In other business at the Jan. 10 meeting of the Clarkston City Council:
? Council Member Steven Wylie said he received an e-mail promising a change to the pedestrian signal at Main and Washington streets.
According to Wylie, an e-mail from a staff member at the Road Commission for Oakland County said an electrician will reprogram the system to return the walkways to an automatic cycle, eliminating the need to push the pedestrian crossing button before crossing M-15.
Officials had complained about the new push-button system, installed by the road commission under orders from the Michigan Department of Transportation when new traffic signals were installed at downtown intersections last year.
Wylie said such changes usually take about two weeks. City Manager Art Pappas said he had not received notification that the change was approved.
? The city administration will ask the Traffic Improvement Association to conduct a study at Washington and Holcomb streets to see if stop signs are ‘warranted? for all four legs of the intersection.
Wylie suggested the study, but other council members predicted controversy.
‘From my perspective it’s a good thing to do,? Wylie said, noting he tends to try to stop there even without a stop sign. ‘It seems like a natural place to put a stop sign.?
Council Member Kristy Ottman, however, warned that stop signs on Holcomb would cause traffic backups, making it difficult for Holcomb residents to get in and out of their driveways.
‘We talk about it every year? with the road commission, Pappas said, and others noted previous debate on the issue.
Because the city is a member of TIA, there will be no cost for the warrant study.
Ottman also volunteered to poll Holcomb residents to gauge their reaction to the idea.
? Council Member David Savage proposed that the city revisit their master plan with contracted planner McKenna and Associates.
Officials briefly debated both the need and the process of such a review. Mayor Sharron Catallo said the master plan is technically under the authority of the planning commission, but council members are welcome to share their suggestions.
? Recognizing that poverty can be an issue in Clarkston, the council established guidelines for use by the city board of review for property tax appeals.
Pappas said two homeowners made such appeals last year. For such purposes, local governments are allowed to set poverty levels no lower than that determined by federal guidelines.
The city council voted to set the official poverty level at a point midway between the single person federal minimum of $9,310 and the Oakland County minimum level of $14,700.