City Council - Regular Meeting

That's just so bright and pink. It was like disruptive blocks my going to call the regular city council meeting of May 11th, 2026. College to order at 6:30 p.m. Clerk, can you please call the Mayor Pro Tim Bliss? I'm sorry. No, sorry, wrong one. Councilwoman uh Toya Erin here. Councilman I'm sorry. Mayor Promir here. Councilman Fleming here. Councelor Warbach here. Councelor Geralds here. Councelor Wright here.

And mayor Haynes I am here. All right. Everyone that is able to please stand for the invitation of the pledge of allegiance led tonight by council.

Let us take a moment to reflect on the responsibility we have to our city and its residents. May our hearts be open to understanding the needs of our community and may our minds be clear as we discuss the agenda before us. Let us work with integrity and purpose to create a better future for all who will call this place home. In our own way, may we dedicate ourselves to this task, accepting and respecting that each of our differences strive to work together toward the greater good.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, moving on to the next part of the agenda. Um, can I please get a motion to make the appointment of Annette voucher as the acting city clerk this evening committee? Your honor. Yes. So moved. All right, we have a motion. Is there a second? Your honor. Yes. Second.

Okay, thank you. We have a motion and a second. Um, any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I oppose say no. The motion carries. Next up, approval of the agenda. Are there any additions and or deletions to tonight's agenda? Your honor? Yes. Um, can I make a motion to add the labor agreements for fire union and command officers union to uh numbers 11 A and B. Is that the correct um wording, clerk? Yes. And labor contract for Yes. by your command and command. Okay. Is there support here? Your honor. Yes. Support.

All right. We have a motion. Support. Is there any discussion? All right. Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Nothing under presentations. We'll move into public hearings. The first is from the CED director 28220 John R. Roadfield plan. And it's the scheduled public hearing for tonight on May 11th, 2026. Giles, do you have a presentation first before the public hearing opens? Sure.

Okay. All right. So the applicant uh u provided a couple slides to kind of introduce the brownfield plan that has been proposed for 28220 John our road. Um let's see if we'll drop. So the uh location of this project the proposed project is the former McDonald's on John Row just south of 12 mile. Um the

this is the just some I just want to kind of give you guys an overview and we can kind of get into the meat and potatoes of the project itself. This is the existing conditions of of around 1 acre lot uh of the former McDonald's. Um as you can see there's a lot to be desired in the existing uh state of the the area outside of the property. We also there's also significant amount of water damage due to a roof and flooding in the basement.

Um these are all come into play as the basis of the eligibility. Um the proposed project um the is a functionally obsolete property and this was part of the uh consideration of the basis of that. Um so I just wanted to give you guys a brief overview of the project itself. the eligible property on John R has been uh determined it to be functionally obsolete by according to public act 381. Um that requires our city assessor to uh determine that the that the property is functionally obsolete. The estimated the base property tax taxable value of the property is $281,550 and the estimated um taxable value after completion is uh $95,000. Um the request itself um the developer and owner of the project has uh put together a brownfield plan to demolish the current property and redevelop a two tenant um medical office. One of which being the uh developer and owner's uh space for a new dental office. Today we have Dr. Jonathan Miller as well as Cory Leven and Richard Bar representing the developer. Um, thus far the the applicants received an approved site plan. Um, and this is conceptual design of the proposed new development for the site. So, this is just a new rendering. Um, a little bit about the plan. So the I guess we first I probably should base uh give a little bit of background on public act 381 brownfield tiff projects. So the purpose of a brownfield redevelopment project is to encourage reinvestment in abandoned contaminated

plated and functionally obsolete properties. Uh it does so by capturing the increase of increased of taxable value. So you have a base taxable value of a property and if a brownfield tip project is approved um there are eligible activities that are identified that are reimbursible through the act. Um and when the property is improved it has a new taxable value. The difference between the base taxable value and its increased taxable value is the tax increment revenue that's generated. And those funds are used to reimburse the developer for eligible activities. In this case, eligible activities are things like infrastructure improvements, um demolition and site improvements for the project. So you'll still maintain a base taxable value of the property, but over the course of the tiff, the captured tax increment value will be used to reimburse eligible activities that are approved for the plan. Um, so in your packet, I've summarized uh those uh uh pre-approved activities. Um, and the first step is we have to do a public hearing. So, I think after I'm done speaking, we'll have we'll open it up for uh the public to speak. But in short, the request for the project is the developer is asking for a total not to exceed $987,450 um and total eligible activities to be reimbur reimbursed over what they estimate to be 28 years. So just because there is eligible activities are identified, they believe that is the amount that will need to be reimbursed, they're only doing so if the taxable prop taxable value of the property is increased at a level and based off of what their projection of the value will

be after the completion of the project. They estimated it would take approximately 28 years. So that's a overview of the project itself and uh here to answer any questions as well as Dr. Miller um uh and his team are here to answer any questions that come. Okay. Thank you, Giles. All right, we'll move and open the public hearing if anybody would wish to speak. Public hearing is open. I do have something Hold on. Yeah, this is Yeah, this is just a public hearing as it relates to this brownfield development.

