February 26, 2024
City of Dexter City Council Meeting
Monday, February 26, 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/2024-02-26-CC-A.pdf
Meeting Packet: https://files.dextermi.gov/City_Council/2024/Packets/2024-02-26-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:
Master Plan Amendments. The Planning Commission will begin working on two separate amendments to the Master Plan, starting in March. The first is in response to the Dexter Schools rezoning request for 2505 Baker Road, and the second, which is being funded by a $50,000 MSHDA Housing Readiness Grant, will examine policies related to the housing within and outside of the city limits, including understand housing needs; evaluate lessons learned following implementation of the new zoning ordinance; and redefine policies regarding municipal services extensions. The foundation of the housing readiness amendment process will be a series of intensive and highly interactive Housing and Developer Forums, and Small Area Plan Design Workshops. Staff and CWA are coordinating on a work plan and schedule those public work session, with the intent of presenting it to the Planning Commission at its March 4th meeting. Staff anticipates asking Council to approve the CWA scope of work and the work plan at its March 11th meeting. Required Notices of Intent to Amend the Master Plan have been sent to contiguous municipal planning commissions, regional planning agency, utilities, and railroad company, in accordance with PA 33 0f 2008, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MPEA), as amended.
Per the January Police Services Monthly Report prepared by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, noteworthy events in Dexter City during January include:
On January 18th Deputies investigated a fraud in the 600 block of Boardwalk Lane. The victim advised they received a pop-up alert on their laptop computer for ransom ware. They were instructed to call a phone number and spoke with an unknown individual who instructed them to make various withdraws from their bank account and deposit them in BitCoin machines. The victim was also instructed to purchase several gift cards and provided the ID numbers over the phone. The victim also purchased roughly $600,000.00 in gold which was picked up by an individual impersonating a Federal Reserve Officer. In total, the victim was defrauded of $630,000 over the span of a month. No suspects have been identified and the case has been turned over to the Detective Bureau for further investigation.
On January 23rd Deputies received information regarding a threat against Mill Creek Middle school. The threat was made on the application ‘Discord’ and reported to Law Enforcement by an anonymous source. Deputies identified the author of the post who was a student and made contact at their home. It was determined that no credible threat existed, and the student was removed from school pending follow-up investigation. A report has been submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Elections Updates.
Saturday Election Hours. The Clerk’s Office will be open Saturday, February 24th, from 9:00am to 5:00pm to assist residents with voting related questions and register voters.
Election Day. The Presidential Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Polls will be open from 7:00am – 8:00pm. City Hall will serve as the polling location for Precinct 1 and the Absentee Voter Counting Board (AVCB). The polling place for Precinct 2 will be St. Andrew’s Church.
Park Naming Request. Staff received a call and follow-up e-mail from Laurence Kloss, who is working with Cheryl Willoughby and the Dexter Bicentennial team. Mr. Kloss has asked if there would be interest from the City to rename a park “Bicentennial Park” in honor of Dexter’s 2024 bicentennial.
Next City Council Goal Setting Work Session. City Council is scheduled to hold its next City Council Goal Setting Work Session on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 9:45am.
The Watermoo. The Watermoo bike race will be held on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, with the start and finish of the race being at Jolly Pumpkin in the Industrial Park along Dan Hoey Road. Staff wanted to mention this because although the majority of the 111-mile race takes place on gravel trail, staff asks that residents traveling into the Industrial Park on that day be mindful of the increased number of bicyclists. The Watermoo did not request any road closures for the event.
Easter Eggstravaganza.The 2024 Easter Eggstravaganza will be taking place on Saturday, March 30th in Community Park. Families will be able to enjoy face painting, live rabbits, a visit from the Easter Bunny, and an egg scramble. Check-in begins at 9:00am, with the scramble starting at 10:00am. Tickets are now sale now at City Hall. Tickets are $2 per child or $5 per family of 3 or more children. More information on parking for the event will be provided soon, as staff is working with Dexter Crossing on using their lot for parking.
The Easter Riddle Hunt across the City’s parks will begin on Saturday, March 16th and go until Wednesday, April 3rd. Members of the community are invited to go online starting March 16th to download the Easter Riddle Hunt sheet to begin tracking down the Easter egg hidden in each park. Upon completion of the Easter Riddle, participants can stop by City Hall to collect a prize.
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: $385,628.40
AT&T Metro Act Right-of-Way Permit Extension Request Resolution
Resolution in Support of National Arbor Day
Memorial Day Parade Road Closure Permit Request for May 27, 2024
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the Rotary Club of Dexter to host their Memorial Day Parade on May 27. Per their permit request, the following road closures have been requested:
Dexter-Ann Arbor Road between Kensington and Alpine from 10:00am until noon
Central Street between Fifth Street and Main Street from 9:00am until noon
Staging taking place on Kensington, Inverness, Forest, and Grand Street near Wylie Elementary from 8:00am to 10:00am
The Rotary Club has made note that the public will be notified on the road closures on May 1.
