City Council - Special Meeting

Call this city council special meeting to order. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham here. Felder here. Here. Stillgrave here. Vining. Geriney here. Here. item is the next item is any public comment. Thank you. Are there any uh public comment here this evening? Any public comments from those present? Seeing none. Uh next item, clerk. The next item is under our special meeting item item 5895 city manager transition and succession discussion. Thank you. Uh acting manager Cochran if you would uh introduce us please.

Sure. Uh good evening everybody. Um, so following the retirement of David Robinson two weeks ago and following uh your appointment uh to name me as uh acting city manager, the commitment and the next step in the process would be to have a discussion about the the next steps toward filling that uh position permanently. And so uh this evening, Dr. Julie Everly is going to uh present uh an overview of the possible well as some recommendations on the next step forward uh for review and discussion. Thank you, Dr. Everly.

Good evening, honorable mayor, councel, clerk Lavoy, and attorney Buds and acting manager Cochran. Thank you for having me here. Uh, as you can see, uh, we're going to be walking through a number of slides tonight and just to invite you into a conversation about the next steps we take uh, with our city manager succession. So the conversation tonight is has really four key purposes and I wanted to highlight those as we get started. So I think it's really important that we define and take a look at our starting point what has happened in the last two weeks as you appointed the acting city manager. Uh then we'll look through uh our job description of the city manager and the last profile that was created. Uh and that really highlighted the qualities that the city council was looking for in a city manager and then we'll take a look at some options to move forward with. there really although there are variations within each option there are three key options that we'll we'll explore tonight and then uh on to recommended next steps. So uh I do have a a recommendation as to which option uh looks to align with where we're at right now and I'd like to invite you into a conversation to discuss that as well. So any any questions about our four key purposes for this evening?

See young please go.

Okay. So uh when we look at what brought us here tonight, two weeks ago, uh council acted upon uh the retirement of our city manager, David Robinson. And at that point in time, you also per our charter uh appointed an acting city manager and that was Mr. Cochran. So from that point on uh there have been operations uh as there normally would be in the city. So operations have been very very stable. there's been a great deal of continuity and I would even go as far to say we continue to thrive uh in the departments all over the city. So also uh with a starting point whenever we have a vacancy we either look toward our policy or in the case of the city manager we would look at our charter and it's a great time to remind council that by charter uh you do have a great deal of discretion and variance when it comes to filling the vacancy of the city manager. So the methodology that's used, the process that is used is truly uh going to be generated through your conversation. So I wanted to highlight uh a lot of what we're going to talk about tonight follows suit with all the hiring that we're doing throughout the city. Um we use a very collaborative approach. Um all of the department heads are always involved in any hiring that happens in their department. Uh we're guided by a hiring policy and uh from there we collect applications, resumeumés, we do

screenings, we have uh several by the time someone gets hired we've really had the opportunity to take a very indepth look at them. Uh we've had phone screenings, skill testing, panel interviews, performance tasks where we actually see them in the environment that they would be working um in. Many times there are onsite tours and tasks and then a final vetting. So this process although although the process for selection of a city manager could be slightly different I think there are elements of this process that we use every day that you'll notice in the presentation tonight and in addition to our policies and our practices and protocols we always always look at and look toward your goals and objectives. With every single hire we make and every decision we make, we always I often use the uh term brick by brick. Every decision is intentional and deliberate. Brick by brick, we get closer every day to accomplishing the goals and objectives that you've set forth. And specifically, although hiring and the staff we we create touches every single goal area and every objective, specifically when we look at selection processes and uh how we how we initiate those and plan those, we really think about goal number goal number five. uh the one that's to the far right. So the starting point tonight is really uh in the view of u a human resources

view, organizational development view, it's really a celebration of u an internal bench that was very strong. the two weeks ago when you um accepted the uh retirement plan of the then city manager, you were presented by Mr. Buds with some options and those were internal options. So really the best um the best sign of success is when you have a very deep bench of internal talent who can do precisely what you've seen over the last two weeks where you have that operational continuity. Uh many times transitions can be vulnerable times and we certainly want to be sensitive to what a transition brings. But with a very deep bench of talent, an organization can really maintain operations and that's exactly what has happened here. Uh so reason uh to celebrate your progress on goal number five um at this time. So I know it was a very busy time for you as well and you were making a lot of decisions. So, we wanted to um to help you to engage in some conversation around where we're at right now and the starting point. Uh and we're eager uh to hear your thoughts throughout the presentation tonight and to hear what your thoughts are, what the perception is to you about the organization and being ready for this transition. And is there anything that you've been thinking about over the last uh weeks regarding the planning and this discussion and what a successful succession looks like

for the city manager position. So I'll turn it over to you mayor for

sure. I'll see if there's any thoughts from the council. I mean as uh Dr. Everly's presenting this there's periodic opportunities for some input and questions and answers. So, uh, we we did briefly kind of chat about this and knowing that, um, we're here. I know I had some conversations and I think that, uh, uh, about there's a variety of processes, you know, about the organizational readiness and preparedness, it says, and what's the planning decision, but what do we look for and what you might be looking for as priorities and trying to give some input and feedback that uh, we may have. Just for some background, I would say that yeah that some have on the board have also council have made uh uh this process and been participant of it before and uh I think the first time that uh I was engaged with that here in the city. uh the personnel committee stepped in and did that. And then of course the second one we turned it over to the human resources and went through that part with a uh uh both involved a search process. So

let's see if there's any thoughts and I'm assuming that's what you're looking for, right? Any thoughts that they may have right now? Anybody thoughts?

I know it's early. There's more that we're going to have. So So I I bring up the examples only for a foundation. There's not one way in which these are done. I think different communities have different opportunities. I think I might have mentioned this last meeting, you know, the uh there's external um companies that do this. There's uh governmental uh entities like the Michigan Municipal League. But I think about where we have and I thought what Dr. Everly said is we have a strong uh um department heads and managers that are managing here in since the the our transition. And so, you know, the time sometimes is urgent and sometimes it's not as urgent. I think that's part of what we should be thinking about as well. Uh I think back to the first time that involved it was there was some urgency. I know that Mr. Cell was the acting uh city manager at the time, but we would our structure was a lot different back then and our structure was different as far as personnel and there was more of an urgency then. I I look forward to hearing what we have. I don't know that that's necessarily the case but as we hear more you have to uh we can provide input on that so we so where we go so I don't see any so if you want to continue

very good thanks so I think the key piece to remember about where we're starting the conversation is that is a position of strength so you have an acting city manager operations are continuing and you have uh an administration group and a staff who are already oriented toward your goals with plans and strategies to achieve them. So it as we move forward brick by brick here uh you have in front of you a copy of the city manager job description. And so with any as you look toward a an acting um an acting filling of a vacancy, an interim filling of a vacancy or a permanent filling of a vacancy, you're the work is always still the work. So you want to really start as one of your building blocks with a job description. And this was um this is the current city manager job description. and it's formatted like all of our job descriptions in the city of Monroe. And it's a contains three pages, but highlighted are the essential skills and qualifications um that are really necessary for success in the role. And from the job description uh during the at the last point in time that we did a search for a city manager, we also took that job description with council's uh input and we created from there a profile of we said what does uh what are

the qualities that a city manager candidate the ideal candidate would bring to the city of Monroe? And we had several sessions on on that and to and we refined we started with many many many ideas um and having conversations with each of you and we narrowed them down to some common themes that are on the screen uh here for you to look at. And even at that time um we knew as with any profile for any position that the needs of an organization change. So what we what we have here is a working profile because it is meant to be revisited and changed and updated. So uh the key pieces of this profile are being a visionary, being serviceoriented, a communicator, someone who brings a shared leadership style and can lift other leaders up to be their best, someone with a municipal proficiency. uh we knew that there's no one candidate that's going to come to you and have worked in every department of a city or of a county. So, but we need them to have municipal proficiency and understand how local government works. Uh we wanted to make sure that the candidate was systemic um and routine so that they had routines and rituals and they were really easy for people to follow. A collaborator, someone who could really bring people together and help them own the work together and be relationship centered. Uh what we know in our community as well as many other

communities um is that relationships really are a key fuel to any to making any initiative work. So uh then we said they need to be he or she needs to be strategic and so they understand that the decision that's in front of them is it might be shortterm but it's going to be a domino effect to many other decisions to come uh needed to be creatively resourceful and I remember this specifically in some of our conversations. They could get things done. they knew how to to garner resources to make things happen. And we wanted someone who creates belonging. So, uh it added and and built on your efforts in the community that you're uh working towards and be inspirational. So, we know that there are times when everyone's really excited about decisions that a leader has to make and there are sometimes that it's not as there's not as much excitement. But we definitely uh council at that time it was important in the profile that even in those times when it was hard for people to understand that you wanted a leader for the city of Monroe who could bring promise and hope and reason to what was happening. So those two key pieces are the pieces that we we uh have established and then from those two key pieces we move forward into what what could this process of getting started look like. But I wanted to stop again. There's some certainly some questions that aren't meant to be limiting uh but just to be a springboard, but just to check in with

you. I don't want to get too far ahead and not give you the opportunity for your discussion and thoughts. So, I'll pause for a moment.

