City Council

APPROVED 07/21/2025 SPECIAL QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLE MINUTES JULY 14, 2025 THE SPECIAL QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLE OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:31 P.M., ON MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025, BY MAYOR PRO-TEM MISTERAVICH. ROLL CALL Present: Allen, LaFore, Misteravich,Schultz, Warn, Yelencich Absent: Rix (arrival at 5:43pm) Others: City Manager Moore, City Clerk McCallister, Fire Chief Reindel, Police Chief Costello Visitors: RVFD Drew Reindel, Scott Bell (67808 Leelane Ct.) Motion by Warn, seconded by Schultz, to excuse Mayor Rix from tonight’s quarterly meeting. All yeas Motion passes AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion by Warn, seconded by Schultz, to adopt the agenda as presented. All yeas Motion passes 1. FIRE DEPARTMENT WATER/TANKER TRUCK Quarterly: 07/21/2025 Page 1 of 5  APPROVED 07/21/2025 The water (1) tanker truck’s replacement needs to be expedited as it did not pass inspection in June, 2025. Several quotes for its replacement were provided along with bank loan/financing options. At this time the tanker will only be utilized for non-emergency runs as taking the truck completely out of commission is not a viable option. Further discussions on this matter will be addressed. Fire Chief Reindel indicated the Pierce and Spencer models are identical for comparison value. Reindel recommended the Pierce model for purchase due to the lesser amount of production time. If approved, the lettering for the tanker will be outsourced in order to save money. The consensus among Council agreed to add this item to the July 21st agenda as an Item for Consideration and asked Administration to start compiling financing options. An option to donate the truck for training purposes in lieu of future academy training costs may be an option. Council asked for further information. 2. EMERGENCY WEATHER & FIRE SIRENS Council reviewed a public information document created to explain the Emergency Weather and Fire Sirens. Council was in favor of putting the information out to the public. The new siren information document will be uploaded to the Fire Department, Police Department webpages on the City’s website. It will also be able to be shared on their Facebook pages. Chief Reindel reviewed the current fire siren activation list along with the proposed revisions to the DO NOT SOUND SIREN list with Council. Chief Costello, Chief Reindel and the City Manager met previously to discuss siren activation. Councilors are pleased with the revised list. Administration will send a notice and/or meet with RLEMS Director White to inform him of the changes that are being implemented. 3. OPEN BURNING POLICY Council discussed potential revisions to the current Open Burning ordinance. Portable fire pits, chimeneas and smokeless fire pits have become very popular and have prompted the review of the existing ordinance. After some discussion, the consensus agreed to amend the current Open Burn Ordinance to reflect a 25ft rule vs. the existing rule of 50 feet from any structure. Quarterly: 07/21/2025 Page 2 of 5  APPROVED 07/21/2025 Administration will rewrite the brush language to specify the use of sticks and twigs as acceptable but not brush. Currently the online burn permit applications for the City of Richmond and the Township are on the same landing page. Revisions will be made so that the permits will be separated out based on location and will include the specific ordinance rules for each area. 4. ANIMAL ORDINANCE – LIVESTOCK SECTION A request to keep dwarf goats was presented at the June 2, 2025 Council meeting. Councilors had requested further discussion on the matter before making any decision. Council had asked administration at that time for additional information and potential changes to the ordinance. Administration had reviewed the current ordinance requirements with the City Council. It was determined the request to keep dwarf goats needs to be considered under the current ordinance as that was in effect at the time of the request. The City Attorney stated that the important section of the ordinance for Council’s consideration is: If it shall appear to the council, after receiving such report and recommendation, that it will not be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of any of the inhabitants of the city, or constitute a public nuisance, the council shall grant to the person applying therefor, a permit in writing, signed by the clerk, authorizing the applicant to keep the specified horses, cattle, swine, sheep, ponies, goats, rabbits, poultry or other animals or fowl, as applied for. The City Attorney indicated that if Council denied the request, reasonable time to rehome the goats should be provided. Administration also presented a draft ordinance that incorporated changes discussed with the City attorney. The sections were re-organized and language was adjusted. A section about minimum lot size was also added. Council comments: Schultz would like all livestock removed from the City. Misteravich would like to see minimum lot size requirements added to the ordinance. There is some concern that livestock requests may be creating animosity between neighbors. Warn is not pleased with the current situation with the neighboring goats and would like Quarterly: 07/21/2025 Page 3 of 5  APPROVED 07/21/2025 them removed. Allen views the chickens as a positive allowance but is worried about the implications of expanding the requests for hoofed animals. Rix does not think the City should allow any farm animals unless the minimum lot size requirements are met. Grandfathering current livestock homes should be considered. LaFore agrees with the new proposed ordinance standards. Yelencich suggested including language that: As long as the applicant’s lot size meets the minimum requirement the request should be handled administratively with the implementation of a six (6) month probationary period clause. If problems arise, the item should then be forwarded to Council for further consideration. Administration was directed to amend the draft ordinance to include a minimum lot size requirement, adjust ordinance sections so that the permit requirements are stated first and follows in a more cohesive order. Public Comment: Scott Bell indicated there currently is no animosity with neighbors and stated that livestock is allowed under the current ordinance. Bell is supportive of revisiting the ordinance in one (1) year. 5. MUTTONVILLE LANE CUT DISCUSSION Funds for the roundabout project will not be available until the spring of 2026. MDOT stated that conservatively the project will not be completed until 2029 or 2030. Due to the extended timeline, Administration requested feedback on the temporary closure of the cut until MDOT is available to install the roundabout. Due to the other ongoing road projects, Council is apprehensive of the closure of Muttonville due to the unforeseen effects of the detoured traffic. After some discussion, the consensus agreed to have Administration start the process of putting a new Traffic Control Order in place so it may be put into action when the Gratiot Avenue project is completed. The future closure of Muttonville will be implemented on a trial basis. 6. ORCHARD MEADOWS – SIDEWALK GAP LETTER Quarterly: 07/21/2025 Page 4 of 5  APPROVED 07/21/2025 Administration provided the draft letters that will be sent to the property owners in Orchard Meadows that currently do not have sidewalks installed on their property. Administration asked for feedback prior to sending these letters to the property owners. After reviewing the letters, the consensus agreed to have option number two (2) where the property owner can obtain their own quote/contractor removed from the letter. Furthermore, Council requested option number three (3), the special assessment, note that additional interest fees will be included in the assessment. The property owners at 67770 Fitzgerald will also receive the sidewalk gap letter. Initially this property was bypassed due to an existing tree that has since been removed from the potential pathway. 7. COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Mayor Rix asked Councilors for any comments or concerns. COUNCIL COMMENTS Schultz asked for the date of the Christmas Open House. Allen reminded Council that discussion of the next volunteer of the year needs to be addressed at the next Quarterly workshop. Allen also asked for an update on the RVFD/Methodist Church parking lot agreement. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Schultz, seconded by Allen, to adjourn the Special Quarterly Roundtable Meeting at 8:33 p.m. All yeas Motion passes Respectfully submitted: Heather L. McCallister City Clerk Quarterly: 07/21/2025 Page 5 of 5