Flushing City Council
Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, June 9, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, following by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and invocation.
Present: Richard L. Bade
John C. Gault
Janice L. Gensel
Jay E. Johnson
Raymond Peck
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 Bade, to approve the agenda for the June 9, 2003 meeting.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Suspend Rules Motion by Gault, seconded by Johnson, to suspend the Council Rules so that interested parties could address City Council regarding item C1 Sanitary Sewer 526 Chamberlain, during Council discussion of this issue rather than under MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Yea: Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem
Nay: Bade, Szukhent, Gensel
Motion Fails. (Must pass by a 2/3 vote.)
MEETING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
The following individuals addressed City Council relative to the sanitary sewer at 526 Chamberlain and miscellaneous items:
Elva Cook Beverley Martin William Arn
Flushing City Council
Minutes
Page Two
CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve City Council Minutes (May 28, 2003 Regular Meeting), City Council Minutes (May 28, 2003 Closed Meeting) and the June 9, 2003 Council Bills List.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
Water Rates - In accordance with the City of Flushing Water Ordinance Section 53.60, Water charges, water charges shall be set by Resolution of the Flushing City Council after a public hearing has been concluded. In April 2003, city administration was notified of a pending water rate increase that will become effective as of August 1, 2003. That notice indicated that the City of Detroit will be raising rates through the City of Flint contract and through the Genesee County contract in the amount of thirty-eight (38%) percent. This increase is a direct pass-through of those charges.
In May 2000, the City of Flushing modified its user charge system for water rates by breaking down the fixed costs of our system and the variable costs associated with water purchases. The fixed costs of $22.50 per quarter are not proposed to be adjusted. The variable cost increase that is being charged by the City of Detroit, the City of Flint and Genesee County, cannot be absorbed by the citys current rate structure. The rate structure for variable charges was set at $2.20 per thousand gallons in April of 2000. That charge will need to be adjusted, as the result of that 38% increase, from $2.20 to $3.04 per thousand gallons.
No other changes to the Resolution adopted in May of 2000 are proposed to be changed. No allowance for capital improvements or re-payment of the debt owed to the sewer fund is included in this rate.
The Mayor opened the public hearing to the audience.
Elva Cook, 1459 Flushing Road, addressed Council regarding the rate increase.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
Water Rates Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to adopt resolution No. 03-0609 Resolution Establishing Water Rates to modify the water usage charge of $2.20 per thousand gallons to $3.04 per thousand gallons effective August 1, 2003.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
Page Three
REPORTS:
Sanitary Sewer 526 Chamberlain - At the April 14, 2003 City Council meeting, a motion was made to allow the use of city equipment to investigate the condition of two (2) manholes and sewer lines in connection with 526 Chamberlain.
Earlier last month, the Department of Public Works videotaped the sanitary sewer lines that service 524, 526, 530 and 532 Chamberlain Street. They were not able to inspect the entire length of the sewer with the camera due to the condition of the pipe. There are areas that have massive roots where the camera could not pass through, and the pipe that was inspected had signs of root infiltration at almost every joint.
The City Manager recommended that, prior to acceptance by the City of Flushing of the two (2) manholes and of the two-hundred and fifty-two (252) lineal feet of sewer line, that the sewer line be replaced with PVC pipe and a surveyed legal description of the manholes and pipeline be granted to the City through an easement document that is acceptable to the City Attorney.
There was discussion regarding ownership of the property where the lines and manholes are located. It was suggested that a title search be obtained to ascertain whether easements may have been granted to the City and not delivered. A search of City records revealed no easement documents. The City Manager will work with the homeowners to obtain further information.
Sanitary Sewer 526 Chamberlain Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to table item C1- Sanitary Sewer 526 Chamberlain until a title search can be conducted.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Adjustments Motion by Gault, seconded by Salem, to adopt the fiscal year 2002-03 budget adjustments as presented by the Clerk/Treasurer.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
Page Four
FOP 2003-2004 Motion by Bade, seconded by Johnson, to approve a two-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police.
The elements approved are:
1. A two-year wage increase of 2% each year on July 1, 2002 and July 1, 2003.
2. A new drug co-payment of $20.00 deductible on generic drugs, with employer reimbursing $10.00 of the generic deductible and a $40.00 deductible on brand name drugs with the employer reimbursing $20.00 of the brand name deductible.
3. The City of Flushing will provide for non-occupational injury or illness with a maximum benefit period of 52 weeks (not including injuries sustained while in a gainful employment of another employer). Employees shall first use 15 days accumulated sick days upon initial diagnosis. The City of Flushing reserves the right to investigate circumstances of any non-occupational injury.
4. The City of Flushing will pay $2,500.00 to a single employee opting not to receive offered health care insurance. If two or more employees opt not to receive health care insurance, the employer will increase the benefit to $3,000.00 for each employee not receiving health care insurance.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
ORDINANCES:
Amendment to Ordinance 99 Motion by Johnson, seconded by Gault, to move to first reading an amendment to Ordinance No. 99 section 99.04(B):
(B) No person shall ride on or by means of any roller skates, skateboard, coaster, or similar device on a public sidewalk, parking lot, street, right-of-way, or other area commonly frequented by pedestrians within the area of the city zoned Central Business District (CBD), Local Business District (B-1), or General Business District (B-2).
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: Salem
Motion Carried.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
Page Five
APPOINTMENTS:
Zoning Board of Appeals Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to accept the resignation of Robert Kehoe from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Zoning Board of Appeals Vacancy Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to direct the Clerk/Treasurer to advertise the Zoning Board of Appeals vacancy in the Flushing Observer with a deadline by the July 14, 2003 Council meeting.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjournment Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 9:15 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer