City of Northville CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
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City of Northville
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 19, 2021
Mayor Turnbull called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom Video
conference meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with Open Meetings Act. The
City’s website and the meeting agenda included meeting participant links, and contact information for
those needing assistance or accommodations. The “Zoom Webinar User Guide” posted on the City’s
website includes information about electronic meetings and a user guide.
ROLL CALL
Present
and Location: Mayor Brian Turnbull (Northville, Michigan, Wayne County), Mayor Pro Tem Marilyn
Price (Northville, Michigan, Oakland County), Councilmembers Sam Ekong (Northville,
Michigan, Oakland County), Patrick Giesa (Northville, Michigan, Wayne County), and
Barbara Moroski-Browne (Northville, Michigan, Wayne County).
Absent: None
Also
Present: City Manager Patrick Sullivan, City Clerk Dianne Massa, Police Chief Alan Maciag,
Finance Director/Treasurer Sandi Wiktorowski, DPW Director Loyd Cureton, Assistant
DPW Director Mike Domine, Labor Attorney Steve Schwartz, Attorneys for Root and
Rose, Robert Florka of The Energy Reduction Coalition, and six citizens
Mayor Turnbull read a statement informing those present that the City Council meeting is being recorded
for rebroadcast on the City’s website. By remaining at the meeting, consent is inferred by those present to
have their voice and image recorded and posted on the City’s website.
It was explained how to raise your hand to participate in public comment during the meeting.
PRESENTATION
A. Citizens Comments None
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion Price, seconded by Moroski-Browne to approve the agenda and consent agenda as presented.
Approve City Council Minutes of:
- Regular Meeting of December 21, 2020
- Regular Meeting of January 4, 2021
Receive Bills List:
- Week of January 22, 2021
Receive Board and Commission Minutes: None
Receive Departmental Reports:
- Northville Youth Network / 2020 year-end
Board and Commission Appointments: None
Appointment to Rouge River Task Force / John Roby
Roll Call Vote. Yes: Ekong, Giesa, Moroski-Browne, Price, Turnbull. No: None. Motion carried.City Council Regular Meeting – January 19, 2021 - Page 2 NEW BUSINESS A. Request to Transfer Ownership and Location of a Class C Liquor License Toria, 115 E. Main Street In December of 2020, Attorney Jessica Hallmark of the Law Offices of Adkison, Need, Allen and Rentrop, submitted a letter to the Northville Police Department as notice to transfer a Class C Liquor License into the City of Northville. Attorney Jessica Hallmark is the attorney representing Root and Rose, LLC 115 E. Main Street Northville, Michigan during the transfer process. An application has already been filed with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for the transfer and has been assigned to the MLCC Southfield Office for investigation. A completed Liquor License Review Committee application has also been received. The application is a request to transfer ownership and location of a Class C and SDM liquor license with a Sunday Sales AM/PM permit from Woodpile BBQ Shack Detroit LLC, which is in escrow with the MLCC, and was located in Detroit to Root and Rose, LLC doing business as Toria located at 115 E. Main Northville, MI. Root and Rose is also requesting a Catering Permit and an Outdoor Service Area on the City sidewalk. A local resolution LCC-106 form would need to be completed, if approved, because the outdoor service area is on City sidewalk. The applicant has completed the Liquor License Review Committee application requesting the transfer. The applicant has also submitted a detailed plan of operation. A detailed alcohol management plan is included in the plan of operations. Root and Rose is owned by Alicia Racine, Ryan Racine and Katheryn O’Reilly. Root and Rose purchased the existing business and assets from Edward’s Catering and Carryout Cuisine, Inc. in early November. For the month of November, Root and Rose operated takeout and in-person dining, and during the month of December it only catered events. In January of 2021, Root and Rose has closed and is currently renovating the existing building for approximately six to eight weeks. Following completion of the renovations, Root and Rose will open Toria as an American Bistro. Root and Rose will have interior seating for 30 patrons, which includes six seats at the bar. The anticipated food to alcohol ratio is 80% food and 20% alcohol. There is no proposed entertainment at this time. Root and Rose’s outdoor seating area, located on the adjacent City sidewalk, will have seating for 24 patrons. Toria’s proposed hours of operation will be seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Toria