Regular City Council Meeting

COUNCIL 07-21-25 – 064 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF GROSSE POINTE WOODS HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 21, 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 7:04 p.m. by Mayor Bryant. PRESENT: Mayor Bryant Council Members: Brown, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall ABSENT: Gafa Also Present: City Administrator Schulte Assistant City Administrator Como City Attorney Walling City Treasurer/Comptroller Schmidt City Clerk Antolin Director of Public Services Kowalski City Planner Haw Motion by Motschall, seconded by Brown, that Councilmember Gafa be excused from tonight’s meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: Gafa Council, Administration, and the audience Pledged Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. The following Commission members were in attendance:  Catherine Dumke, Senior Citizens’ Commission  Christina Pitts, Tree Commission  John Vitale, Planning Commission Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Brown, that all items on tonight's agenda be received, placed on file, and taken in order of appearance. 1  COUNCIL 07-21-25 – 065 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: Gafa Motion by Granger, seconded by McConaghy, that all items (6A-6E) on the consent agenda be approved as presented. A. Approval of Minutes 1. Council 07/14/25 B. Commission Minutes Received and Placed on File 1. Beautification Advisory Commission 06/11/25 C. Monthly Financial Report 1. June 2025 D. Bids/Proposals/Contracts 1. Water Meter Reader Replacement Final Phase a) Memo 07/15/25 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Grosse Pointe Woods Cost Comparisons c) Exhibit A: Scope of Work d) Pricing Document E. Claims and Accounts 1. Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. (AEW) - City Engineers a) 20139 Mack Avenue Site Improvements - Invoice No. 154660 - Proj. No. 0160-0489 - 11/25/24 - $1,000.00. b) Vernier & Mack Ave. Intersection Improvement - Invoice No. 159051 - Proj. No. 0160-0455 - 07/08/25 - $26,219.72. c) Torrey Rd. Pump Station Generator - Invoice No. 159052 - Proj. No. 0160-0473 - 07/08/25 - $1,003.20. d) LFP Boat Launch Parking Lot - Invoice No. 159054 - Proj. No. 0160- 0480 - 07/08/25 - $10,714.41. e) Ghesquiere Park Walking Path - Invoice No. 159055 - Proj. No. 0160- 0482 - 07/08/25 - $6,179.93. f) Ghesquiere & Lakefront Park Bldg Renovation - Invoice No. 159061 - Proj. No. 0160-0479 - 07/08/25 - $1,333.30. g) Torrey Road Pump Station Generator - Proj. No. 0160-0473 - Payment No. 4 - Rauhorn Electric, Inc. - 07/14/25 - $27,657.00. h) 2024 Pavement Joint and Crack Sealing Program - Proj. No. 0160- 0476 - Pay Estimate No. 02 - Scodeller Construction, Inc. - 07/08/25 - $275.40. 2  COUNCIL 07-21-25 – 066 i) Lake Front Park Building Renovation - Proj. No. 0160-0479 - Payment Invoice No. 03 - In-Line Construction - 07/15/25 - $59,181.95. j) Lake Front Park Boat Launch Parking Lot & Wedgewood Resurfacing - Proj. No. 0160-0480 - Payment Invoice No. 03 - Al's Asphalt Paving Co. - 07/09/25 - $95,024.91. k) Ghesquiere Park Walking Path - Proj. No. 0160-0482 - Payment Invoice No. 03 - Warren Contractors & Development Inc. - 07/01/25 - $29,112.60. 2. Hallahan & Associates, P.C. - Professional Services - Invoice No. 22954 - June 2025 - 07/01/25 - $442.70. 3. Keller Thoma - Legal Services - Invoice No. 127888 - June 2025 - 07/01/25 - $175.00. 4. Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, P.C. - Legal Services - Invoice No. 1083805 - June 2025 - 07/09/25 - $9,820.70. 5. State of Michigan - MDOT 00183 - Program # 218128CON (Vernier Rd.) and # 219533CON (Sunningdale Dr.) - 07/06/25 - $64,709.12. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: Gafa Mayor Bryant presented a recognition certificate to Roy Bishop III for acting as Grosse Pointe Woods’ Junior Mayor at the Juneteenth - United in Freedom: Embracing and Honoring Individuality event. THE MEETING WAS THEREUPON OPENED AT 7:11 P.M. FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR THE APPLICATION OF ALAN AND CATHY SCHUSTER, 1959 BROADSTONE ROAD, GROSSE POINTE WOODS, WHO ARE REQUESTING TO INSTALL A 5-FOOT TALL, WOODEN FENCE AT THE FRONT BUILDING LINE OF THEIR HOME TO REPLACE THE EXISTING FENCE. Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, that for purposes of the public hearing the following items be received and placed on file: 1) Letter 07/15/25 - City Planner Jankowski 2) Letter 07/15/25 - Building Official Collins 3) Affidavit of Property Owners Notified with List and Map 4) Affidavit of Legal Publication 3  COUNCIL 07-21-25 – 067 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: Gafa The Chair asked if anyone from the audience wished to speak in favor of the proposed request. The following individuals were heard:  Laura Haw, City Planner, provided an overview of the proposed request.  Alan Schuster, 1959 Broadstone Rd., property owner. The Chair asked if anyone from the audience wished to speak in opposition to the proposed request. No one wished to be heard. Motion by Granger, seconded by Motschall, that the public hearing be closed at 7:17 p.m. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Motschall, that the City Council concur with the City Planner’s recommendation and approve the proposed fence installation request for 1959 Broadstone as presented. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: Gafa A brief discussion ensued regarding an ordinance amendment to address the replacement of existing fences. This may be discussed at a future Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. Updating online forms/applications and public hearing fees were also addressed. Under New Business, no one wished to be heard. Under Public Comment, the following individuals were heard: 1. Jon Dougherty, 1665 S. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 2. Mia Tedesco, 1665 Ford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 3. Joyce Janowski, 1070 N. Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 4. Christina Pitts, 1501 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 4  COUNCIL 07-21-25 – 068 5. Michael Dixon, 1091 S. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 6. Patrick Rye, 1208 Elford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 7. Helen Taylor, 1430 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 8. Patricia Dougherty, 1665 S. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 9. Kristen Malecki, 1011 S. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 10. Elizabeth Baergen, 1600 Ford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 11. Steven Lawrence, 1511 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 12. John McLellan, 1617 S. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 13. Ben Earl, 670 Rivard Blvd., Grosse Pointe City, opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 14. Lynne Aldrich, 1501 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 15. Harry Gaggos, 1490 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 16. Gary Felts, 1680 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 17. Katie Solomon, 1561 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 18. Lisa Abbey, 1620 Faircourt St., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 19. Mary Beth Nicholson, 1672 N. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 20. Russ Toles, 1640 Ford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 21. Rita Ahee Daboul, 1297 Lochmoor Blvd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 22. Gary Herbertson, 1640 Ford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 23. Scott Buddy, 1611 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 24. Doug Allar, 1451 S. Renaud Rd., email opposed to rezoning read by unidentified neighbor. 25. Rita Keuten, 1230 N. Oxford, letter opposed to rezoning read by unidentified neighbor. 26. James Francis, 1670 Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 27. Tambre Tedesco, 1665 Ford Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 28. Doug Ulmer, 19972 E. Clairview Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 29. Katherine Chesney, 1858 Norwood Dr., supports the city to move forward and change to increase walkability. 30. Wendy Bernardi, 19952 W. Clairview Ct., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 31. Jane Frahm, 1350 N. Oxford Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. 32. Ray Francis, 1547 N. Renaud Rd., opposed rezoning of 20160 Mack Ave. Motion by Motschall, seconded by Koester, to adjourn tonight’s meeting at 8:39 p.m. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ _______________________ Paul P. Antolin Arthur W. Bryant City Clerk Mayor 5