City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call the City of Benton Harbor Commission meeting to order. We begin with an invocation by Commissioner Edward Isom, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Pro Tem Turner, all rise.

Lord, help us begin this meeting with solutions that can help the city move forward. And just pray for everyone, the conditioners, the residents, that we can continue to help the city and take us forward. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,

Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Clark Griffin. Present. Commissioner Fields. Present. Commissioner Henderson. Present. Commissioner Henry. Present. Commissioner Isom. Present. Commissioner Kennard. Present. Commissioner Warren. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Present.

Mayor Muhammad.

Present.

You have a quorum.

This brings us to approval of minutes, regular minutes, June 15, 2026. Is there a motion for the approval?

So moved.

Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. Supported by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Madam Clerk.

COMMISSIONER CLARK-GRIFFIN? YES. COMMISSIONER FIELDS? YES. COMMISSIONER HENDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER HENRY? YES. COMMISSIONER ISOM?

YES.

COMMISSIONER CANARD? YES. COMMISSIONER WARREN? YES. MAYOR PURTEMP-TURNER?

YES.

MAYOR MOHAMMED? YES. MOTION CARRIED.

THIS BRINGS US TO APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE LISTING. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL? MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER HENDERSON, SUPPORTED BY COMMISSIONER ISOM. IS THERE DISCUSSION? CHAIR RECOGNIZES THIRD WARD COMMISSIONER HENRY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, WHEN I KIND OF PERUSED THIS AP LIST AND DEWPOINT, ONE OF OUR VENDORS, POPPED OUT AGAIN, AND I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD ASKED FOR THE CONTRACT OF THIS VENDOR AND HADN'T RECEIVED IT. SO IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AGAIN FOR THE CONTRACT FOR DEWPOINT. WE JUST PAID $14,916.09. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CONTRACT AS TO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH THIS ACCOUNT. And I see that we are spending money on other things like a rental table and tent. I know that it's our part, but I've really never seen that happen, especially when we are crying that we're broke. So those two things stand out, and I want my colleagues to look at the AP list, and when I see fruitless stuff like that, that's why you get my no vote.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson?

Yes.

Commissioner Henry?

No.

Commissioner Isom? Yes. Commissioner Kennard? No. Commissioner Warren? Yes. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? No. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

No.

Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to our Update from Representative Joey Andrews if he is present. If not, we will go to citizens comments or public participation. There is a three minute maximum per speaker. Please sign in with the clerk and she'll call you according to the sign-in sheet.

James Gunter.

Good evening, everybody. I just wanted to bring to the city and residents attention that President Pillars will be hosting an expungement fair this Saturday from noon to four. Everyone should, if you have a conviction on your record that you're interested in getting expunged, please just bring your government issue ID and money for postage. Also, the Pillar Center had its grand opening today, so that's now open and available for a young man that has anyone. And then also, Peace League is actually happening right now. It'll be every Monday until August 24th. That's from 6 to 8 p.m. Thank you.

Denny Brown.

Documents to the clerk.

So yeah, hello, how y'all doing?

Good to see y'all. Last time I saw some of y'all, y'all wasn't in y'all capacity. So congratulations. So my name is Denny Brown, 823 LeVette. How you doing over there, Ms. Clark? It ain't that bad. You ain't got to frown, but let me get to it. All right, so last time I came down here, I said that my complaint, I was filing a complaint with the city that they didn't have a civil service board. And because they didn't have a civil service board, certain things were allowed to happen, right? And doing my investigation and complaining about no civil service board, I found that a couple of people committed some crimes while they were police officers. Larry Allen and, I got my glasses, Larry Allen and O'Brien. So, they went to jail. There was no proper investigation done on them. They was not relieved of duty. Benton Harbor didn't handle them correctly. I'll speed it up when you don't handle it correctly. When Officer Graves was fired, we charged him with everything in the charge. in a charter, right? So when they sued the city, the city was held harmless. But see, when Collins got fired and they sued the city, they only charged Collins with state crimes. They didn't charge him with violating oath of office and duties of an officer. So that's why the people was able to get their money back. But I mean, that's why the people was able to sue And the city, the citizens was able to lose money and do all of that. Right. But each chief has taken advantage of no civil service board. Right. And so when I first came down here, I came and was talking to my commissioner Henderson, cause she was in my warning each year. They always tell you, you gotta get a vote. You gotta get a vote, but each one of you have the power to do it, to investigate, but back to it. So I go to commissioner Henderson. And I'm telling her, and I'm giving her all of this information, and I tell her, Sharon, me and your husband have been childhood friends since fourth grade, since 14. Just put in writing, are we in violation for operating without a civil service board? Cover yourself so you won't be in trouble. She never did. I said, if you don't, you're going to be held in violation. She went on to say I was a dirty police officer, right? So the reason why Ben Harbor threw me away, I came under cops fast with Bill Clinton. Cops fast, the city of Ben Harbor was paying 75, the state was paying 75% of our salary. The city only had to match 25%. We was only getting paid $9 an hour in 1994. We asked the Chief Singleton and Walker, where's the rest of our money go? It went into the general fund to help run the city. As you know, the general fund later on got robbed. So later on, without the Civil Service Board, the Civil Service Board, you're supposed to be able to investigate any demotion, hiring, or suspension, right? So without the Civil Service Board, a person with

A couple drunk drive-ins and a contemplative court can be a police officer.

Sharon Henderson got a husband as a police officer.

Here's his criminal history.

I went and got his, too. Thank you, Mr. Brown, for your... So now that you've heard it, you have to act on it.

If you don't act on it, you're now in violation.

We demand... Mr. Brown, your time is up, sir.

See you this morning. Colleagues responsible.

Diana Greene.

Good evening. My name is Diana Greene and I am a proud resident of Benton Harbor and a member of the Jean Clark Neighborhood Coalition which formed after the May 18th shooting to help ensure Jean Clark Park remains safe, welcoming and accessible for all. Tonight I'm speaking strictly for myself, not on behalf of the coalition and not on behalf of the Grand Boulevard HOA for which I also represent. I am here tonight to address the divisive, inaccurate remarks made by Mayor Marcus Mohamed at the Economic Development Session on June 24th. The assertion that day was that my neighborhood somehow doesn't fit into the vision of Benton Harbor. The remarks left many residents feeling excluded from the vision of Benton Harbor. Regardless of intent, no resident should be left to be felt with that impression. A mayor's responsibility is to be a leader for all of Benton Harbor. For the last several years, my neighbors and I have tried constructively to engage with city leadership. We have emailed, we have called, we have asked for partnership. We invited many of you to our neighborhood events, yet we are facing a wall of silence. On May 18th was an inflection point for many of us who love the city and want to see Jean Clark Park properly cared for and protected. It's also been implied by city leadership that our neighborhood does not give back or care about Benton Harbor. That couldn't be furthest from the truth. We are a quiet community of residents. who actively volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, the Rotary, and a variety of other local initiatives. In fact, the recent Rotary grant for public safety at Jean Clark Park, the buoys, the life rings, that was spearheaded by a Grand Boulevard resident through the Rotary. We have come to these open sessions looking for a normal, productive public discourse. We do not come here to be insulted. Raising public safety concerns should not become unnecessarily divisive when residents are simply asking for accountability and dialogue. To be abundantly clear, the narrative that my neighborhood wants to restrict access on our streets is absurd and entirely false. It is a diversion tactic that distracts from the real issue at hand, park safety and municipal responsibility. What we've actually said is simple, respect our community, follow the laws, obey the speed limit, drive safely. These are expectations of any neighborhood. I will continue to ask city leadership to step up, show real action, and engage with residents respectfully, even when you do not like what you hear. My neighbors and I will continue to choose to take the high road, and we invite city leadership to meet with us there so we can also work together to have a safer Benton Harbor. Thank you.

Deshina Broyles.

Hello, my name is Deshina. Two Sundays ago, which was June 28th, there was a high speed chase. I guess two juveniles came from Kalamazoo and From my understanding, all three departments, which was Benton Township, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, all trailed this vehicle from N139 to my parents' street, which was 546 Head Court. My truck was parked in front of my parents' house. It was not in a non-parking zone or anything like that, and my truck was totaled. from the crash. So from my understanding, a guy that stays at the beginning of my parents' street said that one of the patrol cars hit the back of the stolen vehicle, and that's how they lost control and lost their tire and ran into my vehicle. So instantly, I was told by, well, my mom was told by the sheriff to come outside, show proof of insurance, and basically follow up my insurance. We was not given the option that we could not get the car towed or anything like that. They towed it to Coloma, which was the first one that was on call. So now my truck is $1,200 to get from the towing company. This had nothing to do with me, my parents, or anything. I have a child. I have a job. She has... extracurricular activities that I have to take her to and I feel like I have not been supported I have left voicemails at the department office I came up and pressed the intercom twice no one answered and I just feel like I have not been supported in this all on me my truck was completely brand new when I got it it was not purchased from off the street it was completely from a lot completely paid off and now I'm without a vehicle and I have No type of support and it's just like well, they stole it contact your insurance and I feel like that is not by far fair towards me No more comments Thank you for all your comments

Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar? I have my hand up.

