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City of Dexter City Council Meeting

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Hello!

…and thanks for your interest in the City of Dexter and its City Council. Since my election to office in November 2020, I have distributed annotated meeting agendas (see below) prior to each Council meeting. These newsletters are my personal effort to make it as quick and easy as possible for interested parties to know what Council will be discussing and considering at each meeting. For the most part, descriptions of agenda items come straight from the meeting packet. Following each meeting (and as soon as the video links are available), I share links to the video recordings of the discussion of each agenda item. Past meeting agendas, packets, minutes, and video links (when available) can be found here.

Hearing from residents is one of my favorite parts of being on Council! If you have questions, comments, or concerns about upcoming Council business or any other Council or City topic, please feel free to email me at my official City email: jgriffin@dextermi.gov.

Sincerely,

Jamie

Dexter City Council
In-Person and Virtual Meeting

Monday, January 10, 2022 @ 7 p.m.

3515 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom

As always, there are two opportunities for non-arranged public participation: one near the beginning of the meeting and one near the end of the meeting. See the agenda for details.

Council will review (1) minutes of its last meeting (12/27/2021) and (2) the upcoming meeting list. We will also hear various updates from staff, including the City Manager and the Mayor (note that corresponding written reports are included in the meeting packet).

Following the presentation and any discussion of these reports, Council will consider the following items as part of the Consent Agenda. Unless Council votes to do otherwise, these items are voted on as a single bundle without Council discussion.

  • Bills & Payroll in the amount of: $102,689.88
  • Setting Dates for the Board of Review's March, July, and December Meetings
    • The Board of Review hears appeals of property assessments.
    • It is respectfully requested that the City Council set the following dates and times for the 2022 Board of Review.
      • Organizational Meeting: Tuesday March 8, 2022 at 4:00 PM
      • March Hearing Dates:
        • Monday March 21, 2022 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM and 6:00 – 9:00 PM
        • Wednesday March 23, 2022 from 9:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
      • July Meeting: Tuesday July 19, 2022 at 4:00 PM
      • December Meeting: Tuesday December 13, 2022 at 4:00 PM
  • Arbor Care Proposal for Winter Tree Maintenance
    • As discussed during the FY 2021-22 budget work sessions, staff is recommending the implementation of a multi-year rotating tree trimming schedule, wherein the City's arborist would visit a different section of the City each winter. As previously discussed, staff would like to start this program this February.
    • Initially, trimming would be conducted in the eastern and southeastern portions of the City, specifically in the Huron Farms and Dexter Crossing neighborhoods. Trees in those neighborhoods have been identified by the City's DPW staff as the most in need of trimming. The goal is to tackle the first two sections of the City in the first year, with one other section being completed each year thereafter. The primary goal of the tree trimming program is to remove excess foliage from reaching over sidewalks and roadways and review the health of the trees in these neighborhoods.
    • The City's arborist, Arbor Care Tree Surgeons has provided a quote of $9,700 to perform the street tree trimming work in the Huron Farms Neighborhood (Section 4 on map) and $6,500 for the work in Dexter Crossing (Section 6), for a total of $16,200.

Council will discuss or consider (i.e., take action on) the following unfinished business:

  • Fire Station Guiding Principles and Next Steps (Justin Breyer, City Manager and City Clerk and Michelle Aniol, Community Development Manager)
    • Included in the packet you will find:
      • 1) a new version of the changes and comments made on the work session prompts;
      • 2) images of the marked-up work session posters; and
      • 3) a memo provided by Council Member Griffin related to the Fire Station Guiding Principles.
      • Council Member Michels also requested that the deadlines for placing items on the ballot for 2022 elections be provided. The deadline to certify ballot language for county and local proposals to the County Clerk for the 2022 Elections are:
        • May 3, 2022 Election – February 8, 2022 by 4:00pm
        • August 2022 Election – May 10, 2022 by 4:00pm
        • November 2022 Election – August 16, 2022 by 4:00pm
    • To date, Council has provided feedback on the following guiding principles provided at the work session on 11/22/2021.
      • We believe that providing a solid foundation for fire and emergency service prevention, preparedness and response is our mission.
      • We believe the health, safety and welfare of our community is a top goal.
      • We believe the health, safety and welfare of our fire fighters is a top goal.
      • We believe that development of a timeline is a top goal.
      • We believe that regulations and requirements for fire stations and fire rescue services have changed since the fire station was constructed in the 1950s.
      • We believe that aging infrastructure, increasing fire and rescue response regulations, a growing population, and more stringent building code requirements and regulations are contributing factors to location and fire station design decisions.
      • We believe existing infrastructure has been adequately evaluated using a recognized set of criteria up to this point.
      • We believe the needs assessments that have been presented are supported by third-party research, evidence, or testimony.
      • We believe that, if we determine additional information is needed, the information should come from third-party entities that are recognized by Council as experts in their field.
      • We believe that Council must present a united voice on the recommended solutions before asking the public to approve a millage.
      • We believe we must be good stewards of taxpayer’s funds and endeavor to be fiscally responsible with City funds and make judicious financial decisions.
      • We believe we must provide our residents with accurate information to ensure they have sufficient information to understand the fire station decision-making process.
  • Forest Street Sidewalk Connection (Justin Breyer, City Manager and City Clerk Josh Tanghe, Assistant to the City Manager)
    • City Council requested that staff evaluate the connection of that sidewalk to the Mill Creek Park Trail at Forest and Jeffords Streets. To facilitate such an extension would require the removal of a set of existing stairs, earthwork (i.e., grading and embankment), and possibly the creation of a retaining wall. Further, the work would potentially encroach onto an existing concrete slab foundation on the 3045 Broad St. property.
    • If desired, City Council may elect to move either version of this project forward or elect to take no action at this time.
      • Option One: Sidewalk with Embankment - Estimated cost: $12,220.00
      • Option Two: Sidewalk with Retaining Wall - Estimated Cost: $24,550.00
    • Image removed.
  • Road Intersections and Signals Evaluation Proposal from OHM Advisors for an Amount not to Exceed $6,500 (Justin Breyer, City Manager and City Clerk)
    • During the November 8th and December 13th meetings, City Council discussed feedback that they had received regarding traffic control devices at several intersections:
      • 1) 5th St. and Dover – a resident requested a review of the appropriateness of a four-way stop at the intersection of 5th St. and Dover.
        • Recommendation from 2015 study: OHM recommends that the intersection control continue to use STOP control on both legs of Dover Street and no STOP control on both legs of Fifth Street. This is based on the overall function of both streets where Fifth carries a significantly higher volume of vehicles. It is also recommended that tree growth within the southeastern quadrant of the intersection is trimmed to improve visibility for northeast bound vehicles on Dover Street.
      • 2) Traffic signal at Main St. and Baker Rd. – a request from a resident to give additional consideration to pedestrians at the Main St. and Baker Rd. intersection, including looking at a leading pedestrian interval.
      • 3) Traffic signal at Ann Arbor St. and Meadowview – A resident expressed concern about long wait times to turn left from Ann Arbor St. into Mill Creek Middle School. Staff received another verbal complaint about the short time period for school traffic to turn left from Mill Creek Middle School onto Ann Arbor St.
        • Recommendation from 2016 study: Per OHM representatives, the review of the Meadowview/Dexter Ann Arbor intersection was based on field observations from the DPW and OHM's Traffic Engineering team. The data collected confirmed that the left turn movement would not meet warrants due to the lack of turning volume and no crash history at the time. This information ultimately led to the decision to not pursue a detailed study
      • 4) Traffic signal at Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd. and Dan Hoey – a resident forwarded an e-mail expressing concern about the interval for pedestrians to cross Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd. at Dan Hoey Rd. is too short.
    • City Council is asked to consider approval of the OHM proposal to evaluate the various intersections and traffic signal timings. Approval of an evaluation of all intersections and signals would be for an amount not to exceed $6,500.

Council will discuss or consider (i.e., take action on) the following new business:

  • Board of Review Hardship Guidelines (Marie Sherry, Treasurer/Finance Director/Assessor)
    • Each year, local units of government are required to adopt guidelines for the administration of hardship property tax exemptions by the Board of Review. These guidelines were completely updated by the City’s Board of Review members and City Council for the 2021 tax year, with income guidelines at 2x the prior year’s federal poverty guidelines. The Board of Review is not recommending any changes from the 2021 guidelines, with the exception of updating the income guidelines.
    • Per the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE):
    • Image removed.
  • Parks and Recreation Mill Creek Park Project Request (Justin Breyer, City Manager and City Clerk)
    • Through 2021, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed improvements to Mill Creek Park North, including the playground.
    • During Parks and Recreation Commission's discussion of the design development process, the Parks and Recreation Commission would like to issue an invitation to various boards and commissions to: 1) discuss the project, using the questions listed below; and 2) select two representatives to attend a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to provide feedback and participate in design discussions. The boards and committees included in this invitation are: City Council, Planning Commission, Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee, and the Library Board.
    • Questions posed by the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding Mill Creek Park North:
      • How do we enhance active recreation and play in this park?
      • How do we make this park a centerpiece?
      • How do we integrate the other points of interest in the area (Farmers Market, B2B, downtown, Trail)?
      • How do we make this area accessible?
      • What challenges do you currently see or experience with the park?
      • How would you like to see the park used, and what, if any, are the barriers to that use?
      • With potential improvements to the park, do you foresee any unintended consequences or is there anything that would like to make sure that anything is protected or preserved?
  • Fifth Amendment to the Grandview Commons Master Deed (Michelle Aniol, Community Development Manager)
    • The Grandview Commons Condominium was established in accordance with PA 59 of 1979 (the Michigan Condominium Act), as amended and consistent with the approved final site plan for the Grandview Commons Planned Unit Development. The original Master Deed included two expandable areas, Area A and Area B, which represented Phase 2 and 3 on the approved final site plan. In order to begin construction of the 3rd and final phase of Grandview Commons, the applicant must obtain approval of an amendment to the Master Deed to expand the condominium.

REMINDER: Video recordings of past Council meetings are now available on the City's website (in addition to the City's YouTube channel): https://www.dextermi.gov/government/cc.php. If there's a particular past discussion you're interested in watching, just let me know and I'll do my best to point you to the relevant excerpt.

**If you who would like to receive my personal meeting reminders via email, please  visit https://www.griffinfordexter.com/ and scroll to the bottom to enter their email address where directed. 

Meeting Agenda: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2022/Agendas/2022-01-10-CC-A.pdf

Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2022/Packets/2022-01-10-CC-P.pdf

Join Zoom Meeting

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Dial In 877 853 5247 OR 888 788 0099 US Toll-free

Meeting ID: 979 1964 5989#

3515 Broad Street
Dexter, MI 48130
United States

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