Birmingham Plans for 2012 and Beyond During Long-Range Planning Session

The Birmingham City Commission met on a snowy Saturday morning for its annual — a time for city commissioners to hear and discuss the various plans, goals and projects for 2012 and beyond from city departments.

1:20 p.m.:

City clerk outlines plans to go paperless, reclaim empty graves

City Clerk Laura Broski gave the final presentation of the day, updating city commissioners on the city's plans to go paperless as well as the ongoing grave reclamation process at Birmingham's city cemeteries.

Broski said the city clerk's office is budgeting for a physical inventory of the all graves, investigating each with ground-penetrating radar. The city will then begin researching the lot owners in order to finalize the reclamation process.

Birmingham is also looking to go paperless this year by providing city commissioners with iPads in order to reduce printing costs of city commission agendas. City Manager Bob Bruner noted tablet computers are cheaper than laptops computers, which city commissioners currently use.

1 p.m.:

Commissioners wary about proposed senior millage

New to the long-range planning session this year was the Birmingham Area Seniors Coordinating Council (BASCC), which presented a proposal for a five-year senior services millage, for up to .5 mils, to be placed on the August 2012 primary ballot. The city would determine the final number of mills.

BASCC coordinator and director Renee Cortwright said revenues at BASCC are down, whether it’s from the decrease in charitable contributions, fundraising revenues and grant money.

Cortwright said should the millage pass, it would bring in an additional $900,000 in revenue for BASCC in 2013.

According to Cortwright, in a November survey of Birmingham residents conducted by Mitchell Research & Communications,  57 percent of those surveyed said they would support a senior service millage.

Currently, BASCC provides a variety of outreach services for Birmingham-area seniors and Cortwright said the center is looking to expand those services, including having the center be open longer on weeknights and the weekend. And according to Cortwright, there's a need: Birmingham's senior population is expected to grow by 70 percent in the next 20 years.

However, commissioners were wary about approving a millage — and handing the senior center an automatic source of revenue — without first taking a harder look at BASCC's financial needs and considering funding alternatives. Currently, BASCC's annual budget is $288,000. Cortwright said a millage would allow that budget to grow to $913,000 a year.

"There's nothing in your presentation that tells me why you need this money," Commissioner Stuart Sherman said.

Commissioner Tom McDaniel agreed, noting while he supports BASCC's mission and understands the group's concerns, he's not sure a millage is the answer.

"We need to talk about the best way to handle this, and I don't think a (millage) is it," he said, directing Cortwright to return to the commission at a later date with more information.

12:35 p.m.:

Museum outlines plans for facilities, volunteers

Leslie Pielack, director of the , said the museum has several plans for the upcoming year, including: 

• Cleaning up museum property
• Adding ADA-complient barrier-free access ramps to the Allen House
• Looking at how to take advantage of emerging technologies

Pielack said the museum is excited about a new structure that will house the Hill school bell, which will now be displayed in the outdoor courtyard between the Allen House and the John West Hunter House.

On the volunteer front, Pielack said the museum has increased its staff of volunteers and continues to brainstorm ways to use personnel in the most efficient manner. Pielack said the museum will consider all these factors and more when revising its own five-year strategic plan, which is up for renewal this year.

“Last year and this year, we’re working on stabilizing and adapting to our changing conditions, and looking to build toward the future,” Pielack said.

Noon:

Planning Department talks Complete Streets, collaborating to improve Woodward 

The had more than an hour to itself during the City Commission's planning session Saturday morning, during which it outlined its proposed plans and some of city’s top priorities in 2012. These plans include: 

Complete Streets 

Assistant City Planner Sue Weckerie first touched on the Planning Department’s multi-modal master plan, in which Birmingham streets are reinvented using the principles of , which takes pedestrians, cyclists and cars into consideration. 

As part of that, Weckerie reviewed the status of the , in which the city is looking to . Mayor Mark Nickita noted there has been , and when people do bring their bikes downtown, they’re locked to everything from trees and door handles to lamp posts. 

“It’s very difficult to bring your bike downtown now,” he said. 

The Planning Department also has plans to begin work on improving the intersection at Woodward and Lincoln, Weckerie said, from installing barrier-free ramps and realigning the crosswalks to decrease the amount of time it takes to cross the street. 

