□ Massaged, then approved, the mayor's recommendations re the appointment of CITCOM members to several committees.

□ Directed Staff to revise the 1973 policy re the use of the Commission Chambers by non-City groups. The policy must take into consideration charging for any use of the video equipment now installed in the chambers. [Seating in what is officially known as "Room 315" is 78 or 82, depending on who counted them for me.]

04 Feb 08

Literally reaching across the aisle, the six city commissioners rejected the Administration's proposal to install pay-and-display kiosks in the Farmers Market parking lot. Mayor Ellison, alone, seemed to agree with City Manager Hoover's and Public Services Director Rassel's contention that their proposal (1) was based on a "successful" test of the concept and (2) was the type of report CITCOM had requested.

The deliberations were long, involved, occasionally testy but mostly sharply focused, and it became obvious that the commissioners and the Administration were operating from diametrically opposed procedural understandings -- other than their common goal of wanting to generate revenue from the lot. Everything came up: The Court's apparent willingness to implement parking validation procedures for selected groups, like jurors . . . Contrarily, the Library's apparent rejection of implementing any validation procedure . . . "If the Court and the Library are expected to validate, why not City Hall and the Police Department? Where would it stop? . . . Each portion of the lot might have its own paid parking format -- meters, gates, kiosks . . . What about snow removal? . . . Assuring the Market of free parking for its scheduled openings and special events.

After some parliamentary jockeying, Staff was directed to return in a reasonable time with more details, including graphics, showing alternatives and a revenue estimate for each option.

That lively discussion re parking followed an equally intense but never angry debate about amendments to the city's massage ordinance, exactly the type of debate during which one might expect CITCOM's Taliban faction to erupt. There was some of that, but the characters were different than when CITCOM was considering allowing drinking and dancing last year. This time newly elected commissioner and former city attorney Chuck Semchena was the holdout. Drawing on his memories of the Japanese and Korean massage parlors of the Eighties -- which he successfully ran out of town -- Semchena seemed to find it impossible to visualize a wholesome Day Spa or some such, even after Police Chief Quisenberry explained why his department finds the amendments acceptable and enforceable. Quisenberry likened a Day Spa, in which massage is one of the services, to other "wellness centers, like chiropractic and acupuncture." Commissioner Lelito reminded everyone that school athletes -- many under 18 years old -- regularly receive massages in the city. Commissioner Drinkwine opined that he would insist on the door being closed if he were receiving a massage. CITCOM postponed voting on the First Reading of the amended ordinance.

More on target, though almost lost in the Taliban-focused dialogue, was Semchena's concern that the city's approach is "piecemeal" by (1) apparently amending the ordinance for a single applicant and (2) when the Zoning Board grants a permanent variance "even before the applicant has received a license."

The serious tone of the evening was reflected in the brief but contentious disagreement with well-respected and liked Finance Director Johnson's recommendation to charge residents and taxpayers the 3% fee when they use credit cards to pay taxes and fees. Alone, Drinkwine voted against the proposed contract with Official Payments Corporation.

A couple of routine public hearings re alley vacations and one property-rezoning to a PUD (Planned Unit Development) went through without debate.

The Traffic Committee's proposed resolutions were routine and passed quickly with no dialogue.

At Finance Director Johnson's request, CITCOM agreed to precede its 18 February meeting with a Special Meeting re Budget matters, beginning at 6 p.m. Declaring the meeting "special" rather than a "working" or "study" session enables the group to vote on suggested decisions. The meeting is open to the public.

18 Feb 08

A bit somber after having sat through a pessimistic and dreary budget session which focused on the city's financial problems, CITCOM heard from Public Comment speakers: Suggestions that the city build a banquet center at its golf courses, and that it would be nice for the city to erect a "third sheet" at the ice arena. Then there was a lambasting of previous commissions for their supposed repeated failures to address the Block Grant Funds situation as it affects the city's Senior Centers and Housing Programs.

A light touch was offered by the speaker who announced a Swing Dance and who displayed dancing flowers in a pot which played an electronic rendition of Glen Miller's In the Mood."

