Following a 6 p.m. work session that will focus on the city’s budget, the Saline City Council will hear a number of presentations on everything from fracking to 'yarn bombing' before it holds two public hearings.

And that's all before the elected officials get to the business agenda.

First up is Girl Scout McKenzie Sullivan who is hoping the City Council will approve a Yarn Bombing Day, which is a Saline beautification project during which fiber art pieces would be displayed downtown for at least a week.

These knitted or crocheted yarn pieces would be tied around a objects. If approved by the City Council, the pieces would be installed on June 11 as a way for McKenzie to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award.

Following her presentation, the council will hear about recycling initiatives in a presentation from Colin Cederna and Eric Williams.

Ray Vugrinovich of the state Department of Environmental Quality will present a talk about fracking and Raymond Boufford will talk about Faurecia's acquisition of Ford/ACH business holdings.

In addition, there will be two public hearings. One will center on the city’s $322,800 portion of the city's fire protection costs, which have historically been paid through its general fund, rather than through a special assessment of residents.

The second public hearing involves a special land use application that would allow a senior living facility.

The about 51,500-square-foot assisted living facility is planned for 650 Woodland Dr. near the Saline Middle School at the southeast corner of Maple Road and Woodland Drive on property currently used as a soccer field.

Also included on the agenda are:

• Setting a public hearing date for the finalized budget for June 4.
• a discussion on a $739,000 street reconstruction project on Woodland Drive that includes drainage work, traffic signs and pavement markings, scheduled to begin in mid-June and be completed in August. The city received a Category F grant for $375,000 from the Michigan Office of Economic Development in 2011 and $325,000 of the project is expected to be paid for through Tax Increment Authority Funds (TIFA).

  TIFA districts are designed to increase the property tax valuation of the area and to eliminate the causes of the decline in property values, according to information from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In addition to the road work contract, it’s expected that the City Council will also discuss related construction services and testing contracts totaling about $15,600.

• an ordinance that would allow for form-based zoning in the core and edge of the downtown as well as regulations for home-based business districts.
• a sewer rehabilitation project on Rosebud Lane and Tower Drive.
• The adoption of the city’s 2012-2013 strategic plan.
• Approval of the Saline Downtown Merchants Association Sportscars to Saline event on June 23.

The regular meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, 100 N. Harris St.

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