will adjust its hours based on customer demand. The owners do not currently own any liquor licenses and have no violation history. Alicia Racine currently owns and operates Adorn and Sugar Lu’s in Northville and has done so for over three years. Ryan Racine previously worked in the restaurant industry from 1993 to 2001. Root and Rose has a lease with the landlord of the premises for five years, with three five-year extension options. A public hearing was held earlier with the City of Northville Liquor License Review Committee (LLRC) and the LLRC recommends City Council not object to the transfer of the Class C and SDM liquor license with Sunday Sales AM/PM permits and the addition of a Catering Permit and Outdoor Service Area on the City sidewalk. The staff can find no reason to object to the approval of this request subject to final inspections and code compliance. City Council Discussion: In response to a question from City Council, the applicant stated they understand their proposed outdoor seating area is subject to final approval by City staff. The Police Chief also clarified that a Class C license is an on-premise license for the sale of beer, wine, and spirits. City
City Council Regular Meeting – January 19, 2021 - Page 3 Council comments noted Toria will be a greet addition to the City and the Racines were thanked for making another investment in the downtown. There were no public comments. Motion Price, seconded by Moroski-Browne to approve the resolution approving the request by the applicants to transfer the ownership and location of the Class C and SDM liquor license with a Sunday Sales AM/PM permit from Woodpile BBQ Shack Detroit LLC, which is in escrow with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), and was located in Detroit to Root and Rose, LLC doing business as Toria located at 115 E. Main Northville, Michigan, and approve the addition of a Catering Permit and an Outdoor Service Area on the City sidewalk. Roll Call Vote. Yes: Giesa, Moroski-Browne, Price, Turnbull, Ekong. No: None. Motion carried. B. Lawn Maintenance, Mowing, and Weed Control Program Contact Extension On January 7, 2019 the City of Northville City Council awarded a two-year contract to Mendoza’s Outdoor Services for the mowing of City-owned properties and selected rights-of-way. The City’s advertisement for bids listed twenty-three areas for routine mowing from as small as Ely Court (0.10 acre) to as large as the Novi Road Flood Plain Area (18 acres). Mendoza’s Outdoor Services has provided the City with exceptional service and has offered to extend their contract an additional two years with no price increase and under the same terms and conditions. With Mendoza’s, complaints have been reduced to almost zero. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the attached contract and Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) has set the insurance limits required. The budget impact with the contract extension remains the same at approximately $53,000 per year. There were no public comments. Motion Ekong, seconded by Price to approve and award a two-year contract extension to Mendoza’s Outdoor Services for a Lawn Maintenance, Mowing, and Weed Control Program in the amount of $106,153.92. It is further recommended that the Public Works Director be authorized to sign this agreement on behalf of the City of Northville. Roll Call Vote. Yes: Moroski-Browne, Price, Turnbull, Ekong, Giesa. No: None. Motion carried. C. Consideration of LED Lighting Conversion Program Agreement The Energy Reduction Coalition (ERC) is a Michigan nonprofit corporation currently serving numerous government entities in Michigan. The ERC's purpose is to accelerate the adoption of energy-saving technologies. The ERC's staff are experts in energy conservation, primarily by converting outdated lighting to energy efficient LED. ERC's program is also available to commercial enterprises, and has served Petoskey Plastics and UP Paper, as well as many organizations outside of Michigan. ERC has analyzed certain lighting costs for the City of Northville and projected power usage after conversion to LED. The analysis and survey plan were provided for City Council review. It was noted the project scope does not include Allen Terrace and City Hall, and those may be added at a later date. City Hall and the Fire Department will be addressed when the City undertakes the Fire Department renovation. The difference between current costs and post conversion power cost are the benefit of doing the conversion. Under the proposed agreement, the cost savings are shared between ERC and the City. The City's share goes up every year while ERC's share goes down. ERC is obligated to supply
City Council Regular Meeting – January 19, 2021 - Page 4
replacement lighting when a light fails, and pay a maintenance stipend to the City for servicing the light.
