Council approved law enforcement services for Royal Oak and Pleasant Ridge, the County Oakland Irish Fest and Berkley Farmers Market, extensions for two Marijuana licenses, a grant application for pension funding, and more.
Oaths of office were administered to six Public Safety Officers. These were previously budgeted for and some have been on the force for a while. This was just a formal recognition.
Downtown Berkley received National Reaccreditation from Main Street America. This is the fourth year in a row. The City was recognized for the amount of progress it has made in that time in preservation-based growth.
Council renewed existing contracts with Royal Oak to provide them with Animal Control Services and with Pleasant Ridge for Animal Control, Lockup, Dispatch, and use of our practice range.
The safety plan for the County Oakland Irish Fest was approved. The event will be held on September 8 and 9. Going forward with all of our events, the City will be more closely tracking our costs so we can set permit fee costs appropriately.
A Downtown Berkley Farmers Market was approved for Thursdays from June 8 through October 26 from 9am to 3pm. It will be held on Robina, south of 12 Mile. The road will be closed for the market. There will be live music each week from at least 12 to 3. Thursday was selected to avoid competition with other area farmers markets so we can get the broadest selection of vendors available. The market is also looking for additional vendors to participate.
Butter and Lume were both granted 180-day extensions to their Marijuana Business Licenses to complete construction. Butter anticipates completing construction in mid-August and Lume expects to finish at the end of June, with each hoping to open shortly thereafter.
Council approved a resolution authorizing an application for a state grant of up to $592,000 to help fund our pensions. While we no longer offer retiree health coverage for new employees, if we're granted the full amount this will bring our pension obligations to 60% funded to honor our legacy contracts.
The Berkley Area Chamber is starting the Berkley Bullhorn to amplify new business ribbon cuttings, upcoming events, behind-the-scenes features of local business owners, Berk Perk discounts, and Berkley pet profiles.
The meeting packet.