Novi City Council receives consultant's report on Fire
and Police Departments

As reported here on Monday, the consultant's report indicated the need for reorganization of Novi's Fire Department, while lauding the Novi Police Department's operations. Following the presentation there was discussion by Council, with Mayor Landry emphatically stating that the current Fire Department organization, which amounts to two different departments, cannot continue.

According to City administration, highlights of study recommendations include:

Police Department:

·         Implement a temporary Directed Patrol for property crimes

·         Implement License Plate Reader Technology

·         Examine Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
    Agencies (CALEA) process

·         Investigate vehicle purchase options for fuel economy and
    warranty

·         Create a second Deputy Police Chief position and one new
    Lieutenant, no net change in staffing

Fire Department:

·         Investigate phasing out ambulances in lieu of SUV-type vehicle
    purchases

·         Integrate the career and paid-on-call fire safety officers to
    create one unified Department on 12-hour shifts

·         Develop a technology task force, primarily for communications
    equipment

·         Adopt the Standard of Response Coverage concept for future
    fire station locations

·         Restructure to create second quality control position utilizing
    the Fire Marshall

It was noted that recommendations contained in the study are cost neutral and do not include an increase in total staffing.

Having received study findings, Novi City Council and administration are planning to determine how to best implement recommendations to continue moving the two departments forward to best serve the needs of the entire community.

For the complete Fire Department report, click here. For the complete Police Department report, click here.

Also on Monday, several residents were interviewed for board and committees including:

• David Baratta – Planning Commission     

• Jay Dooley – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Commission

• Michael Lynch – Planning Commission

• Mark Pehrson – Planning Commission

• Kamran Qadeer – Planning Commission, Construction Board of Appeals and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Commission.. 

• Charles Staab – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Commission - unable to attend.

• Gerald Jewell – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Commission

In other business before Council on Monday...

CONSENT AGENDA:  All approved as presented.

A.                  Approve Minutes of  June 1, 2009 – Regular meeting

B.                  Enter Executive Session immediately following the regular meeting of June 15, 2009 in the Council Annex for the purpose of discussing labor negotiations and privileged correspondence from legal counsel.

C.         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.  Second Reading    

D.         Approval of the 2009/2010 Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) contract for the Senior Center Coordinator position in the amount of $47,795.

E.         Adoption of a Resolution seeking participation in the Michigan Department of Transportation's Local Bridge Program for a grant application for the rehabilitation of the Cranbrooke Drive Bridge over Ingersol Creek. 

F.         Approval to award an amendment to the engineering services contract for construction engineering related to the West Oaks Regional Detention Basin Improvements project, to Spalding DeDecker & Associates, Inc., for a fee equal to 7.3% of construction costs, or $7,290.55.

G.         Approval to award an amendment to the engineering services contract for construction engineering services related to the 2009 Neighborhood Roads project, to Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick, Inc. (AEW), for a not-to-exceed fee of $73,700.

H.         Approval of the Oakland County Building Officials Association Damage Assessment Mutual Aid Agreement, an inter-governmental agreement between Oakland County communities outlining the terms by which member communities will assist each other in the evaluation of buildings and structures to determine the nature and extent of damage and the cost of repairs in the event of a disaster or emergency.

I.          Approval to award a construction contract for the West Oaks Regional Detention Basin Improvements project to Matzak, Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $99,870.50.

J.          Approval of a two year Personal Property Assessment Contract with Oakland County Equalization, at a cost of $13.80 per parcel, for an estimated annual cost of $40,000.

K.         Approval of Proposed Water & Sewer Rate Resolutions for 2009-2010.

L.         Approval of Claims and Accounts – Warrant No. 795 & 796

MATTERS FOR COUNCIL ACTION 

1.         Approval to award a construction contract for the 2009 Neighborhood Roads Program to Hard Rock Concrete, Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $984,262.41 (the contract is to be signed on or after July 1, 2009).  APPROVED

2.                   Approval of resolution to authorize Budget Amendment #2009-7.  APPROVED