Amended 2/7/06
COUNTY SERVICES
Minutes
January 17, 2006
Members Present: Andy Schor, Debbie DeLeon, Dale Copedge, Mike Severino, Don Vickers and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino
Members Absent: Dianne Holman
Others Present: John Neilsen, Jared Cypher, Harold Hailey, Doug Stover, Janeil Valentine, Eric Schertzing, Rick Terrill, Donna Rummel, Dean Sienko, Robert Van Kirk, Alexandra Genia, Ashley Star, Jessica Seguin, Amy Alicea and others
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schor at 7:03 p.m. in the Personnel Conference of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Approval of the December 6, 2005 Minutes
MOVED BY COMM. VICKERS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DELEON, TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 6 MINUTES AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH COMM. DELEON ABSTAINING. (She was not present at that meeting.) Absent: Comm. Holman
Additions to the Agenda
7. Substitute Resolution
Limited Public Comment: None
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
2. Treasurer
a. Resolution Authorizing the County Treasurer to Establish a Local Government Investment Pool Under Act 121 of 1985
b. Resolution to Approve a Funding Request of the Ingham County Land Bank Fast Track Authority
c. Resolution Making a Limited Tax Pledge to Support the Ingham County Land Bank Fast Track Authority Notes
5. Economic Development Corporation – Resolution to Appoint Susan M. C. Pigg, Economic Development Coordinator to Represent Ingham County on the Lansing Regional Smartzone Consortium
6. Health Department
a. Resolution to Authorize a Letter of Agreement to Move Two Represented Positions to the Managerial and Confidential Compensation Plan
b. Request to Start Employee at Step 3
7. Parks Board – Substitute Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Lumber and Other Materials to Construct Boardwalks at Hawk Island County Park
8. Equalization
a. Resolution Approving Entering into a Grant with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and Appoint Douglas A. Stover as County Grant Administrator for the 2006 Remonumentation Project
b. Resolution to Contract with Ronnie M. Lester as County Representative and Wolverine Engineers and Surveyors, Inc. for Services as Monumentation Surveyor for the Ingham County Monumentation and Remonumentation Project
MOTION CARRIED UNANIOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. VICKERS, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
1. Boards/Commissions Presentations – Ingham County Youth Commission Semi- Annual Report
Mr. Van Kirk updated the Committee on the Youth Commission’s membership. In December 2005 there were 11 members; and four new members have been added since June 2005. The supplies balance was $0 at the end of 2005. Mr. Van Kirk also stated the Commission has created a new website which includes a forum for youth discussion.
Ms. Genia spoke regarding the Commission’s Diversity Initiative. The Commission has been attending meetings in preparation of the Youth Race and Diversity Conference. Plans have been made for each member of the Commission to attend the Conference. Mr. Van Kirk is the co-chair of the planning committee. Ms. Genia stated the date of the Conference is March 20, 2006. She further stated the Commission has also attended a training session for Teen Court; it also participated in running a Teen Court session in July 2005.
Comm. DeLeon encouraged the Commissioners to continue to be involved with the Diversity Conference.
Ms. Star addressed the Committee regarding the Commission’s Community Service Committee. This Committee held a discussion with Genesee County in an effort to assist it with forming its own youth commission.
Ms. Star updated the Committee regarding the Commission’s Government Education Committee. She stated the Committee has held a Teen Forum, attended a YVPC teen profiling workshop and it has also attended a Bullying Conference. Information was distributed to the Committee regarding the Bullying Conference which is for distribution to area schools. Ms. Star stated the Committee is planning to speak with students in their classrooms about governmental opportunities.
Comm. DeLeon stated the Youth Commission is doing a super job. She is proud of how far it has come. The activities of the Commission are impressive. Chairperson Schor stated this Committee looks forward to further updates from the Youth Commission.
3. Facilities – Resolution Setting Penalties and Establishing the Ordinance for Parking Violations at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse/Grady Porter Building
(Chairperson Schor informed the Committee that Comm. Holman was visiting a sick out of town friend/relative this evening.)
Mr. Terrill explained that finding a vacant space in the parking lot at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse/Grady Porter Building (Building) is very difficult at any time during the work day. The County cannot regulate the parking in this lot without an ordinance. Mr. Terrill stated he has worked with the County Attorney and the Controller’s Office regarding this issue. The 2005 County Services Committee addressed this matter in November. The 2005 County Services Committee asked that a revised ordinance be submitted to the 2006 County Services Committee. The revisions were to reflect the concerns of the 2005 Committee.
The County Attorney made revisions to Article 6 of the proposed ordinance. These revisions reflect that no enforcement action will be taken against any person for parking in the County parking lot without conducting business at the Building unless (1) there is visual confirmation that the person is not conducting business at the Building, and (2) a written warning notice has previously been affixed to the person’s vehicle.
