City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 IN CITY HALL Mayor Pro-Tem Michael C. Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Pro-Tem Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Mark Carufel, City Clerk, gave the Invocation. Council Members present at roll call: Deanna Koski, Joseph V. Romano, Maria G. Schmidt, Doug Skrzyniarz, Michael C. Taylor, Barbara A. Ziarko. Council Member absent: Richard J. Notte. Also Present: Mark Vanderpool, City Manager; Jeffrey Bahorski, City Attorney; Mark Carufel, City Clerk; Madeline L. Ranella, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Koski, seconded by Romano, to approve the Agenda as presented. Yes: Koski, Romano, Schmidt, Skrzyniarz, Taylor, Ziarko. Absent: Notte. The motion carried. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER Mr. Vanderpool reminded everyone about a special event coming up at the Senior Center on Thursday, September 18th from 9 am to noon. He stated over 50 vendors and local agencies will be sharing information geared toward enhancing quality of life. This event is sponsored by the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry and will feature healthy cooking demonstrations, a variety of health screenings and guest Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 2 speaker, Dr. Frank McGeorge, WDIV's "Healthy Living" expert. Mr. Vanderpool pointed out all are welcome to attend, but information will be geared to individuals 50+. Mr. Vanderpool gave an update on the website redesign and stated as the City of Sterling Heights embarks on a six-month redesign of its current website, the Community Relations Department is asking visitors of sterling-heighs.net to provide an assessment of the site's strengths and weaknesses through an online survey. Questions include a wide range of topics including: "How often do you visit the Website", "What type of information would you like to see on Sterling Heights' Website?" and "What is the best way for your city to communicate and stay in touch with you?". He went on to state the City's Website generates more than 1.2 million unique visitors annually and offers hundreds of pages of municipal information including minutes, agendas, forms, bill payment options, online assessing data searches, e-mail subscription forms, Parks & Recreation Registration, etc. Earlier this year, the Sterling Heights City Council approved a contract with CivicPlus to head the redesign project making a major upgrade to Sterling Heights Virtual City Hall. Mr. Vanderpool reminded everyone that September is National Library Card Month. During the month, libraries encourage those without a library card to obtain one, while simultaneously celebrating library cards for those who already have one. This year, the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library is rewarding current and future card holders with surprise gifts. Mr. Vanderpool reported the Fall edition of the Sterling Heights Magazine is now available online. This issue provides city news, parks and recreation registration Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 3 information, library event information and special features, such as the Volunteerism in Sterling Heights, Fall's Pride & Shine Day, the Annual Fire Department Open House, Puttin'On The Ritz II-USO Style and much, much more. Mr. Vanderpool reported the Parks and Recreation Department is still accepting registrations for a variety of school year programs for residents of all ages, including dance, fitness, gymnastics, ballroom dance, as well as others through the Senior Center, Nature Center and Special Recreation Division. Mr. Vanderpool reminded residents the construction season is continuing with some new work in addition to the work that is already underway. He stated approximately $300,000 in concrete repairs will be done to north and southbound Schoenherr Road approaching M-59 and there will be lane closures for approximately one month. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Moved by Koski, seconded by Romano, RESOLVED, to approve the Consent Agenda: A. To approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 19, 2014, as presented. B. To approve payment of the bills as presented: General Fund - $786,153.44, Water & Sewer Fund - $2,070,347.91, Other Funds - $915,482.10, Total Checks - $3,771,983.45. C. RESOLVED, to award the bids for: (a) video cameras and accessory equipment and (b) video editing software and equipment to Videotape Products, Inc., 41210 Bridge Street, Novi, MI 48375 in the cumulative amount of $45,081 and authorize a Capital Projects Fund budget amendment in the amount of $8,147 using General Fund reserves. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 4 D. RESOLVED, to extend the bid award for water service installations and repairs to S & W Excavating Co., Inc., 37220 Mound Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310 through June 30, 2015, at the existing unit prices. E. RESOLVED, to accept the proposal by Musco Sports Lighting, LLC, 2107 Stewart Road, Muscatine, Iowa 52761, for field lighting equipment at Joseph J. Delia, Jr. Major Park at a total cost of $326,990. F. RESOLVED, to award the bid for the Canal Road Storm Drain, Sterritt Street to Morang Drive, City Project #14-258, to Pamar Enterprises, Inc., 58021 Gratiot Avenue, New Haven, MI 48048 in the amount of $389,073.60 and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign all required documents on behalf of the City. G. RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution requesting that the Michigan Strategic Fund Board apply the existing Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designation for the parcel of property leased by Hi-Tech Tool Industries, Inc., commonly known as 6701 Center Drive, Sterling Heights, Michigan, to the newly-created parcel identification number 10-28-100-050-000. ~ RESOLUTION ~ A resolution of the City Council requesting that the existing Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designation for the real property commonly known as 6701 Center Drive apply to the newly-created parcel identification number 10-28- 100-050-000 Whereas, on September 2, 2008, the City Council of the City of Sterling Heights (City) adopted a resolution requesting that the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board designate a parcel of property leased by Hi-Tech Tool Industries, Inc. (HTI), commonly Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 5 known as 6701 Center Drive, parcel identification number 10-28-100-043-000, as a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone pursuant to and in accordance with §8d of the Michigan Renaissance Zone Act (Act), P.A. 376 of 1996, as amended, for an initial term of five years; Whereas, HTI’s application for a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone received approval by the MSF Board for the requested initial term of five years; Whereas, the City Council further resolved on November 7, 2012 to request that the MSF Board extend the duration of the Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designated for the property commonly known as 6701 Center Drive, parcel identification number 10-28-100-043-000, for a period of five