City Council Regular Meeting

City Council Regular Meeting Monday, October 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM 27400 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, Michigan 48076 1. Call to Order by Mayor Garrett at 7:30 PM 2. Roll Call Present: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale Absent: N/A 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approval of Agenda Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to approve the agenda with the following amendments: adding item 5.C – Congresswoman Talib Office Update; adding item 9.I – Request to approve Holiday Lights Contractor Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 5. Presentations A. Southfield School Board Student Representative Update Southfield School Board Student Representative Eric Spragins gave an update including that there were successful homecoming joint pep rallies with University High, and he thanked the Security team, and noted that Officer Kean was recognized with the employee of month award. Mr. Spragins mentioned a successful blood drive and that there will be more and promoted the upcoming trunk or treat event. Student Representative Spragins congratulated Layla Scott for getting accepted into a university, and he mentioned the drive to register people to vote and complemented the football and girls’ golf teams. B. Proclamation - Family Court Awareness Month C. Congresswoman Talib Office Update Cheryl Tipton from Rashida Talib’s office gave an update. 6. Zoning Board of Appeals A. 27651 Southfield Road - Commercial Sign Variance Request 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Jennings to convene as the Zoning Board of Appeals Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried Planning Consultant Eric Pietsch explained the request as outlined in his report included in the Council packet, and a representative from Middle Eats restaurant, explained how the larger visibility of the sign, will help both customers and delivery people, to find to find the business, and that he believed it would help to keep the businesses open. Councilmember Hammond, Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, Councilmember Jennings, and Mayor Garrett, asked questions, regarding the hardship need, the criteria for approving the request, and the height of the sign, impacting the line of vision for both pedestrians and those driving their vehicles near it. Conversations continued regarding not allowing additional space on the top of the sign, but allowing them to expand the signage onto the base of the existing sign. Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor to approve additional signage on the bottom base of the existing sign, and approve the variance request for a dimensional variance to allow up to 53 square feet of signage surface display for each side of the sign in lieu of the ordinance-allowed 40 square feet per side; approve the variance request for a dimensional variance to allow for a total maximum sign area of 159 square feet in lieu of the maximum ordinance-allowed 120 square feet; and approve a request for a dimensional variance to allow no street number to be placed on either side of the existing monument sign. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond to adjourn as the Zoning Board of Appeal and re-convene as the City Council. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 7. Public Comment for Items on the Agenda (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) A resident said she asked for help at the last Tree Meeting, regarding cleaning up an area on her street, Coral Gables, she said people leave trash there in the dead end, and that it has been on 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org her to clean it up, and she has recently lost her husband, Mayor Garrett, asked her to leave her information and that the City Administrator, Mike Greene will follow up on this situation. Bruce Wallace, who lives on Lathrup Blvd., asked why people didn’t get a chance to make comments, before the City Council made their decision about the sign variance, and asked if the Council is prepared to make changes for other businesses, and could this be a chance for the City to make money on these variances? Mr. Wallace said they were already out of compliance, before the variance was approved. He said the Council risks showing favoritism, when they make variances to some businesses and not others. 8. Consent Agenda All items listed under “Consent Agenda” are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the City Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion. If a discussion is desired, that item(s) will be removed from the consent agenda and discussed separately immediately after consent agenda approval in its normal sequence on the regular agenda. A. Approval of Minutes i. 9-23-24 - City Council Study Session ii. 9-23-24 - City Council Regular Meeting iii. 10-7-24 - City Council Study Session B. Police Department Monthly Reports C. Building & Code Enforcement Reports D. Finance Department Reports E. Community & Economic Development Report Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Councilmember Jennings to approve the consent agenda. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 9. Action Requests - For Consideration / Approval A. Request to Approve an Agreement with the City of Ferndale Regarding Use of Southwest Storage Area Moved by Councilmember Jennings, seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to approve the agreement between the City of Lathrup Village and the City of Ferndale regarding the use of the southwest storage area. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  B. Request to Begin the Process of Enacting Public Act 33 of 1951 - Special Assessment for Public Safety Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor to begin the process on enacting Public Act 33 of 1951 – Special Assessment for Public Safety. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried C. Request to Begin the Process of Placing a Headlee Override on the November 2025 Ballot Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to begin the process of placing a Headlee Override on the November 2025 Ballot. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried D. Request to Amend Zoning Ordinance for Mobile Food Vending Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor seconded by Councilmember Hammond to approve the amendment to the zoning ordinance for Mobile Food Vending – Amend Article 6.1, Administrative Site Plan Review, to revise Section 6.1.B.xii., – Mobile Food Vending; Amend Article 6, Development Procedures, to amend the language of Section 6.1.B.xii. to allow food trucks in the MX district Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried E. Request to Amend Zoning Ordinance for EV Charging Moved by Councilmember Jennings seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor to approve the amendment to the zoning ordinance for EV Charging – Section 2.2: Definitions to add; Amend Article 4 to add a new section; and Amend Section 5.13: Off-Street Parking to add a new item Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  F. Request to Amend Zoning Ordinance for Generator Location Moved by Councilmember Hammond seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor to approve the amendment to the zoning ordinance for Generator Location - Amend Article 4 to remove Section 4.12, Permanent Power Generators; Amend Article 5, Site Development Standards, to add “permanent power generator” to Section 5.16.2.G. and to add the language of Section 4.12 to a new Section 5.16.2.H Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried G. Request to Amend Zoning Ordinance for Waste & Rubbish Moved by Councilmember Barksdale seconded by Councilmember Hammond to approve the amendment to the zoning ordinance for Waste & Rubbish - Amend Article 5 to revise Section 5.3, Waste and Rubbish; Amend Article 5, Site Development Standards, to amend the language of Section 5.3 Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried H. Request to Amend Zoning Ordinance for Self-Service Laundromats Moved by Councilmember Hammond seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to approve the amendment to the zoning ordinance for Self-Service Laundromats - Amend Article 2, Definitions, add Self-Service Laundromat as a defined term; Amend Article 3, Zoning Districts, to add Self- Service Laundromat as a principal permitted use in the MX -Mixed Use Zoning District; Amend Article 4, Use Standards, to add a new standard; Amend Article 5, Site Development Standards, to add a new off-street parking standard Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried I. Request to Approve Holiday Lights Contractor Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond to approve Lucent Landscape as the 2024 holiday lights contractor for an estimated cost of $10,600. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Hammond, Barksdale No: N/A Motion Carried 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  10. City Administrator Report Early Voting for Lathrup Village residents’ will take place at Southfield City Hall, from Saturday, October 26th – Sunday, November 3, 2024. 11. City Attorney Report – N/A 12. Reports of Boards, Commissions, and Committees a. Downtown Development Authority – No Meeting b. Planning Commission – No Meeting, but will have one in November c. Parks & Recreation – Ghostly Glow dance this weekend with refreshments and a professional DJ, Trivia Night is coming back November 15th, 2024. d. Tree Committee - Update from Roger Lynn, he said they just submitted a grant to DTE for a $4.000 match grant, they feel confident about getting this grant, and they are expecting to hear back about it in December. They have also been working on the DNR grant for $100,000, and they are about 90% done. The Tree Committee has been keeping the City Administrator in the loop and they are optimistic about this grant. e. Southfield School Board – Councilmember Jennings, thanked Eric Spragins, for his report and School Board member, Ashanti Bland for attending tonight. 13. Unfinished / New Business None 14. Public Comment (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) Diane passed out articles about the death of Pfc. William H. Beske, Jr., the only soldier who died in Vietnam, who was a resident of Lathrup Village, and said that there was a sign honoring him, in the City Hall, up until a year ago, and she does not know why it was taken down. Diane expressed concerns about Annie Lathrup School, and the history of Lathrup Village, and the things that we no longer have in Lathrup Village and believes that the Surnow Company has not done what they said they were going to do. Autumn Sousanis, who has lived here 22 years, said we were promised transparency between City Hall and the residents, but there have been several canceled meetings that further limit the resident’s ability to hear and talk about what is happening with the City. She wants anyone who has a conflict of interest with Cannibus to disclose it. Laurie Kunz, read the rules for addressing City Council, from the bottom of the meeting agenda page out loud, and then discussed comments from the 9-23-24 meeting, and said that Ian Ferguson’s, reason was not valid for needing the Cannibus here. Laurie made more comments concerning the Cannabis Proposals, and said Bruce Kantor, said to her and the group that sued the City to sue the City. She said the City tried to hide the video with the wrong date, and by its 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org code number, and she expressed concern over the statements that Ian said, at the last City Council meeting, and referenced the lawsuit, that they had filed against the City. Tim Hillman thanked Councilmember Jennings for the Southfield Public Schools report and thought that it would be good if the young person who gave the report could have stayed for the rest of the meeting. Tim reminded fellow residents to prioritize proper conduct even when emotions are high. Ian Ferguson stated it is now your time to vote for Proposals 1 and 2, and wants Lathrup Village, to receive the annual money that it will bring, he said there are no problems in Berkley, and there were property value increases in Berkley, after the Cannabis, businesses were allowed to operate there. Ian said $and 118,000 for this City is what he is here for, and Cannabis, is used for medicinal purposes, and for managing injuries and pain. 15. Mayor and Council Comments Mayor Garrett said that she did not know about the plaque that was not hanging up anymore and would investigate it, and she asked City Administrator, Mike Greene, to let the Council know if it has been located. Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, in reference to the ZBA meeting, said they don’t make people remove signs that are “grandfathered in” and that is why they are legally nonconforming, and that there is a fee charge for these variances. They look at requests as they come in. Refuted that he said to take them to court. Councilmember Jennings noted that Michigan First Credit Union is headquartered here in Lathrup Village, and they will have a festival of lights on Monday, November 25 th, 2024, from 5:30pm – 8:00pm. Councilmember Barksdale, said his daughter watches the Council meetings whenever she can, and he wants us to converse and have disagreements, while acting like adults. Councilmember Hammond thanked the Tree Committee members for their work. 16. Adjourn at 9:04 PM 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org