Sure. Thank you. Uh any thoughts from council? I I know that uh there's a lot of information here, but it's things that we've uh gone through. I think about the last uh the three years on our the the process we followed on uh performance reviews and how we uh looked at not only those questions but look at those um kind of the profile topics that we have here. So as we look at the screen, you know, there's some things or questions there, but is what do we think the way for council to observe and assess u profile competencies in a prospective uh manager? I will say I looked at the looking at the profile know we've had it before looking at it again now. Um the it's a broader sense of what you're kind of casting in that out or looking for. And then I thought about the um employment agreement got down to some detail and finite things specificness that we may have wanted that were in uh uh um um the contract so to speak. So you know I think of this in a large sense and then as as that search comes to be and as we have a person there are some specific things that may be asked in that sense. That's just my one comment about uh when you look at the profile, the profile is real broad because you're looking and then the when we find it then you have to be specific. Questions or comments or thoughts from council?

I think they're still taking it all in. It's okay. We'll move forward.

Okay. Very good. Thank you. So when we look at the process uh with the tools that we've already highlighted, there are three key approaches, three key options and pathways that um that you could take and really within each pathway there's a great number of decisions uh and conversation that would would have to take place. So, one option because you have you currently have an acting city manager, uh you could entertain what we would call an intentional interim period, which is different than the acting period. The acting period was designed um certainly we have the impression that it was put in the charter as it was because you never want the organization to go without a a point person with that city manager authority and you took action right away like the charter said and at your last regular meeting you appointed that acting manager. This is slightly different in that you could entertain and discuss having an an intentional interim period and really elongate uh a period of time where there's an interim uh an interim leader interim city manager in place. Option two is uh really about an immediate search and hiring where you have the acting manager in place and you would want to launch an executive search and we're going to talk about that a little bit more. And then option three is more of a combined approach where you'd have that interim period followed

by a planned search period. The key the key piece to remember here uh and I I can't stress I talk with HR municipal HR leaders uh we have all sorts of list serves where we ask questions and through MML we we have networks and you're in a place you know certainly with any vacancy there comes a natural sense of urgency that comes from the responsibility that you you inherently have as council members. However, here in our situation, because you have an acting manager with a lot of talent um of an in in uh knowledge of the organization, it really brings down that urgency that you have. So, you're really positioned from a place of strength instead of a a place of urgency. So, let's talk about an intentional interim period. So a deliberate interim period is a strategy. So rather than um thinking of it as we're going to just fill this vacancy for a short amount of time, it's a it's a very deliberate strategy. And one of the things that it does um amongst many is it allows you more time to think about some of those pieces we've just talked about. It allows you more time to think in depth about the job description, about the profile, uh about some of those questions that were posed about is there one particular trait or skill set that the manager, the next manager in this next season for the city really you need uh that to be at the at the forefront and prioritized. uh it really does uh reduce the chance

because of that slowing down and uh taking a little bit more time to move through these pieces. It reduces the chance of of a mishhire at all. And I think also there's uh there's great value in the sense of regulating the organization. So when you're in the position that you're in and things are moving along productively, efficiently, and effectively, you can use this time to uh allow the organization to not experience the turbulence that sometimes is experienced when things are changing very rapidly. And then of course you you will build time frames and expectations and evaluation around an interim period because as we've discussed before council is there your uh your job is to evaluate the city manager or whomever is acting in that role. So we we mentioned the stabilization that can come with an intentional interim period. This is um often organizations are using this strategy. It's not um it's not unheard of at all when it comes to organizations. In fact, sometimes an organization will even bring if there's no internal interim candidates, they may even bring an external in uh interim candidate. That's not the case here, but it's valued as a strategy that much. It allows you the time to reassess, have that in-depth conversation. So, option two, option two would be the immediate hiring and search. So, we

would want to uh mayor uh reference some some history of filling this vacancy. Uh there once was a format where a personnel committee handled it. Uh there's been a format where the entire council has been part of the hiring process. There are times when it's a facilitated search and a person is hired to come in and conduct the search. So those are all options uh for you to think about. It involves both involve actually timelines that would be have to be established by both and both would involve updating the competencies if you want any changes to the job description that would be important as well. So before we move on to option three, which is really more of a blend of both options one and two, uh I thought it would be helpful to check in with you um on options one and two to see if you have any thoughts on those or if you um see any strengths or weaknesses of those approaches.

Thank you. Any thoughts or questions from council um on the obviously you know the first two that were presented as possible uh options or at least for conversation or consideration.

Oh Michelle gonna say anything um I am comfortable with option one right now. I first I want to know is do we have an interest because I have not heard either way. Um but with option one right now I think we can continue to learn um the behaviors that we want to see. I don't have a timeline on that of course but um yeah I think that's a good way to start for right now if everybody else is comfortable with that. Okay.

Comments or questions or thoughts? It's kind of quiet. I I made a comment earlier. I'm going to kind of go back that uh again to the one of the first searches. There was an urgency and I think that that that really kind of moved forward to do an uh immediate search. I I don't feel that same urgency uh only because I know that uh what we as a a council and as a staff has have built over the years knowing that we have uh uh the department managers that are are doing well and some have stepped up and the employees be um u after them have stepped up you know the I' I'd be looking to take more time in consideration I um rather than just kind of throwing the net out for a a large search uh until we really get some more information. I and see how there we're progressing. Obviously, if the urgency came up, then we'd have to reconvene and consider that, but I don't see that happening. Um I'm close to where Michelle's at. I think the same. I think it, you know, the interim allows us to continue. I think that where we are also in our term starting in the first part of the term we're just kind of getting into some of our goals and objectives some have been achieved others are the priority and and I think making a transition we could all a sudden get a a different concept or thought process that might start to have that conversation with council about the goals and objectives. I mean, we'd almost start over where I think we have a good start for the year here. We're, you know, five almost five month five four months in plus. And I think that um we we have the time to do this during this term of office for all of us that I think will keep keep us on track. I think if not, I think transitioning at

this time with a search I think would be um everybody would take a pause on some things. I think about our employees. I think they are continuing very well uh in in the duties. I think about us as council we may we our focus could be totally different of you know then trying you know interviews and process and gives us a time also with our um the uh uh acting manager and and uh those um see those responses and duties as well. So, that's kind of where I'm at. I think that it's probably a little premature to do a search, but that's just my thought. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, Mike, just want to say I agree wholeheartedly um not only in the staff, but the acting city manager. Um, I think there's no need to rush into anything. I think we're fully uh have a confident staff to keep the day-to-day operations going. Other thoughts? Oh, Deb, go ahead, please. So, do we know if Mark is interested in this?

So, that's a that's a great question. And actually, um, as we as as I was doing some planning for the conversation, I anticipated you might ask that question. So, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Mr. Cochran and you much like you heard in the last meeting uh when Mr. Buds was talking about the options you had between Mr. Cell and Mr. Cochran and everybody's willingness but Mr. Cochran uh being the one who stepped up at that time. Mr. Cochran is very willing to um to entertain an interim period for uh interestingly in our conversation it was very much for a lot of the same reasons that you've mentioned regarding the goals the objectives the momentum the orientation toward progress so yes

other thoughts or questions I as we continue I see the screen is on to three but just so we get all of that what's being presented before we go further. Thank you.

