City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

April 21, 2008

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor William M. Wheaton opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

ROLL CALL

Betty Branche (2), Ken Waito (3), Cheryl Krause (5), George Strander (6) and Mayor William M. Wheaton.  Ron Gant (1) and Andy Zblewski (4) were absent.

            Administration: Mike Herman, City Manager;  Kevin Markovich, Director of Public Services; Kerry Helmick, Finance Director/City Clerk/City Treasurer; Eric Miller, Chief of Public Safety; Nidia Wolf, Downtown Development Authority Director; Eric Sanchez, Economic Development Corporation Vice President and Chuck Robison, City Attorney.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Strander and Krause and Mayor Wheaton.  Chief of Public Safety Miller spoke at Council Member Krause’s request regarding the recently purchased used fire truck.

V.         PRESENTATIONS   

A.         Fair Housing Month Declaration was presented to Mayor Wheaton by Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors representative Ralph Moore.  Additional comments were received from Mayor Wheaton.

B.         Certificate of Appreciation to Mary Ann Egnatuk was read by Mayor Wheaton and will be sent to Ms. Egnatuk as she was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.

C.         Equal Pay Day Proclamation was read by Council Member Branche and presented to Barb Frederick who then gave some comments.

D.         Calhoun County Trailway Master Plan was presented by DDA Director Wolf who then requested Council support for said plan.  Additional comments were received from Council Member Strander and Mayor Wheaton.

VI.       CITIZENS’ COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to agenda items and to no more than five (5) minutes.  Proper protocol and decorum is required.)

Comments were received from Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street.

VII.     CONSENT CALENDAR

A.                 Approval of Regular Session Minutes – April 07, 2008.

B.                  Request for Approval for VFW Post 3672 to Sell Poppies on May 8, 9 & 10, 2008.

No comments were received.

Waito moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented.  (5-0, rcv).

VIII.   ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

            A.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-13, to Support the Divided We Fail Effort.

                        Comments were received from City Manager Herman.

                        Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-13, to Support the Divided We Fail Effort.   (5-0, rcv).

B.         Request for Approval of Fireworks Program at Albion College on Friday Night, April 25, 2008.

Comments were received from City Manager Herman, Chief of Public Safety Miller and Kristin Wysocki, 5985 Kellogg Center.

Krause moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Fireworks Program at Albion College on Friday Night, April 25, 2008.    (5-0, rcv).

C.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-14, to Reconstruct North Clark Street from Michigan Avenue to North Street.

Comments were received from Council Member Waito, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.

Branche moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-14, to Reconstruct North Clark Street from Michigan Avenue to North Street.  (5-0, rcv).

D.         Discussion of Sidewalk Repair Program and Target Areas for 2008.

            Comments were received from Council Members Krause and Strander, Mayor Wheaton, City Manager Herman, Director of Public Services Markovich and City Attorney Robison.

E.         Request for Approval to Contract with Wade Trim for Implementation of the Transportation Asset Management System - $10,000.

            Comments were received from Council Member Waito and City Manager Herman.

            Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Contracting with Wade Trim for Implementation of the Transportation Asset Management System - $10,000.  (5-0, rcv).

F.         Discussion of Draft Residential Refuse Collection Request for Proposal.

            Comments were received from Council Members Waito and Strander; Mayor Wheaton; City Manager Herman; DDA Director Wolf; Joseph McFall, 116 Austin Avenue; Richard Fuentes, 901 East North Street and Thad Tomlinson, Allied Waste.

            Strander moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Draft Residential Refuse Collection Request for Proposal as Presented.  (5-0, rcv).

G.         Request for Approval of Four-Year Labor Agreement with POAM.

            Comments were received from City Manager Herman.

            Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Four-Year Labor Agreement with POAM.  (5-0, rcv).

H.        Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member(s).

Comments were received from Mayor Wheaton.

Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Excuse Council Members Gant and Zblewski.  (5-0, rcv).

I.                   Request to Authorize Letter of Support for the Calhoun County Trailways Master Plan.

No comments were received.

Strander moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Authorize a Letter of Support for the Calhoun County Trailways Master Plan.  (5-0, rcv).

IX.       CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes.  Proper decorum is required.)

Comments were received from Mayor Wheaton; Director of Public Services Markovich; Beverly Bentley, 303 North Clark Street; Richard Fuentes, 901 East North Street; Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street and Phyllis Cramer, 417 Darrow Street.

X.         ADJOURNMENT

            Krause moved, Strander supported, CARRIED, to adjourn the Regular Session.  (5-0, rcv).

            Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 8:36 p.m.

____________                                             _________________________

date                                                                Kerry Helmick

                                                                        City Clerk