City Council - Regular Meeting

our special evening uh meeting this evening asking all council members um to please turn on your microphone for the audience. We have agendas for this special meeting that should be placed on the table in the back. So once again, good evening um honorable city council members, mayor, madame treasurer, city attorney, chief of staff, to our deputy clerk, and to all of you who are with us this evening. Uh today's date is Monday, April 27th, 2026, and this is the city of Ramula City Council special meeting study session. This meeting is to discuss the reszoning and special land use and site plan for pilot travel center located at 10250 Binding Road. And at this time we will have roll call. Councilwoman Abdo

here. Councilman Bulock here. Councilman Jones I don't see him here. Madam clerk, is he excused? Oh, he's excused. Sorry. So noted, Councilwoman Rosco here, Councilwoman Thally here, Councilman Wadsworth here, and Councilman Willheight here. Madame Chair, we have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Tonight's special meeting agenda is as follows. Number one, roll call. Number two, agenda. Number three, discussion. Number four, public comment. and number five adjournment and a motion will be in order to accept the special meeting study session as presented. So move to accept the uh agenda for the study session. Support the motion by Mr. Wsworth, seconded by Miss Rosco for the approval of the special media agenda as presented. Mr. Wsworth, yes. Miss Rosco, yes. Mr. Wilhy, yes. Miss Abdo, yes. Mr. Bullock, yes.

Chair votes yes. Motion approved. Thank you, council. Uh, number three is discussion and again the topic of this discussion is the pilot travel center reszoning special land use and site plan review. And I'm not sure who's going to lead the discussion this evening.

You get us started with this. Okay. Good evening, council. Uh this is uh this is one they're going to have a presentation for you, but this is one that we worked through and went through a planning commission a little little bit of time ago. Um planning commission recommended to city council and then we're having this study session. They're going to present it some property over on uh right off binding in 94. That's a pie shaped piece that's currently zoned M2 and they'll be able to talk a lot more about the details. Thank you, uh, honorable council members, uh, Mr. Mayor, uh, deputy clerk. Appreciate your assistance, uh, as well as, uh, Mrs. May's assistance through this process. Uh, a quick introduction, uh, and then we have a a short video and then the balance of our, uh, presentation tonight. I'm Patrick Abtulla. I'm vice president of development for Pilot Company. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Rhymula City Council and its residents for their consideration of our project. I especially want to thank city staff for guiding us through the stringent process. It has been a pleasure working with all of you. We have heard every comment at every step loud and clear and have adjusted accordingly. I'm here as a 29-year team member of Pilot and bring experience as well as authority to have a healthy discussion and hopefully put to rest any concerns you and the residents express. It would be impossible for me to do that without the amazing team that's with me tonight who will uh present uh their appropriate sections of our um our presentation in their areas of expert expertise and I've worked with them for a very long time. So uh with that we'll go ahead and ceue up the video please.

Too many. Great. Thank you, Mr. A quick timeline. The founder of Pilot, Jim Hasslam, was born in Detroit and served in the Korean War following graduation from the University of Tennessee. A leader, a personal hero, and a philanthropic giant. In 1958, Mr. Hasslam purchased a single gas station in Gate City, Virginia for the sum of $6,000. By the turn of the 20th century, Pilot grew exponentially through multiple acquisitions as well as brick andmortar construction. Speedway Travel Centers Williams will wil to name a few. On July 1st, 2010, an opportunity to join Pilot and Flying J, the two largest travel center operators in the United States became reality and immediately created the largest travel center operator in North America. Pilot has been named the Forb's top 100 privately held companies multiple times and ranked as high as number five on the

elite list in 2022 with 42 billion in revenue. Fast forward to 2023 when Bergkshire Hathway realized Pilot's value and purchased the company taking full ownership and control in 2024. In 2025, Time magazine was quoted to say, "Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, CEO and chair of Berkshire Hathaway, has indelibly shaped modern giving." Buffett's philanthropy has long focused on education, agriculture, and anti-poverty programs, among other efforts. It's been an amazing ride for me for almost 30 years. That brings us to today. I tell you this not to brag about Pilot's financial stability, but to instill confidence and reinforce that if approved, we will stand out as a positive contributor to this community. A company that prioritizes safety, people, and relationships over profits. Romulus is an amazing hub of commerce, a gateway to the United States, but it's a community first. We would be honored to build and operate a pilot travel center in Romulus. These are the various brands that are are controlled by pilot company. If you think about hotel chains, you have various uh levels of properties and offerings. Pilot being our pinnacle brand uh is what we want to build new here in Romulus. Okay,

this shows the map of our coverage across the country uh including Canada. Um two brands mainly pictured here, Pilot Flying J and the one Network uh with varying brands brands below that. Our travel center enhancements Berkshire Hathaway invest deeply into our existing fleet. $600 million annually. This is a cadenced approached approach to improving existing facilities. We grow by five to seven new sites a year, but it's a very targeted approach. Most of our investment is in our in our existing fleet. No matter where you land on alternative energy, we want to be at the forefront. Whether it be our partnership with General Motors or our uh entrance into into hydrogen plants or heavy duty truck charging, we want to be at the forefront. I think our partnership with GM Energy says a lot about our company and theirs and that they decided to partner with us and they are extremely excited to be in Ronos. With that, I'll turn it over to Christy Snder, project manager over this build in Romulus to talk about things that we do outside of pilot to be a great neighbor, to be a great participant in the community.

As Patrick mentioned, my name is Christy Snder. I um have been at Pilot going on 28 years and it's been like he said a great ride for me. Um I started super young. One thing that drew me to Pilot um is their philanthropy and how involved in communities they are not just in Knoxville where we're based, but all over the country where we have pilot travel centers. We're focused on a long-term relationship, not a one-time approval. Um I've done other projects where I still have towns calling me. not always answer the phone. Anybody on my team will answer the phone if anything comes up. Any questions, we're super approachable. We always call you back. We'll answer and we'll get a problem solved if there is a problem. Um we're, like I mentioned before, we are very involved in our communities. Um each store employs 40 to 60 team members. We encourage all of those team members to become involved in the community, uh, volunteering, um, showing up at events. We just want them to be a part of the community and be involved. Um, we also have a program through our New Horizon's new store openings. And when we open after we open a new store, we um invest 10 to$20,000 to the local school district. So that's after we open. And then this support is provided at every new store opening and helping communities from day one, showing we're here, we're going to be a good community partner. Um we also do regional community investment. We do national um we're very involved in education, very involved in veterans and military families. We do reach across America. We also um help when there's a natural disaster or a crisis. We jump in anywhere, you know, and help. If there's flooding, fire, tornadoes, catastrophic

events, we want to be there for our team members and for the community that we're in. Um, the next thing I'm going to talk about is an organization that Pilot's involved in called Truckers Against Trafficking. Um, Pilot has been directly represented on US DOT advisory committee on human trafficking. uh pilot has trained thousands of team members with truckers against trafficking since 2018. As part of this um organization that we're involved in, we have a national truck driver appreciation week campaign and truckers against trafficking come to our stores. We set up tables. We have um information giveaways to educate truckers on how to handle trafficking. you know, see something, say something, do something. That's a very strong motto within the pilot organization. Um, to date, truck drivers have made thousands of tips about human trafficking to the national hotline and local law enforcement, leading to the identification of countless victims. So, we this is very important to us. We've been a platinum sponsor of Treers Against Trafficking since 2018. that um now that it's part of the presentation I'm going to turn over to Evan. Evan is our senior real estate manager.

Good evening everybody. Uh first of all reiterate kind of what Patrick mentioned. Thank you guys for having us. Uh Mr. Mayor, uh Kevin, you guys have all been a great resource to us. We appreciate the staff and all the feedback that you've given us. And hopefully tonight we'll address a couple of the previous concerns uh when we uh presented before you guys. Uh unlike the folks behind me, I don't quite have as much longevity as they do. I've only been with Pilot about two years. Uh but I have something they don't it's this fancy quarter set. Uh so I have that going for me. But anyway, want to go to the next slide here real quick. Oh, clicker. Sorry. So why Romney? Uh so this site is a pretty unique site uh for us. Uh it's located at I95 uh and 27 or I94, excuse me, and 275. Uh we firmly believe that this site uh in highest and best use uh is for our use as a travel center uh for a few main reasons. Uh mostly because it's constrained by the wetlands uh and also challenged by airport height uh being so close to the airport there uh as well as restrictions uh due to degradated soil. Uh the other aspect of this and a lot of the topic conversation has been uh well the trucks uh that you guys are going to bring to the site is going to cause disruption. Uh our view on this is that the uh the trucks are already located here and we're just providing a service uh to those individuals and those folks that are working so hard uh to make sure that our packages are delivered uh that grocery stores are stocked etc etc. Another aspect of this uh is the economic development piece of it. Uh we're a large economic engine uh for all the communities that we serve locally across the country. Uh and we will do so here in Rhymulus as well. Uh so the truck piece of it that leads to the next slide. Uh you guys can kind of see uh on this slide here the ADT count uh for trucks on I94 is 15,000 trucks a day and

on I275 it's 11,000 trucks per day. This puts you guys in the top 25% of truck corridors in all of the country. And you guys are top 10 of any location throughout the country. You're up there with Dallas. You're up there with Los Angeles. uh you're up there with Chicago as far as trucks that you guys have uh kind of circulating through your community as it stands today. And again, we're just asking to serve those current trucks, not bringing more truck traffic to the community. Uh another aspect of this uh and something that we believe will be a huge benefit to the community is all the beautiful tiltup that you guys have, the distribution centers uh that are located here in Romulus. Those folks need places uh to fuel. those folks need services and again we think that we can be hugely beneficial uh when it comes to that. So next slide just kind of continuing uh the aspect of the freight environment here locally. You guys move 212 million tons of freight through the roundhouse area and 74% of that is moved by trucks. That's in comparison to the rest of the nation, which is about 55%. And again, I'll reiterate, you guys are top 10 nationally uh when it comes to uh trucks that are already serving uh this corridor. Then the last piece of it that I mentioned earlier uh is the economic impact. Obviously, we have a huge uh revenue, tax revenue impact that will have a great benefit uh to the city of Ramulus. uh 50 jobs created locally uh here in your community. People that live, eat, and support uh you all uh here creating jobs uh 1.6 million in annual payroll uh and about half a million in tax revenue per year with about a $17 million build cost. And on that note, I'm going to pass it over to Brad Alip, who's a subject matter expert in this area, and he's going to take you

through some of the technical aspects of the project. Thank you. Good evening. Brad also oversee development for pilot. I was the uh the main voice, I guess, that that anybody was the planning commission heard. Been at pilot for 22 years as a project manager and then as a director over the team uh that manages our development and remodel projects. Want to talk to you a little bit about the the properties. We've talked a lot about pilot. We've talked about your community. Um many of the things you you you're probably all already aware of. So, let's talk a little bit about the property itself. Um as indicated, it's at I94 and Binding Road. Um it's a it's a wedge-shaped piece of property. Uh the property that has been undeveloped primarily throughout its history, but there based on historical imagery and some information we've gotten from staff and and residents, it was once a DPW staging area as they were building uh infrastructure area. So if you look back in time through historical aerials and see some partially developed areas, some piles of debris, uh today everything is is kind of grasped and tried over. Uh we are committed to as we develop this site uh to remediate any issues that we find. We've done a phase one and phase two investigation of the site. We are not aware of any contamination, but anything that we find as we deal with uh the development would be fully remediated uh to make sure that we have the best use for the property and the best thing for your community. As we go to the uh kind of getting into the meat of it, right, we're asking for a conditional resoning, a special use permit, and then we have already gone through planning commission and the site plan has been approved subject to those two things being to those two things being approved. So the current zoning classification is M2. The truck stop use is not allowed in M2. We are seeking to be reszoned to um MT which would allow a truck stop use as a special use permit and that's hence our request. The

surrounding properties as you can see is there. Oh, I just broke it. Sorry. It's looking for an arrow or a laser. I'll just talk through it then. Sorry about that. All right. You can see all of the property you the the pilot property or subject property is the the triangle is outlined in red. Everything to the left of that um which I guess would be to the west is zoned into. That's what all the gray is. You can see the kind of purplish property to uh to the east of Vining Road is the airport as you're aware. Uh and then you get north of of 94 and you get into more industrial zone properties. So having a an industrial property, an MT in this area, uh fits nicely within the existing uses. Uh the property to the east of us are primarily zoned industrial and you can see some truck intensive uses around those things around those properties. So, you know, it aligns with the existing industrial development along Goddard Road. And based on the master plan, an MT use aligns with the the master plan. It complements those adjacent uses and and I think it's important to note that we have gone through the staff process. We have gone through the planning commission process and your uh your city experts have recommended that this is consistent with the intent of your uh city zoning documents and master plan documents. So we are uh certainly seeking to fall within that. Next we look at the existing road conditions. So several areas of interest here. Uh Vining Road and I94 service drive. And I will talk about this a little bit more in detail on the next slide, but uh we're proposing to update the the northbound Vining Road geometry as it approaches uh the service drive, which kind of turns and goes u north of the airport. Uh Wayne County has jurisdiction over that

intersection. We have worked with them, their traffic engineers and our traffic engineer and who is well known to the city and uh gotten that approved to be able to make those striping um changes. And again, I will point that out on the next slide. We also looked at Vining Road and the south driveway to the site, which will be the the entry and exit point to our property for uh for trucks. Um, one of the concerns that was expressed is trucks leaving our site and instead of heading north back to I94 that they might go south down Bonnie Road and get uh get into areas where you don't want trucks. Uh, we have um agreed to and desire to put up appropriate directional signage which will inform drivers that they truck drivers that they need to go back to the north to get back onto the interstate um to continue their journey wherever they're going. We want them to head back north to I 94. Um, and again, we updated our traffic study at the planning commission's request to reflect that change and and show that all of our levels of service were still uh well within the acceptable acceptable ranges. We were also asked to take a look at Wayne Road/Ving Road and Eureka Road down to the south. Um, the intersection was added into the analysis of our traffic study. It currently operates acceptably according to um the the the traffic study standards that are accepted by the state, city, and county. One of the things that came out of that was, well, maybe the the existing timing, if you're a resident here, maybe you run into some some slowdowns there that maybe the existing timing needed to be evaluated. Uh Wayne County um has done that. Even since this uh this presentation was put together, we've heard from Wayne County that they have checked it and things are in good shape. now, but uh after we after we build, certainly that can be re-evaluated to make sure that no additional timing changes were needed. And again, there was no construction that was needed with that. It was truly a matter of just

updating the timing of the signal to make sure uh it it serves all of the roadways at the intersection appropriately. This is a a little bit of an eye chart. Uh but talking about the the Vining Road and the Service Road intersection, the top is the existing condition. You guys live here, you're you're familiar with that. If you're northbound, there's two lanes. The outside lane is a right turn only from Bining Road onto the service drive. The the left um the inner lane is a a through. One of the uh one of the concerns that was brought up by the planning commission is that that's not the most efficient way of of that intersection um operating. So, our traffic engineer, Julie Croll, went to Wayne County, talked with them, and they have agreed that what we do need to do as part of that intersection is restrike. Very simply, you would have the inner lane would be through just as it is today. The outside lane, which is currently a right turn lane, would be a through and right turn lane. So you'd still have two through lanes or you would have two through lanes going uh up toward the interstate ramps, but you could still make the right turn onto the service drive uh as part of and we would do that that restriping as part of our construction with with the other road work we would be doing. The other thing that that's important to note is as part of our development, uh you can see um our site is to the the north. All of the the colored portion is Vining Road. Um our to to the right side you can see our northern driveway that would be for cars passenger vehicles only. The driveway to the uh south to the left would be for cars and trucks entry and exit. And for both driveways we would have a right uh a right turn deceleration lane. So, southbound deceleration lane going into the driveways to make sure that trucks

can get out of the way of through traffic and and cars and trucks get out of the way of through traffic and be able to easily maneuver into our site in a safe manner. We would also have left turn lanes on Bonnie Road to get into uh to both driveways. So again, if you look at levels of service, I think I'm correct in saying that none of that is actually required based on levels of service, but it's something that we thought was important to do. And obviously working with the the various agencies, it shows that that that is the right thing to do for this site and we certainly want to do uh the right thing with that. Okay. So, looking at the site a little little closer, this site's not just a uh a wide open facility where anybody can come and go from any direction, right? It's it's a controlled it's a well-managed facility. Our design prioritizes keeping trucks off the city streets and routing them quickly back onto I94, right? It's been mentioned that that maybe there's a that there is a truck parking problem, trucks parking in areas where they really shouldn't be. So, our goal is to uh provide a ample parking for trucks so that they can come to our site, get all of the services they need safely and get off of your city streets, not park in neighborhoods, not park in other businesses where they don't belong. Uh we do that with directional circulation, making sure that the flow of traffic on our site is very clearly delineated. We do that with clear signage on the site and at the entrances to make sure people know where they're supposed to go so they can get there safely. Uh again, the road improvements we talked about, we certainly want people to be able to access our site and your roadways with no problems. And then just the the overall layout of the site, which I'll talk through in a moment, designed to keep um to to keep trucks and cars both going where they're supposed to, keep them separated on site as best as possible, and to provide the best situation for your community and our guests. Uh we look we look closely at

lighting, where we comply with your city's lighting ordinances. Uh noise I know is is is something that gets brought up. You know, you're you're immediately adjacent to I94 or the site is immediately adjacent to I94 and a railroad and an airport, right? Those are all major noise generators. The ambient noise will significantly dwarf the noise that is onsite with our customers. Um, we see that in a lot of locations where we build that you've got you're we're always right up or almost always right up against an interstate or a major highway and uh the noise from the road is significantly um louder than than the on-site noise. Air quality is another thing that was that has been brought up as a potential concern. Since 2006, it has been illegal in the United States to sell anything except for ultra low sulfur diesel. That's important because prior to that we used low sulfur diesel which was 500 parts per million sulfur. Now we're at 15 parts per million sulfur. That helped to reduce those sulfuric sulfurous emissions by close to 95%. Since 2010 all heavy duty trucks are required to have a diesel emissions system of some type. Uh the one that's been adopted in the United States is diesel exhaust fluid. It reduces noxious emissions by approximately 96%. So what we're doing is um the the air quality coming out of trucks in many cases the air is cleaner, the exhausts are cleaner than what's coming out of a lot of cars on the road. We sell ultra low sulfur diesel as do all all competitors, right? We also at our diesel dispensers and in our stores and and jugs, we sell the diesel exhaust fluid that these trucks need to be able to meet those emission

standards. So, you know, those are things that we do to help deal with u any air quality concerns. We also use um again, those are kind of modern standards. We use screening through landscaping, fencing as as necessary and then some operational controls to uh to help ensure a safe, clean and efficient operation. Uh you can look again a little bit of an eye chart here. The the road map to the left kind of highlights the proximity to residential areas. I'm going have to zoom in myself here to the uh I guess that would be to the west of the site. You're about 0.9 miles away as a car would drive from residential. If you go north of 94, it's approximately a mile and a half. So, we're fairly far away from any residential uses. Certainly not immediately adjacent to any residential uses. Everything close to us is either um transportation, your airport, or industrial. Finally, we want to look at the site plan itself. Uh so, see if I do have it. We know there's room.

Oh, look at there. Perfect. I want to walk over and have to point. All right. So, you can see this is the car driveway. It'll be our northern driveway, truck driveway, vining roads along the bottom. Just want to make sure we're oriented. So, here in the front, we've got our gas fueling positions. It's six dispensers, 12 fueling positions uh for for passenger vehicles. You got our our travel center building with a the the convenience store, the driver amenities, and a Wendy's restaurant, which would be the drive-thru loop would be on the south side of the building. Behind the building, you've got our truck fueling lanes. Uh there are eight fueling positions. And then also just just to the west of that, kind of the little white area is the the truckway scale. There's about 142 parking spaces, truck parking spaces on this. Apologize that slide says 120. We had previously proposed a repair facility. We pulled that off and added the parking back in. So 142 truck parking places. Um at the request of the planning commission to the north of the building, we added in a dog park so that guests who visit our facility, long road trip, whether you're a truck driver or a family passing through, you've got you got your pet with you. you want to give your puppy a place to to run and do his business, well, we've got a dog park for that. And then, uh, Patrick mentioned our partnership with GM Energy. To the south of the drive-thru, uh, you'll see another little, um, parking area that looks different. That is eight electric vehicle charging uh, positions. That would be the largest installation of EV chargers that we have at one of our facilities in our partnership with GM Energy. And that's important to them because this is home, right? This is Detroit. That's something that they really wanted to have a great presence here. We needed them to have a great presence. So, I've added that to uh more than normal to our uh to our site plan. A couple of things I think

are important uh to to note as far as truck flow. Again, that the northern entrance is just for cars. The southern entrance is for cars and trucks, but it is your primarily in primary entrance and exit point for uh trucks. So trucks would come in from Bonding Road. They would go through the site, approach the fueling lanes, fuel, and then they can circulate through the site to park or to come back out the same driveway. We try to provide plenty of space for trucks to queue while they're waiting to fuel. Uh this is uh really more than more than average for us um to to have a queueing line. So we should not have any issues with trucks queuing and backing up onto the roadway. The site has several um constraints that many sites don't have. You can see to the north here we've got the blue is kind of our detention pond area that we've designed to take care of storm water. But below that you see some areas with different colors. Those are existing wetlands. We designed the site to avoid impacts to wetlands to the greatest extent possible. Uh we do have some wetlands impacts as we cross with our driveways. We've worked with Eagle to keep that disturbance uh as minimal as possible and to get their blessing on those crossings uh and to preserve the existing drains that are that are in place. We also have a a gas pipeline that that comes along Vining Road. So, we had to be set back further than normal to um to avoid building on top of that. We can park, but that's about it. Uh we would be extending some water and sewer lines. They would come along the back side of the property uh to serve us and then anything additional that would be built on the balance of the property. So, this kind of gives you an overview and maybe a little bit more of the details of the site, how it operates, so that you can understand that what we're

asking uh permission to build is is a state-of-the-art facility. uh it's going to be in compliance with the the city's regulations. And our desire is to serve the motoring public, trucks and cars, but also your community, which will be our community because that's where our team members will live, and we want them to have a great place to live and to work. With that, I'm going to hand it over to security. Back to you, Patrick, to talk about some security. Lisa Trotica is here and she's a celebrated leader in operations at Pilot. Uh we heard loud and clear uh that crime uh prevention, safety was a concern. This was not even a a second thought for pilot uh in particular. The request was made for basically full block coverage uh with high def cameras and that is exactly what we uh intend to implement here. Um this depicts the coverage on uh the professional driver area. Uh it will be the same on the auto area. Um we wanted to emphasize uh the truck side because that seemed to be the main concern. But um we will have full coverage on this site. Lisa, do you want to talk about walks by your team?

Yes. So today, um, our our team members do three walks required to be on what we call a ship readiness walk, and they're all electronic. So I at any point in time can be able to pull it up and be able to look at what they're doing, what pictures they're taking, whatever else that may be. Um, and then as far as the camera systems go, I have full access to the cameras. Our office has the full access to the cameras. The GMs have full access to the cameras. So at any point in time, anybody would be able to pull up the camera system and see what's happening on site. Obviously uh safety is the most important thing to pilot safety of it's guest safety of its team members. Uh so we take it very seriously.

Madam chair I have a question. Yes. Could we go back one one more? So, so right there, I'm hoping that this is a just an error, but it says that you're going to have personnel on site from dawn to dusk security. It It should be from dusk to dawn. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. I just wanted to make sure that you weren't going to have somebody there during the day. Correct. Correct. That's one of Any other questions? Not at this point.

Did Were you guys done with your presentation or can we open it up or you got more? uh another section Lance Champion who leads all the design for pilot will talk uh about the building a little bit. Okay. I'd like to

thank you council. I'll be really quick uh just to talk about the building just for a moment. We've talked from a site level to talk to the building. Now this building is designed really jointly. Uh pilot brings our prototype design that we have implemented in all new builds. It continues to evolve but has has over the years. Um, this facility will be our Aclass facility. Um, it's, uh, a facility that will bring a restaurant, as has been mentioned, Wendy's. Um, as well as our Pilot Eats, uh, proprietary food program, which is great, uh, from a pizza and just full food offering. Um, this facility will have nine showers for the amenities for our drivers. Um, it'll have a public laundry and a lounge area, uh, as they wait or have their time off the road. Um it's also focused for both uh the auto guest and our team. So from a full merchandise offering, retail uh a time for restrooms uh and as Mid mentioned uh to support our fueling business. Um our employees are just as important. We design our facilities inside and outside for both guest and team to have a great place to work. Um so I won't get into a ton of details about it um inside the building unless there are questions. Um, from the exterior of the building, we've worked with your staff uh to really design the materials of our building to be cohesive with the master plan as well as the intent of of the development in the area to really match and fit the area. Uh, and so that involves uh reselection of some of our building materials on the outside of the building. You can see those here. The quality of the building is the same from the front to the back. Uh, this is a two a four-sided facility, I should say. Um and it is designed as such. Uh so all drivers, all guests will have that same level of quality experience. Our brand shows up here from the this is just a view from the auto fueling canopy and a rendering of the building um of how the Wendy's and the pilot sit together. And then at the inside just our our highass facility. Uh

this is a a view of our our sales desk area. The sales desk intentionally sits between the two entry points. From a safety and security standpoint, our team can control those entry points uh and and be able to welcome our guests into our store. This is just a view of the offering. Uh there'll be partially in front in in the very front of the store for our beverage area as well as some common seating. Um and then our pilot eats. So, we would love to be able to welcome uh everyone to enjoy. Uh I'll just want to say thank you. Uh thank you for your patience. Uh thank you for allowing us to go through this presentation tonight. Uh, and thank you for allowing us to be entertained to be able to be part of your community. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. You want to open it up, Mr. Wsworth? If I could, Madam Chairman, through the chair, uh, I I've got a comment and I got a question. Um, is is there going to be overnight parking for the trucks? Yeah, that's what pilot is, which I presume there is. Yeah, there will there will be parking allowed at this travel center. Yes.

Okay. I don't um I don't doubt that this isn't a quality project, but I recently seen a love one in um Indiana and was out in the middle of nowhere where it was the only thing and nothing but farmland around there. To me, this looks like this is too much in a small area. That's my comment. Okay. All set. I got a question. Mark, um on the uh site plan we were talking um is there going to be scales at the location? There is a scale at this location. Yes, sir. Where is that located at? Well, I know you know, but

at the end of the diesel lanes. Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah. So, all right. It would follow the flow of the diesel lanes in the lot. You good, Mark? Yes, that's it. James, did you have something? Uh, yes. Uh, I I seen earlier, and this is to the young lady that was up here talking a minute ago, I seen that you have a community involvement um for the community. Do you guys have anything in place um for small businesses like local businesses as far as like um the original construction and then the operations using Rhymeless small businesses for catering, lawn care, automotive everything? We would entertain all resources available. Um

yes, we operate as our own general contractor especially on the new builds. Um, and we would entertain uh certainly local local resources. And then in your other locations where you guys have um uh you guys are set up, how are you guys are you guys really close with working with local law enforcement as far as accessing video cameras, um passing out information? You guys aren't really restrictive as far as having to pull that information. Yeah. Full cooperation. Okay. You have something?

Yes, I do. Um do the chair. Uh my main concern is the exit and uh entry and exit out of the facility itself. And not so much the entrance way um you know for your cars but for the trucks because the lights are to the north of the property and then to the south of the property you have a stop sign at Gddard. So, when they trucks come out of the facility to turn towards 94 to the north, um they're going to have to wait for all the traffic to come across all those lanes to go back north. And my concern has been from the get-go that um that's going to deter them from doing that when it's very busy and them just heading on south if they need to get on 275.

Uh and and then like I said, then you don't have um a light, you have a stop sign at GDDARD, which I know certain times of day it gets very busy and gets very backed up there. I I use that route every single day to and from work. Um so th that has been my main uh concern and issue with the project is getting safely in and out of the facility because of the fact that the lights that they have there on binding now are working very well. I mean the interchange with the uh timing and the lights because like I said I go through there all the time because you you've got one two you got three counting the one down there at Wick. Um but you're going to not going to have anything be between the service drive and your exits and entries and the stop sign at Gddard Road. And I I don't know what the fix is for that but I am really concerned about that. You say you're going to have signage telling them to go this way, but when it's hard to get out of that facility to go back north, they're going to head the quickest and easiest way for them. That's my opinion.

It's just my comment. It's not really a question. Let him address that. I'm sorry. Happy to address that. You know, as as part of this process, we we did a lot of modeling through the traffic studies uh which have been reviewed and accepted by the the various jurisdictions and it shows that it worked because the stop signs do create the stop sign will create gaps in the traffic. Julie Croll, our traffic engineer, uh is here if you want her to to speak of that a little bit more, but the modeling shows that it it does work.

Did you wanted to bring her up? Uh yes, please. Uh but that because that is my main concern. I don't see uh that being a safe avenue coming in and out. Now, if you had a light there, you know, that would stop traffic. I mean, because trucks are not a small car or or pickup truck that is is exiting out of there. You have, you know, folding semi-truckss.

Um Julie Croll with Lisa Vandenberg. We did the traffic study for the project and um I appreciate your your concern. That was something that was brought up um when we first started this project two years ago. Um and we did look at that whether we could put a traffic signal in there. It did not meet the criteria for traffic signal at that stop. Um we did look at the improvements up at the service drive and um that's where Wayne County did agree with those intersections. Um, but one of the things about the egress trucks, and I just looked at the cues that we're expected to see on that driveway, and they were less than 100 feet. So, that's going to be like one truck that would be on that approach or um less than three cars um on that that south uh drive at any one time, but it's the peak period. So most of the trucks that are coming in and out of the site are not at the same time as the peak period at the adjacent street because the truck drivers don't want to leave, you know, at 5:00. They want to go during the off peak periods when there's less cars. So when we looked at it, you know, those those trucks have a different peaking characteristic than we would as a regular driver that's not driving a truck. So the trucks during those periods of the adjacent street were lower and therefore would have less impact on that driveway. Um to your point of there are certain times a day when it does back up. So and the truck drivers do try to avoid those hours.

I have a question of traffic. I need to get Miss traffic.

I thank you. Um, you have said that we in this area get about 26,000 trucks a day coming through here and that this would just be servicing them. Perhaps it would also be encouraging more trucks to come through our area. The next statement I have is um the state has told us they're repairing I94. They're going to be working t, you know, on I94 for the next three years between Wayne Road and just past Ingster. I believe that's going to require more cars, more trucks going off the road to avoid the construction. This is not a good timing. And my next statement is I have a petition here. I have petitions here with over 500 signatures of residents. We are elected to serve the people of Romulus and the residents do not want this. 500 signatures right here in just a short time. They don't want this. And I have to I was elected to represent the people. And the next thing this I don't see any tax. I don't see I mean this is in our TIFFA district. This is not going to help our raising our high taxes we have in Romulus. Those are my statements.

Thank you. Thank you. I had I had a question for the um the road the traffic um the coming out of the complex going back if you're going onto westbound 90 or yeah westbound 94 you have to do the turnaround. Um I drove it yesterday. Is there going to be any kind of a modification to that turnaround the existing uh north of the freeway? Yes. Uh that one was should have been designed to accommodate trucks. That one was uh at the city's design. It can't accommodate trucks. I would put I would ask

I drove it yesterday and it looked it looked a little tight, but that was my only concern with the And then with your complex um it's going to be fenced all the way around, right? Is that correct? Yes, sir. Okay. I think was something else. No, I just wanted to know about that turnaround and I'm good. Did I'll have to ask. Anybody else have any questions? Mayor,

quick question. Um, first great presentation. Um, and I appreciate you going to the planning commission, hearing the concerns of the residents and incorporating into the plan, but you brushed on real quick something called the pinnacle brand. Um he mentioned when we had met earlier about uh Pilot trying to rebrand itself and come up with something new and a little bit more um trying to lose that old version of what Pilot was before in the travel centers. Can you elaborate a little bit more on that? Lance, do you want to talk about that too?

Yeah, there's a lot of you up here. I don't know which one's the expert in the in the Pinnacle brand. And and that's something that that appealed to me because what what we see a lot with gas stations in the area um is we see continued blight and we're always after them and we saw it a little bit with the sheets development. When sheets came in and they were new and they had something a little bit cleaner and more kept up, it encouraged the other ones to compete. Um and we called it the sheets effect. I'm not trying to give Sheets another plug here, but we saw that we saw it in multiple sites in the area that typically have code enforcement issues and some blight issues and we're always out there trying to enforce it. So just tell me a little bit more about the Pinnacle brand and what that means and and what your vision for the future is.

Sure. Yeah, thank you for the question. U you know as as Patrick talked about, Pilot has multiple brands. Patrick used the illustration of of hotel brands that have different levels. Uh when you think about those levels, none of those levels have any minimum that that goes below a certain level of quality. That makes sense. Think about the Hilton brands for instance. Um, Pilots brands, we meet our guests where they are. So, our one nine brands are really driven towards those quick in, quick out, less than 50 truck fleets, but can have access to a credit system that helps them run their business. Um, the the Pilot and Flying J brands, Pilot being our core, that's our that's our that's the brand that we started with in 1958. Um it is the best of our best and that's really the facility size and the extent of offerings, the quality of all of our facilities that we develop today. Um whether it be a one nine brand, a pilot brand or Flying J brand, each bring that same level of quality, safety being pro promised, it's guaranteed. Uh and the level of the quality of the development, I would argue, of course, I'm biased being leader of design that we'll we'll give sheets a run for their money with quality facility both inside and outside.

Good. Good. There's nothing wrong with a little bit of competition. Um, and something else you guys mentioned as well, there's not a week that goes by here, I'm not bugging Captain Harris about a semi park somewhere on the roads. Um, they do it all the time. You know, we're out doing citywide cleanup Saturday and we saw a semi park there on the side of the road. We had to call PD about it. Um, is there an app or what is the tool so truckers know to, you know, that they need to be on a site that's approved for the location rather than parking on city streets? How do you guys get the word out to these guys?

Police visit it. There is a pilot app. Um, if you think about our customers, we have national fleets um, and then we have independent fleets, but there is an app and it will tell you, no different than Gas Buddy or anything like that that will show the specific site how many truck parking spots they have. In some locations, most of our locations, we have what we also call prime parking. That means that professional driver can can get on the app and say, "Hey, I'm gonna stop at Romulus tonight and I'm already going to pay for my parking so I have a spot to go. I don't have to worry about parking alongside the street or parking off the interstate or anything like that." That he can reserve a spot. He or she can reserve a spot and have it ready for him when they get there.

Gotcha. Yeah, it's it's a point that's worth mentioning because the trucks are here already. It's it's the nature of the beast. They have a logistic city. Um, and how do we corral them and keep them off and keep them out of our streets and protect our rural areas? We want to do that as much as possible. be proactive there. Also, another concern I heard at planning commission was that safety. So, I was happy to see the increase in the security cameras there. Um, will PD have instant access to those? I believe before we had talked about having maybe using flock cameras that's that's the citywide right now. Did you guys find out if you can use flock on your site or

I'm not sure, but what I will say is the the police officers do. They they'll have to get with our corporate office, but that's a very quick turnaround. Very very quick turnaround. And the other um I believe I believe you might have asked the question. Um security I'm a region manager been in this role for nearly 16 years and this particular facility we plan on having due to the concerns on having overnight security and I have 11 sites today and that that's not I don't have that. So that is something that we've committed to that we will have an overnight security department on site for for any concerns that may happen. Cameras I'll let you speak to that. We think it's that's all I have. Okay,

Mark, was your question answered about the left? You said the left hand turn. I'm gonna um I guess I'll talk to Roberto about Yeah. Can just make sure everything is addressed.

