City Council - Regular Meeting

We'll call the city council work session meeting to order. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Geriney here. Stringham here. Felder here. Stograve here. Binding here. Mayor Clark here. Uh so we start this um with public comment. Correct. So I'll see if there's any public comment. Any comment from those present here this evening? Seeing no public comment. Clerk, next item. The next item is uh the work session agenda item 5866 overview of proposed ordinance amendments regarding ebikes.

Thank you. And I see that the director Cochran is here to uh present on these. Good evening, honorable mayor, city council, clerk, treasure lavoy, attorney buds. Um, so the what we're bringing forward for uh final discussion tonight is a culmination of a lot of work by a lot of different people. Um, it started, I believe, with a conversation with you at city council. Um, as we were setting your goals and objectives, but also last year, we had some conversations about the impact of ebike usage across the city. Um and the need to formulate some uh possible rules regulations uh pertaining to the use uh across the entire city which certainly has presented a challenge given the complexities of the the city and the transportation network that we have um from one one end of the other. And so we had a conversation with you. Um and then also the bicycle and pedestrian trail uh advisory committee also considered it and brought forth a series of recommendations uh that we brought forward to you. Um I believe it was the first council meeting in March and we had discussion about their recommendations, gathered your feedback and a result of that feedback uh from all different parties including our administrative staff um is what we're putting forth for final consideration tonight before we begin uh I guess the final consideration and approval process. So I'm not going to go uh through the entire presentation uh from the March 7th uh council meeting. Um however, we talked about um the uh rules and the regulations uh that govern uh ebike use across the city, including state law, uh federal law with the National Park Service, and also the DNR in the uh Sterling State Park. But what we're going to focus on tonight um

is chapter 199 of the city's ordinances. Um and we had talked about some proposed changes to that ordinance um as well as a revision to the park rules and regulations because one um governs the use of bicycles and other recreational equipment across the city. Um but the park rules do call out specific regulations within parks and certain trails as well. And so as a reminder, the Michigan Vehicle Code does address and define um the different uh types of ebikes and where they're allowed. Um, and this is a this chart may look familiar from the March 3rd work session. Um, but also wanted to note at the bottom uh that the the state law does require us if we're going to enact any regulations pertaining to the use of ebikes, we have to have a public hearing. Um, and so just a reminder that will be part of the next step. Of course, if we do or any ordinance amendments, we always have to have a public hearing uh as part of that procedure as well. Also, just as a reminder, we do currently prohibit um the usage of bicycles, skateboards, rollerblading on certain sidewalks in the downtown area. And that is the map that's shown on your screen. Um this was something that we reviewed um both with the advisory committee uh as well as city council in the last presentation and it's really the core of the downtown uh looking at pretty much St. Mary's Park down to uh First Street uh heading south and then Mcome Street to uh just past Harrison and Cash Street where First and Front come together. So now the um the draft ordinance, we emailed this out over the weekend um does include the following I guess revisions that we can talk about. Um these were the same things that we reviewed at the March 3rd work session. Um, first, if we're going to um propose

revisions to the chapter, we need to make sure that the definitions align with what those proposed changes may be. Um, looking at what is the definition of a roadway, a trailway, a sidewalk, and then also ebikes. Um, and you can see uh in the definition, the different three classes are are called out in the definition uh there as well in the ordinance. A reminder, a class one uh is only powered with pedal assist, meaning the rider has to um pedal to move the bike forward with the assistance of a a a motor. Um and the maximum speed that those can be governed is 20 m an hour. Um and then that same speed limit is also for a class 2 bike. Um but you don't have to pedal. Um and that is um it can propel forward without pedaling. And then a class 3 again pedal assist but it does have a higher maximum speed uh up to 28 m an hour. Now we do know that bikes can be modified. Um the state law prohibits somebody from doing so um but we know that that does happen as well uh in the real world scenarios. Any questions on the definitions or thoughts on the revised definitions? Okay, a couple more that was added. Um, e- scooters. Of course, the city has some experience with this several years ago when we had an agreement with Bird uh to operate a fleet or a fleet of electric scooters throughout the city. Um, and so we included those just in case they do ever want to make a comeback. And of course, they are uh popular with consumers to purchase on their own if they're not using one that's part of a fleet that you can rent. Um and then a general term a micromob mobility device is um in general refers to an escooter, an ebike, an escapeboard, e- unicycle um or any lightweight wheeled uh vehicle that's

designed for a single person. Uh that's traditionally an alternative to cars and public transit for short urban trips. So there were uh several sections that uh we recommend uh to for consideration by council to amend. Um and that is really these these first two is adding some of those other classes of micromobility devices into the existing sections. Um the first is when you're operating any one of those including a traditional bike. Uh the language right now only refers to a bicycle. um but adding these other micromobility devices um for use on a roadway. Um and that shall be that anybody who is using one of those shall ride in a single file except on paths paths or part of the roadways designed for the exclusive exclusive use of bicycles. So that would be like um along North Kuster where we have the shoulder or a portion of the shoulder that's designated as a bike lane. Again, that's not a pedestrian trail on the shoulder, but that's for exclusive use of um bicycles or other mic micromobility devices. Um and then section 199-4 talks about using one of those without the consent of the owner. So, I can't use uh one of your ebikes unless you give me permission. And then um section 199-9 talks about the use of skateboards. Um and the proposed revision here is not just saying that it shouldn't be operated on any sidewalk, but in general keeping it broad that any place where it's open to the public and signs prohibit the operation thereof. That could include um sidewalks downtown like it is now, but there's signage uh uh prohibiting that

stuff. Um, but also like the city hall courtyard, they're prohibited in their signs there. Um, so rather than just saying they can't be on any sidewalk, just saying anywhere where there's a sign that prohibits it. And that leaves open for um future consideration if council wants to prohibit it in certain areas um throughout the city. Any questions on those three revisions? Back to the skateboards. All the kids skateboard on my block. So,

can you explain it again to me? Are you saying no skateboards on any sidewalk or any place? Well, you took sidewalks out. So, I mean, where can you ride a skateboard? Anywhere where they're you can ride. What this would do. Right now, you're not allowed to ride them on any sidewalk in the city based on how the language reads, but this revision would allow them to be operated on the sidewalk unless there's a sign that prohibits it in that area. Okay, I see. Mhm. Thank you.

Yeah. I know in my neighborhood this morning, uh driving into work this morning on Hollywood Drive, there was uh an older gentleman riding a skateboard. I presume he was going to work. It was about 8:00 um in our neighborhood. So, So then um I think the biggest addition uh to the ordinance uh would be adding this entire section. So everything you see on the screen would be a new addition. Um and this would govern any electric assisted micromobility device. So again an ebike to e- roller blades, e- roller skates, um e skateboards. What this says is that you can't attach those to any other vehicle. So, you can't hit your e skateboard to the back of a car uh to get somewhere uh quicker. You can't hit your bike to the back of a car. Um and that's out of safety consideration. Um and then similar language uh for letter B, any of those classes cannot be operated in a place that's open to the public and where signs prohibit it. So again, we would look at where uh the usage of these things would be prohibited. Um we'll get through the presentation. And you'll see the recommendation is not to change the regulations downtown to still prohibit the use of bikes on sidewalks in the existing downtown. So that would be an example where it would be posted that you're not allowed within that specific area. Um and then letter C talks about really the the etiquette when you're riding um and being in courtesy to pedestrians. So uh yielding the right of way to all pedestrians, so people on foot. Um, and in addition to yielding, when you're passing a pedestrian, it would be part of our ordinance that uh you must audibly signal that you're about to pass another operator or a pedestrian on the trail. So, in addition to educating people that this is typical

etiquette when you're uh on trails or sidewalks to um yield to pedestrians and then uh announce that you're about to pass somebody, uh it would actually be in our ordinance that that's a requirement. And then uh the final item is that anywhere where bikes are permitted um in those uh classes of microobility devices, whether it's on a road, a sidewalk, or a trail, regardless of the classification of your uh ebike or microobility device, there's a speed limit um unless it's otherwise posted. So, thinking about on the World Trail, what this uh would interpret to mean is you're allowed to ride a bicycle on the World Trail. However, you can't go over 10 m an hour. Um, and you must yield to pedestrians and audibly announce when you're going to pass. So, it's making sure that people are operating them safety safely on the trails um and interacting just as a normal bike does. Right now, we don't we allow a regular traditional bike on um our trails and sidewalks throughout the city, but making sure that people are maintaining a safe speed. Um and then also making sure that they're following those those rules of etiquette. Um, we had a lot of conversation and this was part of our conversation that we had with council on March 3rd about the difficulty of enforcing the different classes and those who um h perhaps could have a class two but they pedal um and use it safely on a trail if we if we got into trying to regulate the different classes of bikes and different manners um the trickiness and and the challenge with implementing that. So really making sure that anybody who's using our trail on any wheeled device um is following the the speed limit and also the the etiquette.

Questions for Mark?

I don't see any. So you ask what a violation of this would be and it would be a municipal civil infraction. um if somebody is observed violating um a city ordinance. And we'll get into some education recommendations as well for users so that they can understand the the rules and the regulations. Andrew,

uh yeah, I just want to make sure I think that I'm clear. I just want to confirm um an e scooter or a m scooter that's a that's a medical assistance device. Um that would be considered an e- scooter, not a microobility device. Is that correct? So those because those would those would fall under accessibility and disability devices. They would not be subject to this ordinance.