For what? Motion to separate, suspend the rules.

You know it's two-thirds vote, correct?

Yep, I sure do.

I want to add two things to the agenda. Number one. First of all, we need to vote to see if this rule can even be suspended.

We need to know what you're suspending the rules for, but if we could do them separately.

Okay.

Separately for both of your items.

So the first one is to sell city lots. It's to uplift the moratorium on it. And I want to note it for the record that the city manager sold a lot last year, and it was not voted on. It was August 26, 2025.

Can you confirm that, Madam Attorney? Yeah, I will have to look up the library.

I will have to look up the library and page number, but I can look at the public records and get that information from you.

I can forward it to you. Because I do know that there was a $1 transfer, which is what the interest was for... BUS, NOT BUS, PARDON ME, HARBOR TOWERS. SO THAT'S THE ONLY TRANSFER OR VOTE THAT WE TOOK TO, BUT I KNOW THE VALUE WAS AT A DOLLAR. SO IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? SOMETHING DIFFERENT. OKAY.

NEED SUPPORT. SUPPORT. Commissioner Henderson.

It's been the rules.

Correct.

No.

Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isom.

Yes.

Commissioner Kennard.

Yes.

Commissioner Warren.

Yes.

Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Yes.

Commissioner Fields. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad.

No.

Motion carried.

And my second one is a moratorium for 14 months on data centers.

Support.

Commissioner Henry. Commissioner Isom.

No.

Commissioner Kennard? Yes. Commissioner Warren? No. Commissioner Clark-Griffin?

Yes.

Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson?

For clarity, are we voting to add this item to the agenda or to suspend the rules to add it to the agenda for discussion?

Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad? No. Motion failed.

Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar?

I make a motion to approve.

Okay. I want to reference that.

There's a motion on the floor to accept the consent.

We have one mayor that's regulating the meeting. He wasn't. Okay, and that doesn't mean you're next. It would be Mayor Perkins.

Was she rightfully, according to Robert's rules, declared point of order?

I had my hand up prior to that.

There's a motion on the floor for the consent calendar. Are there items that should be separated?

Yes. Number eight.

Is there a motion for the approval of Commissioner Henry? Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar? Motion to approve.

Support.

Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Isom?

Yes.

Commissioner Kennard? Commissioner Warren?

Yes.

Commissioner Clark-Griffin?

Yes.

Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad?

Yes.

Motion carried.

Is there a motion for the approval of conditional resolution of support for countywide public transportation?

Motion carried.

Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there support? Support. It is supported by Commissioner Isom. Is there discussion? The chair recognizes Commissioner Clark-Griffin.

You know, I've been following the transportation. It used to be Dollar I and I's, Takata. For about 20 years, I've been to probably every meeting or every workshop where it's been in discussion. And it's always, to me, has been a way to trying to take over. I know for years, Burien Bus and Now's have not been doing good. And it's always was for Ben Harbor to save. to save them and it's always we are paying the highest taxes and to me this is just another way of a takeover as far as where it says financial impact it doesn't give us a sure amount so we don't even know what financial impact we'll be facing if we do that and it also states in the resolution that variant bus is pretty much failing so I will not be supporting this thank you

So just for clarity, Takata was incorporated in 1979 as the Twin Cities Transportation Authority as Takata. It was affectionately aka Dial-A-Ride or Dial-A-Ride. It was, the articles were amended in 2019 and we have reached a juncture where the federal government has issued a letter of a cease and desist where they will no longer fund operations for what is known as Takata, which is now Takata at Via. So the, at VIA is the contracted company that was hired by Takata Board, where you still have the executive director that would be in place, and I believe about five employees, and the drivers, most have retained their jobs. What happens with this particular resolution, the state of Michigan, MDOT, as well as the FTA, would be sending the funds to Berrien County, which would then in turn distribute the funds back to Takata, which would be to pay for operations. And Berrien Bus would begin contracting with Via, where Berrien County would come out from under the management of Berrien Bus and Berrien Bus, as well as Takata, which is already being contracted and the operations are being handled by VIA, which is the number one private transportation system in the state of Michigan. And that was one of the ways in which Takata was able to maintain and keep their operations and this new county-wide regional transportation system, which is more of a pilot in some respects, because what it does is it allows for Takata to number one, remain incorporated. So the millers that the residents pay will still be in place, but that's nowhere near enough for operations without the funding coming from FTA and the funding coming from M M dot. We have no Takata. So it's important that the city support the funding and the program or the proposal that's being put forth because it's going to happen anyway. because as it stands, Takata will no longer be able to function and operate without money coming from the federal government or coming from MDOT, Michigan Department of Transportation. But what it will do is about 1.8 million over three years will be infused into the bus operations, which will help to improve efficiency, the long wait times, I want to get to work. A new busing routing system will be implemented. You can already see that Takata has added more vehicles where the fleet will become more modernized through better operations, better management, more funding. And what the overall goal is to have St. Joseph, Bridgeman, New Buffalo, and the other communities to begin to pay into the system where we can have a regional transit authority that can take residents all throughout. you know, whether that be to South Bend Airport, to Michigan City, South Shore, if they want to go to Chicago, where... you know, our transportation system becomes more modernized. And, you know, from my travels and from seeing CTA and other people move over Detroit where economic development is being connected to mobility and transportation systems. And what this does is put Benton Harbor in a position to where we can improve our transportation system, but align it with 21st century goals and objectives to improve our economic status for residents, for the business community, and for the future of Benton Harbor. So that's a short, there's no financial impact other than our millage. that the city is already paying into. But the impact on the city will be negligible, as it states here. Other than the already dedicated millage, there's no other impact. And Niles is not actually even a part of this particular proposal or program. Or Buchanan. So this would be mainly Benton Harbor, Benton Township, St. Joe, St. Joe Township, and some of the other cities, New Buffalo, who have opted in. Those cities and townships will be more a part of this particular new regional authority. Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

How long has, number one, how long has the city been aware of this here? Because my research August of last year and then when Commissioner Fields, myself, and others asked the question, we got an email and we had a meeting here. That was the first time many of us have heard this. So how long has the city been aware of this situation here?

so the city was notified over a year ago this was before you all were members on the commission and this was a result of years of turnover mismanagement lawsuits where at that particular time um Takata was challenged with even being covered by insurance where they were paying basically a $750,000 deductible or something just crazy just to even be insured. So those operations and the way it has been managed and ran, it became unsustainable. So the federal government stepped in over a year ago and said that they would no longer fund Takata and they gave us little over a year notice for the process to develop where the county was pulled in the city of Benton Harbor I think you all came on later but this this was transitioning right as Commissioner Singleton who was a part of the initial talks And then Mr. Little got on the board by appointment at the beginning of the year or the end of the year, and they have been having talks ever since. But, you know, it's pretty cut and dry that, you know, the FTA and MDOT are forcing change. And, you know, the good thing is, like I said, We'll be able to remain the hub. All operations will remain here. Employees will be able to retain their jobs. We'll be able to have priority routes here. But like I said, it's going to be different players, not only on the management side, but on the fiduciary side that will, from my perspective, only add to and improve what we know as Takata, a.k.a. Dollar Ride.

Last question. Well, my last one, I'll make sure clarity. They said that Ben Harbor would have three representatives on the county board. Am I correct?

Correct. So I appreciate that, Mayor Pro Tem, for you bringing that point up. You will have a county board, but But however, we still will retain our Takata board, which is appointed by the city commission. So you'll have the Takata board, but you'll have the Barron County Regional Authority board, which will work on that county level. But again, that authority is being set up only as a filter or a fiduciary to receive the money, but the monies will eventually go back to Takata to cover operations. Chair recognizes Commissioner Kennard.

Thank you, Mayor. I was a board member at Takata at one time. I tried to get the attention. This is before I became a commissioner. of the commission to know the things that was going on wrong there. Now, when there's money flowing, everybody wants to join in. But when they called Dollar Ride at the time, was not doing so hot, all of the surrounding cities that want to join in now is ready to join in. I asked them to follow the money, follow the inner parts that is going on. And I pleaded with them. I pleaded. and no help. We've got to get the basic things that we need in here. And I've told them over and often we need a finance director to look into things when we ask questions. We have that access to getting that information even from the American demand. What we need is to function properly and see that we're not taken advantage of because we are the poor community that we get better dollars and more security that make it work for the other surrounding cities. Anything that's rolling smooth, they want to ride with it. So I'm just saying we better be careful and examine and do some research on a lot of these things before we go ahead and vote yes. Thank you.

