed and are working on a demolition program. Inspection: Mr. Raby was pleased to see the mast arms and banner signs. He thought there was a fixture on top of it. Ms. Marshall responded that there will be a finial on the top. Mr. Raby stated that when he was traveling up and down Plymouth Road, he paid more attention to the traffic rather than sights; but we are at the stage where perhaps next spring the bus trip would be a good idea again to see what has been accomplished along the Plymouth Road corridor. • 4 8. Director's Report: White Castle will not be moving down to Shelden Center. They are looking at the possibility of staying at Wonderland. The proposal by Bogart's has been withdrawn and will stay in the Wonderland area of Plymouth Road. The 2000 Holiday Parade will take place on November 18th. The P.R.D.A. will be a prime sponsor. Mr.Nagy announced that Carol Swales and Karen Kapchonick are co-chairing the event this year; and he thanked the Mayor for allowing Carol to spend time on the project. Mark your calendars now for P.R.D.A.'s holiday get together on Thursday, December 7th. Happy Hour will begin at 5:30-6:00 p.m. at John and Mary Nagy's home on Ellen Drive and progress to Buca di Beppo's on Six Mile Road for dinner at 7:00 p.m. 9. Polling of Board Members Mr. Wordhouse: Passed. Mr. Pike: Passed. Mr. Raby: Thanks to the Mayor for the goodies. Mr. Wolfgang: As a Ford employee, he thanked the Authority and group for their attention and support of the Ford project as presented. Mr. Pike: Passed. Mayor Kirksey: At 10:30 a.m. on October 24th the Economic Summit will be held at the Italian American Club on Five Mile Road.. Keith Crane, Chief of Communications for Crane's Detroit Business will be the keynote speaker, a very successful businessman, as well as other speakers such as Steven Schafer of Phoenix Land Development. We've never tried anything like this before but think it will be a success. It was suggested that P.R.D.A. reserve a table for the event. Mr. Peterson: He inquired about the corner of Garden and Plymouth Road and the use now being located in the building. Is it only temporary? Mr. Anderson: A building on the north side of Plymouth Road that was dilapidated is now a sewing machine repair place. It would be nice for P.R.D.A. to compliment them in the newsletter. Also, the Friends of the Barn are having the annual Pumpkin Festival on the weekends and all during the week and will feature pumpkins, pony rides and crafts throughout the month of October. The Wilson Barn is located on Middlebelt Road just south of Plymouth Road. On September 12th in the Livonia Observer, a full-page was devoted to Plymouth Road businesses. The spotlight served as a real encouragement to locals during this time of Streetscape construction. 10.. Adjournment: On a motion duly made, seconded and unanimously adopted,the 117th Regular Meeting held by the Plymouth Road Development Authority on September 21, 2000 was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. The next meeting of the Plymouth Road Development Authority will be held on October 19, 2000 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at City Hall . usan Annibal, Secretary