City Commission Tackles Busy Agenda Tonight

At their 7:30 p.m. regular meeting at City Hall, city officials are expected to discuss a variety of matters.

Sidewalk improvement plan

Commissioners will review, and possibly exempt, a list of properties from the 2013 citywide sidewalk program in an effort to reduce the number of property owners who will need to appear at a later public hearing to request such an exemption, according to a memo from the administration.

The six-year citywide sidewalk program began in the spring of 2012. The 2013 target area covers North Main Street, East Farnum Avenue, Stephenson Highway, I-696, Longfellow, South Alexander, and East 11 Mile Road (see attached map). 

Property owners have to pay a special assessment for replacement and installation of sidewalks adjacent to their properties.

DPS, finance department ask to fill vacancies

The Department of Public Service will ask commissioners to approve an entry level position in Highway/Forestry/Parks and another in the Sewer Division after two employees retired. 

In addition, commissioners will review a request to fill a vacancy in the Finance Department for one full-time fiancial analyst.  

"Based on a brief analysis performed last year, the Royal Oak Finance Department has approximately one-half the full-time staff of cities with comparable budgets," wrote Finance Director Julie Rudd in a memo to commissioners. "Filling this vacancy will provide one analyst in the department, as the second analyst was eliminated in 2010."

Discussion of ethics pledge 

Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Capello and Commissioner Jim Rasor will ask commissioners to discuss releasing a legal opinion concerning a proposed ethics pledge that Capello introduced, composed and took herself at a meeting in September. 

After a heated discussion last fall, Mayor Jim Ellison asked City Attorney David Gillam to comment on the legality of some of the language in the pledge.  

Also on the agenda

• Confirmation of Downtown Development Authority appointments

• Approval of Delegation Agreement Authority for fireworks inspections

• Request to purchase In-Car Video System

• Discussion of Conflict of Interest letter