Thank you. And what I can tell you what the mayor has done is worked with the federal government, worked with MDOT to make sure that we retain employees, that Takata remains in Benton Harbor, that it remains the hub of the regional authority. And as the Mayor Pro Tem Turner said, that we have three representatives on the Barron County Board, that we retain our Takata Board, that our Articles of Incorporation remain intact, which means that the company Takata remains as is, and that we receive more money to improve Takata. and management where residents are not waiting hours or not picked up late for appointments, missing doctor's appointments. So that's what the mayor has done. So we're not losing Takata. We're not losing people. What we're gaining is more financing, better structure, better management, and we'll have a better transportation system.

One other thing then, Mayor.

Yes, ma'am.

How many others are joining in with Takata?

So that's a great question, Commissioner Kinnar.

Because then they give the majority votes.

So it will be similar for each community that's involved. they'll have representatives as well. But the unique piece with this whole equation is Benton Harbor has a dedicated funding source already. The other communities after three years will have to develop what method are they going to pay in with? Are they gonna have a millage? Is it gonna come out of their general fund? Because if not, then it reverts back to what we see already. But hopefully, again, with VIA being there, contracting, managing Takata, 90% of the problems have already been solved, which is why Berrien Bus is coming under VIA. And Berrien County is saying, manage VIA. We'll just get the money, but we'll send the money back to make sure it goes where it should go. And also, we don't have that high overhead in terms of high insurance deductible because VIA brings their own insurance. So we have protection there as well. I'm going to go with Commissioner Clark Griffin and then back to the pro tem.

Yeah, that's not true that it's gotten better. It's 90% better. It's actually gotten worse from what residents are calling me and telling me. And then I even saw where a woman, she had cancer and she was on Facebook. She waited three hours after her treatment. for a Takata. And they never showed up in the hospital where she was at. They end up closing. They was waiting long, trying to wait, and they end up closing. So she had to try to get somebody else to get her right after waiting that long, having her treatment. And it's a lot of other complaints I've gotten, even especially for the older people. They're not... savvy with all this via and all this stuff, and that's mostly ones that need it. You know, the older, the elderly, the disabled, and probably about 90% have been hired from, I don't know, a few years ago, didn't have a car. So people need it for everyday needs, and it's getting worse. So it has not gotten better, definitely not 90%. Thank you.

If I may, I want to clarify something. So the meeting, the county director said Ben Harbor would have three board members, the county would have three, and the others would have two representatives on the board. I'll make sure that we are correct because that's what he told us in the meeting. And I'll make sure I heard correctly and my notes are correct.

You have no objections, no argument from me. I really appreciate you saying that because the record can reflect that the mayor is not in some smoke-filled room selling the residents out, having secret meetings. We're holding the bag, getting the raw deal.

I move to close the debate and call for the court's support.

Commissioner Kennard? We're going to vote. Commissioner Warren?

Yes.

Commissioner Clark-Griffin? No. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson?

Just for clarity, we're voting to close the debate, or are we voting for the item?

There is no objection, so we're voting on this item.

Yes.

Commissioner Henry? Commissioner Isom? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to the next separated item, which is a resolution approving agreement with Harbor Shores to advance up to $40,000 for repairs at Jean Clark Park. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion. Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. It is supported by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Third Ward Commissioner Henry.

Thank you. During committee meeting, we talked about this and we asked for exactly what the $40,000 was going to be used for. And we got a little vague answer, but now it's been a couple more days, so I've asked the city manager through the mayor, chair, exactly where this $40,000 repairs are going to be for Jean Clark Park.

So I do know that we have a major, and I don't If there's no objections, we do have our Harbor Shores representative here. There's a major on one of the boardwalks where it's been severely damaged, which is causing really a hazard situation for pedestrians as well as people maybe on bikes or what have you, any motor vehicle. which it shouldn't be there, but it's hazardous. So that will be repaired. We have issues with the bathrooms that need desperately to be addressed. There are certain benches that if you sit on them could cause, you know, where you get cut or fall through it. but you have some very serious, not necessarily infrastructure, but you have, I won't, furniture, for lack of a better term, but there needs to be some major improvements and upgrades. Mr. Cook, would you like to share any information?

Sure, thank you and good evening. You hit the nail on the head with the items that are included. I will say that the boardwalk has already been repaired and the restrooms have already been repaired, so those are back in service. So that's really good news. The benches, the hazardous bench that you referenced has been removed. The new ones take about six to eight weeks to be delivered and then installed after that. It's probably been about four weeks since those were ordered. So expect later this month or early August, we can get those installed and get those back in place. If there's funds left, I know that there's a light pole that's been damaged, perhaps we can do that as well. But we have a longstanding agreement with the city, our lease agreement, and it outlines in just simple terms that the city's responsible for the assets and we're responsible for the maintenance. These are asset items. In talking with the city manager with funding where it is, we wanted to help. And so we could expedite these things and get them done during the summer season. That's what's happened. AND THE CITY MANAGER THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT THIS FOR BOTH OF OUR BENEFITS. AND AS IT TURNS OUT, NEAR THE END OF THE YEAR, EACH YEAR, WE HAVE A LEASE PAYMENT TO THE CITY, WHICH WILL BE RIGHT AROUND $40,000. SO FOR YOU, I THINK THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'LL HAND YOU A CHECK FOR $40,000, AND YOU'LL HAND ONE BACK TO US FOR THIS WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. SO NET ZERO.

chair recognizes commissioner clark griffin let me just say for the last i've been in office four and a half years and full board is the gene clock part is mine so All that work that you've seen done, that's just getting done over the years, those new grills, the boardwalk, the signs, the benches, that's because I've been communicating with Chris. And Chris has been getting that.

I can say when I contact him and ask him to fix anything on the facility, every year he gets on.

And I have no response from the city. I send the emails to the city. I have no response. But when I reach out to Chris, I ask that he get it done. So thank you, Chris. I appreciate that. So I have no problem with this because we are going to, they're going to advance it. And they're doing the work. They're doing a lot of the city work already. And everything, like I say, I ride around a lot.

Yeah, thank you.

You're welcome. We're happy to help.

I want to recognize Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Thank you. So I want to piggyback off Commissioner Clark Griffin. I do agree with her because when I got the email about Jean Clark Park, I'm like, what's this about? And I called her very upset and said, hey, why this mess is going on? And she said, well, I know who to call. That's okay. So I'm glad to see the boardwalk is fixed. When you said bathrooms, you're referring to the lift station, correct?

Yes.

Okay. And then sign replacement. Will the stop sign be replaced?

The sign is not something that we can do, otherwise we would. Signs have to be a specific design and specification that it's better that the city get. And so that I believe was in public works court to handle. And so they are going to do that.

Okay, because I noticed that he said the stop sign was ordered, but we had not seen it. And so it's a concern I'm having that we're told it's ordered, we're going to get to it, we're going to get to it. That's why I asked that question. Thank you.

The chair recognizes Commissioner Kenyar.

Well, you said the signs will not be a part of what you can handle.

The stop sign we cannot handle, correct.

So, Mayor, this stop sign, with our budget, as slender as it is, is that in the budget?

I would be very surprised, Commissioner Kinnar, if we cannot get a stop sign. We will get a stop sign. Period. So we're not going to depend on, as Commissioner Clark Griffin so eloquently stated, that our partners, Howard Shores, Chris Cook, as the president, have stepped up above and beyond. So we will handle the stop sign.

That should be a couple hundred dollar item when it comes down to it. Sorry?

Amazon? No, less than $20.

Are there any other... Of course, we have to get it based upon all of the safety for what a stop sign according to whatever codes of a stop sign. We do have our... Great inspector, not inspector, but our deputy. He does it all. Our deputy of public safety, Deputy Casimir. Is there any specifics for a stop sign?

Yeah, the the uniform traffic code would have that in there and how it's laid, the size and all that.

So I don't know if Amazon will be able to do that, but I know that our great public safety deputy will be able to manage that. Commissioner Henry, did you have your hand up?

Yes, I did. So the lifts, we won't have any problems with the lifts, and the bathrooms are completely clean, are done. All the fixtures are in there, unbroken, and working?

That's my understanding, yes.

Through the chair, can the city manager speak? Oh, he's not even here.

Deputy Cash or Assistant, are you aware? You don't know.

Could you check to see if they're?

The last report I had was everything was in working order. I actually was alerted today that there were some mess, especially after the holiday, in there, just water on the floor, some toilet paper, and the Harbor Shores guys were to get on that ASAP. I'm not sure if it was today because I haven't been to check on it, but it was going to be very soon to get it cleaned up.

