Flushing City Council
Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, February 14, 2005 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
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
Additions to Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to add a Closed Session – Purchase of Real Property, to the agenda.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Salem, to approve the February 14, 2005 agenda as amended.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
The following individuals addressed City Council:
James Prieur Jane Forbes Bob Clement
638 McKinley 608 Hut West 257
Aberdeen Ct.
Elva Cook Edward Sullivan
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CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Gault, seconded by Peck, to approve City Council Minutes (January 24, 2005 Regular Meeting) and February 14, 2005 Council Bills List.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
Flushing Area Recreation Master Plan – A Public Hearing Draft of the Flushing Area Recreation Master Plan, compiled by Rowe, Inc., was introduced. Upon approval of this plan by the City of Flushing, Flushing Township, and the Flushing Area Community Schools, the plan will be submitted for consideration by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). If the MDNR approves the final plan, the elements of the plan will then qualify for grant funding that becomes available during the next five years. All of the elements that are included in this plan are not required to be completed. However, in order to qualify for grant funding, our ideas for development need to be included in the plan.
This item was presented to the Planning Commission for any additional item suggestions that should be added to the plan document. Their comments included a recommendation to include the north portion of the new city hall site as a possible “Botanical Garden.” The discussion continued with concern that this area would not be labeled as a “park,” as that designation might limit the manner in which the site could be developed in the future.
A Recreation Master Plan resolution will need to be adopted prior to the end of February, in order to meet deadline requirements for the MDNR.
Additions submitted for consideration are: 1) rebuilding Tucker Pool, 2) renovate the old fire hall for recreational use, 3) canoe livery, and 4) development of the island across from McKinley Road.
The Mayor opened the public hearing to the audience.
Elva Cook, 1459 Flushing Road, commented upon the incorrect population count contained in the Recreation Master Plan.
Walter Skidmore, 515 Sunnyslope, commented that the Recreation Master Plan should be reviewed and commented upon by the Parks and Recreation Committee.
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The Mayor closed the public hearing to the audience.
Flushing Area Recreation Master Plan – Motion by Gault, seconded by Bade, to postpone action on resolution number 05-0214, to the February 28, 2005 meeting.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
REPORTS:
2005 Genesee County Auction – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to dispose of a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria, a MITA Copier DC3055, Allen Engine Analyzer, bicycles and miscellaneous office furniture at the 2005 Genesee County Auction.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
March 28, 2005 Meeting – Motion by Gault, seconded by Szukhent, to cancel the March 28, 2005 City Council meeting.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
746 Chamberlain Street – Easement Request – Mr. John Gault, owner of 746 Chamberlain, received an approval for a site plan subject to a drainage and grading permit that must be obtained from the City of Flushing.
The structure at this site is being modified to bring it up to current code standards, and is being expanded with an attached one-story garage on the south side of the building. Bringing the building up to current code has resulted in replacing the foundation, most of the exterior and interior walls, as well as the truss roof system. The second floor has been removed and the building will now constitute a one-story office structure.
The parking provisions in the zoning ordinance require one space for each two hundred square feet of office space. The office area will allow for a total of one thousand, six hundred square feet. Therefore, the maximum number of required parking spaces required for office uses is eight. The site plan includes nine spaces, including one for handicap parking.
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Drainage for this site is not available along Chamberlain Street and may be available through an on-site engineered system or through the storm drains on the city owned site, which is west of this property. The applicant is requesting to obtain a construction easement to enlarge the retention pond that is being constructed for the city owned site and use that drainage system for storm runoff, including a swale to be constructed between the city parking lot and his parking lot, for drainage onto the east side of his site. In addition, he is requesting a permanent easement, for placing a drainage pipe, from the parking lot to the retention pond.
746 Chamberlain Street – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to approve the easements as described, subject to the city attorney’s approval of the easement documents, along with a requirement that the applicant provide an insurance binder, which names the City of Flushing as an additional insured.
Yea: Bade, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Abstain: Gault
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Subcommittee Report – Clock Installation – On Tuesday, February 8, 2005, the Council Committee for the Clock Installation met to discuss the recommendations that were submitted by the Clock Selection Committee. That committee last met in February 2002, and, due to environmental difficulties with the site, their recommendations could not be implemented until this year.
Based upon the drawings submitted, the Clock Selection Committee recommends that the City attempt the implementation of various parts of the work as follows:
a) Consider entering the Maple Street intersection re-alignment into the list for street repaving.
b) Delete the gazebo from the front of the site and move it to an area along the river (perhaps to the back of this site or further south of the car wash area).
c) Consider using the discharge from the DEQ purge system with a waterfall system. The idea was to create a boulder landscape with the appearance of an artesian well to flow down to the Flint River. The placement of the discharge point could be at the western side of the gazebo, as drawn on the drawing labeled Concept 1.
d) The “threaded” walkway from the Concept 1 plan was deemed to be more acceptable, in order to maintain as much green space on the site as possible.
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e) The proposed lighting plan, fieldstone retaining wall, and the brick walkway along the river should be retained in the final design.
f) The committee was asked to look at a “planting display area” within Purkey’s Landscaping Supply business to consider a similar planting plan for the area around the water feature. This is a display of grasses and flowers that were thought to complement the waterfall feature.
g) Finally, a clock and clock base was selected, as depicted in a Verdin color brochure. That clock, and clock base picture, was labeled as the Chatham, Ontario clock. The clock should not include Roman numerals. A plaque was to be included in the base, which recognizes the donation of Elizabeth Stankwitz for the donation.
After reviewing the above, the Council Committee agreed with the decisions incorporated in their recommendation, and requested that administration obtain a revised drawing, which depicts the Clock Committee’s suggestions. That drawing will be used to develop a bid specification for this project.
ORDINANCES:
Rezoning – 423 Emily Street – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Salem, to move to second reading and adoption of the amendment to Ordinance No. 153, Zoning Code Ordinance of the City of Flushing, to rezone 423 Emily Street from an I-1 Industrial Zoning designation to a B-1, Local Business Zoning designation.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Rezoning – 241 Lynn Street – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to move to first reading the amendment to Ordinance No. 153, Zoning Code Ordinance of the City of Flushing, to rezone 241 Lynn Street from an I-1 Industrial Zoning designation to an R-3A, Multi-Family Residential Zoning designation.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
APPOINTMENTS:
City Councilperson Appointment to District 3 – Due to the resignation of Councilperson Jay Johnson, administration advertised the opening in the Flushing Observer, requesting residents to submit a letter of interest by Friday, February 11, 2005.
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The City Manager asked that the City Council consider a date for a special meeting in order to review interested respondents. Per City Charter, this position must be filled prior to February 23, 2005.
Closed Session – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, that pursuant to the Open Meetings Act Compiled Laws 15.268(d) to go into closed session to consider the purchase or lease of real property and to consider the option to purchase or lease real property.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 8:30 p.m.
Reconvene: 9:07 p.m.
Adjournment – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 9:08 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer