City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

March 16, 2015

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Joseph Domingo opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

III.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. ROLL CALL

Maurice Barnes (1), Lenn Reid (2), Garrett Brown (3), Cheryl Krause (5), Andrew French (6) and Mayor Joseph Domingo. William Wheaton (4) was absent.

Administration: Sheryl L. Mitchell, City Manager; Jill Domingo, City Clerk; Scott Kipp, Chief of Public Safety; Tom Mead, Finance Director; Peggy Sindt, EDC Director; Neely Kent, EDC Office Manager; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer and Cullen Harkness, City Attorney.

V.	MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Barnes, Reid, French and Mayor Domingo.

VI.	PUBLIC HEARING

A. Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for Albion Institute LLC, 101

N. Superior St.

Peggy Sindt, EDC President stated the taxes for this property will freeze at last

year’s rate and will remain the same for the next twelve (12) years. This is a key

project that will help the downtown grow and also create employment that will

increase the city’s income tax base.

Nicholas Seehafer, Architect for Shaheen Development stated that Shaheen

Development is a family owned business that renovates properties for office

centers, historic preservation and medical office buildings. They also use local

labor for their projects.

He stated 101 N. Superior St. was built in 1900 as a commercial building with

10,000 square feet per floor. The budget for this project is two million dollars. It will

be a complete renovation of the exterior of the building including the stonework and

brick. A new roof and insulation has already been completed on the building. The

property is asbestos free and has been certified. This building will be for mixed use

of retail and office space.

Comments were received from Council Member Krause.

Mayor Domingo opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m.

No public comments were received.

Mayor Domingo closed the public hearing at 7:31 p.m.

No council comments were received.

VII.	PRESENTATIONS

A. Albion Community School Choir

Jerri-Lynn Harper Williams introduced Music Teacher Steve Hartman and the

5th and 6th grade Albion Community School Choir. She thanked the council

and the community for inviting them to perform.

The choir sang two songs and received a standing ovation for an outstanding

performance.

B. Redevelopment Ready Community-Jennifer Rigterink, Michigan Economic

Development Corporation

Jennifer Rigterink gave a brief summary of the requirements of becoming

a redevelopment ready community. They currently have three communities that are

certified. She stated this is a technical assistance program with state wide

certification. This will build a solid foundation for communities allowing them to be

proactive versus reactive.

The redevelopment ready community is a volunteer program with no cost attached

and acts as a type of third party audit.

City Manager Mitchell also acknowledged Rosalyn Jones of the Michigan Economic

Development Corporation.

Comments were received from Council Members Brown and Krause and City

Manager Mitchell.

C. Planning Commission-George Strander, Annual Report

George Strander, Chair of the Planning Commission gave the annual report

for the Planning Commission. He stated the powers and functions of the Planning

Commission are comprehensive planning, initiating zoning amendments, granting

special use permits and planned unit developments. The Commission is currently

working on the Master Plan which is how to develop a community. They have

developed a comprehensive plan committee that is working on re-development of

the existing plan. They want to find concrete idea’s that they can make work for the

community.

D. Transform this Home Project-Krista Trout

Krista Trout was unable to make the presentation due to a family illness. This item will

be placed on the next agenda.

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

No comments were received.

IX.	CONSENT CALENDAR (VV)

A. Approval of Study Session Minutes – February 24, 2015

B. Approval Council Session Minutes-March 2, 2015

C. Approval Study Session Minutes-March 3, 2015

Council Member French cited a spelling error that needed to be corrected on the March 3, 2015 study session minutes.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Consent Calendar as

presented. (6-0, vv).

X.	ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

A.	Request Approval Resolution # 2015-14, Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate for Albion Institute LLC, for Property Located at 101 N. Superior St. (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Member Krause.

Barnes moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-14, Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate for Albion Institute LLC, for Property Located at 101 N. Superior St. (6-0, rcv)

B.	Discussion/Albion Housing Liaison Position

Council Member Barnes stated that he feels the liaison position should

be eliminated but that council members should be allowed to sit on the

Albion Housing Commission board.

Council Member French inquired as to whether the council was able to

ask the Albion Housing Commission to bring an update to the council on

a periodic basis.

City Manager Mitchell stated that the Albion Housing Commission is providing the City with the meeting minutes and packets and they will be giving the Council updates on a quarterly basis.

City Attorney Harkness stated the Council is able to pass Resolutions that restrict the Albion Housing Commission capabilities.

Mayor Domingo asked to have the Albion Housing liaison position put on the next agenda so Council can make a decision on whether they want to proceed with the position or eliminate it.

C.	Discussion/Request Approval Resolution # 2015-16, ADPS FEMA Fire Safety Grant Application (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Members Krause and Brown, Chief Kipp and Mayor Domingo.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-16, ADPS FEMA Fire Safety Grant Application (6-0, rcv)

D.	Discussion/Approval Criminal Background Check Policy (RCV)

City Manager Mitchell stated the City did not have a written criminal background

check policy and this policy will be applied across the board for all city	employment, boards and commission appointments and volunteer positions.

Council Member Barnes stated he did not feel the policy allowed for any type

of extenuating circumstances.

Council Member Krause, Brown and French and Mayor Domingo

liked the policy and felt that it protected the City from potential harm.

Council Member Krause asked City Manager Mitchell to check with other

communities and see what policy they might have.

Council Member Reid felt that there should be some leeway as to allowing

for extenuating circumstances.

City Manager Mitchell stated she was willing to work with Council on the

language for the policy.

Comments were received from Council Members Barnes, Brown, Krause,

Reid and French, City Attorney Harkness, City Manager Mitchell and Mayor

Domingo.

E.	Future Agenda Items

Mayor Domingo would like the Albion Housing Liaison Position on the next

agenda.

F.	Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member (s) (VV)

Krause moved, French supported, CARRIED, to excuse Council Member Wheaton. (6-0, vv)

XI.	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 Mike Bearman, 11016 29 Mile Rd.

XII.	EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. The City Manager requests an Executive Session under the Open

Meetings Act (Section 15.268 (a) P.A. 267 of 1976, as amended) to

consider the dismissal, suspension or disciplining of, or to hear

complaints or charges brought against or to consider a periodic

personnel evaluation of a public officer, employee or staff member of

individual agent, if the named person requests a closed hearing.

B. The City Attorney requests an Executive Session under the Open

Meetings Act (Section 15.268 (a) P.A. 267 of 1976, as amended) to

consider the dismissal, suspension or disciplining of, or to hear

complaints or charges brought against or to consider a periodic

personnel evaluation of a public officer, employee or staff member of

individual agent, if the named person requests a closed hearing.

XIII.	ADJOURNMENT

Krause moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn to Executive Session. (6-0,

vv)

Mayor Domingo adjourned to Executive Session at 8:40 p.m.

Mayor Domingo re-convened the Regular Session at 9:21 p.m.

Brown moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn the Regular Session. (5-0, vv)

Mayor Domingo closed the Regular Session at 9:22 p.m.

____________	_________________________

Date	Jill Domingo

City Clerk