City Council Regular Meeting

City Council Regular Meeting Madison Heights, Michigan March 13, 2023 A City Council Regular Meeting was held on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 7:40 PM at City Hall - Council Chambers, 300 W. 13 Mile Rd. PRESENT Mayor Roslyn Grafstein Mayor Pro Tem Mark Bliss Councilman Sean Fleming Councilor Emily Rohrbach Councilman David Soltis Councilor Quinn Wright ABSENT Councilwoman Toya Aaron OTHERS PRESENT City Manager Melissa Marsh City Attorney L. Sherman City Clerk Cheryl Rottmann Councilor Rohrbach gave the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance followed. PRESENTATIONS: Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg - Presentation on Foreclosure Prevention Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg presented programs the Oakland County Treasurer’s Office offer to assist homeowners and business with delinquent property taxes. He stated the office is currently in the heavy prevention period assisting taxpayers because the deadline is April 1st. The goal is to get people caught up and paying back on time to the City. He encouraged residents who are having problems to reach out to the Oakland County Treasurer either in-person, by phone or through email. He added that there are other programs available for assistance including the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MHAF) that will grant up to $2500 per household if eligible and MiHope which has grants up to $25,000 for upgrades for homes. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: There were no members of the public wishing to speak. 1 03-13-23 CM-23-66. Consent Agenda. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to approve the Consent Agenda as read. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CM-23-67. Deliza Lee - Resignation from the Crime Commission. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to accept Deliza Lee's resignation from the Crime Commission and declare the seat vacant. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CM-23-68. Director of Public Services - Amended Pricing for Vehicle #424. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to approve the additional expenditure of $6,700 for the amended pricing for replacement of a single-axel dump truck, vehicle #424. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CM-23-69. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to approve the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023, as printed. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CM-23-70. City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to approve the City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023, as printed. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. 2 03-13-23  CM-23-71. City Council Special Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023. Motion made by Councilor Rohrbach, Seconded by Councilman Fleming, to approve the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2023, as printed. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CM-23-72. CED Director - First Reading - PRZN 23-01 (Ordinance 2193) - 31010 John R Road - B-1 to B-2. Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Seconded by Councilor Wright, to approve PRZN 23-01 (Ordinance 2193) - 31010 John R Road - B-1 to B-2 on First Reading and schedule a public hearing and Second Reading on April 10, 2023. Mayor Pro Tem Bliss stated that the property was a retail store prior and Goodwill is also a retail store. The City needs to eliminate stigma-based zoning. In response to Councilor Rohrbach's question, Jeff Ukrainec, Vice President of Donations for Goodwill Industries responded that Goodwill is a nonprofit which helps individuals get job training and placement. Goodwill reinvests into the community and helps those that are challenged for entering the job market and gives them second chances. We are also committed to sustainability and hope to minimize donation collection bins in the community. In response to Councilman Soltis' question, Mr. Ukrainec stated that Goodwill Industries is an international agency that provides employment opportunities and is a tier one supplier to Big 3 automotive companies. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Motion carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss stated that this evening's meeting is a perfect example of why City Council needs to have increased flexibility in meeting scheduling. He stated his wife, Ali, will be at the Library this Wednesday as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Please come out and bring your kids to this fun event. Councilor Wright stated that March is Reading Month, and Stories with Belle is a good opportunity to participate. He wished his daughter Happy Birthday tomorrow. He reminded everyone to not judge people by their appearance, but rather by who they are. Remember to be kind. City Attorney Sherman stated that he serves as the Vice President of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation that raises money for cancer research. On June 12th, this organization is awarding Judge Jamie Wittenberg posthumously the Bremen Memorial Inspirational Award. He expressed his condolences to Judge Wittenberg's wife and their four daughters, and to the entire Wittenberg family on their incredible loss. He continued by stating Judge Wittenberg had very special qualities and this was an incredible loss for the entire community. 3 03-13-23 City Manager Marsh had no comments this evening. City Clerk Rottmann had no comments this evening. Councilor Rohrbach thanked Treasurer Wittenberg for attending the meeting this evening. She stated that many can benefit from the programs that he spoke of, so please reach out if you need assistance. The Garden Grant application from ECC is now available. The is a mini grant for residents to build, create, develop or help facilitate a native garden; the application deadline is April 2nd and awards will be announced on April 24th. Help us to be a more sustainable, green city. Councilman Fleming announced that the Chamber of Commerce Green Crawl is this Friday. The Firefighters are holding their annual Autism Awareness t-shirt sale, with proceeds going to Healing Haven. Next week is Serve Weather Awareness Week and a special siren will be going off on March 24th at 1 p.m. He stated residents can sign up for Oak Alert to receive emails from Oakland County for emergencies; a link will be on the City's website. Councilman Soltis had no comments this evening. Mayor Grafstein thanked Treasurer Wittenberg for attending this evening and thanked him for having these programs to help our residents. This Friday is the Green Crawl and on March 24th, the Memorial Day Parade Committee is having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser; if you can't attend, donations can also be made. The Firefighter Autism Awareness t-shirt proceeds go to Healing Haven and they were able to use previous proceeds for a playground. She noted that the Healing Haven is also having an Open House on March 24th. She thanked everyone in attendance this evening and stated the next meeting is on March 27th. ADJOURNMENT Having no further business, Mayor Grafstein adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Roslyn Grafstein, Mayor Cheryl E. Rottmann, City Clerk 4 03-13-23