City offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25 in observance of Thanksgiving. This issue of City News is being delivered on Friday due to the holiday.

Meetings

Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here

Sustainability Committee - Monday, Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall
Pedestrian Plan - Tuesday, Nov. 29, 8 a.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall

Anyone needing assistance should contact the City Manager's office at 248-449-9905. More information about online meetings and a user guide are available here.

This Just In 

City Council recap of Nov. 21 meeting

Downs preliminary PUD approved – The Downs preliminary PUD site plan was approved unanimously by City Council with 10 conditions, adhering to contingencies set by the Planning Commission, and with acknowledgement that the city/DDA need to approve several key items.* The city’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and City Council must approve a brownfield plan and financing plan. Council must also approve a tax abatement proposal regarding the apartment building. The DDA and Council need to approve other items, including expanding the DDA boundary around a portion of the new development. Council also needs to review and approve a PUD agreement for the project concurrently with the final site plan being submitted to the Planning Commission. In another motion, Council waived the second reading and approved the adoption of Ordinance No. 09-19-22Z to rezone the subject property to PUD. 

Wayne County funding update – Mayor Brian Turnbull said Wayne County has given him a commitment letter for $3.2 million to be used for infrastructure that supports the Downs development.

Northville Cigar Lounge liquor license changes hands – The Class C and SDM liquor license with Sunday Sales Permit (AM & PM) has been formally transferred from Fumi Dolci, LLC, former owner of Northville Cigar Lounge, to Giacomo Dabate, of 70/70 LTD, who now operates the business at 331 N. Center. The local approval completes the license transfer process that began last year when Dabate applied to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and was approved by that agency in November 2021.

New crosswalk signs at Novi St. near Lake intersection – Council approved traffic control order 22 -07 to place signs at the continental crosswalk hatch on Novi Street, mid-block, north of Lake Street. Based on citizen’s input at the Oct. 17 meeting, the crossing signage was changed from several signs to two pedestrian figure signs with an arrow on each side of the crosswalk. Street parking will be permitted up to 20 feet from the crosswalk, which was installed when Lake Street was repaved this fall.

Lawn maintenance for city-owned properties – Mendoza Outdoor Services was awarded a two-year contract for lawn maintenance in the amount of $168,997. Owner Eriberto Mendoza, of Fowlerville, has held the city’s lawn maintenance contract for the past four years. Two other bidders were $70,000 to $108,000 higher. The contract covers 24 areas for routine lawn mowing of city-owned properties and selected rights-of-way, ranging in size from one-tenth of an acre to 18 acres (Novi Road Flood Plain Area). In addition, there are 14 areas where weed control is needed. Based on a resident’s concern about pesticides, the DPW will re-evaluate the type of weed control treatment to use, with input from the Sustainability Team. 

Reservoir being tested  – Council approved the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy that requires the city to implement a set of management, operations and maintenance activities on a reservoir near the water tower. The city’s drinking water remains safe to drink and use. As part of the ACO, city staff and engineers will conduct a feasibility study report to evaluate options for rehabilitating, replacing, or removing the underground reservoir from service.

*Note: The full Downs PUD motion is included in a communication to Council in the Nov. 21 meeting packet (pg. 53-56), available on the City’s website (agendas and minutes) through Dec. 2. (A new package is posted on Dec. 3).

View the video here.

Photo: Central Park area of Downs PUD/preliminary site plan by Hunter Pasteur Northville.

Interim city manager selected

Mark Wollenweber, former city manager of Grosse Pointe Shores, was selected by City Council at a special session on Nov. 17 to serve as interim city manager. Current City Manager Pat Sullivan will retire on Jan. 6, 2023. Council interviewed three qualified candidates, all with impressive credentials.

Wollenweber noted he is committed to providing high quality leadership through his experience, education and involvement in the public sector. He serves on the boards of the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Area Agency on Aging.

An article in Public Management, said this of Wollenweber: “He spearheaded the Intergovernmental Cable Communications Authority that provided cable service to nine communities in Oakland County, Michigan. It was one of the largest cable consortia in the country at the time and continues today. In St. Clair Shores, he was responsible for the development of Lac Sainte Claire Park, which included a marina development and a refurbished municipal pool. It was funded by the largest recreational bond issued at the time. And he was responsible for what became the Nautical Mile, a commercial TIF district and merchants association along Lake Saint Clair – the first successful development in that area after two failures.”

