Hamtramck Star

hcc_2010_02_08 [41 MB]

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. AN ORDINANCE ENACTING A CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF HAMTRAMCK, REVISING, AMENDING, RESTATING, CODIFYING AND COMPILING CERTAIN EXISTING GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION DEALING WITH SUBJECTS EMBRACED IN SUCH CODE OF ORDINANCES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The ordinance adopts the new codified book of ordinances.

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

1. AN ORDINANCE ENACTING A CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF HAMTRAMCK, REVISING, AMENDING, RESTATING, CODIFYING AND COMPILING CERTAIN EXISTING GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION DEALING WITH SUBJECTS EMBRACED IN SUCH CODE OF ORDINANCES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (See Public Hearings Item #1)

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. Regular Meeting – January 26, 2010

2. Board and Commission minutes-
a. Historical Commission – October 28, 2009

3. Fund warrant list and payroll.

4. Correspondence
a. Letter from Steve Shaya resigning from the Recycling Commission.

5. RESOLUTION APPROVING NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE ZONE PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT CERTIFICATES FOR SPECIFIC PROPERTIES IN THE GRAND HAVEN DYAR NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE ZONE. Approval of certificates for rehabilitated properties located at 11791 Dequindre, 11356 Dyar, 11793 Dyar and 11738 Dyar which are a part of the Grand Haven/Dyar R-31 project. Placed on the agenda by City Clerk Norris.

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

1. RESOLUTION TERMINATING THE CONTRACT WITH INDEPENDENT SERVICES GROUP FOR SNOW REMOVAL AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE 2ND LOWEST QUALIFIED BIDDER. Placed on the agenda by City Manager Cooper.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE RECYCLING COMMISSION (2 Vacancies)

2. RESOLUTION APPOINTING HEATHERLEY HOWARD TO THE HAMTRAMCK RECYCLING COMMISSION. This is a council appointment for a term ending 12-1-11. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Gordon.

3. RESOLUTION APPOINTING GREG MILLER TO THE HAMTRAMCK RECYCLING COMMISSION. This is a council appointment for a term ending 12-1-11. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Stackpoole.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS (4 Vacancies)

4. RESOLUTION APPOINTING STEVEN CHERRY AS A REGULAR MEMBER TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. Mr. Cherry is currently an alternate member to the board. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Gordon.

5. RESOLUTION APPOINTING STEVE SHAYA TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Gordon.

6. RESOLUTION REAPPOINTING ANAM MIAH TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmembers Hassan and Miah.

7. RESOLUTION APPOINTING NASR S. HUSSAIN TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Miah.

8. RESOLUTION APPOINTING MOHAMMED A. RAHAMAN TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Hassan.

9. RESOLUTION APPOINTING ANDY BISCOGLIA AS A REGULAR MEMBER TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. Mr. Biscoglia is currently an alternate member to the board. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Gordon.

10. RESOLUTION APPOINTING BRENT MAXWELL TO THE HAMTRAMCK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. This is a council appointment for a term ending 1-1-13. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Stackpoole.

11. DISCUSSION regarding check #55211 for $13,260.00 to Acts 29 on 1/21/10 with consideration for further investigation. Placed on the agenda by Councilmember Gordon.

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.

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Boji Group will be joined on Tuesday, Feb. 2, by officials from the City of Hamtramck, Wayne County and State of Michigan to open its newest building.

Woody Plaza, 12140 Jos. Campau in downtown Hamtramck, will become home to a new district service center for the state Department of Human Services. The site is the former home of the Woody Pontiac automotive dealership, which closed in 2000. The project is leading a resurgence of interest by developers and businesses in the north end of downtown Hamtramck.

What: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Woody Plaza
Who: Boji Group President Ron Boji

Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski
State Sen. Martha Scott, D-Highland Park
State Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit
Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano
Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed

When: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 (ceremony to start at 11:30 a.m.)
Where: Woody Plaza, 12140 Jos. Campau, Hamtramck

Tours of the new building will be held following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Strolling lunch will be served.

About Boji Group

With offices in Lansing and Southfield, Boji Group is a diversified, family-owned and operated company with interests in real estate development and property management, distribution and wholesale services, convenience stores, retail and the hospitality industry.

Yesterday one of the drives in the ancient server that records and archives the police scanner croaked. The power supply now sounds like a Boeing 747. The scanner archive will be back as soon as we fix it.