Sure. Sure. So I think this uh brings us really naturally to a point in the conversation where uh how do these they don't have to be done in isolation. They could be blended and it's very commonly especially when there's internal stability in leadership. It's very common that there is a blended model that an organization can put forward. So this combined approach really uh takes an intentional interim period but puts a backs stop of time to it to then you could define what a search would look like after that or what does the transition look like after that interim approach. So you bring the strengths of both options uh one and two together into this blended uh more of a hybrid type of option. So this might be an example of what it it looks like. It is an example of what a a combined approach looks like. So in May, you could declare that uh there's a city manager succession structure that's going to be a defined interim period followed by at the end of that interim period there would be a decision made regarding how we move forward um with the hiring process. So you would uh look at this period between now and the end of the calendar year and that keeps us in a cycle with uh how the city manager evaluation would typically work. It worked on a calendar year. uh if an interim was appointed, you'd have the time and the space that Councilwoman Gerinei was speaking of to really observe and study, ask questions, ask for more information if you needed

more information to be ready for that decision that you would be making at the end of the calendar year in December. And then it would put us it uh prior to the new year in 2027 really having that plan all really built out so that we would know exactly how we would be heading into that next chapter for the city. Many benefits that we've already discussed and some so many that you have uh brought up. Uh it would also allow us, we're in the middle of a wage and compensation study. Um as you know from our previous conversations, it allows that also to be completed. The city manager role is one of those uh positions in that study. So you would also have that uh market competitiveness uh uh information to also look at. We also uh in addition we we talked about progress and operations being smooth. We have a pretty big project uh amongst many other big projects with bargaining that's going to be um happening. And again the continuity that that mayor spoke of is only an asset during during any kind of collective negotiation time. And it also allows you uh it like an external search would allow you to uh really evaluate candidates through their materials that they turn into you. You can have the opportunity to evaluate internal candidates uh by what what you'll be experiencing um as city council and with an interim manager uh working you just like in our other hiring processes. We often bring the candidates in to do uh to do exercises, performance exercises or

invite them in to the office environments or the plant environments so that they can be part of that experience and that's part of their evaluation. This approach would give you the opportunity to do the same and we find that very valuable. So uh with our recommendation as far as how to move forward evaluating the organization evaluating uh what we see both in the market and internally uh we do think I I believe the combined approach is an approach for council to really uh have some discussion and thought over. Uh again going back to the gift of not being in an urgent situation and having operations continue. Uh certainly all the work we've done with the restructuring and having the city manager and two assistant managers and then in every department trying to build succession planning. Uh this interim approach really is very similar to uh when you think about our conversations about water and the water department and the utilities and having that assistant and interims within there. It's so this is not uncommon. It's just a different area to think about it in. So some draft steps for the combined approach for you to consider uh would be looking at continuing with that calendar year uh routine that we've developed for the evaluation period of the city manager. uh council could entertain appointing an interim city manager with the same job description. Um and a it would there would be an employment

agreement uh that you would have to approve uh for an interim manager. You uh would have to authorize myself and attorney buds to uh move forward in generating that interim employment agreement. uh then we'd bring all of that back to you as we do with any non-union hire. So after that if you were to make that decision at at the subsequent meeting you would see on the agenda the resolution for that employment agreement and you would have the opportunity to consider it at that time. Uh then during that interim time there would be uh routines built around city manager council communication. Uh we could look at the end of the quarter. Uh that typically would have been a checkpoint for an a manager evaluation. We could look at it as a time to have conversation uh for you to let the interim manager know what's going well uh what you'd like to see adjusted and have a great dialogue there. Uh that in the end could inform a hiring process very much. Uh and then we could near the end of the calendar year uh or if council decided in a different timeline even before that could decide what the next steps formally need to be uh for the hiring and and timeline for onboarding of the next city manager. So, that's a draft of what um what it could look like and that is our recommendation um this evening. But again, we would love to hear what you what your thoughts are and certainly are open to adjusting that uh to meet your needs.

Thank you. Uh any comments or questions from council? Uh Kathy, so I agree with um not looking at number two at the moment. Um I feel comfortable with one or three but in three do we have to define what that um like window is that you talked about you know like the interim till the end of the year. Is that something that we have to make a decision on now or can we say it'll be interim for the next two months and then we'll re-evaluate if we want to extend it?

You you could set up um it's really council's prerogative as to how you would set that up. I would recommend that um if there's not a a set back stop that there's you know defined intervals to check in

other questions or comments. So Kathy on your point I think I think that because you know if you set a a time frame as was uh stated here one thing I did like in the process was there is the evaluation period of time and I think it in in interim is and there there's if I'm understand correctly there's still going to be kind of a contractual relationship for the interim and it'll be an interim versus a manager hire. It's a there's no acting title but it is interim and we set the time frame for what we think is going to be that we want to evaluate in that doesn't mean we have to you said too much in say okay I I need to I need to look at this differently I think that's always an option that the council has it's not something that we give away with a time frame just but we are setting a time frame for a contractual relationship and I think as Dr. early said would kind of has it. It's the back stop.

If I may, mayor, um also I would indicual relationship that mayor was speaking of if uh the contractual relationship ever council wanted to extend it so that it went further into say 2027 for for as an example. uh as long as it was mutually agreed upon by both both parties, that's certainly a lot of flexibility there. Michelle,

what would a say a quarterly evaluation look like? Is it different from what we went through with the city manager at the time or would it be similar to that?

No, I think it could look different in an interim period. Most definitely. And actually even the um even the evaluation that we had done in 2026, we were ready to make some uh talk together and make some revisions to that. So I think the process is very open-ended one and I think the most important qualities of those check-ins are that you're getting the information and and the communication that you need and be it a permanent city manager or an interim they're getting the information and communication that they need to meet your goals. Other questions, comments? Um,

okay. We'll see if there's others. Oh, I'm sorry. Deb, we to the end of the presentation. We are. So, I'm I'm all in agreement to take this to the end of the year. I think it will benefit not only us but the citizens of our um of the city and I'd like to see that put on next.

So I got I guess a question to that then uh the time frame gets us to as you I think pointed out well through the year. Um but as a combination it doesn't mean that uh if the council wanted to even with that started to think we may get to the end of that time frame we want to be prepared for a search that we're not just waiting till the end of the year that there may be something that with council's input of what that might look like if um ch if it we would choose to do so at the end of the interim period. Right. Absolutely. We're not just going to wait. We we because you said and you talked about the items that were going on, but it allows for that. I know it's one of those pages there.

Yeah. It says about, you know, you you start some of the process, start some of the f the groundwork uh without putting um to where you're going to just post it. It's it's having an idea. I think you I think I appreciate you saying you're reviewing the um uh performance review uh structure we had. I think there's some adjustments we can make there as well. I know it's uh um there's a lot to it and and maybe that could be somewhat streamlined in the fashion how we do those as well. So I think there's things we can do in interim. Deb, I agree with you. I think that you know the time frame is right for the for me anyways when I look at having a um an interim

knowing that there's other things that still will go on. I think that um we could, you know, every couple months take a look at how things are progressing and have the communication, you know, and uh and if we find that it's it's not working for us or what have you, then maybe, you know, have a talk with uh Julie and go from there. But I I kind of don't think that's gonna be necessary. But you know, I think I think this is always a good thing in any um any corporation or company that you know, succession is always a good thing.

And um I think I'm pretty confident with uh Mark's ability.

I appreciate you saying that because I know that we talk about secession planning, it's been in our goals and objectives of the past couple terms and how important I think and how we've had success because of that. I I think of uh Councilman Felder and Andrew talking about but as we um face this is what's our plan, right? And so you want to know where you're going otherwise if you don't know where you're going then you're making decisions just kind of in the short term. This allows for a a longer term through the year decision but doesn't give up the the groundwork so to speak for what that plan may look like uh at the end of the year. And it could be a continuence. It could be um we have a structure. It could be a search. It could not be a search. It could be something that's uh changed to where the what we're we're going to put out as that that the uh acting manager says, "Well, thanks." But I think uh you know what you put out is not maybe where I'm I'm at either. So all those things I think get discussed. But I agree with you, Deb. think that we're in a good position to be able to at least get through the year knowing that we have our our opportunities to have the input and if we so desire that's the council's decision to say when we um decide to transition but I think it's important to have a um that thought process of where we're going to be at the time frame that we get there at the end of the year and that's the planning process at least uh keeping that in the forefront as we go forward

right in a lot of our strategic planning that we do around your goals and objectives. We start with uh we talk a lot about timelines on projects and it's so important for us internally what we find is to have a timeline from which to be flexible. So we have that framework and then if we need to be flexible and compress it or you know elongate it then at least we've had that what we've intended to and that's our starting point. But m mayor you're absolutely um in terms of starting from the position of strength and council having that flexibility either way you absolutely have that. Other questions or comments?

Yeah, Kelly. Thank you, director. I might have missed this if you brought it up. Um, number four on the draft for combined approach council interim city manager communication. Can you explain that to me a little bit? Is it just communicating steps one through three or is it us communicating with each other?

Yep. No, I'm glad you asked. So once once an interim an intentional interim period is put into place, uh you'll want to work with the manager and the and the interim manager um I think has already established some communication patterns with council and so to give the interim manager feedback on those communications, what you like about them, if you need them adjusted at all. We want to make sure you have a time to talk with the manager about that. So, it would be uh in this scenario, May through December, we would want we threw out the idea of quarterly check-ins. It could be more frequent. It could be less frequent. You may be checking in in a different way, but that's what's meant by ongoing council interim city manager communication. Okay.

Thank you. You're welcome. see any other. So, Deb, I just want to go back to you because you you uh made a comment about wanting to to move forward. Okay. So, it's really up to the council then is what when we do that is correct. That's correct. It could come as uh quickly as this evening. I know it's not on the agenda, but it could be.

Yes, that's correct. I kind of think from hearing everybody the conversations and that I think that we're all in agreement to uh you know put this on the our next our 7:30 meeting and uh go from there and making mark the interim till the end of the year or you know until we take all the steps that are necessary. because I I know the clerk well and the city attorney um I guess if that's uh an item as we get there we'll get some guidance there as well how that's done if uh as we move forward. All right there's no other questions unless Mr. Budge had something for right now.