Good evening, council. So um just to provide a little bit of additional information, they did uh provide a traffic study for this site and the level of service at the intersections and we there was a comment about the signalized intersections. Those weren't compromised with the daily trips that had been proposed with the site. Now I don't have all the numbers but I know our engineers reviewed it and we were very um concerned with the volume that might this site might bring. The other thing that I want to mention that I don't think it exactly was mentioned tonight was that the Vining Road is going to inevitably have to be widened and that's going to happen as part of this site. There's going to be del tapers to this site. There'll be a standard through lane. There'll be a dedicated lefthand turn lane and there'll be a passing lane all across the frontage of Pilot. um and it's not to the point yet where it's getting um engineering approval. So all the turning templates, we know that some of those Michigan lefts that I think uh Councilman you were mentioning, we know there might be some constraints there. They were supposedly designed for a 53 ft semi-trail, but some of the drivers are not exactly hitting it right. During engineering review, we will have turning templates brought through um our portion of the road and if there needs to be modifications, we're certainly going to suggest that.

Thank you.

One more comment. This is more of a comment to the to council to the city. Um I think like a big thing with this is like everyone's worried about traffic. Um if there's traffic on this road and semi-truck traffic, this could be a good thing for the city. And I say that because our downtown is struggling as we all know. Um, ever since this has been added there, everyone avoids downtown kind of they avoid Wayne Road and they take Vining down and cut through. If we can get some more traffic towards Wayne Road, that'll mean more people be will see that we have a downtown that we have events going on and maybe that'll attract more businesses to come to those places. We'll never get more grocery stores. We'll never get more business down there unless there's foot traffic and cars driving down our roads in that area. So, if if this is if we're worried about semi-truckss, good. Let let it get backed up. All the locals get off on Wayne Road and see our high school, see our new uh courthouse, and see what we got going on in downtown. And maybe maybe that'll help bring our downtown back. That's all I got.

Thanks, James. Any other comments from the de? Okay, close that out.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we are now at number four, public comment. And this is a portion of the agenda for those of you who are in the audience and who would like to address uh city council regarding uh tonight's special uh meeting agenda. To do so, please raise your hand and after you've been acknowledged by the chairperson, approach the podium. We ask that you state your name. Um, and then you will have three minutes to speak. Um any additional time will be upon the consent of our chairperson and again your comments should just be directed to the subject matter for this special meeting um which is the pilot travel center um the special land use and site plan. Um I do not have any written requests madam chair. So

so before we get started let me just say this that this is discussion purposes only. there is no action taken on this evening regarding this uh this um presentation. So let's just make sure that's clear. Secondly, um pilot team, I just want you guys to be on hand after all the public comments are done to be able to address some of these comments as they come up during the discussion. So I just want you guys to be prepared to address some after that. Okay. All right. Any questions from the audience in the back? Good evening, council.

Hello.

My name is Aaron Libert. Uh, so I spent a better part of a decade working for Pilot Flying J. Uh, as a general manager, I ran 12 locations in seven states. Uh, over that time, known as like a broken wheel guy, I'd go unfix stores that were broken. So my biggest concern as a regular citizen, by the way, Pilot's an amazing company to work for. I appreciated the whole decade of my life. My biggest concern is that left turn. So a semi-tra is 53 ft. A semi is 83 ft. That would equal two semis pulling out when you're coming if they're heading northbound on a left turn. The backup in a deceleration lane that was noted would hold two semis as well. So, you're coming over Viney uh coming from the highway to the location. You're coming down a big hill. You're going to see a stoplight and then the property with a deceleration lane from what I took from the presentation. So, I would write down Sturbridge, Massachusetts, uh Canona, New York, and De Moine, Iowa. Okay. Out of the 12 locations I ran, only one of them was in a city limit. the rest were as I believe maybe said anyways uh they're all in farmland and in townships for a reason. U the city traffic is too much. Uh I can attest to it. I've seen deaths happen in front of a couple of my stores based off that left turn. So the location where it's trying to be squeezed in at is the only thing I'm against for our city. Do I think it would be an amazing ad to our city? Yes. Just not where it's at. And I don't know if you guys have any further questions about that, but those three stores are prime examples of the left turn being very hazardous to the general public. And I have two daughters in Ramul that live in Ramulus. I I never

want to see either one of them get injured by a semi-turning left because we decided to put a flying or a pilot there and that's my biggest concern. Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you.

Any other comments in the back? Good evening, council, and thank you guys for your time. So, my name is Andrew. I'm a very involved member of the Remis community, and I'm here just to express my opposition to pilot. So, the proposed site sits directly across I94 from residential neighborhoods, including homes along McBride Street with no meaningful separation. It's also in close proximity to the schools, library, city hall, and senior center. At the scale this project would generate hundreds of heavy traffic trips per day along with constant truck traffic, diesel emissions, noise, and 24-hour activity that extend beyond the site. Those impacts cannot be fully mitigated through the design or conditions. I think this is simply the wrong location uh for use of the scale. So for the city's master plan says heavy trucking uses should be located away from residential areas and this proposal repeats problems that the city has always identified. A 150 plus truck 24-hour operation is simply not compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and community facilities. The city has a responsibility to protect existing neighborhoods when considering new development. And under the special land use standards, this project must be compatible, must not be harmful to public health and safety, must align with the master plan, and this proposal does not meet the standards. For those reasons, I respectfully urge you guys to deny this request. I've also brought with me signatures from community members who are your supporters uh who also share these concerns and I um urge you guys go check out locations around here because anyone can you know say this is going to be something but it's better to visualize it and actually see it and so I have copies for you guys to hand out.

I need one for this guy here. He's not here. Thank you. You come over here tearing up now. All right. I'm just kidding. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Any more um comments from the audience? Madam clerk, can we get to close that out? Yes, ma'am. If there's nothing else, uh the agenda calls for adjournment and the time is 603. So move to adjourn. Support.

Then motion by Mr. Wsworth, second by Miss Abdo to adjourn this special meeting. Miss Mr. Wsworth. Yes. Miss Abdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Mr. Will high. Yes. Miss Rosco. Yes. Chair. Yes. We are jermed. Next meeting starts now. I got to stand for a minute now.

He doesn't keep telling Oh, sorry. Let me pull it up. Okay, we just got it today. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I know you did.

One second. Am I in your way? I'm sorry.

Did you see that couple that was sitting there? The two men? Yeah. The one with the brown and the guy next to him? Yeah. They live on my street and they just left and I wish I would have known that they were leaving

because a I needed to introduce myself. I think he recognized. It looks like information. I'm doing my

Cool. You're just under it. That's great. Awesome. Good for you. I applied to

just in case. I don't think I'll need to be able to talk though. They're not. Just leave it there. We can just share. I'll just hand it to you. graduate internship.

That's great. So you started doing the same And I don't

If everyone can please find their seats so that we can begin our next special meeting. Are you ready? You need a few more minutes? Do you all need a few more minutes? Oh, I'm sorry. Does Does he need a few more minutes? Gary, are you good? Are you sure? Okay. Genius. All right. Okay.

All right. Okay. Madame chair. Madame chair. They just need one more minute. Okay. All right. She does. She does.

Okay. reported a lot. Pretty interesting. She said she got the email. That's what I asked her. But I told her she could email. We will begin our special meeting in one minute.

I I think If everyone again can find your seats, we're going to begin our next special meeting. And today's date is Monday, April 27th, 2026. And this is the city of Ramula City Council special meeting study session. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the proposed 2627 fiscy year city budgets. Madame chair and council, we did have roll call at our last special meeting and we do have a quorum present for this meeting.