Okay, seeing none, close the public hearing. What is the wish of city council, your honor? Yes. Um, I move that council uh adopts a resolution for the Brownfield plan for 28820 John R. road as presented and authorize the mayor and clerk to sign the reimbursement agreement and authorize the city attorney to make minor modifications for effectuation. Okay. Thank you. Is there support? Your honor. Yes. Support. All right. We have a motion and support. Is there any discussion from council? Yes.

Yes, sir. Um, I believe the motion I believe the address is 28220, not 28820. Yes. So, we'll have to amend that motion to be the correct address. A little typo in the mouth. Always a typo in our in our memo. Okay. I will amend to be correct. Perfect. Support. I accept. Sorry. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion, your honor? Yes,

I want to say this is a a good idea here because I know that building has been sitting there uh you know really deteriorating for a very long time and I think the helping uh another person who's moving into our city from uh from another city um and bringing a business a family business here uh as a dental office and going to attract other people to be coming to Madison Heights is a great idea. Um, I know that they probably wouldn't be able to do this without our help. So, and it's making our uh our our John R corridor just uh corridor a lot better. So, that's it. Okay. Anyone else? Your honor? Yes.

Yeah. Same same kind of comment. I I um I hate that building being falling apart right there on our our main drag. And uh by the time you have your new building built, we'll have a new road for you. So, John will be redone and you won't have to go over the bump. So very much like to see that property developed for sure. I would just say that I sure hope John R is done before they get their new building built cuz that's going to be a minute. If it's not, none of us will probably be sitting here. Yes, exactly. All right. Any other comments, your honor? Yes.

Um I just want to say some people look at brownfields and they're like, why are we giving tax breaks and things like that? And I just think that this is such a useful tool for us. And I was worried at first. I was like, aren't we only allowed certain number of brown fields, but that's that's not this kind of brownfield, right? So, um, the more we can do this in the city, um, you know, over the long term, it does nothing but improve our status and our ability to, uh, to grow as a city. So, um, I'm excited and I hope you take my insurance.

Be really close. Anyone else? And and I would agree with that too, um, councelor Roarbach. It's this is the perfect way and this is what um, the brownfield is meant to be used for, right? So that we can help business owners um, come into Madison Heights and improve a property that has been dilapidated for. Even before the restaurant closed down, it was not in good shape. That building has been falling apart for quite some time. So this is a perfect way to resolve that. So all right if there's no other comments um all those in favor signify by saying I oppose say no. Motion carries.

Next item on the agenda is public hearing for fiscal year 2027 budget resolution and tax levy. The fiscical year 2027 budget council review was held on April the 13th as part of the regular city council meeting. Tonight, we're going to hold a public hearing to receive public comments on the proposed budget to appropriate the funds and establish the tax levy for the budget appropriations and department fees. Pursuant to section 8.4 of the city's charter, a resolution has been drafted which if approved will adopt this budget, appropriate the funds, levy property tax, and approve several fee adjustments. This budget is proposed with a tax millage decrease of 0.555 of a mill for the city's operations, bringing the city millage to 24.9022. Following the public hearing, I recommend that city council approve the fiscal year 2027 budget resolution, city charter section 7.6B, requires a supermajority vote to appropriate the funds and set the tax rate.

Thank you, manager Marsh. All right, we will open the public hearing. Public hearing is open. Anybody that wishes to speak on the 2027 fiscal year budget can come up to the podium.

This is about the budget. Yep. This is just for the this is just a public hearing for our budget for next fiscal year. Next one. Next one's coming up. We'll let you know. All right. Hearing none. close the uh public hearing. And what is the wish of city council? Your honor. Yes. Motion following the public hearing, I recommend that city council approve the fiscal year 2027 budget resolution. That's it. No, that's it. Okay. Thank you. Do we have support, your honor? Yes, great. We have a motion support. Any discussion from council? One comment.

Okay. Um, just want to make sure everyone is noting the fact that your tax rate is going down by almost a half mil, a little over half mil. So any increase in your taxes this year because your house increased, not because we increased the tax rate. Okay. Any other comments? Yes, sir.

