Mayor Clark called the meeting to order at 7:37 PM.

ROLL CALL: Mayor Clark, Council Members Bononi, Cassis, Csordas, DeRoche, Kramer, Lorenzo

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo added, Under Mayor and Council Issues, Item #8 Confirmation of consultant bid rotation.

Mr. Helwig informed Council of a corrected motion sheet regarding Item 2 under Matters for Council Action. In Chief Shaeffer’s absence last week the cover sheet referenced elementary and middle school and obviously the school resource officer is stationed at the high school.

Tonight’s action is to accept the paperwork that has been coming since February. Also, there has been extensive bid participation regarding Fire Station 4 and the material is available concerning Item #5. In order to give Council more time with that information the low bidder is being recommended but Council might want to move it to the end of the Matters for Council Action so that during the break Council would have a chance to look at it.

Mayor Clark added, under Mayor and Council Issues, Item #9 Rebroadcast of Council meetings.

Member Kramer stated the Consultant Review Committee met and discussed legal support for the Planning Commission and various potential actions on administrative adjustments that might be done to improve communications. A report would be forthcoming.

Member Bononi advised the Storm Water Management and Watershed Stewardship Committee would meet June 19^th and discuss the proposed Storm Water Management Ordinance and a general review of the City’s Storm Water Management Program.

1. Proclamation recognizing Father Leslie Harding for his service to the Community.

Mayor Clark presented Father Leslie Harding with a proclamation recognizing his 30 years of service to God and Community and extended best wishes for his retirement.

Father Harding thanked everyone and reminisced about the past 30 years. He said Council is facing some very important times and there is much to do and a lot of places to go over the next 30 years. He thanked everyone for their generosity and kindness and wished them God’s speed.

2. Presentation regarding Providence Application to State of Michigan for Authorization to add in-patient Service (200 beds) to Providence Medical Center – Providence Park, Novi – Robert Casalou, President.

Robert Casalou, President of Providence Park said the medical center is an award winning large facility operating as a hospital without beds. In 1988 they applied for a C.O.N. for a hospital in Novi, went through 10 years of litigation with the State, and voluntarily gave it up two or three years ago deciding to go about it in a different way. Mr. Casalou gave some background on the medical center over the years and how it came to Novi. Now, at Providence Park, there are 200 physicians, 24-hour emergency care, operating rooms, etc. They keep patients for 23 hours which is all that is allowed without a hospital license. They are very proud of their award winning Assarian Cancer Center, which is a joint venture with the University of Michigan. They have invested $100 million on site and employ 200+ physicians and 550+ associates.

On June 6, 2001 they filed a certificate of Need with the State of Michigan which is the license required to be granted a hospital license. They requested it for the addition of an inpatient hospital and the expansion of the emergency department at Providence Park. Providence Park emergency is seeing over 30,000 patients a year and was built to handle half that many people. They are proposing a large obstetrical care unit along with 16 intensive care and 150 medical/surgical beds. These beds would be for lower acuity situations such as routine surgeries and obstetrics. The estimated cost would be $110 million and would double the size of the current facility and work force. Currently, they transfer over 200 patients per month to Southfield for admission. He said when people talk about quality they have to realize that quality is also about access, convenience and choice. They plan to keep their open-heart program in just one location. They could be ready to start the project in October 2002, complete and open the facility by July 2005 depending on the approval process.

There are others applying for a hospital in Novi but he would not dwell on the competition. Mr. Casalou said they would look for support directly from the community they call home. They have a long history with the City and with or without a hospital they would continue to be a committed partner. They felt they made the strongest case for quality and financial efficiency. Quality was what they were about and they know how to run ambulatory facilities and have done a great job on the site. The asset is already there ready to be added onto.

