Novi City Council approves expansion of Hotel Baronette

At Monday's regular Novi City Council Meeting, Council approved a 5,600 square-foot, three story expansion of Hotel Baronette. The hotel is located on the west side of the Twelve Oaks Mall parking lot. The hotel also plans to expand the outdoor patio seating area, and eliminate 26 parking spaces in the process.

In other business before Council Monday...

CONSENT AGENDA :  Item G was removed and later approved as amended.  All other items approved.

A.                 Approve Minutes of  May 18, 2009 – Regular meeting

B.        Approval of request from Troy Burgers, Inc. to transfer ownership of 2008 Class C-SDM licensed business (in escrow) with Sunday Sales, Entertainment Permit, Official Permit (Food), and direct connections-2 from La Shish, Inc.; transfer location (Governmental Unit) (MCL436.1531(1) from 6303 Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County; and request a New Outdoor Service Area to be located at 26062 Novi Road, Novi, MI 48375, Oakland County.

C.        Approval to set a Public Hearing on July 6, 2009 for the Reprogramming of Community Development Block Grant Program Income Funds into the 2009 Minor Home Repair Program.

D.        Approval to award an amendment to the engineering services contract for construction engineering related to the 2009 Pathway Construction project to Spalding DeDecker & Associates, Inc., for a fee equal to 6.75% of construction costs, or $9,753.

E.        Approval of Traffic Control Orders 09-01 for the installation of a stop sign on southbound Valley Starr Drive to stop at Oak Tree Road, 09-02 for the installation of a stop sign on southbound Nilan Drive to stop at Oak Tree Road, and 09-03 for the installation of a stop sign on southbound Londonderry to stop at Oak Tree Road.

F.         Approval to award an amendment to the engineering services contract for construction engineering services related to the Vista Hills Subdivision Resurfacing project to Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick, for a not-to-exceed fee of $15,180.

G.        Approval to award bid for towing contract to Keford Novi Towing, Hadley’s Towing and Varsity Lincoln Mercury for one year with option of two, renewals based on acceptance of City terms and conditions to function on a rotating basis with an effective date of June 10, 2009.  Awarded to Keford and Varsity for 1 year.

H.        Approval to award the first one (1) year renewal option for the Printing Services contract to Allied Media based on the same terms, conditions, and pricing submitted on their original bid dated February 27, 2008, with an estimated annual cost of $22,000.

I.          Approval to award additional engineering services to Orchard Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. in the amount of $17,300 associated with additional design requirements for the three federally funded major road projects: Meadowbrook Road (Eight Mile to Nine Mile), Nine Mile (Haggerty to Meadowbrook) and Nine Mile Road (Novi Road to Taft Road).

J.         Approval to rescind the award to Townsend Neon, Inc., which was approved on May 18, 2009 and award to Universal Sign Systems, the second low bidder, a contract for fabrication and installation of an interchangeable LED message sign on the north side of the Novi Civic Center near Ten Mile Road, for $33,062.75.

K.        Approval of Claims and Accounts – Warrant No. 794

MATTERS FOR COUNCIL ACTION – Part I

1.         Consideration of the request of Hotel Baronette for SP09-08, Preliminary Site Plan and Shared Parking Study approval.  The subject property is approximately 6.29 acres of land located in Section 14, on the east side of Novi Road, between I-96 and Twelve Mile Road in the RC, Regional Center District.  The applicant is proposing to add a three-story 5,688 square foot addition to the existing Hotel Baronette, extend the patio area of the existing restaurant, and eliminate 26 parking spaces from the existing parking lot.  APPROVED

2.         Approval to award professional services contract to Birchler Arroyo Associates Inc. in association with Grissim Metz Andriese and The Chesapeake Group for preparation of a Land Use Study of City-owned property at the northeast corner of South Lake Drive and Old Novi Road on Walled Lake (the "Landings Property") in the amount of $20,796.  APPROVED

3.         Approval to enter into a Water Service Contract with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for the purpose of purchasing bulk water covering a 30-year term from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2039.  APPROVED

4.         Approval of recommendation from Ordinance Review Committee for Sign Ordinance Text Amendment 09-100.38, to amend Chapter 28, “Signs” of the City of Novi Code, to update, clarify, and provide new substantive regulations concerning the placement of signs within and throughout the City.  First Reading  APPROVED

5.         Approval to award a construction contract for the 2009 Pathway Construction project to Audia Concrete Construction, Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $144,485.68.  APPROVED

6.         Approval to award a construction contract for the Vista Hills Subdivision Resurfacing project to Nagle Paving, the low bidder, in the amount of $190,000.  APPROVED

7.         Approval to award the City's Property and Liability Insurance coverage to The Stevenson Company/Municipal Insurance Alliance in the amount of $324,800.  APPROVED

MAYOR & COUNCIL ISSUES: 

1.  Discussions with Novi Community School District about increasing use of facilities and coordinating community recreation programs – Member Staudt suggested forming some ad hoc groups with adjoining school districts for ways to collaborate with facility use and invite the school districts to participate.  He suggested sending offers out to the districts and to bring ideas back to Council.  Council consensus was to hold a meeting first with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director and then come back to City Council to report who was on the Committee and a proposal of ideas.

2.  Fiscal Transparency (Federal Stimulus Dollars) – Member Mutch noted there were two areas where transparency was available to the public, such as the Novi Community School’s check register.  The second item was Federal stimulus funds and how the funds were spent.  He thought the City of Novi should highlight how those dollars were spent; his request was for a single location for the public to track the expenditures listed on the warrant.  Mayor Landry requested the administration to come back with a proposal as to how to make the warrants easily located and the use of stimulus dollars available on the City’s website.