Yeah. And I also like to make a make a note here to the public that this budget doesn't include the road millillage. The road millillage is completely separate of this budget here. It's ran by a millillage that is separate and for the residential road millages that we're trying to hopefully possibly renew in the in the future here. Um but um I think we did a really great job on the budget operating budget to make uh sure that it's uh we can lower the millillage even by just a little bit means a lot. I know that it's been capped out for a little bit here and even lowering it makes a big difference, you know, to some people. So,

okay. Thank you, sir. Any other comments? Um, I just have one and you um both Mayor Promir and Councilman Fleming brought up a good point u that this is not part of um proposal R4. So, R4 that we talked about at the last meeting is about the roads, right? And this this part of the budget we're actually decreasing just like Mayor Promir said, but it's important to realize that that is decreasing and it's more of a decrease than what the increase on R4 is. So even if you know if R4 does pass, it's still a net reduction in taxes at this point. Unless, like we said, your house goes up in value, then you know everything goes up a little bit with that. But just an important comment to make that um taxes are not being raised that way. They're actually slightly lower. So that's a good thing that we can move forward with. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. All right. Now we're at the point where the meeting is open to the public. just ask that you approach the the podium, speak directly into the microphone and uh address your comments to me. Somebody left their clicker. Um

last time at the meeting um Ann was discussing how our country is turning 250 years old and there's not really a big to do about it with our city. And I've seen a lot like the Junth all this and it's like and it hit me. I'm like, you know, that's true. And if our country wasn't 250 years old, you wouldn't be able to do any of these things you've done.

So, I bought this flag. It wasn't $100. It was only $50. And I would like it to be flown from our festival until Fourth of July. It's nothing. It's totally perfect for everybody. There's no God, nothing on it. And it's just I mean I think it goes right in rank with the Junth flag and all the other flags except this one celebrates our whole country. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, you can leave. Perfect. Thank you.

All right. Is there anyone else who would like to speak during public comment? Anyway, I'm Katherine Chambers. I was here only one other time. And I've been here since 1948 49. My dad had the first policeman, first badge number one when it turned from uh Royal Oak Town, Lloyd Chambers and all that. My brother used to own Bob and Robs down there. It's on the rock now. Yep.

A lot of history here. Anyway, I'm at Forest and Lennox. All I'm asking is for years I can't get out of my driveway easily. The apartment people park right at the behind my drive. If they just put a sign up from the Linux to their driveway, even the guy behind me has to park sideways. You can't get out in the winter. I can't get out and they don't need to be in the street. One more thing. Like I said, the trees look so nice around Edison Park. They moved the big foam pole. Could they finish putting just a couple more because all I look at is a porta potty over there and the big tall thing and I that's my request. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Chief, I know you had a public comment. Thank you,

Mayor Council. I just want to say thank you very much for taking a moment here to um honor the police officers of the Madison Heights Police Department for laying their lives on the line to keep the community safe and for um mentioning uh police week up here today and making this uh this proclamation for us. I also wanted to mention that on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. I invite the mayor and council to the active adult center where we're going to have our accommodation awards at 6:30 p.m. in the lunchroom. And lastly, before you read the proclamation, um officer Hartman is going to you can relax right now, but once you read the proclamation, he'll be the one accepting the the proclamation here today. So again, thank you very much for taking a moment to recognize police speak uh for for the Madison Knights Police Department. Thank you, sir. Okay. Anyone else have public comment?

Yes, I do. Yes. Did you Did you have something or No, you can go. You go ahead. Go ahead. Thank you. Thank you. And sorry, I didn't know if public comment was going to be afterwards, so thank you. Forgive me for following after you. Um, my name is Daniel Bucksbomb and I also just want to express my gratitude to the council and to the city for this Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation as a a Jewish resident of Madison Heights and a representative from the Jewish Federation of Detroit. Um, it's very meaningful and I've also as soon as I heard I shared this with Jewish friends and colleagues of mine who live in the city and they are also extremely grateful. So, thank you all. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. All right. Anyone else from the public? All right, city clerk. For the record, I would like to note that the clerk's office received an email from Mr. Kevin Trabuchi regarding a car wash at John R and Parker. A copy of this communication has been provided to the city council and will be made part of the official meeting record. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Point we will close close public comment and move on to the consent agenda. There are three items that we are going to pull off the consent agenda by request of other council. Um so we will start with the Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation. Whereas since the founding of our country, Jewish Americans have made enduring contributions to the United States in fields including public service, education, business, science, the arts, and social justice. strengthening the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity. And whereas for 45 years, every president of the United States has designated a period of time to celebrate the contributions of the Jewish community to our nation's history, heritage, and culture. And since 2006, the month of May has been officially recognized as Jewish Jewish American Heritage Month, pursuant to a bipartisan resolution of Congress. And whereas Jewish residents of Madison Heights have played a meaningful role in the development of the community, including through economic growth, philanthropy, and service in the armed forces of the United States in the Michigan National Guard. And whereas the Jewish community has demonstrated resilience in the face of historical challenges and continues to contribute meaningfully to the promotion of understanding, compassion, and civic engagement. And whereas Madison Heights is home to a vibrant Jewish community that continues to enrich the cultural and civic life of the city. And now there now therefore be it resolved that I, Corey Haynes, mayor of the city of Madison Heights, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 is Jewish American Heritage Month in Madison Heights and call upon all residents to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Jewish Americans to our country, state, and community through education, reflection, and engagement,