See the packet for their application and parade route map.
Bicentennial Parade Road Closure Permit Request for June 22, 2024
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the City of Dexter/Rotary Club of Dexter to host the Dexter Bicentennial Parade on June 22. Per their permit request, the following road closures have been requested:
Dexter-Ann Arbor Road between Kensington and Alpine from 10:00am until 11;30am
Staging taking place on Kensington, Inverness, Forest, and Grand Street near Wylie
Elementary from 8:00am to 10:00am
Some staging will take place in the Wylie lot. Steve Feinman of the Rotary received permission from Dexter Schools to do so.
See the packet for their application and parade route map.
Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Road Closure Permit Request for June 2, 2024
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the Ann Arbor Track Club for the Dexter- Ann Arbor Run. The event is proposed to be held on June 2, 2024, starting at 8:30am at Creekside Intermediate School.
The race is proposed to travel: Baker Rd. at Creekside Intermediate School→Shield Rd.→Parker Rd.→Dexter-Chelsea Rd.→ Dexter-Pinckney Rd. → Huron River Dr. → Zeeb Rd.
The event organizers have submitted contracts with Huron Valley Ambulance services as well as a police services contract with Washtenaw County.
The club’s letter, application, course map and contracts are included in the packet.
Velo Club Road Closure Permit Request
A road closure permit request has been submitted by the Ann Arbor Velo Club to host their Spring Training Series bicycle rides. Per their permit request, select roads in the Industrial Park would be closed on the following days:
Sunday, April 28, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday, May 5, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday, May 19, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
A copy of the permit application, course map and safety protocols are included in the packet.
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:
Resolution to Adopt Ballot Language Relating to Petitions for a Charter Amendment (C)
On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the City of Dexter received from a group called “Friends of Mill Creek Park” a citizen-initiated petition proposing an amendment to the City of Dexter Charter:
“Section 1.04 MILL CREEK PARK NORTH
THE CITY-OWNED PUBLIC LAND BOUNDED BY ALPINE STREET, MAIN STREET, MILL CREEK, AND THE RAILROAD SHALL BE RETAINED IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, IN PERPETUITY, AND SHALL BE SET ASIDE FOR AND DEVOTED TO ACTIVE RECREATION, PASSIVE RECREATION, OR BOTH.”
Per MCL 117.21, the City Clerk has 45 days to certify that the petition forms contain signatures from a minimum of 5% (180) of the 3,599 registered electors within the City of Dexter. As of Friday, June 16th, staff reviewed the petitions and found the forms to contain no less than the minimum number of signatures required. Since the certification of the petitions, staff has notified the Attorney General’s Office of the certification.
During the August 28, 2023 meeting, City Council voted to postpone the consideration of a resolution to adopt ballot language relating to the submitted citizen-initiated petition proposing an amendment to the City of Dexter Charter to the first meeting in December 2023. During the December 11, 2024 meeting, a motion was made to consider the ballot language, but failed after not receiving a second.
The deadline to file certified ballot language with the County Clerk for the November Election is August 13, 2024. However, as the proposal involves a charter amendment, the language must be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office and the Governor. The Attorney General’s Office and Office of the Governor have issued direction that communities should expect a review period by the AG’s Office and Governor’s Office of at least 90 days in advance of the filing deadline.
The City recently went through a similar process in 2020 with the citizen-initiated charter amendment to place restrictions on the sale of property. During that process, staff provided the petitions to the Attorney General’s Office and Governor’s Office, and the package was rejected due to the petitions not containing language for a ballot-ready question. In working with the Attorney General’s Office through the previous process, it was their opinion that:
1) City Council must adopt ballot language by resolution. The ballot language must be consistent with the intent of the citizen-initiated petition.
2) That the entirety of the ballot language question (exclusive of title) must be 100 words or less.
3) The City is not entitled or required to add an explanatory caption or description of purpose. It is the opinion of the Attorney General’s Office that the “description of purpose” referred to in State law is intended to equate to the “ballot question.”
4) A proposal requested via citizen-initiated petition shall go before the voters regardless of the Governor’s approval. However, the Attorney General’s Office must certify the ballot language for compliance with State law.
Proposed Ballot Language
A proposal to amend the Dexter City Charter to insert language related to City-owned land bounded by Alpine Street, Main Street, Mill Creek, and the Railroad
Shall the Dexter City Charter be amended to insert language relating to the City-owned land bounded by Alpine Street, Main Street, Mill Creek, and the railroad to retain the land in public ownership, in perpetuity, and devote the land to active recreation, passive recreation, or both?
[Yes] [No]
CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER INFORMATION OR RECORDS SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH MCL 15.268 Sec. 8