City Council Regular Meeting

City Council Regular Meeting Monday, November 18, 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: Mayor Garrett, Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, Councilmember Jennings, Councilmember Barksdale Absent: Councilmember Hammond Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to excuse Councilmember Hammond. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approval of Agenda Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Jennings, to approve the agenda. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. 5. Presentations A. Southfield School Board Study Representative Update Southfield A & T High School, representative Eric Spragins has helped organize events, such as blood drives and Students versus Staff Basketball games, Communication for Change, and school town halls with Southfield School Board Superintendent Dr. Green, and he gave a report of activities and events that have taken place and will take place at Southfield A & T High School, and said that things have gotten better at the school, with a decrease in fighting and increases in both attendance and in the graduation rate. University High School, representative Micaela Beckford, was introduced by Councilmember Jennings for the first time, noting that she is on the National Honor Society and is the Treasurer for the National Honor Society, President of the Student Council, Volleyball Captain, and Southfield Parks and Recreation Youth Representative. Micaela, gave a report of activities and events that have taken place and will take place 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org at University High School, and said that she enjoyed and gained much from the Challenge Day that helped to build empathy and respect for one another. 6. Public Comment for Items on the Agenda (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) Diane Weems, lives on Ramsgate, inquired about the use of the block grant funds, and if it can be used for her neighborhood, since she and her neighbors are interested in requesting a partial block or barrier on her street, since the gas station has been there, speeding cars come up and down the street that are a safety hazard and have caused property damage, she said they come off of Southfield road to cut through and that trash has been left on Ramsgate, by people going in to buy food and drink. She said her neighbors on Ramsgate, including Ms. Weems, smell chicken all day, because they sell chicken, at the gas station. Mayor Garrett, said the Block Grant, has certain criteria for projects, and she is not necessarily sure, the items requested by Ms. Weems, will fall under that grant. Mayor Garrett, asked her when do the speeders, seem to cut through her neighborhood, and Ms. Weems said, it starts about 3:00pm. Tim Hillman, lives on San Quentin Blvd., mentioned that tomorrow’s meeting of the Planning Commission, will have two primary agenda items for discussion, the possibility of rezoning 12 mile for mixed use, and a golf simulation business, and encouraged residents to come to the meeting. 7. 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. 10-21-24 - City Council Study Session ii. 10-21-24 - City Council Regular Meeting iii. 11-4-24 - City Council Study Session B. Building & Code Enforcement Department Reports C. Community & Economic Development Report D. Finance Department Reports E. Police Department Monthly Reports Moved by Councilmember Jennings, seconded by Councilmember Barksdale to approve the consent agenda. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Motion Carried. 8. Public Hearings A. Community Development Block Grant Funds - Project Year 2025 Mayor Garrett opened the Public Hearing at 7:49 PM There were no public comments. Mayor Garrett closed the Public Hearing at 7:51 PM 9. Action Requests - For Consideration / Approval A. Request to Approve Resolution #2024-16 - Community Development Block Grant Project Year 2025 Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, and seconded by Councilmember Barksdale, to approve Resolution #2024-16. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. B. Request to Approve Resolution #2024-17 - A Resolution of Authorization, Local Unit of Government Match for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Request Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Jennings to approve resolution #2024-17, authorization, local unit of Government Match for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. C. Request to Approve Partnership Agreement with the Lathrup Village Nature Group Moved by Councilmember Barksdale, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, to approve the Lathrup Village Nature Group partnership agreement with an expiration date of December 31st, 2025. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  D. Request to Appoint a Downtown Development Authority Board Member Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Jennings to appoint Alex Green to the Downtown Development Authority open position. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. 10. City Administrator Report None 11. City Attorney Report None 12. Reports of Boards, Commissions, and Committees a. Downtown Development Authority Mayor Pro Tem Kantor said the DDA approved reimbursement to the City for the Holiday decoration expenses and approved an RFQ for the triangle properties, they are asking the community and developers to share what they would like done to these properties. Residents within 300 ft of the triangle properties, will be notified, and they are invited to respond to the RFQ. b. Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 pm, tomorrow, November 19, 2024. c. Parks & Recreation Councilmember Dalton reported that the Second Trivia night was a big success, the Parks and Recreation department will be teaming up with the DDA for the upcoming Winterfest on December 6, 2024, and they are looking for new ways to engage the community in the new year. d. Tree Committee Roger Lynn (Tree Committee), said the DTE Energy grant was completed and submitted, and all sections of the DNR Inflation Reduction Act, are completed, but they have to work with the City on some budgeting issues, and they expect to get it sent off in January or February. e. Southfield School Board Councilmember Jennings, said the two high school representatives, are expected to come every month except during their winter break and summer vacation. 13. Unfinished / New Business 14. Public Comment (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) Nancy Perchard suggested the Parks and Recreation department host a Bingo night, and voiced her concern that the lettering on the street signs is deteriorating and some are hard to read. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Wilma Patrick stated that she was very disappointed that the City Administrator did not respond to her, with the information that she requested, after she called him. Rodrick Owens, on Ramsgate Drive, the sidewalks were repaved, and he spent about $1,700 for the repairs, as of now, one of the concrete blocks has already cracked, and he wants to catch it before it gets out of control. Wilma Patrick stated that more than one time, she has had to have them come back out, and she thought they used substandard materials, and that her sidewalk is broken too. Laurie Kunz commented, regarding the rules of Council meetings, and said that when someone on the Council is absent, she thought, a reason for their absence was supposed to be provided. She thought that threats were not allowed on the Village’s Facebook page and that Council members were not allowed to comment on posts. She expressed that she believes that she is made fun of, every time she makes a comment about rules, at a meeting, and that is why she leaves, right after making her comments. Tim, extend congratulations and appreciation, to City Clerk Alisa Emanuel, for a good job on the November 5, 2024, Election. 15. Mayor and Council Comments Mayor Garrett said the Village Voice, is not a City ran site, and expressed comments about her and how she has been bashed, as well as her desire for this to stay a welcoming City, that we have to live here as a community, and we can make the difference of having a cohesive and friendly community, and it starts with us. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor addressed Ms. Weem’s concerns, by asking City Administrator Greene, to find out, if we have an Ordinance regarding the smell, like scrubbers, that the business owners might utilize, out of the goodness of their hearts, and asked if we can put the radar speed sign on Ramsgate. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor congratulated the Parks and Recreation Committee members on the great job they are doing, and thanked Police Clerk Suzanne Cory, for her great work on the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor also thanked both Ian Ferguson and Frank Selinski for putting on the Veterans Day Service event in the park. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor said the City has financial revenue decline issues, but not expense issues, and recommends that residents watch the video from the September 23rd, 2024, City Council meeting on YouTube, or see the recommendations from the Financial Review Committee on the City’s website, and mentioned that there is also an article in the Southfield Sun, from Monday, November 11, 2024, related to our revenue issues. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor said Michigan First Credit Union, appealed their taxable value to the Board of Review, and they won, which resulted in a $145,000 annual loss in revenue for the City and the DDA. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, received lots of comments when he went door to door, regarding an unsolicited newspaper, that residents have received, and he reiterated that the Lathrup Village Voice Facebook and printed version are not official City publications, and the City does not endorse them in any way, he said it is written by a disgruntled resident, who presents their opinions as facts. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, said the Surnow Company has submitted a site plan for the Lathrup School, and this group wrote an article calling the plan a Government Housing Project, but this potential project is not a government, subsidized, or low-income housing project, it is an Affordable Housing project and that has a specific definition associated with it. The median income in Lathrup Village is just under $98,000, add 20% and it is approximately $117,000 and that is not low income. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor welcomed Thomas Kennedy, the new DDA intern, who works on community and economic development issues. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor will have office hours on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 4:00 pm–6:00 pm. Councilmember Jennings said the Michigan First Credit Union’s Festival of Lights is on Monday, Nov 25, 2024, from 5:30-8:00 pm. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Jennings to adjourn the meeting. 16. Adjourned Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Kantor, Seconded by Councilmember Jennings to adjourn at 8:36 PM. Yes: Garrett, Kantor, Jennings, Barksdale No: N/A Absent: Hammond Motion Carried. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org