City Council - Regular Meeting

to approve with amended when we get to item six. Could you please specify what those amendments would be? Now again, this is under the city clerk, so I don't even know if we have we can't make we don't have the authority to alter what the clerk has brought to us. It's a resolution. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Go ahead. Um I I think if if uh if prom wants to make a motion to divide the question as far as the resolution that was proposed by the clerk's office. I did prepare three separate resolutions each dealing with a component of the original clerk's resolution. If I could just approach

I asked why we're separating it this time. It's been like that forever. Right. BCW needs to change their resolution because it reads for more than one. Okay. I'm just providing that option to the

right and I want to just to to thank you Mr. Bosik for that. But to the clerk's point, this is our fourth time in a in in the in the the time frame. There's been two elections. It has not we are attempting to alter another elected body's procedure that has been in place for two decades now. So, I want to make sure that that's clear that we're trying to alter what the clerk has been doing in her office for going on 20 years. Council President. Yes, sir. The motion is still on the floor. Hold on. Okay. Hold. I just wanted Hold on. We need I need a second. I need a second. Excuse me. Okay. Second.

We have a second. We have a motion on the floor made by council approach Tim Robinson to approve the agenda with amendments and that you're I want to give the lady a chance to explain what the what her changes will be. Miss Martin has already expressed support. Would you please go ahead and state what those changes will be. Madam proton, I would like to strike early voting site and absent voter counting board. We can't do that. We can't do that. We don't have we talking about the board of canvases. Wayne County Board of County. Since when? What are we striking or what are we considering? I I don't have to be legal to know that what you're suggesting is illegal. We are at an election is coming up.

This is part of the state. Show me that in writing. That has to be approved by council. What has to be approved by your resolution? Or if if it didn't have to be approved by council, it would be on our amendment. want to play with Benson. That's I have a problem with you trying to What is it that you're want? I'm going to strike early voting site and absent voter counting board. Where's that at? Item six. You have the authority to strike. I thought we were separating these.

So under what authority do you have to strike? I cler I thought we were separating Charmaine. I didn't get a response to separating them. Man, we don't have the authority by law. We do not have the authority. Show me and write. We show you in writing this Michigan election right now. How about you show me where you do? How about you do that? Who approves resolutions? They come from the legal department. These resolutions are [ __ ] If you know what I prove this,

Mr. Have you added your support to this approval of the agenda? Has it? Well, I'm I'm trying to figure out. So, is it that we're changing the agenda? Are we changing what's in the resolution? And then if we're changing what's in the resolution, is it to read resolution to approve and establish polling stations only today? Okay. Okay. So you want to strike out early voting site and absent voter counting board. Correct. So it is resolution to approve and establish polling locations for the 2026 election site. Yes. Okay. That's okay.

We do not have it says under article two of the constitution of Michigan. Do you see that? It says under section 41m of article 2 of the constitution of Michigan, we do not have the authority to strike anything as it relates to polling places. This is Michigan state law. I'm not striking that, sir. This early voting site, there's an election in this city in August. At a cost of what? You know what? You go ahead and do whatever you think you want. Okay, I got one more question.

I'm not going to stop you at all. I'mma let you do whatever you want to do. Miss man, we still have a motion on the floor. Miss Martin still. Yep. We have a motion on the floor made by council pro tim to attempt to alter the resolution brought forth by the clerk as it relates to the election here in August. Okay. Miss Martin offer her support. Okay. So the the purpose of this resolution is it came from the the clerk's administration, right?

So every year, every time there's an election, we can go back through our and it looks just like this resolution to approve and establish the polling locations, early voting sites, and absentee voter counting board for the 2026 election. Saying we got to get this resolution every election. This is what it looks like based on the clerk is preparing this resolution based on the Michigan Constitution. No, I got that. That's not what I'm asking. Yes. Is every election. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Yes. Okay. That's all I Okay. I I yield back.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Act 116 of 1954 168.70B. Right to vote at early voting site timing requirement section 702B. A registered and qualified elector in the state has the right to vote in person at each statewide and federal election at an early voting site before election day. An elector at an early voting site has the same rights and is subject to the same requirements as an elector or polling place on election day. Early voting must be provided in statewide and federal elections for at least nine consecutive days beginning on the second Saturday before the statewide or federal election and ending on the Sunday before the statewide or federal election and must be provided for at least eight hours each day during the required nine consecutive days of early voting beginning January 1, 2026. Early voting may be offered on a Monday before the election. The early voting on that Monday must end no later than 4 p.m. So this is to establish the resolution is to approve and establish polling locations early voting and an absentee voting county board for the 2026 election cycle. Nothing has changed since the last time we voted on this.

So if you would like to do whatever you want to do, you made a motion, Miss Martin. You made support of that motion. You can do whatever you want to do. I'm not going to also say providing because it's a cost from those nine days of early voting. That is all that is incumbent in the clerk and and that it is by law and it is approved. It's just the establishment of the site. It says location site to establish the polling location and early voting site. Okay. We're voting we're still voting on the approval of the of the agenda. Okay.

Okay. So your before it stands for the approval of the agenda with making those modifications. I want a clarity. Yes. Go ahead. So I I want to be clear. Madam Pro Tim, you want to eliminate the words early voting site and absentee voter counting board from this resolution title. Meaning we're removing that from the resolution. Then the resolution would say resolution to approve and establish polling locations for the 2026 election cycle. Is that correct? That is correct. So then what are we going to do? I ask what are we going to do for the early voting site and the absentee voter counting board?