Next came four items pulled from the Consent Agenda.

□ A Beer and Wine License for the golf courses (apparently a first step on the way to a banquet center). Discussion included several questions: "Should the license be owned by the city or co-owned with the operators of the golf club?" ... "Where would the license come from if it is to be city-owned? Transferred? Created? ... Should the Liquor Control Committee take the first step or are there other legal considerations which must be addressed first? The issue was referred to the LCC.

Semchena, Andrzejak, Drinkwine, and Miller were especially involved in this discussion -- which was more a reasoned exploration than a debate.

□ Details about the proposed changes in how retiree health insurance funding should be handled are less than clear, and the issue was held over and City Attorney Dave Gillam was directed to study the language which puzzled the commissioners.

□ The granting of several Business Licenses was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Semchena. After short discussion, a license was granted to one "massagist" and delayed for another. Licenses were also granted to two hotels: Travellodge to a new owner, Palms Motel, a 3-year annual renewal.

Semchena recommends that future agendas provide more details about petitions for business licenses.

□ CITCOM approved paying $1.00 to permit the city to retain an easement across property at 2104 E Eleven Mile Road. Drinkwine asked to remove the item from the Consent Agenda, then abstained from voting because of his involvement with the property.

Back to the main agenda

The Engineering Department bored at seven locations on Wilson Street and found no source of underground water. Television analysis of the pertinent drain system found "some root masses but no backups," reported City Engineer Danielson, who said the choices are to leave the situation as is and continue with DPS maintenance or to go the special assessment route.

CITCOM decided that repaving improvements are necessary and directed the City Assessor to prepare a special assessment roll in conjunction with the installation of a new water main and to bring back to the commission a resolution for a public hearing.

Replying to a question from Drinkwine about whether the fact that several other streets seem to be in the same condition as Wilson indicated substandard work by contractors, Danielson said, the standards which applied at the time, changed since then, were met.

Discussion about the need for and advisability of a third sheet of ice generated memories from Semchena and Ellison about how the second sheet came into being and about the argument 18 months-or-so ago about the need or not for an Ice Arena committee. No action was taken, but consensus seemed to be:

• An ad hoc committee would be appropriate to explore the pluses and minuses of a third sheet of ice.

• No city money can be spent but the city would consider cooperating with  private sector about the sheet -- and about the wish-thought for a stadium seating, say, 2,000 people..

Returning from their closed session, CITCOM took a minute to pass the following resolution, as reported in the City Clerk's synopsis:

Re the "unpaid compensatory payment with Schostak Brothers and the I-696 property, the City Attorney is authorized to take any necessary action, including but not limited to placing the unpaid compensatory payment onto the tax roll, entering into a lawsuit and hiring Robert Nix to represent the City."

The Budget Meeting

City Manager Tom Hoover and Finance Director Don Johnson excellently facilitated this unavoidably dreary and pessimistic session. The Special Commission Budget Meeting is part of a series of orientation and work sessions to prepare CITCOM for its budget decision-making which will begin in May.

Details aside, the mood was set when Johnson presented extracts from a source dealing with State and County financial conditions. One way or another, everything was touched on: statewide employment, the Auto Industry, the State Budget ("in serious, serious trouble"), Foreclosures, Declining house values, Union Contracts, even accounting software.

Johns summarized that -- operating with present policies -- the city is okay for 07-08; will be short for 08-09; will be very short for 09-10., assuming:

DDA will agree to pay the Court Debt Service, the Court will increase its contribution to the city General Fund by $250,000; departmental budgets will not be fully expended, and that the fall in taxable values doesn't kill us.

The Finance Director showed department-by-department suggestions for helping the city. Those suggestions ranged from enacting a Public Safety dedicated millage to the equivalent of saving paper clips. The mayor and the commissioner weighed in with comments here and there. Drinkwine with his focus on maintaining quality-of-life, though he didn't use that term during this meeting ... Andrzejak on how regionalization might impact Fire/EMS staffing ... Ellison about specific meaning of BLS, ALS, ALS with Transport .. and the like.

The meeting had been declared "special" rather than "work" or "study" with the thought that decisions could be voted on. No decisions were made, but the 90-minute session provided excellent orientation for coming budge-focuses meeting.

03 Mar 08

Perhaps because of leftover ill-feeling from occasional raised voices during Saturday's goals-setting meeting; perhaps because they were still caught up in the tensions from the closed session which preceded the CITCOM meeting' perhaps because they were just tired from their day job: Whatever the reason, the commissioners found it hard to talk substance and, instead, emotionally challenged the motivations of Library Officials and of their colleagues.

Terms like "naive" and "cavalier" and "tipped your hand" and "welcome to our world" and "blind-sided" brought forth apologies. In an apparent Taliban mood, CITCOM did: deny the transfer of a liquor license and deny a sidewalk cafe and postponed an appointment to the Library Board.

The contentious debate about the Library's policy re its computers for adults was so emotional and convoluted that focus was lost, especially since the adversarial tone was apparently set by an outsider organization, speaking during Public Comment.

There was a debate among the commissioners themselves about whether a parliamentary ploy is the way to avoid revisiting the 2-year-ago arguments about the need or not for an Ice Arena Committee, and that debate soured the mood even more.

VersagiVoice has previously covered both the Library issue and the Ice Arena matter, and that context will be provided in next week's extended coverage of this CITCOM meeting -- which thankfully these fatigued highly paid elected officials were able to end with a comradely group chuckle.

Extended Comment: Ice Arena . . . Internet Filtering Fight

17 Mar 08

This was the kind of slightly boring meeting which usually results when elected officials are doing a good job. There was almost no posturing; only once did the discussion go longer than its importance called for; during disagreements there were no rancorous exchanges; even the Administration escaped significant criticism or comments of disapproval as CITCOM worked through the agenda.

Committees received considerable attention.

First, there was consensus that the currently informal, if successful, Memorial Day Parade Committee needs to be formalized, primarily because there is modest city financial or services-support for the event. The parade has been returned to its original route down Main Street.

Second, the First Reading was approved of the proposed ordinance which re-establishes an Ice Arena Committee. The only reminder of the angry exchanges which occurred 03 March was a brief comment by Mayor Ellison, who commented that he had met with a couple of his colleagues and has a better feel of where they are coming from -- but he still voted no. Ellison favors ad hoc committees to address matters when the Administration and the Parks and Rec Board need input. He suggests, "Let's look at all this again a year from now." Ellison and Commissioner Drinkwine voted "no'; Commissioner Lelito was absent. [Background re the Ice Arena issue]

At Commissioner Semchena's request, CITCOM postponed approving the proposed Retirement System Contributions Policy. Semchena said he has no objection to the proposed policy, but he first wants some historical details about what he termed "past actuarial manipulation." That "manipulation", was a factor in the City's decision to discontinue contributions to the fund -- a decision which in large part contributed to the current financial bind.

The matter of acquiring a liquor license for the city's golf courses proved a bit convoluted as City Attorney Gillam answered questions about the type of license . . .  who should own the license, the city or the management company . . . whether the license could apply to both golf courses . . . whether the license could ever be transferred ("No") . . . how the license would apply to the dreamed-of banquet facility.

Gillam was directed to proceed and to refer the issue to the usual Liquor Control Committee procedures at the appropriate time.

The cost of removing one diseased Dutch Elm will be shared equally because the tree sits 50-50 on the line between the city's and a resident's property.

CITCOM chose  conventional parking meters (Option 2 of six described by the Administration) to install paid parking) for the south and east portions of  the Farmers Market parking lot. The plan leaves an unmetered permit parking area needed as a loading dock.

Commissioner Andrzejak asked City Manager Hoover and DPS Director Rassel, separately, to assure the public that there will be free parking on the market's usual days of operation and for special events. They individually responded "yes." Andrzejak took the occasion, again, to express his displeasure that the Library has chosen not to become involved in any validation process. The District Court has agreed to validate free parking for selected visitors like  jurors and victims.

Mayor Ellison, not quite in jest, informally recommended that a new name be developed for the parking lot which serves City Hall, the Library, the Police Station, and Merchants as well as the Market. "Calling it the 'Farmer's Market' gives the impression that it is not a city lot."

FJV, here: I may have missed it, but neither in the documentation nor in the dialogue summarized above did I see or hear estimated revenue. The nearest to that was a suggestion that it may take two to four years to recover the estimated installation and maintenance costs. Someone did comment that all this concern about parking at the Farmers Market is not really about revenue but to serve the city better. Sure.

07Apr 08

CITCOM looked at a wide range of issues, took action on some, postponed decisions on several.
The meeting began with seven items being removed from the Consent Agenda, most of them by  Commissioner Semchena. Action was postponed on several of those items and on other agenda items, as the commissioners directed Staff to provide more or different information. Examples:

• The move to "paperless packets" was delayed for reasons varying from a request for more information about actual savings, through the degree of computer skill needed by the commissioners, to whether commissioners should be required to pay for printing out any hard copies they need.

• Approval of revised Clerk Office Fees was postponed, both with a request for more detail and with concern that perhaps the doubling of Business Fees requires separate input.

• The second reading of the proposed Ice Arena Oversight Committee ordinance was postponed, primarily to provide the absent Commissioner Miller the opportunity to participate.

• Renewal of a couple of Hotel/Motel licenses was postponed with a request for answers to several "administrative questions," one of which is a report from the Police Department re police runs to the establishments.

• Concerning the proposed policy on Retirement System Contributions, CITCOM approved  the policy itself, but sent back to Staff a request for more detailed and specific actuarial information.

The first reading was approved of a proposed amendment to the Liquor Control Committee ordinance which calls for adding an Alternate position to the subcommittee. (5-1), with Lelito voting no.

The motion to deny a Massage Establishment license to Elements Royal Oak was defeated after a 3-3 vote. The issue was held over until more information is provided by Staff. (4-2), with Drinkwine and Semchena voting no.

The concept of statewide No Reason Absentee Voting was approved, endorsed. The concept is intended to make voting easier, more convenient for all voters.

The first reading of a proposed amendment to the Library Ordinance was approved 4-2, with Mayor Ellison and Commissioner Lelito voting no. The purpose of the amendment is to mandate the use of Internet filters on adult computers at the library. The second reading is scheduled for 19 May.

CITCOM approved Mayor Ellison's three appointees to the Library Board 4-2, with Commissioners Drinkwine and Semchena voting no. The appointees: Lauren Wolfe, Frank Houston,  and, reappointed, Joan Koelsch.

There was unanimous approval to order a title search on Rotary Park, following an Andrzejak-requested discussion about possible divestment of  the part.

Also unanimous was approval of the formation of a committee/subcommittee to review the administrative process concerning the city's Massage and Hotel/Motel establishments and operations. Semchena and Ginotti are taking the lead on this.

14 Apr 08

This CITCOM meeting became a courtroom drama as three lawyers and an ex-cop had at it, while the "civilians" pretty much just sat and watched.

The Prosecuting Attorney was Commissioner Semchena, who read aloud most of his 15-count "indictment" against the defendant. Former mayor Dennis Cowan was the "defense" attorney who -- looking at the same sequence of events as Semchena -- reached different conclusions. Testifying for the prosecutor, Commissioner Drinkwine once again drew on a "when I was a cop" anecdote to make a point. And Commissioner Ginotti, another attorney, came through as amicus curiae, Friend of the Court, on the side of the defendant.

The issue was whether to grant a Massage Establishment License to Elements Royal Oak, a matter which CITCOM had held over from its 07 April meeting. But the issue was soon lost sight of as Semchena seemed to find it impossible to escape the emotional anti-massage mindset which years ago led to his successful shutting down undesirable massage parlors in Royal Oak. Ignoring the quiet pleas of several massage therapists who spoke during Public Comment, the former city attorney repeatedly referred to such workers as "masseuses," a term they consider derogatory. Additionally,  Semchena was joined by Commissioner Andrzejak, in legalistically referring to the owner of Elements as "unsuitable' despite his being a well-known Royal Oak resident and businessman.

