September 26, 2022
City of Dexter City Council Meeting
Monday, September 26, 2022 @ 7 p.m.
7610 Ann Arbor Street, Dexter, MI 48130 and via Zoom
St. Andrew’s Church Fellowship Hall
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Meeting Agenda: https://cms9files1.revize.com/cityofdextermi/City_Council/2022/Agendas/2022-09-26-CC-A.pdf
Meeting Packet: https://cms9files1.revize.com/cityofdextermi/City_Council/2022/Packets/2022-09-26-CC-P.pdf
Supplemental Material (Fire Station Design Information): Forthcoming
Please note the change in meeting location above. The 3515 Broad St. meeting space is currently being renovated.
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!
During pre-arranged participation, we will hear from three different people/groups:
Girl Scout Troop 40500 will make a presentation about the possibility of a community composting center.
Jennifer Olmstead from Ann Arbor Spark
Washtenaw County Parks and Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative will provide an update on the Dexter-Chelsea trail connector (see consideration item regarding this topic under New Business below)
Council will review (1) minutes of its most recent meeting 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).
Staff updates that might be of interest:
Absentee Ballots and Applications for November Election. Staff anticipates that military and overseas ballots will be issued on Friday, September 23rd (September 24th deadline), and all other ballots will be mailed no later than Tuesday, September 27th.
Mill Creek Park Work Day. The Mill Creek Park Work Day will take place on Saturday, October 22nd from 9am to 1pm in Mill Creek Park. After doing a park walk with Paul Evanoff, it was determined that the main project for the day would be weed control.
WRRMA Postcard. The Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority (WRRMA) will be sending out a postcard to City of Dexter residents that will ask residents to fill out a short survey regarding their recycling habits and knowledge. The information will be utilized by WRRMA to better direct education efforts in various communities. In the past, the City of Dexter has been a strong recycling community, with 89% of our residents utilizing recycling services, which is the best rate out of all WRRMA members.
Fall Clean Up Day. Dexter residents will have an expanded bulk item pick-up on Monday, October 17th. Additional items must (1) be contained if they are loose and (2) be safely lifted by two people.
3rd and Broad Reconstruction. For the 3rd St. and Broad St. project, staff anticpates that asphalt will be placed on September 26th and 27th, and the roads will re-open to traffic on October 5th.
From Mayor Keough’s report:
Public Meeting to discuss Ballot Language for Public Safety Facility Improvements. As we prepare additional information for our residents related to the proposed Fire/Police Facility ballot language, Council Member Griffin and I encouraged and asked City Manager Justin Breyer to reserve the Dexter District Library for the evening of October 11th to invite the public to ask questions, gather information and review our latest concepts that are being prepared by Partner’s in Architecture with input from our Fire Chief.
Dexter Senior Center Next Steps Discussion with Jim Carson, Webster Township Supervisor John Kingsley, Dexter Township Supervisor Diane Ratkovich and Scio Twp Supervisor Will Hathaway – at the request of Dexter Senior Center Board Chairperson Jim Carson, I set up a meeting for the five of us to discuss potential next steps for helping the Dexter Senior Center find a long term home and potential funding source. We discussed the possibility of a setting up an Authority specifically for the Dexter Seniors. All communities were interested and we will be meeting again soon to discuss next steps.
Dexter Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting – the DDA voted to approve the Pre-Development Agreement with Common Sail and recommend the agreement to City Council. The DDA also discussed the future replacement of trees within our downtown.
