Politics & Government

Hills City Council Meeting Wrap-Up

Officials discuss naming rights, invisible fencing and snow, among other topics at their Monday meeting.

Just for the record, is still the Floyd A. Cairns Municipal Building.

City officials named the building to honor the service of a long-time Farmington Township clerk and Hills city clerk. And officials want to reserve the right to similarly honor others who have made significant contributions to the community.

At their study session Monday, council members considered a new policy that would establish uniform rules for sponsorships, advertising and naming rights. Special Services Department director Dave Boyer said, "What we were trying to find is more consistency ... We want to make sure we're all doing the same thing."

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Advertising in the Special Services program brochure has allowed the city to print more pages for less money, he said. One aspect of the proposed policy concerned Mayor Jerry Ellis; it reads, "Ads submitted shall be in harmony with decency and
good taste in the community."

"Who's going to be the censor for that?" he asked.

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"These are things we'll look at as we go," Boyer said.

Ellis suggested adding the words "in its sole discretion" to a subsequent section that allows the city to reject any ad.

Council member Nancy Bates said she was uncomfortable about tying naming rights to sponsorships. "I think some of these things should be left to honor people," she said. "I don't want to get so commercial that we lose the ability to honor people."

City attorney Steve Joppich said the council would put together a list of buildings or portions of buildings that would be available for naming rights. In addition, Ellis pointed out, any sponsorship of $20,000 or more would require council approval.

Boyer said there is sponsorship potential at the Hills Ice Arena, where the two sheets of ice are currently named "Arena A" and "Arena B". Someone is interested in naming rights to a room at the , which was named after long-time Hills city manager William Costick.

The policy will be brought for approval to a future council meeting.

Invisible fencing

After a resident complained at a February city council meeting about aggressive dogs and invisible fencing in front yards, the city's planning department took a look at policies in other communities.

Director of Planning and Community Development Dale Countegan said only Southfield has an ordinance, which requires homeowners who have the electronic barriers to post signs in their yards.

He said Farmington Hills residents have always had an aversion to having signs posted around the community. Also, because there aren't many sidewalks in the community, more walkers and runners take to the streets, which puts space between them and any dogs confined to front yards.

"A lot of times, folks want their electric fence out front, so they can come out and be neighborly," he said.

Council member Ken Massey said another ordinance is not necessary. "Between our dangerous animal and leash ordinances, I think we have this well covered," he said. "This is too much government, in an unenforceable way."

Ellis said people may also become too confident in their own safety after seeing signs posted and might walk closer. It is possible for dogs to escape the invisible fencing.

"Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing we can do," he said.

Snow post-mortem

During his update at the council's regular meeting, City Manager Steve Brock said a storm that closed for two days caught the city with several plow drivers who had taken vacations to coincide with the Presidents Day holiday. City offices were closed, but plows were on the streets when the snow began to fall Sunday, he said.

Some employees volunteered to come in, even though they had scheduled vacations, Brock added. Some actually slept in their plow trucks to get in required rest periods before heading out again.

Brock said it is the city's policy to get the major roads clear as soon as possible, then move into the subdivisions on a rotating schedule. Neighborhoods that were plowed out first during the last snow storm were last during this one, he explained.

"They're a pretty dedicated group," Brock said.

He reported getting some phone calls from people who were concerned about schools remaining closed for two days, and said getting bus routes cleared is a priority. Brock said school closing decisions are not only based on the road conditions.

Housekeeping

Officials approved a liquor license transfer request from E.A. Fuller Oak Management Corporation, which operates with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. A recent stock transfer left the company's ownership in the hands of four people, who all underwent a background check as part of the licensing process.

City council member Barry Brickner explained that the state Liquor Control Commission requires the license transfer whenever there is a change in ownership.

Officials also renewed an agreement to contract with Oakland County for the coding and layout of ballots, which saves the city several thousand dollars in election costs. City clerk Kathy Dornan also asked officials to express opposition to a change in language, even though she recommended approving the $300 agreement.

In a review of the new contract, city attorney Steve Joppich uncovered a number of language changes. In particular, one provision allows the county to seize certain funds if the city ever withholds payment of the $300 for any reason. The resolution approving the agreement notes an objection to that provision.


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