What where are we placing that? What are you doing with that? Why why are we removing it? I heard the cost issue, but it's always been a cost issue. that comes out of the clerk budget as well as it does every other municipality. It's something that has to happen. You cannot eliminate early voting and you can eliminate absentee voting count. So I'm asking what are we doing with those two after they would be removed?

Separate resolutions. I guess nobody heard that. No, I have a we have a question. Miss Manica asked for a clarifying question from council proteone to put these on a separate resolution reasoning being that every resolution that I have presented to Bosnic has been broke down, tore up and not proceeded forward because I had too many things to one resolution. You guys did set the press.

Hello. Y'all did set the press. You provided one resolution over a 18. Hold a second. Hold a second. Hold a second. Hold a second. With all due respect, it's been going on that way for three and a half years.

Okay. Anytime this council has ever put together a resolution with multiple items on it, you have shot it down and told us we had to break it up and put it into separate resolutions. Now, I get at the last council meeting uh something may have slipped by with multiple things on it from the uh from the DPW. Okay, fine. I I I get that one incident. But for the last three and a half years, you've been on our ass constantly about not having more than one item on a resolution. You have this from novices with no legal writing. Those were from novices, not the city clerk with 20 years of experience.

Hold on a second. You set the president and now that it's something that's running contrary to what you want, you want to alter it. That No, that So, no, no, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on a second. See, because you playing we're playing word games here. We are not. This is a resolution and I want the audience to know this is a resolution to approve and establish the polling location to that is all you got to break it up. You know what? Live with it. Go ahead. We are you ready to call a vote on the approval of the agenda? No, I'm sorry. With all due respect, this is one of those mess around and find out moment

seconding the removal of that. Are you understanding what's happening? So then what are we do? I I still am not clear to then what's the next resolution going? That's a great question. What do we do for So what do we do for early voting? All we got to do is What do we do for absentee ballots? Break it up. We're adding support. All we got to do is break it up. That's not what we do. All we got to do is break it up. No. All we got to do is vote. Let's vote. You ready to vote? Vote. Let's go. Would you call the role on the approval of the agenda making an amendment to item six striking the language that includes the establishment of polling locations, early voting and the absentee vote counting vote counting board? That is not what I said.

What did you say, ma'am? Please. That is not what I said. Then please tell me what you said so I can write it down. I said Oh, I want to strike early voting site and absent voter county board leaving just the resolution to approve the established polling locations. That's what I said. Did you write that down?

Go for it. Call the vote. Your vote, Mr. Shopppee, he's not here. Why are you asking about a vote? Councilwoman Manica, no. Councilwoman Martin, no. Council Pro Tim Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas, no. So, let's go back to item two on the agenda. This is the approval of the agenda. The chair will entertain a motion for the approval of tonight's agenda. I want to make a motion to approve tonight's agenda. Uh, May 18th, 2026. We have support. Yes. We have

We have a motion made by Councilwoman Martin for the approval of tonight's agenda, seconded by Councilwoman Manica. Questions, concerns, descent. Please note that Mr. Shopei has left the chamber. Would you please call the role on the approval of tonight's agenda? Councilman Shafi. Councilwoman Manica. Yes. Councilwoman Martin, yes. Council Jan Robinson, no. Council President,

yes. Motion carries. Moving on to the approval of the proposed minutes for the inperson and virtual regular meeting held on May 4th, 2026. Council, what's your pleasure? I want to make a motion to approve um minutes of the virtual and in-person regular meeting on May 4th, 2026. Second. Questions, concerns, or disscent. Would you please call the role on item four? Ma'am, Councilman Shaki, Councilwoman Manica, yes. Councilwoman Martin, yes. Council Pro Robinson, no on these minutes because I didn't attend it. Council President,

yes. Motion carries. Okay. This is the section of the meeting that is set aside for the mayor to uh address the public. Madame Mayor, if you will be so kind. Good evening, citizens of High Park. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening.

I don't have much today. This weekend was awesome. We had a great time with camaraderie of citizens coming out. Had a parade. It was a lot. We was worried that it was going to rain and rain us out. But as usual, God showed up and showed out became nice and it stayed that way for the whole time. Um, I want to thank police and fire department. Kind of rough, but we stayed up half doing it, but we got it done. I want to thank everybody who contributed to the parade, who came out and and showed support. I appreciate that. uh at that at the at the parade everybody was cordial everything was good and that's the kind of thing that we need in Highland Park I do want to address one thing and I don't know if people know or not that there is a thing called telecommunication cyber bullying and I need people to understand the things that you put on Facebook and the people that you put it put it under if you are in any way posing threats to black people's lives you are violating the warranty.

And so I just want to make that perfectly clear and I don't know who, what, when, but if you are posing threats to somebody, you are violating the law and that law will be. So that's all I got. Tough guys, huh? Let's enjoy the rest of this meeting. I hope we can get through it with a lot of and and and get on her home about storm again. You all have Thank you so much, ma'am. So, ladies and gentlemen, I am setting my clock.

Um, I will entertain citizens who could speak for no more than two minutes on any item that appears on the agenda. We have the 2026 27 uh proposed budget and a public hearing. A resolution to approve the establishing of polling locations, early voting sites, and absentee uh vote counting, a resolution to issue a contract for audit services, the amendment to number one of the intergovernment agreement between the county of Wayne and the city of Highland Park for the completion of improvements at Midland Field. We have a request uh for the naming of a street and then we have citizens participation. So I'm going to start with the people online. For those of you who are tuning into tonight's meeting online, if you would like to be heard from, if you would raise your hand, I will give you a second to do that and I will let the people online go first. This is for agenda items. I don't see anyone raising their hand online. If you have anybody in the audience that would like to speak on agenda items, if you will be kind enough to come to the podium,

state your name and I'll start your time. Yeah, just come up to

Please keep your comments to items that are on the agenda. It'll be an open opportunity at the end of the meeting for general public comments. Come on forward, sir.