His role will begin the week of Nov. 28 and will continue until a new city manager is named. During a portion of that time, Wollenweber will assist Sullivan in the administrative transition. City Council has retained the services of Walsh Municipal Services to conduct the permanent city manager search. View the City Council special meeting of Nov. 17 here.

Kick off the holiday season by shopping local on Nov. 26

Small Business Saturday, held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a national retail event that prompts people to 'shop local' rather than heading to the mall or a chain store. Shopping in Downtown Northville not only offers unique items and personalized service in an historic town, it is a great way to stimulate the local economy.

Several retailers shared their plans for this annual event. While this designated shop local day brings a lot of attention to local merchants every November, it pays to visit these small businesses year-round.

Colors of the Wood

Michele Johnson manages the store while husband Bobby makes beautiful wood products that range from charcuterie boards and cutting boards to crosses, coasters and ornaments. It’s a small space at 140 N. Center but one that’s filled with charm and products that serve as artful displays. 

For Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, they are giving customers who make a purchase a complimentary 2022 wooden heart. It has a leather tie so it can be hung or attached to a keychain. A larger version of the heart is also available for sale. Most of their products can be personalized through laser engraving.

Michele said they offer 30 different colors of wood and use no stains or dyes, which makes the products safe for food preparation and serving. Colors include red, green, yellow and purple, and are derived from exotic woods as well as the traditional walnut, oak and cherry. The couple sources their wood from Michigan lumberyards, which also imports wood from South America and Africa, including padauk, zebra wood, and purpleheart. Brazilian satin is another beautiful wood they use in products.

Personalization works well on these wood products, especially those given as gifts. Custom orders require some lead time.

They will be open every day from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. They have limited hours at other times of the year, but also sell online year-round. “This is my second home,” Michele said, who notes they have had the store for four and one-half years.

The key to the couple’s success is being able to offer a beautiful, durable wood product that is functional and decorative. Michele said, “We really found our niche and are running with that.”

Customer Barbara Ballantyne, of Rochester, MI, says Colors of the Wood is a good fit for the downtown. “This town does its own thing,” she said, which makes it an attractive draw for shoppers looking for something that’s unique and engaging.

Alexander’s Custom Clothiers
Owner Alex Hamka expects his menswear shop at 124 W. Main to be busy this Saturday and is offering a 10% discount. However, he said most Saturdays are busy. His shop offers custom-made suits and shirts, along with an upscale line of pants that includes dress pants, sophisticated chinos and non-traditional denim that can be worn with a sport coat.

“We have jeans, chinos … the whole nine yards,” Hamka said. “All the suits are custom made. There’s nothing off the rack for suits. We have unique lines that you won’t find in an ordinary department store.”

Another compelling reason to shop at Alexander’s, according to Hamka, is their personalized service and attention to detail.

Hamka is the third generation to work as a tailor and sell men’s suits and other fine clothing. His father owned a men’s clothing store and tailoring business at Laurel Park but closed it and now works at Hamka’s business, which has five tailors. There is a tailor shop in the back where suits are made, and alterations are made to any article of clothing brought in by a customer.

Covid impacted the store in an interesting way. “I didn’t think we’d be able to sell a suit after Covid (when the pandemic began),” Hamka said. Now, we’re the top producer of custom shirts in the country. We’re growing like crazy.”

He noted that when Covid hit, high-end stores such as Saks and Neiman Marcus eliminated their suit departments where suits had sold for $2,000 to $5,000. They changed those departments to casual wear because so many people were working from home.

During the height of the pandemic his shop needed help from sales associates, which were hard to come by, so they worked by ‘appointment only’ for a while. “We had people waiting in line to be fitted for suits,” he said. Now, men have so many places to go where suits are the required outfit, including weddings and engagement parties that were put off during Covid. Many clients are CEOs and others meet with clients so they want to look their best. 

“People are tired of feeling sloppy and really want to spend money on nice clothing,” he said. “People’s diets have changed. A lot of people who lost or gained weight during Covid needed to have their clothing altered or bought completely new wardrobes.”

In addition to visiting an elegant shop, customers can view suits on their website. They are on social media: YouTube, and Instagram, but most of their business comes from referrals and repeat customers. Hamka proudly noted they have an award-winning advertising video seen around the world that intertwines romance, suspense and nuance to sell suits. View it here.

Studio 170
This store at 170 E. Main has it all for women who want to be on point for fashion and beauty. Upstairs, there’s a salon/spa for hair cutting and styling, make-up, pedicures/manicures, and other personal treatments. The first level is devoted entirely to women’s clothing and accessories, and eclectic home goods. Come on in for 20% off most items in the boutique on Small Business Saturday.

Studio 170 owner Tita Daskal says her line of In Sight jackets is in demand. They have plenty of jackets and blazers to pair with jeans and dress pants. You can also get wrapped up in their selection of coats. Plus, there are purses, shoes and jewelry.

“We’re a one-stop shop where women can get their hair done, have a manicure/pedicure, have make-up applied and then buy an outfit and a hostess gift,” Daskal said.

She’d like to ramp up the online retail for the store, but is happy that people still like to come into the store to try things on, see an item’s real color and take in the chic displays of clothing, accessories and home goods. She has plenty of unique items – where else can you find bumble-bee pillows and bumble-bee magnets?

She invites customers and browsers to follow the salon/spa/boutique on Instagram, where they post monthly specials on products and services. She says social media has been good for her business. They also have an app where you can book appointments and follow fashion trends.

Baby, Baby Plus More
This resale store at 153 E. Main sells gently worn clothing for children, from newborn to junior sizes. Much of it is name-brand, high-quality items. They also sell games, toys and books. Sales associate Katelyn Bumgardner says there are no special discounts on Small Business Saturday because items are at discount prices every day. She expects to see an uptick in business this Saturday. 

Shoes are a big draw and there are bins of paired shoes set atop the clothing racks for easy reach-in and try-on. Kids grow out of shoes so fast, it makes sense to buy gently used shoes. Some of the clothing and shoes were never worn … which means a really big savings.

For those interested in recycling or saving money, this store is a bonanza. It’s also a way for sellers to make money on the items they bring in on consignment.

Bumgardner says people are drawn to the store for their higher quality brands and top-notch service. The store has a Facebook page and Instagram. They don’t sell items online.

For those concerned about the cold/flu season and Covid, the store has hand sanitizer, and a protective plastic screen near the register. Most of the staff wears masks.

For a full list of stores in downtown Northville, visit the DDA website.

Photos
Above: Tita Daskal, of Studio 170, shows some of the home goods sold at her boutique.

Below: Katelyn Bumgardner, of Baby Baby Plus More, is shown with the large assortment of children’s jackets.

Michele Johnson, of Colors of the Wood, (far right) assisted Barbara Ballantyne and her daughter Mary Gwizdala with their selection.

Alex Hamka photograph from Alexander’s Custom Clothiers website. (The power was out in his store on the day a photo was to be taken.)  

Photos by Liz Cezat.
Support our community though volunteering

The city of Northville is accepting applications for qualified volunteers to serve on the Board of Review and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.  

The application is available on the city website.

To be considered, applications must be submitted by Nov. 28. After that deadline, the city clerk will contact applicants to schedule interviews with the City Council Board and Commission Selection Committee, comprised of Mayor Brian Turnbull and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne. All applications will be kept on file for future consideration.

The Board of Review is the public body that reviews the assessment roll on behalf of Northville residents. Applicants must be a two-year resident and a qualified elector in the city of Northville. Meetings are held in March (multiple sessions with the first session on the Tuesday following the second Monday), July, and December. More information about the Board of Review is available on the  city website or contact the Assessor.

The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meets as needed to consider requests by developers to establish Brownfield projects to fund environmental cleanup and other eligible activities. Applicants must be a resident and qualified elector of the city of Northville.  Residents with expertise in environmental, economic development, real estate, finance, and legal matters would be complementary to this board. More information is available on the city website or contact City Manager Pat Sullivan.

Photo: Glass ceiling by Daniel Watson from Pexels

Northvillians and friends,

It was great to see many of you at the Holiday Lighted Parade last weekend, welcoming Santa to town as he rode in on a fire truck with children from the community. In Town Square, we presented him with a proclamation and the keys to the city. The Northville parade was outstanding with 37 floats and Christmas trees in four Ford Lightning Trucks leading things off.    