On his part, the license-applicant hurt his case by admitting to holding off on getting individual licenses for his massage therapists as a cost-saving device, while he determined which prospective employees to put permanently on staff. CITCOM denied the license, 4-3, with Ginotti, Ellison, and Lelito voting no.

From an observer's perspective, the episode was an example of the worst kind of lawyering. Procedurally,  CITCOM was justified in denying the license. Humanly, one is justified in thinking this case called for the "cut him some slack" attitude which CITCOM and the Administration have applied in other situations. 

Semchena's nicer side soon returned. He had requested three items be added to the agenda for discussion, and he nudged CITCOM and the Administration to:

• Review, with the possibility of repealing, the ordinance dealing with Business Licenses in general. Is the cost and complexity of granting such licenses cost-effective? Will information required by several departments still be available if the ordinance is repealed?

• Arrange for training of Zoning Board of Appeals appointees, especially new ones.

• Look at the Sign Ordinance to see if some accommodation is possible in granting sandwich signs -- perhaps with different specifications for the Central Business District and elsewhere in  the city. As it happens, the DDA has appointed a subcommittee to explore the matter, as well as whether the city should work to limit the number of office-businesses at the street level -- thus reducing retailer space and foot traffic.

Other business
Two items were removed from the Consent Agenda: (1) The proposed amendment to appoint an Alternate to the Liquor Control Committee -- at Commissioner Miller's request. He wants to consult with the City Attorney re the matter. (2) The Second Reading of the Ice Arena Oversight Committee Ordinance was approved 4-3, with Drinkwine, Lelito, and Ellison voting no.

The Block Grant Budget was unanimously approved. The budget includes allocations for the Senior Centers, the Orson Starr House, and federally mandated modifications to the Webster & Crooks fire station which is being converted to a historical museum.

Public Comment
Library Director Metta Lansdale reported checking the Internet filter status at 33 libraries in the area.

• 6 of them filer all computers for children or adults, except the 1 or 2 required by Michigan law.

• 4 filter some adult computers.

• 23 do not filter adult computers.

Also during Public Comment:
A young man wondered whether he could establish a rickshaw service in downtown Royal Oak. . . . Historical Commission Chair Karen Crawford displayed the circular plaque which residents can buy for their home, if it is at least 50 years old. . . . Farmers Market Manager Gwen Ross reported on the favorable burst of rentals of the market as a venue for business and social gatherings, and announced a Bridal Show event for August. . . . The Restaurant Association contributed $10,000 to Honor Flight Michigan.

05 May 08

The tone, the mood, of CITCOM meetings has changed.
For the worst, if the 05 May 08 meeting is what it's going to be like. Last week, VersagiVoice reported hearing "puzzlement and concern about the evolving tone of City Commission meetings." Well, here's what I observed at the 05 May meeting:

• A cluster of commissioners determined to contest every initiative by the Administration, to the point of nit-picking the content of memos. True, appointed officials occasionally seem rather cavalier about what and how they present information to CITCOM, but several of the commissioners seem to be demanding subservience, rather than professional judgment from Staff.

• An apparently shifting majority seems to want to take control of CITCOM meetings from the mayor, with Commissioner Semchena leading the attack.

• Too many of the commissioners are taking themselves more seriously than they take their work -- taking personal offense, for example, when City Manager Hoover disagreed with the suggestion that Staff hadn't done its work.

• Micromanaging to the extreme of wanting more detailed information about everything, including the policy or philosophy behind setting each meeting's Consent Agenda, this CITCOM seems determined to become the Executive Branch of local government, as well as the local Legislative Branch.

• In that context, Commissioner Ginotti remained was the most issue-focused and at one point suggested the commission was looking "silly" and at another point repeated his concern that Royal Oak is too-often perceived as being anti-business.

So much for mood and tone. Here's a summary of the business conducted during the 05 May meeting. It started about 15 minutes late. Perhaps the evening's sour mood began in the Closed Session which preceded the public meeting.