Gotcha. It's a great great point though that we may consider adding an item in there that discusses that and highlights that. I don't see any other questions, Mark. Okay. Um, so the next item, uh, if you'll recall, some members of council, I believe, were were here when we, um, eliminated the recreation advisory committee. At that time, the old recreation advisory commission was vested with coming up with the park rules and regulations as well as reviewing park plans. Um when the council eliminated that commission, what we did was brought the authority and the responsibility to uh approve park rules and regulations to council as a policy decision and then future park improvements are reviewed by the planning commission just like any other uh public improvement in general. So um what we need to do because the park rules also uh call out the use of electric um devices within the parks. Uh what this revision would do would require automobiles. Uh but that also includes minibikes, dirt bikes, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, your your recreational vehicles, so to speak. Um those are required to stay on paved road rate roadways and parking lots at all times unless it's otherwise posted. Um, but then when we look at ebikes, e- scooters, and other micromobility devices, they are permitted to be on p paved trailways as long as they don't exceed the posted speed limits. And if it's not posted, then the speed limit would be 10. Um, but still requiring folks to follow all the the etiquette conditions. Um what this does is if it's not a paved trail, so think about the

trail that goes around Mson, the stone chip, um non-improved trail or the the trails that are up uh the orange and the red trail in northern Mson Park. Um ebikes would not be allowed on on those areas. Um but traditional bikes are. So, we know the um some of the different bike clubs and um I know I believe Jax was instrumental, Jack's Bicycle Shop was instrumental in helping to build the the courses up in the orange and red trails. Um those who do like mountain biking and trail riding would still be permitted to do that, just not if they have electric. Um and the concern is the speed at which those can go. um and also the um potential damage with having uh electric devices up in those areas. But on any pave trail, any paved parking lot, any paved sidewalk that's through the parks, they would still be permitted.

Uh Andrew, um speed limits for traditional bicycles that don't have speedometers. Are we putting up um one of the solar powered radar? Yep. You're jumping ahead. Okay, I'll I'll wait for it then. Yeah, cuz that was one of the questions I had. I

I don't know how fast 10 miles an hour is when I'm riding my bike. I know how fast it is when I'm in my car, um but not necessarily when I'm on my bike. So, um, the other the final policy, uh, consideration is not changing the downtown sidewalk regulations, particularly particularly at this time. Um, right now it's signed. Um, but also the discussion is about um, looking at the placement of bike racks within that area and on the perimeter, encouraging folks to ride around the perimeter of that area where there's no bikes allowed. um park your bike and walk in or provide options and information on how to navigate the downtown. Um if you're walking to a destination, say you're going to Altrusa Park, have a designated parking spots for bikes on the perimeter and then walk the the half a block to get to your destination, then walk back. Um and primarily this is because the front doors of businesses open right up onto the sidewalk. Um and it can be a tricky challenge that I believe that was the reason why um the rule was adopted in the first place. Um but also know that this will be an ongoing discussion as we think about the um the traffic and street configuration downtown and how we accommodate those folks. Um but for the time being until we have further deliberation keeping the the policy and the regulation the same in the downtown area. Kathy,

one of the things I would request is to evaluate where the signs are because I'm confused and trying to remember when I'm writing where does it start, where does it end? And I've heard stories about some confusion amongst enforcement, too. So, just taking a look at that.

It's a great segue into the next slide. So, working with um Jody Egan in communications, also director Tolstead um looking the question about how do you know how fast you're going on a bike? Um we've seen the solar powered signs that we have throughout the city that remind folks what the speed limit is and how fast they're going for uh awareness, but they do make smaller ones that are specifically for trails. So, thinking about those long stretches where people are tending to probably go um faster, thinking about the Whirl Trail likely from uh Veterans Park out to Mson, that's a long stretch without any interruption. Um having these posted in that area, um the new greenway loop trail that construction started on this week in those longer spans uh where people can build up speed, having some of these posted strategically. So, we don't have anything to show you tonight of where those would be located, but we did get quotes for them and also know that we've got the ability to adapt those to trails to help uh folks understand. Um, also have some examples of how fast 10 miles an hour is and visual demonstrations we could provide to people for frame of reference. And then the signage on the left um is not the final sign. So, welcome any feedback input you have. I know we've already gotten some from uh members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Advisory Commission. Um but we wanted to make it eye-catching. We wanted to make it in line with the rest of our um park signage. Um not make it look like your typical regulatory street sign that's white with a red outline and red letters. Um but make it a little more visually noticing so people can see it. Um and these can be adapted to both sidewalk stickers. So, similar to our uh social district, when that was implemented, Matt did a great job um of coming up with sidewalk stickers that we placed at the entry point to the social

district and the exit point. Um but also signs at every one of those locations as well, so you knew when you were entering the social district. So, Councilwoman, to your point, um having these signs and reevaluating the signage plan for downtown and also making sure that they're at a height where people will notice them and see them. Um and also for those who may be looking down uh that they can see them in that area. And again encouraging, you may uh have seen in the kiosk right now there's a walk your wheel sign in the kiosk downtown um to help with that education. But having these uh signage signs um very uh consistent throughout all of our trail networks so that people can see them and understand them and understand the rules and the regulations. And then um we'll work on this. QR codes um whether we include them on signs now is a topic of discussion cuz they can they can have a cyber security um risk to them with somebody putting a different one over it. So we're rethinking our use of QR codes in all of our postings and in education, but um an easy way for folks to reference the the full set of rules and regulations like we do in the parks for park rules. So this is just a mockup. Um but the plan if council were to proceed uh with the implementation of any of these uh policy changes would be to work within administration on how to educate and then also of course um through our normal channels with the e newswsletter um our partnership with Monroe community media and the ability to produce video content uh for our social channels from Facebook and Instagram um our website and then also um when when we've done selective enforcement on bicycles and education in the past, uh the public safety department has been a great partner in that um in helping to inform people when when they're violating it, letting them know the rules, the

regulations, and do um some targeted education enforcement and partnership with uh their routine efforts as well. So, recognizing any change, we're going to have to have a lot of information to share. Um, I know Jack's Bicycle Shop is obviously a a local uh seller of ebikes. So, making sure uh perhaps that there's a a pamphlet or something that he can hand out to folks uh who are buying e new ebikes in the city, letting them know of the rules and the regulations upon purchase uh as well. So, comments, discussion, Kelly,

sorry to go off topic. Can you tell me about this Monroe Community Media? Is that formerly known as Impact? Yep. Okay. Yep. I didn't realize they changed there.

They're in the process of it. So, they they started it um I believe it was probably about a month and a half ago. Um looking at a rebranding and a renaming of themselves because they do a lot more than just public access channel work. So between um 943 and of great of course the great partnerships that they have with us and some of their member organizations um removing the the sometimes dated stigma of a public access channel to think about them in in much more of a a fashion and avenue for getting information out. Thank you. Questions uh comments for the presentation? Kathy,

I'll just I think you're about done, so I'll just uh give my final thought. Um I'm probably in quieter than this presentation than any of the other ones on this subject. As you know, I'm very interested in it as an active um participant myself and I feel like um we I feel like we've went in the right direction with the speed limit so that people can encourage you know, everyone at different ages, different abilities to get out and be active. And so I' I'm very happy to see with how we're coming along with this. So, thank you. Thank you. Other comments. Oh, Michelle, I do want to add about the scooter issue, the

handicap scooter, and because I can see especially at Mson Park going down that little I can see a few people using that as a road with that little scooter. Yeah. Yeah, and I would say whether we include that in our ordinance or not, language about that, the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act is always going to trump any ordinance we pass. And if somebody needs those for ability purposes, um there would certainly the they would have the right to do so under federal uh civil rights legislation. Something to think about. That's

all. Yeah. Other comments seeing none. Thanks, Mark. I thank you, mayor. I would say we've had great input from a lot of different people. This is certainly um I think we are blazing a trail here because as we have discussions like with the county about their new trail um even the regional trail network meetings that Matt and I attend, everybody's saying, "What do we do?" Um and so I think this is a reasonable start. Um I'll recall my former boss used to say that the last perfect law came off the mountain on two stone tablets. And this is probably something that we're going to want to revisit. uh as we go through implementation and see how it works and uh certainly in partnership with public safety um what their experiences in enforcement are and then of course your observations when you're around the city on how people are um behaving. So

very good. Um we have another item correct we do it is item 5865 which is an overview of former St. Mary Academy and community re-imagined brownfield plans. And I know Mark, you're going to continue on this one, correct? Mhm. Thank you.

I do apologize. The date is wrong on both of these presentations, but today is April 20th. Um, so I believe it was probably back I forget what the date was. Um, but we did an overview for both the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and for city council about brownfield plans. um and what they are, how they work, what they do. Um but also the change uh that occurred, I believe it was two years ago that the state legislature opened up and the governor signed a revision to act 381 uh that defined any uh activities pertaining to the redevelopment and development of housing uh as an eligible activity. So, it became a new tool in the toolbox of uh municipalities across the state of Michigan on how to incentivize um affordable uh redevelopment for housing, whether that's the rehabilitation of existing or the construction of new. Um and so I'm not going to go through uh the entire presentation that we went through the last time because we actually have two live projects to talk about tonight and where they're at in the the process. So this is just a reminder what uh act 381 of 1996 April 2025 uh at the top um act 381 talks about what are the um rights of municipalities to create a brownfield redevelopment authority and what are the tools that they can use to redevelop brownfield sites. But you'll see at the end um there was the addition which is um to promote the utilization of certain property for housing development. And of course, the Lazy Boy site uh was our last brownfield project that we worked on here at the city. I'm also not going to go through this entire slide. Um but it's a refresher of what you saw last April um except for the addition of what you see in red. These are considered what are traditional activities. So you might remember last

April we did a pop quiz where we showed different sites and asked which of these is a brownfield. um didn't stump you all very well because you you figured it out as we were going through the plan. But when you think of a brown field, you think of contamination and the need to clean it up. And those are the traditional activities like demolition, uh lead asbestous, mold abatement, cleaning the dirt, um and and the different response activities like removing underground storage tanks, cleaning up um dry cleaner sites, things of that sort. Those are what are considered traditional brownfield activities. But the addition uh was housing activities. And what that includes is really um any activity that supports uh improvements necessary for housing, property, and housing development activities. Um and so they kept it very broad in terms of what are those eligible activities. And in general, it can range from everything from the purchase price of a property to convert it into housing to the construction of the kitchen for that housing unit, leaving it very broad, but it's any activity um that is meant to support the redevelopment of affordable housing. And we'll talk about how that mechanism works, but just wanted to remind you that there is traditional brownfield and there is housing brownfield. So, a reminder about our brownfield authority. Um, this was also a slide from that April presentation. Um, the one addition is we do have a new member of our brownfield authority. Uh, Ally Ra Rey's I believe is her name. Um, she works for SIMCOG and she's been a a great uh great new board member diving right into this very complicated work. Um, but we have I I put this slide up as a reminder to council that we've had 27 brownfield plans that have been approved uh since 1997 when the brownfield

authority was established. And that was everything um from the Port and Vent tower to things like the the old Farmer Jack site or the Prometica rehab site. That was one of the sites um to some of the existing ones like the former Lazy Boy headquarters was the most recent. So, we've got five that are currently active. And what I mean by active is there are eligible costs that a developer can be reimbursed once they pay their taxes. So, similar to the downtown development authority, when there's incremental increases in the value of a property and a developer pays the taxes on that incremental increase, we capture those new taxes and repay the developer for anything that was related or eligible under the Brownfield Act. Is that clear? I know this is complicated stuff.

