City Council - Regular Meeting

Manica here. Council proton Robinson present. Council President Thomas here. If we could move over to item three, the approval of the agenda. City council. So I move to approve um tonight's agenda Monday, April 20th, 2026. Chair offer support. Do we have any questions, concerns, or descent on the approval of the agenda? Would you be kind enough to call the role on item three? Ma'am, Councilman Ashafi. Yes. Councilwoman Mana. Yes. Council Pro Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas.

Yes. Motion carries. Next is the approval of the proposed minutes. We have three sets here. Uh for the meeting held on March 6th, meeting held on March 6, the workshop that was held on March uh I'm sorry, April 6. and the regular meeting that was held on April 6, 2026. We have three sets here. So, we'll start with a motion on the first inerson and virtual regular meeting held on March 16th, 2026.

Have a motion made by Councilwoman Manica. The chair offer support. Do we have questions, concerns, or dissent? You will call the role on the Inerson and virtual regular meeting minutes for March 16th. Councilman Shafi. Yes, Councilwoman Manica. Yes, Council Prom Robinson. No, I wasn't at this meeting. Council President Thomas. Yes. Moving on to the Inerson virtual workshop meeting held on April 6, 2026. The council, what is your pleasure?

I make a motion second. Have a motion made by Pro Tim, seconded by Councilwoman Manica. Questions, concerns, or dissent? Call the role, please, ma'am. Councilman Shafi, yes. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Council Pro Tim Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas, yes. Moving on to the inerson and virtual regular meeting that was held on April 6, 2026 to the council. What's your pleasure? I move to approve the inperson and virtual regular meeting held April 6, 2026.

Have a motion on the floor by Councilwoman Manica. Do we have support? Chair will offer support although I didn't attend this meeting. Um questions, concerns, or disscent? Would you please call the role for the regular meeting held on April 6, 2026? Councilman Ashafi, yes. Councilwoman Anaka, yes. Councilman Robinson, no. Council President Thomas, yes. Motion carries. This is the section of the agenda that we set aside for Mayor McDonald to speak to council. Mayor, if you would be so kind.

I just want to stay on time. Huh? Okay. I really don't have much. Again, good evening. Uh, I want to mention tomorrow for seniors at the rec center is the ice cream social. I think it starts at 12 tomorrow. So, please come out and enjoy ice cream and some information. Um, also May 2nd is our annual uh tea and so that is for seniors and residents who would like to come out Mother's Day and um that's all I got for now. All right. Oh, Michigan week parade. Don't forget May 16th

and come on out enjoy. Please come out and and support the Michigan Week parade. I as you all know Highland Park and I think Bloom West Bloomfield is the only two state cities in the state of Michigan that we know of still celebrating Michigan and that's an accomplishment for us. We keep doing it and people are really proud to hear that when I go to where my with my other mayors across the state they always like what is Michigan week? So they really don't even celebrate that. So I'm glad that we still do. I would like for us to start going back into the schools the week before and start the competitions again and things like that. So hopefully uh we will go ahead and continue this pro you know this this proud moment for Highland Park. So please come out and enjoy the Michigan.

Thank you ma'am. That's it.

So we're at a section of the the meeting where we have citizens participation on agenda items. So if you have comments on agenda items, this is your opportunity to speak prior to deliberation by council. Those items will be the bid opening for the financial audit service, the table item that is the parade permit application from Parker Pride Foundation, the resolution to approve the US Fish and Wildlife Services for Jolo Greenway. This is the the agreement with US Fish and Wildlife Services. Under police, we have a resolution for the city of Highland Park authorizing city of Highland Park Police Department to submit an application for funding under the state crisis uh intervention program, the skip. We also have a resolution authorizing the submission of a congressionally directed spending request for state representative Tanya Myers Phillips to upgrade um for upgrades to the city temporary holding facility. A resolution authorizing the submission of a community project funding request to Congressman Shri Tanadar for a police radio system upgrade to a resolution authorizing a two-year service agreement between the city of Highland Park and uh Lexipool for grant solicitation services. Under item nine for water, we have a resolution designating an authorized representative for the clean water state revolving fund. a resolution requesting the public advertisement for the purpose of receiving construction bids for the water distribution grant um water man and lead service line replacement uh replacement projects under public works a resolution to approve contracts for pothole repairs. Those are the items on the agenda. If there were citizens who wanted to speak to agenda items, now will be your time. I don't see any. Okay, come on. Come on up. Let me get the timer set for you. Could you please do me two two favors?

Yes. Give me your name and reference the item that we're going to talk about. Yes. Um item number uh item number five. Item number five, which is the financial audit services. Yes. Okay. Now, when you give me your name, I'll start. Carla Oliver. Go right ahead. Thank you. I just had uh one question uh in regards to item number five. This fiscal audit, is it also compiled into a forensic audit? And is that a possibility that that can actually happen?

Maybe somebody can get back with me. I will on that question. I will. Uh, okay. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Additional comments on agenda items. Okay. Seeing none, we're going to move to item five, and that is the bid opening for the financial audit services.

You know what? I will do that. Doing double duty. I don't see any hands raised. All right. So, going on to item five. This is the bid opening. Financial services audit. City Council, what is your pleasure on opening these bids? I move to approve the opening of financial audit services. Chair offer a second. Questions, concern, or descent on the opening the bids? We'll take the role on opening the bids if you would, Madam Clerk. Councilman Shafi, yes. The open. Councilwoman Mica, yes. Councilman Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas,

yes. Proceed with the bid opening. We have two bids. This first one I believe is from Manor Coaster. I cannot pronounce it. It's Turbison. Can you spell it for us? C O S T E R I S A N M The first word is manner. M A N I'm sorry. M A N E R M A N E R Cost the resin.

Okay.

Oh, Cost. Thank you, Council President. Coster Manor Costeran PC. They propose audit fees not to exceed $56,000 for the audit year ending June 30th, 2026. The next bid is from Andrews Cooper Pavick PLC. Andrews Cooper Pavick and Pav is spelled P A B L I K. P A B L I K K P L C

They have a proposed quote of $58,000 for the first year optional year to 59,000. So, one year fiscal year 2025 2026 $58,000.

Yes, ma'am. Can you please um state where these firms are located? My apologies. Thank you.

Matter co is 2425 East Grand River Avenue. 2425 East Rand River Avenue, Sweet 1, Lansancy, Michigan. Andrews Hooper Pav, 43252 Woodward Avenue, Sweet 150. 43252 Woodward Avenue, Sweet 150, Bloomfield Hills.

Thank you. You're welcome. Those are the two beds we received. Okay. Uh at this point we would uh chair we entertain a motion to receive and file these bids and pass them on to the administration. I'll make a motion. Second.

We have a motion to receive and file the documents first made by Council Pro Robinson, seconded by Councilwoman Manica to receive these documents, file them and forward them to the administration for review. viewer please call the role to receive and file. Councilman Ashi, yes. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Council Proen Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas,

yes. Thank you very much. Moving on to item six. This is a parade permit application from Parker Pride Foundation for May 16th. Uh today is April 20th. Okay. This item was tabled at the last meeting. So the chair will entertain a motion to remove this from the table and open it for discussion. I move to I move to remove the item for Christian parade from the table. Second. So we have a motion made by councilwoman manica seconded by council pro Robinson to bring this item back from the table. If you would call the role on bringing the item back from the table. Councilman Shafi. No. Council manica. Yes. Council pro Robertson.

Yes. Council President Thomas. Yes. Motion carries. The item is on the table now. So the original resolution was for the approval of the permit. We would the chair would be willing to entertain a motion to get this thing out in the open so we can discuss it if there are concerns or questions. Yes. I move to approve the parade permit application for Park Pride Foundation for the parade park mission week parade May 16th 2026. I second with question. We have a motion on the floor by councilwoman Mana, supported by council woman prom, I mean council Robinson prom for the approval of the permit.

Uh would you please call the role? Well, I'm sorry. Do we have any questions, concerns, or descent from from members of council? Go right ahead, ma'am. Um wait one second. Do we have someone from the Parker Pride Foundation here? Would you please come to the podium, sir? Council um Prom Robinson has questions. I believe they were directed for this gentleman. Ma'am. Yes. Okay, sir. The floor is yours. I'm sorry, ma'am. Prom, the floor is yours. I see that you're you're going to be staging at Manchester and Hamilton and then moving to Alvin Casey Park. Yes, ma'am. Why are you just doing that now instead of going to the rec center to

Well, the rec center is going under construction. It's a lot of stuff going on in that area. Um the greenways coming through. It's a lot of dirt, a lot of debris, and it's not safe for the kids. Okay. So, we decided to go backwards this year and go to Casey Park, Monteray Playground, and stage there where we're going to have uh bounce houses. Uh we plan on putting a stage there, okay, for entertainment. So, why you didn't go from Tennyson to Casey Park? I was just I'm just trying to understand this from Manchester to Monteray. Tennessee to Casey Park. Boy, don't you always start at Tennyson or Tuxedo? No, we normally talk to Tuxedo, right? And take it to Hacket, right?

But if we start at Tennyson and take it to Casey Park, that's two blocks. That's my whole point. You said, why don't we start? Because for one, you're talking about 200 people. This is staging. The staging will be in front of helms bringing it toward Casey Park, right? and the the the the group of people that we having like the bands and entertainment, that's not enough room to stay. So, we're going to block off from uh they still going to do pure uh Puritan so the traffic won't make that turn and take we're going to do it in front of Helms and Manchester. Okay.

That area there, open area. And we're going to stage and push them all down that way. Oh, no. I was just saying that because buses and traffic that's coming from Tennyson two blocks from Casey Park, how you going to redirect that? Well, we already got permission from MD DOT. They they they have uh directed redirected the buses like they do every year. All right. Uh they don't I don't know which way they're going, but they're not going to come down.

Thank you. I have um applications as well, flyers on the parade time 12 to 4. Uh we got a Michigan week parade meeting, volunteer meeting for all citizens slash employees slash entertainment to come and uh help us put this thing together mentally, add things to it, take things away, just let the community get involved. And that's going to be the 27th of April. And that's going to start at uh 6:00. It's an hour long. I said at the rec center.

I'mma pause you right there. Do we have any more concerns? Any questions before we can get a vote for um Mr. Spike? Yes. 12 to four. That's including what's happening at K Park, right? Yes. So, when will I know Min asked about um you know rerouting? What time will you stop rerouting?

It's we have the street from to 4:00. We have Hamilton to 4:00. Um we got a special I don't want to uh announce it now. We have a special treat for the city. Um it's going to start before the parade. Uh we have um my last brother. He's going to he's the CEO of uh of um Forgotten Harvest. He's going to bring a semi-truck and try to give everybody in the city food. So that's going to

before the parade. So that probably started about 8:00. That stuff goes fast. So you're looking about an hour worth, you know. Um he's going to try to get to semi-truck. if he can't go on a box truck, but he's gonna bring food to try to supply the citizens with food during Michigan week parade. That's his donation to the parade. Chief,

I know. Thank you so much for coming. I know that the majority of the citizens in High Park know that we're going to have a parade, right? So the traffic that's coming from tennis that don't know that we're having a parade, how are we going to stop that and protect the people in the parade from other people that don't know about parade? How they are still going to have access? So they won't have access to act the Hamilton actual Hamilton Street. Okay.

Um however, they will be able to access the side street side streets through alternative routes. Um, so they'll be able to like if someone lived near Hamilton, they could go for instance to third and then go down to their street and come back. Um, you know, we wouldn't restrict them, but ultimately during the shutdown period um you know due to things that have happened in the past, we intend on um barricading that to where cars wouldn't be able to penetrate that area. Okay. So then now what about the food truck? That's add it. Uh, so the food truck, the first I'm hearing of it, so um I'm not not certain. Okay. What the plan is for that yet. Okay.

Okay. So I'll go ahead. We're stopping at the park. Excuse me. So we might want to What's the street after that? Is that me? After the park is Monterey, Richton, Elmer because we're stopping and having everything in park. You may still have to use those streets for people to We're gonna block off Monterey completely for uh uh we're gonna have a bounce houses and stuff on that line. I'm saying so for vans and stuff they they're going to have to pass Casey. Correct.

Well, they're gonna Right. So, we might have I was just gonna say you might want to still talk to the people that's on those next streets so that they can those uh we're going to block off every block on Hamilton from Puritan all the way down. This parade, I'mma bring those that have really don't know the history of this parade. It's almost 100 years old, if not 100 years old. This is not new. We're going to block off every street. The chief um brings uh um uh your officers, your um what you call them reserves. Reserves. We also have the sheriff's the sheriff. It's going to be completely covered.

I mean, I understand. I'm just saying normally if we think about that 100 year old parade and how it was done before, you still had to utilize those other streets. But once you stopped at that street, they would normally go down that street and into the park. We're looking at a different park and we're looking at a residential area this time. So, I always wanted to make sure that we, you know, talk to

Well, it's still the same thing. It's just the parade is coming back, but the same streets are being blocked off. It's always from Web to Puritan that we block off Web to Puritan every year. So, those streets and those people on those blocks, we normally go down Tuxedo and tell them we're going to stage on your block. We're going to go down Monterey and tell them we're going to stage on your block and let them know we will be taking up this area and you uh need to either go through the alley or turn around and go toward third. We normally pass out flyers to every resident on the block we stay. Really is you're not we're just going backwards. You're not utilizing Puritan all the way to Tennessee. I got

Yeah. Yeah. We got a casino trip if anybody want to go to the casino. That is not on this. Okay. I do want before um go ahead and take the vote. I just mentioned mention. So um madam clerk, would you please call the role on item six? Council member, no. Councilwoman, yes Robinson, yes. Council President, yes. Motion carries. Mr. Spike, or is that correct? Did I say that right?

Okay. The mayor mentioned right be the mayor mentioned this a little bit but I was going to suggest and this may for next year instead of this year we used if you could set up an art area where the children did artwork on Michigan week you know the things that happened you know in Michigan well my sister's been trying to get this at barber for the longest and it's just it's just about the school system I mean this is something that we had to do you remember that just if we could we could maybe jump in next and we'll talk about it. And I'm I'm glad you said it because on this flyer just going to do that. It says in partnership with the city. Yes, sir. It says in partnership with the city. So you guys are a partner. Did you guys know that? Got you.

So by being a partner, we need your input. And I don't want you to go anywhere, but I want to get this agenda finished and I will save you 2 minutes and 30 seconds at the end as always. Okay. Okay. All right. Let's keep moving. I was on agenda this time, so I could talk. You You're right. I give you that. Thank you very much, sir. Congratulations on your permit, my man. All right, moving on to item seven under the administration. It's a resolution to approve the agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the Joe Lewis Greenway City Council. What's your pleasure on item seven? Move to question. Okay,

move to approve. We have a motion made by Councilwoman Manica. The chair will offer support. We have questions, concerns, and or descent. questions. Okay. And is there somebody here to address our questions? Hey Sy, Mr. Rand here. Excuse me. How are you? Good. Hi. Good evening everyone. Good. Good evening. So, can you um elaborate on this agreement?

Yes. Basically, the US Fish and Wildlife is partnering with Detroit and Highland Park to do native plings along the greenway. As many of you know, we a portion of the greenway between Second and Third belongs to the city of Highland Park. So, we're partnering with them. They're going to show us how to do the plantings and we're working with some of our youth groups to make them stewards and they're going to show them how to do the plantings, how to take care of the plantings. It's a 10-year process. Um, it is not going to cost the city anything. It's $1,500 in inind service and that was just to clear the land and 99% of that's already been done. Thank you. You're welcome.

Additional questions before we move on. Item seven. Yeah, I got a question. Go right ahead. Uh, you said part of this belongs to us. Yes. I thought all of it belonged to us. No, not the entire greenway. Okay. So, what part belongs to us? What part doesn't belong to us? We own 25 ft north of the greenway and that was requisition to be put into recreation inventory in order to continue to keep that a green space that um is works with the Joe Lewis Greenway.

Quite quite following that but okay Sue. Thank you. I can if you have the map I can show you. Yeah. Yeah. I'm looking at it. This the city of Detroit only purchased the railroad itself and there was 25 ft to the north of that which was a railroad rightway that actually belonged to the city of Highland Park. Do we know when that purchase actually took place? They purchased something inside the city of Highland Park

for the railroad. That's was a private purchase with the railroad company. Yeah, that happened before the greenway actually got started. They acquired the land first. They acquired the land from all of the old uh legacy railway companies. And this again, as she described it as a sliver of land. It is literally a sliver of land. Okay. I didn't even realize it was ours until we started working with the green and was like, "Wait a minute." Okay. Yeah. There were some old the zoning board saw the old documents a couple of years ago. I mean, it's like it's it's truly just right away. It's truly just right away. Right away. Thank you. You're welcome.