I don't want to digress into maintenance and this is mainly to approve the $40,000. We can deal with the nuts and bolts at another time.

This is a very deep subject for me. As you know, Mayor, Jean Clark Park is not a joke to me. Oh, I know it's no joke. It's serious. When I go back and And I had the opportunity, unfortunately, to go back and read some of the consent judgments and the lease agreement and all of that, which made me depressed to see how Benton It has been, and $40,000 loan from Harbor Shores is great, but they owe us that every year. That's part of the lease agreement. So I just want to make sure that we get the best bang for our $40,000. That's our money. And I want to make sure that the lift, that lift station has been a problem for a long time. And I want to make sure it's taken care of with our $40,000. You give me the money and then you tell me I'm going to take care of everything for you. I'm not into that. I want to make sure that everything that we need with our $40,000, we're getting the best bang for our dollar. It's not Harbor Shores money. It's Benton Harbor's money. And they owe it to us every year.

That was stated.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE OUT OF THAT MONEY.

WELL, FROM WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT AND FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM CERTAIN COMMISSIONERS, WE DEFINITELY ARE GETTING WHAT WE...

HEARING IS NOT... I NEED IT IN WRITING. I NEED TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY WAS... WHO DID IT. I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING. I DON'T LIKE THE TROJAN HORSE DEAL. I DON'T LIKE THAT. And I'm not going to accept it anymore. I've sit here for years and accepted it. So now I want to see proof.

But tonight is whether we're going to approve.

Well, we should have had proof when the object came, when it came up.

Well, the work, the work can't be done. They're actually have already started with the work.

No, he said that they have finished some of it. Yes. And that's a wonderful thing. I need to know where they're spending our money. So now you're going to get a no vote out of me because you didn't give me enough information.

Okay. Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffith.

I JUST WANT TO ADD, I THINK TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS OUT THERE, AND A PIECE OF THE VAVILION FAILED AND ALMOST HIT A BAND MEMBER. AND AS I TALKED TO CHRIS, THEY IMMEDIATELY GOT THAT DONE ALSO. AND I DO HAVE RECEIPTS where over the years where I've reached out to him, e-mail receipts where he's got it done. So proving that it's done. As far as the bathroom, it was the women's bathroom. And when I contacted him, I believe a week or two ago, they had to order the pumps first. And then when they got that in, the work was supposed to be done immediately. So, and just so, I mean, anything. And with their money, like I said, I can't even get the city to do it. And a lot of times, you know, he'll say, well, that's the city, but I'll do it anyway. Thank you.

I want to recognize Commissioner at large fields.

I originally was going to say thank you, Chris. Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Chris. When Commissioner Clark Griffin gives accolades, it's vetted. It's vetted. So we appreciate you for all of that. But then also, I just wanted to reiterate what Commissioner Henry referenced in regards to having the receipts for what work was done with the monies and is not FOR YOU. IT'S FOR OUR ACCOUNTABILITY AS TO WHAT MONIES WERE SPENT ON. I ALSO ATTENDED THE COMMITTEE MEETING IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM AS IT WOULD BE MOVED FORWARD AND ASKED WHAT WOULD THE $40,000 BE SPENT ON. It was nothing really in concrete. There's no documentation It was we'll spend it up and on as much as we can to get it up to par But that's not black and white that though that doesn't consist of line items so to know what exactly was done with the monies and have a Clean audit will be good for us.

I'm happy to provide full receipts for every work every bit of work. That's done. No problem Thank you

Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

My last thing is through the chair to Mr. Crook is that there's a bench out there broken near the back corner. And it's doing against the lane again. So that's the third one I know about. I call for the question.

Commissioner Warren.

Yes.

Commissioner Clark Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Henry. Yes.

No.

Commissioner Isom?

Yes.

Commissioner Kennard? Yes. Mayor Pretem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to the last separated item, which is amendment to the policy and procedure council rules section agenda. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and supported by Commissioner Henderson. Discussion? Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

I have to say, again, changes and a lot of them, especially in the past, have always been where it gave the mayor more power, took power from commissioners and residents. So I'm not going to go in detail about this, but I don't believe the reasons changes. I don't believe the changes and I don't trust the changes. So that's all I got to say. I don't have to go in detail again.

Chair organizes, Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Thank you. So the deputy clerk emailed us and asked us what do we want to see change. I emailed back my response. I don't see my response in these two pages nowhere. And that's on blind, but I know I see very well with my new glasses on.

So what this particular agenda item is to correct what's incorrect in our council rules. Robert's rules, which by ordinance, our meetings are governed by Robert's rules. And according to Robert's rules, in order to suspend the rules, it takes a two-thirds vote. Our council rules was done wrong. where it just says majority, which is in conflict and not in line with Robert's rules. So the clerk, which is her job and assistant city manager is just bringing it to our attention. And this is really just a matter of technicality to bring our council rules in line with Robert's rules, which is instituted and instructed for us by our own ordinance.

So I agree with what you're saying. So number two, it says submission of agenda items. Number A, items of business may be submitted to the city clerk by the mayor, commissioners, and the city officials. When I know myself and another commissioner, we did this here, it never made it through committee. So if we're going to obey by this here, number 2A was already broken twice.

Correct. Which is why it needs to be brought to everybody's attention that we're in violation of our own ordinance and our own rovers rules. So that's the job of the city clerk to bring it to our attention, which he has brought it to our attention and is put on the agenda to correct it.

I agree. And then they also asked us for what are our inputs, view email. And view email, I gave my input. View email, mine have not been updated on this. I don't see no reflection this year. And I have no idea. I have three computer screens that work in front of me. I don't see no changes whatsoever made. So, Madam Clerk, can you clarify? I can.

And I meant to bring your email with me. Yours is in a different format. BECAUSE IT LISTS, LIKE, EACH THING INDIVIDUALLY, BUT WHAT YOU HAD STATED IN THERE, I DID INCORPORATE IN HERE, AND I PUT IT SIDE BY SIDE AND MADE SURE THAT YOUR SUGGESTIONS WENT IN HERE. SOME OF THEM ALREADY WERE IN HERE.

THIS FORMAT IS SO GATTO AND OUTDATED TO ME. THIS IS SO NON-21ST CENTURY.

WELL, I KNOW YOU ARE VERY advanced on AI and artificial intelligence, but the wheels of government turned just a tad bit slower. But I do appreciate, and I'm learning a lot from your technological savvy. I do want to recognize our third war, excuse me, first war Commissioner Henderson.

I'll just say this item has gone before our committee. I think it's been on there four times, and each time it has come back to the commission, I think, and then it still has not. Some of the changes was that we did not implement was the getting the packets on time. Even that is in this particular one concerning our agenda. So there was a resolution passed, and then it was changed in the council rules, but we still haven't voted on it. It's been put in this particular agenda. And I did ask the clerk to send out recommendations from each commissioner, and I think two commissioners sent something back. with recommendations for this particular policy and procedure because each month, in fact, this started as Commissioner Henry asked for this to be put on the legislative committee's agenda probably in April in one of our meetings. And so since then it's been put on our agenda and we've been going through the policy since then. So it was April, I think it was either the second meeting in April or the first meeting in April it came up. And so it was asked to put on the agenda. And so the first meeting she didn't know why it was on the agenda. And then the second meeting we got that clarified as to why it was even on the agenda. So I asked the clerk to put one of the policies on the legislative committee's agenda every month so we can go through each one of the policies one by one. So each person will have input on those particular policies. At this point, if it wants to be remained the same, that is fine, but each commissioner has been asked to give input and to provide guidance on what they want to see in those, and the clerk has been diligently doing those things and so if we're going to continue to waste our time I would say just to eliminate even putting them on the agenda so we don't have to go through her spend they're spending their time looking through these putting it in red so that there's no miscommunication or it's not unclear to everybody, but I would say if it does not go through this time, clerk, I would say please don't put anything else on there because it is a waste of everybody's time to actually go through those if we're not going to do anything about it. Thank you.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Henry.

Well, I just want to comment this statement about I think something is missing in there, and I want all my colleagues to know about the Home Rule Act. Benton Harbor is a home rule city. Now, there is some parliamentary procedures that we follow, because it goes right along with the state and the federal, but the Home Rule Act says that we can create something that is sustainable, and it seems like that this is Some of these changes are distasteful and we're not happy with. IT CAN'T COME OUT OF COMMITTEE. WE CAN'T GET A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. SO MY SUGGESTION TO MY COLLEAGUES IS TO LOOK AT THE HOME RULE ACT AND KNOW THAT ROBERT'S RULE OF ORDER IS JUST A SUGGESTION. IT'S NOT ABSOLUTE THAT WE FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULE OF ORDER. SO IF IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, IF IT DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT RIGHT. SO LET'S KEEP GOING BACK UNTIL WE FIND THE RIGHT DECISION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

COMMISSIONER CLARK-GRIFFIN.