Can you say anything more? Yes.

Yeah. So, um we'll use an example right now. So, we've got the St. Mary Academy project that we're going to talk about here in a minute. Right now, because that's owned by the sisters, the taxable value is zero because they're nonprofit. Any growth in the value after the developer purchases it and starts redeveloping, they're taxed on that value because it goes back on the tax role. So the difference there is their their taxes are levied against that incremental value increase and what the brownfield authority is captures those. So instead of those taxes going to the taxing jurisdictions like the county or the city or the schools, the brownfield authority captures those and repays the developer for their costs that are eligible under the brownfield act. It's hard to simplify.

Um, so we've got five active sites. Mason Run, the Ven Tower property, I Surgeon Associates, that's the property just south of St. Joe's Cemetery on Monroe Street. Um, they had a brownfield plan where they demolished the old building and built their new office building. Uh, the Port of Monroe has an area brownfield that includes several different parcels. And then the most recent one uh was the former Lazy Boy headquarters. So those are the five sites right now that we are actively repaying a developer for. So um at the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting in April, the board approved two new Brownfield plans and these are both on your agenda tonight. Um once the Brownfield Authority approves them, city council has to approve them before they become final. And so, uh, the process includes you scheduling a public hearing, holding a public hearing, and approving the brownfield plan. And that will trigger that capture and reimbursement. Um, in both of these, they do have to go to the state for approval. In any brownfield plan, if you're proposing to capture school taxes, the state education tax, it's 18 mills. The state has to approve that, but it allows you more taxes you can capture to be repaid back quicker. Um, sometimes it's not worth the fight to go through all that and they just capture local taxes. Um, but in a housing plan, which both of these are, those have to go to MISTA for them to approve. So after you approve it, next it'll go to MISTA and they have to approve it. So it's a bit of a process. So tonight, we just wanted to give you the nuts and bolts of both of these plans in advance of your consideration and approval at the second May meeting. So the first is a project I think we're all aware of uh at some level. Uh this is the former St. Mary Academy property.

Um Keith Mazerant KM Cornerstone is the developer. Um there are two in order to become a Brownfield site. You have to deem why it's eligible. In this case, it's eligible because it's a housing project, but also because the assessor's office has said it's obsolete. It's blighted. it can't be used for what it was originally built for anymore. Um, and then what are the activities? So, the academy has those traditional brownfield activities and by that we mean the uh lead and asbesus abatement activities or traditional brownfield activities, but we've also got the housing development activities that are part of this project. So, I think most of you have been through it at this point, if not all. Um, but we know it's the five-story uh building. The vision is for the first two floors to be commercial, upper three floors to be a uh residential. Right now, the plan is for 116 new apartments, two-bedroom. All of All of them will be two-bedroom, and 71 of them will be affordable, which means they will be rented out, and the rent must be certified, and income must be certified every year for 71 of those units for individuals making between 60% and 120% AMI. And last uh April, we went through those charts that talked about how you figure out that. and I can always send them again if you'd like a refresher. Um, the development will also include the the lobby where the marble staircases, um, a dedicated elevator for the residential residential uh, units. Um, proposed daycare, outdoor play area for that daycare, fitness areas. We've talked about a partnership with the YMCA. Um, and then the commercial space as well, the chapel, of course, the museum and the building. Um, and then

also the addition of a parking structure for 88 parking spaces on each floor. Um, and uh, if you'll remember, the plan for that is to be tucked away in between the mother house and the academy where it wouldn't be seen from the road, it wouldn't be seen from the neighborhood. Um, and then public rightway improvements that include landscaping, street lighting, and utility upgrades to support the development, too. Any questions on the development plans? I don't see any. Oh, Kelly.

So, um, all the all the apartments are going to be two bedrooms, so there won't be any studios or I know we talked about different sizes, maybe.

So, right now, we're just talking about the upper three floors of the main structure. Um, you you may remember there's what's called G-wing, which is between the auditorium and the main structure itself. It's that fourstory building. He hasn't quite figured out what he's doing with that yet. Those may be studio or efficiency apartments. Um, you know, we've talked about the nuns who aren't ready to move into the mother house, but they don't need a lot of space. Um, or um, young working professionals just starting out, things of that sort. So, there's I would say there's still an opportunity to explore that further. So 71 affordable, the remainder would be market rate. So this chart is straight out of the brownfield plan. And what this does is lay out the total eligible costs. So I believe we're looking at a whole plan or whole development cost of about 109 million at this point. Um what this chart lays out is there is uh 20 if you look at the bottom of that second to the right column all the way in the bottom in blue 27,389,735 in eligible cost to repay the developer. So that would be tax capture that the city captures and repays to Mr. Mazerin. Um and then the the column on the left lays out what exactly is he being reimbursed for. So, um the work plan uh is the $16,875 uh dollar that is the development of the entire brownfield plan. And then you'll see the cost for demolition activities. And I always preface this when we talk about this publicly. There's not going to be any exterior demolition of the building. This is the interior removal of walls, um things of that sort. Um you'll see that there's about $2.8 8 million in lead asbesus and mold abatement activities. That's that traditional um site plan activities is the work that needs to be done on the

outside of the building. So that's infrastructure. Um that's site prep work, redoing the parking lots, things of that sort. Um eligible improve eligible infrastructure is that 8.1 million. We're talking about water, sewer, roads, street lights, um traditional infrastructure that supports a development. Um, and all of those costs total about just under $16 million just in those traditional activities. There is a 15% contingency of about $2.4 million that's added on to that. And then the cost uh Keith has incurred to develop this plan um including the MISTA portion of the plan is $30,000 and he can be repaid for that as well. And then there's the housing subsidy. So what you do for a housing subsidy to determine that is you look at um Misha puts out the control rents for a community every year. So what is the highest rent in a community and then Keith had to put pencil to paper and say how much is he going to rent these for? And you look at if you're renting them for somebody to be who would be between 60 to 120% AMI, their rent and housing cost cannot be more than 30% of that. So, you break down what those rents are and you subtract that from the state uh mandated housing and he can be subsidized for that loss, so to speak. He could rent them for this much, but right now he's only renting them for this much. So, that gap that deter that's set by how much it's going to con cost to construct each unit, that is what MISTA and what the act was updated to allow to be repaid back for. So, if he's charging $1,300 for a unit, he's not going to be repaid, 1300. But if the control rent is $3,100, don't fall off your seat. That is what Mishna says for Monroe. That difference

between 3100 and 1300 is what he can be subsidized for, and that's what that 6.5 million is. Okay. So, total activities of $24.8 8 million for el or environmental and housing. And then the brownfield authority is allowed because as you can imagine it costs money to uh administer these for the brownfield authority to certify all the costs and repay the developer every year. They are allowed to capture 10% uh and keep for their cost the brownfield authority. And then uh the state does have a revolving fund uh that each brownfield plan contributes to and that is those are funds that the state developers can tap into. So every brownfield plan in the state of Michigan uh typically contributes to that. So this total plan would be uh a support in the amount of 27.3 just about 27.4 million over 30 years. Kelly.

Okay. For clarification sake, so does Mr. Mazerin or the company have to spend the 27 million first? Mhm. And then they're eligible to capture back a portion, but it's spread out over 30 years. So, I would divide that 24.8 by 30 years. Yep. Oh, okay. I hear you.

That's a great question because brownfield plans, these are all just estimates at this point cuz he hasn't he hasn't done any work to know what the final costs end up being. So a brownfield plan is solely based on estimates and he's only reimbursed for what he actually spends. So if this is a $24.8 an $8 million plan and the project only costs $19 million, not only will he be very happy, um but the Brownfield Authority will only reimburse him that n 181 19 million um cost that he actually incurred

and and in turn what he's given us is taxable uh housing in this case um that we as a locality will um continue to capture property taxes.

Yeah. So, this brownfield plan will only cover those eligible activities, but the development includes much more than those eligible activities. So, example, he is um spending $109 million on this development. We're only reimbur reimbursing for a portion of these costs. So, like the commercial spaces, he's going to rent those out every year, right? I think there's 32 of them is what are planned right now. He will not get reimbursed for those costs for doing that because that's revenue generating for him and that's not what Mista subsidizes.

So he'll get reimbursed for the asbestous abatement in those activities because that's traditional brownfield activities. Um but he'll be collecting income above and beyond that. And um all areas of the building will be taxed differently. Um, also the benefit to the city is this 270,000 square foot 16 acre site is going to be reactivated rather than sitting there empty. And we will have 116 new housing units that are helping to address the housing needs in our city. Also hopefully spur increase house or uh property values in the surrounding area um and then also um hopefully spur additional activity that supports this development itself. Definitely.

It's a great question. the questions.

So it is reimbursement based. Um the future taxable value is only based on an estimate. Uh and there is a 2% increase every year in the taxable value. Um it could be more, could be less. Um and then it is a the maximum you can go by state law is a 30-year plan. So, Councilwoman, to your point, he's going to spend all of this upfront, but then get repaid over the course of 30 years. Um, if at the end of the course of that 30 years, the taxable value of the property didn't generate enough income to meet that $24 million, um, it's an understood uh, in the reimbursement agreement that we do not have to pay above and beyond what's actual captured during that 30 years.

That makes sense.

Yeah. um 10% capture for the Brownfield Authority. Um the TIFF tables or the the actual table itself, if you're interested, we can show how all of this breaks down each of those 30 years in terms of what is the estimated capture and how's it going to be reimbursed. Um there was discussion about possibly doing an OPRA or a tax abatement on it. Um, but that would not serve the developer well because he's receiving a tax abatement, meaning he wouldn't be paying taxes on that. So, he wouldn't we wouldn't capture taxes to reimburse him. So, in instances where that helps is if you need the money every year to not pay taxes. So, you could do that for a period, but he's not opting to do that. So um and then again the housing tiff is based on a MISTA controlled rent of 3315 3315 uh for the Minro County area. Obviously that is not the market rate for housing in our area. Um but Misha has a certain uh way in which they calculate that every year. Um and but it it helps in this case to cap increase the amount of capture that's available for the development. Okay. So next steps you're going to see in your May 4th agenda packet, I'm sorry, the May 18th agenda packet the full brownfield plan that the brownfield authority approved last week. Certainly, if you would like a copy of that or you would like to go through it, I'm more than happy to sit down with you uh and walk through exactly what that looks like. Um but you'll see that full brownfield plan because it's up for approval. There is required to be a public hearing. And just so you know, we are required. So tomorrow if city council uh sets the public hearing date tonight um we are required to do um a

notice to all the taxing jurisdictions that city council's considering this approval and they can come and be heard. They cannot opt out of it though. So if anybody objects they can come uh talk about their objections and then uh city council would consider it. The we also have to do a reimbursement agreement. So with every brownfield plan, there's an agreement between the brownfield authority and the developer that states how we are going to reimburse. So that will come um the developer is going to complete the financial proform. So continuing to refine and evaluate that construction budget. Um he still has to purchase the property. So right now the IHM still own it. Uh and then again the next step is to send it up to the state after city council approves it. We're good.

Okay. Um, so this is going to look very similar because it's another housing project. I would say these are at two separate ends of the spectrum. Um, the academy was 270,000 square ft, 116 units, $24 million. Uh, this next one is not that. Um, so the Welcome Homes Orchard Redevelopment Project is the project that the city has been supporting uh since the beginning in terms of an agreement with the developer uh Community Reimagined who are here with us tonight. Um, this is the property at 1026 and 10:30 East Second Street. Um, the developer they are proposing to build um we'll talk about on the next slide, but it is a housing uh project. So, um it's also a facility because there were environmental assessments done on this property and there is some environmental concerns um that are being addressed. So, there is a little bit of traditional activity um but not nearly the amount not 2.7 million like we saw for the academy project. Um but the eligible activities that the developer will be repaid back for this one are the housing development activities only. So, not those traditional brownfield activities. So, this development is the construction of three duplexes, three buildings, each with two uh bedroom twobedroom units in each building. Um, two of those will be designated for homeless individuals uh to support them moving transitioning from homelessness to um having a permanent residence. Two of those will be designated for very low income, which is 30% of the AMI or below average median income. and then two lowincome units which is 50% AMI or below. So remember the academy we were talking 60 to 120%. These six units are going to be for those under 60% of the AMI. Um and

then those who reside in these will go through a tennis election process with community reimagined. And then um as we've talked about with council before, the plan is to construct them out of shipping containers um which minimizes the infrastructure needed um but also the ground disturbance because those are built on a slab on grade. So you don't have to dig into the ground um with with this type and format of housing. So this project uh the eligible cost is $1.5 million that will be repaid through the to the developer. Um you'll see that the uh preparation of their brownfield plan in implementation because every year you have to um provide certification to the authority um is about $30,000. And then there that housing tiff that we talked about the subtraction of the rent from the controlled rent um is about 1.3 million. So a total cost of 1.4 million in eligible activities. And then the brownfield administr brownfield redevelopment authority administration fee is only 5% for this plan. So because this development needs every dollar of brownfield tiff reimbursement it can get um and also because they are serving a very um uh incomerestrained households. uh the brownfield authority was okay with reducing that down to 5% so the developer can be reimbured reimbured more every year and then that contribution to the state revolving fund. So a total for this brownfield plan over 30 years to reimburse community reimagined would be 1.5 million. So again, forecasting out the 2% increase in taxable value every year, a 30% capture, a 5% administration fee, um, and then a control rent of $2,000 rather than that $3,315 only because we need to maximize the

tiff capture to reimburse the developer. Um but also because we are not looking at a mix of uh market rate and also um affordable housing that these are strictly considered typically low-income housing. So the the lower control rent same process both of these are going to walk with you walk with us together. So, um, on May 18th, you'll also have a public hearing if you said it tonight. Um, and then develop a reimbursement agreement between the brownfield authority and the developer. Um, execute the property purchase from the city, finalize the reimbursement agreement, and send this up to MISTA. So, two very similar projects in terms of the composition in the process, but totally different projects in terms of the amounts and the eligible activities. questions for Mark and community reimagine Kelly.

So again, these are two bedroomedroom units. Yes. Y um do we know what the square footage on them will be? It's in the brownfield plan. I know. Okay. But I don't have it off the top of my head. We'll see that later. Mhm. Yep. It's around 900 900. Okay. U Michelle, so what if they have zero income, which a lot of the homeless do, where do they belong?

So these would be supportive through a supportive housing plan. So, subsidize housing uh to help with the homeless transitionness until they start generating an income and the ability to move into um different income bracket housing typologies the questions. So, again, this is just an overview tonight. If you'd like to see the full plan ahead of time, you're more than welcome. I can print it for you. Um, they are a couple hundred pages, so I'll caution you with that. If you would just like to sit down and talk more about it and learn more about it, I'm open and available to that as well. Okay, any more questions? A lot of information, Mark, and uh obviously the plans are within the packets here as well. They could look at them ahead of time and u be prepared for the next meeting on this meeting.

Yep. Tonight's meeting. Very good. Thanks, Mark. Thank you. Thank you. So, I don't think we have any other items this time permits because we have four minutes and then we'll start the uh special um council meeting at 7:00. So, at this time, I'll close the work session. We got a couple minutes.

special meeting to order. Uh clerk, please call the role. Council person uh Germany here. Stringham here. Felder here. Here. Stelgrave here. Bining here. Mayor Clark here. Um next is the public comment. So we'll start with this special uh city council meeting. Is there any public comment? Any comments from the public before we start? Seeing none, we'll move to the next item. Clerk, the next item is item 5874, approval of retirement separation and release agreement for David Robinson. Very good. Thank you. Uh our city attorney, Mr. Buds, I think you're going to uh kind of introduce and speak about this and then some things later, too.

Yes. Your honor and councel, as you know, uh, city manager David Robinson has informed the city of his intention to retire at the, uh, conclusion of his employment agreement on June 30th of 2026. Uh, based on that, uh, in order to facilitate that transition, a proposed agreement was prepared uh, with the director of human resources and our labor and employment council, which I reviewed as well, um, and had been in contact with Mr. Robinson about. And therefore, the uh proposed action item this evening at this special meeting is to um consider and approve the retirement separation and release agreement with Mr. Robinson. Um and then I guess I would ask that we handle that first and then after that I'll have some additional comments on next steps if if that should proceed.

I guess I'll see if there's any questions or comments. I see Mr. Councilman her. Thank you, honor. just like to make a motion uh to approve the retirement separation and release agreement with Dave Robinson and authorize the mayor and city Kirk treasures to sign the agreement on behalf of the city. Second. There's a motion by Councilman Hater, supported by Councilwoman Steelgrave on item 5874, the approval for the retirement separation release agreement for David Robinson. Any other comments from councel? Clerk, please call the role. Council person Geriney, yes. Stringham, yes. Spelder, yes. her. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Vining. Yes. Mayor Clark, yes.

So, we don't have any other items on the agenda. I know that uh Attorney Bud, you have an item that we have to move into this, but also into the next, right?

I do. Just as uh for the next meeting, I'm going to make a request at the beginning that we amend the agenda to have a discussion of uh I'll call it city manager transition uh and acting city manager. I will say for purposes of our 7:30 meeting, I understand and know and you all do obviously also based on the uh recent work session topics that Mr. Cochran is here and that um according to our past practice when uh the city manager was away, Mr. Cochran stepped into the role and sat in the manager's seat for purposes of the meeting. Um in light of the recent action, I would um entertain that unless there's objection that Mr. Cochran uh serve in the role of acting city manager this evening for purposes of this meeting and then we have discussion at the conclusion as the last action item during the regular 7:30 meeting as to next steps regarding acting city manager until further action of the council.

If I understand correctly in the employment agreement with Mr. Cochran it's also stated uh those actions or those that duties would fall with him. Is that correct? I believe that's correct and also it has been our practice that when the city manager is away that um he would step into that role. Obviously for full disclosure we have another uh assistant city manager Mr. um Cell uh finance director who I also had conversation with uh today and obviously he is willing to do anything uh necessary to assist the city as well. Uh but we did have dialogue about uh the the um suitability I guess I'll say of Mr. Cochran serving in that role at least for tonight uh for purposes of the 7:30 meeting. Okay. And as we know, we um years past, we had uh Mr. Cell did uh serve as a um acting uh city manager as well as the time when we made selections years ago. So So any questions or comments? Uh just for discussion. We're not taking action on this, but u attorney Buzz is asking that we amend the agenda to handle that item so that way we have um it for the future moving forward. As I think we know we chatted there's a lot more that gets done in this process and I think if we start here then that will form together whether um with human resources whether it's personnel committee all the topics that we've talked about before when we go this type of transition what is the route that we're going to take so we're going to have discussion on that I know coming forward as a council for council's input discussion as well as um uh the process uh

I'm sorry your honor what counciling what exactly Um, we were adding this at the end of council action. Correct. And I'll give an introduction because I think we need to do it as part of the 7:30 meeting also. So when that meeting opens, I'll I'll give this similar introduction as well. But I wanted to make sure there weren't any objections to Mr. Cochran sitting in this seat at the beginning of the 7:30 meeting just for administrative purposes and keeping the meeting moving for this evening. Administrative as he has done in the past. Correct. for the meeting and then we'll have the agenda item for the discussion. Correct. Any other questions or comments? Clerk Leavoy, anything further?

No, I think I'm fine. Okay. Um, so um, as far as the agenda items, that's the only thing we had it unless there's a a question from council or discussion you want to have at this point or it can come at the 7:30 meeting. a motion to adjurnn. That's what we need. I'll make a motion to support. There's a motion from Councilwoman Geriney. Uh supported by Councilwoman Stringum to adjourn. There's no other comments. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Geriney, yes. Stringham, yes. Belder, yes. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Vining? Yes. Mayor Clark? Yes. We'll see everybody at 7.