and to reaffirm our shared commitment to diversity, mutual respect, and inclusion. All right, the next item is from the police chief. It's the 2026 National Police Week proclamation to recognize National Police Week 2026 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy. Whereas there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Madison Ice Police Department. Whereas since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently more than 24,500 law enforcement officers in the United States that have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including one member of the Madison Heights Police Department. Whereas the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. Whereas 363 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 109 officers killed in 2025 and 254 officers killed in previous years. Whereas the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Funds 38th Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2026. Whereas the Candlelight Vigil is part of National Police Week, which will be observed this year, May the 10th through the 16th. Whereas May 15, 2026 is designated as peace officers memorial day in honor of all fallen officers and their families in US flag should be flown at half staff. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Madison Heights City Council

declares the week of May 10th through the 16th of 2026 as National Police Week in Madison Heights and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation. And I believe that we have an officer that is here that is going to accept this proclamation. Officer Hartman Yeah.

Yes. Get a picture. right here. Smiles.

Thank you. Stay down there. We had one more. his name.

Put it up at some point. And I am I am remiss. I did not realize that we had the um actual certificate ready for um the Jewish American Week. So, if I could have Daniel come on up here and accept on behalf Start here and come.

Thanks for coming. No pictures. Just go ahead and bring it.

We're going to do all of us. We're going to all come. window.

I'm supposed to be in concussion protocol here. Larry,

he has to be in it. Of course, we're All right. And then the third item that we took off the consent agenda, I'll read through this one. This is the city of Madison Heights professional municipal clerk's week proclamation May 3rd through the 9th, 2026. Whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk, a time-honored and essential component of local government. And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk is among the oldest roles among public servants. And whereas professional municipal clerks serve as a vital link between citizens, local governing bodies, and other levels of government. And whereas professional municipal clerks uphold the principle of neutrality and impartiality, providing equal service to all members of the public. And whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk acts as an information hub for local government and community functions with responsibilities that include conducting elections, issuing licenses, maintaining boards and commissions, and preserving and providing access to vital records. And whereas professional municipal clerks are committed to excellence and continuous improvement through ongoing education, training, and active participation in local, regional, national, and international professional organizations. And whereas it is both fitting and proper to recognize the significant contributions and accomplishments of the office of the professional municipal clerk. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Corey

Haynes, mayor of the city of Madison Heights, do recognize the week of May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as professional municipal clerk's week and extend my sincere appreciation to our professional municipal clerk staff for their vital services and exemplary dedication to the citizens of the city of Madison Heights. Right. Okay. Okay. And the other items remaining on the consent agenda are as follows. SURE. ABSOLUTELY. All right. The remaining items are resolution supporting older Michiganians day 2026, city manager, uh, Kevin Song charitable gaming license, and the city council special meeting minutes of April 27th, 2026, and the city council regular meeting minutes of April 27th, 2026. What is the wish of city council?

Your honor, yes. Move to support the remaining items. Okay, we have support or I'm sorry, we have a motion. Who we have support? Your honor. Yes. Support. All right. We have a motion in support. Any discussion? Your honor. Yes. I just had a question. I absolutely support all of this. Uh the uh things we pulled off the consent agenda. Are we voting on those separately or are we voting for that on with this vote on this vote? Okay. Your honor, I do have a question. And yes, it won't change my vote. The Kevin Songs thing, I noticed that the letter that was submitted is from 2025. Does that make a difference from the licensing that he needs?

So that was just a letter of introduction explaining who Kevin Song was since they came to council for the first time last year. So I just recycled that instead of making her submit a new one. But the actual application um is the first couple pages before that and it's 2026 and then the resolution that city council has to pass will be dated tonight. Cool. Beings. Okay. Anything else? All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose say no. Motion carries. Next up, reports. Uh, city council ethics policy. Did you?

Okay. All right. I had sent out uh a ethics policy um to all the council members and I know everybody's probably had a chance to review it. Um, so is there a motion or what is the wish of city council as it applies to the ethics policy?

Your honor, I make a motion. You grabbed the microphone. I was I would make a motion to approve the adopt the code of ethics and conduct policy as presented. Okay. Thank you. Is there support? Honors. All right. All right, we have a motion in support. Any discussion by councel, your honor? Yes. I do have a question of clarification.

Um there is on let me pull it up the correct one. Um section three uh one of the uh bullet points there. So section three is the use of city resources, city property, technology, vehicles and facilities or for official city business only. Personal use for private gain is prohibited. And then it re lists never use city resources for partisan political campaigning or fundraising, personal financial gain or outside business activities, harassment, discrimination or intimidation of any person, accessing or transmitting inappropriate contact content, all appropriate. The question I have is specifically um so when we're talking about city resources, so if I as a resident decide to go to the library and use the libraries Wi-Fi to work on my outside work because everybody knows that you don't get paid enough to live working being on city council. That's that's not how that works. So we all have jobs. But so if I go work on my personal or my my regular day job um at the library say and use that city resource um I just want clarification that does not that's not included in this right like as residents can still access and use resources as normal.

Yes. as residents, as we all are, um the intention is you would be able to use any resources that anybody else that is a city resident can use, just not above and beyond that. Say going to the copy machine in the city manager's office and making 400 copies of something, right? You know, that a normal citizen couldn't. I I completely agree and I just would wanted to make sure that that was fully clarified um when we were having this discussion. That's Thank you. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion, your honor? Yes, sir.

Uh, I want to thank you for kind of putting this together. This is something um we talked about in one of the early MML classes that I took and had brief discussions with city manager Marsh about it a couple years ago. So, thank you for putting something like that together. I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose say no. The motion carries. Good job. All right. Next up, bid awards and purchases. No, I'm sorry. I skipped right over 11 A and 11B. Next up is 11A, labor contract. Um, which one is this again?

The firefighters. For the firefighters. Uh, what is the wish of city council, your honor? Yes. Okay. I uh move that council approves the um labor agreement uh as presented by special counsel for the firefighters union. Okay. You have a motion. Is there support? Your honor. Yes. Right. We have a motion and uh support. Any discussion? Right. Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose say no. The motion carries. On to 11B, the labor contract with police command. Your honor. Yes.

I move that council adopts the uh labor agreement with police command as presented by special counsel. Okay. Thank you. We have a motion. Is there support? Yes. Support. We have motion in support. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose say no. The motion carries. Now we're on to bid awards and purchases. City manager voice over internet protocol phone system.

The city's existing phone system has exceeded its useful life and no longer meets the operational needs. To address this, the city issued a request for proposals on January the 17th seeking a cloud-based voice over internet protocol phone system and related services. The RFP outlined in the city's current system architecture and desired replacement system requirements. The RFP was downloaded by more than 94 vendors. 37 vendors participated the mandatory walkthrough and 30 proposals were submitted by the deadline. Deputy city manager Rottman and Chris Morrison of Skynet, the city's IT contractor, reviewed all the submitted proposals based on operational fit, support services, licensing cost, department fire department paging and doorbell capability, contract terms, and overall cost. Following that review, the PE proposals were narrowed to six vendors with seven proposals which were then referred to our ITC subcommittee for further evaluation and recommendation. After reviewing the final proposals and meeting with Univo's representatives, the ITC subcommittee and staff unanimously recommend Univo as the city's voice over internet protocol provider and recommend and the recommendation was based on overall value portability of the system, budgetary considerations, and the ability to meet the city's operational needs. In addition, Univo complies with all capable CGIS security policy requirements. Although ITAC was unable to attain a quorum in May, individual ITAC members feedback supported the unanimous recommendation of staff to the subcommittee to award this contract to Univo. Should council concur, the recommended motion would be to award the contract to Univo for VoIP phone system equipment and services for a 5-year term in the amount not to exceed approximately $110,164.

This includes a one-time implementation and equipment cost of $3,450 and a monthly service cost of $1,77857 totaling $24,792.84 84 annually over the 5-year term. The city currently pays approximately $38,000 annually for phone services. Warren Frankl from Univo is here tonight if you have any questions or I told him I wouldn't put him on the spot so I won't make him introduce himself.

But it's all perfect. We look forward to working with you guys better service. All right. Thank you, man. What is the wish? What is the wish of city council? Your honor. Yes. I um move that council concurs with staff and uh awards the contract to Univox for the VO phone system equipment for a 5-year period in the amount approximately 110,16420.

That was a multiple. Yeah. approximately. It feels like a very specific very approximate. This sounds good. We have a motion. Do we have support? Yes. Support. Right. We have a motion. Support. Any discussion? Your honor.

Yes. I just want to note that uh we did make an effort to get ITAC together. Um a little difficult with everybody's schedules and we really wanted to get this on the agenda for tonight. So, as city manager Marsh mentioned, we did kind of communicate one-on-one back and forth with her and uh do I think the majority of us approved it. We just didn't get a chance to have a formal meeting before this one. Okay. Any other discussion, your honor?

Yes. I want to say that um two contracts, this one and the previous one we made with Dupoint uh previously are companies that are uh really relatively small in size, which is really great for our fit because uh when you have a larger company that's uh doing your telecom or managing your IT service, um you know, it can be really hard to you know, find who your service representative is or uh have a conversation with them one to one, right? And I think uh be having local uh business owners that uh have businesses um is a great is a great tool for us to be able to have great relationships with these companies going forward and that they'll be able to work with us and come to uh resolve any issues that we have in a timely basis. So, I'm really looking forward to working with them.

Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? Just a question. Yes. Um, does this tie into our 911 system and the police system? So, the 911 system is a separate system and that is not this, but the frequent outages that we have with the non-emergency line are directly related to this. Awesome. Then I'm Well, they're not directly related to this, but Warren has assured me those days are over when he comes on board. We We're looking at you, not just me. We're all looking at Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Yes, sure. Um, Council Wright, yeah, the 911 is the the thing we voted on a couple meetings ago. So, that's totally separate. This is just the telephone lines. And, uh, to reiterate what Councilman Fleming said, uh, it it the six bids that we had, some of the those bids were from very large companies that I agree are extremely difficult to get any kind of response from. So, I I commend the subcommittee for doing the due diligence and and reaching out to Mr. Franklin and his group and uh we look very forward to working with you in the next 5 years.

Yes. And I too um think it's fantastic. Um and just the fact alone it's not always what's cheapest, but the fact that I mean we are saving $13,000 per year over the next 5 years is is really good as well. So very appreciative. All right, let's uh move to vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppos say no. Motion carries. All right, we are at the end of the agenda for this evening. So we'll go to closing comments by council. Starting with uh Councilwoman Aaron.

Thank you, your honor. First, um I want to say I'm really happy about the the project that's going on on 12 Mile, but what I find really appalling is how many people turn on a no left turn. I I was in line for, you know, it it sounds like 3 minutes, but it probably was like 35 seconds, but it was longer than it should have been waiting for a car to make a lefthand turn. And I keep seeing multiples making this lefthand turn. I think I may have saw in Facebook where the police was stationed up there at one point to prevent this. I don't know what else we can do, but that is that is odd to me um to see that. Um, other things I want to thank Martha Covert for the flag, but also let you all know that the library as well as the arts board is doing a 250th anniversary um, photography exhibit in the library. So, the city has not forgotten about the 250 years of being an American, though none of us here in the room have been here for 250. Um, also also we are still revving up our speaker series for the library with our mental health month with this May being a mental health awareness month. And on May 20th we're having a speaker series starting at 6:30 p.m. and the topic will be recharge, reset, restore self-care and mental health. And I am asking if you can all of council that can please come out to support. It is going to be a really good topic because many many many times a lot of us in this room that's listening we neglect self-care and we're going to learn some tools about how

taking care of self actually helps with your mental health. Um, so it's a very uplifting and encouraging series that you're going to hear. And I hear the speaker is really good. Uh, the date again is May 20th at 6:30 p.m. at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Uh, finally, next month. You know, every time I say these months, it seem like it's a long way away, but it's really like tomorrow. and we're getting ready to begin the summertime here in Madison Heights and we're getting ready to crank it up starting with our summer concert series and I am so elated and I don't know if they still say the word stoke but I am all of that about our summer concert series. So, we're going to have something every Wednesday underneath the band shell. So, beginning on June 10th, we're going to have Dr. Smith, which was a legendary band that was here last year. The crowd was really wild for him and he was one of our number ones to come back. On June 17th at 6:30, we will have yoga flow and karaoke underneath the band show. Um, and the yoga is with Margo. Um, I'm not really familiar who she is, but that's okay. But yoga is again another way of self-care, meditating, getting that mind and body all reset together so it flows good with our our speaker series. And then on June 24th, we will have another fantastic band, Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations at 7:00. All concerts are free. All concerts are hour and a half. All concerts are familyfriendly. And we're going to have so much fun. So, if you're not doing anything or you're looking for something to do, please come out and enjoy some music in the park under the sun with fellow Madison

Heights members. And um that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Promir.

Thank you, your honor. Um I'm uh limited on my comments tonight because uh city manager Marsh has put me in concussion protocol. Um, but yes, please have patience on John R. We all wanted it fixed, so it's going to be some growing pain. So, please be careful with that. Um, little league opening day is finally here. It's this weekend, and I want to clarify something. The last couple of years, we've had some conversations about uh uh Larry and Quinn's team playing in the city championship. Um, I want to also mention that I don't think we covered it enough that uh, Councilman Fleming's team is also in that division. And the way we work our playoffs is the top two teams go in the World Series. Everybody else goes into the city championship. So, Councilman Fleming's team has played in the World Series the last two years. They came up a little short, but they were one of the top two teams. Um, this year it's even going to be more interesting cuz uh that fourth team in the league will will be sponsored by Mayor Haynes. So, so you all you all have fun with that and please come out and join some of those games. It'll be fun. Um, um, tomorrow morning we'll be here bright and early for the youth recognition breakfast. Uh, always a high point for me. Uh uh as you probably guessed from all my 3 35 years of little league baseball and all the countless hours at Lampere with uh the athletic boosters. I'm big into uh recognizing the youth in in our city and our schools. So look forward to that. And uh last but not least, a big thank you for Martha for that beautiful flag. And and to reiterate Councilwoman's uh errands,

we are doing things for the 250th. They may not just be broadcast as well as some of the others, but that is an absolute beautiful flag and I'm hope we can find some place to put it for you. Thank you, Councelor Wright.

Yes. A couple of brief notes. Uh first up is the uh Paradise Eve Lantern Festival is uh slated for May 30th from 5 to 9. So if you can attend, please come on out and uh celebrate. Um it is a AsianPacific Islander American Heritage Month. So come on out, get some good food, see some um good art and culture on May 30th. Additionally, um I know it's in uh collaboration with the arts board, but arts and pride is slated for June 7th from 1 to 5. So attend those two things. Um and uh it being mental health month, I remember something I used to um say. Hey, I used to once upon a midnight weary, I used to have a podcast and I used to end it by uh just reminding people to just um I used to have a sign off and the whole point of it was remind people like you're okay, check in with yourself, attend uh Councilwoman Toya's um event. Uh I hear we have a fantastic speaker headlining it to just check in with yourself. And uh I'll just end today like I ended then and just say know that you are liked, you are loved, and most importantly, know that you're okay. Be kind.

Great. Thank you, city Attorney Larry Sherman.

Uh, one comment, and I'd like to comment about the, uh, police week um, resolution. I've said this over the years. I was in Washington DC a couple of times during police week in the middle of May and it's just it's an incredible showing of law enforcement officers from from all over the country. I mean, it's it's absolutely incredible. The reason why I'm raising it is because because uh on a personal note um two of my grandchildren happened to be at Temple Israel two months ago when the attack occurred. One is almost three and one is now 9 months old. His room was two doors down from where the pickup truck came in. And through an incredible response from security guards, law enforcement personnel, everybody was saved and safe and and I I believe it's the first reported terrorist act in the United States where there were no victims. And you you when when we have a resolution about police week, all the police officers, all of law enforcement, you know, are running toward danger while the rest of us are trying to run away from it. And it's incredible the job that the police officers do. Last week, we honored a a police officer who lost his life in the line of duty in West Bloomfield. His name was Patrick O'or. And it was 14 years ago that his watch ended. and and we should all be appreciative of the incredible job that law enforcement does. 63 members of the prime of the first responders that came in to Temple, Israel that day were treated in the hospital for various things, especially smoke inhilation. And happy to report that the security guard that was injured and the officers are

all doing well. And I just I just wanted to publicly uh thank everybody for their response. Thank you. Thank you, manager Marsh. Um,

so tonight, City Council approved the budget. If anybody wants more information, we have a very short and great put together um one-pager called budget and brief. Um, that's very easy to read, put together by Harley Morars. She did a great job with that. Um, but just to kind of elaborate on some of the comments made by council about proposal R4, that is going to be coming up. The city does need the money to continue the investment that we're putting in neighborhood streets. So, if you want me to come out and answer questions for you individually or for your street or any civic groups you belong to, I'm more than happy just to share information and to really hear feedback whether you're for it or against it. I really would just like to know why and maybe like what we could do better and differently. We're going to be having six public engagement meetings. Those are just to send out the information and the facts which roads are going to be fixed, why they were ranked the way that they were, what the millage is going to be, and I can actually sit with residents and help them figure out what it's going to mean to them. It is a replacement millillage. It's not a new millillage. Um, so it's not like it's an additional two mills on the taxes. So with that, if anybody's interested, reach out to our office and we will be hitting the streets in June.

Okay, that's it. Thank you, acting clerk. Nothing this evening. Thank you, Mayor. Okay, councelor Roorbach.

