City Council Regular Meeting

City Council Regular Meeting Madison Heights, Michigan August 14, 2023 A City Council Regular Meeting was held on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 7:30 PM at City Hall - Council Chambers, 300 W. 13 Mile Rd. PRESENT Mayor Roslyn Grafstein Councilwoman Toya Aaron Councilman Sean Fleming Councilman David Soltis Councilor Quinn Wright ABSENT Mayor Pro Tem Mark Bliss Councilor Emily Rohrbach OTHERS PRESENT City Manager Melissa Marsh Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Sherman City Clerk Cheryl Rottmann Councilwoman Aaron gave the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance followed. CM-23-197. Excuse Councilmembers. Motion to excuse Mayor Pro Tem Bliss and Councilor Rohrbach from tonight's meeting. Motion made by Councilman Fleming, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion Carried. CM-23-198. Addition to the Agenda. Motion to add under Reports, add the following items: 1. Appointment of Erika Morgann as Magistrate for the 43rd District Court 2. Report from City Attorney and Counsel for MMRMA regarding Pending Litigation in Chad Garner v Madison Heights Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. 1  Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-199. PEE 23-01 - Alley Vacation: 17 foot-wide alley between 601 W. 12 Mile Road and 28767 Dartmouth Street. Mayor Grafstein opened the public hearing at 7:35 p.m. Kathy Sapia, resident, expressed concerned over what they are going to do with this property once vacated and what is the long term plan. She does not desire any type of drive-through establishments. Sarah Brotherson, resident, stated she also works at the BP and sees three accidents a day at this intersection and more traffic is not needed. She is interested in trying to keep neighborhood safety. Tim Ginter, resident, stated his opposition to the conceptual plan. Seeing no one further wishing to speak, Mayor Grafstein closed the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. Assistant City Attorney Sherman advised Council that five votes are required to vacate an alley. In response to Councilor Wright, City Planner Lonnerstater stated that the Planning Commission recommended that Council postpone consideration of the vacation until all items were addressed. Two of the three items have been satisfied; the DTE relocation would need to be resolved and should be conditional for approval. He noted that a representative for the applicant was now present should Council have any questions for him. Councilman Fleming stated that 601 12 Mile Road has two exits, one on 12 Mile Road and the other on Dartmouth. This is a complex intersection and lots of traffic, and asked if it would be possible to close off the Dartmouth exit. Mr. Lonnerstater responded that a conceptual plan has been submitted; this and other issues would need to be addressed in the normal site plan process. Councilwoman Aaron expressed concerned over traffic in the area. When 1-75 reopens completely, it will be even more difficult to cross 12 Mile Road. Motion to refer PEE 23-01, Alley Vacation between 601 W. 12 Mile Road and 28767 Dartmouth Street to the Planning Commission for further study and recommendation. Motion made by Councilor Wright, Seconded by Councilman Soltis. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach 2  Motion carried. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Martha Covert, resident, spoke about DTE's lack of addressing issues in the neighborhood with down wires and her unhappiness with the amount of time it took for them to come out and fix the matter. Chris Webster, resident, stated his concern with vacation of alley. Traffic is of major concern, and it is already difficult at times backing out of their driveway. If there is an exit off of Dartmouth, it will become atrocious. Paul Sanders, resident, expressed concern about 12 Mile Road still being closed under I-75. It has been 2 years. He supports working to get DTE to address some of the issues re-occurring in the City. CM-23-200. Consent Agenda. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda, as read. Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-201. Emily Reetz - Resignation from the Human Relations and Equity Commission. Motion to accept the resignation of Emily Reetz from the Human Relations and Equity Commission and declare the seat vacant. Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-202. Anjela Freeman - Resignation from the Library Advisory Board. Motion to accept the resignation of Anjela Freeman from the Library Advisory Board and declare the seat vacant. Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright 3  Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-203. Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Cost-Sharing Agreement. Motion to approve the multi-jurisdictional cost-sharing agreement for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) action grant plan, including Madison Heights' local grant match of $14,895.84, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign on behalf of the City. Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-204. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 24, 2023. Motion to approve the Regular City Council Meeting minutes of July 24, 2023, as printed. Motion made by Councilwoman Aaron, Seconded by Councilor Wright. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-205. Appointment of Erika Morgan as Magistrate for the 43rd District Court. Motion to approve the appointment of Erika Morgan as Magistrate to the Hazel Park 43rd District Court. Motion made by Councilman Fleming, Seconded by Councilwoman Aaron. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. CM-23-206. Report from the City Attorney and Counsel for MMRMA regarding pending litigation in Chad Garner v City of Madison Heights. Motion to approve the recommendation of the City Attorney and Counsel for MMRMA regarding pending litigation in Chad Garner v. City of Madison Heights. Motion made by Councilor Wright, Seconded by Councilwoman Aaron. 4  Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Councilman Fleming, Councilman Soltis, Councilor Wright Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilor Rohrbach Motion carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilwoman Aaron stated that this Wednesday begins the Library Advisory Board's Financial Literacy series in conjunction with Michigan Schools and Government. This is a four-part series; Session 1: Raising a Financially Literate Family; Session 2: Loan & Credit Basics; Session 3: Buying a Home and Session 4: How to Grow Your Own Money Locally. The courses are provided by Colleen Godfrey, MSGCU Consumer Education Specialist, at the Library at 6 p.m. and refreshments will be provided. Councilor Wright encourages everyone to attend the Financial Literacy series. He stated he went out with the Active Adult Advisory Board and look at the home nominated for the Beautification Awards. The community is brighter and benefits from the immaculate landscaping and pride of ownership. We have said goodbye to the old Active Adult Center, which has been around for 47 years and holds a lot of memories. He looks forward to the new campus for the Active Adult Center. He expressed thanks to John from the AAC, who drove the bus for the HREC Jewish Historical Tour in Detroit. This Thursday will be the Northwest Detroit History Talk and he encourages all to attend the event. All of the history binds us together and our cultures intersect. They are also talking about future trips with the Eastern Market and the Charles Wright Museum. The HREC is planning an event called Motorama and Smoke - a car show and cooking competition as well as a Plant sale, details will be forthcoming. Remember to be kind and try to see the human in each other and we all have a story. City Attorney Sherman commented that often times life is a two-sided coin. This area has seen more than its share of problems with DTE; however, we recently had an issue with DTE with the civic center project and they were very responsive to our request and the project is moving forward. City Manager Marsh stated next Monday, August 21st at Fire Station 2 there will be a ribbon cutting; September 18th is tentatively scheduled for the Grand Opening of Civic Center Complex at 5:30 p.m. There will be tours, raffles and other fun things and she encourages everyone to attend. Madison Heights is working with Oakland County Veterans services and Forgotten Harvest for a veterans food distribution event on August 31st from 9 a.m. to noon. You can register at the City or on the Oakland County Veteran's Services website. Veterans are also eligible to receive an Oakland County Parks pass for free and military appreciation voucher. City Clerk Rottmann stated that the next round of appointments to boards and commissions will be at the next Council meeting. A list of vacancies are available on the City's website and if you are interested in a committee, even if there are no current openings, please apply because we keep the applications for a year. Councilman Fleming stated on September 9th from Noon to 2 p.m. will be the Canine Demonstration sponsored by the Police Department and the Crime Commission. Councilman Soltis had no comments this evening. 5 Mayor Grafstein thanked all those that came out this evening to the Council meeting. She and a lot of people are frustrated with DTE and the City is working with them. She stated that she passes messages and makes calls to DTE on the resident's behalf. 12 Mile Road under I-75 will be open at the end of August or first week of September. We want our roads to be fixed and upgraded and it is an inconvenience when they are being worked on. September 9th is the Arts Board Trail Tunes. Michael Covert organized the Off the Trail Fundraiser and she thanked him for his efforts. The next Council meeting is August 28th. ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business, Mayor Grafstein adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Roslyn Grafstein, Mayor Cheryl E. Rottmann, City Clerk 6