Providence, as part of the St. John Health Care System, first core value is service to the poor and vulnerable. They have three core hospitals located in the City of Detroit and are committed to keeping them open. They don’t believe they will ever make any money but hope to find the resources to keep them open because the City of Detroit’s health care needs are a concern for all of us and there is a greater good to be served. They had been asked, as a part of the system, to become as competitive as possible in their suburban marketplace so they could provide the resources for their sister hospitals in the under served area. That is what their commitment is. They are financially strong at Providence, they do subsidize their sister hospitals as part of their mission and motivation.

Mr. Casalou showed Council an artists rendering of what would be proposed to be added to the site. The current facility was built so that the hospital could be added without destroying the existing facility.

Mr. Casalou stated they were asking for community support. The approval process with the State is kind of a mystery to the public because the State has a very closed process for assessing. He said they would deny the application and would deny all applications in sub-area 69 that encompassed communities as far west as Livingston County, to Warren and Detroit. The State believes there are too many beds but the problem is there is a mal-distribution of those beds up and down the corridor. The State will not solicit public comment and Mr. Casalou asked for public support to pursue a hospital in Novi to serve the western community.

Mr. Helwig reported that Member Bononi greatly assisted him and the community regarding being in compliance with our Storm Water Permit and Illicit Discharge Regulations. They had a meeting with MDEQ representatives in Livonia and it was disheartening to see where we are right now. We are in a district of 3 counties and Wayne and Washtenaw counties have very pro-actively initiated programs to insure there is some effort beyond a complaint system to monitor any leaching from septic systems. It is disheartening because our county is not taking a leadership effort and each community is fending for themselves. We are waiting for response from the Court Monitor. Drain Commissioner McCulloch has contacted the City since taking office at the beginning of the year and has expressed an interest. He asked us to be a partner in exploring the septic system as it is an issue of extreme importance. He thanked Council for going on record that the county is not living up to its potential in this area.

Mr. Klaver noted the Civic Center will be hosting MADD’s picnic from 11am –6 p.m. this weekend.

Member Csordas noted his concern with adding stop signs that might cause further speeding after stopping. Mr. Nowicki noted speed studies had been conducted and showed a marked decrease in speed since the stop sign installation. The impacts of those signs on the balance of the roads remain to be seen. Mr. Nowicki noted after other speed studies are done, he would bring back reports. Mayor Clark noted these signs mean stop, not slow down. It’s for our children and seniors safety and residents shouldn’t complain about receiving a ticket if they don’t heed the signs.

Member Kramer noted the South Lake Drive Task Force was working with natural means to slow down traffic and suggested a second cooperative work effort could be instituted to assist with enforcement. Member Cassis also commented that education needed to take place prior to something happening in that area.

Mayor Clark commented that it is a matter of public safety and unfortunately a ticket is sometimes the only way to get someone’s attention.

Greg Carn, Riverbridge Subdivision, was present to speak regarding Agenda Item #1, Riverbridge Subdivision License Agreement Amendment. They are requesting a reduction of the insurance for the signs because there are only 54 homes in their community and it needed to be affordable.

Mr. Finn read a letter from John O’Brien, O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Homes, regarding the Gateway Zoning District. He felt the issue needed to be resolved in one way or another and asked Council to resolve the issue in the best interest of the City and the citizens.

Dan Wood, owner of a plumbing and heating business on six acres near O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home noted he was in a quandary of what to do with the business because of the zoning. He had offers to buy the property, or he could sell or develop part of it but felt he was in limbo with the Gateway Zoning issue. The faster the zoning was established the faster things could get accomplished.

Ted Manassi, manager of Marelex Place LLC who owned 12.6 acres across from Country Epicure Restaurant. He said every month the property was not fully developed the City was losing tax revenues that could never be recouped and that the Gateway Zoning was long overdue. He understood that some citizens felt the Gateway Ordinance would represent competition to the Main Street project, which is a private

development. He stated it was not the function of City Council to protect one private development at the expense of other private developments and he would not ask for this kind of protection for one of his. The Gateway Ordinance would not hinder the Main

Street project but would compliment and improve the entire area. He felt it was not fair to hold the affected properties hostage to a difficult zoning such as Non-Center Commercial.

