City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

January 20, 2015

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Joseph Domingo opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

III.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. ROLL CALL

Maurice Barnes (1), Lenn Reid (2), William Wheaton (4), Cheryl Krause (5), Andrew French (6) and Mayor Joseph Domingo. Garrett Brown (3) was absent.

Administration: Sheryl L. Mitchell, City Manager; Jill Domingo, City Clerk, Scott Kipp, Chief of Public Safety, Tom Mead, Finance Director and Cullen Harkness, City Attorney.

V.	MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Reid, Wheaton, Krause and French.

VI.	CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)

No comments were received.

VII.	PRESENTATIONS

A. Assessing Update-Julie Cain-Derouin, City Assessor

Julie Cain-Derouin, City Assessor gave a brief presentation on the Assessing

Department with the following highlights:

Commercial properties taxable values will increase and will reflect the same rates as in 2013

Residential property values are based on a sales study and will overall decrease 10%

Commercial properties with a TCV value less than $80,000 are exempt.

In approximately ten years, $380,564 will be eliminated due to the elimination of personal property tax.

Comments were received from Council Member French.

B. Tom Mead-Explanation of Tax Billing & Collection

Finance Director Mead gave a brief presentation on the flow of the recreation tax

levy. He stated the actual taxes that are levied must reflect the following

deductions and additions to the actual revenue collected.

Deductions

Tax Abatements

TIFA Capture

DDA Capture

Delinquent Taxes

Chargebacks Paid for Delinquent Properties 2 & 3 Years back that didn’t sell at auction

Additions:

Settlement from Prior Years Taxes

Misc. Payments (PILOT), etc.

The taxable value for the City of Albion in 2007 was $124,584,212.00 with a city wide Revenue of $2,450,235.00. In 2014 the taxable value was 96,136,827.00 with a city revenue of $1,900,971.00. The high taxable value for the City of Albion was in 2009 with a taxable value of $135,647,790.00 and the lowest in 2014 with a taxable value of 96,136,827.00 which is a -29.13 change in value.

Finance Director Mead also stated that the state has promised to make cities

“whole” for the loss or revenue received from personal property tax.

Comments were received from Council Members French and Krause.

VIII.	CONSENT CALENDAR (VV)

A. Approval of Regular Session Minutes – January 5, 2015

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Consent Calendar as

presented. (6-0, vv).

IX.	ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

A.	Request for Approval Recommendation from the Citizens Advisory Committee

To Place Recreation and Street Millage on the May 5, 2015 Ballot (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Member French.

Barnes moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Approve Recommendation from the Citizens Advisory Committee to Place Recreation and Street Millage on the May 5, 2015 Ballot as presented. (6-0, rcv)

B.	Request for Approval Resolution # 2015-01, To Approve Ballot Language to Renew Recreation Levy of 1.5 Mills for Three (3) Years (RCV)

Comments were received from City Manager Mitchell.

Barnes moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-01, To Approve Ballot Language to Renew Recreation Levy of 1.5 Mills for Three (3) years as presented. (6-0, rcv)

C.	Request for Approval Resolution # 2015-02, To Approve Ballot Language to Renew Street Levy of 3 Mills for Five (5) years (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Member Wheaton, City Manager Mitchell and Mayor Domingo.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-02, To Approve Ballot Language to Renew Street Levy of 3 Mills for Five (5) years as presented. (6-0, rcv)

D.	Discussion-Update on Recycling Center

City Manager Mitchell gave a brief update on the new format for the recycling

center. She stated that we are working with Calhoun County and the center	will be a staffed facility. The recycling center will be opening on February 11th.

The new hours for the recycling center will be open on Wednesday from 10 a.m.	to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

City Manager Mitchell also stated a presentation on the recycling partnership	will be on the February 17, 2015 council agenda.

E.	Discussion/Approval Albion Community Foundation Grant Agreement (RCV)

Comments were received from City Manager Mitchell.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Albion Community Foundation Grant Agreement as presented. (6-0, rcv)

F.	Discussion/Set Date for 2015 City Wide Goals Based on Department/Agency

City Manager Mitchell asked for clarification on how the council would like to handle the goal setting procedure.

The consensus of the council is to have two consecutive evening meetings for the goals setting with city departments and agencies.

City Manager Mitchell will circulate dates and come up with a schedule.

Comments were received from Council Member French and Mayor Domingo.

G.	Boards and Commissions Appointments

Maurice Barnes, Initial Appointment, Building Board of Appeals, Term to Expire 12-31-2017 (VV)

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Maurice Barnes, Initial Appointment, Building Board of Appeals, Term to Expire 12-31-2017 as presented. (6-0, vv)

H.	Request for Approval Resolution # 2015-03, To Approve Transfer of 112 E. Erie St. from the City of Albion to the Albion Building Authority (ABA) (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Member French and Mayor Domingo.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-03, to Approve Transfer of 112 E. Erie St. from the City of Albion to the ABA as presented. (6-0, rcv)

I.	Future Agenda Items

Council Member Krause would like a presentation from WOW Cable

Council Member Wheaton would like a status of the possible move of Dollar General

Comments were received from City Manager Mitchell and Mayor

Domingo who stated that Dollar General will remain in their current

location.

J.	Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member (s) (VV)

Comments were received from Council Members Reid and French.

Barnes moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Excuse Council Member Brown. (6-0, vv)

X.	CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)

Comments were received from Ismael Lopez, 217 W. Center; Mike Bearman, 11016 29 Mile Rd; Council Members Wheaton, Reid and Barnes.

City Manager Mitchell stated there will be a special meeting before the February 2nd Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. for an energy audit presentation from Honeywell.

They will also have a presentation at the February 2, 2015 council meeting.

XI.	ADJOURNMENT

French moved, Wheaton supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn the Regular Session. (6-0,

vv)

Mayor Domingo adjourned Regular Session at 7:51 p.m.

____________	_________________________

Date	Jill Domingo

City Clerk