Good evening everyone, administration, council, citizens of Holland Park. I am Robert Douglas Lodge Jr. and I would like to talk about item number eight. I do want to take the moment a moment to recognize the hard work that Miss Sue is doing at the rec center and I'm excited to hear about the improvements at Midland Field. Also want to recognize the hard work that Miss Sonia is doing at the rec center also with the seniors. And so it's going to be a great opportunity for this city to grow with the rec department. and I am again looking forward to hearing about all the improvements. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Any other citizens before we move into our agenda?

Uh, dear Highland Park City Council, my name is Sarah Griev. I'm a resident in Highland Park, 200 MLAN. I am writing to uh to respectfully request that the city council help organize a public community workshop around uh two major resident protection issues I have had to address this year, which is property tax uh property tax and deed protection for Highland Park residents, housing, utility disability, and tenant safety rights. These issues are not isolated. they affect seniors, disabil uh disabled residents, homeowners, renters, and etc. I would like you to do a workshop of how to check and protect their property deed, how to understand property tax exemptions, including property exemptions and principal residence exemptions, how to avoid losing property through unpaid taxes or paperwork issues, how to understand tenant rights, eviction protections, and utility shut off resources, and how disabled residents can access legal housing and emergency support. Uh,

Sarah, I I Great information. Is it on the agenda? No. Okay. Put it on the agenda. No, I'll see you at the end of the meeting. Okay. Okay. Thank you, Miss Yeah. Um, are there any other citizens? I'm going to go back online and I don't see any hands raised. Come on, ma'am. I see you want to come. You have something you want to talk about an agenda item. I don't want to go off until cuz once we get going, we're going. Did you want to speak? Yes. This is related to an agenda item.

So, I'm going need you to state your name and then we'll go. Let us know which item you're referring to. Yes. Well,

I think could you could you state your name? My name is Kaya. Thank you, ma'am. Kennedy. I can start your time now. Go right ahead. This which agenda item. All right. And it's hard to see. You like that? You see, it's hard to speak. Okay. So, that's why we have another. Ma'am, could you tell me which item on the agenda that you're addressing? I'm gonna pause your time here. Yes. It's time. Is it you have it on your paper? Yeah. Tablet. What you want to talk about?

Yeah. I told you you have That's why I'm asking you. I'll come out there for you. But that's why I told you tomorrow. I told you you have a I'm sorry. Monday t Tuesday. Okay. I'm sorry you're mad or whatever they say. Whoa. No, no, no, ma'am. Let me pause you right there. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Ma'am, please stop because this is this is the opportunity for people to speak at the end of the meeting. No, no, no. It No, it's okay. No, ma'am. Please, could you please stop? Thank you. At the end of the meeting, I'll give you two minutes. Okay. Please stay.

No, I'm saying I'm I'm saying Yeah, she has what? You I'm sorry. I don't I'm not aware if you're having some challenges with with I'm sorry with speaking. I'm sorry. Yes. I am I trying to tell you I have a fa and a prostitution.

So So she's going to give it to me and then I'll bring it back to council. Would you please are you going to stay to the end of the meeting?

Okay. All right. Cuz I want to give you an opportunity. I don't want to rush you through and forgive me. Forgive me for not knowing. Okay. Okay. I don't see anybody else. Do I anybody else coming up to the podium on an agenda item? Agenda items. The folks online. I have 11 people online. I don't have any hands raised. Okay. Then I'm going to move into the regular agenda. Ladies and gentlemen, item five is the public hearing for the the fiscal year 2026 2027 budget. It is a public hearing. It is not a debate. This is not a question and answer period between members of council. This is a public hearing for us to record into the record comments that citizens have on the actual budget. There will not be an exchange between members of council and members of the audience. This is the public hearing so that your voices can be heard. I will give you just a little bit over two minutes for those who want to comment on the budget for the public hearing. But first, members of council will have to make a motion to open the public hearing so that we could address it.

I move to open I'm sorry. I move to open public hearing for the proposed FY2026 to 2027 budget. We have support. Chair offer support. Questions, concerns, or dissent as it relates to opening the public hearing? Yes, we're having a public hearing this current moment. Correct. Yep. As soon as as soon as we take a vote and we get three affirmative votes, the public hearing will be open. Okay. And then you said citizens can comment or cannot comment. Citizens can. We can. This is a public hearing, so we hear from them. We don't answer them. This is the budget from the administration. Okay.

And and and so the administration should be taking notes to these items. We had our workshop on the budget. We asked the questions of the finance department. We had our two representatives here. We've heard the audit for this year. So now it's a public hearing. Yes, sir. Go ahead.

Okay. So, um, understand this is a a public hearing for for the public. I just want to know when will council have an opportunity to ask Mrs. Eleanor some uh direct questions cuz at the at the last two little workshops that we had, she wasn't present. We heard from Carl, but the person that did and drafted the budget was not present to answer any questions that we may or may not have. Carl only has so much knowledge as opposed to the one that actually drafted the budget. So, considering procedure, I'd be willing to hold a whole workshop for that because we can't do it during the hearing. Please. Okay.

I would appreciate that, Council President. Thank you. I yield back. Okay. Uh, and point of point of reference here. So, for the workshop, we need three people. It doesn't have to be me. I got you. Okay. So, um, would you please call the role on opening the public hearing? We have a motion on the floor made by Councilwoman Mana, supported by the chair to open tonight's public hearing. If you would please call the role. Councilman Shaki. Absolutely. Councilwoman Mana. Yes. Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Council pro Tim Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas.

Yes. Motion carries. Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to go two minutes and 30 seconds. I don't believe if you have something to say, for those who have really read the budget, if you have something to say, I don't think an additional 30 seconds is going to make that much of a difference, particularly because the administration is taking note of the items that are being discussed. So, as we start the public hearing, everyone in the audience, including the people online, I'm going to start with the people online, um, has an opportunity to make a comment on the budget. Please, this is a public hearing. This is not a debate. This is not a advisory session. Members of council will not be answering your question. This is the proposed budget from the administration. So, I am going to ask I have Miss Carla Oliver on the line. I'm gonna ask Miss Oliver to unmute. Once you state your name for the record, Miss Oliver, I'm going to give you your two minutes and 30 seconds. chair.

And you can go right ahead, ma'am, once you get started. Can you hear me? Hello. Yep. Go ahead and state your name, ma'am. Hi, Carla Oliver. Um, go right ahead.

Yeah, a couple of questions in regards to the budget. I didn't really um didn't have a lot of time to look at it, but I'm seeing different variations as far as uh different changes. I'm still asking that I've been asking uh for a couple of years now is seeing uh looking at the budget and it's clearly available for DPW to get a raise. um and also make them full-time employees. Um all city employees should be full-time employees. Um and that's the allotted per the per the budget. Another thing is is that I am requesting because I noticed that there's a hiring of a new audit auditing team for a forensic audit to be performed. I don't know why that's danced around and ignored and not answered, but that's something that needs to be performed. So, that's basically it that I have.

Thank you, ma'am. I don't see any additional hands online, so I will There's a gentleman at the podium. I'm come step forward, sir. Good evening, council. Good evening.

Good evening. Good evening, madam mayor, as well. My name is Joshua Chhatier. Apologies, there's four paragraphs, so I don't mean to be uh fast speaking, but my name is Josh Shatier. My address is 94 Allen Street, Highland Park, Michigan 48203. On March 7th, 2026, my basement suffered catastrophic flooding. The cause is documented in an open unwater excavation pit that still resides next to my property. I'm city contract. I'm going to pause your time. Does this rel This is a public hearing for the budget. Is this budget related? Uh yes, sir. Okay, then I'm going I'm going to let you keep going. Go for it. Also, I'll just go straight to the budget part. Since that day, I've submitted nine Freedom of Information Act requests to the city.

Okay. Five remain unnowledged in violation of MCL. What? I'll let y'all look that up. FOI requests seven and nine were extended to May 13th, 5 days ago. Neither were produced. The council is conducting a public budget hearing tonight while the administration remains in active violation of statutory FOIA obligations on the very budget documents requested from me. The record should reflect that. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Come on up, sir. Robert Douglas Lash Jr. I'm asking for the city to consider increasing the nominal pay that the city council members are receiving. I'm hoping that in the budget there's an area that these individuals who work so hard for the citizens be paid a compensation be compensated worth worthy of the work load that we are expecting them to carry and so hopefully in the budget that will be taken in consideration. Thank you.

Thank you. Hold on a second. Let me reset your time here.

State your name for the record, sir. Uh, yes. My name is Kersh. I'm just a lonely resident. I live at 312 Pilgrim. Um, I'm concerned about the overtime for the police budget and I'm wondering if we get a breakdown as to what that money in overtime would equate to in new officers if that could be answered for the residents. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Let me go back to the group online because I might have missed somebody. Is there anyone who was joining us online who would like to add to the uh the comments for the public hearing as it relates to the 2026 2027 budget? I still see no hands. Ladies and gentlemen, a full minute has elapsed and not a single person has approached the podium. Not a single person has asked to be heard from online. At this time, the chair will entertain a motion to close the public hearing.

I move to close the public hearing.

Yes, ma'am. This Martin's support. If you will call the role on closing the public hearing. Councilman Shaki. Yes. Councilwoman Mana, yes. Councilwoman Martin, yes. Council Pro Tim Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas, yes. Motion carries. Moved on item six under city clerk resolution to approve and establish polling locations, early voting sites, and absentee voter counting board. City Council, what is your pleasure on item six? Move to approve

the resolution to approve and establish polling locations, early voting sites and absent voter counting board. Chair offer support. The item is on the floor. Questions, concerns, descent. I desent, council president.

And and the reason that that I desent is because there was a common ground to be met between the two of y'all. I didn't like the idea of striking by the council council prompt and I didn't like the idea of you guys lumping all three resolutions together on to one. We could have net in the middle but y'all refuse to even see that option. So therefore I would not be voting on this item at all and you could ask me a thousand times. You will get no response from me. Thank you very much. Madam clerk, could you please call the role on item six? Councilwoman Manica. Yes. Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Council Pro Robinson. No. Council President Thomas.

Yes. Motion carries. Item seven, resolution to issue a contract for audit services under the finance department. Council pleasure. On item seven, move the table. Say again. I said I move the table. Second. is so small. It's so so insignificant. Where is the contract? Where is I I know this one little little funky ass piece here. So, we have a motion on the floor made by council um you made I want to see the contract. Did you make

He made the motion. Mr. I have a motion on the floor to table made by councilman El Shafi um supported by council prom to table this item a resolution to issue a contract for this story. Please call the role on item seven. Uh yes, the table. Councilwoman Manica, wait. He wants to table it. And to point of order, until the next meeting, I want information. I'm sorry. You're saying we're approving the contract here. Where's the contract?

Where is it? That's all I'm simply saying. You ask us to approve a contract. Now we already are doing service with Yo or Yayo or whatever their name is in in three year in in three and a half years of us being here. They never brought their sorry behinds to this podium and spoke to us now one time. Now you wanted to approve another contract with no contract and just a little half of a resolution and what it's going TO COST. THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT. I KNOW IT'S MORE TO IT than this. I know it's more to it than this. Okay. Okay. Got to be more to it than this. Sure. Cuz I can use this as toilet paper right now.

So you're saying you're you're asking for a vote to table. Would you please call the role in the vote to table the the request for this information this contract? Councilman Shaki. Yes. The table. Councilwoman Mana. Yes. Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Council pro Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas. No. Motion carries. I want to see the contract, a real one. All right, moving on to item eight under recreation. This is amend amendment number one of the intergovernmental agreement between the county of Wayne and the city of Highland Park to provide for completion of the improvements at Midland Field. City Council, what's your pleasure?

Is this the final stage, Council President? I make a motion to approve it. Thank you. We have a motion on the floor. You said final stage. I'm saying is this the final stage? Need a second. Yeah. Sorry. Made the motion. Mr. Martin offered support. As far as the final stage, Sue, would you be so kind enough to answer that question? Yes, you go. Hi, Sue. How are you? Oh, thank you. Good evening. First, I'd like to apologize for that last page. My cartridge didn't come. So, I made copies. It's all right. It's all right. Actually, this looks nice.

Yes, we are in the final stages of the project. The project should be completed by midepptember. And this request is the county had given us funding for play apparatus. And when we met with contractors that this funding would have expired in September

of 25, but the contractors because we had two separate grants, nobody wanted to touch it. We would have had a piece of play equipment over here and a piece of play equipment over here unless we purchased additional insurance in case one of the other companies damaged the equipment. So, we went to the county requesting an extension. Um, we've been working with Commissioner Scott since last July. um it was approved and this is just simply the final stage for council to approve the extension of the grant till October 1st of this year. So this the second page is the eagle view, right?

Yes. And then um what's what's the square? The the square piece is the zipline which is what the county is actually paying for. So what we've done is their project will be funded with their funds but it's it makes it all one all-inclusive play area and it's going to be established in phases or this is all going to be it's all going to be completed by September midepptember. Yes council woman prom. Go ahead ma'am. pass around. This amendment states improvements commitment field, but this paperwork and these diagram says Ives.

Correct. But it's all part of the um Ives and Midland project. So when they did the actual drawings, it was part of the one piece. So it it's all inclusive. It's all connected. So when you say Mittland Field, what are you putting on the site where Mittland School used to be? Are you putting any one of these? Yes. Which which one we're putting? That whole piece is going to be on there. The zipline, the playscape, the play equipment because I feel and two different entities, right? Midland is considered as part, right?

It's not considered a separate part. It's all connected and it it has not been officially named Midland Park. And so we're just voting on the extension today. Correct. Yeah. Correct. I correct. Jesus. Say what you mean and then what you say.

Additional questions or comments? Lisa, you ran out of heat. May I offer amendment to this resolution? Miss Miss Sue, Mr. Miranda, hold on just just one second. Can I'd like to make Can I make an amendment to this resolution? Uh, so I would like to We need to call for the vote. I would like to resend my motion. to Miss Martin, you have to resend your support. I have to. You don't. You could leave it out there, but you don't have a uh you have a I just want first before I resend.

What am I sending? Yes, please. That's fine. She wants to make an amendment. I got that. But what is the amendment? The amendment is to add Oh, okay. Ives and Mittland Field. So, that's a simple fix. And so, Miss Niranda, I was asking you to stay so I can make sure that that is possible that we can say that we would have to go back to the county and see if they would allow that addition. Exactly. They're just plain simply asking if we can extend the deadline for the project.

I am aware of that. I was just trying to Okay. Thank you for that. So, I'm not rescending my motion. Okay. So we can we call the vote on the amendment number one of the intergovernmental agreement between the county of Wayne City of Highland Park to provide for the completion improvements at Midland Field. If you will call the role. Councilman Ashi, yes. Councilwoman Manica, yes. Councilwoman Martin, yes. Council Pro Tim Robinson, no. Council President, yes. Motion carries. Okay. Thank you. Now we have for item nine an outside communication to receive and file. This is a requ. Say again. Motion to receive and file.

We have a motion on the floor from Councilman Oafi to receive and file. Second. Seconded by Councilwoman Manica. Questions concerns to Yeah. What are we receiving and filing? We're receiving and filing a Oh, this letter. A letter. Yes, ma'am. Okay. All right. So, we are receiving and filing. So we have a motion made by Councilman Ashi, supported by Councilwoman Manica. If you will call for the role on item number nine. Councilman Shafi. Yes. To receive the Counciloman. Yes.

Councilwoman Martin. And we're just receiving a file. Yes, ma'am. Add the words. Add the words.

Yes. Receiving file Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas. Yes. Thank you very much. So now we're going to move into citizens participation. Citizens may approach the podium and speak for two minutes on the topic of their choosing.

I would ask that you queue up there. We have someone online. So I'm going to start with Mr. Tucker online. I'm going to ask you to unmute Mr. Tucker. Once you state your name.

All right. Yes. Uh, my name is Anthony Tucker. I live at West Vista Street. I just had a question for the uh um the council overall. Um, our our decorum is should be much better because you know we you're being seen around the country. I'm pretty sure people are looking in on us and I would really pray that all all you council members really, you know, be better in your decorum and I hope that uh everything work out for us because I, you know, I love this city and I just, you know, pray to God all the time that I know things don't work out the way we like, you know, but still just have a better decorum. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I have Miss Turner, uh, Reverend Turner Johnson. I'm g ask you to unmute.

Good evening, uh, council members. I'm on to invite you and our citizens to the candidates forum that the NAACP is sponsoring on Saturday. Saturday, this coming Saturday, May 23rd, the forum will be held from 10 to 12 at Parker Village, which is on East Buista. And uh I'm a member of the NAACP, the sponsoring group. So, we'd love to have as many residents as possible to come out and hear from our candidates who are seeking our vote for the upcoming election. So, that's it for me.

Thank you, ma'am. And then lastly online, we have a hand up from Carla Oliver. Hello, Carla Oliver speaking. Um, go ahead. Thank you, ma'am.

Yeah, I wanted to touch base on the amnesty that happened. Um, I have to be very honest. I'm disappointed in the council members to approve an amnesty that was presented the day before it started and lasted only 10 days. It's unfair to the residents and and residents that are on fixed incomes who already planned their finances for the month who didn't get the opportunity to um take part in the amnesty. Again, you all as city council members are supposed to be for the residents first and I felt as though that was that was neglected. um um with MCA.

I lost you, Mr. Oliver. I'm sorry. Breaking up. You're breaking up. I'm okay. Can you hear me now? I hear you better. Okay. So, um that was neglect neglectful from city council members who are supposed to be um biased and working for the residents first. Um, in addition to that, MCA,

here we go again. My question is is, and I wish anyone from MCA was there, who from MCA lives in this city and gets a water bill from this city because no water bills around the Metro Detroit area are as high as what we as Highland Park residents are receiving. And I don't think if they were residents here, it would be it would be tolerated for us to have our debt wiped out in a contract thanks to the water um advocacy um including our treasur, our current treasurer. There's no way that it's been wiped out and the bills are still as high as they are.

That's it. Oliver, thank you so much.

All right, sir, come on up to the podium and I will allow you to get yourself situated so that you can go through your whole document this time. Oh, that's all right. Let me know when you're ready to go. C is in cat. C H H A R T is in Tom. T I I B E R. Okay. Yep. Ready, buddy?

Yep. Joshua Sautier, 940 Down Street. Tonight, this council voted on election infrastructure, polling locations, and potentially an early voting site and absent voter counting board without providing the public or all council members the legal basis for each of those advances. Tonight, this council conducted a public budget hearing while the administration has not produced budget documents lawfully requested under Freedom of Information Act requests. And tonight, the residents of this city and myself as a resident had their water shut off from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the same day as this public hearing. These matters are documented and have been brought to the attention of the council and to the appropriate state authorities. State authorities. The residents of Highland Park deserve transparent government. Thank you.

All right. Robert Douglas Lodge Jr. 213 East Grand. I want to take the moment to acknowledge Mr. Garrett and the water department for responding so quickly to my concerns that I presented before this council with all the trash and debris and lack of uh consideration for the citizens with the construction that's been going on. And I see that it has been cleaned up to a certain degree. And so I'm I'm thankful for that because so often we stand here with our concerns and some think they are complaints. Uh but citizens have the right to address to share what their concerns are without being intimidated or being neglected. And so with that being said, thank you water department uh for doing your job. I also want to acknowledge that there are some streets that's supposed to be uh paved and some potholes that's supposed to be filled. Uh please consider Manchester between John and Woodward. There's some humongous potholes and it seems to be a sinkhole developing and that area is very congested because of the strip mall and so to avoid any damage to people vehicles uh please take that in your uh consideration and make that a priority. Thank you sir.

I do not see additional people coming. Oh. Oh, thank you for sharing. Do I have any time left? I want to acknowledge the fact that the hole on Ammerst has been was covered quickly in spite of the fact that he had been a hole there for almost a year. So, thank you for responding to my concerns so quickly. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. All right, with no more people coming to the podium and no more people online, we're going to move into council affairs starting with gentleman from the third district. Mr. Shy, the floor is yours. Set the timer for additional five minutes to get us out of here in 25 minutes or less.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Um, so I want to quickly uh comment on what Miss um Miss Oliver said about the uh the amnesty. So, so for those who know me, you know how I feel already. You Yeah. You know how I've expressed myself. I don't feel that the amnesty was fair. I don't feel it was equitable. I don't feel that the residents had a proper time or chance to benefit from it. I mean, less than nine days, that's really not enough time for anybody to do anything. So, I'm hoping that the administration would be so kind as to extend that amnesty before this council votes on putting anybody's uh water bills on to their property taxes because I'm not going to do it. If they're not going to give you a fair share, a fair shake of the amnesty, I'm not voting a yes on putting nothing on anybody's property taxes until the residents have had their fair share of an opportunity to get amnesty and get 50% off of your water bills cuz you need this help. We need this help. Okay? You are not alone here. I got bills just like you. Okay? And if you survive and if you thrive and you function, then I survive and I thrive and I function. So why would I bet against my my own self-interest? Hurting you was hurting me. So I So again, I'm hoping that the administration will look at extending the amnesty a little bit longer for the residents if they want my vote. And I'm just going to put it out there. if you want my vote for the stuff to go on the property taxes, I need to see a little bit more effort from you towards the residents. And having having said that, uh I'll say this uh very quick and then I'm going

I'm going to call it a day for y'all because I'm kind of tired already. Um, Mayor Yach may not have been the most greatest person you've ever known, but one thing I can say about him. He was honorable, he was respectful, he loved this city. He gave a damn about us when nobody else did. And most of the fighting that Miss Square has done has been under his reign for the water department. Okay? It was not Mayor Yacht that closed our water plate. You all know who that was. We don't need to say no names. You all know who that was. If you don't know who that was and you've been living under a rock here in Highland Park for the last 20 years, and I feel sorry for you, but it definitely wasn't Mayor Yap. Okay. And they're not done here. They're trying to position themselves right now to get the right people onto this council and into the mayor seat. Cuz what they want from you, they want that pipe you got running out St. Clair Shores.

They want your infrastructure. Thank you. If Gleewood could get his hands on your infrastructure, then they could compete with Detroit when their contract is up. Well, what about the drainage? Come on out from the audience. All of that is a part of it, sister.

Okay. All of this is is set by design. It's set by design to try to bleed us as much as they possibly can. And we've been fighting for the last 10 years. Okay? I've been in that fight since I've been here. I've been in that fight since before I got on this council. We've been fighting a long time for our water rights. But they're trying to get the right people on this council and the right people on the administration so they can get what's left of our infrastructure. That's why they're trying to level the playing field. And by that I mean that they're they are again trying to kick everybody off the ballot related to the election.

I'm not discussing anything. I said nothing. You are. So, like I said, you are they're trying to level the playing field. And I need y'all to pay attention because the fix is in, ladies and gentlemen. If you don't think it's in, watch who rolls with who. Pay attention who hangs out with who and then you'll know who your actual friends are.

I'm telling you that the fix is in here. And I need you to be careful and be vigilant. And having said that, HP, I yield back and I I wish you the best. I laugh and joke with you all the time when you ask me uh how I'm doing and I always say, "Well, I could complain, but ain't nobody really listening to me. I feel like you're really not listening to me. I've been saying this for years. I've been warning you for the longest. They're about to strip our court at the end of this year. Nobody said nothing about it. Ask your five minutes, sir. Thank you, sir. It's all good. I mentioned it and nobody said nothing about it. All right, M. But I yield back. I'll talk to you later, HP.

Um, I'm going say today I don't really have much to say. I just want to say thank you for uh coming out. Um, the the I'mma leave it right there. I'm going to go ahead and say thank you. Appreciate y'all for coming out and being here today. And I'mma go ahead and I'm just going to turn it over to Manica. Thank you, ma'am. Good evening. First, I have a parliamentary inquir inquiry. Yes, ma'am. And that was for item seven uh for tableabling. We didn't get a date. I said the next council meeting. Did we put that in the resolution?

Uhuh. I said the next council meeting on the record. Everybody heard me. Is that Could you check, Mr. President if that was put in there council meeting. Yes. Yeah. I know what I was asking. Yeah. Madam clerk heard me say next council meeting.

Thank you. Secondly, May cleanup for district 1 is 22nd, 23rd and 24th. So please look out for that. Uh there will be some dumpsters located in respective places. We cannot give exact locations because of construction. So they will be determined to be determined but it is the 22nd 23rd and 24th for district 1 also uh in regards to the amnesty I want to ask and unfortunately not here but I think it may have been extended or it it wasn't totally for we need to understand who it was for and maybe we should be asking for amnesty for the residents because I think at that workshop it was mentioned that it Mostly we were dealing with businesses. It was for everybody. Okay. So, Miss Square,

most of the residents bills are current. Okay. Residents have been carrying the ball stepping up. Really, they have saved the res. And if you have a current bill for this fiscal year that was not eligible, this was to do away with old bills. Old bills that were, you know, just hanging out there for whatever reason. If you didn't, you know, we've had amnesty four times. Yes.

So what has happened is residents have come in and they cannot get amnesty under current bill. So they didn't have any old bills. So they came in pay, you know, they come in every month and pay money. That money goes to their old bills and their old bills are wiped out. These are people who don't set up horrible payment plans. And so the big businesses kind of are pay their bills. The winery and the industrial site over there where factory, those people pay religiously. But the folks that don't pay are mostly abandoned commercial properties and none of them came in. None of them came into and so you know there was a question about the Ford factory. We've got that case in court of appeals now because they don't want to pay they don't want to pay a dime.

They don't want to pay for the bills. They don't want to pay anything after 40 years of making all that money over there with that contract. They don't want to pay you one penny. They didn't come in. So, they're just gonna try to to get it thrown out and to walk away and we are not going to.

Thank you. So the businesses so so what's left um are the businesses mostly was abandoned properties. You know how you the city doesn't own everything. So there's old abandoned apartment buildings and there abandoned facilities that really quite need to be run out of town.

So those properties are what's going to Wayne County. Now, this is important because when the property goes to when the bill goes to Wayne County and becomes part of the tax bill, they still have a deal with Wayne County, they have to pay the full amount. And they Wayne County has all kind of programs and um they will program up to five years or they can do whatever deals they have done in Wayne County because they have so many bills because the world has changed since 20 years ago and you went properties foreclosure

and then they don't go to foreclosure for years and so but these commercial properties that are lighting your city. Those are the dead beats. You don't have a residential population in here that's even eligible to go to taxes because their bills are earned. So, what council did, believe it or not, was a good thing. And see, when it goes to Wayne County, when the taxes become delinquent, Wayne County pays the city the money. See right now every year the word says you go to the council in May give them the link with taxes put on the tax and amnesty has been something that the city has provided as a a benefit to the president. It is not ordained. It is not something that the city has to do. It's to help because for the past 25 years they have been dogging the city with this outrageous bill and this fight with Detroit water which we are coming to

because now the state has decided that Cleveland is in default of the terms. Okay. And you know the state spent $5 million on the meters. The meters are in. We have agreed upon dates of good data and they still don't want to give us the money. And so the fact of the matter is that we sent notice down to legal saying we need to put our arbitration and make this decision. They accepted and said, "Hey, wait a minute. We signed the term sheet

and the term says park and legal must agree and if you don't agree then the state is allowed to appoint a third party to manage the whole meter program including benefit from the meter data. So this is this long battle is coming to an end. Island Park is going to be paying according to those meters. And we know that we're using a fraction of what they've been overcharging us for years. So this long 25 year saga is coming to an end.

All right. And just a way to get people to the point where they could make a deal on their bill. So this isn't something that the city should be doing. It isn't something that should be extended on in an item. This is just something that help the citizens and it has helped them to the point where they don't have a whole bunch of old bills. So, it's a good thing and uh this this whole chapter is coming to an end and um we should be coming when this gets settled uh for a budget adjustment uh with that water budget. that water budget has things inflated rate. So, I I feel very happy about the state stepping in now because they're the one put up all the money

to get this thing settled and uh they spent a lot of money and what was the point of putting the meters in if you aren't going to use them, right? So, that that's what's going on with that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And that's your time. commercial buildings. These are they have no they have no running water. They have storm water. They have storm water bills. They have whatever's on the on the leaves. They have taxes.

So they still have to pay their taxes or losing properties to the county. But um that's what's going on that you when you go through town and you see all this empty stuff that the city that city only really owns vacant residential lots and houses very few commercial buildings very few buildings except for that one those are mostly private people are just speculating waiting till the good times to come and run up bills and not and all right so going on and I'll I'll move on to you madam proton close us out

good evening everybody I want to thank you all for coming out want to thank my pastor for coming and I wanted to ask Miss Kathy Square a question she mentioned something about glee will owing the city $2.8 $8 million. When will the citizens see that? It's actually more than that. So, when will we see it? Uh, you're going to see it. Well, the state has sent it now because they don't care what we say to them. And we have told them that we are appraised, which is another legal procedure. They have basically said to you, we're not giving it to you.

So, the state has stepped in. So, now let's see them tell the state that they're not. When you when you say state, what do you mean? What what department of state? The attorney general's office. Attorney general attorney. You recall the term sheet between state of Michigan, Highland Park, and

was a three party event. And u there there's six different contracts. Remember there was the term sheet that we got after we came out of mediation and that was signed by the state city came the council council had to approve it went to their board governor had the legislature had to approve it signed by the insurance then then there was the acco that was between the city and eagle and that was really dictating the construction construction and the meters, how the water department would would be run and all of that. That was between the city and then there was a water contract between Cleveland and Highland Park, a sewer contract between Cleveland and Highland Park. And then there was a trust agreement. Remember how they wanted all the money and we did the trust agreement. And the trust agreement is between Highland Park, US Bank and Glee. And um so there there's a lot of um a lot of agreements in the future. It's going to be very very tricky because Highland Park is going to have to stay on all those contracts. This isn't a situation where you know I ride on sunset. So, you're going to need another city administrator, and that city administrator is going to have to keep their big toe on the gas because with five, six different contracts to manage, we get cheated at any term, at any term. And um there's some other things going on that the council will know about once they got me

on the bones. And what we're doing now or what I'm doing now as I finish up my work is nailing down things because Councilwoman, you're absolutely right. When we gonna get our money. That's right. You're absolutely right. And so that's what's going on now. And we have already notified the trustee to hold because it's actually more than 2

because it's we need to pay the metered amount for water, the metered amount for sewer, and the metered amount for storm water. And um so that's what we're doing. We're technically in arbitration now, which is why the state has stepped up because the state doesn't even have to go to arbitration if they're in violation of terms. And so it's a it's just a a real But you know what? We're going to prevail because we have prevailed this long. That's right.

More than 2.8 million to get the money. and the money that the bill needs to be half of what it is. So that's what's going on and just have to stay on it and I'm gonna have to make sure that you know city is set up because what good am I if it all collapses when I leave. So I got to make sure that things are down tight. So that's what I've been working on. Okay. Well, thank you so much, Madam Pro. That is your time. So, get the money.

I'm just going to close us out here. You had your time, sir. Close us out. Tonight in the gallery, I saw one, two, three, four people who I know moved into Highland Park less than 10 years ago. One of them is my neighbor and he's in city council. He's been in city council for the last three or four meetings. So, as somebody who moved here 26 years ago, it is a good sign when I see people in the room who've moved in the city within the last 10 years and they're in this room because there are people who have according to them spent their entire life in the city and they are not here tonight. So, government cannot take place until you have the people who are paying the taxes and bearing the burden in the room. And the simple fact that I can look around and I know these faces, these people who have moved here in the last 10, 11 years, they're here tonight in this room. And so for me, that is actually a very good sign. As well as seeing legacy Highland Parkers in the room, but it's extremely important that we drive this message home. The Highland Park of tomorrow will not be the Highland Park of yesterday. That is a fact. Is an absolute fact. So every unit of housing that is built in this city is more than likely going to attract someone from someplace else finding the location and the housing stock to be here. So the future of Highland Park is going to be all of the new people that move into the city and decide that they want to participate in government. Having completed all business related to the city of Highland Park, the chair will entertain a motion to adjurnn.

So move. All those in favor? I.

Meeting adjourn. Don't forget the police department has their event this weekend on Manchester for uh young people as they play basketball with the cops. And thanks the fire department also for their open house that they had a couple of weeks ago or weekends ago. It was wonderful. Also, I want to thank those residents that mentioned those potholes and different things. I talk with the engineers every month and we have we discussed Manchester as well as Tuxedo last week uh to make sure that the parade. So again, thank you to uh the alumni for a wonderful parade as well. Thank you, Miss Man.