September 23, 2024
City of Dexter City Council Meeting
Monday, September 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
3515 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom
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Meeting ID: 827 1693 8464#
Meeting Agenda: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Agendas/2024-09-23-CC-A.pdf
Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/2024-09-23-CC-P.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)
None.
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:
Public Safety
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office August Report. Noteworthy events, per the report:
On August 15th, Deputies investigated multiple Larceny from Auto complaints near the 3000 block of Broad Street. The victim’s reported that their unlocked vehicles had been entered overnight and miscellaneous items had been stolen. Deputies were also called to investigate a vehicle which had been stolen but returned to the location with significant damage. Deputies reviewed surveillance video from the surrounding area and identified an unknown white male seen entering the vehicles throughout the night. Deputies also obtained video from a convenience store where the victim’s credit card was used. Deputies were later contacted by a victim who provided additional video showing several subjects checking door handles in the area. The subjects appear to be white males ranging from 18-30 years old. Deputies have been unable to identify the subject(s) in the video.
On August 22nd, Deputies investigated a Vehicle Theft in the 8000 block of Bridgeway Drive. The victim reported their sport utility vehicle and trailer had been taken overnight from in front of the address. The victim informed Deputies that the vehicle had been left unlocked, however there should not have been a key inside the vehicle. Deputies later located the vehicle and trailer a short distance away, unoccupied.
Also on August 22nd, Deputies investigated several Larceny from Auto complaints in the Westridge neighborhood. The victims reported their vehicles were unlocked and miscellaneous items had been stolen. Deputies learned that a victim’s credit card had been used at a retailer in Ann Arbor City and obtained video from the store. Deputies are working to identify the individuals.
Public Safety Facilities Update.
The bid packages for construction at 8140 Main St. have been released and posted to BidNet/MITN. Bid responses are due to Cunningham-Limp by September 27, 2024 at 3:00pm.
Construction on temporary fire facilities at City Hall has been completed, and both the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and Dexter Area Fire Department have relocated to City Hall, 3515 Broad St.
Fall Newsletter. See beginning page 25 of the packet for a draft of the City’s fall newsletter.
Upcoming Events
Mill Creek Park Clean-up Day. Staff is targeting Saturday, October 12, for the Mill Creek Park Clean-up Day. The project for the clean-up day is planned to include some clean up and tree planting near the amphitheater in Mill Creek Park South.
November 5, 2024 Election. A General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Staff anticipates that absentee ballots will be mailed to residents on the permanent list early in the week of September 23rd. Staff will also be working to schedule an Election Commission meeting in early October.
Current Vacancies on City Boards and Commissions. If you are interested in serving your community in this capacity, please complete the Committee/Commission application form found here: https://dextermi.gov/government/permits_and_forms.php#outer-241
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: $411,093.88
Sale of Equipment via Auction
Staff is seeking to sell two vehicles via auction on Govdeals.com, with a bidding deadline of October 2nd. The vehicles set for auction have been replaced with new vehicles in 2024, as approved by City Council. The City’s purchasing policy stipulates that City Council must approve all sales made through auction.
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD – Utilities Department truck (split Water/Sewer Funds)
2003 Ford F-450 SD – Department of Public Works truck (Motor Pool Fund)
Appointment to Election Commission
Mayor Keough would like to recommend the following appointment of David Wendt to the Election Commission to fill the vacancy left by Ray Tell’s resignation.
Correction of Downtown Development Authority Appointment Terms
Mayor Keough would like to recommend the reconfirmation of the following appointments to the Downtown Development Authority. Staff and myself were made aware of an issue with the term end dates of the Downtown Development Authority by a DDA member. Following research, it was found that there were two issues in the spreadsheet that staff uses to track appointment terms. The first issue started in 2015 when two members were reappointed for one year, and then were reappointed the following year with a full four-year term. The second issue occurred in 2020 when the members being reappointed were set to three-year terms instead of the required four-year terms.
Downtown Development Authority – Term Ending June 2025
Doug Finn*
Laura Keefer*
Mike Penn*
Downtown Development Authority – Term Ending June 2026
Randy Willis*
Deb Schroeder*
Christi Lower*
Downtown Development Authority – Term Ending June 2027
Karen Magdich*
Patrick Becker*
Downtown Development Authority – Term Ending June 2028
Don Darnell*
Rich Bellas*
Mike Fitzpatrick* (seeking replacement)
Request from the Dexter Lions Club for the Closure of Central St. Between Main St. and 5th St. on October 5, 2024 for Apple Daze
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the Dexter Lions Club to host their annual Apple Daze event on Saturday, October 5th. Per their permit request, the following road(s) have been requested to be closed:
Central Street between Main and Fifth from 7:00am to 6:00pm
Setting a Public Hearing on October 14, 2024 Regarding an Ordinance to Lease a Portion of 3515 Broad St. to the Dexter Area Fire Department
In conjunction with the Interlocal Agreement for the creation of the Dexter Area Fire Department, the Village of Dexter (at the time) established a lease agreement with the Dexter Area Fire Department for occupancy of 8140 Main St. The lease agreement was included as an exhibit to the Interlocal Agreement. With the Dexter Area Fire Department having vacated 8140 Main St. and relocating to 3515 Broad St., the City of Dexter should establish a new lease agreement for their temporary quarters at City Hall, 3515 Broad St. and extinguish the existing lease at 8140 Main St.
A draft of the lease agreement as developed by City Attorney Munzel was presented to City Council at the September 9, 2024 meeting. A copy of that draft lease was also shared with DAFD Chief Armstrong for review and comment. City staff and the City Attorney have updated the draft lease in an effort to address Council’s and the Chief’s comments.
Per Charter, leases must be approved by ordinance, requiring a public hearing. Due to the fifth Monday in September, there is sufficient time to publish the required notice of public hearing prior to the October 14, 2024 meeting.
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:
Sending a Letter to City Residents with Information Regarding the City of Dexter Charter Amendment Proposal on the November General Election Ballot (C)
A request was received from Council Member Semifero to add an item to the September 9, 2024 City Council agenda regarding “sending a letter to City residents with information regarding the City of Dexter Charter Amendment proposal on the November General Election ballot.” This item was postponed to the September 23, 2024 meeting. There were a number of questions that were identified regarding the item during the September 9, 2024 City Council discussion. For City Council’s reference, see the packet beginning page 89, for the following items:
An e-mail from City Attorney Munzel regarding ballot item materials publication deadlines
A MML One Pager regarding use of public funds for campaigning/educating
Copies of the Village Plat and Amended Plat
An aerial image from the Washtenaw County GIS of Mill Creek Park and 5th St./Alpine St.
Michigan Historical Markers to Commemorate Sites of Historical Significance in the Dexter Area and the State of Michigan (C)
A request was received from Council Member Michels to add an item to the September 23, 2024 City Council agenda regarding “Michigan Historical Markers to commemorate sites of historical significance to the Dexter area and the State of Michigan,” and that the attached materials be included in the packet.
Passport Processing Services (D)
(my summary) Staff looked into the process for the City to become a registered passport acceptance facility and found that the process is fairly straightforward. Staff also learned from City of Saline staff that offering this service requires staffing resources that exceeded their current capabilities (thus, the service was discontinued in the City of Saline). City of Dexter staff is looking for direction from Council as to whether the City should offer this service.