The special meeting agenda reads as follows. Number one, roll call. Number two, agenda. Number three, discussion proposed 2627 fiscal year city budgets. Number four is public comment and number five is adjournment. And a motion will be in order to accept tonight's special meeting agenda as presented. So move for the agenda as presented. Support. There's been a motion by Mr. Wber, seconded by Miss Rosco for the approval of the special meeting agenda. Mr. Wisber. Yes. Miss Rosco. Yes. Mr. Willhigh. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Miss Abdo. Yes. Vote yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, council. Number three is discussion, and I believe our finance director, Miss Maria Ferris, is going to open up. Oh, correct. Mayor McCrae will have the opening remarks.

Thank you. Good evening, city council. Mr. Treasure, Madam Clerk, deputy clerk. Um, I'm proud to uh present to you the fruits of a lot of hard work. Um, it's another balanced budget where we underspent the approvement from the previous year. Um, we've increased uh slightly spending in public safety, infrastructure, and our parks. Uh, three crucial areas I think we need to, but we have another balanced budget uh for you this year. Uh, like I said, with small uh increases and and spending in areas, we desperately need to do that. So, I want to thank the finance team for all their hard work they did here and also all the directors we have here because we are still in needs over wants when it comes to budgets right here. So, again, another very modest budget um where we uh return to the council with a few small increases and and um I'll turn it over to Maria.

It's not working. It's not working.

Good job. the car. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Oh, there we go. And thank you, Mike. Much better. Hello, everyone.

Well, thank you, mayor. Um, good evening, mayor, council, city administrative staff at present. Um, chief of staff and everyone else that is watching live from YouTube. I just first want to start with thanking the opportunity to be here tonight. Um I appreciate your time and committed um continued commitment to serving our community. Also too, our main focus is tonight is to review the fiscal year 2627 prelim budget. Um and just letting council know that um we are making decisions based to best serve our residents and the future of the city. So on that note, we will get into the presentation that you have in front of you. So the first section is the general fund. The general fund is covered um and that was the prelim budget that was sent out. Uh it covered by the function summary of pages 9 through 53. Um and within that function that covered council, mayor, clerk, financial services, treasure, public safety, public service, community and economic development, and recreation and cultural. These are all departments within the general fund that makes up um the majority of our expenses. So I would like to touch on some revenues within the general fund. One of our largest um revenue sources are property taxes. So currently this year we're estimated to get a little over 11,214,000 in property taxes. Um at this right here the no the numbers overall indicate that there will be a 2.7% increase um and this is slightly increased due to the result of a taxable value increase. Also to you some highlights on the

revenues for the general fund are our administrative charges. Um and these are due to other funds and each year during the budget process we review, we analyze for accuracy and we update and make adjustments as necessary. Another large revenue that comes into the general fund is our state shared revenues. um those are estimated to slightly increase and also those increases are a revenue source that are made by state legislator um and local input. I mean we don't have much control over that. Uh we're we're potentially we'll see about a 3% increase. Also too within the general fund um we do have some other fees. I'm going to go on I'm going to skip that last one and we'll talk about it in another slide. Let's see. So, some other um general fund revenues um are fines and forfeits that come in um directly from the police department. So, our audited numbers for fiscal year 2425 is we received a little over $98,990 and currently um in fiscal year 2526 I'm estimating around 100,000 as well as in fiscal year 2627 I've estimated around 100,000 that has been consistent the number um so for budgeting purposes I didn't want to overinflate that revenue. venue. Our investment earnings within the general fund have shown an increase and also we monitor that um closely to indicate future trends. Also within the general fund, we have our building building licenses and permits which have remained stable um and increase with all the new

development in the city for fiscal year 2425 fiscal year 2526 and we are projecting that for 27 2627. Um also too another part of the revenues um when we go through the budgeting process, we um ask all departments to review any fees that are charged and making sure that we review them each year um associated with services that are provided. And that's a fee schedule and you'll see that come to you later on in this budget process. So let's talk about the expenditures. Um it's always nice talking about the revenues but unfortunately we do have the expenditures that come. So when we go through the budget process, um finance goes through and we review the cost of auditing services for each fund. Um looking at all the expenses where um we take in the rate of inflation and we charge out this cost to all the funds. Also to a um increase to the city which I'm working on the renewal right now is our property and liability insurance. This is all the insuranceances um for all the fleet and all the property and any asset of the city. Um I'm estimating a 3% increase for this year which is down from last year about 2%. As well as even though we do are estimating a 3% increase each year from MML we are still receiving a dividend back. So that is good. Also too, um, within the general fund, there are expenses related to the motor vehicle fund. So, we take a look at those rates. Um, we adjust those based on our capital needs of, um, public works services, I'm sorry, public

services and works. And also to we continue to review these um because we do have aging fleet within the city. Also to another expense that is within the general fund is technology services. Um those are rena rates that um we review those each year. Um I work with it and we take a look at the cost of services, how much it costs for the department to run and um equipment and service needs. The majority of these expenses are pretty much calls for service and services are expensive. Um so we can touch on general fund. As the mayor um opened and said, um in each year we really strive to make sure that we have a balanced budget and also it is exciting um to talk to council and administrative staff when we do the expenses are anticipated to fall under the amended budget. Um also two in fiscal year 2526 the general fund revenues are anticipated to come in over our amended budget and um the one of these large increases is the revenue as a new as a result of new development and building permits. Now the building permits revenue was is within the general fund but it is restricted also too um general fund balance remains consistent and stable. uh industry standard and best practices are that a community should maintain a fund balance between 20 and 25%. The city's general fund balance is meeting the industry standard which I'll talk to and show in the next couple slides.

So currently if the budget the prelim budget is adopted as presented the city's general fund unassigned fund balance that means can be used for any purposes is estimated to be over 7,88,266. So I said that in comparison to the last year last budget. So Miss Tally our next slide. Okay. So let's go. There we go. got it

and I was looking on here and I was like why does it say fiveyear it's actually a sevenyear so however one year is projected so we'll just say this is a six-year history with one year projected

so we will see each year um how between the years our fund balance will grow it'll grow it stayed pretty flat between 21 22 23 you'll see an increase within 23 24 and that was um a direct effect from our ARPA funds. We've been spending those down a little bit each year. You will see also too in 2425 that there was a decrease of fund um balance. However, as the mayor stated um our increased uh investment in public safety has um been a direct um reduction for that as well as the infrastructure in um city parks. So as I stated um in the previous slide that our projected is a little over 7 million which that would get leave us at 26% fund balance which meets the industry standard let's see a second to catch up here. So our next slide here is our special revenue funds. So, these are funds that are restricted um and committed expenses for the revenues. I did send out a preliminary budget. So, if you do have any questions on any of these funds, I'm happy to take questions. If not, I can move forward.

Any questions? Moving forward.

Okay. So, let's do Oh, I got to keep up on all these my slides. Okay. So let's talk a little bit more about our budget information for 2526. So another revenue source that does come into our roads um which is 202 and 203 major and local roads is our act 51 money. Um that is a calculation and I won't get into the details however um there are a couple parameters and right now we are showing approximate of increase of 2.5%. And this those funding and that sharing um monies comes from the roads and it's specifically for road projects for local and major roads. Also too between the two funds which is 202 and 203 we do do transfers from major to local roads and this helps um maintain our roads for our capital asset plan. An highlight for local paving roads and 2526 is we started and we will continue in 2627. Um we invested an estimated of 5.1 million in repairs. Um and the projects are based on road conditions and available resources. So local roads um that will start as Wade and Superior Fourth Street subdivision Dorset Street Harrison and Leroy in 2026. also to um for major roads which is continuing on for 2526. 2627 is the reimbursement for the waiting road paving count match. Sure.