Member Cassis removed Item A-1, June 4, 2001 Regular Meeting Minutes.

1. Approve Minutes of:

2. June 11, 2001, Special meeting

2. Schedule Executive Session to be held in Council Annex immediately following regular meeting of June 18, 2001, for the purpose of discussing pending litigation.

C. Adoption of Resolution Number 1 for Eleven Mile Road (Section 20), Sanitary Sewer

Special Assessment District.

D. Adoption of Resolution Number 1 for Pioneer Meadows - Sierra Drive, Water Main Special Assessment District.

E. Adoption of Resolution Number 1 for Pioneer Meadows - Sierra Drive, Sanitary

Sewer Special Assessment District.

F. Approval of Authorizing Resolution for the Music & Motor Fest

G. Rescind trophy bid award of May 21, 2001 to Academy Sales and award to Award Specialties, the second low bidder, based on unit pricing.

H. Award bid for a Vehicle Wash Contract to Original Two-Dollar Car Wash based on a unit price of $1.75 per vehicle wash.

9. Adoption of resolution recommending approval of the Novi Rotary Club’s request

for recognition as a non-profit organization operating in the community for the

purpose of obtaining a gaming license.

K. Approval of Claims and Accounts – Warrant No. 599.

1. Approval of resolution to authorize year-end Budget Amendment 2001-7.

CM-01-06-151 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by DeRoche; CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY: To approve resolution to authorize year-end Budget

Amendment 2001-7.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-151 Yeas: Lorenzo, Bononi, Cassis, Csordas,

DeRoche, Kramer, Clark

Nays: None

2. Authorization to accept COPS in Schools FY2000 Grant.

CM-01-06-152 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by DeRoche; CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY: to authorize acceptance of COPS in Schools

FY2000 Grant.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-152 Yeas: Bononi, Cassis, Csordas, DeRoche,

Kramer, Clark, Lorenzo

Nays: None

3. Approval of Resolution of support of Providence Hospital’s Application for a

Certificate of Need.

CM-01-06-153 Moved by Csordas, seconded by Lorenzo; MOTION CARRIED:

To approve Resolution of support of Providence Hospital’s

Application for a Certificate of Need.

DISCUSSION

Member Cassis asked Mr. Fisher if he should participate in this vote, as he is a member of the Board of Visitors of Providence Hospital. Mr. Fisher recommended a recusal and Member Cassis concurred.

Member DeRoche commented that anything added to the cost of health care was government intervention and this is a prime example of where regulation does not work. It was his opinion there is a definite need for this facility. Member DeRoche wholeheartedly supported this and any fight they took to Lansing to bring a hospital to Novi.

Member Clark concurred and noted there was no public input. It is a sad day when government bureaucratic organization of this state denies its own citizens due process.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-153 Yeas: Csordas, DeRoche, Kramer,

Clark, Lorenzo, Bononi

Nays: None

Abstain: Cassis

4. Approve/Deny Riverbridge Subdivision License Agreement amendment.

Mayor Clark commented this is a subdivision of 54 homes and he was amazed that their insurance carrier was charging them for this sign. He felt it was astronomical and reducing it to $1 million/$2 million would result in a savings to the homeowners of about $900 a year.

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo emphasized with the homeowners association but was concerned that our legal Counsel advised this should be best supported by an opinion from our risk manager.

 

 

 

CM-01-06-154 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by Csordas; CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY: To postpone until the next regular meeting

of Council so that the Risk Manager can review this matter

and advise Council of the liability and whether or not this was

in the best interest of the City.

DISCUSSION

Member Kramer asked the consultants to take into account the location. Most subdivisions border on a main road but this one borders on a small feeder road so there isn’t much pass by traffic except for the small amount of industrial business that went there. This needed to be measured against our City standard to determine whether this situation merited a reduction and asked that the Risk Manager take this into consideration.