I do not I can uh talk about when we get to the 7:30 meeting a a motion if there's a desire for that for some language. Well, thank you everyone and uh that's the first part of our special meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Everly. Appreciate it. Um Clerk Lavoya, we have a a second item here this evening for our special meeting. Yes, we do. We have um consider consideration to enter into a closed executive session for the purpose of labor negotiations. Okay. Um I'll just look at Mr. Buds. Other than what it says, that's what you're looking for as a motion. Correct. And that would be an appropriate motion. Okay. It's to councils for a motion, your honor. Yes. Council,

I'd like to make a motion that we go into closed executive session for the purpose of labor negotiations. Motion by Councilman Felder, supported by councilwoman Stringham to go into closed executive session for neg uh labor negotiations. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham? Yes. Felder? Yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor Clark, yes.

Need a motion to go back into open session? Your honor, I'll make a motion that we go back into open session. There's a motion by Councilman Felder, supported by Councilwoman Gerine to go back into open session. Uh, all in favor say I. I. We do have a quorum. And, uh, we need a motion to adjourn the special meeting. I'll make a motion to adjourn the special meeting. Support. Motion by Councilman Felders board by Councilman Hater to go uh uh I'm sorry to adjourn the special meeting. Um I can call real quick. Uh Council Person Stringham. Felder. Yes. Yes. Still, yes. Bining. Yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor Clark,

yes. And Stringham to adjourn. Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you. We're adjourned and we have about two minutes before the 7:30 council meeting.

Since we finished up this special meeting earlier in these uh some moments, at this time I'll call the city council meeting to order. Clerk, please call the role. Council person here. Felder here. Here. Sgrave here. Bining here. Geriney here. Mayor Clark here. I'd ask we all please rise for the invocation. Remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

We join together this evening and work together to bring prosperity and forward momentum to all in our community. 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 item, please. The next item is the approval of the regular agenda. Um, acting manager Robert Cochran. This have uh I did that last week and I'm not going to do it again. Mr. Cochran, administration has no updates for the agenda this evening. Any items from the agenda for council? Uh, Councilwoman Stelgrief. Um, I move that we approve the agenda as presented with an additional item, the appointment of the interim city manager as the final item on council action board.

There's um any other comments from the agenda? Okay, there's a motion to approve the regular agenda from Councilwoman Stillg by Councilman her with the addition of putting a uh action item at the conclusion of the meeting regarding the uh uh city I'm sorry interim city manager position. Correct. Mr. Buds, that suffice. Okay, any questions? Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham? Yes. Felder? Yes. her. Yes. Still, yes. Bining, yes. Germaine, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please.

The next item is the consent agenda. And for item B, approval of payments to vendors, the amount should read 1,356,136.131356136.13.

Thank you. Are there any items on the consent agenda the council wishes to have pulled for further discussion? Items from city council. Any items on the consent agenda those present here this evening wish to have pulled for further discussion. Items on the consent agenda if not pulled for dis uh if they are pulled for discussion would go to the conclusion of the meeting to have um discussion from those present. If not all the items on the consent agenda will be passed within one motion. So, any items on the consent agenda? Uh, those present here this evening wish to have post further discussion. Seeing none, uh, motion would be in order. Uh, Councilman Felder. Yes,

make a motion that all items on the consent agenda be accepted, placed on file, recommendations carried out, resolutions adopted. support motion by Councilman Felder, supported by Councilman Stringham that all items on the consent agenda be accepted, placed on file, recommendations carried out, and resolutions adopted. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Germaine, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. The next item on the agenda is under presentations, communications, and public hearings, item 5871, historic district commission annual report. Thank you, Acting Manager Cochran.

Uh yes. So, uh in the enabling ordinance that established the historic district commission, they're required by July of every year to provide city council with an overview of their activities from the prior year. Um, and so at the the April meeting of the historic district commission, they reviewed the report that's included in your agenda this evening, uh, and approve that to pass on to you just for, uh, as a communication to you. Thank you. No discussion. Uh, clerk, next item. Um, I just want to clarify. So, we don't need a motion to accept that. It was on the agenda. So, I just want to double check it.

It's on there with a item to say movement to accept and place on file. So, I think a motion to do so. So, we need a motion regarding historic district commission annual report. Uh, Councilman hat her. I make a motion to accept and place on file the 2025 historic district commission annual report. A motion by Councilman her support by Councilwoman Vining on the historic district commission annual report to be accepted. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Straham. Yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Germaine, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please.

The next item is item 58.885, public hearing on the proposed CDBG 2026 2031 consolidated plan in 2026 through 2027 annual action plan.

Thank you. Uh, acting manager Cochran, any comments? If not, I'll start the public meeting. Uh just an introduction uh to the item is what the the purpose of the public hearing is. So uh as council's aware, every year we receive an allocation through the community development block grant uh program through uh HUD, the Federal Housing and Urban Development Administration. Um and there are certain parameters and uses for what we can use those funds for. So part of the process that we're required to follow uh as part of our annual allocation is to have two public hearings um on both the consolidated plan which outlines the program goals for the next 5 years uh as well as the annual action plan which lays out how we plan to use the funds for the upcoming program year. Uh and so we did hold the first public hearing on March 16th. So, tonight's the final public hearing before consideration of approving both of those documents in the under council action.

Very good. At this time, I'll open the public hearing on item 5885, public hearing for the proposed CDBG 2026 2031 consolidated plan and the 2026 2027 annual action plan. Any comments here this evening regarding this public hearing? Yes, sir. Please step forward and your name and jurisdiction of residents. Okay. Casper Monday, 712 West 6th Street, Monro, Michigan. I just want to ask you a question about that consolidated plan. What are they planning on doing there? Building buildings or something?

Acting manager. uh you speaking of HUD. So

yes sir. Um, so the consolidated plan lays out there are certain broad uses which we can use those funds for in accordance with the HUD guidelines. And generally what we have dedicated those funds for is homelessness prevention and using funds for eviction prevention and foreclosure prevention funds uh through both uh Mineral County Opportunity Program and Legal Services of South Central Michigan to help support those who may be facing those uh situations. We also have the fix program which is a home rehabilitation program where we work with uh property owners to rehabilitate their homes and direct a certain amount of funds for that uh use. And then we also have a a a down payment assistance program that we provide um future homeowners with down payment assistance for their fe purchase of their future house. And then we also um we do have funds that are available for public infrastructure improvements within qualified census tracks. And so we look at things uh like streets, roads, alleyways improvements, sidewalks, and park improvements within those uh permitted areas as well.

Okay. There's another question I want to ask about that HUD money. Is that going for you said you could use it for other funds and things. Is that going for homeless people or what?

So, what it's what we use it for is homeless prevention, which is those who may be facing uh eviction or foreclosure. We fund directly legal services of South Central Michigan and also Minro County opportun opportunity program to help support those individuals. But we don't provide uh direct assistance to individuals through the city. We help fund the agencies who address those issues. Well, I don't know. It sounds a little fuzzy to me. Thank you. Comments. Other comments for the public hearing? Councilwoman Viney,

acting city manager, we um had talked in the past about um developing a process for the firsttime uh home buyer assistance. had we uh completed that at this point.

So, we've begun to stand up the program and develop the program regulations uh and procedures for that. It is available. Um however, at this point, because we allocate funds primarily to public services, which are the agencies that we help support in infrastructure, uh there is a smaller amount that we can offer for down payment assistance, and oftent times the need is a little larger. So, we've been saving up funds to help make that program more impactful. Um, and I know uh Caitlyn McBri is our uh CDBG guru uh that we have in our department. Also, the struggle is the cap that we have on public services and those uh direct funds that we can provide to residents for support is capped at only 15% of our annual allocation. So, we're very limited into how much we can fund that program. Um but we do um I know uh deputy director Vanna Sacker and Caitlyn have worked with uh lending institutions to help make them aware of the procedure as well. So still a bit in the process of standing it up and publishing those uh procedures but also the smaller amount it's been harder for people to take advantage of those funds too. So just for clarification, there is no application process at this time and we're working to save that pot so that money rolls over.

Correct. Yep. Okay. So are are you targeting around the $10,000 mark like most institutions are doing? Mhm. Okay. any idea um when um with the the HUD app uh appropriation that we received this year? Thank you.

Any other comments for the public hearing? I'll close the public hearing. Clerk, next item, please. The next item is um under council action item 58.886 2026 2031 CDBG consolidated plan and 2026 27 annual action plan adoption. Thank you. Uh actor manager Cochran, anything additional?

