City Council - Regular Meeting

Kim, are you hanging out down there? No, I know. Did she hear me? Oh, are you hanging out down there? Sure. You're fine. She needs a stool so they can see her. All right. Um, well, it is 700 p.m. So, we'll call the city council regular meeting to order. It's Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. It's 7 p.m. Would everyone please rise for the invocation followed by given by Councilwoman Pashadik followed by the pledge of allegiance.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I thought we would do an Irish blessing today. very Catholic thing to do. Thank you. May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours. 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.

Thank you everyone. Uh, please call the role. Council member Baker here. Council member Curley here. Mayor Kleinfeld here. Council member Shadlick here. Council member Scott here. Right. Approval of the agenda. So moved. support. All right, please call the role. Council member Baker, yes. Council member Shadlick, yes. Council member Curley, yes. Mayor Kleinfeld, yes. Uh, Council Member Scott, yes. All right, and we will open the hearing of the public. Would anyone wish to be heard?

Hi, good evening. My name is Lissa Richardson and I serve as the uh new director of regional partnerships for the city of Detroit. Um so I'm coming to say hello, introduce myself u but also bring greetings on behalf of our new mayor and our uh administration. Um and also just extend um the opportunity to work together on any uh shared regional priorities um especially in um light of um alignment on any uh strategic goals for both of our communities. So looking forward to the opportunity and um building a meaningful relationship and uh working together to serve both of our communities. So thank you so much for the time um and uh greetings on behalf of our uh new mayor uh Mayor Sheffield.

Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. Yeah.

Anyone else wish to be here? Good evening, Mary Hal Rayford East Point. As a reminder, because this will be the last meeting for the month of March regarding women's history, um I would love to see some articles or something put on u city's Facebook page or website honoring some of the women because we've got some very notable women past and present that have done a lot of great things and I was looking them up earlier today and it was too much for me to even write down to record because I'd be up here past my three minutes for the first time probably and but it's just really wonderful to acknowledge the role women have played in the history of mankind and if we wanted to go back from the beginning we could say that first notable woman was Eve because she didn't get the message from God. Adam did. So, it wasn't her fault that he ate it.

Thank you. Anyone else?

Hi. Um, my name is Michael Collins. I'm a homeowner home owner on uh David Avenue. Um, and I would like to try and get somebody's help with the city. Um, starting in November, I was getting notices about the fence on my property. Um, we have wanted to replace that fence since the day we moved. We bought the house three years ago. Um, we were saving up because we wanted to do a full replacement instead of just pulling parts. Um, we have that money. We signed up. We we signed a contract with the fencer. Um, did payment, all of that. Um, this was in November and we're we've been continuing to get notices from the city. I have repeatedly called code enforcement. I have shown up in person. Nobody every time I go, whoever it is I need to speak to is never there. Um, the issue for us is uh the problem is we're not the issue. The neighbor is the issue. Uh, we cannot replace the fence without the neighbor signing the paperwork. The problem is the neighbor is a land as a landlord who lives in California and has been completely respon unresponsive to every attempt that my my contractor has made to get this signed. Um I just got another notice here in March. I really have no idea what to do at this point because I'm doing all the pieces that I need to do. Um so I'm hoping that somebody can can assist me with this. Thanks.

Great. Thank you. Um would you mind leaving your would you take his information? Thank you. Anyone else wish to be heard?

Jennifer Nicholas, East Point resident. Um, last meeting I had asked um, Ryan Mattis, our city, our new city manager, a couple of questions because I felt that this was probably his area. The first one is there's been no minutes for the city council meetings drafted, published, approved since January 6th. We have January 20th, February 3rd, February 17th, and March 3rd that there are no minutes available to these meetings. I had asked um at the last meeting, is this a new procedure that we don't publish minutes anymore or do they have to be requested or foyed? I thought that that was all part of um you know the open meetings and that it's usually included with the agenda for you all to approve but it's not happened for the last two months. Um I had also asked if there was any update on the design for 9 mile between Kelly and I 94 and I wondered if there was going to be another traffic study done now that the gas station is open over at nine in Beaconsfield. Um, I don't think that we've been able to see if there's been a a change in traffic patterns. I know they were talking about putting a media in there. I would think that that would require a traffic study. Um, possibly if they could work with MDOT to do like a temporary median, you know, block off the center lane to see what it would actually be like for people that travel using I94 if that would be disruptive if there would be traffic backups. Or it might be that it would be a lot safer and traffic would flow more freely. But I think, you know, it's something since city council hasn't seen a design for that area and the public has not seen a design and I'm assuming that the businesses there have not been um consulted about it or have any idea of a design that maybe that's something that

we should do before we get too far along in the process. Um, and then also at the February 3rd meeting, um, Mayor Kleinfeld, you had asked the city attorney and city manager if they could share any clarification on whether or not Moses Roses actually met the criteria by December 31st, as was stated in the motion um that you passed January 6th after the close session meeting. I realize that things that are discussed in closed session um are attorney client privilege, but it's confusing because everything that we've heard uh stated that they had to be open and operating by December 31st, and my understanding is that they were not open until February 1st of this year. Um, one last question about Moses Roses. Um, their last water bill was for the period of May 15 to June 15 of 2025. I realize that when the old building was torn down, I'm sure the water meter was removed, but there's been no water um usage since then. Does the building not have water or we just not charging them for water? Thank you. Well, it's my annual public service announcement since we're two, three weeks away, something like that, from Easter. Um, even though rescues and shelters um have been fortunate enough to have news coverage when people do not buy rabbits, chicks,

and ducks for Easter. It still happens. So, um I see we have uh acco Sanchez here, so get ready. You know, uh it is absolutely ridiculous. Um, usually what happens is around July, August, that's when uh the shelters and the rescues really get slammed um in Easter bunnies being abandoned because people fail to do their research. They are not starter pets. Um, and they require um just an incredible amount of care. Um, they're not cheap. Um, if um, well, I mean, if people are going to be stupid and they're going to get a bunny from a breeder, um, they're not spayed, they're not neutered, uh, you have to get their spay and neuter surgeries done four, five, six months of age. That is when they hit their teen years. Um, you know, everybody's heard the saying, you know, you multiply like rabbits. Yeah. Um, they they have an extraordinary amount of uh litters of kits. Um, and people don't do their research. Um, you cannot take them to just any old veterinarian. You have to take them to an exotic vet who is rabbit savvy rabbit savvy. Uh circling back real quick to the spay and neuter surgeries. Those are several hundred.