Member Csordas asked Mr. Fisher to investigate what precedent this might set and what increase in liability to the City there might be as a result of that.

Member Cassis asked why the insurance cost was so high? Mr. Fisher said perhaps it was bid without thorough investigation of the site. Signs like this in many instances are adjacent to a main road where vehicles are approaching the signs at high speeds and sharp turning movements. This is at a slight turning movement at low speeds.

Mayor Clark asked Mr. Fisher if this could be brought back at the next meeting? Mr. Fisher said yes. Mayor Clark asked the administration to make sure that the Risk Manager responded by the next meeting with a straight answer and nothing less so Council could act on it.

Mr. Helwig noted he understood the reason for a postponement but was recommending Council do this. He said they had not heard from the Risk Manager since they last met in terms of information he requested three weeks ago. They have been non-responsive, non-productive and irresponsible. Mayor Clark asked him to pass on to the Risk Manager, speaking only for himself, that if there is no response then maybe a new Risk Manager is needed.

Mr. Helwig said he was on record as saying that. We are not here to be sold we are here to be served. He was upset this was holding up the neighborhood.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-154 Yeas: Csordas, DeRoche, Kramer, Clark,

Lorenzo, Bononi, Cassis

Nays: None

5. Moved to Item #10

Mayor Clark noted he received a certificate of appreciation from National Letter Carriers Association and from Jim Asher on how the citizens of the community made the food drive a success.

6. Acceptance of Sidewalk Easement for the Twelve Mile and Other Roadway Improvements – SAD (Special Assessment District) 155 Project from Novi Hotel Fund Limited Partnership, part of Parcel No. 50-22-15-200-094.

CM-01-06-155 Moved by DeRoche, seconded by Csordas; MOTION CARRIED:

To accept the Sidewalk Easement for the Twelve Mile and Other Roadway Improvements – SAD (Special Assessment District) 155 Project from Novi Hotel Fund Limited Partnership, part of Parcel No. 50-22-15-200-094.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-155 Yeas: Kramer, Clark, Cassis,

Csordas, DeRoche

Nays: Lorenzo, Bononi

7. Authorizations for staff and attorneys to pursue the gift offer of 14 acres of land from Mark Jacobsen & Associates, Inc./Novi Group No. 2 LLC.

Mayor Clark noted this involved 14 acres of land between Bristol Corners South and the City’s wetland mitigation site. There is an indication that a staff review should be conducted prior to acceptance and brought back to Council with a recommendation once the review is complete.

CM-01-06-156 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by DeRoche; CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY: To authorize staff and attorneys to pursue the gift

offer of 14 acres of land from Mark Jacobsen & Associates, Inc./Novi

Group No. 2 LLC.

DISCUSSION

Member Bononi said there should be an environmental assessment and an analysis of any existing drainage or other topographical limitations.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-156 Yeas: Clark, Lorenzo, Bononi, Cassis, Csordas,

DeRoche, Kramer

Nays: None

8. Consideration of the request from Abbey Hills Condominium Homeowners Association to accept Abbey Drive as a City roadway and authorization for an engineering review.

CM-01-06-157 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by DeRoche; CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY: To consider the request from Abbey Hills

Condominium Homeowners Association to accept Abbey Drive as a

City roadway and authorization for an engineering review.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-157 Yeas: Lorenzo, Bononi, Cassis, Csordas,

DeRoche, Kramer, Clark

Nays: None

 

9. Appointments to Boards and Commissions.

Mayor Clark said there are three, three-year appointments with terms ending June 1, 2004 for the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Ms. Cornelius read the results of the vote:

Lisa Bennett 4 Votes

Jennifer Kerbrat 7 Votes

Melissa Place 7 Votes

Jason Scott 2 Votes

Timothy Shroyer 0 Votes

Mayor Clark said it is the responsibility of the Mayor to bring his nominees forward for the Planning Commission for Council vote. Mayor Clark proposed:

1. Gwen Markham to fill the seat of Karen Piccinini.

2. Timothy Shroyer to fill the seat of Andrew Mutch.

CM-01-06-159 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by Bononi; MOTION FAILED:

To approve the Mayor’s nomination of Timothy Shroyer to fill the seat of Andrew Mutch.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-158 Yeas: Clark, Lorenzo, Bononi

Nays: Cassis, Csordas, DeRoche, Kramer

3. David Ruyle to fill the seat of Philip Koneda.

Mayor Clark said Council would deal with this issue the first or second meeting in July.

Member DeRoche said this has been a long time coming, it was voted on a long time ago, the City needs it and he was excited about it. This would be the first City building that the new City administration and City Attorney would take from the ground up. This will be a great facility serving the western portion of this Community.

Member Csordas said this is being awarded to the low bidder and asked if this was City policy as the low bidder is not always the best. He asked if there were any other factors, besides the low bid, that came into the process?

Mr. Helwig said a key factor in the process is past performance and that was why they needed time to make certain that there were not performance deficiencies among the two lowest bids.

Member Csordas asked if it was ever customary in City business to offer incentives for finishing early or disincentives for going over the time frame? Mr. Helwig said oftentimes there are liquidated damages for not completing the contract on time and sometimes there are incentives for earlier completion.

Member Csordas wanted to shy away from incentives for early completion but certainly go with the penalties for going past the deadline date. Mr. Helwig said there are penalties that can be levied on a daily basis. He said Mr. Klaver was into this with the Building Authority with the construction firm for Meadowbrook Commons.

Mr. Fisher said, regarding the low bidder question, the common terminology for public bidding in this area is "the lowest responsible bidder". Not only is the price important but also the responsibility and capability of doing the job.

CONSENT AGENDA REMOVALS FOR COUNCIL ACTION: (Consent Agenda items, which have been removed for discussion and/or action)

1A. Council minutes of June 4^th Regular meeting – Member Cassis

Member Cassis removed the minutes of the June 4, 2001 Regular Council meeting and requested his comments be included regarding the Mayor’s return to the Council bench and put on the agenda for the next meeting.

1. Building Authority Use – Member Kramer

Mr. Klaver said the Library Board would be meeting this Wednesday, June 20, 2001. They have had conversations with the City Bond Attorney Mr. Neiman and there might be some development from that coming to Council.

2. Wish List Proposal – Member Kramer

Member Kramer proposed that the City put together an annual "Wish List" of items that the City would be very open to having donated or worked on for Eagle Scout Projects, business donations, etc. It doesn’t need to be a large effort but there could be some benefit in having a list. He asked that this be on the agenda for discussion and action at the next meeting. Mayor Clark asked the City Clerk to place it on the next agenda.

3. Parks & Recreation Southwest Core Reserve – Member Kramer

Member Kramer said this came out of the Joint meeting with the Parks & Recreation Commission where they had discussed a proposal to look into acquiring a wetland as a core reserve. He said someone was needed to shepherd this to see if grants were available, what kind of time frame, etc. He asked who had ownership to make recommendations on this proposal?

Mr. Klaver said at the last Parks and Recreation/Forestry Commission meeting they were continuing to work on a draft for the public hearing for the Community Recreation Plan and that project would be included in their five year Master Plan of proposed projects.

4. Downtown Gateway District Ordinance – Member DeRoche

Member DeRoche said he has been very interested in this ordinance since it began in 1999. The Ordinance Review Committee has been discussing this and he felt it might be beneficial to bring it back to the Committee of the Whole. There are three readings and he believed that whatever came out of the committee would be worked on again. He expected at least half hour work sessions especially for the first reading with a number of changes proposed by Council Members. He would like this ordinance brought back in the near future or tonight so Council Members could get into the first reading and start tweaking it.

