Rochester Hills Legistar System

Roger Rousse, DPS Director, presented the Proposed Street Lighting Policy Changes

noting the following:

* Original proposed policy recommended approval of street lighting requests by City

Council.

Ms. Hill requested she would like the proposed policy to state that approval would come

from the Advisory Traffic Safety Board and Engineering and not City Council. She

further requested she would also like included in the Street Lighting Policy instructions

for SAD process clarified with a procedure and a time table for implementing an SAD for

Street Lighting.

Mr. Rousse reiterated that the City does not have a Street Lighting Policy and that a

number of street lighting requests have come forward. He further stated that when a

request comes in, there is a guideline but there is no formal policy. When considering

these requests, the City looks at adjoining lighting, the need for lighting, school locations

and if its a common benefit to all the City; the request is evaluated and considered for

City funding.

Mr. Edward Anzek, Director of Planning Commission, stated that typically many

communities fund their lighting through Public Safety Fund or Police Fund and are

considered more of a crime prevention safety issue. He further stated that any lighting

to improve school safety should be paid for by the schools.

Roger Rousse, DPS Director, discussed Conservation Easements encroachments

noting the following:

* Handout shows a detailed cost estimate for Committee review.

* Oakland Land Conservancy gave a presentation to the City.

* City is questioning who enforces encroachments and are they worth maintaining.

* First step is to do a City Wide inventory of Conservation Easements.

Mr. Rousse suggested initial funding would come through the Facilities Department

Land Management Division and if the City decides to defend Conservation Easements,

the funding would come from the Building Department Ordinance Enforcement.

* It was suggested to notify residents in writing.

* City runs the risk of losing Conservation Easements and/or can incur the risk of

liability.

* Encroachments are not just Conservation Easements, its City owned park land, such

as, one resident in Riverbend Park who placed an irrigation system on City owned land.

* Encroachments range from more permanent structures such as sheds, pools and

swing sets to simply mowing and planting.

* It was suggested that the City do a phase in approach by subdivisions.

* It was suggested to prioritize Conservation Easements based on the level of

importance, such as, steep slope setbacks protecting rivers vs. vegetative buffers.

* Committee member mentioned that when a property is on the market for sale, that the

City has an opportunity to go in and see if there is an encroachment.

Chairperson Barnett suggested formulating a City Council Policy that states the City's

goal is to bring all of these Conservation Easements back into compliance.

Ed Anzek, Planning Commission Director, suggested placing a notice of new policy on

channel 55/10 and in the Hills Herald.

Discussion regarding Road Millage

Supplemental Information.pdf

Ed Anzek, Planning Commission Director, discussed the Local Road Millage noting the

following:

Mr. Anzek requested the Youth Council Representatives to ask their parents if they were

in support or against the road millage; which would help the City to better understand

what the residents are thinking and to perhaps help the City to communicate the need of

a road millage to the residents.

* The City has worked with a citizens group since January 2005 to develop solutions for

local road funding which includes construction, winter maintenance (snow plowing),

administration, traffic services.

* Citizens group looked at different scenarios, such as, how we fix roads, maintain

roads, types of materials used, cost of materials etc.

* It was the consensus of the Citizens group to ask residents to approve a graduated

millage.

Mr. Anzek discussed the percentage difference between the failed millage of 2004 vs.

the failed millage of 2005 noting the following:

* Data shows that the City improved their position by 1.39% percent with more

residents being in favor of the road millage.

* Data shows that several precincts surprisingly went from favoring a local road millage

to not favoring the millage.

* City contracted a PR firm at $13,500 to help educate the public with newspaper

articles, flyers, mail outs, press kits etc.

* Total education budget was $50,000, City spent $26,000 on educating the public with

he local road millage proposal.

* The "No New Tax" group attacked the City aggressively for wasting monies on this PR

Firm Program.

Mr. Anzek stated received feedback from the Hills Herald article was very effective and

well done.

* PR firm recommended a phone survey because phone surveys get to the underlying

cause and root of why there is such a strong element against the City government and

the use of dedicated monies.

* Road Committee Citizens group has decided to disband but stated that they will be in

attendance at City Council meetings until they hear what the New City Council members

plans are.

* Road Committee Citizens group has a better understanding and good feeling on what

City Council has done in the past, what the Administration has done and what the Staff

has done.

Mr. Anzek mentioned another strategy which came from Rapids City Iowa which had six

(6) failed millages, the strategy included placing on the ballot 1) a maintenance

reconstruction program 2) an SAD program which would cause the residents to

research a SAD program possibly resulting in the passage of the millage.

Chairperson Barnett asked Youth Council to introduce themselves.

Kristina Hurst stated she is a sophomore at Adams High School.

Elise Pawlowski stated she is a senior at Adams High School and participates in the

marching band as drum major and also plays french horn and flute.

Committee member Jim Duistermars inquired if any of their friends had made comments

on what they want to see happen in the City.

Youths responded that most friends are not aware of what goes on in the City.

Committee members directed Youths to keep their friends informed on what is going on

in the City.

Chairperson Barnett thanked the Youths and welcomed them to the CDV Committee.