Um you know maybe 30 years ago or so it was cheaper to have a rabbit than a cat or a dog. Not anymore. Um bunnies are susceptible to

You have 30 seconds. GI stasis and uh that is known as the silent killer. The warning signs to look out for is if they're not eating, drinking, peeing, pooping um and they're lethargic, especially if they haven't pooped within two hours, you need to haul butt to the vet because they can die from this. People have got to do their research. Um you know, uh I've had rabbits for over 34 years. I love them with all I'll speak on it later. And I know we've got animal control ordinances coming up in new business. So, I'm looking forward to hearing about that.

Okay. Thanks. Anyone else wish to hear?

Uh the for the hearing of the public, you can speak now. Um, uh, if there's questions from council on a topic, perhaps we will ask you questions, but I you could speak now if you'd like to.

Good evening. My name is Chris Ayello, member of Moses Roses on 8 Mile and Kelly. Thanks for allowing me to speak tonight. We're on the agenda for a reason. The current ordinance allows our store to open up at 10:00 a.m. We're requesting to open up at 9:00 a.m. Um, I stopped by the And the reason for that is since it's opened, um, this is probably one of the first stores that I've ever seen in our fleet that we have a lot of people sitting outside the front door wanting to get in at 10:00 a.m. So I stopped by on the way here and for the last seven days, we've made 287 sales at 10:00 a.m. exactly. And so the manager reports to me, yes, uh, there are people generally waiting here. She's getting there now at 9:30 a.m. to get everything ready and POS systems up and running and making sure everything's clean and so and competition to everybody across the streets open at 9:00 a.m. But um we seem to have a lot of uh local local people right around that store that want to get in early Monday through Sunday and so uh to accommodate them in our business. And I feel a little foolish being in private business that I have to bother you to come up here and say, "May I please have my store open at 9:00 a.m.?" But unfortunately, this is the regulated business we're in. And uh everything's good and that's what we're requesting. Thank you. Anyone else wish to hear? Great. Seeing none, the hearing of the public is closed and we'll move on to uh well, we have no minutes to approve scheduled hearings unfinished business. So, reports from administration, city managers report. Mr. Mattis is not here. Uh Kim, did you have a a report or

Mr. Mayor, if I may, um the minutes not being done? That's on me. Um working with our temporary person. Um it's it's a learning curve, so it's it's nothing we're not trying to do it. And yes, we know it's a responsibility. We have a lot going on, but we're going to try and catch up as soon as possible. Um, as it relates to the city manager, he is at the conference. He is not having a great time. No, he's having a good time. Um, and then as it relates to Mr. Blum, um, the budget, the last pieces are being put together. So, everything will be bound and presented to you um, prior to the April 7th meeting. Thank you. Okay. In regarding the minutes, I think Brianna used to prepare those, right? And she's out, so

she's coming back really soon. All right. Um, our finance director is uh not present tonight, so we will move on to our city attorney's report. Mr. Alreight.

Uh, thank you, mayor, members of council. Uh, just one item to report on, mayor. Uh, I recently received uh another opportunity on behalf of the city to participate in another opioids settlement. Uh, this one is referred to as the six remnant defendants. And, uh, we had a deadline of responding by May 4th. Um, I took care of that today and so we are signed up. I'm not sure what this will result in as far as the the payments as they come in. Once I have that information, I'll circulate to that to the council and city administration. That's all I have. Uh, mayor, I'm happy to answer any questions. Right. Any questions? Thank you very much. Um, we'll move into new business, introduction, first reading of ordinance number 26-1256, amendments to article 8, animals. Um, and uh, Chief, I see you're here with our uh, animal control officer. Did you guys want to speak to this agenda item at all, or should we just go straight into

I think only if you had questions. Um, they're they're pretty pretty self-explanatory and these are items that have needed to be updated for quite some time. So, all right. Um, would anyone like to make a motion? Well, I do have some questions or questions.

Yes. And I won't be long-winded, but I there are some things I I read and um one of them one of my questions was looking at where it was talking about um uh animals being left in vehicles. And I know that that it is a thing, but some concerns that I had about it is just that one, I know that sometimes people have electric vehicles and I've been in a parking lot where someone started up an electric vehicle. I couldn't hear it. So, I guess my question is, how do we ensure that it's not running and they don't have either the air conditioning on or the heat on in the vehicle? And I know typically with like a remote start or whatever, most vehicles will run about 15 minutes or or so. But I guess where my concern comes in, especially when it talks about breaking a window or breaking a lock, um my con my concern or question is that let's say hypothetically if I had a a pet, I hit my start, the temperature in my vehicle, I can set it through an app or whatever and I have it comfortable. I'm in the store for 15 minutes, literally shuts off. How do we ensure that that vehicle didn't just stop running? And how like what are what steps do we take or what signs do we see to know that this pet is uh distressed to where uh we may have where a a window may have to be busted or a lock is busted out of a door. Um I don't know the signs of distress of an animal. So I I I truly don't know. I I am concerned that if a window has to be busted out, if the vehicle just shut off and the temperature is still good in the vehicle, I might be 2 minutes from coming out of the store. I'd hate to come out and see a busted window or

busted lock and I was literally walking right out of the the store. So, I guess that's where my first question starts. Like, is is there a way to identify like, oh, definitely that that animal is is in distress? I can start the answer and then I can turn it over to ACO Sanchez. But really it's not whether the vehicle is running or not um or what that situation is, but it's more about the distress that you mentioned that the animal or pet is in. Um some of the you know signs of distress are heavy panting like from a dog. Um where they're panting so much their tongue is elongated because they're they're trying to cool their body and they're unable to. Um, and you know, I I'll turn it over to ACO Sanchez because I know there's more specifics, but that's the one that the police officers look for is how the animal is reacting. Are they lethargic? Are they not reacting at all? Those type of things.

