Hamtramck Star

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions
5. Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF A BROWNFIELD PLAN The Hamtramck Brownfield Authority has recommended a plan for a project known as the Woody Plaza Redevelopment Project. The project includes a new office building for lease to the State of Michigan for the Department of Human Services as well as space for employee and customer parking. The parcels included in the project are as follows:

PARCEL I: 12140 Joseph Campau
PARCEL II: 12166 Joseph Campau
PARCEL III: 12043 Mitchell St.
PARCEL IV: 12131 Mitchell St.

2. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE VACATION OF PUBLIC ALLEYS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY EAST OF JOS. CAMPAU BETWEEN YEMANS AND EVALINE STREETS City resolution 2008-69 approves a development agreement with Campau Place L.L.C. for the redevelopment of 9800 and 9808 Joseph Campau and the alley vacation is a part of the agreement.

SECTION II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS--Ordinances scheduled for second reading and ordinances or resolutions previously postponed.

1.RESOLUTION WAIVING THE COST FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY FOR THE HAMTRAMCK FESTIVAL AND POLISH DAY PARADE Placed on the agenda by councilmember Gordon.

SECTION III: CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

The following items will be adopted on a single motion without discussion unless a councilmember requests separate consideration.

1. City council meeting minutes-
a. August 12, 2008 regular meeting
b. August 26, 2008 regular meeting

2. Board and commission minutes
a. Hamtramck Housing Commission – February 20, 2008
b. Hamtramck Housing Commission – April 16, 2008
c. Hamtramck Housing Commission – May 21, 2008
d. Hamtramck Housing Commission – July 16, 2008
e. Hamtramck Human Relations Commission – August 18, 2008

3. Fund warrant list and payroll. Backup materials for all bills listed for payment are available in the controller's office.

4. Correspondence
a. Letter from Mayor Majewski appointing Betty Zwolak to the Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority.

SECTION IV: NEW BUSINESS--Ordinance introductions and resolutions for initial consideration.

1. RESOLUTION APPROVING A BROWNFIELD PLAN FOR THE WOODY PONTIAC PROJECT PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 381 OF THE PUBLIC ACTS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN OF 1996, AS AMENDED See Public Hearings Item #1

2. RESOLUTION APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HAMTRAMCK AND BOJI GROUP OF HAMTRAMCK, LLC

3. RESOLUTION TO VACATE PUBLIC ALLEYS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY EAST OF JOS. CAMPAU BETWEEN YEMANS AND EVALINE STREETS See Public Hearings Item #2

4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH FISHER ROOFING COMPANY, INC. FOR CITY HALL ROOF REPAIRS

SECTION V: OTHER ITEMS

1. City Manager’s Report
2. Non-agenda items and other business
3. Public comments

ADJOURNMENT

NOTE: Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the city clerk’s office at (313) 876-7700, 48 hours before the meeting. Staff will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.

Ethics, continued: Shulgon suggested changing the ordinance so public servants would request the opinions from the city attorney through the city manager. That way the city manager would make the decision to forward requests to the attorney. Gordon seconded. Stackpoole wanted clarification from the city attorney.

Allen said he had "seen the dispute in various places", and it was an example of not reading the entire document. The charter reads:

The attorney shall act as legal advisor to and be attorney for the council and mayor in the performance of their duties as elected officials, and shall be responsible solely to the city manager. He shall advise any officer or department head of the city in matters relating to his official duties when so requested by resolution of the city council, or the city manager and shall file with the clerk a copy of all written opinions given by him.

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Majewski asked for a resolution of condolences to the family of Lillian Curran.

Klein moved to add items to the agenda that were recommended by the city manager. Cooper explained that a closed session was needed to talk about pending litigation and property acquisition, and he also wished to offer employment to a candidate for the position of Community and Economic Development Director. All voted in favor of amending the agenda.

Public comment

There were no comments.

Gordon asked to remove the August 12 council minutes from the consent agenda. Ahmed asked to remove the appointment of Gabriel Alaziz to the Human Relations Commission.

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[+ more photos]

This week, the old boiler at the fire station was surreptitiously removed without regard for proper asbestos remediation. According to sources, firefighters were sent on unscheduled training this week and returned to find their gear and firehouse contaminated with asbestos; both airborn and in the form of a pile of discarded insulation.

The EPA was notified and after an inspection, levied the city with at $3,000 fine.

Was Chief Jim Szafzarczyk responsible for the boiler's removal? Was it removed for scrap? We don't yet know the answers to these questions but insist on an investigation.

[+ more photos]

Mr. Cooper presented an informative monthly report to the city council last night that I have scanned and posted. This is a great start towards a more open and honest city government.

July 2008 City Manager Report

As previously mentioned, I spent some time at the library a few weeks ago, looking through back issues of The Citizen. This is the second of three posts on this subject.

"1983: Hamtramck's Year in Review"; "Chamber of Commerce Takes Over City's Parking Efforts" to create parking lots behind Joseph Campau

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I looked through several years of The Citizen at the library a few weeks ago, taking pictures of things that caught my attention.

County plans to stop maintenance of Veterans' Memorial Park, "City Budget Held Up as State Deadline Approaches", "Fierce Blaze Rips Businesses"

"1980: An Eventful Year in Hamtramck", "City Lawsuits Total $21 Million", photo of a grocery on the corner of Joseph Campau and Alice at the turn of the last century

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I spent some time at the city clerk's office on Friday, mostly reading through city ordinances. The following caught my eye for one reason or another. Some I agree with, and some should be repealed.

The completed work towards the codification of city ordinances. Cost recovery ordinance for hazardous materials response.

Bicycling ordinance. It is illegal to harbor chickens or rabbits.

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PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1.Call to order
2.Roll call
3.Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4.Proclamations/presentations/recognitions
5.Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTION OF A BROWNFIELD PLAN The Hamtramck Brownfield Authority has recommended a plan for a project known as the Woody Plaza Redevelopment Project. The project includes a new office building for lease to the State of Michigan for the Department of Human Services as well as space for employee and customer parking. The parcels included in the project are as follows:

PARCEL I: 12140 Joseph Campau
PARCEL II: 12166 Joseph Campau
PARCEL III: 12043 Mitchell St.
PARCEL IV: 12131 Mitchell St.

NOTE: THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PUBLISHED AUGUST 6TH AND 13TH, 2008.

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Special meeting minutes: Gordon wanted to be sure that the developer's agreement to restrict occupancy of the apartments to those 62 years and older was reflected in the minutes. Majewski didn't want to add it if the resolution didn't reflect that change. Gebarowski agreed that the stiopulation was part of the resolution. Cooper said the original ordinance was in conflict with the city wide PILOT ordinance for people over 62. All voted to amend the minutes and approve them with changes.

Minutes of the Plan Commission: Gordon said that one of the requirements on the developers of Shoppers world was a requirement that they go through the process of having an 18" setback approved. No such approval was ever given. Final site plan approval in February was given with conditions that were not addressed by the planning or zoning commissions. Majewski said that the 10 items were not a ZBA matter. Gordon asked how the council knows that things have been done. Majewski said they were only to vote on accepting the minutes and not on what the commissions had done.

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