The City is obligated to share the cost saving benefit with ERC as long as ERC continues to meet its
obligations under the agreement. If the City takes lighting out of service, no benefit sharing is due. The
City may choose to buy out ERC at any time by paying a depreciated buy-out cost. The agreement has
been reviewed by the City's legal counsel and insurance provider, and after minor changes, they have no
objections.
This program is expected to be self-funding, with energy savings paying for the cost of the program. The
City's current lighting cost is $53,811 annually. Under the scope of this project, the cost will reduce to
$19,620. The reduction is cost and energy consumption, which will result in an annual savings of
$34,191, to be used in part to reimburse ERG.
Robert Florka of ERC briefly reviewed the programs structure, benefits, and savings. Florka also
reviewed the obligations of the City and ERC.
City Council Discussion: In response to questions from City Council, the following was noted:
- It was clarified that “30 years” is a forecast and not a term. The City has the flexibility to
leave the agreement earlier.
- The Optional Buyout Clause is for actual cost, not a markup cost.
- Budget impact noted the annual lighting cost will reduce from approximately $49,000 to
about $19,000. The first-year payment to ERC would be $27,000, with a first-year savings to
the City of $5,000. Annually, the savings to the City will increase.
- The City has control of the lighting color level. The City does not have a lighting color plan
as in the past, the LED lighting was done as replacement and not a part of a unified plan.
This program will unify the City’s lighting color level.
- When the City moves forward with the Fire Department renovation, ERC will look at the
final architectural plans, do an analysis, and determine the savings to the City to share in the
cost design of efficiency lighting.
City Council also noted that this is a $150,000 project. ERC’s program affords the City the opportunity
to upgrade the lighting without going into debt. City Council voiced appreciation to the DPW Director
for his work with the Sustainability Team on this effort.
There were no public comments.
Motion Ekong, seconded by Moroski-Browne to approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the
Lighting Conversion Program agreement with The Energy Reduction Coalition of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Roll Call Vote. Yes: Price, Turnbull, Ekong, Giesa, Moroski-Browne. No: None. Motion carried.
D. Tentative Agreement with AFSCME Local 2720
The contract between the City and AFSCME (DPW) expired on December 31, 2020. At the January 4,
2021 City Council meeting, agreements with the Police Command and Patrol unions were ratified by
Council. Last Monday, a very similar tentative agreement, with the same wage adjustments, was reached
with AFSCME. The agreement provides for a four-year contract running from 1-1-21 to 12-31-24. Wages
will increase 3% in the first year and 2.5% in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of the contract.
Additional provisions include increasing the meal ticket allowance (granted during extended overtime
call-ins) from $7 to $10, a $500 annual bonus for employees who obtain pipeline assessment certification,
housekeeping and language clarifications on such items as retiree health care, health plan descriptions,
and an agreement covering how employees, who work for both the DPW and Fire Departments, are paid.City Council Regular Meeting – January 19, 2021 - Page 5 The costs in this agreement have been calculated by our Finance Department and are projected to fall within our five-year financial plan budget projections for wage and benefit costs. City Council Discussion: In response to a question from City Council, Staff explained the City pays the cost for DPW employees to obtain pipeline assessment certification. The cost is minimal and having certified employees saves the City money by not having to hire a higher cost contractor. There were no public comments. Motion Price, seconded by Giesa to approve the tentative agreement between the City of Northville and AFSCME Local 2720 until December 31, 2024. Roll Call Vote. Yes: Turnbull, Ekong, Giesa, Moroski-Browne, Price. No: None. Motion carried. E. Non-Union Wage and Benefit Adjustments On January 4, 2021, Council approved negotiated changes to the POAM (Police Patrol) and COAM (Police Command) labor contracts. Similar changes were presented to Council earlier in this meeting for AFSCME (DPW). The agreements provide for four-year contracts running from 1-1-21 to 12-31-24. Wages will increase 3% in the first year and 2.5% in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of the contract. In