Uh just one item in the fact sheet that was in the agenda uh this evening. It it mentioned that we hadn't received our allocation yet. Um but we estimated that we were going to receive a certain amount. Um, on April 8th, we did actually receive the notification from the HUD administrator or HUD secretary that we received the funds this year and it was exactly what we predicted. Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Steelgrave. Um, I move to adopt the community development block grant 2026 to 2031 consolidated plan and 2026 to 2027 annual action plan.

Support. There's a motion by uh Councilwoman Stilgrave, supported by Councilwoman Stringham, and item 5886, the 2026 31 CDBG consolidated plan and the 2026 2027 annual action plan adoption. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. The next item is item 5898, approval of ALCC lease agreement and service agreement with MCLS. Thank you, Acting Manager Cochran.

Yes. So, this item goes back to February when we first presented the draft lease agreements uh for the occupants and operators of the ALCC, the Navar Library, and also the learning bank for the expansion of the um the facility. Uh, city council had previously approved the agreements with Monroe public schools for the learning bank uh, and also with the Monroe County Opportunity Program for the opportunity center. Um, and this evening for your consideration is uh, a very similar lease agreement with the Monroe County Library System. And the reason there's took a little bit longer as we've been working with uh with director Nancy Belair who's in the audience with us tonight uh because we also have a service agreement with the library system for the two branches that are within the city, the Navar branch and also the Dorsch branch. Uh and so we worked very closely with her to make sure that both of the agreements were in alignment with each other and complemented each other. And so in your packet this evening is actually lease agreement and a revised service agreement with the library system and the primary change being uh the utility payments for the Navar branch. Um previously the city provided the library system funds to pay those utilities and then they paid them directly to the utility provider. Um but in the revised budget this year, the city will be paying the utilities for the entire building rather than allocating those out to the different operators. Um however, for the Dorsch library, that's uh that delivery will still remain the same where we fund the library system uh a certain level of funding as approved in the budget last month uh where they will continue to pay the the utilities for Dorsch. So, um just a couple minor tweaks to the existing service agreement that we had in place I think since 2018 um or so. So, it was due for for an upgrade as well. Um but making sure that these were aligned with all the other operators as well as the service

agreement that we have with the library system which is pretty standard uh for all of their branches across Monroe County. Thank you. Any questions for acting manager Cochran? I make motion. Councilwoman Geriney. Thank you. Move that city council approves the lease agreement with Monroe County Library System and authorizes the mayor and clerk treasure to execute the agreement on behalf of the city. It's a motion by Councilwoman Germaine, supported by Councilman herem 5898, the approval of the ALCC lease agreement and service agreement with Monroe County Library System. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham, yes. Fowler, yes. Yes. Steelgrave. Yes. Bining. Yes. Germaine. Yes.

Mayor Clark. Yes. Next item, please. The next item is item 5879, wastewater corrective action plan footing drain disconnection program phase 7.

Thank you. Acting manager Cochran, any comments on this? So, the city's had an ongoing process with the footing drain disconnection program in accordance with our uh corrective action plan that we have for the wastewater system uh where the city provides uh footing disconnects uh for the different addresses where it's identified it needs to be replaced. Um previously, as council may recall, there was a cost share. Um but recently the city has absorbed the cost uh through the wastewater system uh to make those uh disconnect programs uh possible and feasible. Uh and we have until 2032. So tonight uh on your agenda the processes the staff uh water the utility staff actually visit each site, develop the specifications and then work with the contractor to come up with the bid to actually complete the work. And so, uh, this project tonight is for 14 locations that are laid out in your packet this evening, uh, to proceed with Larry Ror to, uh, proceed with the footing drain disconnect program.

Thank you. Is there any questions? If not, uh, Councilwoman Stringham,

I'll make a motion. um move that city council approve the 14 locations dated April 1st, 2026 in the total amount of 149,500 with Larry Ror LLC to perform the CAPFD program phase 7 project as outlined in his proposals that the that up to 172,000 be approved for the project to allow for a 15% contingency. that the director of engineering and public services, interim director of water and wastewater utilities or his design be authorized to sign all necessary documents on behalf of the city of Monroe and that the director of finance be authorized to appropriate cost to the correct fiscal year including advancing funding from reserves as needed. There's a motion by Councilwoman String supported by Councilwoman Geranium. Item 5879, the waste wa water corrective action plan footer drain disconnection program phase 7. Clerk, please call the role.

Council person Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Steelgrave, yes. Vining, yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item is item 58.88, 88 first reading and scheduling of a public hearing for ordinance 26-006 to amend chapter 199. Thank you acting manager Cochran.

Yes. So uh this is another culmination of a lot of work and discussion on behalf of uh city council and city administration in line with one of your goals and objectives which uh is an issue that many communities across the state of Michigan are dealing with right now and that's the rise in the usage of ebikes. And so April 20th, we had a work session where we talked about a final set of draft amendments um that were both provided that by the bicycle and pedestrian trail advisory commission as well as a few conversations that we had together. Um and so the the revisions are up for their first reading tonight and schedule a public hearing uh in the second reading and adoption at the May 18th meeting. But uh just a note of one change to this ordinance in particular since uh that April 20th work session uh and as highlighted in uh 199-3 which is the use on the roadway and we added the language that uh anybody who's using a multimodal device like this has to follow all the state laws and regulations and use of the road as well just to make make sure that that's clear to to users on the roadway. That was the only change since April 20th. There's no questions. Uh, a motion. Councilwoman Stringham. I move the city council place proposed ordinance 26-006 on the floor for its first reading and schedule a public hearing and second reading for Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Second. Motion by Councilwoman String support by Councilwoman Stilgrave on item 588. The first reading schedule public hearing ordinance 26-006 to amend chapter 199. Cl. Council person Stringham? Yes. Felder? Yes. Yes. Steelgrave? Yes. Vining? Yes. Geriney? Yes. Mayor Clark? Yes. Ordinance 26-006 chapter 199 bicycles, skateboards, and skates. An ordinance to amend chapter 199 bicycles, skateboards, and skates of the code of city of Monroe. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. Next item.

Next item is 58.90. Schedule public hearing on proposed park rules amendment on ebikes. Thank you, manager Cochran.

So, this is the the second uh piece of uh policy and legislation as part of the ebike regulation package. Um and this pertains to the park rules and regulations. So, um, you may recall park rules and regulations are a policy of the city council, not an ordinance. So, typically you don't have to have a public hearing when you amend, uh, policies of city council. Um, and we did make an update to this as well since uh, the April 20th in response to some of the feedback that we heard. Um, and that is a modification to rule number nine uh, that ebikes and micromobility devices shall be permitted on trailways unless otherwise posted. um and still requiring the same speed limit. So, this we revised the language that um the different trail networks that we have across the city are made up of different material whether they're paved or unpaved and rather than get into an across the board policy, uh leave it in a position where we can prohibit it based on signage by the unique characteristics of each trailway. Um and so that modification was made. And the reason we do need to have a public hearing is because the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code requires that anytime a local unit of government is going to uh adopt a regulation pertaining to ebikes, you must have a a public hearing on the item. So, uh because this park rule is a regulation that uh surrounds ebikes, we're required to have a public hearing before finalizing and approving them. Okay,

there's no questions. Councilman Hair, I move to schedule a public hearing on May 18th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. on the proposed amendment to the park rules pertaining to ebikes. It's a motion by Councilman Hayer, supported by Councilwoman Steelgrave on item 5890 to schedule the public hearing for proposed park rules amendments on ebikes. Clerk, please call the role. Yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Silgrave, yes. Bining, yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor clerk. Yes. The next item is item 58.884, authorization to submit grant application to MDNR and resolution of support.

Thank you, acting manager Cochran.

Yes. So, this is a another grant application we're seeking council's approval to um submit for. And uh Caitlyn, our grant extraordinaire, is in the audience, as is uh director Patrick Lewis, who are working on this. But uh every year the DNR has an urban forestry assistance grant uh that we typically have applied for every year. Uh and with the tree advisory commission, one of their desires is to update the tree inventory and the condition analysis um which we have not done since 2014. And so, if you're familiar, one of the layers that we have publicly available in our GIS um is an inventory where you can click on every tree that's owned by the city across the city, look at what the species is, look at what the condition is. Uh, and a lot of work goes into not only doing those inventories, but also keeping them up. Uh, and so we're asking for permission to apply for $75,000 to complete that analysis and inventory this evening. Um there is no local match requirement for this project either, but it is one of the recommended goals with the tree advisory commission. Uh and again something we haven't done since 2014.

Any questions? If not, uh a motion. Councilwoman Geriney move to grant authorization for the economic and community development department to submit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant Program application and approve the resolution of support. Support motion by Councilwoman Germaine, supported by Councilwoman Stringham. Item 5884, authorization to submit grant application to the MDNR and resolution of support. Clerk, please call the role. person. Yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Germaine, yes. Mayor Clark, yes.

Next item, please. Approval, um, sorry, item 5892, approval ofou with Michigan Department of Treasury for high sub area master plan.

