City Council honors Arbor Day, gets an earful from Fuerst Farm supporters

By Sami Khan
April 25, 2008

This week's Novi City Council Meeting began with Mayor Landry's presentation about Arbor Day. After first explaining the humble roots of this now globally celebrated occasion and extolling the many virtues and benefits of planting trees, Mayor Landry went on to invite Novi Residents to this year's Arbor Day Celebration. The celebration will take place on April 26th from 10 am until noon at Lakeshore Park. The presentation included an overview of the past Arbor Day-related honors that Novi has received in the recent past, including the Tree City USA Award and the Tree Growth Award. Novi residents were thanked for their contributions during past Arbor Days and encouraged to continue the tradition this year.

Next, Council took time to hear from the audience. Ginger Barrons addressed Novi City Council's recent 5-2 decision to demolish Fuerst Farm. She emphasized that the building held sentimental value for her and that she felt that it held a similar place in other Novi residents' hearts. She stated that she feels she and her fellow community members did not have enough of a say in this decision, and that Novi City Council should reconsider their approach to this issue. She encouraged Novi City Council to protect the property. She said that, as far as she knew, it may be the only piece of historical property that the city owns.

Sherry Konkus also raised the issue of Fuerst Farm's demolition. She also emphasized her desire for a solution to the Fuerst Farm situation that involves using a public consensus. She encourages the use of a joint strategy on this issue.

Finally, The Chair of the Historical Commission, Kathy Mutch, voiced her views on the issue. While the Historical Commission is in favor of preserving Fuerst Farm, Mutch focused her comments on the issue of communication. She encouraged Novi City Council to form a stronger habit of communicating with the Historical Commission so that the two bodies could work together more effectively and efficiently.

Next up, the Novi City Council announced this year's appointees to organizations such as Novi Youth Council. NYC received several new members this year, who come from both Novi High School and other schools in the area (Novi is home to four districts, five including CC). Other organizations that received new members included Parks and Recreation, the Historical Commission, the Beautification Commission, HCD, and the Library Board.

CONSENT AGENDA:  The Consent Agenda was approved as follows:  All approved

A.                  Approve Minutes of: April 7, 2008 – Regular meeting

B.         Approval to award three year contract to Bright House Networks in the amount of $3,000 per month for wide area network connectivity to remote City locations. 

C.         Approval of final costs for the 2008 Annual Appreciation Dinner in the amount of $18,542.58 to the Sheraton Detroit Novi.

D.         Acceptance of rights-of-entry for construction of water main improvements along Pontiac Trail between West Park Drive and Beck Road (parts of Parcel Nos. 22-03-101-010, 22-04-100-034, 22-04-200-013, and 22-04-100-010).

E.         Approval of form of 13-foot permanent easement for water main improvements along Pontiac Trail between West Park Drive and Beck Road (part of Parcel No. 22-03-101-010), from Kayne Properties, LLC, for the sum of $9,100, including authorization for entry into a modified from of monitoring agreement and debt payment agreement.

F.         Approval of Resolution for Memorial Day Parade to be held on Monday May 26, 2008, starting at 10am on Ten Mile Road at Karim Blvd proceeding west to the Novi Civic Center.

G.         Acceptance of a Landscape Maintenance Agreement for Alcan Automotive for property located at the southeast end of Magellan Drive in Beck West Corporate Park, south of Humboldt Drive and west of West Park Drive. 

H.         Approval to award Alternate 2 to American Sprinkler & Landscape to add landscaping to the Twelve Mile Road Irrigation project (between Novi and Meadowbrook Roads) in the amount of $68,300. 

I.          Approval to extend contract for heating and cooling preventive maintenance to Detroit Temperature Engineers at current rates until December 1, 2008 (estimated cost $15,000 plus parts and labor for additional repairs).

J.          Approval of Claims and Accounts – Warrant No. 767

MATTERS FOR COUNCIL ACTION 

1.         Consideration of request to transfer ownership of 2007 Resort-B Hotel licensed business (MCL 436.1531(4); non-transferable) with dance-entertainment permit, located at 42100 Crescent, Novi, MI 48375, Oakland County, from CH Realty II/Novi Hotel Operating, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) and CH Realty II/Novi Hotel, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) (co-licensees) to GTIS I-AIMCAP Novi, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company). APPROVED      

2.         Approval to award a construction contract for the sanitary sewer Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Implementation project to Windemuller Electric Inc., the lowest qualified bidder, in the amount of $398,400. APPROVED

3.         Approval of Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment 18.223, to amend Ordinance No. 97-18 as amended, the City of Novi Zoning Ordinance at Section 2406, Planned Development Options to allow for modifications to allow additional uses within the RC District utilizing a PD-2, Planned Development Option and to address minor inconsistencies within the PD Section of the Ordinance.  First Reading  APPROVED

4.         Approval of recommendation of the Ordinance Review Committee for Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment 18.224, to amend Ordinance No. 97-18 as amended, the City of Novi Zoning Ordinance, Article 3004, “Temporary Special Exception and Temporary Special Land Use Permits,” Article 3100, “Board of Appeals,” and Article 3006, “Public Hearing” to address recent amendments to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and to clarify certain review standards.  First Reading  APPROVED

5.         Approval of recommendation from Ordinance Review Committee for Sign Ordinance Text Amendment 08-100.37, to amend Chapter 28, “Signs” of the City of Novi Code, to update, clarify, and provide new substantive regulations concerning the placement of signs within and throughout the City.  First Reading  APPROVED

6.         Appointments to Youth Council and Boards and Commissions

           Youth Council – Aditi Arora, Dylan Capello, Bridget Dunn, Mark Gardner, Irene Israel, Jason Murray, Yunbo Nie, Neha Verma and Zhounan Xie.

           Beautification Commission – Neelima Goyal and Mariah Smith

           Historical Commission – Rachel Manela and Paul Syriac

           Housing and Community Development – Sudharshan Mohanram

           Library Board – Satya Dalavayi

           Parks, Recreation & Forestry – Anagha Bharadwaj and Vinuthna Venigalla

7.         Recommendation from Consultant Review Committee to award a two-year Traffic Engineering consulting services contract to Birchler Arroyo (with option for a one-year renewal). APPROVED

8.         Approval of resolution to authorize Budget Amendment #2008-04.        APPROVED