CM-01-06-161 Moved by DeRoche, seconded by Kramer; MOTION CARRIED:

To bring the Downtown Gateway District Ordinance First Reading before Council by the Regular Meeting of July 16, 2001.

 

 

DISCUSSION

Mayor Clark supported the motion and suggested this be brought back by the second meeting of July. There is a lot of concern by members of the community who have property in this area and they deserve an answer one way or the other.

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo said this would be part of the discussion at Ordinance Review

June 21, 2001at 6 PM and everyone was welcome to attend and participate at Audience Participation. She thought the question was do we want this ordinance to benefit just the property owners along Grand River or do we want it to benefit the greater good of the City of Novi. Ordinance Review members have been working to be sure the ordinance incorporates elements that the City would like to see.

Member Cassis stated he would abstain from the vote.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-161 Yeas: Csordas, DeRoche, Kramer, Clark,

Lorenzo, Bononi

Nays: None

Abstain: Cassis

 

5. Protocol for expressing concerns regarding consultants and/or staff – Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo.

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo wanted to refer this to the Rules Committee. She thought something very simple should be done with it. Whenever a Planning Commissioner or a Council Member has a concern there should be avenues of communication before it gets to the point of misunderstandings and anger.

CM-01-06-162 Moved by Lorenzo, seconded by DeRoche; CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY: To refer this item to the Rules Committee for policy and protocol for expressing concerns regarding consultants and/or staff.

Member DeRoche appreciated this being brought up. This would be brought up on a case by case basis, which would inevitably lead to unfairness, perceptions, and people being treated differently for similar situations. He was concerned about creating work and expense to the community without going through the appropriate channels. He felt it should be directed, as far as policy, to Mr. Helwig so there is a protocol.

Mr. Helwig asked Council to notice the correspondence included in last Thursday’s packet to Mr. Arroyo and Ms. Lemke. Because we are going to an hourly billing we are pinpointing who can make assignments to the consultants so that we can pinpoint accountability and costs. They had found that many people were contacting

consultants and setting work in motion. He said having guidelines to back up their instincts to make this transition would be very helpful.

Member DeRoche felt it would be beneficial to set a rule upon Council to explain what is expected of each other in interaction with administration and department heads and that would probably be the appropriate channel.

Member Cassis wondered if something was already in the Charter or City Code that spelled out much of what is being discussed.

Attorney Fisher stated that general reference was made in the Charter and to lesser degrees in ordinances but it did not create the clear and distinct line of authority being discussed here.

Member Cassis asked if that included ordinances or protocols adopted in the past?

Mr. Fisher stated there might have been and suggested that it be part of the duty of the Rules Committee to investigate this.

Roll call vote on CM-01-06-162 Yeas: DeRoche, Kramer, Clark, Lorenzo,

Bononi, Cassis, Csordas

Nays: None

6. Coalition That Cares – Member DeRoche

Member DeRoche referred to concerns expressed during audience participation regarding service provided to the community and the way the after school-tutoring program was administered. He requested that Beth Belter be invited to make a presentation about the changes being made and future plans. There was Council consensus to invite Beth Belter to address the Council regarding the Coalition that Cares and specifically concern about the after school tutoring program and why the tutor was excluded from the program.

Mr. Klaver would invite Ms. Belter.

7. Tax avoidance by house renters – Member Csordas

Member Csordas asked if there was a different tax rate for homeowners who live in the City and in the home they purchased as opposed to someone who owns a house and rents it to someone else. Thus developing a situation of tax avoidance.

Mr. Fisher responded there is a difference in the level of taxes. Under Proposal A, where a home is occupied you have a lower tax advantage in paying to the City and other governmental entities. He had received notice of this and forwarded this concern onto the Assessor who is examining it very closely. Member Csordas asked how to follow up other situations like this in the City?

Mr. Fisher stated to the extent that any report is made to the Assessor, the Assessor would review it at Board of Review or would send out a notice that the Homestead Exemption would be terminated unless an appropriate affidavit is filed.