I believe at one of Commissioner Henderson, that straight of meeting, she said, suggested that it not be put on there again, but then she put it on here now again. So she just said again tonight. And I agree. I don't think it should be put on it because I don't agree. Half of the thing is vague and it's not. It's too many reds. Another thing, Mayor Pro Tem Turner said, When he stated that we asked to put something on resolution on the agenda, it had nothing to do with the rules being unclear. We clear everybody else get what they want on the agenda. So the rules are clear. It was just a simple fact of our rights being violated as it has been before. Thank you.

I call for a question. You have something to add?

I do.

I was the one that separated it. So, a couple things. It's great that it's been looked at. I do not agree that it had to be cycled through so many times. holding off what I was asking for Being that again, that was what was referenced as to how we noted the other areas and I Am just wondering how does this work in regards to we are forcing a two-third majority since it was determined yet we need to vote on it either we need to vote on it or we don't need to vote on it and there are LOTS OF THINGS THAT IS NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN REGARDS TO WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS, WHAT WE MADE AS POLICY. I MEAN, WE HAVE THAT ISSUE WITH THE CREDIT CARD PROCESS. AND THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS WE REVISED, BEING THAT WE'RE NOT USING THE CREDIT CARD CORRECTLY, WHICH WE ALL AGREED TO. I BELIEVE EVEN THE ATTORNEY REFERENCED THAT AS WELL. SO I'M JUST... I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL THE ASPECTS OF IT EITHER. IT'S GREAT THAT TIME HAS BEEN SPENT ON IT, BUT AGAIN, IT JUST LOOKS INTENTIONAL IN REGARDS TO HOW THINGS WERE NOTED AND I'M REFERENCING THE TWO-THIRD MAJORITY VOTE SINCE THE RULES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, YOU KNOW, FOR MOTIONS TO COME FORWARD. SO I, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASK RIGHT NOW IS, IT WASN'T IN HERE, BUT YET. We've been enforcing it now, right? Because it's robbery. Okay, can you not at least let me finish? So I'm just making it clear that it is noted now or, you know, per when the clerk found out, but... We are being asked to vote on it, even though it's being enforced already. And, again, along with Commissioner Henry representing the Home Board, HOW WE'RE RAN. I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO, ARE WE FOLLOWING THE CHARTER UNTIL WE FIND OUT IT'S WRONG? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I BROUGHT UP AT A DIFFERENT TIME THAT, PER THE CHARTER, THE CITY MANAGER IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING IN THE CITY. AND THEN YOU REFERENCED THAT THAT IS WRONG. THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

THE WAY YOU'RE INTERPRETING IT IS WRONG.

I don't cut you off when you do your... Well, you just made an assertion that I... You're still being rude. I said something. You're being rude, Mayor. Which I have to correct. Like you really are. I don't cut you off. You know, so you're breaking my train of thought, cutting me off. So you could save it. You're a great speaker. And great speakers remember their thoughts, and you don't have to cut somebody else off prior to. So again, regardless, so whether it's per interpretation, It's a lot. You've even referenced it when it's in support of something that maybe you're not doing that is compliant. Like, say, for example, the credit card being in your name and then it being used for different things other than what is stated to be used for. So I bring all that up because it is.

The credit card is in the city's name.

How many strikes do you get? Because the credit card is in whose name? Okay, but who is it assigned to? Assigned to the mayor and to you. It's assigned to people and the city. And it's one assigned to you and one to the mayor?

Okay.

And as a city controller.

You know what, Mayor? This is ridiculous.

Because you're throwing out falsehoods. It does not matter.

I can say what I want to say.

But you still have to be responsible with what you're saying. I get to say what I want to say.

You cannot check me. That's not how this works. No, you don't get to check me during my comment time. You do not. Where is that, and do you need to show him that? Point of order. Right. You should have said it when he first started cutting me off. It'd be great you'd be over here saying that type of stuff, just like he don't see me when I have my hand up. Do we need paddles or something? But anyway, like I said, it's a lot of confusion. A LOT OF CONFUSION AND IT GOES SMOOTHLY WHEN IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE PRESENTING OR SOMETHING YOU'RE VALIDATING, BUT THEN IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC OR YOU HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION AND CORRECTION THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE WHEN IT'S NOT FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT. THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE'RE NOT A MARITORIAL RANT GOVERNMENT. WE'RE NOT. This is not gladdening the pimps, but it feels that way a lot of times. And I'm telling you, I be holding things in. And you said you didn't want smoke and all that stuff, joking after the meeting before, but all of this is ridiculous. And you really have made me lose my train of thought by said he cut me off. This is not a courtroom. I don't have to convince you of anything. I get to state what I want to state. And that was really rude. And I would like an apology, though. I really would. So because you you're the head, though.

I am the head.

Right. But you but you're you don't behave that way. You brave pouty or what you call corrective when you want to. Like you shouldn't have been cut me off like three times.

Are you finished?

No. Are you going to cut me off? SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S REAL CLOUDY, AND IT'S GREAT THAT US NEW COMMISSIONERS HAVE CAME IN AND BRING THE LIGHT TO A LOT OF THINGS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FORENSIC AUDIT, A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD ALREADY BE OCCURRING, AND EVERYBODY'S SO VETTED AND EXPERIENCED AND BEEN A MAYOR 17 TIMES OR A COMMISSIONER FOR 20 YEARS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE'RE BRINGING UP THINGS THAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT, THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADJOURNED.

WE'RE VOTING ON AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

RIGHT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW IT OCCURRED, WHICH IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I BROUGHT UP AND SUSPENDED THE RULES, RIGHT? AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE HERE.

ILLEGALLY.

So childish.

So what's in front of us is the city clerk, along with other recommended changes by the council, is to bring the council rules, which was not written by anybody sitting here. This was the council rules was written by the emergency manager. who had powers to ignore the charter ordinance, break contracts, union, you name it. All authority and power, that's who wrote the council. So the assistant city manager and city clerk sent us from Robert's Rules, when it was asked, where's this at? She sent it under the title Agenda. And the city meetings, the city agenda, the city meeting, commission meetings are ran by ordinance. And Robert's rules were adopted to help govern parliamentary procedures, these meetings. And the clerk is only bringing to our attention that this needs to be changed because it's right. It's not wrong. So I don't understand what a huge commotion is that the clerk is just showing us that this is wrong. It needs to be right in the council rules and we move on.

Commissioner Kenyar. Thank you, Mayor. I hear time and time again that things needed to have been updated. You've been here approximately how many years? And you've seen a lot of things that go and not according to what how it should go and the changes we need to be made and everything. And we can always go back to the emergency manager. How many years have you all had to even work on these and put these things in the right perspective over and over again? And you give me every excuse and they're going to run out eventually and everybody's going to see it. I've asked for a finance director and every time one is put here, he's not doing this, that, or the other right. The first one that came in,

We're not voting on a finance. I don't care.

It's a part of you doing it. They're having policies. This is about putting the council rules.

No, we're not going to get into the finance director.

Well, you need one so that we can keep up the finances because the position is posted right as we speak. And it has been for years. But you all have not put one in here. And that's so so needed. And when it comes to asking about our funds, we got plenty of funds at one time. And the next minute you look around, we're in a deficit. So now we got to get things in order where it can work right. Right now, we're in limbo because we're not getting things put in order. We always refer back to the emergency manager. So I wish we'd stop putting that up there because these are things that could have been worked out for years because you've been here probably about 12 years yourself at least.

Well, this vote is to help to get it in order. And I hope you support it. I call for the questions.

Commissioner Clark Griffin? No. Commissioner Fields? No. Commissioner Henderson?

Yes.

Commissioner Henry? No. Commissioner Isom?

Yes.

Commissioner Kennard?

No.

Commissioner Warren? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

No.

Mayor Muhammad?

Yes.

Motion failed.

And just for the record, two-thirds vote is still required. THIS BRINGS US TO STAFF COMMENTS. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

GO BACK TO THE ITEM THAT WE SUSPENDED THE RULES TO ADD.

I YIELD TO MAYOR POTEMP-TURNER.

SO, OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, WE HAVE HAD LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS. EVEN LIKE RIGHT NOW, THE CITY MANAGER IS IRONED BY 87 LOTS. ADDITIONAL LOTS. he wanted by in august then he turned around and sold one last year not high not not bus projects not howard towers a city lot i'm not going to say the resident name i'm not going to see the address madam clerk pulled up there she had the address on the order already he sold a lot for a dollar there was no commission vote so since i had time on my watch i did a long history check from 2023, 24, and 25. That address never came before the commission, not one time. So the motion tonight is to uplift the moratorium to allow the residents that live next door to a lot to purchase one. Email was sent to everybody. I told y'all in email I was going to do it.