Call the city council meet the order. Clerk, please call the role. Germainey here. Stringham here. Felder here. Here. Stograve here. Vining here. Mayor Clark here. I'd ask we all please rise for the invocation. Remain stand for the pledge of allegiance. We ask for your guidance this evening as we move forward as one. Please look over us as we make many decisions this evening that will benefit and impact those around us calling this community home. 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. Clerk, next me uh next item, please. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the regular agenda. So, from our uh uh session earlier, uh Mr. Buds, Attorney Buds, you have an item for um the regular agenda?

Yes, sir. In light of the item approved at the 7:00 special meeting. Um, I would request that when we get to the approval of the agenda that there be an item added as the last item of council action following item 5864 entitled acting city manager. Thank you. So, Mr. Would you say that when we get to the um council action or this time?

Well, I think it would be appropriate at this time if there's approval of the agenda with that amendment. I was trying to make it so it could be one one motion altogether. Sure. Thought I want to make sure. So, is there any other items on the agenda from council? If not, uh, a motion would be in or Councilman Hayer. Uh, motion to approve the regular agenda with the one amendment about the acting city manager. Correct. Yep. Okay. Excuse me. There's a motion from Councilman Her by Councilwoman Stillgrave on the approval of the regular agenda with the added item uh, about the acting city manager. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Germaine, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Hater. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Vining. Yes.

Mayor Clark. Yes. Next item, please. The next item is the consent agenda and for approval of payments, the amount should read 1,684,257.16. 1684257.16.

Thank you. Are there any items on the consent agenda that council wishes to have pulled for further discussion? We have three items on the consent agenda. Seeing none from the council. Any items on the consent agenda? Those present here this evening wish to have pulled for further discussion. If none are uh pulled for further discussion, they'll be uh included with the one motion for all items. Any items on the consent agenda. We'll have the council action later. Seeing none. U Councilman Felder. Yes, your honor. I'll like to make a motion that all items on the consent agenda be accepted, placed on file, recommendations carried out, and resolutions adopted. Second

motion by Councilman Felersport, Councilwoman Steelgree that all items on the consent agenda be accepted, placed in file, recommendations carried out, and resolutions adopted. Clerk, please call the role. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. The next item on the agenda is under presentations, communications, and public hearings. Item 5702, United Way 100thyear proclamation.

Thank you. Uh we have a proclamation that we're not going to be uh presenting this evening because it'll be a a special event that will occur on the day in which uh which is May 9th in which is proclamation to the United Way of Monroe and Lenway counties and collectively celebrating the 100th anniversary and it talks about all the items in that where the United Way and I look around the room and I know many people here are involved with the United Way whether volunteering or on uh projects serving on boards all those items that they do. They've been around like I said for hundred years, but uh on May 9th, they're going to have their uh special celebration and the proclamation will be uh presented at that time. But we wanted to bring notice to it here at this meeting for those that here and those who are watching about the as you know the United Way and I guess one comment I'll make I think about the 211 and that call how many calls that come here into the city hall that I know people are asking and it's so simple to say you're looking for information that you can get by dialing this and so they make a lot of connections. So, we uh appreciate all they they do and I know that the city has had a partnership with the United Way for many years and many employees support the United Way through their um um I'll say uh partnership collection and um helping them out. So, thank you.

The next item is item 5852, Arbor Day, April 2026.

So, we have a uh u proclamation for Arbor Day. Every year we get to do this. this year was is April 24th. Uh it's actually this Friday. So the uh we're going to be presenting that at a a special meeting with the students at Manor School as well as Manor Park as we plant trees and have the opportunity to have the students help. I know that the staff here from uh the uh DPS and uh engineering are always it's always fun to be with the kids and and we have displays for them to learn about work within the city and opportunities that that they may present as they see some of the equipment but also to help plant the trees. So this is a proclamation and just talks of course about how the arbor day got started and we're going to be presenting that on uh April 24th which is uh Friday morning at Manor School and Manor Park. So just awareness for that. Next item please.

The next item is 5862 the opportunity center at ALCC 2026 first quarterly report. Looking at uh uh assistant city manager Mr. Cochran I know that uh this is a communication sir. So, um, in accordance with the lease and operating agreement that we have with MCOP to operate the Arthur Leslo Community Center and the opportunity center, uh, there to submit a quarterly report, which, uh, Stephanie is in the audience this evening. Uh, that's been submitted for you for your review to place on file.

Thank you. I'll just see if there's any questions or not. We did receive the report. It's a communication we receive gets put on file uh, and uh, on a quarterly basis. Seeing no comments. Thank you for being here, Stephanie. U clerk, next item, please. The next item is item 5859, public hearing on the Michigan CDBG disaster recovery grant application. And this one may not go quite as quick, but uh Mr. Cochran

mayor council for purposes of introduction um you may recall that uh in 2023 the city experienced a major rain event which resulted in a presidential disaster declaration uh for both Monroe and also Oakland and Mcome counties. Uh with that uh Congress approved a special appropriation for disaster recovery for those impacted with that disaster. Um those funds are being distributed both directly through the Economic Development Administration but also through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation uh through what's called the C CDBG community development block grant disaster recovery. Um so there is two pots of funds available for those impacted communities of which Monroe is one. uh one for planning purposes for response and res resiliency against uh future natural disasters but also for infrastructure improvements. And so uh when we took a look at what are the needs of the community when we think about resiliency and natural disasters to prevent uh significant damage in the future uh what we're proposing is to submit two applications. Uh, one is to update the city's comprehensive master plan, which is um required of us to do every 5 years. Uh, the last time we did it was 2017. Um, but we've updated it a couple times with the addition of some of our sub area plans. um but comprehensively needing to update that land use master plan uh to look at things like housing but also how a community can respond with resilience um to prevent future natural disasters in terms of future infrastructure needs and trying to understand and forecast those. So, um that application uh would be one and then the other for infrastructure. Um we've got one application that we're preparing to the economic development administration to look at um the W streets, Waterlue, Winston, Woodville in that area. Uh they experience frequent

flooding. Um, and that is an eligible project uh under the federal funds. But through the state, um, looking at a residential neighborhood, the Orchard East neighborhood, whenever there's a large rain event, um, or when the lake starts, Lake Erie starts roaring, um, and pushes water into the Orchard East neighborhood. What we're proposing is an application for $5 million to, uh, both come up with a plan and then also the necessary infrastructure to address that in the future for the Orchard East neighborhood. So, uh, we're proposing those two applications, uh, that meet the requirements of the grant, but part of what the state requires through CDBG just like our typical CDBG allocation is to hold a public hearing uh, which you had previously scheduled at the last meeting. So, tonight we just have to have a public hearing to take comment on those two plans um, to submit forward.

Thank you. And I appreciate the background information because it really gives a little more depth to you know as you get through the process of hearing it at the last meeting but also here this evening. So at this time I'm going to open the public hearing to see if there's any comments from those present here this evening on item 5859 public hearing on the Michigan CDBG community development block grants disaster recovery grant applications. And as Mr. Cochran said there's two. Any comments? Any public comments from those present? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Uh clerk, next item, please. The next item is 5851. The next item is 5851. Public hearing proposed ordinance 26-005,

assistant manager Cochran.

Uh yes. So our city charter requires us to adopt a budget by the end of April every year. Um, so we had the comprehensive work session, the special work session with council on March 30th where we walked you through uh the proposed budget and then um uh assistant city manager finance director Ed Cell um finalized the budget and that is what's up for a public hearing tonight um before approval. Uh just a reminder that this does cover um both the next fiscal year but also the two years after because we do three-year budgets uh in bud budget forecasting here at the city. Um it will also include a budget amendment for the current fiscal year looking through the end of June uh through the end of June at June 30th. Um but also covers things like the millage rates that are to be levied as al as well as the various fee schedules that the departments charge for uh different purposes. So the public hearing tonight is for the budget ordinance amendment. Budget ordinance. Sure. So, at this time, I'll open the public hearing for item 5851, public hearing, proposed ordinance 26-005, as was uh briefed by Mr. Cochran. Any public comments regarding the budget? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Thank you. Next item, please. Item 5807, public hearing, proposed ordinance 26-004. Thank you. Uh Mr. Cochran again, please.

Yes. So, um this proposed budget amendment is for um chapter 127, the retirement system ordinance. And what this does is memorial memorializes the eligibility for those who are eligible underneath um the the retirement system and supports your your goal of secession planning, particularly within the public safety department, the leadership transition. Um, so this uh what this does is confirms and finalizes the eligibility and limits for uh the recent agreements that we had with Director Tolstead as well as Commander Lindsay for their retirement continued service. Thank you. So at this time I'll open the public hearing item 5807 public hearing proposed ordinance 26-004. I know we've had uh u previous discussions at previous meetings regarding this item as well from uh during uh work sessions but also uh through human resources. Any comments from those present here this evening for this public hearing? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Clerk, next item, please.

The next item is proposed ordinance 26-004, amendment to chapter 127, retirement system ordinance. Thank you. As we move to council action, uh, assistant to manager Cochran, any additional comments? Uh, nothing further unless the council has comments and certainly Dr. Everly is here and available to answer any questions or provide additional feedback if you wish. Any comments from council? If not, this item is up for council action. Councilwoman Stringham, u, make a motion. I'll move to place ordinance 25-004, amendment to chapter 127, retirement system ordinance, on the floor for its final reading. Second.

Motion by Councilwoman Stringham, supported by Councilwoman Stilgrave, item 5801, proposed ordinance 26-004. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Gerainy, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Steel, yes. Yes. Yes. Ordinance 26-004, amendment of section 127 of the retirement system ordinance. The city of Monroe ordains. Shall this ordinance pass? Council person Geriney, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Mayor Clark,

yes. The next item is item 5850, budget ordinance, fiscal year ending June 30th, 2027. Assistant manager Cochran, anything further? Nothing further, but just the same. Assistant city manager, uh, finance director Cell is here to answer any questions or provide feedback if you need. There's uh Councilwoman Geriney move that ordinance number 26-00005 the budget ordinance be placed on the floor for its final reading.