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo said Council gave direction and approved a rotation in 1999 for the Consultant Review Committee with regard to bidding out consultants every so often. Last year the City Attorney was bid out. This year engineering was scheduled but because of the

in house engineering proposal versus consultants the Committee didn’t take any action on the previous Council plan and rotation. She asked Council whether they still wanted to follow that rotation and direct the Consultant Review Committee to follow it through and bid out the engineering consultants for this year.

Member Kramer, Chairman of the Consultant Review Committee, said they would be moving halfway through this year to a competitive bid situation. They would not have retainers anymore. He asked how the Council wanted the Committee to handle the consultants. It could be continued on an annual review performance basis and the actual charges would be subject to the individual jobs to be done. Our ongoing charter is to review contract bid rates as well.

Member Cassis advised Council that other than sitting with AON people for a couple of sessions and having one quarter of a session with JCK they haven’t done anything yet. How can we proceed or report to Council if nothing has been done.

Member DeRoche noted he served for 3 years on the committee and stated Council, Administration and the committee continued to go in the right direction and he felt it still makes sense for the rotation to have their contracts reviewed competitively. One of the important aspects of the motion was that it recommended a three-year cycle. Things have changed since last year as engineering contracts are getting competitively bid and an engineering department head hired. He said those are important elements of oversight. He would like to see an engineering department head overseeing a bidding process along with the Consultant Review Committee.

Member Kramer felt we were moving to a different basis and should keep pace with this and have continued discussion on what is our posture in committee. He had no problem in assessing performance but it was not clear whether they would deal with consultants on a yearly contract type basis. That needed to be worked through. So far the Committee has solicited and reviewed ratings for all the consultants, reviewed and decided to discuss with each of the majors their performance. They started with JCK, spent time with AON and needed more time. The open item, with regard to the contractual basis, he thought was far from clear.

Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo was looking for clear direction from Council. They had not solicited bids because of Mr. Helwig’s proposal but the majority of Council has since abandoned the proposal. Therefore, she wanted to know if the committee should solicit bids. She felt they should because it was good business sense and a fair process. She said Mr. Arroyo and the attorneys have already gone through it and this year it would have been the engineering firm.

Mayor Clark thought they were heading in the right direction, a lot of changes had already been made and he saw no sense in going back to go through this when the budget year has already started. This might be the first one to do in the next budget year but there was nothing to be gained at this point.

There was consensus that this would be the priority for next year where the consultant review committee would be charged with bidding out for engineering services.

Mayor Clark commented that the same agenda rolls by hour after hour on the City channel and better use should be made of it. He would like to see the Council meetings rebroadcast a couple of times for those who couldn’t catch the meeting the first time.

Member Kramer noted the Communications Committee had created a recommendation for rebroadcast. He asked that the recommendation be reviewed by the Communications Committee, updated where appropriate and brought back to Council for the next regular meeting.

Mayor Clark noted Ann Arbor Mayor’s community cup canoe race.

County Commissioner Hugh Crawford had been present for the senior van ribbon cutting and would be available for questions after the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Lorenzo noted her concerns about the failing tornado siren at the Police Department and the need for its replacement. Mr. Crawford thought there were a couple sirens in Novi on the County list for immediate replacement and that might be one of them. He would find

out and report back to Council. He spoke about the redistricting and it looked like the plan for the new Commission Districts was basically the same. The Novi district was 17 but would now be called 9 and would still be Northville, Novi Township, and most of Novi. It would go up to Twelve Mile Road and then up Novi Road. All around the Lake area and the City of Walled Lake would not be in his district anymore.

1. Letter from Vickie Dickieson resigning from Library Board.

2. Letter from Matt Quinn Re: Resolution for Providence Medical Center – Providence Park.

There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 PM.

Richard J. Clark, Mayor Maryanne Cornelius, City Clerk

Transcribed by: ___________________________

Charlene Mc Lean

Date approved: July 2, 2001