City Council Study Session

City Council Study Session Minutes Monday, June 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM Remote Meeting via Zoom In accordance with Emergency Orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Oakland County, local officials, and State of Michigan legislation, which allows for electronic meetings of public bodies, notice is hereby given that the City of Lathrup’s City Council will be meeting electronically using www.Zoom.us for videoconference and public access. 2. Call to Order by Mayor Garrett called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.(in accordance with PA 254 of 2020, the members should identify their physical location by stating the county, city, township, or village and state from which he or she is attending the meeting remotely). Present: Mayor Mykale Garett and Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Kantor Council members Present: Ian Ferguson and Saleem Siddiqi All City Council Members stated they are located in Lathrup Village, MI – Oakland County Present: City Administrator, Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot, Assist. City Administrator/Treasurer, Pamela Bratschi, City Attorney, Scott Baker, Police Chief, Scott McKee, Director, Community and Economic Development/DDA, Susie Stec, Government Services, City Clerk, Yvette Talley Others present: Scott Ringler-Giffels Webster 3. Discussion Items A. Applications for Vacated City Council Seat of Donna Stallings Council member Donna Stallings - resignation letter was received June 7, 2021 - effective May 31, 2021. Mayor Garrett read 5.7 – City Charter City Council has to appoint a new member of Council within 60 days to fill the unexpired term which ends November 13, 2023. Applications are available and were due by June 17, 2021 by 4:00 p.m. Applications were received from: Avrohom Apt, Dr. Vickie Brockman Hall, Jalen Jennings, Mike Keenan, Dawn Medley, Michael Poole and Peter Stephan. 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  LATHRUP VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING MIINUTES JUNE 21, 2021 The names listed below were received after the application deadline: Maria Mannarino Thompson and Greg Ruvolo The person appointed will serve from the date d of appointment until November 2, 2021 election. Council members stated all candidates are good candidates and after looking at all applications – Council made the following statements: Mayor Garrett chose the most involved by volunteering on committees to move the city forward. Would like to appoint Dawn Medley she worked hard on marijuana committee. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor agrees, she works with Unions, State, Federal and Local government. Ian Ferguson choices are Mike Keenan and Dawn Medley. He compared the Infrastructure Committee and the work Mr. Keenan had done. He chose Michael Keenan. Saleem Siddiqi said both are candidates are good - Mike Keenan he has done great work on Infrastructure committee. He recommended Mike Keenan. Mayor said the board should reflect the demographics of the city. B. City Administrator Evaluation and Contract Consideration Requests Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot gave an overview City Administrator – includes 2% increase standard for all employees, hazard pay for Police Officers $1,000 and $250 that all employees received as well as contractors for hazard pay. Allow for 10 unused vacation days to be paid out and the balance rolled over. Change severance period from 90 days without cause to 6 months this year and 9 months next year. Severance after an election from 6 months to 9 months this year and in a year one year. C. Sidewalk Repair Program – Bid and Award of Contract Sheryl Mitchell Theriot gave an overview. K.D. Cement was the lowest bidder. Scott Ringler checked with 3 references and all of them had positive things to say about K.D. Cement. D. 2021-2025 Professional Auditing Services – Bid and Award of Contract Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot gave an overview and answered specific questions. Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot, Pam Bratschi, Council member Ferguson and Council member Siddiqi met and discussed the bids received. All member chose Plante Moran. E. Oakland County Interlocal Agreement for Election Services - Discussion 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  LATHRUP VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING MIINUTES JUNE 21, 2021 Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot gave an overview and answered specific questions. Neighboring communities are already participating by using these services. Will gather more information as specifics of where the absentee ballots will be counted. F. Proposed Charter Amendment Ballot Language – Property Tax & Special Assessments Scott Baker, City Attorney gave an overview and answered specific questions. Discussed deferring some or all of the city portion of the special assessment from July 1 summer tax bill to the December tax bill. Problem is shifting it takes the large bill and place it in the winter tax bill. Also, there are issues with dates and Board of Review. An option that may provide some relief may is to extend the payment. The negative impacts are – the city does keep the penalty interest approximately $30,000-$50,000 that the city collects in penalty interest on the tax bills. If the period of time was extended for which to pay or reduce the amount of penalty interest that would be added, it would give people longer opportunity to budget. The other negative impact – deal with cash flow coming into the city. Most tax payments are paid by the bank and the bank will wait until the last possible day to make the payments. If it’s pushed back, it’s longer period of time that cash flow will come into the city. Discussion – Allow future millages to be assessed on the winter taxes instead of the summer. The City Charter doesn’t differentiate between millages or general city tax obligations. Payment date should not be changed, you can change it for the city taxes but you can’t change the dates of the state education, zoo authority or the college and public schools all are due on or before September 1. City Council decided not to move forward on this item because it didn’t provide the benefit to the residents in which they first thought. Pamela Bratschi said she does allow for partial payments. They are penalized in September on the outstanding balance. Winter taxes are penalized from February 15 to end of the month. March 1 taxes are turned over to Oakland County. G. Resolution Establishing Charter Amendment Ballot Language Proposal Language Budget - Introduction in April move to May. Vote to approve from May to June. 4. Mayor and Council Comments Mayor Garrett stated she received an email in support of Peter Stephan to be appointed to City Council to fill the vacated seat of Donna Stallings. Mayor Garrett stated received letter stated Peter Stephan would be a good candidate to fill the unexpired term of Donna Stallings. She read a letter from Bob Tamerelli, 18485 Dolores he suggested a "No" vote to the alley vacation. The City should not be in the business of providing land grants. Barbara Kenez – Meetings should be held in person. Roger Lynn- he’s not in favor of granting the alley vacation. 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  LATHRUP VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING MIINUTES JUNE 21, 2021 Scott Baker the city has not charged anyone for sale of city property to a resident. Anyone adjacent to public property can make a request and there is no fee and there is no sale. Mayor Garrett said we will do Zoom meetings until September, 2021. There has been more participation on Zoom than the in-person meetings. Council member Ferguson said there are those with young children or people with compromised immune systems. There has been more participation with Zoom meetings. The City has been open during the pandemic. Mayor and Council Comments (continued) Bruce had questions on Cannabis Ordinance. Special assessment on Cambridge counted 12 homes not 11. If special assessment turned down by a street, the street would not get paved. Sign Ordinance - 3rd Ordinance is the correct ordinance. The others were working copies. Zoning Ordinance - reference the first ordinance- 1st Reading. 5. Public Comments Pete not happy with signage in his front yard. The sign is in the middle of his view. It’s easily seen from his home. The sign is not a correct directional sign. Susie Stec – stated she will have new signs done to make adjustments to the bike route. 6. Adjourn 7:08 p.m. 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org