Motion by Councilman Germaine supported by Councilman her on item 5850 budget ordinance fiscal year ending June 2020 June 30 2027. Clerk please call the vote. That's person. Geriney yes. Stringham. Yes. Felder. Yes. Hater. Yes. Stograve. Yes. Vining. Yes. Mayor Clark. Yes. Ordinance 26-005, Budget Appropriation Act, July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. An ordinance to approve the budget for the city of Monroe for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The city of Monroe ordains. Shall this ordinance pass? Council person Geriney, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes.

Mayor Clark, yes. Next item is item 5868, city hall backup generator bid, revised award. Mr. Cochran.

Uh, yes. So, one of our prior CIP projects was to uh replace the generator here at city hall uh primarily to help with the backup of the city hall's data center and our computer systems. Um, this was one of the capital improvements projects and uh, city council did award a bid to Desimma LLC at the March uh, meeting, March 16th meeting. However, they came back and let us know that they couldn't uphold the terms of the the bid that they had submitted. Um and so what is before you tonight is um a proposed different agreement from Regent Electric. Um again to upgrade the current generator uh to provide backup services for our IT as well as the the uh existing capacity with some of the emergency services here at the city. Um and so we're putting forth the the new bid uh for your approval given the the other vendor dropped out. Um this one did come in a little bit higher and so we do need um an appropriation to be made from the capital projects fund balance um primarily to cover the 10% contingency for the project. But um this would be to move forward and as well as um in accordance with our emergency operations planning.

Thank you. Any questions from city coun or council members?

If not this item is uh up for action. Councilman Her. I make a motion that mayor and city council approve the city hall backup generator bid submitted by region electric in the amount of 197,000 continuing on them meeting the city's responsible bid requirements that a cons contingency amount be approved increasing the total project budget to 216,700 and authorized the assistant city manager and finance director to amend the budget to allow for an appropriation from capital project fund balance in the amount of 20,269 $9 and sign any relevant contract documents.

Councilman Her supported by Councilwoman Stringum at item 5868, the city hall backup generator bid revised of award. Uh, any further comments from council clerk, please call the role. Councy, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Hater, yes. Stillgrave, yes. Bining, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Excited, please. N5783 River Raisin Dam Removal and Sewer Relocation Bid Award. Mr. Cochran.

Uh yes. So um what we've got is a bid award uh proposed to Sal and Bean Trucking and Excavating to conduct the work for the uh remove and repair of Dam 4 as part of the uh the river raisin restoration project. Um primarily funded through Noah. Um, but if you'd like, uh, director of public services, uh, and engineering, Patrick Lewis, can offer more information as to the scope of the project and what this includes.

Is there any questions from council? I know the fact sheet was pretty detailed, talks about the process and also the uh, expansion. I think that that's uh, uh, great to see and I know this goes within our goals and objectives and about our our waterway. So, if there's no questions, be looking for uh, Councilwoman Germaine. I'll move that a contract for the river raisin dam removal and sewer relocation project be awarded to Salenbine Trucking and Excavating Incorporated in the amount of $777,944 and that a total of 820,000 be encumbered to include a 5% overall project contingency and that the mayor and clerk treasurer be authorized to execute the contracts on behalf of the city.

Second. Motion by Councilwoman Germaine Sporbeck. Counciloman Stilgrave on item 5783, the river raisin dam removal and sewer relocation bid award. Clerk, please call the role. Germany, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. I'm just going to make a comment I was going to make before and I I knew I s I read it, but it says this grant requires no match funds from the city. So, those are always nice to have as well. this this kind of uh funding for this significant size of a project is just is great. So, it's no grant uh match funds from the city. Clerk, next item, please.

The next item is item 5861, consideration of offer to purchase 719 Westforce Street,

Assistant Manager Cochran. Yep. Um, so this was a a piece of city-owned property that we received an offer to purchase from two of the adjacent property owners. Um, what we've typically done in the past is if it's a non-buildable lot, meaning the the lot is a size that according to our zoning ordinance could not be built on, um, the past practice of council has been to divide a non-buildable lot in half and offer half to uh, each of the adjacent property owners. However, if it is a buildable lot, um we have generally maintained ownership of those in the event that they could be built for a new um productive use such as a resident a new residential housing uh unit. So, this property does have a bit of backstory to it. Uh this was a property that was sold at a tax auction uh to an individual in California who bought it sight unseen. Um, you may recall you had previously approved a demolition agreement to demolish the house with the condition that we took ownership of it. Um, and so that is how we acquired the property to it had a demolition order on it. It was deemed dangerous and and unsafe. Um, we acquired it, demolished the site, and it it's a vacant lot right now. Um, it is a a lot that's a buildable size. Um, but the the two adjacent property owners, and I'll say Mr. Vanisacker did a great uh sta very thorough staff report about the considerations uh relative to this offer. But what they are asking uh is to basically divide the lot in half. It's two properties on Union Street um 720 or I'm sorry 727 West 4th Street and also 409 Union Street. Uh to acquire that lot, divide it in half and add the half to their own portion. um essentially to make their yards bigger um possibly build a garage onto it. And so while it could be a lot that could be used for a new residential property, um there's a map in your agenda packet tonight that would show it

does square off and align the the new property lines if you were to consider conveyance of the property to match the rest of the block on Union going uh between 7th and 8th Street and also again put it back into productive tax use being combined with uh two residential lots um that we no longer have to maintain. But the consideration is it could be used in the future as a new residential uh development. However, they are offering $20,000 to purchase that. Um and uh the outcome would be uh lot lot dimensions, lot shapes that would match the rest of the neighborhood as well as uh put it back into their own productive use. So uh that is what's on the in the agreement and proposal for city council to decide tonight.

Thank you. Any any questions for Mr. Cochran? Councilman her

I move to accept Sharon Jordan and Tom Keane's offer to purchase equal parts of 719 West 4th Street parcel 19-00345-0000 for a sum of $20,000 authorizes city administration to draft the necessary documents to purchase and initiate the division of parcel 19-00345-0000 equally to both 727 Westforce Street parcel 19 uh- 00346-0000 and 409 Union Street parcel 19-00347-0000 and authorize the mayor and clerk treasurer to execute the purchase agreement and sale

support councilman hers counciloman stringham item 5861 consideration to offer purchase 719 west for street clerk please call the role yes yes felder Yes. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Vining. Yes. Mayor Clark. Yes. Next item, please. Next item is item 5869, purchase agreement, parcel 2 of 317 West Front Street.

This project or this agenda item is relative to the construction of the new Greenway Loop Trail um that actually started construction this past week. You may have noticed some activity um on the old rail line between Front Street and Seventh Street that will connect into the countywide loop trail. Um but you may recall this was a property that uh we had to work with MB Properties, also Spectrum, uh the mill on Front Street. Uh they owned some property that we needed to acquire to facilitate the construction of the trail. Um Mr. Vanosacer did an excellent job communicating with them, negotiating with them on the agreement that you have tonight. Um, part of that was that we would agree to splitting off the property that we would um that was needed into two different lots um as well as change the zoning for new residential use um which were actions that were previously taken by council. So, um what the agreement that you have before you tonight is to actually purchase the one lot that we need to facilitate construction. Um, with the the conditions, we would purchase it for uh6 $29,620.80. Um, complete the zoning classifications uh for the new lots, which we've already done, and install a new privacy fence along the eastern boundary of the new newly created parcel um in a section of the the property line that abuts the um the new residential lot that will be for sale. Um, one item to note, the agenda that is in your packet this evening was updated after the agenda went out. Uh, so we pass out a revised agreement to you that was on your uh at your seat when you walked in tonight. Um, the one change is in section 8 uh that deals with the closing and that is at closing we would be responsible for the transfer taxes and all closing costs including title insurance. Um and the the construction for the trail project itself is funded by a spark grant that

we received from the DNR. Um the property acquisition is not eligible for uh to utilize the grant funds for um but we do have funds available in the the trail millillage project uh to complete the acquisition including all the requirements to go along with it. So this would be to purchase the one property to complete construction of the trail. Um and again, we just have to approve the amended uh version that was before you tonight, not the one in your packet.

Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Cochran on the um item and of course the amendment which will be need to be in the motion on item 5869. It's a p purchase agreement with the um addition regarding the section 8 closing costs from the trail millage be uh included. Any comments or questions? If not, I'm Councilwoman Stringham.

Um, I move to approve the purchase of parcel 2 of 317 West Front Street, newly created parcel 29-000044-034 for a sum of 29,620.80 80 cents and authorize the mayor and city clerk treasurer to execute the purchase agreement and documentation necessary to complete the acquisition including the amendment that was provided to us tonight. Support there's a motion by council string support by councilwoman Germany on item 5869 the purchase remain partial two of 317 west front street and as amended. Clerk please call the role. Council person Germany.

Yes. Stringham. Yes. Felder. Yes. Hater. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Vining. Yes. Mayor Clark. Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Next item. No, it's okay. Item 5873, LEC request for placement of millage renewal proposal on the August 2026 ballot.

This item, this is a request that the city council received from Mr. Hensley, the general manager for Lake Erie Transit, um requesting that their millillage renewal, which is a three-year 1 mill uh millillage be placed on the August 4th, 2026 ballot. Um and city council must approve that to go on on the ballot. So, that uh request is up for your consideration this evening for the August 4th election. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Councilwoman Gerinei, um I know what you're going to ask. Do I need to abstain from this vote since I employed like Gary Transit? I think I should. Yeah, I see attorney Buds shaking his head. Yes,

would be appropriate under these circumstances and unless any of the other council have any questions, I have no issue with that. Yeah, I would agree that the millage is for obviously service provided, but also for the uh personnel who get provide that service. So, I think it's appropriate as well unless council sees otherwise. With that, we need a motion uh regarding this item number. Councilman Felder. Yes, your honor. I'd like to uh make a motion to approve the placement of LEC's millage renewal proposal on the ballot for the August 4th, 2026 primary election and that the clerk treasurer transmit this information to the county clerk for placement on the ballot.

Motion by Councilman Fisher, by Councilman her on item 5873, the LEC request for placement of the millillage renewal proposal on the August 2026 ballot. Clerk, please call the role. Councy. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Stillgrave, yes. Bining, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. Item 5867, professional services agreement with Sincar Consulting Group for high property neighborhood development sub area plan. Thank you, Acting Manager Robinson. Sorry. See, you say it all the time. I get to the ending. Cochran.

This item is a delivery of one of uh your priority goals that you expressed to us earlier this year to look at um also in line with the residential housing strategy that was adopted by council to look at what are the sites that we have available throughout the city to meet the housing needs of our community. Um the high property is the vacant property that is currently farmed and owned by the city. It's about uh just over a 100 acres um north of Mason Run, south of the Greenwood Housing Complex and west of the the railroad tracks. Um what we're proposing and and the direction that you provided us was to explore what that proc what that property can be used for in the future. Uh so much like we've done with other sites from the Lazy Boy former Lazy Boy headquarters site and others is to work with um a professional consulting group to come up with a a master plan for that property that explores uh what types of housing the market could support in the different formats across the entire uh stretch of that property. also work with the housing commission in Greenwood on their future plans uh that may include expansion of the Greenwood development uh and how the the property may feed uh meet their needs. Looking also at what are the future infrastructure needs. So along with our capital improvements process where we forecast out 5 years in order for this property to be used for um a residential development, what do we need to start thinking about now in terms of infrastructure needs across that site? um and looking at what the market can support. Uh one significant component that we have in this project is community engagement. So involving um both the the community overall but also the adjacent residential neighborhoods um whether that be Michigan Avenue um where they're the rear of their properties of but this neighborhood also the Mason Run, Greenwood and others to get uh their feedback on potential plans as we move forward and market that site for possible development. and then also

green space, open space, park space, and those sorts of amenities. So, um we did put this out to bid and we did receive five proposals. They were listed in the fact sheet as well as the um the the items that we looked for when we scored each of the projects. Uh we did interview three of the design firms and we included representatives from the planning commission as well. um given these types of projects often come before them uh for their in uh consideration and input before it comes to you uh for final presentation. But uh what the group ultimately ended up is recommending Sincar Consulting Group, also known as C2G. Um that is the firm that we have worked with on several projects throughout the city, including the update of the Mason Run 2.0 O plan when we updated the PUB for the the construction that's underway with the completion of that segment of the Mason Run neighborhood. Um Edge Group which is the landscaping consulting group Urban Design Associates who uh wrote the first Mason Run PUD book. So they're very familiar uh with the area with the neighborhood um as well as they helped uh provide input in the Mason Run 2.0 no project and then Collier's engineering and design to help with the infrastructure forecasting. Um and so all told uh what we're proposing is uh to award the project in the amount of $152,000. This was um budgeted as one of our projects for this year. But also we do have support from the state of Michigan and the Treasury Department. uh they have helped us on a numerous projects including most recently the residential market analysis that we presented um to city council. So they're proposing to fund 50% of that. Um that grant agreement will be on your council agenda uh May 4th. We just received it today. So um the city's commitment will be 77,000 which will be paid partially out

of this current fiscal year as well as the next fiscal year's budget that uh you approve this evening. So again, this aligns with your your goal for residential housing, but also to look at um the future of that property overall. Thank you. Any uh questions from council? Hearing none, a motion would be in order. Uh, Councilwoman Stringham,

I move that city council award a professional services service contract to Sincar Consulting Group for 152,000 for the professional services work for the high-propy neighborhood development sub area plan for a total not to exceed 152,000. that the assistant city manager, director of economic and community development be authorized to execute any necessary agreements on behalf of the city and further authorize the assistant city manager finance director to execute the necessary budget amendments. Second.

Motion by councilman string for by councilwoman Steelgraven item 5867 the professional service agreement with CT2G for high property neighborhood development sub area plan. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Gerainy, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Sining, yes. Mayor Clark. Yes. Next item, please. The next item is item 5863. Established public hearing date for the former St. Mary Academy Brownfield plan.

Mr. During this evening's work session, we provided an overview of two brownfield plans that were recently approved by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Um, the first was for St. Mary, the redevelopment of St. Mary's Academy, which includes both traditional brownfield activities and housing activities, um to move that project forward in partnership with CM Cornerstone. Um and so the next step in that process would be for city council to schedule a public hearing date. um which we're proposing for May 8, Monday, May 18th at 7:30 p.m. uh to hear and receive comments before final approval for that which then must go to uh the state of Michigan and MISTA uh for their final approval before that uh before that plan is finally approved.

Thank you. Any questions? If not, Councilwoman Geriney move that city council schedule a public hearing on the propos proposed Brownfield plan for the former St. Mary Academy property on Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and receive comments. It's a motion by Councilwoman Germaine Sport by Councilwoman Steelgrave on item 5863 established public hearing date for the former St. Mary Academy Brownfield plan. Clerk, please call the role. Councy, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Stillgrave, yes. Bining, yes. Mayor Clark,

yes. The next item is item 5864. Establish public hearing date for community reimagined brownfield plan. Mr. Cochran,

this is a second brownfield plan that was approved by the authority and this is for um the two vacant lots that are owned by the city at 1026 and 10:30. Uh the council has an approved agreement with with community reimagine for the redevelopment of those two properties uh for six new residential units. uh two two units per building, three buildings on the property. And again, this is a housing uh brownfield plan uh that follows the same process as the academy. So after uh you hold the public hearing and approve it, it'll go to MISTA for final approval uh to help facilitate that redevelopment and provide financial assistance.

Thank you. Any questions from council? Otherwise, motion would be in order. Councilwoman Stillgrieve move that the city council schedule a public hearing on the proposed brownfield plan for the community reimagined welcome homes project at 10:26 and 10:30 East 2nd Street on Monday May 18th 2026 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and receive comments. Motion by Councilman Steel, support by Councilman Stringum on item 5864, established public hearing day for community reimagined Brownfield plan. Clerk, please call the role. Germany, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Binding? Yes. Mayor Clark, yes.

Next item. The next item was the additional item amended when the amenda agenda was amended. acting city manager.

Thank you. Um but your honor and council as you know at the seven o'clock meeting you took certain action which would uh leave currently the uh office of the city manager vacant. Um as uh I think it would be appropriate then to talk about what uh next steps might be. I have spoken with Dr. Everly uh Mr. Cell and Mr. Cochran about a number of topics relating to that item. Uh the first one I think is to clarify and uh address the issue of acting city manager until the council would take further action. So I would be happy to uh engage in any dialogue about that. I think it goes uh hopefully it goes without saying but I'll say it anyway that I think the city is um in a very fortunate position to have quality individuals such as Mr. Cell and Mr. Cochran both with the title of assistant city manager. And so I think the uh dialogue would be about um filling the role of city manager as acting city manager until such time as the council would further act. And then I've also had dialogue with Dr. Everly that I think it would be appropriate for the work session topic uh at the first meeting in May to be the item of city manager transition and planning.

Any questions for Mr. Buds? I know that uh council has uh um some thoughts like how what process and I think this is helpful knowing at the next meeting in May we'll start to have that dialogue with council what that might look like in a uh permanent sense and a long opportunity to you know we've been through different processes in the past and how do we look and how does council think about that so I would say bring those uh items forward unless you wish to now but as we start planning that process what what does that look like and and uh there's there's many ways in which uh that those uh search and process begins, but at this time tonight, it's about um identifying the uh acting city manager. Any questions or comments from council members?

So, what do you need further, Mr. Buzz? Your honor and council, I think it would be appropriate um if there was a determination as to the individual that would be the acting city manager. I will say knowing the working relationship between the two, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Cell, I do not expect any uh issues in terms of that. I know both uh as the mayor had mentioned, Mr. Cell had uh served in that role under a prior transition. Obviously, in Mr. Cochran's employment agreement as we talked about earlier. It talks about um that it would manage city operational duties in the city manager's absence. I I think it would just be clarity for the staff as to which um route the council wished to proceed. And I think no matter your decision, you will be in good hands between the two of them working together and with all of the department heads of the city. Come

council. I know that Mr. Uh Cochran has been involved more in the day-to-day operations. Not that Mr. Cell isn't, but uh from a fan finance side of his duties there. Councilwoman Stringham,

are you looking for a motion on which person that we would So I would be glad to make a motion that Mr. uh Cochran be the assistant or the interim city manager at this time. If I'm I'm sorry. If I may just be clear because I think in some transitions people would use the term interim different than they would acting. The ordinance talks about acting and then I think at the next meeting we'll talk about whether there's an interim or a final and what what path the council would want to go. So I I could envision and I don't want to jump too far ahead of Dr. Everly in that but you could have acting, you could have interim, you could have a permanent solution. I think in this case, in light of the ordinance, I I think I understand your intention, but I'd prefer if we use the term acting rather than interim, if that's okay with you.

All right. Well, I make a motion that we um nominate that we name uh Mark Cochran as the acting city manager at this time. Councilwoman String, a sword by Councilman Her to uh take action to make Mark Cochran be our acting city manager at this time. Other comments? Clerk, please call the role. Council person Gerainy, yes. Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Steelgrave. Yes. Binding? Yes. Mayor Clark? Yes. Now, next item. I have no further items this evening, your honor. Okay. Well, it's uh still April, so Councilwoman Germaine, comments this evening?

Thank you, your honor. Well, Earth Day is Wednesday and this coming Saturday at the college um they'll be celebrating with a lot of activities for kids inside the gym. That will be from 11 to 2. But before that, there is an electric vehicle show on the other parking lot right next to this um that will be brought that's the college that is doing that and they have vehicles that you can drive that are electric. We will have a bus at both. Um, so that the great day to get the family out and lots of activities and prizes for the kiddos inside.

Thank you, Councilwoman Stringham. So, this morning at my house it was 28. And I know you're thinking that winter's never going to leave, but it is because I see in the weather that it's going to be a high of 77 on Thursday. So, um, the weather seems like the pattern is changing. Um, good time to get out and we've got an opportunity to as a community plant some trees on Saturday. So, I plan on going and I hope to see a few people join us. It'll be at Village Green Lane and be 8:45 a.m. um a.m. until I believe around noon. So, feel free to come out, bring uh bring your muscle and uh help us out.