Acting manager Cochran. So, uh, one of the other goals the city council had was to do a sub area master plan for the high property, which is the 135 acres, uh, that is north of Mason Run and south of Greenwood. It's actually one that was on your agenda previously tonight because we have an agreement with a farmer to farm and maintain that for us while it's, uh, vacant. you approved that this evening, but um the last meeting you approved a a contract with uh Sencar Consulting Group uh C2G, which is our planning consultant uh to develop to develop a master plan on what that uh property could be developed for in the future uh primarily targeting residential housing uh as we look toward the economic and community development of the future uh for our city. But uh you may be aware uh we've maintained a relationship with the department of treasury and their community uh services division talking about the future uh economic opportunities and uh positions of the city and how they can help us uh as we prepare for the eventual decommissioning of the DTE mineral power plant. Um and they do have funding that they've been uh providing to us as well as technical assistance. The last funding that they gave us helped fund the uh residential market analysis which we presented uh thanks to the the work of Landuse USA and Sharon Woods uh last year. And so uh they have offered and uh we are recommending that we accept $75,000 from them to help uh offset the cost of the development of that sub area master plan. Uh and the memorandum of understanding just lays out the terms for those funds. uh but also uh very similar the exact same agreement that we had on the residential market analysis as well.

Any further questions? If not, uh a motion for action. Uh, Councilman her I move to approve the memorandum of understanding with the Michigan Department of Treasury Community Service Division for funding to complete the sub area master plan for the high property and authorize the acting city manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the city and further further authorize the assistant city manager finance director to complete the necessary budget amendments. Second. Motion by Councilman Hater, supported by Councilwoman Stillgrave on item 5892, approval of theou with the Michigan Department of Treasury for the high sub area master plan. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Germainey,

yes. Mayor Clark, yes, please. The next 5891, acceptance of St. Mary Academy pre-development funding grant from Monroe County.

Acting Manager Cochran. Uh so the last meeting we discussed an update on the St. Mary Academy redevelopment with the brownfield plan and other activities. Um and these are funds last uh last two weeks ago at the Monroe County Board of Commissioners uh in accordance with the Monroe County Link 2.0 plan uh that the county would like to join us in the partnership for the redevelopment of that property. Uh and so using the interest that they've earned on their ARPA funds, uh they are offering a $750,000 grant to the city uh to help provide some of the pre-development activities for the redevelopment of the project that include structural uh engineering man uh uh mechanical engineering, site plan development, historic rehabilitation planning. Um, and so the agenda item tonight is to accept that grant and the the agreement included uh that Minro County has provided to us. And then the next step is on your next agenda, we anticipate having uh a subreient grant agreement with CM Cornerstone that would outline the use and procedures for those funds.

Any questions for acting manager Cochran? If not, a motion would be in order. Mr. Stringham move to approve the grant agreement with Monroe County for 750,000 predevelopment support of the former St. Mary Academy redevelopment and authorize the acting city manager to execute the agreement on behalf of city the city and authorize the assistant city manager finance director to complete the necessary budget amendment support motion by councilwoman string support by councilwoman stillgrave on item 5891 acceptance of the St. Mary Academy pre-development funding grant from Monroe County. Clerk, please call the role. Counc Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Still,

yes. Bining, yes. Germainey, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. The next item is the additional item. Um, it is to consider the appointment of the interim city manager position. Thank you. Um, Councilwoman Still, I'm sorry. Yeah, Councilwoman Stillg, any comments from our work session we had earlier? Um, no. I think I'd just like to make the motion if that's okay.

Sure. I move that we name Mark Cochran the interim city manager that we can that we continue quarterly evaluations and direct the director of human resources and city attorney to arrange for preparation of an interim manager employment agreement and for council's consideration at the next meeting. Support. There's a motion by Councilwoman Stelgray, supported by Councilwoman Stringham regarding the interim city manager position as uh described. I'll see if there's any comments or questions from council as it's an item that's added. Any questions or comments? Seeing none clerk, please call the role. Stringham, yes.

Felder, yes. Yes. Still, yes. Vining, yes. Gerainy, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. Next item, please. I have no further items. That's council comments. And it is now May. Councilwoman Stringham. First, first off, uh before you start, uh city manager, I'm sorry, um city attorney Buds, I think you may have a comment regarding comments. I

I was I just asked uh your honor if I could have just a brief moment because it's been a couple of meetings since you um had reappointed me as the city attorney, and I just wanted to say thank you for all of that. Um, also wanted to say it's especially uh I guess I'll say thankful at this point because I think uh some of you may know I've been able to uh purchase property back in the city, move my family back. We're in the process of that and I will say uh it's been a long time coming. Uh I think for those of you that know uh my first house that I bought was in precinct 5 and we're returning to precinct 5 and that should be uh over the next couple of weeks that we conclude that. So uh very happy and I wanted to say thankful also of that. So, uh, thank you for our continued relationship and your confidence in me.

Thank you. Uh, now, Councilwoman Stringham, comments, please.

Yeah, I would just like to say, uh, the precinct 5 welcomes attorney Buds to the neighborhood. Um, I also wanted to, speaking of the neighborhood, um, St. Mary's Academy is in my precinct. It's very close to my house. Um, it's been interesting watching this. you know, at first you hear about redevelopment, there's a lot of unknowns, but I'm so thankful for the direction that it's going and I was very glad to see um another grant towards that. One of some of our goals are for increasing housing and that whole project. I don't it's just hard to wrap your head around how big the project is and I'm very thankful for um all of the work that everybody's doing to keep moving that forward.

Thank you, Councilman Felder. Thank you, your honor. I was happy to come out to Arbor Day and plant some trees with the kids at Manor Elementary again this year. So, um I think to keep it brief, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, honor. Uh just one thing. I want to congratulate uh Richard Dick Turner on being inducted to the Monroe uh labor hall of fame this past Friday as a 53-year member of Labour's Local 465499 and served on many capacities here in Monroe and uh just want to congratulate Dick on that. Thank you, Councilwoman Steelgrave. I have a few things, your honor. Yes.

Congratulations, Mark. We uh we can't wait to see how this all goes. Also, this week is nurses week, teachers week, and next Sunday is Mother's Day. And then, um Wednesday night at the battlefield minor public schools, Gen Z is doing their um their business things. They're developing stuff and that. Last year I was a keynote speaker there, but this Wednesday night they're doing it a little differently and they really make some great things and you can participate in all that. So it's pretty cool. And also Saturday night is the um gayla for the hundred years for United Way and that's a pretty big deal. I will be there and uh they have they do a lot of great work in this community. So that's all I have. Thank you,

Councilwoman Viney.

Thank you, your honor. Um, I don't know how many know, but um the uh we talked about the uh Navar Branch Library uh lease this evening and our last day in the temporary location uh on East Fourth Street um open to the public will be May 8th. And so I wanted to publicly thank um the Oaks of Righteousness uh Oaks Village for allowing us to be in that location for woo over a year now. Um I'm one who has a hard time with change. So I'm just now getting used to being there and now we get to go into this um huge new facility. So, I just uh wanted to let the public know that May 8th would be our last day open to the public there and then we're going to start uh you know, we have a lot of technical things and and just basic flatout moving from one location to the other. And yeah, I wanted to um thank the Oaks again uh for working with our library director who's here this evening, Nancy, um um to ensure that we had a place during um the building of this new facility. Otherwise, um we would have been without those services for over a year. So, we're excited. we're going to start getting packed up and getting moved in. And yeah, just wanted to thank them and Nancy for working with the Oaks to make the deal so that our children in our community had continuing uh continuing library services. And we really look forward to what more we're going to be able to do in this new facility. So NY's here, she can speak for herself, but I

just wanted to thank um Oaks again for that. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you, Councilwoman Geriney. Thank you. Um, I also want to congratulate Mark. Uh, looking forward to what the future's going to hold for everybody. It'll be exciting. And also remind everyone, tomorrow's a voting day. And even though there's only one thing on the ballot, it is a very important item on the ballot and it's worth it to go out and vote because it concerns the education of the kids, the adults, everyone. So get out and vote. And that's all. Thank you.

Thank you. I have a couple comments. Um I'll say Council Felder, it was enjoyable in Arbor Day and Councilwoman Stringer to be out there and plant trees. And of course, I want to thank the community that came out after the the day in which we planted at the school that the community came out and helped plant another 35 trees. Uh, and it was a good turnout and I want to thank the people from the river and wershed council that showed up as well uh in in their functions that they do. So, I want to um recognize uh here over the past uh weekend on May 1st and 2nd, the Lions Club International, which we have branches here in the city, the the this group of in both in Wayne and Monroe County held their uh celebration of service uh this year's conventions. That was the theme and was held at the uh the Monroe County Community College and they had a two days there of uh speaking about all the great things that which Lions Club has done. And we know that because one of the main functions that they provide here within the city uh through also the church is the um the the bed race, the now I let me down to sleep and and just the amount of beds that have been provided to our community over the uh long term in which they've done these um services has greatly benefited our community. And I think about all the clubs across the uh the country that uh provide that. So there's over 900 volunteers for both the Monroe and Wayne counties Lions Club. So u my congrats to them for hosting here in our in our community uh in our community region of Monroe County. Uh the United Way was mentioned looking forward to the gaya here come uh Saturday night. There's another activity that's going to occur on Saturday May 16th and it's through the Monroe public schools. they've uh held them here now

the last couple years within the city and is the uh the kindness walk and it's an opportunity to meet and uh meet with the uh not just the Monroe public school staff and the um superintendent but the community that comes out and the students and it's going to be it's a it's a simple onem walk but there's a great message there and how their um their mission and vision there of how to spread kindness not only in the school but throughout our community. Again, that's on Saturday, May 16th, and it begins at 9:00 a.m. Check-in is at 8:15. So, if you haven't already registered, please make sure you get there early because I know they start on time. One of the neat things about this uh this um kindness walk is the Monroe and Eerie Youth Advisory Council is kind of holding a snack food drive and snack foods that they're going to donate to others. So there again shows the students and their engagement involvement of of not only just showing up for what they're doing for their uh kindness walk but to take that opportunity to impact our um community and in a in a kind of a food drive but a snack drive. So, uh I think those are my comments for this evening and congratulation uh manager Cochran now the interim managing uh manager Cochran. So, uh congrats and I know we'll have any conversations look forward to the future council I'm sorry um clerk Lavoy.

Um thank you your honor. I I too would like to congratulate um Mr. Cochran. It's been a pleasure to work with him as a colleague um for a number of years now and I look forward to um continuing that uh that working relationship into the future in your new role. So congratulations. Um he will also be helping out at election night as will um many um many members of of the staff here at city hall and many members of the community who um volunteer as election inspectors. the um city precincts in Monroe are each of the precincts that you're used to voting in will be open. Some communities understandably um consolidate we do not do that. So um if you vote at uh you know the uh Woodcraft Square that will be open and available to you. Polls open at 7 a.m. They will close at 8:00 p.m. And um it's still not too late to turn in your absentee ballot. If you have that, you can drop it in the dropboxes uh that we have around town and you can also bring it here to city hall. So, I think that's it about it. It is one item as council member Germaine mentioned and uh but we plan it as if it's a super big election and might as well be a presidential election for the preparing that we need to do. So, we're ready for you and we look forward to seeing everyone on election day.

Thank you. Next, we'll go to the interim city manager, Cochran. Comments this evening?

Yeah, I just want to say thank you. Just want to say thank you to uh city council uh for your continued trust and support. And I will say the past two weeks uh serving as acting. I've really appreciated the cooperation, collaboration, and conversation that we've had together uh as we move forward. And um it's also it's especially meaningful that your vote tonight was unanimous. Uh and that I've got the confidence and trust of the council as a whole. Uh certainly means a lot. Uh and I look forward to continuing that. I also thank Dr. Everly for thoughtfully, intentionally uh providing some conversation uh around this transition going forward tonight and all the thought that she put into that uh and as we seek to advise you and and counsel you on as we move forward. But um also the city staff, I want to recognize them uh over the past two weeks. Certainly, this has been a big leadership transition. And one thing uh that Dr. Everly pointed out in her presentation tonight is uh continuity of operations. And I will say we haven't skipped a beat. Uh the work has gone on. Uh the work has continued uh as if uh they know their charge and they and they do it very very well. So I want to thank them and recognize them. Uh certainly, Clerk Lavoy, uh your staff leading into the election tomorrow, there is only one item on the agenda, but watching you uh how seriously you take this and how seriously your uh staff uh preparing for tomorrow's election as if it is the presidential and how hard they've worked even with early voting uh having city hall open over the weekend. So, well done and I know tomorrow's going to go off seamlessly without a hitch because of your leadership and also the staff that you that you have. Um, finally, I want to recognize the county. Uh, the agreement that we approved, that you approved tonight for, uh, St. Mary Academy, that was also a unanimous vote, and that ex uh, exhibits a very strong

partnership uh, with our colleagues across the courtyard as we uh, seek to move the city forward, but also for the good of the county and the good of the region. Tomorrow we also have an item on their agenda which is a consideration of land acquisition to help facilitate the redevelopment of the fire station. Uh and so we look forward to having conversation and and moving that project forward with their assistance and cooperation as well. So um those were my comments, but I also want to uh welcome attorney buds back to the uh city and now even closer uh to to city hall. So um just one last thing if I may. This morning we had the opportunity uh to meet with a group of road scholars through the University of Michigan. Uh the University of Michigan government relations team had reached out to uh the mayor and I about hosting this visit and we had about 30 uh professors across all the different colleges in uh within the university from the Ann Arbor campus to Dearbornne uh to the Flint campus and uh they are starting their tour of the entire state of Michigan in Monroe. And so we spent some time with them highlighting uh the uniqueness and special uh community that we have. We started at the ALCC and the Navar Library in the learning bank space and then took them over to the battlefield uh and told them we certainly could have hosted their whole week right here at Monroe uh and informed them of everything. But it was a great opportunity to showcase our city uh and they all said they want to come back and see even more. So we welcome them. Um, but also a final announcement related to the ALCC Navar Library and Learning Bank expansion. The ribbon cutting has been scheduled uh for June 1st at 4:00 p.m. And this will be a community celebration. Everybody is welcome and invited to attend uh and while the ceremony is taking place at 4:00, I know we're planning activities to happen uh throughout the evening, even though we'll be back here for our city council

meeting uh later that night. but excited to to uh finally open that project. That's certainly been a labor of love for so many, especially director Lewis and also Matt Vanisacker uh leading that project forward. So, everybody's welcome and more information in the city's newsletter and social media. And that's all. Thank you. Next is uh citizens comments. If there's those that wish to make comments this evening, um please come forward. uh state your name, jurisdiction of residence, and remindful of the rules of the chamber of 3 minutes. Those present here. Yes, sir. Please come forward. Question.

Well, we it's your opportunity for comments. I'm not sure you'll have answers, but uh we'll see what we can do for you. I got to give my name and address again. Yeah, please do. Casper Monday, 712 West 6th Street, Man, Michigan. Okay. I was want to ask you ask you people about that back trail. Who uh who financed that? I I guess I don't know which bike trail you might be referring to. The new one you're building down West Fifth Street there. Okay. And your question is who who financed it? Finance. It was a paid for it.

It was a grant from the uh um looking at u from the D um DNR. Yes, DNR paid for it. grant. We didn't. It was paid for by a grant. Oh, okay. The the street right beside there is full of holes. Yep. And kind of Adam Street. No, Fifth. West Fifth goes into Rosler. It's full of holes down through there. You can't even drive down through there. Okay. And Okay. What about ebikes? I want to bring that question up too. Sure. They out here on the street. They can do 3540 mph. Their speed limit somewhere is only 25 and 30. Mhm.

So they out there on the black top the vehicles and so you don't know when you're going to hit one. You know they cut in front of you and everything. I can understand bicycles riding the bike trail but not these ebikes. And you got to pay insurance to put plates on electric cars and bicycles are electric. It's another question. And uh I just want to ask about MD DOT. Do they give a grant to the city of Monroe each year? Are they what in the city of Monroe? Do they give a grant to the city of Monroe each year?

Um I'm trying to think if we've received funding from them. I know that they have some obligations in the city of Monroe. I know we've partnered with some uh road um work that they provide funding for. Well, does that money go for the roads? I'm sorry. the money that comes from MDOT. Money comes from MDOT. Does it go for the roads? Well, it's through transportation what they spend their money on, but it's not local roads that they spend their money on. It's on state highways and state uh roads. Unless they're partnered with the federal government, then it's federal highway.

Okay. I was here a couple years ago. They said M DOT allowed 275,000 for the city of Monroe fix streets. There's a man here. He asked for 125,000 of it to put a sidewalk from from uh Salvation Orman to Jerome Street. Well, a new sidewalks in. Where' that money come from? I'm looking to the manager Cochran. I believe that was a grant or that was funded. That was also a grant um through the safe streets initiative. Yeah. It was It was a state funding through MDOT that was set aside for sidewalks and trails. Yep.

Oh, okay. Well, I thought it's supposed to go for the streets. I guess that's all I got. Okay. Thank you for your comments and uh and I appreciate your comments on the ebikes and it's Well, maybe I'll come back sometime have some more. Okay, that'll be one. Them ebikes, excuse me, them ebikes are dangerous out there. Well, and I think that's why we some of the items today were about passing some regulations and rules that make it available for the public safety to enforce. So, thank you. Well, some of these other cities like wine.net has already passed ordinance. Yep. I saw that on the news last week. Thank you. Okay. Have a nice day. All right. Other comments from those present? Yes, sir. Please forward. Name and jurisdiction of residents.