The confusing use of the word "expansion" for what was a smaller-than-previously-approved sidewalk cafe in the Staff memo requesting approval of the Black Finn request for the sidewalk license led to a long, artificially convoluted debate about protocol. The debate seemed more like a payback-move by those commissioners who had sat on the Liquor Control Committee and whose split-vote recommendation to deny a liquor license to Black Finn had months ago been rejected by CITCOM. And, of course, the  general discomfort about liquor licenses had a bearing which resulted in a 4-3 approval by Mayor Ellison and Commissioners Ginotti, Lelito, and Drinkwine ("reluctantly", Terry acknowledged).

About the Elements Day Spa, City Attorney Gillam  reported that five applications for massage practitioner licenses were in-process or had been approved and that the business had posted a 'closed until further notice" sign.  The spa's attorney, Dennis Cowan, was present with a request that CITCOM reconsider its previous rejection of a business license for Elements, but CITCOM unanimously approved postponing any reconsideration until the next regular meeting. Then, 6-1, with Commissioner Lelito voting no, City Attorney Gillam was authorized to utilize an outside attorney, if needed, to take action to keep Elements closed (until reconsideration or permanently wasn't made clear).

Two routine proposed Charter Amendments were approved and will be forwarded to Lansing for approval to be included on the August ballot. David Poulton, chairman of the Charter Review Committee, explained that the proposals are part of CRC's long-range effort to bring the city charter into compliance with State law and to remove outdated language and city positions, like "City Health Official" and "Public Health Department." Semchena sits on the CRC and affirmed that the committee unanimously agreed to submit the proposals to CITCOM.

Addition of an Alternate to the Liquor Control Committee was approved. Ellison seemed surprised and disappointed at Commissioner Miller's nomination of Semchena to the slot, acknowledging publicly that he had hoped to fill the position himself. Semchena was approved 6-1, with Ellison voting no.

CITCOM unanimously approved the job description and previously approved salary for an independent contractor to serve as Farmers Market Marketing Manager.

The new schedule for budget hearings was approved: Change 12 May and 14 May to 27 May and 29 May -- and 31 May if needed.

The Appointments Committee's recommendations for several volunteer positions were unanimously approved.

Just before Adjournment, Semchena announced four items he wants included on the agenda for the next regular meeting: 1) Information about how the Consent Agenda is formulated. 2) A draft of an amendment to the Sign Ordinance which takes into consideration the concerns expressed by downtown retailers and already considered by the DDA about permitting standardized Sandwich Signs. 3) Information concerning a State decision which might affect Royal Oak's policy re permitting such retailers as hair salons to serve free wine to customers. 4) Information pertaining to expressed concerns about funding Senior Centers and their activities.

Mike chided Carlo about having webbed feet suitable for stomping grapes.
An ethnic slur? Nah, a good-natured joke near the end of a thankfully non-stressful CITCOM meeting.

There were only a couple of serious but brief discussions as the commission passed the 10 budget-related resolutions and conducted routine business, before adjourning only an hour after they began.

• Commissioner Semchena repeated his contention that the 44th District Court needs to be a bit more cooperative in working with the city on budget issues. Chuck hopes that future budget deliberations are not as "wrenching" as were this year's.

• Commissioner Andrzejak, after determining that a 10-year-ago policy of working with an Insurance Committee had not been used, has been forgotten, suggested that CITCOM should re-implement a more formal procedure of seeking bids on the city's several insurance needs.

• There was a bit of procedural confusion over whether and how to reverse the 29 May budget decision to fund the Community Coalition again this year. It took a couple of split-votes to resolve this minor dispute, leaving the $11,000 funding in place.

• Unanimously, CITCOM approved: Vacating public easements at the Parker School site . . . The Amended Plan of Operation for Small Plates . . . Transfer of a Small Wine Makers License . . . An outside cafe for Small Plates . . . An "encroachment" permitting Small Wine Makers -- Vintner's Cellar, on Fourth Street, to place decorative wine barrels and planter boxes.

It  was during the dialogue with the wine makers that Mike teased Carlo.

16 June 08