City of Flushing
Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, February 10, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and invocation.
Present: Richard L. Bade
John C. Gault
Janice L. Gensel
Chris A. Girard
Jay E. Johnson
Teresa K. Salem
Michael T. Szukhent
Absent: None
Others Present: Dennis J. Bow, City Manager
Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer
Edward G. Henneke, City Attorney
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to approve the February 10, 2003 agenda as presented.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Walt Skidmore, 515 Sunnyside, provided an update of the Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee. Items included in the report were: preservation of the old fire hall, fencing for the tennis courts in Riverview Park, cleanup of River Road Park and the river cleanup and the skateboard park.
Elva Cook, 1459 Flushing Road, commented on several issues.
CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to approve the City Council Minutes of the January 27, 2003 Regular Meeting and the February 10, 2003 Council Bills List.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
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Minutes
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COMMUNICATIONS:
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve the American Cancer Society’s request to use Riverview Park for their Relay for Life on May 30 and 31, 2003.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
REPORTS:
Council Reimbursements – At the January 27, 2003 City Council meeting, a request was made to consider revisions to Ordinance No. 30 with regard to reimbursement for performing official duties. Other community and school policies have been reviewed in order to revise the existing policy. The City Manager presented changes for consideration by the Council. The changes would eliminate prior authorizations for certain expenses that are incurred as a direct result of official duty. The approval mechanism would change and require that the expenses be approved by the City Council after the request for reimbursement has been turned in. Additional language will require that the expenditures be a public record and available to any person upon request, and all expenditures are subject to the budget appropriation.
Councilperson Johnson was concerned that if the ordinance were changed as presented, that the City would have no idea what it may cost for Council expenses. Councilperson Bade agreed and stated that he would want expenses to be pre-approved and limited to specific things. The Mayor requested that Attorney Henneke take the suggestions offered by Council and amend the current ordinance.
Tobin Group vs. Genesee County – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to adopt a resolution urging that an expedited trial occur in the case of Tobin Group vs. Genesee County.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: Johnson
Motion Carried.
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Status of Youth Council – At the January 27, 2003 City Council meeting, consideration was given to revise the Teen Committee Ordinance in order to establish a youth council. Administration was given direction to consider inviting one of the youth council representatives from Zeeland, Michigan, along with their youth council, to a meeting in the City of Flushing in order to allow our City Council, members of the Teen Committee, as well as youth participants in our community, to review the structure of their formation and the manner in which the youth are involved in their community. The City Manager expects to schedule a meeting in the near future.
Regional Inspection, LLC – Councilperson Johnson requested the Mayor call a meeting of the Engineering Services Committee to review the contract with Regional Inspection, LLC. The Mayor called a meeting of the Engineering Services Committee.
ORDINANCES:
Fire Run Cost Recovery – Ordinance No. 138 – At the request of Councilperson Girard, the City Manager prepared a sample ordinance to consider the recovery of costs associated with emergency fire department services.
The ordinance would allow for the collection of fees that may be provided by the Flushing Fire Department for residential, commercial, and industrial fire runs inside the city limit, as well as excess false alarms and hazardous spills. The ordinance declares any alarm or fire run in excess of two (2) in any calendar year from the same alarm system, to be declared a public nuisance. An alarm system with at least one hundred (100) initiating devices is permitted one (1) additional chargeable alarm per calendar year. Charges and fees are the direct responsibility of the property owner (not the tenant), and shall be due and payable within sixty (60) days of the date of the bill.
Two separate resolutions were offered for consideration. The first specifically charges rates for all residential, commercial, industrial, utility assists, false alarms, and hazardous material spills. The second resolution authorizes fees for fire runs in excess of the first two in a calendar year, for false alarms in excess of two per year, and for hazardous material spills.
After City Council discussion, the City Manager stated that he would have the City Attorney review the second ordinance, as well as address recreational fires and open burning fires. He will ask the Fire Chief for a recommendation as well.
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Minutes
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APPOINTMENTS:
Appointments – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to remove the appointments to the Teen Committee and the Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee from the table.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee – Motion by Girard, seconded by Szukhent, to confirm the appointment of Cheryl Borkowski, by the Mayor, and Betty Bushong, by Councilperson Szukhent, to the Parks, Recreation, Environmental and Beautification Committee.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Teen Committee – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Girard, to confirm the appointment of David Lewicki, by Councilperson Salem, and Joel Sodeman, by Councilperson Bade, to the Teen Committee.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjournment – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 9:17 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer