City Council Study Session

City Council Study Session Minutes Monday, September 13, 2021 at 6:00 PM Remote Meeting via Zoom In accordance with Emergency Orders issued by 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. 1. Call to Order by Mayor Garrett (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). Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Kantor at 6:01 p.m. Present: Mayor Mykale Garrett and Mayor Pro Tem Kantor Council members present: Ian Ferguson Excused Council members: Saleem Siddiqi and Dawn Medley All City Council members announced that they are in Lathrup Village, Michigan – Oakland County. Present: City Administrator, Dr. Sheryl L. Mitchell Theriot, City Administrator/Treasurer, Pamela Bratschi, City Attorney, Scott Baker, Police Chief, Scott McKee, Director, Community and Economic Development/DDA, Susie Stec, Government Services, Kelda London and City Clerk, Yvette Talley 2. Discussion Items (Item B. House in the Woods property will be moved from item B to Item A.) A. House in the Woods Property – 19600 Forest Dr. -Realtor Contact Discussion: There was a 6 -month contract which has expired and asking for a 6 -month extension of the contact for Natasha Hughes Smith d/b/a Lynn & Associates. She listed the property on her Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter, her broker’s website, property management page, vendor events, Realcom and Youtube page listed since February 2021. Current listing price is $250,000. Her broker suggested a price reduction to help the property move due to increased construction cost new price- $150,000-$170,000. Mrs. Smith is requesting that City Council 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  CITY OF LATHRUP VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AUGUST 13, 2021 will put in writing that she is not to accept an offer under a certain amount to prevent an unreasonable offer. Interested parties have interest in building 2-4 homes on the property. Discussion of the unappealing pictures taken of the property. Consensus of City Council is to reissue another RFP for a realter to sell the property. B. Cannabis Ordinances – Discussion Dr. Sheryl Mitchell Theriot gave an overview and answered specific questions. Ordinances have been passed for the code and zoning. It is time to discuss scoring, community benefits definition, building and site improvements, security plan and will there be an appeals process. Community Benefits – Scott Baker gave an overview and answered specific questions. We want there to be benefits that will be beneficial to the city. For example, parking (parking is at a premium for businesses in the city with parking overflowing into residential streets) Susie Stec said- The application will not list every alternative but will leave to the applicant’s creativity. Discussion of other alternatives such as: Percentage of profit go to local road fund, capital improvement fund, improvements to village center buildings/properties. City Council will not make the scoring determination it’ll be done by city staff and consultants. Each person will review the application independently, score it, then all meet together to compare their findings. Attorney Scott Baker will look into what other communities are doing as far as having input from residents being on the scoring committee. Discussed -benefits that will go to the Parks/Recreation Board. Awarding an equal number of points to both new construction and construction that has been recently done that has increased the taxable value of the property and then having a varying degree of points based on the percentage of property value increase. Some additional points if they go green improvements. Walking mechanism for example, walking bridge over Southfield Road and crossings. Awarding points for Lathrup Village residents, women and minority owned businesses Discussion of security parameters - City Attorney said he does not feel as though points should be awarded for this because top of the line security is a must. Suggestion to send out a survey monkey poll for feedback from the community for ideas of improvements for the application point system. Discussion of the Appeals process – this will be done through Circuit Court. 3. Mayor and Council Comments Mayor Garrett: Reminder regarding email requests – If an email is sent to the entire Council, Mayor Garrett will remove Council names and respond with a copy to Mayor Pro Tem Kantor to keep him informed of what is going on. This is so that the Open Meetings Act will not be violated. If there is a request for information, use the Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) to obtain 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org  CITY OF LATHRUP VILLAGE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AUGUST 13, 2021 information. This information can be found on the city’s website. Responding to FOIA’s will come from the City Attorney regarding legal matters, City Administrator or Mayor Garrett. Council member Ferguson stated- he’s disappointed how Butzel Long law firm handled the election matters. 4. Public Comments Jerry Griffin, President – GMG Public Affairs Consulting- Has questions regarding direct contributions to the city from a potential business applicant. Questioned the legality of this. Karen Miller – 18755 Glenwood Blvd. - Commented on RFP was not well suited for the House in the Woods Property. Questions on the filing of candidates for the upcoming election. Marvin Holley – 27654 Lathrup Blvd. -Asked why are Cannabis businesses required to have a point system if other businesses aren’t required to do so. Mayor Pro Tem Kantor responded there are a fixed number of licenses to be awarded and there are more candidates than licenses so a point system is necessary to determine who will receive the license and who will not. Karen Miller – 18755 Glenwood Blvd. - Questions regarding the filing deadline process. Adjourned: Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m. 27400 Southfield Rd | Southfield, MI 48076 | 248.557.2600 | www.lathrupvillage.org