years, for a total of ten years; Whereas, HTI’s application to extend the duration of the of the Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone five years for a total of ten years received approval by the MSF Board. Whereas, the existing Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designation applies to HTI’s leased parcel of property commonly known as 6701 Center Drive, parcel identification number 10-28-100-043-000; Whereas, HTI’s leased parcel of property, commonly known as 6701 Center Drive, has expanded through the split of an immediately adjacent vacant parcel and combination with HTI’s leased parcel of property to facilitate an expansion of HTI’s manufacturing facility; Whereas, a product of the split/combination process is the assignment of a new parcel identification number for HTI’s leased parcel of property, as expanded, being 10-28- 100-050-000; and, Whereas, the City must resolve to request that the MSF Board apply the existing Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designation to HTI’s leased parcel of property, as expanded, under the new parcel identification number 10-28-100-050-000; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Sterling Heights, Macomb County, Michigan, does hereby request that the Michigan Strategic Fund Board apply the existing Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone designation for the parcel of property leased by Hi-Tech Tool Industries, Inc., commonly known as 6701 Center Drive, Sterling Heights, Michigan, to the newly-created parcel identification number 10-28-100-050-000. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 6 This Resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the Sterling Heights City Council held on the 2nd day of September, 2014. _________________________________________ Mark Carufel, City Clerk H. RESOLVED, to receive the lawsuit, Milan Budimir v. Sterling Heights Police Department, 41A District Court Case No. S-14-3072-GZ. I. RESOLVED, to receive the lawsuit, Fett vs. City of Sterling Heights; United States District Court Case No. 2:14-cv-13089-MAG-MJH. Yes: Koski, Romano, Schmidt, Skrzyniarz, Taylor, Ziarko. Absent: Notte. The motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mr. Jeffrey Norgrove - Closing of City Hall on Friday before taxes are due; 13th year Anniversary of 9-11. Ms. Dolores Hanton - Road repairs, new patching equipment; Resents paying $8.50 for Detroit's delinquent water bills. Mr. Dennis White - Pothole repairs leaving loose gravel and debris behind. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Mayor Pro-Tem Taylor asked Mr. Vanderpool to give an update on the new equipment purchased by the City for pothole repairs. Also to address the millage passed last year for roads. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 7 Mr. Vanderpool reported on the new construction work that would be starting and stated the Safe Streets Proposal was approved by the voters last year, allocating $3 million each year for improvements to neighborhood roads. He explained the three different forms of repairs - milling and resurfacing the entire road for asphalt roads; concrete roads to be milled and concrete put over the base; complete concrete replacement. As far as the equipment approved by the City Council, it includes a miller, which mills out certain breaks, an asphalt sprayer and an infrared machine and compactor. These machines do not make it perfectly level, but it does prevent blown out tires from potholes. He explained there are a number of major road projects that will be going on over the next couple of years: new Lanes on Dequindre Road from 18 Mile to M-59, Dodge Park Road will be completely improved from Metropolitan Parkway to Utica Road, Van Dyke will be completely reconstructed from 15 Mile to 18 Mile and Ryan Road will have major concrete repairs from 14 Mile to 16 Mile starting in a couple of weeks. Mr. Vanderpool encouraged residents to contact their state legislators to make sure the City receives its fair share. There was no report from Mr. Bahorski at this time. Councilman Skrzyniarz reported that the election falls on Tuesday, November 4. October 4 is the last day to register to vote and he strongly encourages people to make sure they are registered to vote. He also reminded residents the school board election will be on the November ballot. Councilman Skrzyniarz stated to Ms. Hanton, it is a good idea we have an election coming up in November. People need to remember the reason we needed to do a millage Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 8 is because the state decided to balance its budget on the back of the cities. He encouraged residents to do a little bit of research when they go to the polls. Councilman Skrzyniarz stated with the recent flooding in the neighborhoods, it was nice to see neighbors helping neighbors and he thanked everyone for what they did for each other. He also thanked the DPW, Police and Fire Departments. Mayor Pro-Tem Taylor discussed the problems in Shelby Township with the oil-gas exploration issue and the drilling so close to the residential area going on 24 hours a day. He stated the Supervisor of Shelby Township called a meeting and the cities had an opportunity to share their concerns with Mrs. Valerie Grader, who took the concerns back to the government. The cities want to have local control over the drilling operations. Mayor Pro-Tem Taylor asked Mr. Vanderpool to discuss whether there has been any drilling in the City of Sterling Heights, the permit process, what kind of control the City has and what residents need to tell their state legislators. Mr. Vanderpool stated the name of the company doing the drilling throughout southeast Michigan is West Bay Exploration Company. These companies have rights and they can go into the communities without any local approval. The only permit is from the MDEQ, issued at the state level. He stated as long as the property owner gives them approval, they can go ahead with their drilling. He pointed out West Bay Exploration Company did some testing in Sterling Heights in the northwest quadrant, but there were no plans to drill in Sterling Heights and there are no pending permits from the MDEQ that the City is aware of. The City wants to pursue stronger legislation that would give the City greater local control. Mr. Vanderpool pointed out there is a pending bill, but it only includes Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Page 9 townships with 70,000 or greater populations. It does not pertain to cities. The City has to work through the Michigan Municipal League to make sure cities are included in the new legislation. Mr. Vanderpool stated Sterling Heights residents could contact their state legislators, either Representative Henry Yanez or Jeff Farrington or Senator Tory Rocca and express their concern that cities should have greater control in any drilling rights in their community and they need to do this as quickly as possible. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Romano, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: Ziarko, Romano, Schmidt, Skrzyniarz, Taylor, Koski. Absent: Notte. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. MARK CARUFEL, City Clerk