Mr. Terrill stated the County Attorney strongly recommended against including the above language in the text of the ordinance because it is unnecessary. It also limits the ability to take prompt enforcement action for a blatant violation.
The Facilities Department will monitor and enforce the provisions of the ordinance. Mr. Terrill explained the term “visual confirmation” would provide that the staff of the Facilities Department would record vehicle license plate numbers of people violating the ordinance. If a vehicle which has been recorded returns to the lot, the owner of the vehicle would receive a written warning. A ticket would be issued to the vehicle owner if he/she returned to the lot after receiving a written warning.
Mr. Terrill stated he believes that once a ticket has been issued, the word will circulate about the County’s new ordinance. Once this happens, the violations of the ordinance should decrease.
Chairperson Schor asked if his previous concerns regarding the ordinance were addressed. Mr. Terrill stated those concerns have been addressed in Article 6 of the ordinance. Chairperson Schor asked how a ticketed person could contest the ticket. Mr. Terrill stated the person would address it the same way a person would handle any other civil infraction. Mr. Terrill further explained the Facilities Department will take a very conservative approach toward enforcing the provisions of the ordinance.
Comm. DeLeon asked if signs regarding the ordinance would be posted at the parking lot. Mr. Terrill stated there are currently two signs at the lot indicating the lot is for people doing business at the Building. Comm. DeLeon suggested that signs indicating the first offense fee of $100 plus costs be posted at the lot to help deter violations of the ordinance. Mr. Terrill stated he does not foresee the issuance of many tickets. Mr. Neilsen stated the most aggressive violators would be ticketed.
Comm. Copedge stated the ordinance should be more stringent. Stickers should be placed on vehicles the first time they violate the ordinance. Mr. Terrill stated people will be given ample opportunity to conform to the provisions of the ordinance. Visual confirmation does not necessarily mean verbal notification.
Comm. DeLeon asked if the Facilities had approached the Circuit Court regarding providing parking stickers for its jurors. Mr. Terrill stated Mr. Easterday was not responsive to any administrative work on behalf of the Circuit Court regarding the enforcement of the ordinance. Comm. DeLeon stated creativity is needed in order to solve some of the problems related to the use of the parking lot.
Mr. Terrill stated he could speak with the MIS Director to determine if he could assist with this issue. Mr. Neilsen stated staff could look into including a notice of the parking lot in the mailings to the jurors.
This discussion continued. Comm. DeLeon suggested the vehicle warning sticker include a notification that any concerns regarding the notice be reported to the Facilities Department. Comm. Severino agreed there should be contact information on the warning sticker. He further stated the warning sticker should notify the vehicle owner that unless he/she is conducting business at the Building, he/she is not allowed to park in the lot. Vehicle owners should have a way to refute the presumption that they are not conducting business at the Building.
Comm. Severino stated a policy should be drafted regarding the use of any revenues received from violations of the ordinance.
Chairperson Schor stated the Facilities Department should report back to this Committee in six months regarding the number of warnings and tickets issued during that time period. The report should also include information about any challenges to the warnings and tickets issued.
Mr. Neilsen stated the County Attorney strongly advises against the language in Article 6 as set forth in the second paragraph of this discussion. Where it is fine by practice, the County Attorney recommends not codifying it by including the language in the ordinance. Chairperson Schor stated he wants the language included in the ordinance. The County Attorney is giving policy advice to this Committee.
Comm. DeLeon agreed with the County Attorney and Comm. Copedge’s stand on the language issue. Ordinances do not always spell out actions to be taken as proposed in Article 6 of the ordinance.
MOVED BY COMM. COPEDGE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DELEON, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SETTING PENALTIES AND ESTABLISHING THE ORDINANCE FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COURTHOUSE/GRADY PORTER BUILDING WITH AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE LAST SENTENCE OF ARTICLE VI – “NO ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST ANY PERSON FOR PARKING IN THE COUNTY PARKING LOTS WITHOUT CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COURTHOUSE/GRADY PORTER BUILDING UNLESS (1) THERE IS A VISUAL CONFIRMATION THAT THE PERSON IS NOT CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COURTHOUSE/GRADY PORTER BUILDING, AND (2) A WRITTEN WARNING NOTICE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN AFFIXED TO THE PERSON’S VEHICLE.”
Comm. Severino stated he could not support the above amendment because it involves due process.
MOTION CARRIED with Comms. Schor and Severino voting NO. Absent: Comm. Holman
4. Fair Board – Discussion Item – Expansion of the Fair Board
Chairperson Schor stated the 2005 County Services Committee made a motion to expand the Fair Board from the current 11 members to 13 members. This motion was tabled until this meeting. Mr. Ambrose’s November 29, 2005 memorandum detailed the County Attorney’s advice, as well as the consensus derived from a previous Fair Board discussion on the advisability of expansion.