The latest menus from 28 restaurants in the Greater Hamtramck area are now available on the sidebar. New additions include Kowalski's Delicatessen, Halal Desi Pizza, Family Donut, Checkers, Bangla Express Cafe, Amar Pizza, Al Jenah Bakery, and Al Amin Sweets and Cafe. Smacznego!

Hamtramck has a rich and colorful history. Over the years, a number of it's institutions have been lost, but it's reputation as a vibrant entertainment district has endured.

I commend Mayor Majewski for recognizing and defending Hamtramck as an entertainment destination known far outside it's borders. I also credit Gordon, Ahmed, Miah, Jankowski, and a reluctant Stackpoole for approving the liquor license transfer at Tuesday's city council meeting.

Since the days when Hamtramck Township encompassed much of the Eastside down to Belle Isle, bars and saloons have been part of our identity and culture. Like no other place I know, they operate like historic public houses in the European tradition where ideas, music, art, politics, laughs are shared.

Since I've lived in Hamtramck, local bars have shown amazing generosity and charity, giving back to the community in financial support for citizens in difficult situations. In Hamtramck's growing cultural mosaic, I hope different cultures can see the wisdom of accommodating one-another as we move forward.

hcc_2010_01_12 Part 1 [149 MB]

hcc_2010_01_27 Part 2 [34 MB]

Presentations

Alex Masura, Stackpoole and Majewski's intern, was directed by Majewski to organize a "civic engagement initiative" to assess the most pressing issues in the city. The budget shortfalls will effect all, and they are asking the citizens to help. The initiative was kicked off with the "finding opportunities during recessionary times" event, and more events will follow, though they will be for identifying issues, prioritizing, and implementing, not for "griping and blame".

Ahmed asked for a letter of condolences to the Chowdury family on the loss of their father. Gordon asked for a letter of condolences to the Olko family on the loss of their son.

Gordon asked to pull the fund warrant list from the consent agenda.

Allen requested that the MSHDA pilot be considered first because an official was in attendance on his own time. The council voted to move the ordinance to the top of the agenda.

Public comment

Bill Meyer spoke on the $3 trash fee. At the "civic engagement" event, they discussed not taxing people away from the city. The budget can be balanced by getting more money from the people who live here, or by bringing new people and businesses. The people of the city can only be taxed so much before they don't have the money or leave. Three dollars seems like an innocent fee, but could be the beginning of taxing all sorts of things. He encouraged the council to turn down the fee, and instead, balance the budget by decreasing expenses.

Read more »

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions

a. AUDIT PRESENTATION BY ALAN C. YOUNG & ASSOCIATES, PC. Representatives from Alan C. Young & Associates, PC and Plante Moran will be present to explain findings and answer questions regarding the City of Hamtramck, Michigan Financial Report with Supplemental Information for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2009.

b. 2010 Metro Times Hamtramck Blowout Music Festival Chris Sexson, Metro Times Publisher

5. Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. AN ORDINANCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF HAMTRAMCK SARAH GARRETT HOMES TAX EXEMPTION ORDINANCE. An ordinance to provide for a service charge in lieu of taxes for a proposed multi dwelling rental housing project for persons of low income to be financed or assisted pursuant to the provisions of the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966, as amended. The city is permitting the developer to receive low income housing tax credit allocation from MSHDA, and in lieu of taxes the city will accept payment of an annual service charge of four (4.00%) percent of the difference between contract rents actually collected and utilities for federally-aided housing developments.

Read more »

Dom Nozzi describes how to solve the parking “problem.” Parking needs to be provided more efficiently and must be properly priced. He says we should shoot for 15% vacancy by pricing parking properly.

We have already missed the annual breakfast at the community center this morning, but there is still time to attend a "ground-breaking" at Corinthian Baptist Church on Caniff at noon, and also the following movie presentation tonight at Aladdin Sweets.

A special film showing on MONDAY, JANUARY 18th at 6:30pm in Hamtramck

The event is free and co-sponsored by Hamtramck Supporters of Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit. This is part of the WORLDWIDE screening debut of

TO SHOOT AN ELEPHANT www.toshootanelephant.com

Aladdin Sweets and Café, 11941 Conant, Hamtramck, MI 48212
At the corner of Commor Ave, 6 blocks north of Caniff Ave.

FOOD AND DRINKS will be available for purchase
Donations accepted. Proceeds will go to the filmmakers.

(Come early to get a good seat)

hcc_2010_01_12 [172 MB]