Regional collaboration 

Planning Director Jana Ecker touched on several of the initiatives and projects the city is working on with surrounding communities, particularly ways to unify the Woodward corridor through Complete Streets and mass transit. 

Primarily, Ecker talked about the Woodward Avenue Action Association, a multi-jurisdictional planning task force that connects communities from Birmingham to Ferndale and aims to improve the quality of life in the communities along Woodward Avenue. 

The group established a Transit Framework Plan in 2011, Ecker said, which recommended that participating communities conduct zoning analyses and brainstorm ways to make Woodward more pedestrian-friendly. 

“Woodward has been described as unfriendly,” Ecker said. “You don’t want to be there.” 

Master plan updates 

Intern Planner Matt Baka discussed what projects Birmingham has left to complete from its various master plans, including: 

• commercial parking along Woodward, between Lincoln and 14 Mile. Baka said the planning board plans to study the issue in coming years.
• improving alleys and passageways downtown. The plans to improve these spaces are part of Birmingham’s 2016 Master Plan.
• reviewing parking standards throughout downtown
• improving sidewalks in the Rail District and throughout the Eton Road corridor
• branding the Eton Road Corridor, such as installing wayfinding signs
• realigning streets throughout the Triangle District, which is east of Woodward and west of Adams.

10:45 a.m.:

Fire Department discusses new equipment, renovating Chesterfield station

Birmingham Fire Chief Mike Metz presented a list of the department’s projected purchases for the upcoming year, including buying a new power stretcher that could reduce firefighter injuries and replacing a 17-year-old EKG monitor. Metz also spoke of the department’s plans to eventually replace its 15-year-old reserve ambulance as well as various staff and utility vehicles.

Commissioners also discussed purchasing a new fire engine in upcoming years, as well as proposed renovations to the , in part because new fire engines are too wide to enter the station’s doors.

10:30 a.m.:

Baldwin Library presents tentative plans for renovated, expanding current building

Renovating and improving the building was top of mind during the library’s presentation Saturday. The library building is owned and maintained by the city and the last library renovation took place 30 years ago. 

Library Director Doug Koschik and Assistant Library Director Matt Church presented two proposed renovation plans to the commission: one, a complete renovation that completely rethinks the building’s footprint; the other, a full-scale building expansion. 

Koschik said the library has a list of needs, including having enough space for Baldwin’s "size and caliber" (the library serves residents from Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Bloomfield Hills). Also in need of improvements are: 

• the library’s youth and teen rooms
• the library’s main lobby
• lighting inside the building
• sound issues within the library
• ways to help users find their way through the library.

There is also a need for more adult study space, study rooms and seating, with slightly less space for collections. The city’s 2016 plan includes adding an entrance to the library from Martin Street, while Koschik noted that many libraries have cafes and a dedicated used bookstore — something Baldwin Public Library is considering for the future. 

The proposed plan to renovate the library using the building’s current footprint would cost around $3 million. Meanwhile, proposed plans for expansion would increase the size of the building by 42 percent, change the outside appearance of the library and cost more than $10 million. 

Koschik said the library board met Jan. 18 and supports the modest renovation plan, though he said that if there’s public support for the expansion, the board would be willing to work toward that goal. 

“These ideas have been percolating for awhile at the library,” Koschik said. “And I think we need to decide if we’re going to do anything at all so we can adjust our budgets for the next decade.” 

Commissioner Tom McDaniel said renovating the library is a fundraising opportunity that should be broken down into smaller pieces. 

“I think there’s a lot of passion for the library here in Birmingham,” he said. “But I don’t think we can do this with a bond issue, or with raising the library millage. It has to be fundraised (sic) for.”

Going forward, Commissioner Stuart Sherman said, the library board and City Commission should consider "What is a library?" and "How will the library fit into the Birmingham community going forward?"

"I like how this is going, this is good," he said, noting he thinks the library should first solicit community feedback to see which direction it should take.

9:45 a.m.:

Principal Shopping District reports increased event attendance, retailers

The (PSD) had good news to report this morning. While some businesses did leave the city, PSD Director John Heiney reported there was a net gain of nine to 10 new stores moving in and filling storefronts in 2011. Other high points of the PSD’s presentation include: 

• Attendance at the increased to an average of 1,900 people per week, and there were 70 vendors.
• The PSD’s retail leasing consultant Julie Fielder made more than 100 contacts and conducted a dozen site tours in 2011.
• The PSD installed 21 new hanging baskets downtown and it intends to purchase additional flower planters and baskets to decorate South Old Woodward Avenue.
• More leases are expected in 2012, Heiney said.