Hi. So, yeah. So, animals will generally start to pant. They will start to salivate if the temperature rises too much. A temperature for a normal animal, for a dog, goes up to 102 and a half. If it goes higher than that, they start seizuring at about 106 bodily temperature. So, we'll start to see stuff like that. We have had incidences o particular over the summer and also over the winter this past this past year if they are in in areas of like Aldi's which was one from last year. We'll go actually in Aldi's in those areas to say hey can you guys make an announcement over the intercom as long as the animal's not in distress. Now the other ways is that we also have a temperature reader where it actually gauges the inside of a vehicle. So it will read up to 120 degrees if not sometimes higher. We have had a reading of 106 before. That's just for inside the vehicle. So that's kind of where we're struggling at. But it's not so that we primarily just go in over there and if we see a dog or a cat, we're just going to break the window.

We that's definitely not our goal. We just want to make sure if in the event there's something serious that has happened to an animal, we have the jurisdiction to to act fast. The last thing I want to see is a seizuring dog because unfortunately I have and many times. Yeah. And I'm I'm I truly don't know cuz I don't own a dog. I've never owned a dog.

Yeah. No, it's not a question. Um and and I guess the way I looked at it just to be just for clarity is just that you know before I say yeah just bust a lock like that's why I wanted to know but I did I did read too that you mentioned that every reasonable attempt would be made to try to find out and and that's kind of what I wanted to know and you know I didn't get a chance to ask that at you know before tonight. Um, but you know, um, I just kind of wanted to hear where that was with it. But it sounds like, uh, sounds like you guys would try to make every reasonable attempt before resorting to that. And basically, it would be deemed an emergency situation, um, when you see those visible signs. And and you're right, it would be an emergency situation that we would resort to that where we don't have the time to notify the owner or we go into the store or whatever location it is, we're unable to find an owner to come out in a in a quick period of time. Um, but again, it's not our it's not our goal to break somebody's window out. Um, you know, we have a record service that's right close that we can have them come and open the car door a much easier way. Again, depending on the level of stress that the animal is in. Um, but but I can also state that if the animal were in the stress that we're talking about where they're panting heavily or getting lethargic or getting into seizure activity, um, there's, you know, it's a felony to leave your dog in a in a vehicle like that where they're affecting. So, it would be a crime in and of itself absent, you know, the breaking of the window or the opening of the door.

Okay. Any I have a question. So, I see here that the regulation would only allow for three dogs only in a household. Is this like the standard? Yes, that is the standard. Um, every city that I know of that I've looked into, um, it's three pets or less or three dogs or three cats, um, goldfish, other things don't count, but yes, that is a standard. Question.

Yes. um this document we had at our desk here from uh Ashley. Are we supposed to deal with that tonight along with the new amendments? I I don't think so. I think that was justformational. That was an email that was uh I think sent to you or West and that you shared with us. That's correct. It was previously sent to me and and uh Kim before the meeting asked if uh uh it would be a good idea just to have that on the council tables just for reference if necessary. city have make copies and circulate it.

The other question is that uh there's a there's probably 10 pages um of the changes. Will this be put on the city hall's what do you call them? Facebook or whatever so people can see exactly all the changes that that are going to be made. Your honor, um not only would it be on the city's page, but it would be on the police department page as well as the animal control page. um we would put it on all pages uh any updates that we are making to the ordinances plus um as you know we report to Munich code so that Munich code can also update the ordinances um on there as well.

Okay. Uh then Mr. Mayor, I would move that uh we approve uh the first reading of ordinance number 26-1256 and to schedule a second reading and adoption for the regular city council meeting on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2026. Support. Okay. I I did have another question uh before we go for it.

Okay. Um, so kind of jumping down to like to the end where it's talked about violations. Um, let me see. I want to make sure. I think this was in regards to let me see.

All right. I had it. So, where it's talking about the violation uh would be a misdemeanor um uh and a fine not to exceed $500. Um, this is if someone doesn't have their I'm just going to use the term fixed. They doesn't have if they don't have their cat fixed. Um, if it's impounded or is it or is this fee part of you impounding the cat plus they also have to do these other things? I guess I'm trying to understand that because it says that that a fine can be up to $500. And then it also mentions imprisonment for a term not to exceed 93 days in jail. Um, so can somebody give me a little clarity on that that part?

That's for that's for cats for being intact male and an intact female in the residence. As long as one of the sexes are fixed, then there's no violation. It's just to prohibit it from breeding and having a hoarding situations. Unfortunately, last year we had a hoarding case of over a 100 cats in one house here in East Point. So, that's what we're trying to pro fix. Okay. And I I I guess Can I say one more? Oh, yes. Yes, please.

Um, also with that is um the violation is always the last resort. Um, it's not that okay, we go to your house and you have an intact male and you have an intact female and you automatically get a misdemeanor, $500 or, you know, 90 days in jail. it doesn't work that way. It's a warning. We try to get cooperation. If we cannot get cooperation through the warning um for anyone of a number of reasons, but mostly if they're just refusing to do it, then it gives us the ability to issue the violation. And it should be noted that all of our animal control violations um under the city ordinances are misdemeanors. They're not civil infractions.

Okay? And I'm just being honest. I'm a little uncomfortable with that, especially when it talks about the jail time and and maybe it's just my lack of understanding with pets and and cats and dogs, but that that's a hard one for me. I'm just being honest about it. So, if I may, that those charges actually get dismissed once the animals are approve once the animals are fixed. So, as long as they prove that at court, we actually dismiss those case those charges. Uh how often I guess uh with our ordinances as as they are um do we often get misdemeanors? Uh if cases are they typically dismissed?

It's a little bit of both. Um sometimes we do run into cases where the owners are adamant that they don't want to fix their animals because they want to breed. Um, we have a situation like I did yesterday, two females and one male outside, left outside all day. Um, I also work with an organization called the KG Foundation, which primarily has a goal of fixing residential animals, they pay for it. So, they actually linked up with the KG Foundation today because she called me and she actually is already getting all three of them in line to get fixed. So there are situations like that where they actually people like to remedy it. They just don't have the funds to do it. So we we give chances to do it and before anything is even issued, we generally give them two months to get the animal fixed unless they want to work with the KG Foundation.

Well, just just to add to that quickly, your honor, um with that again, like I said, all of our animal ordinances are misdemeanor. I mean, they all come with that penalty, but I know what we generally do in court, too, is is like acco Sanchez spoke of is is as long as it's not somebody who's just animately disobeying the law and refuses to do anything to cooperate, you know, not one of these other things where they don't have the funding or they don't have, you know, they need more time, stuff like that. Generally, and I know Rich could speak to this too, but generally, um, anything that was written as a misdemeanor is usually either dismissed or it's reduced greatly. Um, I don't know. I mean, since I've been here for over two and a half years now, I don't think anybody has ever went to jail on one of these type of tickets at all. You know, it's not the goal. The goal is to make sure that the pets are safe. Um, and that the family has what they need to to move forward.

Mayor, if I could speak to that as well. Um because uh these types of charges are misdemeanors, the person uh has the option if they want to retain their own attorney or uh the court will provide um a court-appointed attorney um to represent them. And usually what we do is we will from beginning from the first court appearance, we will adjourn it. we will adjourn the pre-trial to give them an opportunity to either uh relocate uh the animal outside of the city or make sure that the ordinance is complied with and upon doing that then the the charge itself gets dismissed. Okay, that's in practice that's how it typically works.

Okay, I think I just have like two other things and then I'm um um for this where you say you may have to go to a home to to impound a cat. I guess I'm just curious is what causes that like an awareness that hey this house has excessive cats like um how do you know that or determine that?

So in the case involving over 100 cats EMS actually had to go in for the homeowner. Okay. Um the then they ended up reaching out to building who in turn actually ended up reaching out to us because we don't know unless we get told somebody calls us with concerns or somebody walks by and smells a really bad stench odor. Like that's we're not going to random people's houses knocking on doors.

I was just I was just curious. Um and then I guess lastly I'm I'm curious. I was reading a section about like the farm animals and the the shelter for rabbits and all of that and I guess I'm curious as to why cuz um I know that there are people that own rabbits. I've known like maybe two two um has this been a thing where you found somebody keeping a rabbit in a garage or something? We we just had a recent case um which is part of the reason why this was brought up um where there were bunnies that were being kept outside in sort of a hutch system here in the city and they were completely neglected. Uh the owner had said that they would went out there at the beginning of the week um and then never went back to give them any fresh water or food and three of the four bunnies uh starved to death and froze to death um outside trying to escape where they were at. Um, so yeah, that that really brought it to the forefront of of our attention that these kind of things, you know, just should not happen. Um, but again, with with any kind of animals like that in a city setting, um, I don't know that we're, you know, we're really not equipped to handle, you know, those kind of situations where you have rabbits that you're keeping as outdoor pets. I mean, they're not meant to be outdoor pets like that. Um and and so just going with what we have seen in the city, we thought it was necessary to bring forth um kind of like we do with dogs. We don't allow people to keep dogs outside overnight. We have a strict ordinance that says they have to come in between certain hours. Um we have the same thing. Uh we wanted to pass along the same regulation for rabbits because they are, you know, they're sensitive animals just like anything else, but um they need to be taken care of properly. and other exotics. Yeah, we did add the

other exotics in because there are other exotics like chinchillaas and um several other pets that people have that that are considered exotics now. And then just to back up real quick on what uh acco Sanchez has spoken about. Um when I did work for Madison Heights, uh we did have a a similar case where it was 150 cats that were removed from that house. And basically the way that we were notified to that is that that the odor, the ammonia odor was so strong that there were there were residences three to four houses down that were actually complaining about the odor. Um and we went there the first time, you know, the guy came out into the front yard so we couldn't get, you know, any closer to the house and he was talking to us, but even he smelled highly of the ammonia.

Um and when we ended up going in, we found 150 cats there. So, that's another way that these get brought to our attention. Okay. All right. Um, I I appreciate the clarity. I I was going to just poke poke at you guys and say, "Hey, did one of our residents bring this to you, but I won't ask that." So, uh, that was it.

Um, I just have one question. You mentioned you what we have now is the temperature for animals being outside, little little rabbits and little chicks. Um, if you find Well, Easter's almost here and I don't know if nothing's changed. Uh, and some of the churches and and I'm sorry, I shouldn't say churches, just anybody. So, scratch that. Uh but the temperature is below what you have the ordinance and would would the police take action and require them to take the animals inside? Again, these these ordinances are specifically meant for residences and people that are actually housing animals outside for lengths and periods of time. Um if it were a situation that there was an animal that was here for an hour or two, um that's not the spirit of what the ordinance is meant to protect. This is meant to protect those that are trying to house them permanently um at their residence.

That's all my questions. Mayor, any other questions? Please call the role. Oh, mayor. I just wanted to point out uh there is a typo on the agenda. Instead of this would be set for first reading. Instead of April 3rd, which is a Friday, it would be April 7th. Friday, the correct date would be April 7th instead of April 3rd, which on the agenda. All right. Are you fine with your motion uh being scheduled second reading for April 7th? Sure. Who supported that? I did. Okay. All good. Yes. All right. Uh please call the RO. Council member Curley. Yes. Council member Shadlick. Yes. Council member Scott.

Yes. Council member Baker? Yes. Mayor Kleinfeld?

Yes. Great. Item B, introduction, first reading of ordinance number 26-1257, traffic and vehicles. Um, this one was pretty straightforward. Would anyone like to make a motion? I move that we introduce and give first reading to ordinance number 26-1257 amending chapter 44 traffic and vehicle section 44-64 enforcement and to schedule the second reading and adoption for the regular city council meeting on Tuesday that's April 7th 2026 is there support uh did anyone have any questions Please call the role. Council member Baker,

yes. Council member Curley, yes. Council member Scott, yes. Mayor Kleinfeld, yes. Council member Shadlick, yes. Right. Item C, discussion uh on requests for earlier hours for adult use establishments. I will do would you like to open up, Councilman uh Curley?

Yes. Thank you. Uh I asked this have this put on the agenda. Um first of um Moses Ros are not asking to increase the opening at the later hours but in the morning and I I believe that their request from red we do putting at 9:00 instead 10:00 is warranted u as he mentioned that u they have cars there waiting for that to open up and uh I see no reason it would not affect the city at all. And I might also add that u they have the plants the the boxes out where people can plant flowers and they also have a a fencing area for people bring their dogs there. So they've done exactly what they promised to do before they before they opened up. So I would make the motion uh Mr. mayor that we approve uh the request to uh have the Moses roast open up at 9:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m.

support. Great. Um and I didn't really have really strong opinions about whether the store opened at 9 or 10. Did anyone else have any questions or comments?

Um I only have a comment. I know. Um I had the opportunity to go by Moses Roses on Wednesday, March 11th, and I had the opportunity to speak to Chris. Um my only concern is when I walked in, I wasn't IDed. There was no security. I wasn't checked. I was able to just go straight in. And I know we're supposed to have some type of regulations going on. So, if we don't have those things in place right now, I don't see why we should allow them the opportunity to open up earlier if I'm just I I wasn't IDed for anything. So, I don't really think it would be safe until maybe we can verify that those checks and balances are in place. Um, I guess I might ask administration. Uh, and I don't remember with our current ordinances, is is that required when you walk in? I know it was for I think medical.

U, Mr. Mayor, if I may, um, with the recreational or adult use, there's much more state control and less at the municipal level. Um, and of course if this this would require a city ordinance change if you wanted to change to ours. Um, but the most of the regulations are through the state and so I mean we can check into that in terms of what they require. I mean I think regardless of what our hours are that's just something in regular course would have to be enforced with the state regulations. I believe I would assume, but Rich, we can check into that, right?

And I I'm sorry. What What was the wording of your motion? Just to allow them to be open at approve that the request to open up at 9:00. And I think uh because Miss Helman just stated something that I I guess I didn't it didn't click for me. I think this would require an ordinance change with the first and second reading. It would may I was going to say something uh it because there isn't a recommended motion attached. So I can make that uh ordinance change ready for first reading at the April 7th uh uh meeting. So that's not something we could just motion on this evening.

Well, it's the only change is it's it's I mean if the council considered this a first reading and then I can make the change and that would be the second reading because the text is only changing from from the hour. That's the only change. Do you need a draft for the first reading though? I don't think that the uh I mean there has to be a first and second reading. I don't think that the ordinance is specific that there actually has to be a written motion in front of the uh council.

So I guess my position is I I'm like I said I don't think there's a for me I don't think there's a huge difference between nine and 10. Um, I think our administration should look into the issue to make sure all the regulations are being followed regardless um of what council does. Um, I'm okay with the change, but I think what we would probably should do instead is direct to have a draft of an ordinance of first and second reading. I don't think we've ever had a first reading of an ordinance without a draft in front of us and an ordinance number.

I mayor, I don't recall that ever being the case. There could be one that was a very minor change over the years, but generally speaking, it's a first and second reading with an actual ordinance for the first reading and then approved at the second. Wouldn't this also be a very minor change with it being just a you know from the number 10 to nine? It it is a minor change. Pretty minor. Yeah. Okay. I guess let me just so for clarity you you think it's okay to move forward without

I think worst case worst case scenario I will look into it worst case scenario at at the April 7th meeting it becomes a first reading instead of a second I just don't know if the if our ordinance uh process requires that kind of specificity but uh either either it's going to be a first reading or a second reading at the next meeting should we amend There motion then to read that it would be the first reading of the amendment. It is your motion. What do you Well, I'm waiting for his answer. I mean, can't we just can't we just make this the first reading? You're because you're Yes. Yes.

Yes. Right. This I would add my motion the first reading to approve the request to open up at 9:00 instead of 10 o'clock with sec with second reading to be scheduled for April 7th. And the second reading would be scheduled for the next regular meeting. I'll still support that.

Okay. And I'm just going to go on record. you know, um I'm not in favor of it, but I've never been in favor of marijuana coming into East Point. Just for just so you know, it's nothing personal, but I've always advocated for prevention. I've um worked with a group that focused on prevention for youth and families, and that's kind of where I stand. That is exactly where I stand with it. So, um that's why my my vote won't be in support of it, just so you'll know that directly from me. Any other comments? All right, please call the roll. Council member Curley, yes. Council member Shadlick, yes. Council member Baker, no. Mayor Kleinfeld,

yes. Council member Scott, no. All right. Um, moving on to discussion on committee to meet with school board. Uh, uh, Mr. Mayor, my mind is thinking that a two or three months ago at least we sat here and got volunteers to be the leazison for a senior citizens committee was my was myself. Then did we not see who wanted to be leazison to the school schoolboard committee? Did we not do that already? Uh so I don't think we've discussed it recently. I

No, it wasn't recently. It was two or three months ago and somebody and two people volunteered. A while back I was uh on this like subcommittee with the some of the schoolboard members. There was a change over in the membership there and um we weren't a able to meet for a time. I'd still be willing to do that if council's agreeable. Um, but I think the idea is uh we want to get together with the school board and also schedule a joint meeting at some point when we can figure out dates and um sort of just start building that relationship again.