Madam Attorney, just for the record, What is the process for a city lot to be sold? Because if you say that a resident living next to a lot can buy the lot, what is the legal process for anyone to purchase a lot? Because once we lift the moratorium, then that opens it up for anyone. And is that correct?

Yes.

I'm speaking to the city attorney. It's been no vote.

So I think the vote was to put it on the agenda to... Yep, to talk about it. So right now you're in the discussion phase, and I like the idea. I'm going to tell you I like the idea. I think the devil is always in the details. To sell those lots, you can lift a moratorium, but you would still need motions to approve the individual sales. Whether there's several of them, you could have it as an agenda item in the future. When people come forward and say, I want to buy the lot next to me, there's got to be a process of figuring out how much those lots are worth. A double lot is going to be more than a single lot. A lot that is maintained well is going to be worth more than a lot that has garbage on it. So there's a lot of individual factors that are going to have to be looked at for each individual person who wants to buy a lot. And it does require a two-thirds vote to sell property. So that's just, I believe that's in the charter, that it requires a two-thirds vote of the commission to sell property. If you lift the moratorium, there's just more details that we're going to have to have, and I would think that that would go back to city staff, including myself, just to figure out what we need. How do we figure out what the lots are worth? We don't want to overcharge people either. If someone good is going to buy that lot and maintain it, that's a benefit to everybody. So I think we really need to look at that as staff and figure out what those rules would be because we have to come back to you for each individual sale, and you have to approve it with a two-thirds vote.

So you heard what she said, right? That they had to come back to the commission to sell a lot, right? On August 26, 2025, at 9 something in the morning, requested to record it by Alexandria Little. It was printed by Deb on that document. It was first by the state of Michigan, then the city owned it, then he sold it for a dollar, but not one time did he come through the commission. So that means he violated the charter, right?

So I need to see the library and page number.

I'll get it to you tonight.

Yeah, I would like to see it because I'll tell you there are times, just like with, there have been times that we have sold property and the legal description's wrong. And the title company comes back to the city and says, you sold this, but you forgot to, we... Just to be clear, city attorney, that you need to review what's being alleged. On that issue, the deed from August of 2025, yes, I will get the deed and I'll be able to, we'll be able to tell what happened.

Okay. Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Now, we've been sending this to, um, see the attorney as well as everybody else up here. He has not responded, nor have any of you guys responded. So, this is already... Why haven't the city attorney researched it already instead of not responding? Why haven't any of you guys? Why haven't been anybody said anything now? Why wasn't she on her due in doing it already? Now, all of a sudden, it needs to be researched. What's being presented? Don't interrupt me. Don't interrupt me.

What's being presented from suspending the rules is a moratorium.

We already know what it is.

Not something about the city manager in a property that the attorney needs to review.

Yeah, but we talking about it right now. That's not what's up for vote.

I can see.

Point of order.

No, I'm not going to let you out.

Point of order, we do have to sit. You are not going to gaslight us and filibuster us. Point of order, you.

We got to stick to the agenda. The city manager is not here to speak for himself.

And the city attorney is going to review it. I'm talking about the city attorney did not respond, nor did you and Mayor Pro Tem Turner been sent an email. That's what I'm talking about. But that's not what's up for discussion. But that's what they've been discussing, and I added to it. Also, as far as the city lots. The city attorney says she needs to know how much. To my knowledge, most city lots were $3,000. So you mean nobody in here knows how many city staff, none of the city staff know how much our city lots is worth already? Each lot is different. Is that what the city assessor is supposed to know? I'm sure she already knows. So what are we researching?

Every lot is different. Some would need to be appraised.

Not a question. You are out of order.

I'm not out of order. I'm chairing the meeting, and the city assessor is not present. But any time you're selling property, the city assessor must be involved. The city attorney must be involved. The city clerk must be involved. The city manager, as stated. That's why I asked the city attorney, what is the process to sell the property?

There's a motion to call for the question. We'll be voting on the motion to call for the question. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Motion to close the debate. Call for the question. Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isom?

Yes.

Commissioner Kennard? Yes. Commissioner Warren? No. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Absolutely yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad?

No.

Motion carried. This is to vote on the item to lift the moratorium on the sale of city lots to residents that live next door, as quoted by Mayor Proctor.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. That cannot be the resolution because we can't exclusively say that we're giving the right for the person living next to the lot to buy the lot. We can't do that.

All of them are buying the lot, ma'am.

Ma'am.

Madam Attorney, could you speak to that?

As I mentioned earlier, it would have to be on a case-by-case basis, no matter what. Even if you vote to lift the moratorium generally, each individual property owner is going to have to come back to you and make the case, if you want to call it that. to buy the lot next to them. There may be circumstances where the commission won't sell the lot next to someone and you don't want to mislead someone. If someone has, let's say someone has dumped on the lot next to them and we've ticketed them for that. There are cases where we've ticketed people for dumping on a lot. Do we want to sell them the lot if they've already not taken care of it? So I think that's where you will want individual scrutiny on each case.

If I may, Mayor. So to be clarified, we have a code enforcement department who does a wonderful job. So I don't think it would be a violation if we send them a list, hey, who won by lots, and they say, hey, unfortunate commissioners, I'm recommending no because of X, Y, and Z. They take before and after pictures. So we're not going to play the games and say that our code enforcement don't do their job. They do wonderful jobs, and they are out here every day, and I'm not going to belittle them. So, of course, we're going to go back to public safety and verify it. If they come back and say, hey, here's the enlisted history, then they're going to know.

No, I appreciate you saying that, because that's exactly the point that I'm making, is that there's a couple other levels of review that it'll have to go through. It's not just lift a moratorium and it's carte blanche for anyone to buy the lot next to them. It will still have to go through a review. The assessor will have to look at the value of the lot. There may be appraisals needed. I mean, I can tell you appraisals sometimes cost $1,500, and if a lot is only worth $3,000... I don't know if that cost-benefit analysis makes sense. So what I'm telling you as a commission is that there is some other work that has to go into this. You can lift the moratorium generally, but you're still going to have to do an internal policy about how lots are sold and under what conditions and for how much. Does that make sense? It's just a little bit more work to do.

We can look at the city of Detroit because they did it, and so can Ben Harbor. We've got to stop thinking small, think big.

No, so I want to be very clear that I agree that we need to be looking at how to do this I just think there's a few more details we have to work out, but this would be the first step So the the motion it would be to lift the moratorium Yes subject to staff review of the policy on how to sell those lots and under what circumstances and for the prep for what price so there are other details to work out and

Is there a motion by Madam Attorney?

So we would need a motion to amend the original motion.

The motion to amend it as the attorney stated it.

Commissioner Henderson.

I have a question. Who needs support first? Support. Somebody supported it. Sorry. She did support it.

Commissioner Henderson.

So my question, the city had an adjacent lot program and we had an adjacent lot ordinance. So that was never removed. So we already have an adjacent lot program where people could buy lots that are adjacent to their homes. That never changed. We never took that away.

So that's good. I think the only thing then we have to look at is value. What is the price in today's terms?

something that was about I think even now if someone lived next door to a lot they still had the opportunity to purchase their lot they just have to come up make sure that they had a plan for that a lot or something that was always the case even though there was a moratorium there was still people who lived next door to those lots who had an opportunity to buy those lots so I don't know why they weren't but you know I would just add to the city manager's credit of why we did this

Benton Harbor has been giving away lots for a dollar for years. We had somebody buy like 40 lots from the emergency manager still vacant. So, you know, but anyhow, Commissioner Clark Griffin.

That is not always the case. I actually have the moratorium right here that you guys passed in 2020 before I even took my seat. And it says special need and all kinds. It don't say specifically. So I have it here. And you were, the mayor was one of the ones that supported it, made a motion. So you should know all the details. Thank you.

Commissioner Knapp.

Yes, Mayor. One of the things I think of things we've done decently in order that we don't have the city manager to put forth anything past us. This is one of the things, like selling a property or anything, that is one of the issues. So I'm thinking that it should be made very clear that it has to come before the body here before we get anything passed through.

You have no objections from me. Any property that's sold has to have the signature of the mayor, so I am interested to find out about this property as well. Commissioner Fields.

Right. I'm glad that Commissioner Henderson spoke up because the city attorney made it sound so complicated. I'm sorry. I was sure that we had some process prior to because this whole just happened. So I didn't think it needed to be as complicated as well as we have an assessor who I've seen out assessing lots and everything else. So we should have price points and everything already. So I'm not sure why this is sounding so complicated and hopefully nobody else has questions because I want to move to call for the question.

With no objections, Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? We're voting on the item. FOR THE MORATORIUM ON THE SALE OF CITY LOTS.

TO BE LIFTED.

YES, TO BE LIFTED.

FOR THE MORATORIUM TO BE LIFTED.

YES, FOR THE MORATORIUM ON THE SALE OF CITY LOTS TO BE LIFTED. COMMISSIONER HENRY? YES. COMMISSIONER ISOM? YES. COMMISSIONER CANARD? YES. COMMISSIONER WARREN? YES. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Absolutely, yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to staff communication. I'd like to recognize Deputy Casimir.

Nothing tonight, sir.

I'd like to recognize the City Attorney, Attorney Seneca.

Just very briefly, I know we've had other conversations about the charter and about how certain, you know, it was last amended in 1945 and laws have changed since then. We had someone that spoke during public comments about the Civil Service Board. And I just wanted to point out that since 1945, labor laws have changed. specifically the Public Employment Relations Act, which was Act 336 of 1947, it actually eliminated your civil service board and made it obsolete. So in Detroit Police Officers Association versus City of Detroit, it's 391 Mish 44. In 1974, there was a Supreme Court case FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN THAT ACTUALLY SAID THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARDS NO LONGER EXIST. SO EVEN THOUGH THAT IS IN YOUR CHARTER, IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE AND YOU READ IT, IT'S IN THERE, BUT THE LAW HAS CHANGED AND SUPERCEDED THAT CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, AND NOW EVERYTHING IS HANDLED THROUGH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT SO THERE WAS NO CONFUSION. THANK YOU.

SO THE CITY COMMISSION IS NOT IN VIOLATION IN VIOLATING THE LAW?

You are not in violation and I have several letters from different attorneys that have represented the city on this specific issue that I'm happy to present to the commissioners.

Thank you. Chair recognizes the city clerk.

I know I should probably have a lot to report on today with the city manager gone, but it was a very busy day. I did not even have time to pull numbers on what we've gotten in for absentee ballots yet, but they are really coming in, and we are encouraging everybody to bring them in or put them in the box outside. If you have to, you can stick them in your mailbox, but if you have somebody that can deliver them for you, have them bring them straight to us so that we can make sure that they get in the system and get filed. And if you have not received your ballot... please get a hold of our office because you should have, or I'm sorry, your application or your ballot. Get a hold of us just in case it got lost in the mail. We can still reissue one. There's plenty of time. There's about four weeks prior to the election, and you can get one up until 4 p.m. the day before.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Second Ward Commissioner Santana Warren.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. The only update I have, I think I might have said at our last meeting, we have a date for our second work community. Our sale is going to be August 8th and 9th. There are flyers on the first floor. There's a flyer outside the room here. Contact me directly if you would like to participate. Thank you, and everyone have a good night.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Kennard.

Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to say that... I thank everyone for coming out. And young lady, I listened to you very closely concerning your concerns about your vehicle being damaged. And we should look further into what you're speaking of because there's other reports that even a tree had fell on some cars. I don't know if.

THE PATROL CAR DID OR DIDN'T HIT MY TRUCK, IT WAS JUST REPORTED TO ME.

SO THAT DOES BOTHER ME IF THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE CAUSE OF MY TRUCK HIT. WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE CAMERAS ON.

YES, ANY TIME THE SIREN IS TURNED ON, THE CAMERA ON THE CAR COMES ON. SO WE CAN FACT-CHECK TO FIND OUT WAS IT THE CAUSE.

WELL, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF.

I'M ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL BE DONE.

THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT, COMMISSIONER CANARD?

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I DON'T WANT TO DEPRIVE NOBODY. COMMISSIONER HENRY.

I just want to thank the citizens for coming out or watching us on YouTube. It's a new day for the citizens, and when we hear that there's a problem, we try to go after it. So we thank the citizens when you come in, and we're going to make something happen for you. This commissioner, they are working together, and I thank you. Every last one of you, even the ones that backpedal sometimes, I thank you for working to try to work together.

The chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

I'd like to thank everybody for coming out tonight. I'd like to thank everybody that's listening. I tried to suspend the rules and get the sale on the lot. not pass, but I think Mayor Pro Tem for being and tonight we got it done. So we, you know, my goal is always to do things for the residents. You know, the resident voted us in. The resident actually runs this city. The resident is the sweat. I'll say our back because I am a resident and I play good taxes also. So, yeah, so that thing should be done for the resident. I am My women event went excellent. It was wonderful. Everybody named Commissioner, County Commissioner Yarbrough. Maybe Yarbrough, she was there. She gave speeches. She did words of encouragement. And she just had such a good time. She said she loved it. Commission Kanae gave words of encouragement. Then she ended up doing a testimony, got us stirred up. We almost had church in there. uh commission the field she did the meditation you know we had games we had food i gave gift bags to everybody uh we played uh women empowerment bingo women empowerment trivia bible trivia and so much more so i will be doing another one it might not be that extravagant because i spent a whole lot of money but i'm glad that everybody was happy we had probably about because i'm INVITED, PRIVATE INVITES. WE HAD ABOUT 25 WOMEN COME OUT TOTAL. SOME HAD TO LEAVE FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT ALL TOGETHER. SO IT WAS WONDERFUL, AND IT WAS GREAT. SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS. ALSO, MY FOURTH WARD, THIS IS MY FIFTH ANNUAL FOURTH WARD ALLIANCE RESOURCE FAIR COMMUNITY GIVE-AWAY AND FALL CLEANUP. IT'S GOING TO BE AUGUST THE 22ND. 12 to 4, Grutiful Gates Church, and it's going to be bigger. We promise people we give out food, we do food, backpack full of school supplies, housewares, personal hygiene, whatever the resident needs, we have it. We also have 20 of them on the same time that they approach him, spearhead.

Every single year he has a spearhead.

The first two years he spent $500 on Bob, on the Bobcat, out of his personal money. And a lot of those events, most of my events are funded mainly by me, you know, just because I love you guys and I love to see you guys meet. You know, Ben Howard is strong and resilient and some good people. And I like to show it and I like to express that all the time. And I fight for you and I will continue. I will not be silent. So it's going to be a great thing. I have been there from all over with resources, free resources. Anything I do for the resident is free. Not free for me, but free for you guys. And it's open to the community every year, not just my ward. So I just want to bless you. I just want to bless everyone. And God has blessed me, so I'd just like to be a blessing. The fire truck, thank you, Brian K. He makes sure it's there for the kids. Grown up kids. We have a lot, it's gonna be a big giveaway as usual. My blessings for you. All right.

Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Thank you. So first I want to say congratulations to our awesome public safety department who worked hard this weekend. They received numerous calls doing mutual aid. So we got to make sure we thank them as well. Thanks to our public works who came out to make sure our roads were open. We have some nasty alleys that prevented AEP for doing their works successfully. Again, we have a city manager. You tell them it falls on deaf ear and then you wonder why you're getting thousand emails on complaints because of the residents are tired of it. But thanks to our awesome city clerk, she put them out there, boots in the rain. And I like that. You put your foot down. Keep it going. Last, I want to say thank you to Ms. Kennard. She said she had 1,000 flowers. And she said, well, you're a young man. Go put them flowers out. And so as you all see the flowers in front of City Hall and across St. Joe, you'll see new flowers out there. All done by Ms. Kennard. But she said, Ms. Attorney, you're a young man. Go and put your back in work. So I did that for Ms. Kennard. Thank you.