All right. So, can we go ahead and call the role on item seven? This is a resolution to approve the agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Services for the Joe Lewis Greenway. Councilman Ashafi. Yes. Councilwoman Anakah. Yes. Council Proton Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas. Yes. Motion carries. Moving on to item eight under police. We have one, two, three, four items. We're going to start with Thank you so much, S. We're going to start with the resolution for city council uh resolution to the city council of the city of Highland Park authorizing the city of Highland Park Police Department to submit an application for funding under the state crisis intervention program the skip program uh phase 5 grant city council what's your pleasure on item 88 say again so move second with questions

we have a motion made by councilwoman manica supported by council prom who are for questions um gentlemen if you wouldn't mind coming to the podium thank you very much madam prom Please go ahead with your questions. Can you explain this to

So um well good evening council. This um application is for the continuence of the CIT program. So we had community oriented policing which was the cops grant from before. Um that grant ends in June. So this would be a continuence of the programs and the things that we already have going. Do we um I don't know if it's in here or not. Do we have a um amount of the grant? No. So once once they award what they'll award then we would come back before to accept it. Thank you. Thank you.

Conditional questions. Go right ahead. Um, is there a reason why we haven't been giving uh been giving a report or a status update as what you've done with the previous grants 4 3 2 and one? Is there a reason that we don't know anything about what's happened uh with this money at all except the fact that you got it, you used it, but we haven't heard anything else about it. So, if I'm if I'm not mistaken, we sent out we've been sending out emails and the last email was when uh we brought on our um clinical Yeah. the social worker. Okay. Was council included in that email? But I definitely I check my email every day. I can see So, we've been getting this this is our third year. Yes.

In a row? I'm going to do a search here for skip. No, not for for skip. Um that was the you gave another acronym. It was cop the cops grant was was paid for. But um to answer your question, there was some several emails that went out concerning

my phone. Said the cops crying, huh? Okay. Application walk on resolution. So, I got I got I got I got emails about filing the grants to walk on resolutions, but really not an update as to what's happened with everything so far. So, yeah, I'm looking at here one, two, three, four, five, six, six, seven. Seven emails.

So, I'm not I'm not and and and and three of them emails is from council prom asking for a status update as to what's been done thus far with the grant. So, not looking at my computer at this moment, I couldn't tell you the actual titles of those emails that were sent out, but a few of your colleagues, you know, stated that they received them. Okay. Well, I haven't received them, so I find that interesting. I received the one for the social worker. That's what I stated.

Okay. Okay. I haven't I have not received enough. So, okay. So, I make it I make it simple. What I would like respectfully is that the council be kept up to date as to what's going on with these funds. Okay. There's no reason that you guys should keep us in the dark and not tell us what's going on. Okay? It's a simple report. You're asking us for for our approval. You're asking us to support you and back you and we're asking you to keep us in the loop as to what's going on. Okay. Simple as that. I yield back, council president.

Okay. And before we go any further, let me Okay. I think it's worth it. Mhm. Um so in fact they did provide us with some detail. Am I attached to that email? Uh I want to say I'm looking at two different screens right now. This is from a document that was sent to all of us. Am I attached to that email? That's what I

call city council in the period that they were ending the budget period is ending at 13126. Okay. Well, I'm looking at my email. It's not here.

Equipment program uh invitation only grant designed to develop and acquire efficient equipment technologies and inoperable communications that assist in responding to preventing issues. The object is the object is to provide funding for projects which improve police effectiveness and the flow of information among law enforcement agencies, local governments and service providers in the community they serve. Funding shall be used for projects and all amounts specified under the heading community oriented policing services technology and equipment for uh community projects and community law enforcement. So this came to us. So they have been providing us with documentation. Um, I have not I have not received I don't know if anyone else has for

any of the other in just in comparison to his question. If you have that data, please provide it to the gentleman who's asking for it. But they did provide us an explanation along the way of what the funds once it was awarded and they didn't do it until it was awarded. So, we're in the same situation now. Once the funds are awarded, this is just really the application process. So, they're just submitting the application. Should the application be approved again, then they can come back to us and provide something similar and we will make sure that you were in that communication. In fact, as I go back and double check, this was sent to typically when I send them out, it goes to all city council group. It came like 7:21. This was all city council group including the clerk, business manager, the mayor.

Well, I put it into my phone. It's not here, council president. it. It's on 72125. Okay. Almost a year to the date. We're two months out. Okay. As long as they give us an update, I'm fine with it. Yep. Okay. So, we'll go ahead and take the role on item 8A. That's a resolution of the city of Highland Park uh resolution of the city of Highland Park uh authorizing Highland Park Police Department to submit an application for funding under the state crisis intervention program skip phase 5 grant. Would you please call the role on item 8A? Council Minister. Yes. Councilwoman Mana. Yes. Council Robertson. Yes. Council President Thomas.

Yes. Thank you. Motion carries. On the item AB resolution author authorizing the submission of a congressionally directed spending request to state representative Tanya Myers Phillips for upgrades to the city's temporary holding facility or a jail. Approval with questions. So we have a motion made by Councilman Ashafi, seconded by Councilwoman Manica. Mr. Shy, go ahead with your questions. The the first set of funding that we got for for the jail. So, you know how I feel about that uh that trailer park y'all got in the back. My visit wasn't pleasant at all. If we could silence our phones in the back, please.

Uh so, um the first set of funding, how far along are we? We've received no funding. Yeah, my memory serves me right. We did get some funding for y'all to start the jail. We've received no funding to start the jail. I'm going have to with that funding for plumbing and and so Yeah, we paid for that through general budget expenses through capital expenditures cuz I remember funding for the roof and funding for the jail. No. So, initially we were awarded a grant, a federal grant, and that grant was taken away from us by President Trump. That's one of the ones they took back. Yep. Okay. All right. It was uh All right. Scratch that deal. $2 million.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Scratch that. Okay. Okay. So, so this uh possibly be the start, correct? If it go through, it would be the start of outside funding to help us. Okay. Um right now we're we're kind of peacemealing, doing little things we can to kind of get the project started, but nothing uh you know, nothing significant in terms of funding. We're kind of on a tight budget right now. Okay. Can the council get a copy of the denial or the takeback from Trump?