Mr. Mayor, if I may, yes, that is the conversations that the city manager and the school board superintendent have had. And my understanding is that the school board um did have a vote to appoint um two members, I think, of their to meet with the school superintendent and then we would need two members from city council um to meet with our city manager on a relatively regular basis. Do you know what two members they appointed? I I don't. I'm sorry. So, you'd like to be one of the two if we have two? If council is okay with it. Yeah, that' be fine. That's fine with me. It makes sense, I think, for you too. What? I like to be one of the two.

Okay. So, moved. I'll support. Did I mean was anyone else interested? I guess. No, that's fine. Call the room. So I have council member Scott who was mayor. You were Yeah. Okay. All right. I guess uh please call the role. So wait, our motion is to support this committee or to appoint members. I think it was to appoint myself and uh Councilwoman Scott. Okay. Which I guess would imply that we'll support the committee. Mayor Kleinfeld. Uh yes. All right.

Who made the motion? Oh, Mr. Curley. Member Curley. Yes. And then support was by Yes. Mayor Kleinfeld. Yes. Council member Shadlick. Yes. Council member Scott. Yes. Council member Baker. Yes. All right. Uh moving on to payroll and bills. Would anyone like to make a motion? Oh, sure. I move that we pay the bills in the amount of $2,596,793.50. support. All right. Did uh Well, I guess we don't have our finance director here, but were there any questions? Please call the RO. Council member Baker, yes. Council member Scott, yes.

Mayor Kleinfeld, yes. Council member Shadley, yes. Council member Curley, yes.

All right, the second hearing of the public is now open. Would anyone wish to be heard? Again, my name is Chris Ayello for the record 8 mile and Kelly. Um, thank you for your time tonight and then um I forgot to talk about one thing and thank you council member Curley for bringing it up. So, we have 10 planters that were built in front of the uh store and spring is here and so we want to work in collaboration with the city and pass on the word that um we're looking individuals that want to help either plant tomatoes or we'll we'll supply everything seeds, clones, the whole thing. Um who want to help participate in maintaining these uh flower beds and vegetable beds and so there'll be um from they'll be open to the public and Italian descent. The ones nearest the building will all be vegetables and uh hopefully I've learned a few things. So we'll have lots of potatoes and lettuce and county ancestry clones inside of those beds open to the entire city. And so, um, just help get the word out. If there's somebody that has a green thumb in the community that wants to be a point of contact for the community to help organize this, um, we'll give it our best effort by putting all the dirt in there and the clones, but we've heard from a lot of citizens that they want flowers in some of the beds. But, um, it's a community effort. We just I don't know if we have the reach to maintain all of this. We'll supply the hose lines. We'll have the tools. We'll get all the clones and everything, but I guess just pass on the word if somebody has something special they want to be planted. Uh we're we're all ears in arms. Thanks.

Thank you.

Anyone else wish to hear? Mary Hall Rayford U East Point. I guess I probably should have said something in the first hearing of the public. I was hoping that u things would turn out a little differently. At any rate, are we going to change ordinances every time somebody wants to make a difference in their sales? And I'm not just saying that as a rhetorical question. I really want people to think about that. We have kids going to school right now and most of the teachers are probably thinking they're the ones who are smoking. That's not healthy for the child to sit in somebody's car. It's not healthy for the home for people to have smoke around their children. I don't have any small children in the school and nobody's allowed to smoke anything in my house because I don't want to smell like it. It's just that simple. But to do that because they're concerns about I'm losing out on money for an hour. Well, change your business plan and do something better. I'm feeling quite adamant about that and I'm extremely disappointed that you decide to move forward with this anytime. And we we've gone through this before. We wanted to, you know, people wanted to stay open later. Okay, you stayed open later. Now you want to open up early. What's it going to be next? When the sun rises. This is ridiculous. no consideration for the people who live

here and their thoughts on the matter because it wasn't out there. And now we have even more even more of a hindrance for people like me who already have difficulty breathing. And I'm not the only one. I really wish the bottom line is not the only reason we're going to change ordinances so somebody can make more money. That's ridiculous. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to be heard? Anyone else? Jennifer Nicholas, East Point resident. Um, yeah, that is a nice visual thinking that there's people lined up in the parking lot waiting for a weed store to open at 10 o'clock. Um, does nobody in the city work anymore? Um, and while it's really nice that they've um are contributing planters and seeds, um, I'm wondering how they're affording that when they still owe over $50,000 in back property taxes to Mcome County. Um, the other thing that I wanted to talk about is these uh the ordinances on garages. And I hate being redundant, but it bothers me because we had two different messages going back and forth, and I still don't know what the correct answer is. At the November 6 Planning Commission meeting, Commissioner Naylor expressed concerns with the three-foot garage setbacks. She gave an example of her neighbor's garage that burned down. She said it would be a tragedy for the neighbor to try now to reduce what they had had access to. Mr. Meyers assured the planning commission that tragedy

