City Council - Regular Meeting

Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat.

Good evening, Garden City. like to call to order regular city council meeting for Monday, May 4th, 2026 at 7 p.m. First order of business is our opening ceremony which consists of the national anthem followed by the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence for those service members who have given their lives for our country. Could you please rise? [clears throat] We're [music] 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. Mr. Smith, if you'd take roll call, please. Mayor Jacobs here. Mayor Prom Dold here. Council member Hughes here. Council member Whit here. Council member King here. Council member Dol here. Council member Kerapotus here. You have a quorum of seven. Thank you. Item four is the approval of the agenda. Mayor Council Member Wit

like to make a motion to approve the Monday, May 4th council meeting agenda as presented. Support or from council member Hughes. Discussion from table from public. All in favor?

Opposed. Motion passes 70. Uh we have no recognitions. No county or state officials. No presentations. We do have a couple community events. So, I'll call uh our DDA director, our community development director, Mr. Matt Miller, up to discuss uh a couple of items. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. Uh we have a couple slides that will hopefully show up there, but I wanted to first talk about the Lucky Squirrel that's coming up uh May 16th. That's our first one for the season. And uh we've got a full uh vendors [clears throat] there. 150 vendors will be there. Also, this year we worked on uh changing kind of the layout of the spaces for all of the vendors and we opened up another parking lot. So there'll be customer parking behind the Corwell building right off of Ford Road um right at Central. So you can take the alley alleyway from Central and also park there for additional customer parking. Uh so I want you to uh of course use utilize that parking and um it will help I think relieve some of the pressure off of the kind of Planet Fitness uh garden center there um shopping center and uh also it'll kind of we're we're working on it but we're we're kind of condensing it and maybe making a better shopping experience. So, we changed the way some of the um the uh rows will go and then um out on the on the main aisle coming in. We've got uh vendors on both sides so that you'll be able to do that. Um one of the comments we got from some of the vendors when they're all the way up almost by forward like we're the only ones up there. We're at the end of the road. So, we've got kind of company for them now. I guess we'll say. So, um I did want to of course invite everyone to come to our event. Come downtown May 16th for the Lucky Squirrel. Also, July 18th and

September 19th are our Lucky Squirrel Days uh for this year. Also, don't forget Zephy the squirrel. Um you can scan that. Uh it's on the website. Also, you can scan that, register for a shopping bag. And of course, at the Lucky Squirrel, your goal is to fill this up with treasures. And uh please do that. And you can get a free bag if you uh sign up for the bag. And that's Zephy the squirrel is there to welcome you. I'm not dressing up like a squirrel though. Somebody Did you get the costume? It's out there somewhere. Did you get the costume yet? No, I don't have the costume.

Okay. So, again, please come and um come downtown and enjoy that. And then also, while you're there, take advantage of the any of the businesses that are in the parking lot there. They're all open and ready to serve you. Right. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And you also have item B, another one.

Yes. This is the hometown hero banners. Uh, I just wanted to uh let the council know that we have 36 banners. So, I still have space for four more. So, in case anybody is out there, um, I I can accommodate four more to put out. And then also kind of a a special thing this year. I worked with Gil Stockton at the Straight Farmhouse and we're honoring a number of veterans that were killed in action uh from Garden City. And so he um it was great to work with him. He coordinated with me and then we also got a picture of their service um also their service record also when they were killed in action. So um there'll be a special banner denoting that and the date that it occurred. So please um when they're up of course go down and see all those but it is a special honor to give to those fallen soldiers. and um it has really been a great project working with him and kind coordinating with the museum to get out kind of that history of Garden City. And of course, a number of those um soldiers, their families aren't here anymore, but they should be honored from where they're from. So again, if you have any uh anybody that you know could get a banner, u please contact me uh by email at matthewmarden citymi.org. All right. Thank you.

Thank you. And that is a great idea. I'm glad that's coming about. Thank you. Okay, we have no petitions or communications. Item 10 is public hearings. We have a couple of them. First one is the uh 26 27 water and sewer rates. And I'll let Mr. Gibbons do a little brief uh introduction on it.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um tonight before us is uh both the uh 2627 water and sewer rates and the uh 2627 general appropriations attack levy ordinance. First up is the um setting the water and sewer rates for 2627. Um it includes a planned 5% increase in water rates which is consistent with the recommendation from last year's comprehensive rate study. This adjudgment this adjustment is not arbitrary. It reflects an ongoing reality that the cost of providing water and sewer services continues to rise particularly due to increases passed through the Great Lakes Water Authority as well as local system maintenance and operational needs. Over the past several years, water rates did not keep up with rising costs. As a result, the water fund experienced last year a significant financial strain, including the depreciation of reserves, ultimately required a substantial one-time rate adjustment. While that adjustment was difficult, it was necessary to maintain the system. This year's proposed increase reflects a different approach. One focused on stability, predictability, and long-term sustainability. Planned adjustments like this increase can better align revenues with actual cost, maintain adequate reserves, and avoid the need for larger, more disruptive rate increases in the future. We do not want a repeat of last year's increases. We want to maintain our assistant system efficiently um and maintain rate increases that are consistent with what our residents can come to expect. Uh responsible rate setting is essential to ensure our water and sewer system remains reliable, financially sound, and capable of meeting the demands of now and in the future. This allows us to continue delivering safe, dependable service to our residents while managing costs in a prudent and transparent manner.

Okay. Thank you. At this time, I will open up the public hearing on our uh water and sewer rates. Anybody wishing to speak? This is a time to make your comments, not a back and forth.

Um, I I guess what difference does it make what the public has to say? You guys already made up your mind. The public gave a lot of different options last year and you chose to keep the one that you had. Didn't matter what other people thought, how it impacts us. It was also stated that uh part of the reason why we were so much in the rears of the 9 million was because we didn't have the 5% increase every year. If we would have had that, we wouldn't be so far in debt. Well, that would have only bought brought the water rate up to maybe 50% increase where it was over 100% increase for water. So now you're saying we're going to get another 5% increase. And um I don't know where you think people are going to keep getting this. Water is a resource that we all need and um it wasn't our fault that the money was um spent inappropriately probably uh but yet it keeps falling on us and I think that some of the other options that the citizens came up with would have been better than yours.

You anybody else wishing to speak on the water and sewer rates? One more time. Anybody else for the public hearing wishing to speak on the water and sewer rates? Seeing no one, I will close that public hearing. Okay. Next public hearing is on our 2627 general appropriation and tax levy ordinance. Mr. Given.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. The 2627 budget is before you. Um, this budget continues the disciplined appro approach adopted over the past year to stabilize the city's financial position. Though difficult but necessary decisions, we've reduced expenditures, aligned operations with available resources, and moved from a projected deficit last year to an a small anticipated surplus during this fiscal year. This proposal builds on that progress by maintaining focus on essential services, limiting capital spending to critical needs, and continuing prudent financial management. Um, it establishes the tax levy for the coming year in accordance with the Headley amendment. While the city is now levying at or near its maximum allowable rate. That rate itself has been reduced over time by Headley rollbacks from 20 to 24. The city levied less than the maximum. Um currently this year we'll be leveling the maximum but it's reduced from 16 mills down to 14.8 mills because of Headley. The important point is the city has not been increasing its expected millage burden in the recent years but rather working with a constrained limitation and gradual reduced allowable rate even as costs have risen. One particular example um in uh one year we were we faced uh 7 to8% inflation. Um our uh capped increases were at 5% because of Hedley and Prop A. Um so we continue to operate as cross costs tend to increase beyond what taxable income our tax rate brings in. U with respect to what uh the uh the budget um there is uh two possible proposed resolutions before you. Um we've had a budget meeting in regards to the lighting assessment. Um and I presented information at a previous budget meeting. Um I I understand that uh you know given the last two years examination of this issue was significant. So we've provided one a passage of the budget budget with the leting assessment as presented and two an alternate um resolution that removes that taxation from this year's budget and uh realines and balances the budget with that in consideration. um that's

before you and uh certainly um you know uh a council discretion and we can work and manage with uh whatever council's uh pleasure. Thank you. Okay, at this time uh I will open up the public hearing on our 2627 general appropriation and tax levy ordinance. Again, uh you have chance to give us your comments and it's not a back and forth. Anybody wishing to speak?

Please, please state your name for the

Again, my comment will be what difference does it make? But we think as citizens, you keep billing, we have to keep paying. We don't have a choice. If we mismanage our budget, who are we going to go to? We can't go to the city and say, "Oops, we made a mistake. We let somebody spend too much money." No, we're screwed. We have to live on a budget just like you people have to. You're saying that the uh health care costs were much higher. Should have planned that ahead. Maybe we should renegotiate certain contracts if people go to work for the cities uh whether it's state, city, federal government to get a better plan and everything. it seems to be working out because it seems like the majority of this budget over almost 90% goes to salaries and retiree benefits and everything else it doesn't go to pay the city bills it goes to pay people. So in the uh private sector, if the company isn't doing good, we have to pay with our benefits. Whether we lose some of our benefits, we have to pay more. We have to pay extra to have our family included. When I left, I didn't have any benefits to go with me. Maybe government should start looking at that. Maybe outsourcing it so you don't have these different costs, but it shouldn't be constantly put on the people. this city had a chance to um oversee the spending at a time when um it was misused, let's say. And nobody did that. We had two mayors who allowed this to happen. We have a city council person who sat there that allowed this to happen. It didn't just happen overnight. It happened over what, a couple years. And it's the same thing with um uh the lighting. You guys took it off

for one year, which we appreciate it, but we paid what 13 14 years of something that did not materialize, and yet you come back to us for more money. You screw it up. Sorry, we're going to put it back on on the citizens. Radcliffe, how much is that costing us? Oh, we're not getting the same revenue that costs are. We're in the hole for for Radcliffe. And who's holding that? We have to pay with our taxes. Every time somebody sells a house in Garden City, their taxes of the new people who just bought increases almost by 100%. So, what are you doing with all that money? What about the 1.5 mil that you people got for the extra millage during COVID? That was never put in a little rainy day fund. No, you just kept on spending and spending and now who has to pay for it because of your misappropriations? We

and I'm getting sick and tired of it as a lot of other citizens in this city. Thank you. Further comments from the public time. Any more public comments on our uh 2627 general appropriation and tax levy ordinance? [clears throat] Seeing none, I will close that public hearing. Okay. Item 11 is our consent agenda. Mayor, council member [clears throat] Wit. I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda items A 1 through three as presented.

Report from Mayor Prom Dold. Comments from table from the public. [clears throat] All in favor? I

opposed. Motion passes 70. Okay. on to our action items. Uh, first item is our 2627 water and sewer rates that we just held the public hearing on. [clears throat] Mayor, Council Member King, I move to adopt the proposed ordinance amendment in section 53.03 and 53.04 04 of chapter 53 title title V or title five of the city of Gar city code providing rates and charges for water and sewer service and providing for billing for water and sewage disposal services support support from council member wit discussion from table

mayor council member carotus

I think that one thing that everybody's forgetting is when council votes on stuff like this it's a difficult decision for us too it it's affecting everybody that sits here, my water bill is just as high as everybody else's out there or even more. So, when we make these decisions, it is affecting us and we are listening to what you say. Um, if if we didn't pass this, Great Lakes Water just increased the rates starting July 1st, 5.8%. If we don't increase that now with our rates, it's going to be the exact same thing that happened last year. We're going to skip another year of increasing the rates when we were supposed to. 127 other communities in the Great Lakes Water Authority are also getting the same rate increase. This isn't just Garden City. It's not something that we can just say, "Oh, let's not increase our bill. We'll just eat it." Our city can't afford to eat it either. It It's not something that is taken lightly by anybody up here. I don't want to increase the water, but we have to be able to pay the bill. We have to be able to tell Great Lakes Water, "Yes, we want to buy the water from you." And they're going to say, "You have to pay this much. That's what we have to do." It's no different than your DTE bill. When they send you the bill, you have to pay it or you don't get electric. That's just how it works. Um, and for people out there that that have no help and are really in a financial strain because of these bills, I understand that. And there is help out there. Um, the water residential assistance program, it's called RAP. Um, they can help with water bills and they can also help with uh minor plumbing issues. So, if you're someone that is right around the um poverty level around uh $31,000 for one person or $42,000 for two people and it goes up from there, I think three people is 53,000. Um there's help out there and it's not just with your water bill, it's with any kind of plumbing or water issues. So, again, it's called uh the water residential assistance program and they can help if um you need it. and our council is working very hard to come up with other ways to just figure out how

we cannot put all this on our residents, but we're not coming up with great great answers.

Thank you. Further comment, council member do. Yeah, I also wanted to address the um [snorts] the comment made that we don't listen to the residents because we do and last year when there were a lot of residents that came up here and they gave alternatives to what what had to happen last year and those alternatives were reviewed. We sent them on. There were water rate studies done. We did listen, but none of those ideas panned out as well as what we ended up going with. I try to make it a point to always, and I know everybody up here, we do listen to the residents. Unfortunately, um, as Councilwoman Kiraotus said, sometimes we have to do the unpopular thing and it it it's just as hard on us. Um, and I wanted to also mention that it it was not a 100% increase. I know on social media people are putting that out there all the time that their bill doubled. If their bill doubled, there's other reasons for that. It should not have doubled.

That's really that's all I got. Thank you. Further comments from the table. Mayor, Council Member King, I just wanted to um heighten one of the things um Councilman Dole said mentioned was that these are numbers aren't arbitrary. Uh wasn't just our administration that came up with the water rates. We did contract it out to an engineering firm. Took a close look at all the books and this is a um what actually cost us to provide water to the residents and this is a path to get us back to one pay back the general fund because the water fun is so depleted had to borrow money from the general fund to pay that back and get us on the right track. Thank you. Other comments from the table? Mayor,

council member Hughes. Um, I want to point out that there were suggestions made by some of the residents and there is one that could potentially be thought, you know, through at a later date. It just didn't fit where the situation where we are right now. And I know that the city manager um looked into that deeply and it's not something that we couldn't put back on the table in a later date. You

further comments? Council member Carotus. you. Further comments from table from the public. Okay. All in favor? I

opposed. Motion passes 70. Okay. Item two is our was our second uh public hearing on the 26 27 27 general appropriation and tax levy ordinance. Mayor, Council Member Kapotus,

a motion to approve the fiscal year 2026 20227 general appropriations and tax levy ordinance with an amendment removing the street lighting special assessment to be assessed in 2026 and eliminating the street light lighting revenue line item in the amount of $350,200 and increasing the use of the fund balance revenue line item by 350,200 for a revised use of fund balance total of [snorts] 800,9 19153. I would also like to um remove this from further collection for the remainder of it. So I think I'm sorry I didn't catch the last part.

I would like to remove it permanently from collection for the remainder of its sentence. I think it's to 27 or 28. Support so we don't have to vote on it every year. Prom do. Okay. Discussion from table. Mayor, Council Member King.

Um, with the lighting assessment in place, we were already looking at, um, using 469,000, approximately 469,000 from our fund balance, which is basically the city's reserves to balance our budget. Uh, removing the lighting assessment, it's going to up it to about over 800,000 from our fund balance, our uh, basically city reserve to balance our budget. I have some concerns with that. Uh, as we mentioned with the water fund, there's about 2.9 million, I think, roughly. Yeah, 2.69 million from the water fund. I'm sorry, two 2.69 million from the general fund that it's over to the water fund being borrowed. That brings us down to about 3.9 million left in our unrestricted fund balance. That's about 14% of our expend expendentures. Um, and that was presented to us at the uh January meeting from Plan Moran. Uh, we have last August we decided to put together a fund balance policy to make sure we keep track of these fund balances so they don't we don't unfund them or we don't deplete them completely. In that fund balance, it says that we have to be at 25% or we have to have a three-year plan to get us back there. We're at 14% now. Use another 800,000 from our fund balance is only going to depreciate that money more. Um, I don't think it's not sustainable to keep going down this route. Another concern with the lighting assessment, it's an operational cost. It's not a cost that goes away. If we don't remove something from the expenses to counter this, it it just it keeps going. I mean, next year that we still have the lighting, we still had to pay for the lights and we took nothing from the expenses from the expense side to counter us

removing the revenue. I just feel it's irresponsible for council um to approve $800,000 using $800,000 from the fund balance to budget our balance to balance our budget. Mayor, council member do

um I would like to point out that what we're actually the additional that we're taking from the fund balance is 350,000. Um, my own personal opinion on this is that I think it has been somewhat irresponsible of this city council to continue year after year with this assessment when and and I know it was explained that legally the word improvement included maintenance um, you know, and just having the lights on. But in the real world, when you tell somebody improvement, that's not what what that means. And I think that um I think the initial idea even with council was that there was going to be improvement to the street lights and this was going to help pay for them. That didn't happen. Okay, it didn't have to happen. But I think it's time I think it's time for us to get rid of this. And it it's a small price to the residents. I think it comes to something like $30 a year per resident. It it's not very much, but it is something that we can give back. It's 350,000. We can absorb that over the next year or two and and make it right. So that just my thoughts on it.

You further comments from the table? Mayor, Council Member King,

I just want to clarify. Um I don't really have an issue necessarily getting rid of the light assessment. Um I think I mentioned it last year and we talked about voting on this. I would even like to see us maybe phase it out, reduce it um until it's gone. Uh my issue just removing it without moving the expense side. That's where I find this is responsible. Um the last three years uh 2024 budget the council that council approved a $2.5 million from the fund balance. That's just that's unreasonable. When the new city manager came in had to make a lot of cuts throughout the different departments to get that brought down. We end up ending in the year about a million dollars from our fund balance. Last year we budgeted 300,000 from our fund balance. This year, if this goes approved, it's now 800,000 from a fund balance. This is not just a one-time deal. This is a trend that I've seen every year now. Um

All right. Uh, I will, uh, call the meeting back in session. Uh, we were discussing the 2627 general appropriation and tax levy ordinance. Uh, there was a motion made by, uh, council member Ka Fotus and seconded by Mayor Prom Jeff Dold. And we were into discussions. Uh, and I think Council Member King was talking.

Uh, yeah, thanks, Mayor. Don't honestly don't remember where I left off, but basically what my point was, I don't have a problem removing the lighting assessment or phasing it out. Um, I'm just not uh in favor of this approach. I'm concerned using 800,000 from our fund balance to balance our budget. Um, I don't want to do what we did to our water fund, do the same thing to our fund balance and deplete it. Um, I think we we need to work on rem reducing expenses first and then remove the lighting assessment. That's it. Mayor, mayor, Council Member Hughes.

Thank you. Um I'd like to point out that um going into the 2526 budget, we were anticipating the use of funds $370,000 and um we're looking at potentially having a surplus 692 something like that as currently projected.

Okay. And um so with that said, it goes to show that our city our city manager is very well capable of managing the expenses and bringing costs down to come under budget. And I have the same I have the same belief that we can do the same thing if we take out the lighting assessment and um and look for some other places. People ask us to cut, you know, to tighten our belts and I think we just have to show that we can tighten our belts and I think it's a perfect opportunity to do so. Thank you. Further comments from table. Mayor, council member Karaotus. I

I think that Councilwoman Hughes is exactly right. We had um to take out a lot of money last year. Our new city manager was able to uh come in under budget because we did tighten our belts and we did uh cut some things. I think that's possible to do again or I don't think he even would have proposed that today that that was an option. Um and it's again it's not 800,000. We're asking to remove the 350,000. Um, and when you talk about lowering it, um, or gradually doing it, for 11 years, we've been asking this for our residents. And again, as Councilwoman Dol said, it may have been presented one way and then done another way. And this whole time, our residents have thought that they were paying to have our our lights replaced so that we would start saving on our bill. And that didn't happen. It just went to the light bill the whole entire time. So saying we're only gradually going to charge you for this instead of we're going to just stop charging you for this. And I also think that we are getting the lights replaced now. Correct. So those savings are going to come. Is it going to be $350,000? No, it's not going to be, you know, a half of our bill, but the savings are coming. And I I do feel that he is confident to I mean, do you feel that we would be able to handle that if we stopped the lighting? Um, you know, as as I've stated before, uh, certainly from a fiscal management standpoint, do I want $350,000 towards a lending assessment? Of course, it does make it easier to navigate next year's budget, but if council so chooses, uh, to remove it, I will endeavor over the next few months to develop a cost cutting plan um, to essentially cover that. I uh, and uh, would look forward to probably sometime mid next year looking at some type of amendment to recognize those cost savings. Um there's quite a few ideas we're already kind of floating around to reduce things uh with or without the lighting assessment. Anyways, um I I'll just uh endeavor to uh work on those.

Thank you. Thank you. Further comments from table. Council member, Council Member Dolan,

lighting assessment aside, um the budget itself, I do want to uh commend our city manager because he has made a lot of cuts. he's made a lot of changes this past year so that we we are in a better place right now. And I also wanted to uh address a statement that was made here in regard to health insurance. And you know um when companies come in a little low on funds, what do they do? They they go to their employees and they cut benefits. And I have to say that our city manager has is trying extremely hard not to let this affect our employees. Um and and I'll say for myself and and I'll say it and I'm proud to say it. I support the unions period. If we have a contract with you, I am not going to look into breaking that contract in any way. And we have contracts with our employees here. Now, of course, they're negotiated every few years. And you know, who knows what what happens in the negotiations, but that has to be agreed on from both sides. So, um I I do not I will not arbitrarily just go in and and break a contract. So, this is what we have. Did we anticipate health insurance going up what 1.3 million possibly? No. I mean, we we figured there'd be an increase, but that that was really a big increase. We are looking at other ways. um you know it will make it work.

Thank you. Further comments from table. Mayor, council member King.

No, I just I would agree. I do think our city manager is responsible and um we'll look for savings as he has in the last couple years. I don't doubt that. Uh my concern is it shouldn't be up to the city manager. I mean, I take that back. It's ultimately up to the council to approve the budget. If we approve the budget of spending 800,000 from the fund balance and if that's what h ends up happening by the end of the year, there's nobody to blame but the council. Um the city manager [clears throat] did did what he could with what he had was given. Um regarding the 800,000, I agree. We started off with 500,000 from the fund balance to balance our budget. And I mentioned at our budget meeting, I felt that was not a structurally strong budget, especially we have very little to no CIP projects. Um to use 500,000 from our fund balance to balance the budget. I just this is not structurally strong. We should have some CIP projects if we're going to do that. Um my concern is we're adding additional 350 to that 500, which now takes it over 800,000, close to a million from our fund balance, whereas where it's already at 14%. I'm not I didn't do the calculation, but obviously it would be less than that. Not knowing how we're gonna end this year, of course. Um anyways, I just want to clarify. I do have faith in our city manager.

Thank you. Further comments from the table, mayor. Council member Cara Footus.

I just want to say that I think everybody at this table is very cautious and uh Diamond's right. Nobody knows what's going to come with our country and our future um and how high things are going to go. But at some point we have to give some kind of relief to our residents. And even though this is a small thing, this is the start of it. You know, next year maybe we'll talk about the 1.2 mills that was put in during COVID or something else that our city manager can come up with to say we're making these cuts and and he's trying very hard. Um and when we say we're talking about healthcare, we are. He's going to conferences. He's meeting with other cities. He's he's talking about what we can do to lower these health care costs and it's not just by cutting them. And like councilwoman Dol said, we have to honor a contract. Are the negotiations coming up? Yes. Are they going to be uh more efficiently negotiated than they were by a previous city manager? Absolutely. So things are coming. Cuts are coming. We're going to be able to handle this uh budget just like we handled it last year. And as things go on, things will get better in my opinion. here.

Council member Hughes. Um, after speaking with the city manager, I know that he's um pursuing federal grants and things like that to help offset our costs as well. I mean, they're there. They're available. I know I I know he's going to try to grab them for us.

You further comments from table? I just have I have one. Um we we I think it's what 28 that we'll have all the uh uh street lights eliminate or back to LED I think is what it was 28. So I'm I'm not in favor of completely eliminating this right now until till we get that and at least uh get some kind of savings. Uh right now we're not we're not getting any savings. uh after 28 we should start seeing a little bit of savings. Uh definitely not 350,000 but at that point I would be more in favor of uh uh you know reducing reducing this at that time. But um as far as agreeing with most of everybody else, uh I think we're we're looking at everything that we can. Uh city manager has looked at everything that we can. Uh I just I would like to wait until completely eliminating it until after the uh till we get the all the LEDs up and running. So that's my opinion. Further comments from table

mayor council member careus are you asking to amend it so that it's just this year not permanently? Um, if you if you would be in agreement, you and Mayor Promold would be in agreement, I would. Uh, again, I I'm not totally against eliminating it in the future. But, um, I I'd like to see our LED lights all all our street lights replaced with the LED and at least we'll start saving a few thousand dollars every year at that point. Mayor, Council Member Kapotus,

when you say that, we're now in year 11 that we thought that all those LEDs were getting replaced. So to say we're going to wait two more years and two more years. I mean we we started this from year one and now we're on year 11. So to say oh let's wait two more years to see if they all get replaced. Yeah. I don't really trust DT on a whole lot of stuff. So to say that we I I believe we have the grants to do it. So it's not like we're way it's not like DTE is doing us a favor. They're getting paid for it. Just not by us. It's from a grant. And so that'll uh but we've been paying for it the whole time and it didn't happen is what I mean. So I don't have much faith in that. Okay. Further comments from table. I have a question.

It's it's my understanding that as the street lights go out DTE is coming in and replacing them with LED. Are they not? No, they're not. I don't think so. They're not. I don't think so. That's what I was told. Okay. I think they I think they've said that in the past, but I know I know one on my street did. Mine did not. I know one on mine did not. One they did and one they didn't. I think it depended on the uh the repair what they had to do. The problem was Okay. Because Donnie just had a couple done, right? And they they're the same as they were. Okay. Okay. Well, city manager, I think. Um yeah, I I think the majority of our replacements all came from the grant. Um but I Yeah, I agree. I think it's the type of malfunction that goes along with it.

Okay. That prompts it. Thank you. Further comments from table from the public. Okay. Uh the motion is to uh eliminate the street lighting revenue and to uh permanent permanently uh eliminate the the vote or the uh the tax assessment. Uh, so all in favor of that motion? I I I may the the clerk need to say something before that. Um, I was just going to say if if you'd like to make it a roll call vote, then I could do it. I think we're going to do it to make it make it a little easier. Please

do a roll call. Council member Kapotus. I. Mayor Prom Dold. Hi. Council member Dol. I. Council member King. Nay. Council member Wit. Nay. Council member Hughes. I Mayor Jacobs 43, but because it is an ordinance, it needs five to pass.

Okay. Um, okay. So, do we need a budget right now? Our clerk needs to say something else. Oh, but I need to Oh, go ahead.

So, as always, you know, council uh is at the the will to do what they would like. Um what we could potentially do, um I don't know if this would help is to explore an alternative motion, um maybe one to remove the street lighting assessment for this year, um but not permanently for the rest of it. And then if there's concerns about, you know, doing this every year when we get to this point of the budget, what I could recommend is just earlier on in the budget process, like when we first do our workshops kind of thing, uh, next year, if we're seeing the savings there, we think the street lighting assessment, we can get rid of it next year. We just do that earlier in the process. So when council gets this budget to vote on to approve the budget, it's not in there already. So that would just that's my clerk two cents uh suggestion. Okay,

mayor. Council member Dol. I'd like to make a motion to approve the fiscal year 2026 2027 general appropriations and tax levy ordinance with an amendment removing the street lighting special assessment to be assessed in 2026 and eliminating the street lighting revenue line item in the amount of $350,200 and increasing the use of fund balance revenue line item by $350,200 for a revised use of one I'm sorry for a revised use fund balance total of $819,100 $153 support or from council member Kapotus. Okay. Discussion from table on the new motion.

Mayor, council member King. I guess I still have the same concerns as you know 800,000 from our uh fund balance. Um yeah, just still 800,000 however you look at it. Okay. Thank you. Further comments from the table from the public. Okay, Mr. Smith, let's do roll call again, please. Council member D. I. Council member Kerapotus, I. Council member King, nay. Council member Wit, nay. Council member Hughes, I. Mayor Promold, I. Mayor Jacobs, nay. So, it passes

52. Correct. No, no, it's 43. 43. Are you voting for it, mayor, to remove it this year? For this year? Yes, I will I will vote I to remove it for this year and then we'll revisit it next year. Okay. So, just to clarify for the record, I will reread the votes. Council member Dold I. Council member Kerapotus, I. Council member King, nay. Council member Wit, nay. Council member Hughes I. Mayor Prom Dold I. Mayor Jacobs I. Correct. Okay. So that motion pass. Motion passes five to two.

Okay. Item three is the contract amendment sidewalk gap program. Mr. Miller. Good evening again. So tonight before you is a contract amendment request from OCG. That is the contractor doing the sidewalk gap project for the city. Um they've asked for an increase to cover um all of the costs that of course have changed in the last year regarding fuel and supplies in the cement industry. Um when they made this request, we had many meetings about this and then we looked at the bid sheet also from their original bid and they did not the request is for 150 or a $1.50 per square foot uh for 6 in and 4 in deep concrete. And we looked at the bid sheet and the next qualified bidder um it is still not higher than the next qualified bidder. So that is what made me feel a little more comfortable in the fact that we aren't going past the next qualified bidder for the work that was done. Um we do have a contract with them and the contract states that they'll complete the project but they also they have the right to get out also if it's not working towards a goal for them. So we're kind of stuck in this uh 2020 I suppose but we are trying to expend all of the funds from the grant and we're trying to get the work done. Um they did agree to adding 28 days of work to work on Saturdays to move us along in the project. We have over 225 houses that were completed. We have about 600 houses that still need well 400 uh 375 actually um that still need sidewalks and they're starting of course they're working now

and have made this request. Um all of the funds would be covered by the grant. um it would not come from any of the city funds at all and we would continue to keep the administration in in our budgeted portion for the administration where myself, the city manager, the DPW director, we all are charging hours against the grant so that they're covering some of our costs also. So that um is not changing any of that. Um but it is increasing the cost for the cement uh $1.50 per square foot. Um, also we're working I know there's been concerns and I've received lots of calls about work that was done last year and I've I've created a spreadsheet and of course if you call in we're putting that on there to uh go back and service that address. Um, but also myself and a couple inspectors from Belli Group are going back to the work that was done last year to look at it to see how it made it through the winter and all of that. So we're uh kind of doing a two twoprong approach. If you do have an issue with that, you can of course email me at matthewmgarden citymi.org. Uh if you have an issue with your sidewalk from last year or any of the restoration or um you can of course call at city hall u at any time 7347931650 if you have an issue about uh sidewalks. Also I'm getting calls still people wanting their sidewalks giving me their address. Uh when we do that also I keep track of uh their name, their address, their phone number. So in case we have an issue while we're doing the work in that area, we can um we know who's there and it's easier to contact if we have the homeowner's contact information. Um but um it's kind of aside from the fact that um we are making a request to you that would amend the contract $1.50 50 per square foot for the 4 in and 6 feet 4 in and 6 in concrete for the sidewalk gap program.

Cute. Motion is in order. Mayor, council member Hughes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the amended to amend the contract for sidewalk gap program with OCG to include a cost increase of $1.50 50 per square foot for the 4 inch deep concrete and six in 6 in deep contract support concrete or for mayor prom do discussion from table mayor council member wit thank you Matt for explaining it all uh the only question I have is it backdating to all of the work that was previously done or is this only going forward in the contract an extra $150

it'll be going forward okay just want to make sure we weren't cutting back into anything all right thank Council member Kerapotus. Um, so all the money is being paid for by the grant. So with the price increase, does this mean we're going to be able to do less houses? Probably a few less. So, but in the 600 houses, I just didn't think we were going to be able to get to all of them in the grant anyways. It may reduce some numbers,

right? And then adding days is going to help us get it done faster because that grant deadline is coming. I get that. Yes. But I I'm really glad that you um said that about having residents call. I've talked to the city manager several times in the last couple weeks, people reporting that it's not uh not quality, you know, from things that were poured last year to this year. We're getting a lot of pictures with things. Um and I I watched them pour cement in the rain last week. So that's exactly what those kind of things have been happening. So I'm kind of leerary about increasing when we're not getting that quality. So, I hope that between you and Buchelli and our city um inspectors that we're really on top of it like with those kind of things. So,

we are getting each poor we're getting a poor certificate for the the load that comes and so we are monitoring the quality that way. Okay. Thank you. You further comments from the table? Mayor, Council Member King. Uh Mayor, could you remind me sorry, Mr. Miller, remind me uh when when did we start the sidewalks last year? I know it's a little later in the year than it was about June 1st, I believe. I think we about there. I can't remember. Okay. So, we're getting a little more of a couple month jump on it compared to last year. Yes. If the weather had turned a little better, we would have been a earlier, but yeah, mother nature had a a different plan.

All right. Thanks. You further comments from the table? Uh, I will say I've I've had a lot of calls on the restoration from that ended at the end of last year that we didn't get to. Uh, it is going to be taken care of. It'll when when grass uh planting season is here, which is right about now, and at the end of the season, they're not going to put seed down in July or August uh when it's hot and burning up. So, uh, it will get taken care of. So, um, and then how many at the end of the day, if we get through what we expect to, how many houses approximately do you know will be without sidewalks that need it?

If you have a I 50, 75. I I don't know the exact number. As we go east, so we're going a little west of Radcliffe right now. So, we're on Ron. Um, all of the streets just south of Ford Road. As we go east, it gets a little easier for us because there's not drainage issues. We're still working on a lot of drainage issues which are slowing us down because there the ditches, the uh ADA pedestrian crosswalks. We have to put in under drains on both sides of those. So, um as we have it's more developed with curb and gutter as we go east, it will be an easier, quicker installation, I'm hoping. I keep telling the guys that too.

[laughter] And I I I tried to explain that with people that have asked me, but we started to the to the west because that was the the biggest area that needed sidewalks. So to for our cost uh it was easier to get one great big area going as opposed to scattered all over the city which requires uh mobility by the contractor which slows them down and costs us more money. So thank you. Uh further comments from table from the public. All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes 70.

Okay. Item four is a change order for our fire station concrete. Our fire chief, Mr. Randy Keane.

Good evening, mayor and council. Uh the first of two items you have tonight is a change order for concrete at the fire station. Uh, as you see here in the packet, we've had, first of all, there's no contingency built into the concrete. U, that was prior to putting some of that in. So, there was no contingency. So, we haven't used that up from that. That's why it's coming back to you. Um, we've had three items to address with the concrete. As you can see, the floor drain that's being put in in the apparatus bay just requires some rebar due to the weight of the vehicles, and they they don't want that to shift once the vehicles drive across it. So, that that's what you see there for the rebar. Uh the other one is we had an issue with the plumbing that was installed. Uh it it exited the building just below grade of the concrete. Uh with you know with winter water is not a good mix being that that high above uh the line it should be. It's supposed to be 42 in down. So what they've had to do is tear out some of the concrete inside the fire station. uh dig down about five feet and then they're putting a new pipe out to the outside of the building which they've had to tear out some of the concrete to get to to put it to coat at 42 in so we don't have a freeze problem. So that's what you see here tonight is for the concrete is they're going to tear that concrete out um put the plumbing in and then they'll reinstall the concrete.

Okay. Thank you. Motion is in order. Mayor, council member Wit like to make a motion to approve the change orders for fire station concrete to berentos contracting of Romulus in the amount of $1,341. Support. Council member Hughes. Discussion from table. Council member do have a question. Um so here where it says during uh the continued plumbing work a couple of previous previously installed fittings. How long ago previously was that? Is this our previous contractors? The original contractors original correct. So like from the renovation though. No. Yeah. Where are we talking about? Yes. Yes. From from the first contractor of the renovation. Okay.

Is when the plumbing issues are originating. Okay. That's those were things that weren't code. Correct. Other comments from the table. Mayor. Council member Kerapotus. Where did you say this money is coming from again? Out of the contingency. I'm sorry. There was not a contingency when we had the um the concrete bid. There was not a contingency built into that. That's why it's coming back to you today. Further comments from the public? All in favor? I

motion passes 70. Uh item five is our fire station electrical supply. Good evening again. Uh this one's a little bit more in depth and a little bit more costly obviously. So, uh early on when the um new contractors came through and had uh an evaluation done electrical system, they had some recommendations and some suggestions for the electrical system. Uh one of them was to supply a new main service coming into the building. Currently, or previous to the addition, we had two services that came from the basement of city hall. They're fed underground. So there's no meter, there's no service at the that originates at the fire station. Part of the addition was we had a third service attached to the fire station. So we had two coming from here and then one additional service into the building on top of that. Um a couple issues with that were that the third service was not able to be put onto the backup generator and additionally you're supposed to have only one service going into a building per code. So uh an electrical engineer was brought in to do an evaluation and they had brought back a couple different options for us. One was to to work the system with the three services um remain way the way it was with an additional small generator and the other one was to combine this to one service and u combining it to one service actually was economically more feasible. It was cheaper. Um and then we also have been able to put in here a little bit of um alternate to the original bid that saved some additional money. Um part of the issue was we would have about a third of the building that would not be covered by backup generator. So if power would go out there would be some things that we would not be able to operate in the building. Um and there was two different services if anybody understands electricity. Uh the old system came in at 230 volts. The new system the third system came in at 20

208 volts. So the generator that's from DTE. So the generator couldn't compensate for both those systems anyway. The existing generator had couldn't be added to that anyway. So that's what you have before you tonight. So what what this is entailing is putting this into one system. We'll have one disconnect. It'll um discontinue being fed from city hall. It'll be from the a pole that was installed out here. They'll be able to bring one one system into the fire station which will be fully on a backup generator. So it'll supply the whole building and then it'll discontinue the service from from this building. Thank you. Motion is in order. Mayor, [snorts and clears throat]

Council Member Dol makes a motion to award the contract for the fire station electrical main service to Michigan Quality Electric of Commerce Township in the amount of $154,60 in accordance with bids submitted on April 29th to 2026 with an additional 25,000 approved as contingency funds. Support from council member Kapotus. Discussion from table. Mayor, Council Member Dol, where's this coming from? Comes from this year's general fund budget. Um, we're just working within uh the general fund. We've exhausted all the grant funds and correct.

Okay. So, was this anticipated at all? Any part of it? When the the second round of contractors came through and they did an evaluation of the building, this was in their findings that they recommended this. But what happened is we wanted to wait and see if if we actually needed it. They were trying to work the system to see if we actually would need this or what would be uh feasible both cost and functionality for for the building. Okay. It sounds like it's uh [laughter] yes, we need it. Yeah. Our unfortunately Yeah. Mayor, hopefully we're almost done.

We can't expect the other businesses to uh [laughter] do it if we don't. Right. Uh, council member Kapotus, did you see? So, were these other lines added when the first contractor was here?

One [clears throat] was we had two existing services that came from city hall. Whenever city hall was built, for some reason, they did not get their own power supply. Um, it was fed from here. So, if anything happens like we have to turn the power off that entire building, we actually have to come to the basement here. Yes. Um, and code states it should be on the outside of the building. Um and there'll be one moving forward if this goes it'll be one service we can have access to that but there was two previously from here and then when uh additional power was needed for the addition that uh poll was dropped by DTE and that service was put in from there. So there is one new

I'm so sorry that when all this started and I was on council that I couldn't convince more of our council to realize what was going on. and I should have yelled and screamed a little bit more. So, I I hope that all this is fixing everything that we need for our firemen. I know it's taking a long time, but at least I feel like it's it'll be done right this time rather than what we may have had if we would have continued the way we were going. Looks like it's going in the right direction. Now, further comments from table, I just want to commend you and your and your team on their patience during all of this. I I would I don't know that I would have I would

I'll give it to the guys. They're there for 24 hours at a time and I know it's weighing on them, but they do see the work that's going on now and there's there's many contractors there daily. So, I think that helps with the give you all a lot of credit. Yes. Thank you. Yep. Further comments from the table? Mayor, Council Member King, this question is for Mr. Gibbons. I know earlier when we're talking about budget, we're talking about ending potentially in this this year a surplus of 600,000. I take it that's this was this was not in consideration to that amount.

It was not in consideration. Um and really until we finish another month or so we won't know exactly how it impacts our uh our final surplus numbers. Um however we are I I will say in in the last few months we've operated very efficiently. Um so um I really can't give you where we exactly land but you know it doesn't help it. Um but uh I imagine but but I will say um you know our parks direct department's performing very efficiently. Um you know uh we have some vacancies right now that we're working to fill. Um those actually in some senses give us a little more cushion um towards the end of the year. So some of this could be eaten up and we could be exactly where we were based on just efficiencies we're running towards the end of the year. um you know sometimes when you get towards the end of the year if you had some things you were waiting to purchase if you had the funds to do so we'll probably not be doing those um because of this type of thing but if we get ourselves a functioning renovated fire station with all the things properly according to code um I think we'll have a victory at the end of the year um so you know it really is still to be determined uh based on these costs and kind of how we operate these last two months.

Yeah, definitely agree. We we need a completed fire station. And it sounds like you talking about the electrical services, the two electrical services even goes before the renovation. Correct. So, it's an issue that needs to be taken care of even from long ago. It sounds like and a third service didn't make it any better. Um but anyways, um so back to Mr. Given, I guess. So, we may or may not see some amendments coming down the pipeline in the next month or so for the budget year. I've been speaking with the uh treasurer about um you know as we get towards the end of the year and amending the budget to uh reflect our expenses and where we land. Um so as we do it'll be in contemplation of these expenses and how we're looking. All right. Thank you.

Thank you. Further comments from the table from the public? All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes 70. Thank you chief. Okay. We have no other business. Uh public comment. Uh [clears throat] I have one but I think she left. Uh Mr. Jones just like to mention two events coming up this Thursday. We have the Mother's Day lunch over at Radcliffe. Thank the Garden City Police and Fire Department for servicing. That wasn't three minutes. That's a long three minutes.

Every set was a power up. So, continue on. Okay. I believe the the cost for that is is like $20. There's going to be um uh the lunch with tea and coffee served by this, as I said, the police and fire department, 50/50 raffles, entertainment, prizes, and more. Second one is um also this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. on the community chat program. Our guest will be uh County Commissioner David Kisk, who's also the new president of Henry Ford College.

Thank you, Mr. Jones. Further public comment. Okay. Uh city manager report.

Uh thank you, mayor and council. Um just two quick updates. One on road projects. Um we anticipate a pre-construction meeting in about a week and a half and then construction on roads that aren't right in front of our schools. Um so part John Hawk uh on that side will start uh this month as soon as schools out. We anticipate Maplewood beginning as well. So we'll start to see some progress on that. But if you haven't seen it yet, it's it's all moving in the right direction and we anticipate to be pretty on schedule. Um, and the other is just in regards to the resolution uh, Garden City Council passed on April 6 regarding um, House Bills 5529 through 5532 and House Bills 5581 through 5585 which preempt local zoning authority. Um, just we just checked this morning uh, the status. They're still in committee and it looks like they're losing some co-sponsors, too. So, you know, hopefully that's an indication that they're responding to the local city's concerns and the MMLS and all of us who want to maintain that local control.

Thank you, Mr. Smith. Uh, thank you, Mayor and Councel. Just two quick things. Uh, just a reminder, citywide garage sale is a month away now, so June 4th through the 7th. Um, if you'd like your name included on our interactive map, just come on into the clerk's office, get a permit free of charge before June 1st. We've already got about a dozen so far coming in, so just come on in and fill that out. and also shred day here at city hall in the parking lot, Saturday, June 6th from 10:00 am till 1 pm. Thank you, Mayor Prom Dole. Thank you, Mayor. I do not have anything tonight. Thank you, Council Member Hughes.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just want to point out what, you know, I I know some people are exasperated discussion about the street lighting and the votes and coming, you know, going back and forth, but this is exactly how city council is supposed to work. we're supposed to come together as a group, you know, and we we have differing opinions and we are here to express those, make an argument for our opinion and then all in all, you know, we hope that we get to the best result that we we can. And I think tonight we prove we we can do that. But it's it's not a straight line always, but I think it demonstrates how this council is all working together for for the city. And I I think it's evident in our passion in what we're doing here. Thank you, Council Member. What? Nothing tonight.

You, Council Member King. I'm awesome, Mayor. Thanks. You, Council Member Do.

Well, you know, this end of the table always has something, right? [laughter] Um, but just a couple things. I've had a number of residents reach out to me about the the fiber installation. Um, so I just I wanted to reiterate that they are required to restore the property. Um, just like with the sidewalk thing, it's going to happen when when the weather is best suited to um, let that grass grow and everything else. I did have a resident state that uh, he he noticed through his Ring camera that they were actually on his property though up on the other side of the sidewalk. And um, I'm not sure that that allowed. I wasn't sure what to tell him. We've heard of that as well occurring and we're taking steps to notify them that they need to maintain on the easements that they're supposed to and uh and quite quite another a bunch of concerns that we've had recently and we're communicating that with them and we're utilizing uh any funds that uh we have in their uh bonds where we have to go out and uh carry out a service to help them do their job. Um so we're using all of our available avenues to enforce on them. I will say the Metro Act which is a state law and uh limits us to somewhat we can do but uh everything we can do we we are

okay cool. Um so there's that. Um I'm hoping that once we get done with our fire station, we can we can look at making some renovations over at the police station. I think they are sorely needed and uh maybe we can come up with some funding for that. I want to quickly congratulate the um uh Garden City High School in their Frozen production. If anyone had a chance to go, it was outstanding. Uh I know they had a sellout crowd at least one of the nights. Um sold out most of them.

I think all all three performances. though. And last but not least, want to remind everybody that this Thursday from 7 to 9:00 over at Radcliffe, uh Councilwoman uh Kapotus and I will be over there to talk to any of the residents that want to come in and talk to us. If you have issues, if you want to if you want to compliment the city, that would be nice. You could come in and let us know that. But, uh seriously, any issues, any concerns you have, we're there this week, this month from 7 to 9. So, that is it. I'm done. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Kerapotus.

I just have a few things, of course. Uh, one, the, uh, Garden City Garden Club is looking for residents who want to be in the Garden Walk. The Garden Walk is July 11th. You can, uh, contact the Garden Club by calling me um, or by uh, messaging our Facebook page. Um, I also wanted to talk about uh, I've asked for this before and it never seems to happen. Um, we are voting on important things like ordinances and budgets and it's required by five and then that's a surprise to some people. So, I'm asking again if the clerk could say that before we take a vote so that everybody at the table realizes it has to be five. I was aware of that but I don't think everybody was. Um, I also want to say that, um, after talking to a lot of residents, they're uh, you know, talking about what they want to see in our budget and what improvements. Um, everybody is talking about, uh, blight and we're really looking forward to getting our blight court going. A lot of people are talking about traffic um, because they just feel it's dangerous on the roads right now. A lot of people running red lights. Um, and I wanted to echo uh Councilwoman Dole's uh opinion that we need to find some money for our police. We have to come up with something somewhere, make some kind of cut so that we can start taking better care of our buildings. Um, I know that we can't do a lot with uh updates this year, but we we got to find a way. Whether it's everybody in our brother writing grants or what we have to do, we have to update our police department. Um, and I just want our residents to know that, you know, we're going to continue to work on the budget. Just because we voted on it tonight doesn't mean that's solid for the whole year. Our city manager is working, our council's working trying anything that we can to come up with cuts. And um we should all realize that uh even though most of the money that we use in our budget is spent on salaries, that's how it's supposed to be because those salaries are paying for your city services. They're paying for the people that take care of you, the people that plow your snow, the people that come to your house when there's a fire, the

police that come to your house when you're scared. So, it's supposed to pay for those salaries. And can we maybe make some adjustments when we do negotiations? Yes. But it's supposed to pay for the majority of the salaries. That's how it is in my business, too. Um, and that's all I got.

Thank you. I have a couple things. Um, I know the one resident talked about uh how when people sell their houses, their taxes are are going way up. Uh, and that's been kind of a beef of mine for a while. I think it should be a law that the realtors when they sell a house, especially to these young people that have no clue, they they go back and they look at what their tax what the taxes were on that house, and a year and a half later when it catches up, they're getting they're getting hit with huge bills uh or increases. And that's all over all over the state. That's not just Garden City, that's everywhere. Um, and I personally believe it that it it should be a law that they have to tell these especially kids getting their first houses, think they can afford the house, and then they get hit with these tax increases and have no idea. And there's realtors, a lot of them, that are not. They're purposely not telling them that their taxes are going to go up. And it's it's the headley. It's Prop A. And they know it's coming. We know it's coming. Uh, unfortunately, they're not relaying that message. And I I think that's a real shame. Um, street sweeping. I've heard a lot of things about it about people not moving their cars, no tickets, no uh uh you know, nothing being done. Uh I know as of I don't know, right after they finished there were approximately 60 tickets more or less uh written for people that were not off the streets. Um, you may not have seen it. Maybe they missed your street as far as writing tickets, but tickets were written. And hopefully there was more signage out this year than I can remember. Hopefully moving forward, we'll keep it going and uh we'll get to a point where everybody will move their car voluntarily and we won't have to do all these uh tickets, but they were written. So the people

that complained that they didn't see them, they were out there. Um, I want to congratulate GCYA on another great opening day event Saturday. A little chilly, but partly cloudy, sunny, and the kids had a ball. Uh, which is the main thing. They had a lot of fun out there and I know most of council was there and and everybody had a good time. So, good job to them. I also want to remind everybody that Memorial Day, May 26th, we will be holding our uh Memorial Day observance. It's at 11:00 a.m. It will be out uh out front of city hall as usual. And again, it's a way to honor our uh our fallen and it's a uh it's a special day. And if you can make it and show you show show your respects, uh I welcome everybody to come out and watch the laying of the wreaths and and the service that's put out there. Thank you. Um and with no further business, this meeting is adjourned.