Comm. Vickers stated the Fair Board took an informal poll regarding possible expansion during its December 2005 meeting. Eight of the eleven members thought expansion was not necessary. One suggestion of the Fair Board was to appoint a few of its members to find interested people to serve on the Fair Board.
Comm. DeLeon stated she is very much in favor of expanding the Fair Board membership to increase the ethnic and minority representation. Comm. Vickers stated if this Committee wants to expand the membership to increase the Fair Board’s representation, he could probably encourage the Board members to agree.
Comm. Copedge asked why eleven members on the Fair Board are not sufficient. Comm. Vickers explained that conducting Fair business with eleven members can be difficult. He then stated the current membership is adequate to accomplish the business of the Fair Board.
Chairperson Celentino stated he thought this Committee was considering expanding the Fair Board membership because the new applicants were impressive. He asked what happened with the four current applicants. Chairperson Schor agreed with Chairperson Celentino’s statement regarding the intent of this Committee. If this Committee approves expansion of the Fair Board, the four applicants should be grandfathered in and the new interviewed applicants should be recommended for appointment. Chairperson Schor stated staff would submit cost implications of expanding the Fair Board at a future meeting. It was noted the costs of expanding the Fair Board would not come from the County’s General Fund.
Chairperson Schor withdrew his motion made at this Committee’s December 6, 2005 meeting. Comm. Vickers withdrew his support of same motion.
9. Human Resources Department – Resolution Approving the FOP/Supervisory Collective Bargaining Agreement
MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FOP/SUPERVISORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
Mr. Hailey explained this Resolution approves a tentative four-year contract with the FOP/Supervisory Unit. Changes in this contract include: the removal of discipline after three years; provides that discipline of 40 hours or less goes to arbitration; election of remedies; retirees can pay for dental insurance; cleaning allowance increased to $425.00; $1,000 vehicle allowance for Captains; roll COLA into base pay; and the wages would increase by 3%, 2.5%, 2.5% and 3%. This contract would end in July 2009.
Comm. DeLeon asked if the vehicle maintenance allowance is new. Mr. Hailey stated the allowance is new to this contract. He also stated he did not know if the clothing allowance had been offered in previous contracts.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Holman
10. Controller’s Office – Discussion Item – Letter from the City of East Lansing Requesting Financial Support for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration
Mr. Neilsen stated information is still being put together regarding this matter. Comm. Copedge distributed copies of emails between Mr. Neilsen and Mr. Elam to the Committee for their review. Mr. Neilsen explained the City of East Lansing is requesting a $3,000 per year ongoing commitment from this County for the MLK Holiday Celebration.
Comm. Severino stated he would defer to Mr. Neilsen’s direction on this matter. This Committee should also address this issue further when representatives are present. Comm. DeLeon stated this County should not bail out any governmental entities. Ingham County should create its own policy regarding the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Caesar Chavez Day.
Chairperson Schor asked if the financial request could be referred to the County’s Community Agency process. Mr. Neilsen stated that is a possibility; however, the MLK Commission wants a long-term financial commitment from the County. Chairperson Schor asked if the County gives such financial commitments to other comparable organizations. He then stated this request should be processed through the County’s normal budget process.
Comm. Vickers stated this year’s MLK Celebration was very good. He also expressed his support of the MLK Commission. Comm. Vickers suggested the County enter into a contract with the Commission to provide services to the community. Comm. DeLeon informed the Committee that it will also deal with a funding request for Common Ground this year.
Mr. Neilsen stated if the Committee decides to provide funding this year, the funding would come from the 2006 Contingency Fund. He suggested the Committee ask the MLK Commission to request funding during the County’s 2007 budget process.
9. Human Resources Department – Resolution Approving the FOP/Supervisory Collective Bargaining Agreement – CONTINUED
Mr. Hailey stated the current cleaning allowance is $375.00. The current clothing allowance is $525.00.
Announcements
Comm. Vickers informed the Committee of recycling efforts within area communities. Save Our Area Recycling has met on a monthly basis to discuss options for continuing recycling services. Northwest Refuse has agreed to provide recycling services 24 hours per day; 30 days per month in Leslie Township for no fee.
Vevay Township has agreed to $150 per pull for $20,000 per year for two communities. The two township Boards are expected to approve a $750 per month contract for unlimited pulls for one year. Aurelius Township may be interested in this arrangement. Delhi Township will reopen its recycling services in June 2006.
Mr. Neilsen stated this is a success story. He spoke briefly regarding previous recycling arrangements with Granger. This is an example that a County can stop providing a service and that area communities can arrange to continue the service.
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff