Regular City Council Meeting

COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 009 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF GROSSE POINTE WOODS HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025, 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 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Bryant. PRESENT: Mayor Bryant Council Members: Brown, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall 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 Public Safety Kosanke Council, Administration, and the audience Pledged Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. The following Commission members were in attendance:  Catherine Dumke, Senior Citizens’ Commission  Mike Fuller, Planning Commission  Grant Gilezan, 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, Motschall No: None Absent: None 1  COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 010 Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, that all items (6A-6E) on the consent agenda be approved as presented except items 6B2 (Local Officers Compensation Commission minutes 01/22/25) and 6C4 (Extension of Towing Contract-Official Towing), which has been removed and placed on the regular agenda for discussion. A. Approval of Minutes 1. Council 01/27/25 B. Minutes Received and Placed on File 1. Planning Commission 12/10/24, Minutes Excerpt 01/28/25 with attachment* and recommendation** *2024 Annual Planning Report and 2025 Work Plan to city council. **Recommendation to submit Master Plan and 2025 Goals to council and request a joint session with council to discuss priorities including Cook Rd., crosswalks and budgetary matters. 2. Local Officers Compensation Commission 01/22/25 with recommendations* *Recommendation to increase compensation for the municipal court judge from $30,000.00 to $33,000.00. *Recommendation to increase compensation for the mayor from $6,000.00 to $6,300.00. *Recommendation to increase compensation for city council from $3750.00 to $3,900.00. This item (6B2) has been removed and placed on the regular agenda for discussion. C. Bids/Proposals/Contracts 1. Lake Front Park Boat Launch Parking Lot & Wedgewood Resurfacing - AEW Proj. No. 0160-0480 a) Memo 01/22/25 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Letter 01/22/25 - City Engineer Wilberding c) Tabulation of Bids 01/14/25 2. Ghesquiere Park Walking Path - AEW Proj. No. 0160-0482 a) Memo 01/22/25 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Letter 01/22/25 - City Engineer Wilberding c) Tabulation of Bids 01/07/25 2  COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 011 3. Ghesquiere Park Sport Court Resurface a) Memo 01/22/25 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Proposal 01/20/25 - Asphalt Control Corporation (ACC) 4. Extension of Towing Contract - Official Towing a) Memo 01/28/25 - Director of Public Safety Kosanke b) Proposed Agreement c) Email 01/24/25 - City Insurance Representative Johnson d) Certificate of Liability Insurance This item (6C4) has been removed and placed on the regular agenda for discussion. D. Resolution 1. Adoption of Guidelines for Poverty Exemptions a) 2025 Grosse Pointe Woods Guidelines and Instructions for Poverty Exemption b) Proposed Resolution E. Claims and Accounts 1. McKenna - Building/Planning Services a) Invoice No. 21849-103 - Building Services - December 2024 - 01/21/25 - $35,985.49. b) Invoice No. 22-064-37 - Planning Services - December 2024 - 01/25/25 - $2,367.50. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Mayor Bryant removed Item 6B2 (Local Officers Compensation Commission minutes 01/22/25) from the consent agenda and placed it on the regular agenda for discussion. Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Gafa, that the city council concur with the recommendation of the Local Officers Compensation Commission and approve an annual pay increase of $3,000.00 for the municipal court judge from $30,000.00 to $33,000.00. 3  COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 012 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Motschall, that the city council deny the recommendation of the Local Officers Compensation Commission of increasing the mayor’s compensation from $6,000.00 to $6,300.00 and deny the recommendation of increasing the city council’s compensation from $3,750.00 to $3,900.00. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None There was a discussion regarding possibly creating a formula to tie into the officers’ compensation. At their last meeting, the Local Officers Compensation Commission felt it wasn’t feasible to implement that idea at this time, but may be revisited for their next meeting in 2027. Also, discussed was the reluctancy to increase the mayor and council’s compensation. Councilmember Koester commented that it may viewed as devaluing the mayor and council and what they have to offer as public servants. However, it was stated that most mayors and councilmembers fill the seat to give back to the community and don’t expect compensation. In fact, some local communities do not even pay their council members. Mayor Bryant also removed Item 6C4 (Extension of Towing Contract-Official Towing) from the consent agenda and placed it on the regular agenda for discussion. Motion by Gafa, seconded by McConaghy, that the city council receive and place on file the memo dated February 3, 2025 submitted by Director of Public Safety Kosanke regarding Official Towing fees. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None 4  COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 013 Motion by Brown, seconded by Motschall, that the city council approve and authorize the city administrator to enter into an extension agreement with Official Towing beginning September 2, 2025 through September 1, 2030. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Brown, that the city council concur with the recommendation of City Administrator Schulte and approve the Interlocal Agreement for Joint Senior Services between the communities of Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Park, Harper Woods and The Helm at the Boll Life Center and appoint a member from city council to serve as the city’s representative on the Active Adult Commission. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by Gafa, seconded by Koester, that the city council appoint Councilmember Granger as the Grosse Pointe Woods representative to the Active Adult Commission. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Under New Business, no one wished to be heard. Under Public Comment, the following individual was heard:  Nicholas Bachand, 1565 Fairholme Rd.- Official Towing Representative, introduced himself and thanked city council for the contract approval. 5  COUNCIL 02-03-25 – 014 Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, to adjourn tonight’s meeting at 7:14 p.m. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ _______________________ Paul P. Antolin Arthur W. Bryant City Clerk Mayor 6