Thank you. And I believe that's posted on the city's u uh website and social media pages as well. So, thank you for mentioning that, Councilman Felder. Thank you, your honor. There was quite a bit on this evening's agenda on the issue of housing and um economic development that we're experiencing throughout the city. And I just I I wanted to comment that I I really appreciate seeing the aggressive momentum that we're having on the fronts of uh of housing. I think it affects positively affordability, accessibility, um development, and growth that we're experiencing as a city, both in terms of population and in terms of uh financial and economically. So, it's just it's really good that we're that we're seeing that growth and development and I hope that it continues into the future. Thank you. That's all I have for this evening, your honor.

Thank you, Councilman her. Thank you, your honor. Um I I would like to thank um the public safety department on behalf of the United Way staff, the United Way board, and the United Way executive committee. Recently, our uh trailer was stolen. um that uh basically helps us put up wheelchair ramps for the disabled and the needy in the community. And uh with the help of the public safety department and the use of their flock cameras, we were able to retrieve that um trailer. So, thank you, Councilwoman Stillgrieve. Councilwoman Viney,

thank you, your honor. Yes, I am excited. um and anxious to move forward with all of the community and economic development that's going on and look forward to seeing more and um learning more about the various pro projects that are happening around housing and economic development. very exciting and also very thrilled to um submit the application for the uh community block grant disaster uh relief. Um $5 million. And that sounds like a lot, but we can use more than that even to um remediate some of the flooding in the Orchard East neighborhood. I know we've done a few things in the past um putting the um Patrick knows what I'm trying to say. The two drains um oh my god, the word is escaping me, but we put one in the um Orchard neighborhood and one going out to the Edison uh properties to stop some of that flooding. and it and it seemed like it worked really well for a while, but I don't know if the rain events are getting worse or um pumps pumps, that's the word I was looking for. And so I'm excited to see um uh what further uh improvements that'll go on in that area of getting um stopping that flooding in the neighborhood. So, thanks for all the hard work to all the departments involved. Thank you. My is my comments were uh similar to Council Felder and and

Councilwoman Vining about housing. It's one of the primary and um lead goals that we have objectives as a council that we set at uh uh starting this term but also last term and how long it takes to get there. It's a lot of hard work. There's items on the council action night. There was three there. We had the one earlier on the consent and it made me think about how we are moving forward and the funding that Councilman Vining said for the CDBG and the opportunity to uh possibly receive, you know, the $5 million of of development for the Orchard East neighborhood. All that together. Uh last meeting we talked about a resolution we passed that we sent off to Lancing. As we know, the housing and um community um um ability to make your own decisions and our planning is being a kind of a challenged out of the state legislation. They want to have one sizefits-all and we've uh sent that resolution of of we thought that uh we have done things. One of the items here also was about our our our planning. I think the city here showing how local co governments with the local community can meet the needs of housing. It takes time and I think if they see the what's just tonight's agenda along with last week's the idea that local communities and local control local authority to build and put housing is working. I think that this was this has been very productive for all the time in fact in which we've worked toward this but house bills that are try wanting to take that uh authority away from local governments and I think about that and I think about our planning commission and their input how they put in residents sitting at the table saying this is what we want our community to be and as a staff and the great work they've done and how we got here today. So I want to just thanks say great thanks to the administration and the staff for these items that we've worked so hard for and put as priorities and I think we have the opportunities get to bring this to

fruition here this year and the numerous projects not to mention the ones that are already started. Right. So those are my comments this evening. So clerk treasure Lavoy

um I just had wanted to thank council for the approval of the um non-UN employment agreement that was for the new assistant clerk in the clerk's office. I want to thank Dr. Everly and her department for all their hard work on on helping us secure um another great candidate for um a position here at city hall. Um it's been a long time coming. The clerk's office and the treasur's office is complex and um it'll be good to have a partner on that side of the of the tasks. So I I really appreciate it more than more than you know. So, thank you. And, uh, the team is really, uh, coming together. We're having a a great time and getting a lot done. And that's, uh, that's really great to be able to say. So, thank you again for your support with that position. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Before I go to the acting city manager, Cochran, I had one more thing I want to just clarify. When I think about Lancing and there's around the state, those that were are pushing that uh legislation that would impact us, our state representatives, all of those that represent the city of Monroe, we have uh three that uh support maintaining the local authority and ability to make decisions at the local level regarding our planning, our housing, and our development. So, I just want to make sure everybody is aware that our representatives are supportive and we greatly appreciate their support in Lancing on this project. Acting City Manager Cochran.

Thank you, Mayor. I just want to say, you know, in my nine years working here, that doesn't include the the time that I spent in high school at the front desk and in the clerk treasurer's office um where some of you uh watch me get raised uh into my adulthood. But it's an extreme and profound honor to walk into this building every day and work on behalf of our residents. And and I mean it when I when I say I'm I'm truly proud and privileged to work alongside so many uh dedicated people, smart people, people who are smarter than I am, uh to do the work that you expect and that our residents expect day in and day out and and work so hard to do it. um all at the same time of upholding the mission, the vision, and the values that that you established for our city overall to to strive to live by every day and try and achieve. And um I want to thank you for entrusting me to serve in this seat for however long it may be. Um certainly big shoes to fill for city managers who have come uh well before me, but I want to recognize Dave's three years of service to the city and uh the opportunity I had to work alongside him. But also, I want to thank you for entrusting me uh and putting your faith and your confidence in me. Um I'll do my best every day to live up to it, but that's not to say I'm not going to need you and your support and your feedback and communication that I know uh we enjoy so equally together. Um but also you mentioned um assistant city manager Ed Cell, um Dr. Everly, Mr. buds, you know, certainly relying on their strength and expertise, but every single person who works in this city provides great value in the work that they do. Uh, and I'm fortunate to just be one piece of it. And, um, I also want to recognize, uh, you made a lot of comments tonight about the work that the economic and community development uh, department are doing. I want to say it's not just our department, but we work alongside every single department to carry those things forward. and it's

been uh great collaboration, great teamwork, but also Matt is here tonight. So, I'm especially grateful for your comments that he could hear them uh because he's led so many of these things forward and and brought the staff together to carry uh your goals and your priorities and your objectives across the finish line or at least start uh the race to get those across the finish line. So, uh thank you for supporting him and his position uh and his growth here at the city that we've certainly uh seen in his time here. So, I'm I'm just expressing my gratitude to you and I look forward to working uh closer together with you and also the staff and the residents in in this capacity.

Thank you. Um next is citizens comments. So, uh, citizens comments for those those present here this evening wish to make comments just ask you you step forward state your jurisdiction or residence um your name and uh jurisdiction residence and mindful the rules of three minutes please. Those here present this evening wish to make comments. I don't I don't think that's the case. Please please stop step forward.

All right. Hello. My name is Christian Bukazovich. I live here in Monroe. I'm running to be your next representative for the US House of Representatives against Tim Wahberg in the election this November. And I just wanted to introduce myself, tell you that I'm here, and I'll be sticking around afterwards to answer any questions you have and talk about the issues that matter most to you. So, I hope to have a chance to talk. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. And as we and stay around for a minute.

Oh, okay. Great. you do that uh no I say when after I'll see you after but uh when we ask we get uh those that run for office that come here and and what you said is exactly how it's appropriate to say who you are and that way people get to see you you're not saying a platform you're not saying all the good things you'll do and I I guess I appreciate the knowing that's what it's for here at public meeting is just to introduct as an introduction like we would our current representatives or who it may be or those are running we just ask that you say hello who you are and that this is what you're doing so That does serve the purpose. I appreciate that for keeping it. No problem. I appreciate brevity myself. This is the people's time and my time will be out in the hall. Okay. All right. Thanks.

All right. Thank you. Other comments from most president here. Yes, sir. Please step forward. Name, jurisdiction, residents, and three minutes. Uh Omar Ferdin, city resident. I just wanted to come up here. Everybody comes complains and all that. You guys always have rough jobs. Um I was excited to hear about the storm drains and or trees community all that. Um, I wish more people were here to see that. I'll be happy to tell people that when I run around the neighborhood. So, thank you guys. That's all I wanted to say. Go team go. Thanks, Omar. Appreciate it. Other comments from those present here this evening. Any further comments? Oh, we have one more.

Hello. I know it's probably weird to see me up here because I'm usually in my dark AV room, but good evening, honorable mayor, city council, clerk Lavoy, um acting city manager Cochran, and attorney Buds. My name is Genevie Benson. I'm the creative director of a small 501c3 organization. It's really a hidden gem. Um living on the third floor of city hall, actually. Uh most people will recognize our nonprofit as Impact or Monroe Public Access Cable Television. Well, I'm really excited to let you all know that we have changed to Monroe Community Media and I know that Mark uh referenced that earlier in the work session this evening and I'm super grateful for all the kind words that you said about us. We appreciate our collaboration with the city. Um so with this change uh has come a revitalization um of our mission which is and has always been media education for the community. Um, we provide free and affordable services to local nonprofits, local businesses, and residents here in Monroe County. Um, in other words, we're a maker space. Um, and we're a media archive for Monroe County. Um, we have our own community radio station, emphasis on community. Um, we also have, of course, our own public access channels on cable. I'd really love to encourage everyone here in city council and also everyone here attending the meeting tonight um to please take advantage of our resources. Um, you can either start your own radio show, you can do a podcast, you can do a TV show, documentary series, whatever you want to do, whether you're representing the city as a um um as a sorry, elected official or as an individual. If you want to share your passion like your favorite music or hunting or painting, whatever you want to do, the sky is really the limit in terms of creativity and we provide the tools for that. Um, like I

said before, we're super grateful to be in close partnership with the city of Monroe. Um, in fact, Jod Egan actually sits on our board of directors. Um, I love working with her and the communications team here. Um, I've actually worked on the ALCC expansion series. Um, as well as a bunch of other media projects uh that really highlight the great work that you all do. So, if you want to learn more about um what kind of projects you can do with us, uh, you can go to our new website, enroll community.org. you can watch our introduction video that I made. Um you might find it inspiring and um if you have any community events that you want to share, you can come to our radio station and do it for free. So just wanted to share that with you guys. Thank you.

Thanks, Jim. That's fabulous. Thank you. Other comments from those present here this evening. Any final comments? Seeing none. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion from Councilman Gerainy supported by Councilman Felder to adjourn. Clerk, please call the role. Counci, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Bing. Yes. Mayor Clark. Yes. Thank you all for being here and those that are are watching. Good evening.