general, non-union employees follow the provisions of the MAPE (Clerical) agreement. However, MAPE has not yet contacted the City to begin negotiations. Due to the uncertainty of the timing of MAPE negotiations, Staff is requesting that Council approve all non-union personnel wage increases consistent with the other three unions. In addition, all three contracts also provide Defined Contribution participants a 13% contribution into their individual 401(a) retirement accounts. Non-union personnel receive a 12% contribution. Therefore, staff is requesting that Council approve a 1% increase in the Defined Contribution rate for this group to be consistent with POAM, COAM, and AFSCME employees. The proposed adjustments are within the current year budget and five-year plan. City Council Discussion: Comments from City Council supported making comparable changes to the Defined Contribution for non-union personnel. There were no public comments. Motion Moroski-Browne, seconded by Price that Administration be authorized to implement the wage changes in the POAM, COAM, and AFSCME agreements with all non-union personnel for the duration of the agreements, subject to annual budget appropriations. Also move that Administration be authorized to implement a 1% increase in the Defined Contribution rate for all eligible nonunion personnel. Both of these adjustments would take effect January 17, 2021 for payroll purposes. Roll Call Vote. Yes: Ekong, Giesa, Moroski-Browne, Price, Turnbull. No: None. Motion carried. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS A. Mayor and Council Communications Turnbull voiced appreciation to those that gave their time and talents for successful union negotiations, and to the various Task Forces. He thanked everyone for their flexibility during the COVID pandemic. Turnbull spoke about the Northville Community Support Fund. He noted that Allen Terrace remains “COVID” free.
City Council Regular Meeting – January 19, 2021 - Page 6 Giesa noted the Sustainability Committee has a new chairperson and secretary. They will do a full presentation to the Historic District Commission on January 20. Giesa and Sustainability Committee members met with the City Manager to review budget goals and objectives. The Committee is also working on walkability and green ordinance audits. Their next meeting is January 27. Giesa noted the Ford Field Task Force published its working statement of purpose, and is putting together its policy and procedures. Several subcommittees were formed. This Task Force is working closely with the Rouge River Walk Task Force. The Ford Field Task Force is hoping to bring a recommendation to City Council in May. Their next meeting is in March. Ekong noted that the Housing Commission continues to work on filling vacancies at Allen Terrace. At the next Council meeting, Ekong will give an update on various Housing Commission remodel and upgrade projects. Price noted that the Farmers Market Task Force had its organizational meeting. The Task Force has asked to hear from Jody Humphries at its next meeting (Chamber of Commerce) on its perception of Farmers Market, its strengths, weaknesses, and areas to expand. They want to know where the Farmers Market stands now and where the City might contribute moving forward. Price noted that the Chamber of Commerce is the owner of the Farmers Market and Jody Humphries does a tremendous amount of work. Price spoke of the importance to assist and work with the Chamber of Commerce to present opportunities so Northville continues to host Farmers Market in the City. It was also noted that, because the Farmers Market in Northville is held on a Thursday, it has the best vendors in Michigan. The Northville Farmers Market is one of the top 10 Farmers Markets, drawing more than 2,000 people each week. Moroski-Browne noted the Rouge River Walk Task Force had its second meeting last week, and formed several subcommittees. They took a group tour of the Birmingham river walk. The Task Force continues to explore funding opportunities. Moroski-Browne spoke about the Historic District, noting that property owners continue to invest in their homes. She also encouraged people to support Mill Race Village and the Art House. B. Staff Communications None Being no further business to come before City Council, the Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn. Motion Ekong, seconded by Giesa to adjourn the meeting. Roll Call Vote. Yes: Giesa, Moroski-Browne, Price, Turnbull, Ekong. No: None. Motion carried. Adjournment: 8:03p.m. _________________________________ Dianne Massa, CMC City Clerk _______________________________ Brian P. Turnbull Mayor Approved as submitted: 02/01/2021
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