doesn't ever require us to revert back to a new model. If it is an existing garage and it is damaged and needs to be rebuilt, it should not have to come off the same platform of which it was established. It should be able to be restored. Prior to making a motion, the planning commission um Commissioner Naylor asked about including language that would protect existing garages to allow homeowners to use the original setbacks if a garage needed to be rebuilt. Mr. Meyer said that section 11.07 part D part one already covers this in an event of a fire or national natural disaster. So, no additional language would need to be added. February 17th city council meeting. Our city manager and building prof off official proposed the setbacks remain at three feet. Mr. Mattis specifically stated that if a homeowner lost the entire building, it would have to be rebuilt to the current specs. I brought this up at the planning commission meeting March 5th. Commissioner Naylor's response was, "We did talk about those garages. We did give an example, but I guess city council can vote differently. If my stuff burned down and now I've got to cut up concrete and put a smaller garage on, that seems very cumbersome for someone who has already had a disaster. Commissioner Moody stated, "My opinion is the exact same thing with references to those garages. I would hate to think if something happened to my garage and then I would have to lose some space." So, so what is it? because there was a garage fire on Tuscanyany on Friday and I'm thinking that neighborhood has setbacks smaller than three feet as the majority of the city does. So, does that person have to move their garage over when they rebuilt? Do they have to build a smaller garage? Um, you know, it's

just I feel that planning commission made a recommendation based on the assurance that Mr. Myers gave them that existing garages would be protected in the event of a disaster. But then we did a flip-flop at the city council meeting. So some clarification would be

anyone else wish So, um I would love to see what the ordinance languages um so I can be better prepared for the uh next council meeting. Um council member Baker, the way that you avoid um any of the issues with the dogs left in the car, it's real simple. Leave your dog at home. It's ridiculous. Uh, you know, summer after summer, dogs left in hot cars. Um, and even in the winter, it's just stupid. Nobody, and I mean nobody, goes into a store. I'm just going to be in there for five minutes. No, that doesn't happen. And engines cut out even with air conditioning on. Um, and then you wind up, you know, like an acco Sanchez says, you you wind up with these stress situations. I'm glad to hear uh there's discussion about the rabbits in the ordinance. Um you know that tells me Mr. Albbright my two drafts were not all in vain. A um so uh rabbits, no they do not belong housed outside. Period. Um the federal law for the animal welfare act is rabbits cannot be in temperatures below 40°. Acio Sanchez that's like really super close to the dogs in the winter where it's 42 43 degrees. So you know that pretty much co- insides

but again I can't stress the importance of rabbits do not belong housed outside period. They're social animals. And then how sad is that? Those poor bunnies froze to death. I spoke at a recent meeting about Hadell finding a frozen a black rabbit that froze to death outside. So clearly there is a problem here in East Point with people being outrageously irresponsible with their rabbits. They should not have rabbits to begin with. You either need to be hyper vigilant on the ball, you know, just super responsible with rabbits as any animal. If you take an animal, you take them for life. You don't or you don't take them at all. And you sure as hell don't leave them outside to freeze to death. No water. How sad. How tragic. Those

froze to death and they were neglected. Mr. Albbright, I hope you have a conversation with um prosecutor Lasto about that because I'm looking at the intent. I would definitely argue felony animal cruelty because that was not a mistake to just ignore them and not give them water. That's not a mistake at all. So, if anyone has any questions about this, please contact me. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the rabbits. Thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else wish he res like to uh speak in regard to family town. If anything need to be changed, that need to be changed. This hadn't been a family ch town in who knows how long. Uh I don't have to worry about uh uh my uh children or anything uh uh inhaling smoke of any sort around the house if it is outside. in other areas and what have you. Uh I know uh I run across even going in in and outside of grocery stores or wherever and what have you. Just uh I used to be a smoker and uh I can smell smoke from almost halfway down to 8 miles from here. Uh and then to think about uh children got to be uh in uh uh around such uh of that sort and what have you. It's just absurd. Uh and then to say a family town uh when the kids there's no disconnection. Uh you're not doing it in the private going in the closet and what have you. The kids know you smoke weed. They know you do drinking. They know you do all this kind of stuff and what have you. So you ain't hiding nothing but you ain't trying to hide nothing. But then you have people that come along and make laws and decisions and what have you. I'd like to commend uh uh Councilman Baker and uh Councilman Scott, uh Councilwoman Scott and what have you for

having the nerves to speak up and to uh go against that, especially if you're calling yourself of any type of person of faith and what have you. The scriptures got the guideline. It's the map. It tells you what to do, what's what's acceptable, what ain't acceptable. And a lot of people are perpetrating, calling themsel that and what have you. But we know a lot of people are phony, fake, and whatever else and what have you. And those are just words meaning nothing and what have you. Uh but don't come around me with it faking. Uh so uh I just like to say uh uh I hope we can do better at some time and some point what have you to get our heads together. I came in that area where they used to call hippies and uh used to uh be around all that and everything. You know, it's funny. A lot of them don't smoke anymore because uh there is harm, there is hazards and the law and and the government the government uh uh outlawed it during that time uh because of the hazards of the health reason. But when it came to money, just like uh someone said earlier and everything, when it came to money and here in America, we'll do whatever. We'll bend over backwards. We'll give whatever. We'll do whatever. Um I just think with what happened last week, um me being able to just go inside Moses Roses, I know it's been a hot topic, um I decided that it was necessary for me to visit the business and actually get my own opinion of what it was like to go in. I don't support marijuana. As a teacher, I think it's very important to

make sure that um we talk about smoke safety. Um, but just knowing that there are regulations and I didn't feel like they were following them. Imagine if there was um a child that walked in under age 16. They would have had the ability to actually access that and it was actually 5:30 p.m.ish. It wasn't even 9. So, the fact that they want to open at 9:00 and we just allowed it. I think personally I don't agree with it. I know I had the opportunity to actually speak to another business owner and they kind of let me know that there they moved to East Point from a neighboring city because some of our guidelines ordinances were much more lenient. I don't know how I was supposed to receive that, if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Um, so that's just something I would just like to put out there that when we're um passing these motions and ordinances that we kind of consider what are we doing, what is the setup, what is the vision, we're considering the master plan, what are we doing for the future of the city of East Point. And that's all I have to say.

Thank you, Councilwoman Mashadck. I just wanted to mention uh something that uh Mary President Mary Hall Rayford had um Mary Hall Rayford had mentioned about women's history month and um recognizing those um in our own community. I just wanted to mention that the arts and cultural diversity commission does have a page and we did mention a few people including um planning commissioner Kimley Naylor. she had um an an article in there about her and being um awarded as the um one of the honores, the 2026 honores of the Enterprising Women Foundation. Um so I'd like to give a shout out to her and congratulate her on that accomplishment and also commend her for her service on the planning commission. I know she's an integral part of that uh commission and we do appreciate her as well as you, Mary, on that commission. Um, but there are some other women on the on the page, too, as well as if you're on Facebook and you'd like to peruse that, I would suggest that you do. Um, and that's all I have today.

Thank you, Councilman Curley.

Oh, thank you. As we all know, we're now celebrating 250 years for America way back when, 1776. Uh Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the declaration. He was 70 years old. And uh if you ever seen the movie 1776, it gives a lot of details about the trouble they had to finally pick somebody to to write the Constitution. And let me read something to you. We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of the liberty to ourselves and our prosperity. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 250 years, tens of thousands of people, men, women, and children have died so we can sit up here and so you can sit out there. We are great country. Um things are happening that we don't like. An example is that u in the last few days people are being called stupid over the airwaves. You're not stupid. We're not stupid. You're not dumb and we're not dumb. But when somebody takes advantage of the airwaves and calls somebody stupid

where millions of people can hear that, that's not right. That's not right. Can you imagine tonight's meeting? We didn't all agree, did we? And that's okay. That's okay. But can you imagine how many countries that if you got up and went to the microphone and said what you said tonight, you'd probably taken a long train trip someplace that's really cold. So, God bless God bless all of you. Uh that's okay to disagree and uh we still love one another and um just remember the preamble that I just read that we have freedoms that no other country has and we thank God for that. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Baker.

Thank you. So, uh, just addressing a couple things in regards to the garage setbacks, um, because I did watch, uh, some of that meeting, heard some of the comments. We didn't all vote in favor of that. And I want to make that perfectly clear. is because I I want to and it's I understand that it's always stated that the council passed something and I understand it's by a majority vote, but there are some things where I feel like people lump everybody together saying you all did this. No, we all didn't. It passed by a certain vote. Um and it wasn't a unanimous vote. And I think sometimes it's important to distinguish that. Um, at the end of the day, people have to the council has to vote the way they they see is what they think is best, but we don't always agree on what that is. Um, I wasn't in favor of changing that setback, but my vote didn't win on that. Um, in regards to the animals in the car, my job is not to tell people to leave their animals at home. Anybody, Miss Mar, you can have that opinion. I don't I'm not knocking you for your opinion. I wouldn't. But that's not my opinion. Um, as far as people not running into the store and saying, "I'm gonna be in and out in five minutes." I guess I'm one of the only guys that I know that can do that then because I've done it plenty of times. Um, people take their their animals, their pets, and their cars with them for various reasons. They have different trips, destinations that they have to go to. Sometimes to the vet, sometimes to visit loved ones. If they need to stop at a store, they have every right. My questions was just so that I could have a better understanding of what was being proposed and and I thought I made that perfectly clear that that's why I was asking. Um I know about cars shutting off because I literally said it tonight 15 minutes. My car does it. I I can set it from my phone to cut on right now. 15

minutes from now it will shut off. It will run at the uh uh it will heat up or cool down to whatever temperature I set it to to do. Um so I'm very aware of that. But my questions are so that I could have a better understanding of what's being presented to me. And I mentioned before I didn't have an opportunity to talk with our animal control officer or our chief about what was added on the agenda, but I knew that that was something that I could ask tonight. But my obligation is to try to be as informed as I can be. And that is the purpose of my questions. Um is not to say that people uh should have free reign to do whatever they want to do in regards to their animals. Just because I don't own a cat or a dog doesn't mean that I don't care about them. Uh I don't want to see anything happen to anybody's pet. I don't want to see an animal suffer. I don't advocate for that. But I have a right to ask a question. And there are some things that I don't understand. I mean, what who better to ask is we have our animal control officer here and she answer my questions. Anytime that I've had a question about an animal, she's been able to answer it. I I trust the people that are uh uh hired into those professions to do what they do and to give the the answer and the education that I'm seeking. And I I felt like I got that tonight. Um in regards to the marijuana, um like I stated tonight, I have never advocated for it. I understand that people have various reasons as to why they do. Um, but I I couldn't be in favor of this and and I agree uh with some of the sentiments that were expressed tonight. Um, you know, uh, I'll just leave it at that. I'm all about advocating for prevention. If adults want to smoke till their till smoke comes out of their ears or or mouth or nose or wherever

quite uh literally you have a right to do that but I do care about children. Uh, I used to volunteer with gleaners when I had an opportunity to, and I can't tell you how many times we've opened up a car door to place food products inside the car and the first thing that comes out is a big wave of uh marijuana or the smell of it. So, um, I don't know the gentleman that was here personally, but you know, that was my position and why I couldn't support it. Um, but it passed. He got what he wanted, so that's that is what it is. Uh, with that, that's it.

Hey, uh, thank you. Um, I just want to say, uh, I mean, I think it was I appreciate the everyone being very professional during meetings. I know we don't agree, but that's okay. Um, thank you for coming out, um, Sanchez, to talk on the, uh, agenda. You picked a good night to put it on the agenda. Um, and happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone. Motion to return. So, I sure my motion supported by by Scott. I was asking for one, but that counts. Uh, please call the role. Mayor Kleinfeld. Uh, yes. Council member Scott. Yes. Council member Shadlick. Yes. C. Council member Baker. Yes.

Council member Curley. Yes. All right. Meeting adjourned at 8:13.