Yeah. Um, so, uh, it's May, May 11th. Um, that means it's like festival season in Madison Heights. We're going to have start having it feels like every weekend, every week, there's something exciting happening in the city. And so much of that has to do with the the you know residents, volunteers, people who say, "Hey, we should do a thing." And they get together and they volunteer and they make it happen. And it's really beautiful. So I just want to say thank you to everybody who makes those things happen from citizens to um staff who put things on through the recreation department. We've got a food truck rally this weekend in Civic Center. The Memorial Day concert is coming up um on the 21st. Uh we have a native plant sale on May 24th from 2:00 to 5:00 pm right out here. Paradise Eve, there's just like all of the spring, all of the summer concert series, literally if you're if you don't have anything to do, you're not looking hard enough because there's going to be a lot to do this week, this summer. Um and another part of that is school is ending soon, so kids are going to be out so much more. There's going to be a lot of walkers and bikers out. So, please, especially with the short patience that people have with traffic and construction, please all let's all just turn it down and um and be careful and let's protect um each other. Finally, I just want to mention this week uh Madison Heights was uh sad and worried about a young man who uh was missing and uh you know, everybody who looked and prayed and um sought his safe return. You know, I know that the family, everybody is so grateful for that. He did re return home on Saturday and you know, the families asked for privacy, so I'm not even going to say his name, but you know, I just

want to say thank you. do a good job to all the residents who, you know, we show over and over again. We can band together, we can take care of each other, and that is the most important thing is part of what makes Madison Heights so special is that we care about each other. So, thank you everybody who cared this week. Thank you. Thank you, Council Gerald. Uh, anything I was going to mention has already been mentioned, so thank you. Okay, Councilman Fleming.

Yeah. So, a couple things. First, I want to um see if our police chief and the police department can uh figure out if the forest street I know there's parking there and I I've I've seen it myself, right? And I know it's but I don't know what the status is of the apartments whether you know their parking lot is completely full or not. So, I just want to see if we can try to look to see what's happening there. I don't know where their fire lane is. Uh I know they have only Stevenson Highway and Forest. So that might be an issue where there might be parking in the fire lane. I I I'm not sure.

So um that's one ask that I have uh from our department there. Uh the secondly I want to say that it's we did the negotiations for the contracts for the police and fire. Not the police has not been done yet, but we did through the fire department. And I want to say that it's really important that we do the have wage increases for our emergency personnel including the police and fire because they really do deserve it. They uh if you didn't know a couple weeks ago our police department in a very timely manner I think that they were there in like five minutes to this restaurant and saved a woman's life u she was choking and uh they were able to rescue her uh and you know she she she's living today. So that's really great and they do things like that every single every year every every year uh throughout the year they have these life-saving events that they they do uh along with all the rest of their duties that uh are put upon them. So you know it's really important that we make sure that their wages are you know enough that uh you know we can retain our officers to a certain level that they provide us the best uh service. And so I'm really happy that our council was able to um you know in the in the fire too that they're able to uh approve their budgets and uh that's all for today. Okay. Thank you. All right. I just have a few because most of them were already mentioned. Um mentioned little baseball which a bump a bunch of us will be there on Saturday to uh throw out some first pitches for the opening day. So that's going to be fantastic. Um, a few of us council members are also going to Older Michiganians Day which is on Wednesday where we take um our seniors to Lancing and so we'll be doing that all day Wednesday. Um, again tomorrow is the youth recognition breakfast which is always a fantastic event. I remember just uh just a few years ago I was flipping pancakes for that breakfast. So this will be in a little bit different

way but um more than happy and proud to be there. Um thank you Martha for the flag. Um it's a beautiful flag. And one other thing that we did today, um I was joined by councelor Wright and Mayor Promir. We attended the Geotab grand opening. Geotab is a new business that just opened on Stevenson Highway. Um, and they are a company that they do a whole lot of things, but their one of their main things is this is the the Geotab and it plugs into your car and it will tell, you know, fleet managers, you know, how fast the car is going, how many miles it's gone, you know, what kind of driving, all that kind of stuff. But they're very um very uh technical. Um, but what's great is that they chose Madison Heist to move their business to and that they're bringing with them um 41 full-time employees. Well, they're going to be getting from our area as well. But just great to have that in Madison Heights good paying jobs. And believe it or not, um, Governor Whitmer was actually there. We didn't even know she was going to be there, but she made an appearance there today and gave a really nice speech. Um, so great things are continuing to happen in Madison Heights. Um almost every day there's something going on like council Roarbox said. I mean it it is so much busier than I even knew being you know police chief before and doing other things. I never saw how really busy and how much we have going on and how many like I said how many great things are happening um on a daily basis here they really are. So um with that uh we will close the meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Thank you everybody. I don't