City Council Regular Meeting

City Council Regular Meeting Monday, December 16, 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 Absent: Barksdale Also Present: City Administrator Mike Greene, Attorney LeAnn Kimberlin, City Clerk Alisa Emanuel Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, to excuse Councilmember Barksdale. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: NA Motion carried. 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approval of Agenda Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond to approve the agenda, excluding item 9H appointments to the boards, changing item 5a to 5b, and making 5a the School Board reports. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: NA Motion carried. 5. Presentations A. Board reports Micaela Beckford gave updates on activities and events for University High School, and mentioned that they helped to build community morale, and helped students get community hours that are needed for graduation. Ms. Beckford filled in for Eric Spragins and gave updates on activities and events for Southfield A&T High School. B. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit - Maner Costerisan 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Tyler P. Baker, CPA, Senior Manager of Maner Costerisan, gave a presentation related to the City’s Audit. CPA Baker went over the Independent Auditor’s report and said there was an unmodified or clean opinion of the financial statements. CPA Baker explained the Responsibilities of Management for Financial Statements, the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements, Governmental Fund Financial Statements, and the Governmental Funds Balance Sheet. CPA Baker explained various graphs and charts related to the General Fund Revenues, Expenditures, and Fund Balance, as well as the Proprietary Funds, Water and Sewer Revenue, Expenses, and Unrestricted Net Position trends. CPA Baker explained the findings for the prior year, and the 5 remaining findings, and explained the recommendations, that were given to the City. 6. Public Comment for Items on the Agenda (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) Carol Greene, who lives on Lathrup Blvd., expressed concern about a few things, including why money is still being sent to Plante Moran, because she thought it was just a temporary thing, but mentioned that $25,000 was paid to them in November, and she wanted to know the reason, as well as saying the budget allotted $40,000 for financial assistance and help with the Audit, but since the beginning of the fiscal year, she has a total of nearly $50,000 and asked what is going on with that? Karen Miller, who lives on Glenwood Blvd., wants her statement on the record, “I am here to talk about the gross mismanagement of our tax dollars, since the last 7 years our fund balance has gone from over 2 million, down to unassigned funds of $566,792 that are only one month of operating expenses, again we have bank reconciliation and segregation of duties issues, credit card documentation, retired personnel files, these are all things that have been continuing, I’m really glad to hear that some of these things are being addressed, but I have heard that in the past, same issues since 2018, our former City Treasurer, blamed the issues on a lack of personnel, we have a City Administrator, Finance Director, Deputy Treasurer, an Accounts Payable person, and we have paid Plante Moran $107,000 since July 1st, why are these issues not being addressed, it is obviously not a personnel problem. Again, tonight we are giving away grant money because deadlines can’t be met. The finance committee is recommending more ways to tax us, all the while our money is being recklessly spent, what is going on here?” Ms. Miller asked what was going on, regarding a house on Meadowbrook Way, that has had delinquent water bills and a sidewalk assessment placed on their taxes, but the owner of record passed away in 2017. 7. Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes i. 11-18-24 - City Council Study Session ii. 11-18-24 - City Council Regular Meeting iii. 12-2-24 - City Council Study Session B. Building & Code Enforcement Reports C. Community & Economic Development Report D. Finance Department Reports E. Police Department Monthly Reports Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Councilmember Jennings, to approve the consent agenda. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org No: N/A Motion carried. 8. Public Hearings A. Community Development Block Grant 2021-2023 – Reprogramming No Public Comment 9. Action Requests - For Consideration / Approval A. Request to Approve Resolution #2024-18 - Community Development Block Grant 2021- 2023 Reprogramming Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Councilmember Jennings, to approve Resolution #2024-18 Community Development Block Grant 2021-2023 Reprogramming. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. B. Request to Receive & File the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, to request and receive and file the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. C. Request to Approve Professional Services for Community Project Grant Funding Engineering - Southfield Watermain Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded Councilmember Hammond, to approve the professional services agreement with Giffels Webster. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. D. Request to Approve Contract with Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) - EB 11 Mile Paving Project Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond to approve the Michigan Department of Transportation contract for the EB 11-mile paving project. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  E. Request to Approve Resolution #2024-19 - Tentative Special Assessment Roll For General Purposes & Schedule a Public Hearing Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Councilmember Jennings, to adopt resolution #2024- 19, and set the public hearing for January 27, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. F. Request to Approve 2024 Voter Challenge Charity Councilmember Hammond, Councilmember Jennings, Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, and Mayor Garrett discussed which nonprofit organizations; they thought should receive the grant. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond, to recommend the grant go to the League of Women Voters. Yes: Jennings No: Kantor, Garrett, Hammond Motion failed. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond, to approve the grant money be dispersed to the Lathrup Village Children’s Garden. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. G. Request to Approve 2025 City Council Meeting Dates & City Observed Holidays Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor to approve the 2025 City Council meeting dates and City observed Holidays. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. H. Request to Approve 2025 City Council Board Appointments I. Request to Approve 2025 Board of Review Meeting Dates Moved by Councilmember Hammond, seconded by Councilmember Jennings, to approve the 2025 Board of Review meeting dates. Yes: Kantor, Garrett, Jennings, Hammond No: N/A Motion carried. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org 10. City Administrator Report None 11. City Attorney Report None 12. Reports of Boards, Commissions, and Committees a. Downtown Development Authority - Meeting Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at 12:00 pm b. Planning Commission – Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at 7:00 pm, they will review site plans for the Lathrup School site, (the Historic District Commission, approved the concept, but they denied the site plans) and consider a shared parking agreement for the new Indoor golf club business. c. Parks & Recreation - Nothing d. Tree Committee - Nothing e. Southfield School Board – There are plans to meet with the School Board President to schedule a joint meeting. 13. Unfinished / New Business Mayor Pro Tem Kantor discussed the audit report and how the General Fund rose by 28%, because of less expenditure, and an increase in revenue, mainly due to Special Assessments of Sidewalks and Culverts. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor read a paragraph from the audit report, that he thought was important for residents to understand regarding the financial challenges that face the City of Lathrup Village. 14. Public Comment (speakers are limited to 3 minutes) Carol Greene expressed, confusion, about the City using Giffels & Webster for the water main project, she thought we needed bids for anything over a $5,000 expenditure for the City and asked for an explanation. Ms. Greene, asked about the PILOT program, that the Surnow Company, had talked about at the Historic District Commission meeting, and if the City would be gathering taxes from that development. Rick Wisz, who lives on Lathrup Blvd., asked if the sidewalk and culvert income that was mentioned early in the meeting, as a revenue, means that residents were charged more than the cost of the repairs. 15. Mayor and Council Comments Mayor Garrett apologized for not showing up to the Women’s luncheon today. Mayor Garrett asked the City Attorney if there is a repercussion for racist comments during a public meeting, Attorney Kimberlin, said it depends contextually, and people can be asked to leave. Mayor Garrett said she received three complaints, and that referenced racist comments, and she does not think residents should be subjected to these racist comments. Councilmember Hammond said he was also approached by several people, who were concerned about racist comments at events, and asked if we could do a workshop, conference, or training to help us get along. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org Mayor Pro Tem Kantor asked if there were several outbursts, the person be removed or barred from the meeting. Councilmember Hammond said the audit shows that the City is doing much better, at financing, and the new staff is getting support from Plante Moran, and believes there is a lot of value that we are receiving from Plante Moran. Councilmember Hammond mentioned that the owners of Jay Birds restaurant, used the same contractor for their Holiday lights, and it gives a cohesive and cool look, and that Rick Wisz, has the same light colors at his house. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor thanked Laurie Kunz, for pointing out what we were doing wrong, at a prior meeting regarding Councilmember's absences. He answered Rick Wisz, explaining that the City paid for the Sidewalks in advance, and then residents were billed later to reimburse the City. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor thanked the Parks and Recreation committee for the Winterfest. He answered Ms. Greene, about the PILOT program, saying the developer would make a payment every year instead of property taxes, and if not, he doesn’t think it will get approved if the City does not get revenue from it. Councilmember Jennings thanked everyone for coming out to the Festival of Lights. 16. Adjourn at 9:11 pm Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor, seconded by Councilmember Hammond to adjourn the meeting at 9:11 pm. 27400 Southfield Rd | Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org