November 11, 2024

Written By Brent Griffin

City of Dexter City Council Meeting

Monday, November 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

3515 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom

Join Meeting via Zoom (in-person attendance also welcome!)

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82716938464

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

Meeting ID: 827 1693 8464#

Meeting Agenda: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Agendas/2024-11-11-CC-A.pdf

Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/2024-11-11-CC-P.pdf

Site Plan for Ziggi’s Coffee (7061 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road): https://files.dextermi.gov/Departments_Services/Community_Development/Planning/24002479FSP%202024-10-01.pdf

2024-2025 Draft Budget Book: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/FY2024-25_Budget_Draft.pdf


PRE-ARRANGED PARTICIPATION

Pre-arranged participation will be limited to those who notify the City office before 5:00 p.m. Monday of the week preceding the meeting, stating name, intent and time requirements. (10-minute limit per participant)

  • Mayor Keough will read a proclamation recognizing my service as a City Council Member since November 2020 (this is the last meeting of my term)

  • Marianne Wendt will make an end-of-season presentation about the Farmers Market and Community Garden. See beginning page 13 of the packet for her presentation. As an aside, Wendt will be resigning at the end of the calendar year. Staff has hired Rae Nims as the City’s next Farmers Market and Community Garden Manager. Rae will be working with Marianne over the next few weeks in training to assist in the transition.

NON-ARRANGED PARTICIPATION

Non-arranged participation will include those in the audience not listed on the agenda that wish to speak. At the Mayor’s discretion, members of the audience may be called on to speak at any time. Those addressing the Council will state their name, and address. This section is limited to 5-minutes per participant or 10-minutes for group representative.

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. Just state your name and address and then share your thoughts–it’s that easy!

VARIOUS UPDATES

Council will review (1) minutes of its most recent meeting(s) 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). 

Updates that might be of interest:     

  • November 5, 2024 Election Updates.

    • The November 5, 2024 Election in the City of Dexter went smoothly. The City ended the day with a total of 3,122 voters of 3,691 registered (84.58%), which exceeded the County average of 66%. Dexter had a total of 1,784 voters vote absentee, 750 voters in-person on Election Day, and 588 voters vote during the early voting period. Staff wants to thank all of the election inspectors and Election Commission for volunteering their time to help the election run smoothly.

  • Public Safety Facilities Update.

    • Cunningham-Limp has provided an update on October’s activities relating to the Public Safety Facilities project. A copy of their report begins on page 73 of the packet.

 
 

  • 3045 Broad Street Development. The 3045 Broad Street Sub-Committee (Doug Finn, Don Darnell, Mayor Keough, & Mike Penn) met with Trowbridge representatives on October 31st to review and discuss the proposed terms in the Developers offer to purchase the 3045 Broads Street Redevelopment properties. The Developer is anticipated to submit a revised offer, which will again be reviewed by the Sub-Committee, before being presented for consideration by the DDA.

  • Sloan Kingsley Proposed Annexation and Development. Below this is the latest concept the developer would like the City to accept. Note that the title on the image of “Single Family Development Layout” is incorrect as this is an entirely multi-family development layout.

  • Economic Development. The Downtown Business Networking Stroll has been scheduled for Thursday, December 5th, from 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Staff, Ann Arbor SPARK, and The Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce are working with Highline Spirits (whiskey tasting flights), Erratic Ales (beer tasting flights), Carosello Pasta (mini charcuterie trays), and Raterman’s Bake Haus (bread samples).

CONSENT AGENDA

Following the presentation and any discussion of these reports, Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on) 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: $912,566.66

  • Approval of the Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority (WRRMA) Budget

    • In 2019, the City of Dexter entered into an agreement with various Washtenaw County municipalities to form the Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority (WRRMA). Member municipalities include Ann Arbor Township, the City of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Scio Township, Ypsilanti Township, the City of Ypsilanti, and the City of Saline. WRRMA’s focus is to, as a region, work towards increasing diversion from landfills and increasing the quality of recycled materials. Each community contributes $5,000, which is matched by the County.