From my report:
September 25th is national “If You See Something, Say Something®” Awareness Day
See page 65 of the packet or here to read more
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: $312,434.94
Appointment of Julie Knight to Parks and Recreation Commission
Catch Basin Repair Award to Bostwick Company, Inc. for an Amount not to Exceed $5,100
Purchase of WWTP Digester Heater to Madison Electric for an Amount not to Exceed $9,000
Water Distribution System Materials Inventory Award to M&K Jetting & Televising for an Amount not to Exceed $25,000
Council will consider (i.e., take formal action on; “C”) or discuss (i.e., take no formal action on; “D”) the following business:
Formally Excusing Paul Cousins’ Absences (C)
Per Charter Section 5.05 Vacancies, Forfeiture of Office, Filling of Vacancies
(b) A Mayor or Council Member shall forfeit that office if that Mayor or Council Member:
(1) Fails to meet the residency requirements, or
(2) Violates any express prohibition of this charter, or
(3) Is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or
(4) Fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused by the Council.
To-date, Council Member Cousins has been absent from the following regular City Council meetings: July 25, August 8, August 22, September 12. It is staff’s understanding that Council Member Cousins has indicated that he has missed the meetings due to recuperation following a medical procedure.
City Council is asked to consider excusing the absences of Council Member Paul Cousins from the July 25, August 8, August 22, and September 12 regular City Council Meetings.
Council Member Fisher’s Eligibility for Office (D)
Both Council Members Griffin and Michels indicated that they were contacted by a resident claiming that Council Member Fisher does not meet the requirements to continue serving on the Dexter City Council.
The relevant Charter provision (Section 5.05) is provided below. As indicated in the Charter, “City Council shall be the judge of the qualification of its members...” Council Members Griffin and Michels requested that the City Attorney be consulted on this matter. Staff has not consulted with the City Attorney, but can do so, pending direction from a majority vote of City Council.
Direction to Washtenaw County Parks Regarding Dexter-Chelsea Trail (C)
Since 2018, approximately 4.0 miles of new Border to Border Trail (B2B Trail) has been completed between the City of Dexter and the City of Chelsea, along Dexter-Chelsea Road, between Freer Road and Parker Road in Lima Township. It is the goal of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission to connect Dexter to Chelsea (7 miles), as part of the regional B2B Trail (44 miles of trail), which will ultimately connect eastern Washtenaw County/Wayne County to the Village of Stockbridge and beyond.
In 2023, the County’s current plan is for the B2B Trail to be extended east along the northside of Dexter-Chelsea Road to Parker Road. This would leave the connection from Parker Road into the City of Dexter as the preferred next segment to complete, which could potentially occur in 2024.
At this time, the project group is seeking the following feedback from City Council:
1) Should the project group continue to pursue the re-use of the Bell Road Bridge (versus the new pre-fabricated bridge)?
Project Cost Estimate Using Bell Road Bridge - $1,882,000
Project Cost Estimate Using New Bridge - $2,482,000
In either case, Washtenaw County Parks representatives have given verbal indication that they are willing to discuss a maintenance agreement for the bridge crossing, so that the bridge does not become the exclusive long-term maintenance responsibility of the City.
2) Should the project group continue to pursue the proposed crossing location near Forest Lawn Cemetery?
3) Concurrence on the current preferred alignment of 1A or 1B.
Bell Road Bridge Rendering
Pre-Fab Bridge Rendering
Proposed Route Alternatives
Commitment of Fund Balance to Public Safety Facilities Project (C)
During the public safety facilities bond and millage discussions, City Council indicated a desire to commit a total of $1,000,000 towards the proposed project, including the balance of FY 2021-22 fund balance.
To-date, City Council has committed $188,840.92 in previous fund balance towards the fire station project. City Council has committed $300,000 towards “Fire Department Capital Costs.”
At the close of FY 2021-22, the City had $508,856.38 in revenue over expense in the General Fund.
$188,840.92 (Fire Station)
+$300,000.00 (Fire Department Capital Costs)
+$508,856.38 (FY 21-22 added to fund balance)
= $997,697.30
A commitment of fund balance towards a project or item can be performed through a standard motion and majority vote of Council. A commitment of Council can only be undone by another vote of Council.
