City Council Workshop

City Council Workshop Madison Heights, Michigan February 27, 2023 A City Council Workshop was held on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM at City Hall - Council Chambers, 300 W. 13 Mile Rd. PRESENT Mayor Roslyn Grafstein Councilwoman Toya Aaron Mayor Pro Tem Mark Bliss Councilman Sean Fleming Councilor Emily Rohrbach Councilor Quinn Wright ABSENT Councilman David Soltis ALSO PRESENT City Manager Melissa Marsh City Attorney Larry Sherman City Clerk Cheryl Rottmann CC-23-37. Excuse Councilmember. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, seconded by Councilwoman Aaron, to excuse Councilman Soltis for tonight’s City Council Workshop meeting. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilor Wright Motion carried. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: There were no members of the public wishing to speak. DISCUSSION ON CHARTER ISSUES TO BE REFERRED TO CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE: City Manager Marsh began the meeting by stating the purpose of today’s workshop was to determine which sections of the Charter should be referred to the Charter Amendment Study Group (CASG). The Charter Amendment Study Group will be tasked with drafting proposed options for Charter amendments for final consideration by City Council to be included on the November 7, 2023 ballot. In order for the items to be included on this ballot, the CASG must have their recommendations back to City Council for consideration at their April 24, 2023 meeting. 1 02-27-23 City Attorney Sherman provided Council with a history of the reasoning for the drafting and adoption of Section 5.1 of the Charter. CC-23-38. Section 4.5 Elective Officers and Terms of Office, Section 4.6 Special Elections, Section 4.10 Form of Petitions, Section 4.11 Approval of Petition, Section 4.15 Canvass of Votes, Section 5.5 Resignations, Section 7.13 Submission of Initiatory and Referendary Ordinances to Electors. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, seconded by Councilor Rohrbach, to forward to the CASG Section 4.5 Elective Officers and Terms of Office, Section 4.6 Special Elections, Section 4.10 Form of Petitions, Section 4.11 Approval of Petition, Section 4.15 Canvass of Votes, Section 7.13 Submission of Initiatory and Referendary Ordinances to Electors for amendments to reflect current Michigan Election Law and Section 5.5 Resignations, for revisions to allow citizen board and commission appointment resignations to be accepted administratively. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CC-23-39. Section 3.4 Election of Mayor; Mayor Pro Tem and 5.7(a) Filling Vacancies in Elective Offices. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, seconded by Councilman Fleming, to forward to the CASG Section 3.4 Election of Mayor; Mayor Pro Tem to redraft to provide for the automatic appointment of Mayor Pro Tem after each regular city election and 5.7(a) to redraft for the automatic appointment of the Mayor Pro Tem to Mayor in the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor. Discussion was held on removing the political aspect of appointing the position of Mayor Pro Tem as well as the appointing of the Mayor Pro Tem to a Mayoral vacancy when the decision is automatic; and whether the previous term election or the current term election totals should be used for the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CC-23-40. Section 6.1 Regular Meetings. Motion by Councilman Fleming, seconded by Councilor Wright, to forward to the CASG Section 6.1 Regular Meetings to redraft to provide for greater flexibility in rescheduling regular Council meetings to alternative days of the week and/or reducing the number of meetings to one (1) meeting per month when there is a lack of business to be presented or considered. 2 02-27-23  Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Councilwoman Aaron, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilor Wright Motion carried. CC-23-41. Section 5.7(a) Filling Vacancies in Elective Offices. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, seconded by Councilor Rohrbach, to forward to the CASG Section 5.7(a) Filling Vacancies in Elective Offices, to redraft the appointment procedure of Councilmember in the event of a vacancy in the office of Councilmember. Council discussed the need to have a procedure in place in the event there are not any unsuccessful candidates to fill a vacancy and whether this process should be reconsidered; whether there should be a minimum threshold met before for qualifying to fill a vacancy that doesn’t include circulating petitions, whether appointing an unsuccessful candidate reflects the values of the community, and whether the current system is working as it is and does not to be amended. Voting Yea: Mayor Grafstein, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach, Councilor Wright Voting Nay: Councilwoman Aaron Motion carried 5-1. CC-23-42. Section 5.1 Officers, Qualifications. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, seconded by Councilor Rohrbach, to forward Section 5.1 Officers, Qualifications for redrafting to eliminate the requirement for a sitting Council member to resign from Council if they wish to run for Mayor. Discussion was held on the advantages and disadvantages of candidates running for Mayor, whether they sit on Council, are currently serving as Mayor or a candidate not currently serving. Voting Yea: Councilwoman Aaron, Mayor Pro Tem Bliss, Councilman Fleming, Councilor Rohrbach Voting Nay: Mayor Grafstein, Councilor Wright Motion carried 4-2. ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business, Mayor Grafstein adjourned the meeting at 7:04 p.m. Roslyn Grafstein, Mayor Cheryl E. Rottmann, City Clerk 3 02-27-23