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, take time to reflect on all that we are thankful for in our lives. Like many, I am sincerely grateful for family and friends. Thanksgiving is a national holiday and is even celebrated outside the U.S. on various dates.  It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest. Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions and has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.

View the entire letter here or on the city website.

Keep that Northville Thanksgiving Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor, Northville

Things to do

Here is the link for tickets.

Doing Business

Receive texts regarding safety issues through Nixle

Notification of serious traffic accidents, severe weather conditions, downed live wires and other safety issues are being communicated by the city’s Nixle service. To receive text alerts to a mobile phone, sign up at Nixle.com. Nixle posts also appear on the city's social media platforms.

Accountability & Transparency  

To meet the requirements for Accountability & Transparency under City, Village, and Township Revenue Sharing/County Incentive Program (CVTRS/CIP), the City of Northville must certify to the Michigan Department of Treasury they have produced and made readily available to the public:
A Citizen's Guide of its most recent local finances
A Performance Dashboard
A Debt Service Report
A Projected Budget Report

The above-mentioned documents may be found on the city website.

Around Town

Overnight parking 

Street parking is prohibited from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. The City of Northville provides overnight parking permits for $120 per year ($10 per month). Each of the downtown parking lots have spaces identified for overnight parking. If you need to temporarily park on the street overnight in a residential area, contact the Police Dept. at 248-305-2790 before 12 a.m. to obtain a waiver.

It’s time for cemetery blankets and wreaths 

Winter grave blankets and wreaths are permitted Nov. 15 to March 1. At that time, these holiday items will need to be removed by the owner if they want to keep them. Otherwise, the maintenance staff will dispose of them. During the holidays, many people place items such as pumpkins, Christmas trees, and other holiday decorations on or near grave sites. Any of these items that are unsightly or interfere with normal cemetery maintenance will be removed.

Crime mapping pinpoints car thefts, home break-ins and other criminal activity

The City of Northville uses an online crime mapping system that coordinates with Oakland County’s CLEMIS system to show the location and type of crime that has occurred on a digital map within 24 hours after a police report has been filed.

CLEMIS is a report management system that compiles crime reports from police departments in Oakland County, including Northville, and makes them available to the public. Oakland County takes that information one step further by allowing police departments to directly subscribe to a service from that populates the crime data on a map.

Users have the option of looking at the online map in real time or searching back 180 days at crimemapping.com.

At Home

Leaf collection

The next leaf pickup is Nov. 28 for residents south of 8 Mile. For residents north of 8 Mile, the next leaf pickup is Dec. 5. Residents can rake leaves into the street the weekend before their scheduled pick-up. Please do not include grass or twigs in the leaf piles, and do not rake leaves into a ditch.

Check the batteries on your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors are important safety devices to have in your home. Make sure you are testing them regularly and replacing them when needed.

Test the battery in your smoke detector monthly by pressing and holding the test button. Some people find it easier to use a pencil to push the test button. While the button is pressed, you should hear a loud alarm. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, replace the batteries. If your smoke detector is sending off false alarms with cooking smoke, burning toast or humidity, it may be a sign that it’s failing and needs to be replaced.

The general rule is to replace a smoke detector every 8-10 years. Check the back of the device for the manufacture date. 

Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you of serious airborne poisoning

A carbon monoxide (CO) detector is an important safety device to have in your home. It can alert you to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can’t be detected by your senses but can cause severe illness with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Make sure CO detectors are placed in the right locations of your home and are replaced at the end of their lifespan.

For each floor of your home, place a CO detector on a wall about 5 feet above the floor and in the same room as a fireplace or flame-producing appliance. You may also want to place one in your garage since the poisonous gas can travel through drywall. If your home has only one CO detector, it should be installed in the main bedroom or in the hallway outside of the sleeping area.

If your CO detector is sounding continuously and you have signs of CO poisoning, find fresh air and call 911 immediately. Emergency responders are trained to identify and treat the symptoms of CO poisoning and firefighters use equipment to find the source of carbon monoxide leaks and stop them.

The general rule is to replace a CO detector every 5 - 7 years. Check the back of the device for the manufacture date.