How you guys doing? Omar Ferden, 411 West Third Street, Monroe, Michigan. Uh, three minutes. I got four things. Here we go. Uh, first off, Mark, congratulations, bud. I know you've been behind the scenes doing the work for years. Glad to see you. I had a conversation with somebody the other day. They literally said, "There's nobody better for it than you." And I kind of agree with them. You know, um it's easy for us to sit behind the sidelines and judge and criticize what everybody does. Um but at the end of the day, you've been doing the work. Congratulations. You deserve it. That brings me to my next thing. I wanted to thank all you guys. Um I'm very passionate about the Orchest. I love that neighborhood. You guys know that. um the city, MCOP and all that received a lot of flack for whatever people judging about the building and all that and it's easy to sit and judge, but I want to thank you guys um for putting forth the effort to do that. Um it's I'm hoping it's going to be a beautiful facility. I can't wait to see what it does. Um I know you guys worked hard on it. So, thank you guys. I wanted to come up here and say that. Thank you. Um and I want good luck tomorrow. Thank you,

uh, Clerk Lavoy. And, um, but the real reason why I came here today was as we celebrate the MC, the opportunity center opening up and we celebrate all the things you guys were doing down in the community. Um, last week I was here, you guys talking about the water mans, you guys doing a lot in the or community. There's a passion project I love near and dear to my heart is the Selma Rankings Community Garden. As we open up MOP's, uh, the opportunity center down there. Um, there's a big beautiful garden down there. First Saturday in um, June for the last 10 years, we've been planting day. Um, so here we go. We're looking at um June 7th. It's our first Saturday. Please you guys come on down, support. I know the ribbon cutting was the week before that. Um, a couple days before that or something like that. But some reckons community garden or community. Thank you guys for everything you guys do. Mark, good luck. Go team go. Y'all have a good one.

Thanks, Omar. Thanks for bringing up the information about the the June 7th there because I I was not aware that date had been set. So, thank you. I I'll make sure that next meeting come give you guys a flyer and all that fun stuff. Absolutely wonderful. Other comments from those present here this evening. Yes. Brooke. Welcome. Thank you for being here.

Thank you, Mayor Clark, Council, and now the interim city manager. Congratulations as well. And congrats to Matt. Mr. Bud's uh moving. Hopefully the the wife is very happy. Anyways, it's been a busy week or busy couple weeks up in Lancing. I I just want to give a quick report on the budget. The House did pass a budget much earlier than last year to our delight. Um it reduced reduced the overall budget by about 600 million. uh you know I obviously we have to go through the uh Senate budget and then there has to be you know all the talking and negotiating and such. So it will come back quite a bit different I'm sure but we did uh do a baseline budgeting or I should say real real line budgeting so we we looked at all the departments and looked at the last three years of spend. So we got the actual spend numbers and then we went with the highest number for the past three years of any given department. And what we realized is that every department or most departments were overfunded. Over 50% of each line item department was being overfunded continually each year. So we reduced those to the actual spend, the highest of the last three years. And and that saved about $2 billion off the budget that we were able to cut. and then spend in other things uh such as Medicaid which we increased by 1.2 billion because of the federal cuts. So we uh solidified that with a 1.2 billion uh $50 $50 million investment for like SNAP cards and and different cards to put in the chip enabled cards to help cut with fraud and abuse that's been pretty rampant across the US. a number of other

things um that we put in there. School funding we increased by 250 uh up to 10 10,300 and then also did a universal school lunch program uh to pay for the continuation of that program. So we we did a number of things in there. There is a number of public safety things as well. Uh 10 million into the public safety trust fund that was existing. And then, you know, probably the best news is increasing revenue sharing by 65 million. So, that should help all the municipalities and townships. Um, I'm pretty optimistic that most of those will stay in there or be real close. Another thing, uh, last year's budget, we we created a 200 or two two billion dollar constant road funding platform of consistent road funding. And then this year we added another 100 million into that. So it'll be 2.1 million billion uh constant consistent road funding from the state. So and and increasing the local uh I call I think it's called the neighborhood roads program as well which helps with the local and city municipal roads. Uh that that program will be continuing as well and was expanded. So you know there's always a lot going on in Lancing. had the pleasure last week of having Nancy up there for the library days. So, I seen her here tonight. So, it was good to have her there and then to meet Pat came up with the with the engineering group, you know, all the smart people. So, it was good to have him at the office. It's always an honor to have constituents or or people from Monroe coming up to Lancing as well and trying to, you know, show them the sites and and answer questions and and hear concerns as well. So, it has been pretty busy. Still working on a lot of legislation uh that

hopefully will help with public safety regarding drones. So, that should be on the House floor in a week to two weeks. So, the very broad bipartisan support, you know, for public safety and and critical infrastructure security. So, I'm definitely spearheading that and getting a lot of support across the state. And then, you know, just a I think two months ago, I I texted the mayor and it was a state, it was getting near the state of the state time and I texted the mayor. I said, "Surely you've been to the state of the state, but if you would like to come, please let me know." And and he responded by saying, "He's never been to Lansing for the state of the state." Which blew my mind because you worked for MSP so long uh and you've been mayor for, you know, about three or four decades. and I thought surely you've been up to the state of the state. So he responded very quickly. He would love to come. So it was honored to have uh the mayor up for the state of the state which is you know a lot of pomp and circumstance but it's really truly a pretty cool uh thing to do. So I did bring you something tonight mayor if I if I could give that to you. So it is a state of the state photo. with with the official credentials there as well. Uh I'll put that up there.

So for your memory, yes. No, I I mayor Mayor Mayor Clark thoroughly enjoyed uh the time and and he got to meet a lot of people on the floor. So it was an honor to have you there as my guest this year. Um otherwise, you know, we're we're continuing to do what we do, which is go to Lancing whenever I can or whenever we're supposed to, you know, and and working with constituents. A lot of calls regarding the u the housing bill package and I spoke to the mayor recently about that and a number of other people. So, that is a big concern I think for every local municipality around the state. Um, and I am as it is very much opposed to that entire package uh because it takes away the local ability of a new municipality or a township to set their own, you know, standards on what they want for housing plots and setbacks and things of that nature. So certainly standing against that. So, but we'll be working and there it's a very bipartisan push coming. So, we'll see what happens, but I'm certainly very much against it. So, and then I do have one thing extraneous to this office if okay to announce it. So, uh, as we know, the city, there's been a a struggle. Oaks of Righteousness was doing, you know, a lot of work in our city and in our community and doing very good things with those, uh, that needed help at that given time. And, and they had a hard time, hard hard uh, go here the last two years. And I spoke with Gary Moore, the new director, and, you know, as as a business owner in the community, wanted to be able to help them. So June 20th from noon to 4:00, we're doing a community cookout for a cause at the Visiting Angels and and we're doing it to support the the uh Oaks of Righteousness on their return.

You know, they got a lot of work to do, but they certainly certainly had a niche group that they were able to work and support. So I just wanted to make that announcement as well. Otherwise, if you have any questions, I'm done, sir.

Well, Representative Brook, appreciate Thanks for this. It was I'm not the I'm not smiling as much as everybody else. I don't know why, but uh I was happy to be there. And I thought at the uh state of the state, it was interesting because where your your seat was and others, there was a a large gathering of Monroe County people that were sitting in the rows right behind us. And I thought it was pretty like it's like being back home. I you know, Sheriff Goodn was there as well as many other people from our community. And uh I don't know how you got that many people in there, but I did not do that, but I think there was a dozen that I counted from Monroe County or Monroe from my constituents, which was kind of odd, but yeah, it was a little Monroe gathering there as well.

So, I want to say thanks also for your uh being here, giving us an update. It's always good to have uh the work you're doing in Lansancy, but also the work you're doing locally, which you just mentioned uh of an opportunity to provide and support uh a need in our community. We we thank you for doing that. But from a the city council, I know we've had the conversations here and I appreciate your support regarding not only the uh housing uh discussions that we had taking that seriously and moving that on uh with others that you speak to in Lancing, but also the support with the uh the the trust fund as well as some many other items. So, we really appreciate that and I wish you the best on the legislation. and I know that you are spearheading as you said as that moves forward in the correct fashion of how they can serve and provide service to the community. So I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity. Okay, see I don't see anything. Thank you. Thank you. Other comments from those present here this evening? Any further comments? If none I need a motion to motion motion from Councilman Her support by Councilman Fder Felder to adjourn. Clerk, please call the role. Council person Stringham, yes. Felder, yes. Yes. Stillgrave. Yes. Bining. Yes. Geriney, yes. Mayor Clark, yes. And thank you all for being here and all the conversation and discussion. Congratulations again, Mark.