  • Resolution Appointing Representatives to the WRRMA Board

    • The Utilities Department received an invoice from Galco Industries in the amount of $5,196.34. They are the vendor from which the City purchased its variable frequency drives (VFDs), and are the City’s point of contact for addressing issues with frequency drives used at the WWTP. Staff contacted Galco after discovering that one of the VFDs had failed. The need to repair the VFD was due to atmospheric moisture in the filter room causing corrosion of the drive, leading it to fail. It is necessary that staff repairs the drive immediately for the tertiary filters to avoid being down to only one VFD.

  • Repair of Wastewater Treatment Plant Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) from Galco Industries for an Amount not to Exceed $5,196.34

    • See immediately preceding item.

DISCUSSION AND/OR CONSIDERATION ITEMS

In addition to any items described under Consent Agenda (above), Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on; “C”) or discuss (i.e., take no formal action on; “D”) the following business:     

  • Application for Combined Preliminary and Final Site Plan and Special Land Use Review for Ziggi’s Coffee, 7061 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd. (D)

    • On October 23, 2024 (Special Meeting), the Planning Commission continued its consideration the above referenced Application for a Special Land Use (PSLU24-0002) and a Combined Site Plan (PSPC24-0003) for Ziggi’s Coffee located at 7061 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road (08-08-08-200-021). The application was submitted by Brett Paul, XSITE Real Estate. The revised plans call for the construction of a 1,076 sq. ft. drive-through coffee store on Outlot #2, in the Dexter Crossing Shopping Plaza. Following presentations by the applicant, CWA, OHM, and staff, and a public hearing conducted by the Planning Commission on September 3, 2024, the Planning Commission engaged in a thorough discussion before voting 6-0 to find the application for a Special Land Use Permit (PSLU24-0002) for a Ziggi’s Coffee drive-through, located at 7061 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road (08-08-08-200-021) MEETS the standards for special land uses in Section 8.03, and recommended APPROVAL to City Council.

    • The site plan can be found here: https://files.dextermi.gov/Departments_Services/Community_Development/Planning/24002479FSP%202024-10-01.pdf

  • Acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Document (C)

    • Each year a budget document is created that complies with the guidelines for the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. It is the intent of this document to be a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communication tool.

    • Staff has worked to craft the budget document in the ClearGov software, and the pdf version of the budget document is exported from ClearGov. Following adoption, staff will make the online interactive version of the budget live to the public on the City’s ClearGov page (https://cleargov.com/michigan/washtenaw/city/dexter). The pdf version will be available on the City’s website at: https://www.dextermi.gov/government/departments_and_services/budgets_and_audits.php.

    • As with any new project, staff has run into challenges. At the time of the writing of this memo there are a few things that we need ClearGov to address.

      • Some of the charts are showing original budget to actual instead of amended budget to actual, which has led to misleading presentations. These charts have been hidden for the time being, but once corrected can be added back in. They are showing the budget to actual information from a historical perspective.

  • Historic Markers (D)

    • At the September 23rd City Council meeting, Council approved a resolution requesting that staff and the Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ACH) Committee to investigate and provide guidance to City Council on historical marker signage around town. Staff conducted research and found some relevant information, which was provided to ACH for their October 2nd meeting.

    • For that meeting, staff provided and ACH discussed the following, all of which are included in the packet, beginning on page 180:

      • Copy of the Michigan Historical Markers Act

      • Eligibility Guidelines from the Michigan History Center

      • Costs Associated with Markers

      • Guidelines from the Department of the Interior

    • At the meeting, ACH discussed the markers. Staff and the ACH Committee have also been notified by ACH member Bev Hill that the Historical Society is interested in installing glass historical signage in town. The portion of the minutes from the ACH meeting related to the Historical Markers begins on page 177 of the packet..

Brent Griffin
Next

October 28, 2024