City Of Albion
City Council Meeting
September 15, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor William M. Wheaton opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.
MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED
ROLL CALL
Ron Gant (1), Betty Branche (2), Ken Waito (3), Andy Zblewski (4), Cheryl Krause (5), George Strander (6) and Mayor William M. Wheaton.
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 Executive Director; Jill Domingo, Deputy Clerk; Eric Sanchez, Economic Development Corporation Vice President; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer and Mark Robison, City Attorney.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Comments were received from Council Members Branche and Strander and Mayor Wheaton.
A. Albion College Update – President Donna Randall.
Additional comments were received from Council Members Gant and Strander and Mayor Wheaton.
V. 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.)
No comments were received.
VI. PUBLIC HEARING – USDA Funding for Joint Ambulance-Fire Station.
Mayor Wheaton opened the Public Hearing at 7:17 p.m.
City Manager Herman stated the reason for the Public Hearing, gave an update on the status of the project and highlighted key parts of the USDA application process.
Mayor Wheaton gave an overview of the various needs this project could meet.
Joe Domingo, 1005 East Broadwell Street, questioned the cost of the building and the design plans as well as where the plans are displayed for public view.
City Manager Herman discussed the financing mechanisms to be utilized for this project and stated that the plans are, and have been, available for viewing in the City Hall Planning Department.
Mr. Domingo inquired as to how much of the cost would be covered by the Albion Community Ambulance Service.
City Manager Herman responded that ACAS would reimburse approximately 40 percent of the costs via a lease arrangement.
With no other comments being offered, Mayor Wheaton closed the Public Hearing at 7:26 p.m.
VII. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of Regular Session Minutes – September 02, 2008.
B. Request for 2nd Reading and Approval of Ordinance #2008-05, to Amend Sections 30-133, 30-148 and 30-168 of the Zoning Ordinance to Provide for Private Cultural/Arts Uses in Residential Area.
No comments were received.
Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented. (7-0, rcv).
VIII. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION
A. Request for 1st Reading and Approval of Resolution #2008-21, to Sell Property to Sheena Caudill.
Comments were received from City Manager Herman.
Branche moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve the 1st Reading of Resolution #2008-21, to Sell Property to Sheena Caudill. (7-0, rcv).
B. Request for Approval to Extend the Existing METRO Act Permit for AT&T Michigan Until December 31, 2010.
Comments were received from Council Members Gant, Zblewski and Strander and City Manager Herman.
Gant moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve Extending the Existing METRO Act Permit for AT&T Michigan Until December 31, 2010. (7-0, rcv).
C. Request for Approval of Computer Services Agreement with Computer Ties of Jackson, Michigan.
Comments were received from Council Members Zblewski and Strander, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.
Waito moved, Gant supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Computer Services Agreement with Computer Ties of Jackson, Michigan. (7-0, rcv).
D. Request for a Post Retirement Adjustment for the Albion Public Safety Retirees Act 345 Pension Plan.
Comments were received from Council Members Krause and Strander, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.
Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Direct City Staff to Obtain Actuarial Computations for Both a 2% and a 3% Increase Effective January 01, 2009. (7-0, rcv).
E. Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-22, to Set TEFRA Hearing.
Comments were received from City Manager Herman.
Branche moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-22, to Set TEFRA Hearing. (7-0, rcv).
F. Request for Approval to Proceed with Design Work for the 2009 and 2010 Street Reconstruction Program.
Comments were received from Council Members Gant, Krause, Strander, Branche and Zblewski, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.
Waito moved, Gant supported, CARRIED, to Approve Proceeding with the Design Work on Woodlawn/Manor/ Crescent Streets for the 2009 and Fitch Street for the 2010 Street Reconstruction Program. (7-0, rcv).
G. Request for Approval to Proceed with Investigation and Correction of City Hall Footer Drain System.
Comments were received from Council Member Strander and City Manager Herman.
Gant moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Proceed with Investigation and Correction of City Hall Footer Drain System. (7-0, rcv).
H. Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member(s).
No action was needed as all Council Members were present.
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 Council Member Waito; Mayor Wheaton; City Manager Herman; Director of Public Services Markovich; DDA Executive Director Wolf; Sue Michael, 902 North Superior Street; Sharon Renier, Munich, Michigan; Jay Loomis, 927 North Berrien Street and Rick Fuentes, 901 East North Street.
X. ADJOURNMENT
Krause moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn the Regular Session. (7-0, rcv).
Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 8:36 p.m.
____________ _________________________
date Kerry Helmick
City Clerk