I don't personally have it. It's it's what's been relayed to me, but I certainly can look into it. I know there was discussion the administration had with trying to resubmit to get that back because I think it also included upgrades to this building as well.

Um, I think it was like window replacement and some some roofing stuff here. So, I mean, it's something that we absolutely need. So, hopefully we're able to get it back. I'll see who has that documentation. I appreciate the fact that y'all put in here whereas the purpose upgrades related solely to improving conditions for individual hold I'm I'm sorry held temporarily while awaiting prosecution review and are not associated with immigration enforcements, immigration detentions or any immigration and custom enforcement ICE activities. I appreciate that. Uh, okay. So, did they give u a dollar amount as to as to what you might receive?

We uh requested fire. Okay. Okay. All right. Council President, I yield back. Okay. Do we have additional questions or can I call the role on this one? Let's go on item AB. Would you please call the role in a resolution authorizing submission of a congressionally directed spending request to state representative Tanya Mayer Phillips? Councilman Ashafi, yes. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Council Robinson, yes. Council President,

yes. Motion carries. Moving on to item 8 C. This is a resolution authorizing the submission of a community project funding request to Congressman Shish Tanadar for police radio system upgrades. Council, what's your pleasure? On item 8 C. So move. Councilwoman Manica has made a motion. Second with questions. We have questions from prom with a with support offer. Madam proton, if you would. I see the first word asked said this mandated by the FBI to upgrade. Yes. So will this be just in police vehicles or at the police station?

Yeah. All commun all communication. So, it'll be prep radios, portable radios, in car radios. They mandated. Thank you. Additional questions. Yeah. Are we ever going to get an opportunity to get our um our 911 system back since we're doing all of this right here? So, it's something um we've been exploring as far as trying to have our own dispatching again just because it would uh I believe it would reduce response time. Um, but it is another very costly expense. So, it's something uh when we get in a grant opportunity, I would love to apply for it. Okay. And and hopefully we can make it happen. I believe it would cut down our response time significantly.

Okay. What's the price tag for this one here? For the radios. Yeah. So, the total for the upgrade for us would be 500,000. Okay. Okay. All right. Council President, I yield back. Okay. We'll go ahead and call the role on item 8 C. That's a resolution authorizing the submission of a community project funding request to Congressman Shritownar for police radio systems upgrade. If you will call the role, ma'am. Council member Shafi. Yes. Councilwoman Mana. Yes. Council pro Robinson. Yes. Council President.

Yes. Motion carries. On to item AD. Resolution authorizing a two-year service agreement between the city of Highland Park and Lexapole for grant solicitation services for a total of $13,500. City council, what's your pleasure? I'll make a motion with questions. We have a motion to for approval and council promed by Councilwoman Manica for approval. With questions, madam prom, please go ahead. Yes. Okay. Um, can you explain this grant because I know it's been out since 2008 and this is 2026. Um, so as far as the electrical,

so this wouldn't be specifically a grant, it would be an expenditure um that we would be covering. However, we anticipate a huge return on our investment. Um, they're a professional grant writing company. they they have agreed to um write specific grants for us as well as review any grants that we submit to him them that that we've initiated.

Um they have a pretty good success rate with being awarded grants especially um in our current situation. I think we'd be very successful. Yes. Um and and again they you know these these companies are professional. That's what they do. Um so they they obviously have more experience at grant writing than we do. So, will you also be using sir rewrite the policy for the city of Han Park?

So, we've already done that. We we contracted you guys approved contracting with um with our um Lex which um which yeah that changed all of our general orders. They've updated them all. So, um we that's worked out really well in our favor. um in terms of really with everything in terms of litig any litigation we've had in terms of uh you know just updating our policies to meet today's requirements. So we have have we had any officers to do the actual training of this like to who's going to write the grants

or submit them? I know that who's going to submit them because you have to feed them because it's AI. No. So what we do is um we would contact them and say they're interested in applying for this grant. This is what we're trying to achieve. So whatever it may be, you know, for example, the radio one um you know we have an we have to update because we're mandated update. we don't have the funds to do that. Um, we explain our situation. Uh, you know, we give them some statistics based on crime rates and things like that and then they submit a full package for us. Okay. I know that specifically states that you can't just say we won't be because we need you.

Yeah. Yeah. So that that's what I mean. We have to provide some stats. We have to provide um, you know, manpower numbers. we have to provide you know some uh some data that they require but um we would submit that to the grant writing company and they would compile a grant and submit it on our behalf. Thank you. Okay. So Mr. Shy saying first M. Okay. So if we approve this and we pay them so that means that any grants they write all of the grant belongs to the city they get no percentage. Right.

Correct. we we pay our flat rate um that we're paying up front and not only do we we get you know do they submit the grant on our behalf, we get to keep that grant template which could obviously be utilized at a later date and um you know they they share that information with us or if we decide that we're going to write a grant they'll review it and correct it um you know make any corrections for us. Okay. Can the city make money off that template if we if another city wants to use it? I I highly doubt it. I don't know that that would be ethical. Yeah. And I'm thinking that right now that there there's a um copyrightiting and fair use issues that might

it is still the product of the author who wrote the actual grant. So we could use it. Still got the question, Council President. Okay. So I'm reading this. It all looks good. My only problem is I don't see the service agreement itself. Okay. I I don't I don't see the terms and the conditions. You know, I don't like to vote for things blindly. I'm curious as to why that wasn't added in. Yeah. So, they they did submit um an agreement. We can't get the actual agreement until it's approved. Right. But they won't the the agreement basically is not like a proposal. It's it's a more of a contract that you guys would have to have to approve.

So that agreement would come back to this council for approval. Well, any contracts have to come before the council. So Okay. Okay. So we approve this. That contract is coming back here. Correct. Okay. All right. Council President, I yield back. Any more questions? Mick, I saw your hand or were you ready to go? Mentioned AI. Could you say AI? What is the relationship? So, a lot of a lot of companies utilize AI. Um, you know, it's what everyone's doing right now. It's more I think it's more of a they may use AI AI software or they may use just, you know, proven uh methods that they've used in the past. I'm not familiar with anything specific to AI. Are you

It's just a No, it's just asking Robinson mentioned y AI or something to the effect of AI. So I was trying to get the relationship to this proposal in AI. So but we're just adding services for Lexico, right? To write the grant. Yeah, we would be yeah contracting something else. We would be contracting with them for two years to to draft grants and and review grants that we council president. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Go ahead. I'm ready to call for the vote, but go ahead. Would that that service agreement be exclusive to the police or could they be used elsewhere to help the city or would that be something exclusively to you guys? So I don't know what were the discussions on that. So this particular one would be exclusive to us. However, there are opportunities for it to grow across the city. Okay. Because when you think about it's really not that's not a lot of grants when when you compare it to the entire city which may write several grants a quarter. Um that's that's a small number. Okay. Okay. Council president I yield back.

Okay. Would you call the role on item 8 D resolution authorizing the two-year service agreement between the city of Highland Park and Lexapro for grant solicitation services. Councilman Ashafi. I'mma air on the side of caution and say no. Counciloman Mana. Yes. Council Pro Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas.

Yes. Motion carried. Moving on to Thank you, gentlemen. Um, moving on to item nine underwater is 9A and B. 9A is a resolution designating the authorized representatives for fiscal year 2026 clean water state revolving fund sanitary service. I'm sorry. Sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. City council. What is your pleasure? I move to approve a resolution designating authorized representative for the FY20 26 clean water state revolving fund.

Second with question, Mr. Shafi, if you would. Okay. Uh looking at uh $3 million. Is this the um the grant that we approved there, Kathy? Okay. All right. All right. I'm good. Council President, can we go ahead and call the RO? Go ahead. Go ahead, Madam Pro. So, um, how many times have we applied for this grant? This is the bond, right? The bond, right? I thought so. I'm sorry. I misspoke. It's not the grant. This is the bond that we approved for them to get at the last council meeting.

Okay. Did that answer your question, Madam Pro? Yeah, I misspoke. No. Well, so you have you have a you still have a question, ma'am. I think her question. So, we have only been we've only had one clean water uh grant and we did the bond as uh council meni referenced. So, we did it I want to say 2017ish or 16 before. Yeah, it was. Yeah, that was the only other time. And then this is uh this is the second time. So this would be the second time that we've applied for this. So where are the reports from the first grant? Oh, I don't 10 years ago.

Yes. Quite Yeah. Quite some time ago. Yeah. I I can I can You don't throw away stuff after 10 years? No, we don't throw away anything. So I know why you said that. No, we we can if you'd like to see that, we can do that. Thank you so much. Yes. I appreciate it. Additional questions or concerns on item 9A? Would you call the role on a resolution designating the authorized representatives for fiscal year 2026 clean water? We have a motion on the floor made by Councilwoman Manica supported by Councilman Ashi. Would you please call the role ma'am? Councilman Ashafi, yes. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Councilman Robinson, no. Council President Thomas,

yes. Motion carries. Moving on to item 9B, resolution requesting the public advertisement for purposes of receiving construction bids for the fiscal year 2026 water distribution grant water main and lead service line replacement project. City council, what's your pleasure? So move. We have a motion made by Councilwoman Manico. Chair will offer support. You have questions, concerns, descent. Yes, ma'am. Go right ahead. So this is just a um request for bids order. Yes. This is a a purpose of receiving this is to put up a public advertisement for the purpose of receiving construction bids. Questions concerned?

Yeah, Council President, go right ahead. Uh Mr. Garrett, tell I think you know what I'm going to ask you already. Where you starting at first? So, um, we have Please, please don't say district one. No, no. So, um, what we have seven different phases and I don't think it's been determined where we're going to start. So, we'd like to get the bids and review the contractors and the pricing and then that would be part of the determination on where we're going to go. So, it's not it's not like before like it was has to be we have seven different locations that we can start.

Okay. So, you honestly want me to believe that you guys have not discussed at all as to where would be the best place to start first? Uh, we we have not. Mr. Highland Park, I know y'all the mayor. I know that that was the first discussion that came across the table. No, we haven't. And I know this city well. We have not designated like phase one or phase three. We have not done that. Okay. Once we get those bids and and open them and and discuss it with council, we'll we'll decide. Then one last question, Mr. Garrett. Um the 2024 EGO administrative compliance agreement, we get a copy of that. We already have it.

You may have it, but if you don't, we can we can get it for you. Thank you. Additional questions or comments? So, if we could go ahead and take it take the role on item 9B, the resolution requesting the public advertisement for the purposes of receiving construction bids. The motion was made by Councilwoman Mana, supported by the chair, if you would be so kind, ma'am. Councilman Shappi, yes. Councilwoman Madaka, yes, sir. Council Proton Robinson. Yes. To receive bid. Council President Thomas. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you very much. U moving on to item 10, the last one. That's a resolution to approve contracts for pine hole repairs.

I move to approve resolution for contracts for pothole repairs. Second with questions. Have a motion on the floor by Councilwoman Mana supported by council pro Robinson. Miss Robinson, you have questions prior to the vote. is some who who are these questions will be addressed to WDW or Dam. Uh let me check on Mr. Burgess. I've been so busy in person. I have not. Look, just one second. Have a new parttime engineer. Is he available to answer questions? We do not have Mr. Burgess on the line unless Mr. Burgess is here.

Who has the authority to access Act 51 funds? Are they here to answer questions? So, Miss Robinson, if I'm not mistaken, I'm looking at this.

Whereas, DPW is asking for approval to issue a contract to major contracting to repair holes using the hot cold patch as act 51 funds become available. That would be the administrator, the city engineer. Right. M square. Am I mistaken? That is that has not changed the whole time we've been here. Correct. Actually, that was passed to Dana Garrett and then for quite some time when we didn't have it in uh when we didn't have a DPW director. That's what I they were in tandem. And we do have a a part-time engineer, which is an engineer. I have never met.

Okay. Wow. So my question uh council president is there are a couple of streets on this list that are scheduled to be repaid and I know that that uh that um that Oakland is one of them. And I know that also Oakland, the other side of Oakland is supposed to be done this year because you did the uh because you did the side um uh on the on the historical district side. You did that last year.

So So leave me where you want me to go because this is a resolution to approve pothole repairs. I understand that. But some of these streets are being repaved. So, what's the purpose of pothole repairs? Or what's the purpose of patching them if you're going to tear them up and repave them anyway? That's a waste of money. Well, I it depends if if I don't know. I'm going just the people in the audience that drove here, they went over some streets and I'm sure they realized they could put a whole tire or front living room chair in some of the holes they passed over on the way here this week. And I don't think they want to wait until the summer to get those holes fixed. I don't know. I can't speak for y'all who drove here in your own personal vehicle.

See, here's Okay. So, here's what I'm talking about, Council President. Right here on the first page. Yes, sir. Uh, hold on a second. On the first page on the list, they have Glendale on here. And they have Glendale on here for $8,000.

Uh, uh, $8,840 or 9,127. The problem with that is Glendale is under construction right now being repaid. I don't all All I can All I can do is read what's on the page. It says resolution to approve contracts for pothole repairs. There are potholes on the road right now. A substantial amount of them in the city. Hot patch, cold patch, probably depends on the time of the year.

So again, it's right here in front of us. It says hot patch a budget. I need somebody council president to answer some questions and nobody's here to answer the questions. I think to be on the safe side, I think we need to table this item until we can get some questions answered cuz some of these streets is under construction right now being paved. So, what do they need to be patched for? If you're paving the street already, what's the purpose of the patch? I I I understand. I understand your Hold on a second. I understand what you're saying. So, you're saying if you're going to buy new tires and you got a slow leak, don't fix it. Exactly. Right. Yes, ma'am. Miss Manica, go ahead. I was I wanted to resend my motion. Go ahead.

We g we're gonna pull this back. I mean, I just I'd like to make a motion table. Somebody who who So, madam prom, you also have to remove your support. I remove my support and I would like to enter a motion to table. We have a motion on the floor made by council proton Robinson to table item 10 under public works. It's a resolution to approve the contracts for pothole repairs that was seconded by Councilwoman Mana. Can we go ahead and take the role on tableing this item? Before we do that, well, let's just go right ahead. We are I I know how you feel. I don't even need to take a pulse. Would you go ahead and take the role on item 10? This is to table item 10. Council, yes. To table. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Council person Robinson. Yes. Councilman Thomas.

Yes. Okay. That motion carries to be tabled to the next meeting. Yes. to the next meeting. It's fine. Hopefully, somebody will be there to the next meeting which will be give us some of those questions. Maybe y'all can't hear me. Maybe that's it. And some of the questions that they wanted exactly answered. So, when the person come like I have a couple here as well. We're talking about high patches, but then we already have bids here,

right? So, we have legitimate questions and I just want to make this as we move on because I voted in favor of tableling it because I feel that your question should be answered. But I will say this, we have significant potholes that are causing damage to our residents who all of them don't drive new cars. So, let's just make sure that we keep our eyes on the prize. We need to get these potholes fixed soon as we also have patch crews riding around patching.

Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. I'm just making our health, safety, and welfare of the citizens. It can cost somebody $250 to $300 to repair their vehicle if they hit a pothole. Our citizens don't really have a disposable income. So, let's make sure that we keep that in in mind. I voted in favor of tableling it. Um, so hopefully I'll be here at the next meeting to get your questions answered. We are at the end of our business agenda and it is time for citizens participation. I am setting the timer to two minutes. Um, I will entertain citizens with comments. If you'll be kind enough to queue up here at the podium if you have comments you want to make, general comments related to any item whatsoever. I'm gonna start with I don't have any hands raised online. I'll wait and see. I don't have a single hand raised online. Come on up to the podium, sir, if you would. Once you state your name, I'll go ahead and start your time.

Good good evening, uh, honorable body. Uh, my name is Derek Hail. I'm legislative aid to um, Commissioner Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott. And I just wanted to invite everyone to our next coffee hour. Our coffee hour is going to be April the 27th. Uh Monday, this coming Monday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the PIS Institute located at 11633. Uh Joseph Compo and Ham Tramik. Our guest speaker this month is going to be um the Wayne County Register of Deeds, Mr. Young Bloodood. and he's going to be speaking on uh deed fraud. I know that's that's been a prevalent issue that has been going on in uh Wayne County as it relates to deeds being and properties being stolen in that regard of deed fraud. Uh I would like to uh invite everyone there if they are available hopefully they can adjust their schedules to be at the uh the next meeting. And then also I would like to also invite everyone here, the ladies in particular, uh, Wayne County is having their fourth annual women's commission resource fair and that's going to be Thursday, April the 30th at the Wayne County Community College Northwest campus located at 8200 out of Drive, West Outer Drive, Detroit, Michigan. It's going to start from 9:30 to 3 and I do have flyers available for you. But uh but but again please um get a chance to adjust your schedules and if you want want you more information you can contact our office at 313224878. I do have

time on the web again uh from 9:30 to 3 and I do have flyers uh for you. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Thank you sir. All right. Come on up sir. State your name and I'll start your time once you state your name. Good evening, council. Good evening, ma'am. Uh, madame mayor. My name is Joshua Chaitier. I live at 94 Rhode Island Street. I would first like to apologize for interrupting the workshop. That was not my intent to do as such. Uh, my inquiry during that time was um was the fiscal year for Highland Park runs to June the 30th. So FY27 is happening July 1st, 2026. So every time FY 2026 was being mentioned, I didn't know like we're 11 months almost into FY 2026. So that was the only clarification that was asking for. I shouldn't have interrupted. I apologize for that. I just wanted to make that known. But maybe like language going forward we can know. So like FY2027 is 60 days away almost, you know, like why are we talking about 2026 budget, you know? So thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Hello ma'am. Once you state your name, I'll start your channel.

Okay. My name is Kira and I live over on Midland Street and I'm here to share with everyone the progress that I've been making on trying to save the Highland Appliance sign. Um, I'm hoping to add a few letters and eventually have it spell out Highland Park instead of Highland Appliance, but there will be more on that down the road. For now, my focus is on bringing it down and storing it temporarily. So, I'm just curious, as long as I have the funding and a licensed and insured contractor, will there be anything else other than obtaining a permit that I will have to do? I was told that Wayne County uh is going to have ownership of it, the building. Really? Before the demo takes place.

That's interesting. Yeah. I don't know what that means myself. When did that happen? I'll tell you, I sure like to know where that happened because Wade County ain't getting [ __ ] from us. Anything else? Nothing. Uh, just my question about the permit and then also just to call out that WDT reached out to me for an interview and so they're going to be running a story on it on Monday. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. You always come here trying to take some from us. Oh, Jesus. Hey. Hello.

Uh, Carla Oliver. Uh, quickly, I just wanted to mention about, uh, MCA. Um, and I I really appreciate your questions, actually, because that's one of the things I don't understand about this city council. How is it that we keep approving things without asking for Gant charts, burn up charts, burn down charts? Without those and we don't know the progress of what's being happening and the money being spent on that progress and locations, how are we just saying yes to anything that anybody comes up here and say they want money for? That makes no sense to me. If you don't have evidence and data, how are you just saying yes to anything? But the most important thing I came up here about actually is about the treasurer's bond. That's a big problem. Elections are coming up. My question is is what are we going to do to make it reasonable for any treasurer that's that's trying to run to Well, actually, it's $5 million now. Who's going to be able to afford that? Any citizen resident in Highland Park? How? Then on top of it, the city doesn't have a blanket bond. Everybody that handles money should have be under a blanket bond. Administration knows that. I agree. The mayor had the right to veto that resolution simply because the resolution had a cap on it. Remove that cap and make the bond reasonable. The lawyers know that. But nobody's working together because this is a problem because elections are coming up right around the corner and who's ever running, we may still be having to pay Wayne County $80 an hour plus administration fees because

we don't have a a bonded treasurer. And the fact that the city can't get a bond is a is a big concern. Everybody that handles money should be under the same blanket bond. You can't have a separate bond for the treasurer and not include everybody else. But the administration knows that. The lawyers know that y'all all need to work together for this city. That's it. Thank you.

All right. Your name for the record, please. Robert Douglas Lodge Jr. thankful to be in front of this esteemed council. I want to express my gratitude for the work that the water department is doing with replacing the sewers and water lines. And if you drive south of Davidson to the border of the city, you can clearly see the work that's being done. My concern is once they leave the debris stays. The debris is there. Everywhere they have worked there is piles of debris. Dirt, rocks,

cones, you name it. Sewers, drains are covered. And so who's responsible for the cleanup?

The cleanup has to take place. I would think that once the work was completed in that particular area then that area will be thoroughly cleaned and then move to the next. So that's a concern I'm asking that this council address. Also I want to talk about the data or data uh centers. I want to talk about it proactively because you know that this is a major concern all over the country and I would suggest that we utilize the same resolution that was passed pertaining to the ICE detention and holding centers and I'm hoping that the resolution that was passed some more teeth was added because I made note and made it known per this council that when it said uh city-owned, it should also say privately owned. And when it also made mention of where they can go, it was not enough information put in the resolution to protect us. And so, thank you for my uh my time and please take that in consideration.

Thank you. Hello, council. Sydney Spike. I'm up here on a different matter. We talked about the parade. Uh I was online at the last parade. I tried to get in. You said someone on the thing and it was just too late. I was just too late to speak. But my daughter, I'm not computer savvy. My daughter was trying to get my computer to get online and she got it. When we turned it on, my daughter and my grandson, we we're getting this thing together. Brother, you started cursing to a point that my grandson was like, "Whoa, get on with it, man. This is what I'm saying. Get on with it. There's a young lady sitting right there.

Get on with I'm pretty sure. Can I worse? I'm going to stand at their homes. Get on to it and state what you got to say. Four eyes and let's roll. We ain't got all day for that. DON'T COME UP HERE STARTING THAT GARBAGE. CAN YOU REMOVE ME? NO, HE CANNOT remove me. He can remove you. Can you remove him? Yes, he has. Chair of this meeting. I can ask. No. This man IS OUT OF CONTROL. I FEAR for my life. The hell is wrong with y'all? Boom. There you go. Now, in saying this, this is supposed to be a professional setting.

We have young people in the crowd. People probably doing their homework to see how COUNCIL IS DONE. EVERYBODY'S WATCHING AND PROFANE language and disrespectful ways are being done in this body. That's got to stop. That's got to stop. Ladies and gentlemen, meeting a journ. Thank you.

I'm sure you talking to him. other people in line. The meeting is over. It's over. Talk to that man. Sorry. My fault was a good reason to do it.

Although the meeting is adjourned, I'm just going to sit here and if you have any questions or concerns, I will write them down. the right one to talk to. Don't come back. Don't come back. You can stand to the podium, Brian. Stat. You can stand at the podium and tell me what you want to say, and I like that.

Thank you so much, Brian. Yeah. Hey, thank you for inviting me up.