Tuesday, May 15, 2007

CALL TO ORDER:

Chairperson Shimmin called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

Downtown Development Authority Present:

E. Wynn Berry, DDA Director
Robert Shimmin, Chairperson
Daniel Lublin, Member
Thomas Zoner, Member
Randall Thomas, Member
Paul Kirkwood, Member
Herb Feinstein, Member
Frank Marotta, Member
James Gotts, Vice-Chairperson
Sandra Motz, Member

Quorum of DDA Members determined Absent:

Doug Lanni, Member

Also Present:

Susan Gross, DDA Treasurer
Phillip Adkison, Township Attorney
Deb Kirkwood, DDA Administrative Assistant
Patricia Paruch, DDA Attorney
Sandra Abrams, DDA Secretary

Approval of the Minutes:

April 24, 2007, Minutes as presented.

MOTION by Thomas, second by Gotts, to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2007, Regular Meeting as presented.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Item 1: Public Comments

None.

Item 2: Consent Agenda

Treasurer’s Report for April 2007

Warrants with add-ons

MOTION by Gotts, second by Lublin, to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes the Treasurer’s Report for April, 2007 and the Warrants with add-ons, as presented.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Item 3: Director’s Report

Director Berry reported the following:

Member Re-Appointments – Re-Appointment of Sandra Motz, Frank Marotta, and Robert Shimmin. Supervisor Zoner is recommending to the Township Board the re-appointment of the above members of the DDA at the May 15, 2007, regular meeting of the Township Board of Trustees.

Election of Officers

MOTION Motz, second by Feinstein to maintain the current officers of the DDA Board as follows:
Chairperson – Robert Shimmin
Co-Chairperson – Jim Gotts
Treasurer – Susan Gross
Secretary – Sandra Abrams

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Approval of Meeting Schedule for 2008.

MOTION by Gott, second by Lublin to approve as presented the 2008 Meeting schedule for the DDA.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Update on Public Hearing for Pontiac Trail/Welch Road Intersection – Public Hearing held on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, at Township Hall. Giffels Webster and the Oakland County Road Commission chaired the Public Hearing. Notices for the Public Hearing were sent to the immediate area of the Pontiac Trail and Welch Road project.

Discussion of Architect for Township Hall for Analysis if Building Options and Design – Director Berry requested approval to pursue and architect for the Township Hall Project to be located in the DDA area. Several proposals from various architects will be presented at the next DDA meeting for approval of an architect’s contract and cost for same.

MOTION by Gotts, second by Thomas to direct the DDA Director and Chairperson to pursue proposals from multiple architectural firms to investigate a Township Hall renovation of the Links of Pinewood and/or new construction of a Township Hall in the DDA, and the cost for same, and to return to the DDA board for selection of the architectural firm and approval of the cost for same.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Item 4:  Engineers Update

Giffels Webster stated that Martin Parkway 60% construction submittal to the Road Commission for Oakland County was made last week. It is projected that the 80% submittal will be made in approximately 4 weeks.

Item 5:  Attorney Update:

An Executive Session will be necessary for the attorney update.

Item 6:  Planning Director's Update

The Planning Director reported that the Beaumont Hospital rezoning was approved by the Planning Commission and will be presented for Introduction to the Township Board on May 15, 2007, as well as the rezoning of Huron Valley Hospital property. In addition, the director has met with the property owner of the gas station on the corner of Pontiac Trail and Welch Road to discuss an alternative use of that property.

Item 7:  Executive Session

MOTION by Gotts, second by Thomas to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of the acquisition of property.

ROLL CALL VOTE
Ayes: Kirkwood, Thomas, Marotta, Feinstein, Zoner, Lublin, Shimmin, Gotts, Motz
Nays: None
Absent: Lanni

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Entered into Executive Session at 1:30 p.m.
Returned from Executive Session at 1:45 p.m.

MOTION by Gotts, second by Marotta, to authorize payment of the negotiated prices for easements relative to the Pontiac Trail and Welch Road project.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTION by Gotts, second by Lublin to approve the Resolution of the Charter Township of Commerce Downtown Development Authority, Regarding the Purchase of Land, as discussed in Executive Session, identified by document number 557129.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Entered into Executive Session at 12:55 p.m.

Returned from Executive Session at 1:15 p.m.

MOTION by Lanni, second by Thomas supporting the actions of the DDA in their support of the Commerce First Committee and request monthly reports on the activities of that Committee.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Item 8: Other Matters

Resident inquired as to whether there would be any senior citizen housing in the DDA area. Director Berry explained the process and stated it has been considered.

Sandra S. Abrams, CMC
DDA Secretary
Clerk, Charter Township of Commerce