City Council Meeting

COUNCIL 10-21-24 – 095 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF GROSSE POINTE WOODS HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024, IN THE COUNCIL- COURTROOM OF THE ROBERT E. NOVITKE MUNICIPAL CENTER, 20025 MACK PLAZA DR., GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MICHIGAN. The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by Mayor Bryant. PRESENT: Mayor Bryant Council Members: Brown, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy ABSENT: None Also Present: City Administrator Schulte Assistant City Administrator Como City Attorney Walling City Treasurer/Comptroller Schmidt City Clerk Antolin Director of Public Services Kowalski Director of Parks and Recreation Gafa City Planner Wolf Councilmember Elect Motschall Council, Administration, and the audience Pledged Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. The following Commission members were in attendance:  Catherine Dumke, Senior Citizens’ Commission  James McNelis, Planning Commission Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Gafa, that all items on tonight's agenda be received, placed on file, and taken in order of appearance. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy No: None Absent: None Motion by Granger, seconded by Gafa, that all items (6A-6D) on the Consent Agenda be approved as presented. 1  COUNCIL 10-21-24 – 096 A. Approval of Minutes 1. Council 10/07/24 2. Committee-of-the-Whole 09/16/24* & 10/07/24** both with recommendations *Recommendation authorizing AEW to survey properties at Bournemouth, Raymond and Sunningdale and sell the properties through a bid process once the surveys are completed. **Recommendation to appoint James Motschall Jr. to fill the council vacancy with the term to expire at the next local general election in November 2025. 3. Election Commission excerpt 10/14/24 with recommendation and attachments* *Recommendation to approve the Certification of Election Inspectors and recommend that City Council approve the rates of pay as presented. 4. Beautification Advisory Commission 09/11/24 5. Citizens' Recreation Commission 09/10/24 with recommendation* *Recommendation to use funds from Account No. 101-105-880.200 in the amount not to exceed $13,000.00 for Winterfest. B. Monthly Financial Report 1. September 2024 C. Bids/Proposals/Contracts 1. Lake Front Park - Platform Tennis Courts Repair, Resurfacing, and Repainting a) Memo 10/14/24 - Director of Parks and Recreation Gafa D. Claims and Accounts 1. Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. (AEW) - City Engineers - 2023 Concrete Pavement Repair Program - Proj. No. 0160-0466 - Final Payment - Mattiolio Cement Co., LLC. - 10/11/24 - $5,500.00. 2. Hallahan & Associates, P.C. - Professional Services - Invoice No. 21969 - September 2024 - 10/03/24 - $421.60. 3. Keller Thoma - Legal Services - Invoice No. 126591 - September 2024 - 10/01/24 - $262.50. 4. Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, P.C. - Legal Services - Invoice No. 1082250 - September 2024 - 10/09/24 - $5,529.82. 5. WCA - Assessing - Assessing Services - Invoice No. 101424 - November 2024 - 10/14/24 - $7,534.41. 2  COUNCIL 10-21-24 – 097 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy No: None Absent: None Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, that the City Council concur with the recommendation of the Committee-of-the-Whole at their meeting held October 7, 2024, and appoint James Motschall Jr. to fill the council vacancy with term to expire at the next regular city election, November 4, 2025, and to authorize the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy No: None Absent: None The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Council Member James Motschall Jr. The Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League (GPWSLL) representatives Mark Benner, Phil Manino and Rich Inger provided an overview of their fence proposal at Ghesquiere Park dated October 18, 2024. A brief discussion was held regarding the placement of 4’ and 6” fences. Also discussed was whether the project should be completed in one or two years depending on the funds available. Motion by Gafa, seconded by McConaghy, regarding the GPWSLL Fence Proposal, that the City Council approve the fence replacement for baseball fields #1 and #3 to be budgeted for FY 2024/2025 and fields #2 and #4 to be budgeted for FY 2025/2026 with 4’ and 6’ fences placed where it is appropriate. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Koester, regarding Public Act 152: Adoption of the Annual Option for the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, that the City Council adopt from the proposed resolution, option 3: Section 8 – “Exemption” Option – a local unit of government, as defined in the act, may set a bargained contribution level at “90%/10%”. 3  COUNCIL 10-21-24 – 098 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Mayor Bryant accepted the resignation of James Motschall Jr. from the Historical Commission with regret, and direct that appropriate thanks and recognition be sent to Mr. Motschall. Motion by Brown, seconded by McConaghy, regarding First Reading: Section 26-34 – Site Grading and Section 26-5 – Residential Plot Plan and Site Plan Submittals, that the City Council concur with the recommendation of approving this ordinance amendment, set a date of November 18, 2024, for second reading and final adoption, and to authorize the City Clerk to publish same by title in the Grosse Pointe News. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by Koester, seconded by Granger, regarding First Reading: Add to Article 5, Section 50-5.22 – Exterior Lighting, that the City Council concur with the recommendation of approving this zoning ordinance amendment, set a date of November 18, 2024, for second reading and final adoption, and to authorize the City Clerk to publish same by title in the Grosse Pointe News. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Under New Business, the following individuals were heard:  City Clerk Antolin provided reminders:  Early Voting (EV) will begin on Saturday, October 26, 2024 through Sunday, November 3, 2024 from hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Garden Room at the Community Center.  Absent Voter Counting Board (AVCB) will pre-process Absent Voter (AV) Ballots on Friday & Saturday (November 1 & 2) from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Courtroom. 4  COUNCIL 10-21-24 – 099  City Administrator Schulte thanked and commended the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Public Works for a very successful Hob Nobbin’ with the Goblins Event. Under Public Comment, the following individuals were heard:  Tom Curcuri, 1627 Sunningdale Dr. – Addressed the Sunningdale Park redevelopment project and submitted a petition opposed to the project.  Andy Hickman, 1626 Lochmoor Blvd. – Addressed the Sunningdale Park redevelopment project. Motion by Granger, seconded by Gafa, that the City Council receive and place on file the signed petitions opposing the Sunningdale Park redevelopment project submitted by Tom Curcuri. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None  Tim Addy, 20403 Sunningdale Park – Addressed the Sunningdale Park redevelopment project. Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, to adjourn tonight’s meeting at 8:07 p.m. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ _______________________ Paul P. Antolin Arthur W. Bryant City Clerk Mayor 5