3045 Broad Pre-Development Agreement with Common Sail (C)
The DDA considered the draft 3045 Broad Street Pre-Development Agreement with Common Sail Development Group, at its meeting on September 15th and voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Finn to execute the agreement, on behalf of the DDA, and recommended approval of the Pre- Development Agreement to City Council.
In summary, the pre-development agreement does the following:
Identifies the five parcels of land that comprise the 3045 Broad Street Redevelopment project area, including what is commonly known as 3045 Broad Street, vacant Broad Street parcel, 8077-8087 Forest Street, and 8090 Grand Street (08-08-06-280-001, 08-08-06-280-026, 08-08-06-280- 024, 08-08-06-280-025, 08-08-06-280-002).
Establishes City goals for the redevelopment of the five parcels that make up the 3045 Broad Street Redevelopment Project.
Per the agreement: The City desires that the Property be redeveloped to meet several goals, including:
provide a residential environment to add diversity in housing options within the City, recognizing that a viable, healthy residential market is of primary importance to the overall health and vitality of the community;
preserve and strengthen the existing character of the downtown area as an historic, pedestrian-scaled community, with traditional site and architectural designs which create an aesthetically memorable place containing vibrant streetscapes and community spaces;
expand the downtown core in a manner that supports and encourages walkability, and adds mixed-use, high-density residential uses within close proximity to the downtown (the “Project”).
Identifies the CSDG Development Team.
Provides the Developer with an exclusive six (6) month Option Period in which to undertake what’s commonly referred to as “due diligence” activities and requires the submittal of a sum of $25,000.00 (i.e., Option Price) by the Developer, for that exclusive right.
Prescribes remedies in the event of default or termination of the Agreement.
Guarantees one four-month extension of the Option Period, provided the Developer is making active, good faith progress. In the event the Developer requests a second extension, the Option Price becomes non-refundable.
Outlines the activities to be undertaken by Developers and City/DDA, during the Option Period.
Prescribes a 60-day Negotiation Period during which the City/DDA and Developer could come to terms on a purchase price for the property.
Outlines the steps the Developer must take after the Option and Negotiation periods, including site plan or PUD review.
Setting a Public Hearing for 8050 Main St. Lease Ordinance for October 24, 2022 (C)
The agreement with Hotel Hickman for their lease of 8050 Main St. is set to expire in October of 2022. Typically, staff will prepare a new two-year lease agreement, which City Council would be asked to consider.
Following City Council’s last conversation on the matter, staff first contacted Jeff Evans of Swisher Commercial to ask about market conditions for rental properties downtown. Mr. Evans indicated that typical rents for commercial space are roughly $16 to $22 per sq. ft. per year. The building occupied by Hotel Hickman is approximately 576 sqft. At that rate, the market value for rent would fall between $768 to $1056 a month.
Hotel Hickman’s current rent is $685 per month or $8,220 per year. While the figure is open for Council discussion, due to the limited size of the building and the historic condition, staff would propose a gradual increase to $700 starting in November 2022, then $725 in November 2023. The current lease expires November 12, 2022.
The lease is established by ordinance, and the current lease expires on November 12, 2022. As a result, staff recommends setting a public hearing for the lease ordinance for the October 24, 2022 regular City Council meeting. A copy of the ordinance is attached for consideration.
Fire Station Design & Bond Information (D/C)
David Gassen is now working on final draft renderings, floor plans, and costs for the properties at (1) 8140 Main Street and (2) Dexter Ann Arbor Road at Meadow View Drive for distribution on Thursday, September 22nd. Staff will share this information as soon as it is received.
Based on requests from Council Member Griffin and Mayor Keough to host a public information session regarding the ballot proposal, staff contacted the Dexter District Library and reserved Tuesday, October 11th from 6:15 – 8:45pm for a City Council Work Session/Public Information Session. This was the only date the week of October 10th that the Library had available. City Council should discuss whether this date is appropriate and what information City Council would like prepared in advance.
Draft informational flyer:
