Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call this City of Benton Harbor Commission meeting to order. We begin with an invocation by Pastor Williams, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by our Berrien County Commissioner, Commissioner Shokwe Pitchford. All rise.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for this gathering. Dear Father, we seek you for knowledge, understanding, and peace, that we're able to communicate, that we're able to come together, that we're able to seek out the needs of this community, and that most of all, through all things that we do, that we glorify you in unity. These blessings we pray right now in Jesus' name. Amen.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

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

Present.

You have a quorum.

This brings us to. I'm going to ask that all electronic devices be powered off or placed on silent, please. The next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes. Is there a motion for the approval of regular minutes July 20, 2026 and closed session minutes July 20, 2026. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. It is supported by Commissioner at Large Fields. Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isom. Yes. Commissioner Warren. Yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to approval of accounts payable listing. Is there a motion for the approval?

So moved.

Motion is made by First Ward Commissioner Henderson and supported by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there discussion? Carry none. Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? The AP list. Commissioner Isom? Yes. Commissioner Warren?

Yes.

Commissioner Clark-Griffin?

Yes.

Commissioner Fields? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried.

This brings us to our update from our Representative of the 38th District, Representative Joey Andrews, is he present? We move to the citizens comments or public participation. There is a three minute maximum per speaker. Please sign in with the clerk and she will call you accordingly.

Donna Evans.

My name is Donna Evans and I am a citizen of Benton Harbor. I want to encourage, can you hear me? I want to encourage the Benton Harbor City Council to place the healthcare action plan on the November ballot. The skyrocketing cost of healthcare is a crisis. We are all struggling to afford healthcare. At this time, the price of everything is already up, gas, groceries. I see that this affects our community every day as a nurse by families delaying care, skip medications, and struggling with preventative health care, which impact the overall well-being of our community. I believe this is a very way to allow us to have a voice to make healthcare a more affordable for people of the Benton Harbor or in Benton Harbor. A healthcare action plan would allow families and people in our community to tell Congress what actions they must take to make healthcare more affordable and more available. If this proposal passes, We would hold public hearings and develop ways for regular people in Benton Harbor to afford health care rather than rely on Washington's Act. Some lawmakers like Bill Hustler voted to take health care away from 400,000 Michiganders. And that's wrong. A health care action plan will address what we can do at a local level and create local solutions to bring down health care costs. That's why I support the health care action plan. Thank you for your time, and we hope you put the health care action plan on the November ballot.

Commissioner Pitchford.

Thank you and good afternoon everyone.

Honorable Mayor, Honorable Commission, thank you for having me today. I want to first, I'm Berrien County Commissioner Shokwe Pitchford, but my day job is I'm the Executive Director of Berrien Forward, been the Executive Director since 2022. And I like to preface this in all the meetings where I talk about my organization. to say that it is in the city of Benton Harbor. It is in the Vincent Building now. We moved from our location on Main Street. But we have grown to be one of the largest civic engagement nonprofits in the state of Michigan. And that's right here in the city of Benton Harbor. I come before you today asking for you to support the healthcare ballot proposal, but not without some context of why this is coming before you. So this ballot proposal is one to take the conversation about healthcare which is usually trapped within the state legislature or the Congress to bring it down to the local level to allow for yourselves as representatives of the city, residents, community leaders to come together as a part of this committee to make recommendations based on the social determinants of health the city of Benton Harbor may be facing, the average income levels, how people are interacting with the healthcare system, to put that on paper and make recommendations to the state and to Congress on how they can better deliver, not for the state of Michigan, not for a certain district, but the city of Benton Harbor and its residents. We are supporting this initiative. We are hiring residents, so if you know of anyone who's looking for a job, we're paying $26 an hour for people to go door to door in the city of Benton Harbor to support this initiative. But also on top of that, I understand that this is not something that the commission has brought forward that it wanted to do. This is something that has sprung up out of people collecting signatures across the community. So what I'd like to say today is if there's any resources, administrative support to put this together so that it doesn't fall on the city to do, I'd be willing to step up with my organization to make that happen. Because I truly believe that right now, the power that's vested in the people needs to step up and start making those recommendations about what we want to see in our municipalities. Thank you.

With respect, is it okay if I stand? I feel like I'm in the courtroom and that is comfortable to me.

Yes, that's fine. I would just alert you or inform you that in public buildings, as you know, running for judge, that campaigning or passing out campaign literature in a public building is against the law.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you. I am here to just introduce myself to you. My name is Myrene Cook. I am an assistant prosecuting attorney currently in Berrien County. I've been stationed in the Niles Division Courthouse. And I have been a prosecuting attorney for 26 years. So I have a great deal of experience in a variety of different cases. I have done every type of trial that you can imagine. I have specialized in cases involving child sexual assault and child abuse. I teach that for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. So I teach law enforcement, child protective services workers, and other prosecutors throughout the state on how to handle those types of cases. I think it's important to note that I was also an elected prosecutor and a chief assistant prosecutor in another county as well. I spent some time there. But Berrien County is somewhere where I lived for quite a while back in the 90s. I was here as part of a military family. My husband at the time was stationed in the Coast Guard, so we were an active duty family, and then we were transferred. So it's my pleasure to be back in Marion County serving the people of this wonderful county. I do believe that it's important to have the experience in the courtroom, and that's one of the things that I do have, a great amount of experience in the courtroom. However, I also know it's important to be involved in your community. So in the past, I have been a member of the school board, a member and vice president of a domestic violence shelter, also a vice president of a children's advocacy center. I am currently endorsed by Sheriff Chuck height, prosecutor, Amy bird, defense attorney, Peter Johnson, and others. And why I point that out is because I think it's important to note that those are all different varieties from people that would be in the justice system. I believe in doing the right thing for the right reason. And one of my favorite quotes is from president John F. Kennedy, who stated that we should not seek the democratic answer or the Republican answer. We should see the right answer for the people. And that is something that I truly believe in. I believe we have to look at every case and every individual that comes in front of the court system and make sure that we handle it to tailor to their needs and what they may need, whether it is rehabilitation, treatment, probation, or the like. Spend a great deal of time participating in our specialty courts and that is something I truly believe in. I believe in that system. I believe sometimes people make mistakes and we can help them through that. Help them learn and make our community grow and be stronger as a result of that. I appreciate your time tonight. I will stay at the end of the meeting and be happy to answer any questions in my apologies for doing anything that might have been inappropriate with the court. Thank you.

Lawrence Kimball.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, city manager, commissioners, clerks, attorneys, ladies and gentlemen of the city of Ben Arbor, Michigan. This is a concern. of mine with vision. I got some photos here around my sister's house. This concerns the building that has been not operated for quite some time. The hedges are out of control. It's right across the street from Benton Harbor High School. There was a dump in the back that just got cleaned up maybe two and a half months ago that was there for over two years. We've been in this residence for over 53 years, and it is out of control. Seeing that the residents of Benton Harbor were going to be fined $250 and had three days to get their grass cut from six inches. But this is right out in the open and nothing is being done about it. Nothing has been done about it. So I take offense to that. And these are some photos that you can see. And it's right on Empire and Colfax. A lot of people pass by it, and you can't miss it. But this has been for the last over two years. And I have a picture of the dump that... So it's all right here, some photos, if you would like to look at it. And it just... It's not seen, and this looks terrible. I have tried over the years to cut down some of this stuff, but I can't do it anymore. But it's not my responsibility. Just doing it to try to make the area look better. But it's out of control, and it's out of my control now. And we just hope something will be done about it. So I appreciate you. One of my favorite quotes is by the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said, our lives begin in the day we become silent on things that matter. Thank you.

Would you please give those photos to our deputy clerk, please? Thank you.

Pastor Williams.

Good evening, Mayor Muhammad, to City Manager Mr. Little, to each and every commissioner and everyone that is present on today. I want to start off by saying it like this. I don't get the opportunity to come down here much because of the different responsibilities that I am faced with. So it is a an opportunity and a luxury to somewhat sit before you all. I want to start off by saying this. I know a lot of times in these meetings, it seems like we come with problems. Tonight, I want to do something a little bit different and say to City Manager Little mayor muhammad and all the commissioners that were involved in a park dedication city park dedication to former mayor hightower i truly appreciate that had nothing to do with me however Former Mayor Hightower has always been a neighbor of mine in various capacities, especially now being the pastor of New Birth Apostolic Church at 466 Pipestone. With that being said, I appreciate the dedication that the ceremony was given. I appreciate the name plaque that was installed. it's no longer a city park that i once remember but now it has a name associated with it so for that i commend you all for your efforts and how you played a part in that it has helped to beautify that corner which means so much to me because that's where i grew up at um if anything if we can build upon it i would say um maybe as this gentleman have already stated if we can um turn our attention to the house that's on the corner i think it's BRITAIN AND CHERRY STREET. IT USED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL RED AND WHITE HOUSE, BUT IT HAS GONE INTO DECAY AND DELAPIDATION. I WOULD SAY THIS, SINCE YOU ALL HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB TO THE PARK WITH THE NEW EQUIPMENT AND DIFFERENT THINGS, I HAVE OBSERVED MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE DIFFERENT FAMILIES AROUND THE COMMUNITY HAVE STARTED UTILIZING IT. SO AS THE PASTOR THAT'S ON THAT CORNER, I commend you for the work, and I just ask that you continue to develop it as you all continue to help continue to keep Benton Harbor looking beautiful and moving forward into the future. Thank you. Thank you.

Dr. Chines.

Thank you, honorable commission. I'm just here to say thank you, and I appreciate the efforts of many in the community when it comes to assisting in the field of medicine, protecting children, youth, and adults. I'm not being disrespectful for wearing my hat, but as you know, this hat represents faith in action. So I'm out on a young man who was like Chadwick Bowman of the Black Panther, has colon cancer stage four when it spread to the lungs. So I cut my hair and I'm wearing this hat. So I'm not being disrespectful of wearing a hat inside. But now you know my reasoning. So as a physician, I want to make sure that you understand that there are three types of physician, one that's owned by the hospital, one that's owned by the insurance company, and one that's independent and private practice that's owned by you, the patient, and is the only one that can actually speak and advocate for the patient. So with that being said, we need to understand that There's a difference. So real physicians are those who are pro-patient, that the patient has the right to choose services, treatment, or physicians, who their doctor is, who their PCP is. Pro-informed consent, that the patient has the right to know in their own language of understanding what's going on in their treatment care. or diagnosis. Be pro-HIPAA, that all patients' information is private. Shots, flu shots, whatever shots, public exams are not to be shown in social media or the media in general, that that's private. Be pro-physician-patient relationship, that the patient has the right to choose their relationship. A physician First love is the patient. The patient must come first before the hospital, the clinic, and insurance companies. The physician has to be pro-life. We use our knowledge and skill to prolong life of our patients. We have to be pro-treat. We treat and battle disease and illness in an attempt to fight off death. the death of our patients. So now we have the Citizen Advisory Health Care Action Committee, where each community grassroots must put forth leaders with some 10 to 20 years track record of fighting injustice, preferred if possible. Each community grassroots must put forth leaders who are suffering or have suffered and been fighting the insurance companies or medical systems for equitable and respectable care. You know, because of the crime of the kinship, friendship, and relationship, I want to ask that the politicians and businessmen step aside and exclude themselves, accrue themselves, so that the choosing of the City Citizens Advisory Health Care Action Committee members must be from the people and for the people, fill them to the model that's going on down in Detroit with the honorable mayor down there who's going into the grass-cut communities with those long-existing people who have been fighting the communities, using them to be able to create the co-op that they now have to be able to go and rehab a community that was always vandalized, could not be rehabbed, which is being rehabbed now. so having to compete people do it you have been harbor fighters fighting the health insurance you have laverne williams and jody williams and joanne lee and peggy eddie and tyrone davidson and joe ross and now we have a derrick bishop fighting for their lives against the health insurance because they were being charged if if you received a colonoscopy and there was a tumor in it the insurance company wants you to pay for finding the tumor if you needed cancer treatment the insurance company wants you to pay to get the blood work for it If you have kidney failure, they restricted the doctor where the doctor told the patient that they just need to go off and die if they don't do dialysis. Patient Tyrone Davis, medications were withheld because he had in-state kidney disease where he would have died, but I had to give him the treatment so he lived. Joe Ross also was told that he had to choose hospice or palliative care, not treatment, but we treated him, and now he was able to stay alive, but then he was killed when nephrology refused to give him one treatment of dialysis. Now, Derrick Bishop were fighting United Healthcare, the same United Healthcare that denied family member care, and they wind up dying, and then a family member dies. distraught wind up killing the CEO. But we have this battle that we need to fight the insurance companies. We need to bring medicine back to the physician's hands, back to the patient's hands, and not the insurance hands any longer. Thank you.

Michael Hoy.

good evening commissioners staff and guests uh kind of really excited and speaking out one of my favorite things the history of benton harbor um this august 7th 8th 9th 10th through the 15th the city of benton harbor turns 160 years old when it turned 100 years old there's extravaganza down at phil stroke field And over 14,000 people went every single night to see this presentation that was put on like a Hollywood show. And in that, the theme of it was Chips Fell in the Valley. If you haven't read Chips That Fell in the Valley, you can get it over at the Benton Harbor Library. It's in the archives. You can't check it out. It's kind of a quick read. You can do it in an hour. It's about the colonial days and also when the pioneers were here and the Dutch and also the Indians. And it's based upon all that. And then it goes through a fast forward. This is actually a program that was given out that night. I have two of them. I'm going to be donating one to the city of Benton Harbor. So all commissioners and all staff and all people can read exactly what took place and how Benton Harbor became what it is. And it goes back all the way back to 1866 and the founders and everything, each of the old history of the trolley cars and how they actually did the event. And all this is going to get scanned in. I'm working with Nicholas gun so this could be available to everybody So my request is it also talks about how the sorter property was part of the Underground Railroad And that's a really vital part also that they spoke about it, but there's very little written about it But we found out even more history of it so My ask and my request is during this time of 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, all the way to the 15th, you go out and celebrate Benton Harbor. You go out and find your Miss Centennial. Go out and find your Mr. Centennial. Someone who is 80, 90 years old. Get their story. Tape it down. get it over to Nick, and let's really show what Benton Harbor has and what we're all about and things of that nature. And find your own way to celebrate. We're going to be doing cake and ice cream over with the kids over at the Benton Harbor Library. I don't know when that's going to happen with Jill, but it's going to happen during that time for people to come have cake, ice cream, and learn about the history of Benton Harbor Trinity. 160 years. We've gone through so much as a city, so much as a community to survive this long, and we're going to continue on. Another great thing that happened this past week with history and I've been pushing for this for a long, long, long time. The Morton House was actually run by the Daughters of the American Revolution. During white flight, during the late 50s and early 60s, a great big chunk of the history of Benton Harbor was taken out of Benton Harbor and moved over to St. Joe for the Heritage Center, the Miami Heritage Center. That was on State Street, right about where the Boulevard Inn is. Then it turned into where the Curious Kids Museum was, and then it turned into the Priscilla Burns Upton Heritage Center, And those archives are now returned to Benton Harbor and they are down at the 777 building and it's becoming available on microfilm. Anybody can research it and has now been relocated here to the city of Benton Harbor and it's our history again that is returned home miraculously almost the same week of the centennial. So that's really miraculous Burke.

Thank you.

No more comments.

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the citizens and public comments section. This brings us to our consent calendar. Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar? I'd like to separate.

Motion to approve.

We do have a separation from our fourth ward commissioner, Clark Griffin.

I'd like to separate number two.

Duly noted, Madam Clerk. Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar? Support. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. It is supported by Commissioner Santana Warren. Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Henry. Commissioner Asom?

Yes.

Commissioner Warren? Yes. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

Yes.

Mayor Muhammad? Yes.

This brings us to our first separated item, resolution to approve ballot wording for a proposed charter amendment to establish a Citizens Advisory Healthcare Action Committee and require a healthcare action plan. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. It is supported by Commissioner Henderson. Is there discussion? The chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Yes, thank you, Mayor. So I think the language needs to change. So it should read as follows. A proposal to amend the Benton Harbor City Charter to establish a Benton Harbor Health Equality Committee by the City Commission to address health care affordability and access. The committee will gather public testimony from the community, analyze data, review how federal, state, and local policies have affected health care affordability and access, and produce a biannually health care action plan The health care action plan will evaluate changes in health care insurance and benefit coverage, check options of federal and state officials, and recommend solutions. The city commission will adopt and publish a health care action plan, but we need to change the citizens advising health care. It should read Ben Harbor Health Equality Committee. That way it fits into our city charter and ordinances.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

You know, what I did not like is the way it was forced on us. The way it was brought to us from the clerk basically says that we have to do it. Now, we home rule, but it said we have to do it. We have to change our charter, me and our charter. We didn't hardly know information about it. states. Also, I've reached out to other commissioners from other cities, some in which this has happened. From what my sources tell me, this is bearing for it. This committee, it's part of bearing for it. I was also told that from other commissioners and other sources that we would be responsible for starting the committee and the advisory board financially and putting in the work. And then I was also told by sources that if this gets established, if it passes, that Berrien Ford would benefit from it financially, would get the finance from it. Um, so this would be up to once if this passes for the resolution to the city resident to vote on this or not. But I just want to be transparent from what I have felt about it being forced on us and also the information that I found. So when it comes November 3rd, I believe is to vote on it. You'll have that. Thank you.

Any other comments on this particular resolution? Chair recognizes Commissioner Henderson.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. It's always good everything Commissioner Griffin said that's correct. But what I am probably most proud about with this particular resolution, people are saying that they want this. And I think there were a number of signatures that was collected for this particular resolution. resolution, which is why it was put on our agenda, which means the people who elected us and the people who elected members of Barron County, they said they wanted this. And so our responsibility is to put it on the agenda on the ballot and let the people, again, select the services or whatever they want when it comes to this committee. And so I have no problem with supporting this. But as she stated, and I think Mr. Pitchford stated that if there was any cost to the city that his organization would assume any administrative task associated with that, which clears it for me to be able to support this. So thank you.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Lardsfield.

So, just for clarity, is there a benefit to Baron Ford? Do we know that or not?

Well, I think the... I can't confirm or deny any benefit to any organization. I did look and see it here says financial impact to the city. IS NONE. SO THAT'S REALLY MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME, THAT THERE WILL BE NO EXPENSE TO THE CITY. DOES THAT HELP WITH YOUR QUESTION?

NO, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER. I READ, TOO, THAT IT WAS NO FINANCIAL IMPACT TO US. So how did this come to us again? Can we have more information in that regard from the clerk being that you're the one?

SO THE ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY ACTION MICHIGAN, ACTUALLY DROPPED OFF PETITIONS TO OUR OFFICE. WE HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS COMING. WE GOT 700-PLUS SIGNATURES, LIKE 116 PAGES. WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND VERIFY. WE VERIFIED THERE WERE 425 THAT WERE VALID OUT OF THE CITY. WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, LOOKED AT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROPOSED. THE CITY ATTORNEY SPOKE WITH THEIR ATTORNEY TO COME UP WITH, I THINK, A COUPLE CHANGES IN THE LANGUAGE. We went through Home Rule City Act and everything that we have to follow. So where it came that the city commission has to approve, they have to approve the ballot language. It has nothing to do with the charter amendment that was sent to us for this petition, but the duty of the city commission is to approve ballot language to go out to the voters.

So it was a total of how many signatures and how many were from Benton Harbor?

There were 425 valid signatures from residents in the city. It was 700 plus that we were given.

Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Thank you. I was going to make sure that it's going to read Benton Harbor Health Equality Committee to make sure it aligns to our charter in the city ordinances.

IS THIS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE PROVING?

HONORABLE MAYOR, YES. THE LANGUAGE BEFORE YOU IS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT I WENT OVER WITH THEIR ATTORNEY. HOWEVER, I WAS WRITING DOWN AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, MAYOR PROTEM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHANGE, IF YOU ALL WOULD LOOK AT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, WOULD BE TO CROSS OUT CITIZENS ADVISORY HEALTHCARE ACTION AND SUBSTITUTE THAT WITH BENTON HARBOR HEALTH EQUITY. SO THAT PHRASE WOULD READ, BENTON HARBOR HEALTH EQUITY COMMITTEE as opposed to what's there right now. I do not have any objection to that. I think that still stays consistent with what the intent was of the language, and I would make the recommendation that that change could move forward.

So when we take out advisory, does that... Because when an advisory board has no legal nor... authority to effectuate anything on behalf of the city. Their role was strictly advisory. So to take that language out of that one word, does that change the complexion or could it change the role?

So my answer is going to be no. I don't believe that changes the role because ultimately there's a whole page of language and that talks about the fact that it's advisory only. So even if we change the terminology slightly in the ballot language, it's for the purpose of informing the public of what the ballot language is for. So it's supposed to describe what is in the longer form. And I think it still does that. Now, it will go, this does go to the governor's office and it goes to the attorney general's office. So if they come back with the language and say no, then we'll reevaluate it. But I think it's consistent with what's in here and it doesn't change the ultimate language that would change the charter. This is just a summary for the public so that they know what's in the longer language.

Yes, ma'am.

So is advisory, what was the revision? I just, I'm following along. So what is the revised name in it? Does it leave out advisory?

Yes, the revision leaves out advisory. So the revision says a proposal to amend the Benton Harbor City Charter to establish the Benton Harbor Health Equality Committee.

Can we say Benton Harbor Health Advisory Committee?

So here's where it gets a little dicey. We can only have 100 words, and this is 100 words. So you can change four words for four other words, but we can't add a word. If we add a word, we're at 101, and it violates the Home Rule City Act.

I have no objection. So I will just say that I was blindsided myself. I guess this is a committee that engaged Benton Harbor voters without any kind of communication with a ward commissioner, an at-large commissioner, a city clerk's office. the mayor's office to put something in front of residents to vote on who elected us. It's not required, you know, that you engage or inform city council members or staff to circulate a petition. You know, I would just say, you know, anytime you go to another man's house I was told it's wise to show up at the front door because if you found going to another man's house at the back door, then it's a sign of bad character. So front door, back door, the voters will decide. But I will say I would like to learn more about it. Dr. Tynes was appointed as our health director, and I had not heard anything from him as well. So with that being said, if there are no other, and I do agree with the Fourth Ward Commissioner, I call for the question. I'm pardon me, Commissioner Clark-Griffin.

I make a motion.

I support. Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner, supported by Commissioner Clark Griffin, Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Isom?

Yes.

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.

This brings us to our staff communication. I'd like to begin with our Deputy Director of Public Safety and our Fire Division or Department, Deputy Casimir.

THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE IS LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF TOMORROW'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. IT IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT'S BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR, ABOUT 1,200 KIDS' BACKPACKS GIVE-AWAY IN CITY CENTER PARK. SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR IS WE HAVE BOUNCE HOUSES FOR THE KIDS, SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE SNOW CONES AND THE HOT DOGS FROM THE ROUGH RIDERS AND POPCORN AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF, BUT Oh, and Dunk Director McGinnis, too. Can't forget that. But we do have bounce houses for the kids out there. So it's by far our biggest event and our best event of the year.

Thank you, Director. Chair recognizes our city attorney, Attorney Seneca.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. I just want to tell each of you thank you for looking at this petition. I know it was a lot. We were blindsided with it in the office, too. I think ultimately, the best thing about democracy is putting things on the ballot and letting the citizens decide. There's plenty of time between now and the November election for everyone to be educated. We had to move very quickly in our respective roles. I think the fourth ward commissioner, Commissioner Clark Griffin, did an excellent job explaining the fact that this is ministerial, meaning that we received the petition and we have a checklist that we follow, and we went through that checklist and we followed it to a T. Now it's up to the voters to decide, but I know it was a lot that you had to look at also, so I appreciate the work that you put in and that we got this far already tonight.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Assistant City Manager and City Clerk, Clerk Moore.

Just a reminder to everybody that tomorrow is Election Day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The polls are open. Voting locations, Wards 1 and 2, are at the high school. Wards 2 and 4 are at Virginia Edwards Community Center. If you have absentee ballots out there, you still have time to drop them off. They just have to come in before 8 p.m. tomorrow. You can bring them in directly to the office. You can put them in the box outside. You can also take them to your precinct and vote them right at your precinct. If anybody has any questions, they can feel free to reach out to our office, 269-927-8408.

Thank you. And that is 1 and 3 at the high school?

1 and 3 is at the high school. 2 and 4 is at Virginia Edwards Community Center.

Thank you. Chair recognizes the city manager, Mr. Little.

Thank you, Mayor. I would just like to appeal to the residents of the city to assist us in trying to get control of the overgrowth in terms of, like was mentioned, the bushes. grass, the trash that's being left in alleys and so forth. Some of this with this problem with trash we know is in response to the change that we made to require stickers to be put on heavier items and so forth to be picked up. Instead they're putting them in the alleys. This city just doesn't have the funding and in the case of trying to, I've also noticed this brush growth. besides houses, occupied houses as well as abandoned ones and fire damaged houses and other places throughout the city. We don't have the manpower or the tools to keep that under control the way we would like to. And any help we can get from the citizenry would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you. Chair recognizes 444 Commissioner Clark Griffin.

I like to thank everybody that came out, everybody that's listening. I had a paparazzi party, you know, women, celebrating women, and it was wonderful. Red carpet, VIP, so we had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. So I just want to thank everybody that came. It was very productive. Also, August the 22nd, this is my fifth annual 4th Ward Alliance event. resource fair slash community giveaway and fall cleanup. So I have a lot of vendors that's going to be there with free resources and goodies for the residents. Also, I have tables full of primary needs, clothes, shoes, you name it, whatever resident needs, I try to meet it. And we gave away the last couple years, we've been giving away like 50 backpacks FULL OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AS WELL AS BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES ON THE TABLE, TOO. SO PERSONAL HYGIENE, WHATEVER, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE IT'S THERE. I WANT TO THANK SUPERVISOR COAL COMPLIANCE. I don't want to, you know, just say mister, but yes, he's part of it every year. And I'm so thankful he gives out carbon monoxide detectors, fire smoke detectors. Adults and kids can take a tour of the fire truck. They give away hats and stickers. It's just, I'm so grateful. And it's a good time. I always say come hang out with your commissioner because, you know, I'm that girl. I like to communicate. And people come with lawn chairs and sit there and hang out and have a great time. Crowds of Art is there every year with activity for the kids. We're going to have the 4-H doing activity for the kids and all kinds of vendors. I always have grill food with, you know, all kinds of picnic-type stuff to drink, to eat. It's great. Wonderful. At the same time as the resource fair and the community giveaway, we also have a 4-4 cleanup. So there will be a cleanup going on at the same time, and this is the fifth year. So it's just going to come out, have a great time, and I open. It's not just for 4-4. I always open it to the public, to the whole community. Anything I do, all the community events that I do, it's always free to the residents. There's never a charge to the residents. So just want to bless, you know, bless everybody. Also, August 29th, ladies, going to have another celebration, a Mary Kay party. So we're going to have a good time. It's going to be red carpet, VIP, fun games as usual. You know I don't do nothing small. So everybody have a good night. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner at Large Fields.

I want to echo thanking everyone for being present. It's great to see faces, whether you're smiling or not. You're here, right? Engaging. So I wanted to start off there. And it's never a problem for you to come and express an issue or something you're in need of support of. So I appreciate everybody that came and to... I just encourage you to continue. We have several activities that are going to be occurring within our city. I know maybe some of the other commissioners may mention things, but one of the ones I want to highlight is the bike party that is August 28th, which is a Friday. We're starting this year in Hall Park. And it's vital and important to me because it's multipurpose. So you get the social engagement, you get the physical wellness, and it's just having us out in a group in the community. So I wanted to invite any and everyone that would like to be present. There isn't a... award for the person that completes it first. So no need to speed is my point. And again, that is the 28th. I'll have All Things Wellness September 27th, but we have time for that. But again, that's another activity that's all-inclusive that has a host of resources and individuals present. I'm not sure what the weather would be like, so I haven't, I'm not given the LOCATION JUST YET. AND THEN I ALSO HAVE, FOR THE SAKE OF WOMEN RELATIONSHIP CONNECTING, WE HAVE TEA TALKS ON TUESDAYS THAT ARE AT THE HUB. AND THEY'RE PURPOSEFUL IN REGARDS TO YOU HAVE A SPACE TO SPEAK SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT CITY ISSUES. AND THEN YOU END UP TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND TO SHOW UP. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN OUR MEETINGS ARE, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO MISS DEREK. AND I'M TRYING TO NOT BE EMOTIONAL. BUT ANYBODY THAT KNOWS, KNOWS THAT HE CAME FRESHLY RELEASED AND ENGAGED. AND IF HE CAN DO IT, We all can do it. He came out stage four colon cancer and committed to the community daily. And so that should be a model to us all of being purposefully involved and not about self. And regardless of what you have going on, having the ability to show up for others. AND SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO REFERENCE OUR COMMITTEES. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY HAVE OPENINGS ON THEM NECESSARILY, BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN COME AND SHOW UP. SO FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH IS THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS HEADED OR SPEARHEADED BY COMMISSIONER HENDERSON. PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS IS THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY COMMISSIONER HENRY. and Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Personnel and Finance is the third Wednesday of the month, and it is chaired by Commissioner Isom and me, Commissioner Fields. Economic Development and Parks and Recreation Committee is the fourth Wednesday of the month, and that is chaired by Commissioner Warren and Isom. Communications and Public Relations Committee is on the fourth Monday, so I know that's a change-up. All of the meetings that I've referenced are at 5.30 on Wednesday. The communications is also at 5.30. It just happens to be on a Monday. And come. It's always public comment at those as well. Just show up for your community and yourself.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Third Ward Commissioner Henry.

I just want to thank the citizens for coming out and listening to us, seeing what exactly is happening. We have a very alert and wide-awake commissioner. Now, this is not normal for us to be. The old regime was sound asleep, but I can tell you for a fact that we are wide awake and we know what's happening. WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS NOT THERE FOR US. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR RESIDENTS. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. AND THE ONES THAT DON'T COME TO THE MEETING Please, if you have some ideas, if you have some concerns, call your commissioner. You have four commissioners that are directly directed to you as a resident as well as the city mayor. That's five elected officials can do almost anything. for you. So it's important that the residents talk to your commissioners. We want to hear what your concerns or your ideas are. So thank you and see you next two weeks.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner-at-Large Isom.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight and all your comments. You have been heard. My neighbor right there with the bushes at that store, you know, you can barely see cars coming. I know what you're talking about. You know, I don't know, maybe we should make the owners be responsible, you know. It's an eyesore. It's right in front of the high school there. I thank the pastor for coming out, the classmate. Thank everybody for coming out tonight to share. Health, health care. Health care is important because it is expensive, you know. I went to the doctor just to get some blood, and by the time I made it home, the bill was in the mail, you know. they will send it to your credit bureau and all that. You got to pay it right away. They be on you, you know. So anything we can do to help the people in the city of Barron County with health care, because it's skyrocketing. So I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight. Lions camp should be almost starting. We're going to start signing players. We've got to sign Gibbs. But we've got a lot going on pretty soon with the Detroit Lions. Thank you for listening. Expect great things. And go out on both tomorrow.

The chair recognizes our second world commissioner, Warren.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. I want to say thank you to everyone who came out and anyone who's watching on YouTube. I'll begin to talk about some cool workforce development things that we did this summer with our youth. Our second year working with Abbott March and we had some job shadowing. Our youth really focused on surveying. It actually made the first, the front page of the Hera Palladium, if anyone maybe saw that back in June. So that was pretty awesome. And we are finishing up our entrepreneurship segment. We're done on Wednesday. We have 12 youth, and these are middle, most are middle school age youth, one high school, that created their own companies, marketing plans, business plans, and financials. And we work with Horizon Bank, and we talked to some of their employees. They helped out with different things. So it's a really awesome program. The youth created their products and sold them at the farmer's market. That was maybe two weeks ago or so, and we made about $400, so it was pretty excited to do sales. So the youth got to make the product and go on a customer service piece. Let's see. Next up, this weekend, community yard sale. We still have slots available if anyone wants to participate. There are flyers in City Hall, and also there's a flyer outside of this door if you're here and you want to check it out. Next up, we're going to do a town hall for the second ward. Of course, everyone is welcome. That will be I want to do a September date. So once I can secure a location and a date, I'll have to check with our police department and get a date. I want to make sure everyone can attend. But just keep that on your radar. I will give you guys a date very soon. And then finally, I wanted to also say something positive about Derrick Bishop. He reached out to me. He wanted to talk to the youth at the Boys and Girls Club. So he came twice and spoke with our youth. He pretty much wanted to tell everybody his story to make sure others didn't follow in his footsteps. It was just an amazing, he was an amazing person, and he definitely wanted to help the community. And that is all. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner.

Thank you. So I do want to send my thoughts with Derrick Bishop as well, because I called him personally. I said, hey, what's going on here? I thought somebody was pulling my leg. And we had a conversation. And so I'm very proud of him. But I want to get to a big event. On October 26th, which is a Monday from 1 to 4 p.m., Benton Harbor has never had what's called a touch a truck. So we're bringing in different equipment where our young kids can see unseen heroes. So you'll be seeing big trucks like snow plows, so forth, so forth. I have not got with the city. See if the city wanted to help out, but... do they do they don't they don't the show goes on we're going to have quite a bit of equipment coming in this is not equipment going to tear up the roads so this won't be no artillery equipment none of that no trailers none of that but it's going to be big trucks coming into ben harbor and it's free to the entire community so i'm paying for everything i'm my own pocket that's why i work i make good i ain't rich i make good my own job so i'm paying for everything the port-a-potties, the insurance, you name it. So it's going to be October 26th from 1 to 4 p.m., free admission. And then last, I'm going to get with our fire department. You'll find out later on. I'm going to get with our fire department because I need my ladder truck to be with us. So we got to get with our fire department so that he can request that for me.

The chair recognizes First Ward Commissioner Henderson.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. As has been echoed, thank everyone who came out for all the comments, for all of our engaged residents, to the people who submitted the petition, even though we didn't hear about it until I think it was late last week. Thank you, because that is the power of residents and citizenship and the power of the people at work. Just wanted to talk about the airport. There's been just a lot of information out. I used to sit on the airport authority board. Never owned an airplane, but I learned a lot listening. I sat on that board for about five years. Would go to the meetings and didn't have a clue. that people had helipads in their backyards. Quite a few people in our area does. But there's been a lot said about who owns what, but there is value in having a local airport in your backyard, whether you use it or not, because it helps drive development in a community. So when it is our turn to help vote for that particular issue, we're not voting for it. It's not on the ballot for us, but it will be for other communities. Please support that initiative. It is important. The fire department, I think, they do trainings and things like that. out there at the airport. So it is important. And I'll also go visit. I was also told if people wanted to have events out there, they could hold events in the inside. They've done some fly-ins and stuff. I've taken my great nieces and nephews out there, and there were car shows. So go check out the resources in Benton Harbor, which we have a lot of, and it's just very interesting. There's a gentleman who develops... garage doors for airports out there. There's a gentleman who paints airplanes out there. So go visit and check out the resources that we have in our community. And I would also encourage people to go on August 5th to the Riverview project redevelopment project. Go and give input on that project. The riverfront will be developed. I'm happy I talked about this. My daughter used to live in D.C., and I had a chance to go down there, and they were doing their riverfront in three different phases. And when I was down there, they were in phase two, and they were raising money to do phase three for that particular project. They had built boutique hotels. There were restaurants. There were fisheries, eateries, fresh fish, all this kind of stuff. And so there's an opportunity here to redevelop our riverfront. Get involved, because if you don't use your voice to give input, then people don't know that you care and they don't care what you want in your community if you don't, the only thing that you do is complain about it and not give input. So show up at that meeting at the Innovation Lab on August 5th to give your input about the Innovation Lab. And so I'm preaching to the crowd, you guys are here and you're involved in your community, but bring along others. As the city manager talked about, the city alone cannot clean up this city. We need the people who live there to cut their grasses. If you live in a house, we need business owners. As the gentleman talked about, I know where his sister lives at because she's called me before. The businesses need to cut their grass and they need to be held accountable. But we need everybody to participate. It's not a one person thing. It's not a city's thing. It is a community thing to clean up our community. I was coming in today and somebody had thrown trash down the hill right there at Colfax. As you're coming down, just open the door and throw their trash out. We can't have that. And so we need everybody to be involved in helping to keep our city clean and vibrant. So thank you all and have a great evening.

Thank you. I'd like to thank everyone for coming out. I'd like to thank the staff and commission for your comments. I'd just like to share a few things. First of all, I'll begin with Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration. I received a report from her staff where it says here's a sample of major investments in Benton Harbor across Governor Whitmer's eight BIPARTISAN BUDGETS FROM 2020 TO 2027. THIS IS NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVERY STATE DOLLAR THAT HAS BEEN INVESTED IN THE CITY DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, WHICH COVERS APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 90 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS. AND THAT IS A CROSS RANGE WITH BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOR THE RECORD THAT TRUSTEE MATTHEW BRADLEY Forbidden Highbury schools is present madam clerk. Could that be put in the minutes, please? Our state share revenue has totaled thirteen million five hundred nineteen thousand and eighty eight cents the water infrastructure energy infrastructure and lead service line replacement and Total current allocation of funds to the city of Bent Harbor from 2020 to 2026 is $76,588,207.11. And it's a long list. of dollars that have been allocated to help rebuild Benton Harbor. And I just wanted to say and share that with you from this particular seat and station as the mayor of Benton Harbor that I'm grateful and thankful for her leadership and her administration. I've sat through Governor Granholm at the end of her administration, eight years of Governor Rick Snyder I can say with great conviction that by far Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been the best friend in Lansing that I have worked with since I've been in politics since 2010. I'd also like to echo, as Michael Hoy stated, Benton Harbor is experiencing the 160th year where we have gone through many changes. The character, I believe, remains the same. where the people of Benton Harbor are resilient, the people of Benton Harbor are fighters, and when it is time for us to unite and come together, good, bad, or indifferent, we have a way of coming together to fight for what is most important. So I did request Michael Hoy, Special tribute from the Whitmer administration acknowledging 160 years, and as America celebrates 250 years, I would just encourage people to learn your American or your U.S. history. It is very, very, very rich, and there's a lot that we were taught in school, and there's a lot that was left out. But it is up to the pupil or the student to go and find and trace the facts so we can be informed citizens. And I will say that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, he said that you cannot have illiteracy and democracy simultaneously. And with that being said, I'd like to make a motion that the City Commission go into closed session under Section 8H of the Open Meetings Act to discuss material exempt from public discussion and disclosure being written, being a written memorandum from the City Attorney. Is there a motion? Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and is supported by Commissioner Henderson. Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Warren. Yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin? Yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Isom? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad?

Yes. Motion carried. We enter into recess. SESSION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION UNDER SECTION 8H OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO DISCUSS MATERIAL EXEMPT FROM THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND DISCLOSURE BEING A WRITTEN MEMORANDUM FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. IS THERE ANY ACTION FROM THE CLOSED SESSION?

MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT PROPOSAL ONE.

Motion is made to accept proposal one. Is there a second?

Support.

It's supported by, motion is made by Commissioner at Large Isom, supported by Commissioner at Large Fields. Is there any discussion? Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Commissioner Warren? Yes. Commissioner Clerk Griffin? Aye, it's staying.

Can you state your reason?

You have to state a reason.

I can't say too much because it's closed six. I abstain because I don't agree.

You can only abstain unless there's a financial... You have to vote yes or no.

Because you have to give an actual reason to abstain. So if you don't agree, you can vote no. I abstain because it's personal. point of order.

But if it's personal, then you have to state the personal or financial gain.

That is not.

But the only way you can abstain by Michigan compiled law is unless there is a financial or some type of gain or maybe a family member where you would be guilty of nepotism. So in this particular case, there is no financial gain, nor is there a issue of nepotism.

I stand because of nepotism.

Point of order.

We just have to address based upon the law. Madam Clerk, please continue with the roll.

Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Isom? Yes. Commissioner Kennard? Sorry, Mayor Pro Tem Turner?

No.

Mayor Muhammad?

Yes.

Motion carried.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

Motion to adjourn.

Motion is made by Commissioner Fields, supported by Commissioner Isom, Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson?

Yes.

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

Yes.