Heiney noted that the Principal Shopping District will this year ask the City Commission for a three-year renewal of its special assessment district. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon Rinschler suggested the group consider expanding beyond downtown and into the city’s emerging business districts, such as the Rail District.

"All these things are changing, and I think it's up to you to figure how to ... embrace (these new business districts) and help them along," Mayor Mark Nickita said.

9:30 a.m.:

City engineer outlines infrastructure plans through 2018

City engineer Paul O’Meara discussed the proposed infrastructure and maintenance plans for the upcoming seven years, including:

• 2012: Fixing the bridges over the Rouge River on Oak Street and West Maple Road, and the reconstruction of East Maple Road.
• 2013: Replacing backyard sewer and water pipes in the city’s northeast corner, as well as the reconstruction of Derby and Cole streets.
• 2014: Replacing backyard sewer and water pipes on Yosemite and Villa, on the city’s east side, resurfacing part of Lincoln Avenue and reconstructing North Eton Road.
• 2015: Resurfacing a stretch of West Maple Road and a block of Henrietta.
• 2016: O’Meara said this is the best year for reconstructing part of South Old Woodward Avenue. The resurfacing of Oak Street is also proposed for this year.
• 2017-18: Replacing and installing water and sewer lines throughout the Quarton Lake neighborhood.

However, City Manager Bob Bruner pointed out that while these are projects need to be done, funding for all these projects are not included in the city’s five-year financial forecast.

“There’s not enough money to pay for all this in the forecast,” Bruner said. “The commission will have to decide whether to increase funding for roads or decrease the amount of projects we do.”

Meanwhile, O'Meara reported that the plan to line backyard sewer and water lines is in full swing in the East Maple Gardens and Quarton Lake neighborhoods. Internal water and sewer inspections have been completed and are being reviewed by the engineering firm Hubbell, Roth and Clark. Results are expected back in April, O'Meara said, and the first lining contract will be bid out in late summer 2012.

Residents are also responding favorably to the project, O'Meara said. Of the 351 requests for easements mailed in the Quarton Lake neighborhood, 112 have been returned and 19 are pending. In East Maple Gardens, 13 out of 25 easement requests have been returned. An easement gives the city permission to replace sewer and water lines on private property.

8:45 a.m.:

Building department considers sharing services with Beverly Hills

Bruce Johnson, official, presented tentative plans for providing services to the Village of Beverly Hills. The village approached Birmingham several months ago to discuss providing various services, including issuing building permits and conducting inspections, Johnson said.

Johnson said it is key that this move benefit Birmingham, and not lower the level of service for Birmingham residents and businesses.

The building department is analyzing the potential for increased revenues as well as the logistics of the plan, including training staff, sharing revenues, questions of liability and overhead costs.

“We’re trying to find every efficiency that we can if we’re going to do this,” Johnson said. “We’re going to analyze the data to see if it makes sense to do this.”

“It seems to me like there’s the potential for a lot of hidden costs here,” Mayor Mark Nickita said. “So that’s why it’s good you’re looking at it from the front end … But Lansing is giving incentives to communities who (share services), so what could this do for us?”

8:30 a.m.:

Financial forecast positive as property tax revenues expected to increase in 2013

First on the docket Saturday morning was a better-than-expected five-year financial forecast from the city's finance department.

“The financial forecast that has been presented this year is dramatically improved from what has been shown in past year,” the report reads. “The City’s willingness to conservatively forecast, and then to respond, has enabled the City to weather the sharp decline in property tax revenue since 2007.”

director Sharon Ostin said property tax revenues are expected to bottom out in 2012 and for some local communities — such as Birmingham and Northville — there will be a small increase in 2013.

However, the report emphasized the need for caution. Revenue from the city’s general fund is expected to grow by only 1 percent in 2012-13 and going forward. Meanwhile, city costs have increased by more than 1 percent every year.

The biggest sources for revenue in 2012-13 will be property taxes, building permits, cable franchise fees and state-shared revenue. Meanwhile, with the city’s staff level expected to remain at 135 employees, personnel and health care will be Birmingham’s biggest expenditure. Other big projects for 2012-13 include sidewalk construction, particularly in the Rail District.