BE DONE CORRECTLY BUT IT'S DONE THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMMISSIONER FIELDS I WANT TO REITERATE OUR THANKS TO THOSE THAT WERE PRESENT FOR HOWEVER LONG THEY WERE ABLE TO STAY AS WELL AS THOSE ARE ONLINE AND I TOO UM WE WERE ALL I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE SOME KIND OF FOLLOW-UP IN REGARDS TO THAT SITUATION FOR YOU WITH YOUR CAR I also have had residents talking about some damage they've had to their vehicles for potholes. I think my strut is broke or damaged again from a couple of potholes, which I need to... That reminds me that I need to make note of that for... public safety but again we just want to thank you guys for coming here and listening to us it may not always look pretty but it's purposeful and I don't think it should be this hard and sometimes I feel like I'm in elementary school at times The side lots has been a topic for quite a while. You have side conversations to ask about this, because prior to me even coming into office, I had been inquiring about side lots. I know that we know our dedicated resident, Cassandra Booker, had, you know, reiterated needing or really wanting to purchase a side lot. I want to say she sold that property for like $170,000, and then the city owns it next door, and the grass is taller than the fence. Just a lot. And we do own... quite a few lots already, and so I'm glad that we voted successfully this time. We were going to do it a third if we needed to, but I'm glad it went through and everybody seems to understand the importance of residents having an option to purchase a lot next to them. We know that, you know, code enforcement will make sure to provide any tidbits or information in regards to us making sure it will be someone that will take care of it. And, again, it is going to generate income for us. I know that's really important that some of the talk that we have, being that it's tight, so that's one less lawn, $20, $40 a couple weeks. And I wanted to bring up the bathrooms. WHICH I HAVE BEEN REFERENCING SINCE DAY ONE, RIGHT, IN OUR PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH I HAD BEEN ASKING ABOUT IT PRIOR TO, TOO, BUT US NOT HAVING A BATHROOM OPEN IS BEYOND ME, RIGHT? I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT I RECOMMENDED FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO UTILIZE YOUTH WORKS, MICHIGAN WORKS, THAT HAS THESE YOUTH FROM AGES, I WANT TO SAY, LIKE, NO, TO 24. No, not the summer jobs, but 16 to 24. And they're $15 an hour. And I can't remember. I think it's up to 40 hours a week. But I will say, though, was it last week, the city manager actually went to an orientation session to, you know, kind of chime in with the youth and let them know what, you know, is... expected with, you know, jobs and things of that nature. So I believe that's coming along. But yet, regardless, the bathrooms need to be open. I went at the at the farmer's market. I was one of the first. Well, very early on is full of poop, full of poop at a event where there's kids. It's every week, especially if we I don't even want to say that we need to maintain porta-potties. We shouldn't have porta-potties. It is the season now for families to be places, so a parent will have to really evaluate and monitor their child because if anybody knows anything about porta-potties, it's just there, right? It's just sitting there. The items that... whatever situation a person has had. And then again, we have family events. We have individuals that are with kids. I know Lack Power has a breastfeeding class and it's tons of kids. We just need the bathrooms open. And so I'm hoping we don't need a resolution for that. But again, this reminds me of the siloes. It's been a long time.

Thank you, Commissioner Isom.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. Thank you, everyone. Let me get my glasses together here. Just to speak on the porta potty thing, though, Assistant City Clerk, can you get the people to come out and clean down there? It is bad. It is. At the Pete Mitchell Park. All of them. All of them. All of them.

So they'll be clean tomorrow?

That'll be good. That'll be great. That'll be great.

They will be clean tomorrow, and they will be locked Tuesday and reopened at 830 on Wednesday morning.

Back to my notes here. I want to thank everyone for... Point of order, please. Thank you for everyone for coming out tonight. Congratulations on the appointments, reappointments. Congratulations, Ms. Johnson, public safety, public works. And myself and the library board.

Thank you, commission. And the vote of...

Believe it in me, and I will represent. I thank Hoppinshaw for the advancement of money for Jean Clark Park and the approval of the support of a countywide public transportation. But in all, too, I want to thank Mr. Alexander. Mr. Alexander for the Gus Mack. I know we got two more years. Let's go with three. And, you know, it was a lot. It was good. I met people down there, but I didn't come down there and stay that long the second time, but I'm getting in shape. I'll be 65 this year. Six. I'll be six. You got to listen. Don't what? Don't give it up. You got to leave. You got to, you got to spot 65 and 65. That's all. Don't say nothing. I got to keep going. Don't say nothing. I'll be there. I'm going to be in shape. I'm going to be in shape. We had some rough on Hastings. We had a block party, one-house party, I think. I was out there for a minute. I can't stay up that long, man. They said it was chaos up there. It was 400 kids, you know, and it was just – Because I went to bed, you know. I seen all the explosions and stuff like that. But I don't know, you know. And I know I got up and seen all the trash and people saying, where's the parents? Come get their kid. They say there's 400 and something. He's in a small street in smoke. By the time I went to bed, cars, but nobody got hurt, I hope. But that's one thing I can say about Bent Harbor, they going to party. And the people coming, once you put that stuff on Facebook, they coming. Especially when you say you got all the real tips you can eat. You know, they say that, so. But we got to be careful and watch in our neighborhoods because I had a neighbor come out. I didn't make it to church because he came out. He was waiting for me in my driveway. And just, so I had to let him go off. You know, you got to let people just, I can listen. I know how to listen.

You know, so I took it like a man.

And I said, God bless you. Expect great things. Y'all have a good night.

The chair recognizes First Ward Commissioner Henderson.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. I'd just like to thank everyone who came out and everyone who had comments. Ms. Burroughs, I really hope that they get that straightened out, and I think it will be. To Mr. Alexander, thank you for spearheading bringing the Gus Macker back to Benton Harbor. It was a tremendous event. Everyone who came out really enjoyed that event, so thank you. And again, I hope it is another two years to present that event in Benton Harbor. It was very powerful, so thank you. Congratulations to all the people who were appointed and wanted to serve. Ms. Johnson, thank you. And all of the agenda items that we talked about, I know we often in this chamber talk about or don't want to talk about the history, but the history is important because that's why we're here. The emergency management situations I was under, too, really hurt our city, selling off a lot of our assets and did a lot of damage in our community. So that's why the history does matter, so that we don't repeat any of the nonsense that happened prior to them being in and so as commissioners And I've heard this all night. We talked about respecting each other Because we all were elected by people in this community and so each of us has a right to speak and we all represent different points of views and I think that's important to hear and to listen but I would say all of us need to do that. We talk about it but I think we all need to do that. a little bit more. And yeah, the Jean Clark Park repairs, the adjacent lots, we've always had that program. I believe in 2020, when this did happen, we were having people purchase those lots and not take care of them and they ended back up on the tax roll. And so that's where the idea came and was developed to make sure that those lots get developed or if somebody came with a plan, then they could actually purchase those lots. So the intent behind purchasing those lots was so that the city didn't end up being responsible people who bought it and then let it go back so the intent was always a good thing to benefit the city but as as things go we don't have the money to continue and I'll say this and my final comments about intent you you can't always see somebody's intent but it's a good thing to not always assume that it is the worst because people come from different points of views, different circumstances. So intent is something that you can't always judge based on what you think because we don't think alike. And so I think that's something that all of us can work on is not judging people by what we think somebody thinks based on what they think. And so I think us working on how we see people is something that everybody could use some work on. So thank you, and thank everyone who's listening at home. And I hope everyone has a very safe summer. And, yeah, our youth, continue to look out for them and then hold them accountable. when they're in our communities. And when I see young people, my whole career has been working with youth and young people in different capacities. And so if I see a student or someone I know, I'm going to hold them accountable, love them, and redirect them. So thank you.

Thank you. I'd like to thank everybody for coming out. Gus Macker. major success. I got calls from all over. Another group, they want to bring their three-on-three. I know one post that I made, nearly 50,000 views. The young man, Zemir Clayton, Commissioner Isom, that was doing some real shaking and baking. His one move, over 100,000 views, where people are watching what is going on in Benton Harbor. I'M THINKING OF THE 22 MILLION, THE GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, 30,000 VIEWS, JUST THE ONE POST. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMMENTS. I DID DELIVER, HAND-DELIVER THE APPLICATION, BUT WHAT WASN'T PUT IN IT, IT WAS PREPARED BY OUR STAFF. where the assistant city manager, the city manager and staff, they put the packet together. gave it to me packaged it professionally so i could take it to the department of transportation and put it in their hand so it was not a one-man show it was a team effort i just happened to be in the position as a great lakes and st lawrence city's initiative city initiative delegate where they paid for the hotel, they paid for the travel, they paid for the Uber, City of Benton Harbor paid for parking, and we got a $22 million grant. So teamwork is really what it's all about. As far as the moratorium, I supported it because it was abused, how lots were being sold at that time. On many different levels, there was an issue of fairness where people felt like, you know, lots was being sold to friends of commissioners where, you know, why are they allowed to buy a lot? And I'm told I can't. You know, so that's why I asked the attorney what will be the process where we can lift the moratorium, but we can assure and guarantee fairness where people feel like they're given a fair opportunity, not based on friends and who, you know, or who you don't know. So that was my questions. But I had an opportunity to be with over 100 mayors in Philadelphia. And the topic was the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the history, the evolution of democracy as it relates to black people, 13th, 14th, 15th Amendment, the 19th Amendment giving women the right, and how those documents have been responsible in a great way of why we're all sitting here. And it was a great moment to reflect. The host was the mayor of Philadelphia, the first and only mayor in Philadelphia's 344 year history to be a woman as the mayor. So it was just a great, great opportunity to reflect on our history, but also make me reflect on our city. WHERE WE ARGUE, WE DEBATE, WE DISCUSS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE VOTE. AND THAT IS OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SUPPORT.

Commissioner Claire Griffin? Absolutely, yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Isom? Yes. Commissioner Kennard? Yes. Commissioner Warren? Mayor Pro Tem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad?

Yes.