And our next section of the prelim budget for the component units is um that covers from field TIFFA and our DDA. And these are funds that usually typically have an authority or a bond. I'm sorry, authority over a board that oversees them. If you have any questions regarding this, if not, I will move forward. Any questions? Questions. Okay, moving forward.

All right, let's keep the party started. Okay, all right. So, debt service funds. So, the debt service funds pay pretty much what it is is they pay all the debt for the city. Not all the debt is enclosed in encampured in these funds. There are some in the water and sewer fund. However, the majority of the um debt service funds cover 305, 306, 352 debt and sewer and water debt. Um there is some exciting news. You know, debt service is not that exciting. However, um the city administration had an opportunity to refinance. They call it refunding of bonds.

Um and it saved the city over $1.3 million. And we did this for the callable bonds that were eligible. So it was quite an excitement exciting. I was excited to go through the process. It was pretty nerdy, but it was very fun. And I like saving money. I do. Just quick. I mean, I know we like to have fun with you about how much you love to do numbers, but if you guys weren't really watching those numbers, we wouldn't have seen that opportunity. We would have missed it. So, thank you for doing your due diligence and watching it and loving numbers and being so nerdy about it because, you know, saving us $1.3 million right in that neighborhood is a big number. So, thank you. No problem. Of course.

I'm sorry. This is the A team right here. Saying well, we did get an A on our um audit. So, that's right.

Um, so let's go to the next slide and that is our capital project funds. Uh that's 403, 482, and 495. And these are pretty much just capital project funds that cover purchasing, constructing, construction, and improving long-term assets. These are pretty boring funds, but they're in the budget, so I put it up there. If there's any questions, if not, I will move forward. Okay, so let's talk about the enterprise fund, which is our water fund. I just created that logo today. I was pretty proud of it. Um wanted to encompass the water in the sewer. So the enterprise fund, you know, we hear this. This is water and sewer. This is a fund that solely is responsible for providing services to our residents for any any type of water or sewer um service all-encompassing all services. Um I'm not going to tell you the cruel base of accounting because no one really wants to hear about that. However, I will let you know um for the water and sewer um so the time of our budget, we don't always have all the rates and all the data and information to present to council. However, um the water and sewer rates will be brought in June as historically has been brought um and there's a calculation uh and it's based on there are some outside sources which are Dua and GLWA. So they give us their proposed systemwide rate and then we have to calculate how to make sure that pretty much just pay for our bills and service our residents. Currently right now the proposed systemwide rate for Dua is 7.08%. And GLWA systemwide is 6.56%.

Um and as I stated we'll be bringing those rates back soon as soon as DA um meets. I think they meet miday. Um then they'll give us their actual these are just still proposed. Wasn't that in comparison to what last year? I was got to make that compar. It was similar. Um I think last year was 8.23%. Um I don't want to but I mean it's nothing that it's not it's not 11%. We'll just say yeah slightly lower than last year. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. So, let's go on some water highlights. Uh, a couple years ago, Plantaran and myself, we created a um a water rate study. Actually, they created it and they took information and they came back. It's best practice to do a water rate study just to make sure that you're charging appropriate amounts for the services that you're providing. We will use that template again to calculate the rates. Um, it's really cool template and um, it really assists with giving us rates. I see you laughing, Gary. I know. I hear the mayor.

The water and sewer fund. I'm estimating about a 3% increase which will align with inflation too overall in the water and sewer. This is just an estimate. On highlight within the water and sewer fund is the lead line um, the lead service line investigation project. Um, this is statemandated and also is ongoing. I did talk about this slightly last year. Um, the good news is the city did receive 1.2 million for the stag grant and that helped offset didn't pay for it all, but it helped offset some of the lead service removal. So, that's the goal is, you know, to find all the lead service within the city and remove it.

When did we get that? Because I remember with this been about a year or so. Yeah, we received we're going to be receiving around 600,000 of the revenue this year. We received some last year as well. Got it. Thank you. So, I thought it would be still good to highlight that.

Um and as I stated in the previous slide, um Grey Lakes or GLWA um they've proposed the average systemwide increase of 6.5%. I'm sorry, 6.56 and DA has proposed a 7.08%. So again, uh it's a lot of percentages. Um but once we get the finals, then we can calculate the rates based on um what to service our residents and pay for our bills. Rouge Valley, that's also another um system that provides to the city. And I typically propose um a 4% increase.

I just do an estimate. Um, let's see. I got to catch up to you guys. All right. So, we are budget information. Yep. Okay. So, some other highlights, too, is the we do have still the EPA levy is still in effect. We will not be um creating or asking for any type of taxes for the EPA levy bonds. those are due to expire pretty soon. Um our estimate is to be paid off in 2728. However, we have enough residual cash and um within that fund that we probably will not have to levy for 2728. Also too, a highlight from the budget is the water and sewer fund. Um we'll start five points water main and that's in fiscal year 2627 and the estimated cost of that project a portion of it because these are expensive isund $100,000 and that's in the budget. I just wanted to highlight that. Also too historically the sewer debt fund and the water um debt fund they make contributions to the water and sewer fund to help pay for projects. So sewer will contribute 200,000 as well as the water debt will cons um contribute 60,000 and that's been a historical amount. It's um any questions?

Yes. Um I just wanted to ask about the uh EPA. So I see 2627 sorry 2627 but you mentioned 27 and 28 as well. Mhm.

We So both potentially. No, we will not levy any t and I received a letter from the county um based on the residual amount that we have and I don't if the county decides to take on some new debt um potentially they would have to you know pass on those taxes but at this point right now it sounds I've talked to the county John Sledge who's ahead of this it doesn't appear that we will be levying um anything for sure not for 2627 I don't want to say for sure and then we do have to levy for 2728 However, the bonds are due to be paid off. 2728. Thank you. Any other questions?

Okay. Thank you.

Okay. All right. So, sorry. All right. So, the next is our internal service funds. So that is composed of our motor vehicle fund, our technology services, and as well as the property and liability insurance. So the motor vehicle fund, that's the internal service fund, and that helps purchase vehicles and support the city. Um, then it charges back to other funds respectfully for maintenance, repairs, and operating expenses within that fund and is supported by other funds. And again, we watch closely the aging fleet uh and make sure that we are on a good replacement um cycle. So, we purchase a few vehicles each year. Um and we don't lease currently right now. Um we purchase them because we fill, you know, interest rates and things like that. It's just more costefficient to purchase the vehicles. technology services again that's just touching on um they're an internal service fund that provides all the IT to all the departments also to our computers and as well as services for everything that's needed for it they touch a little bit of everything and lastly which is in their own internal service fund is our property and liability insurance so there like I said I'm currently under the renewal process this which doesn't align with our budget timing. However, I'm projecting a 3% increase. So, our premiums are around 544,000 per year for the whole city for everything. Okay.

Questions? Is there any questions? Internal service. Okay. All right. So, I'm pretty proud of this slide. I created this today. I wanted to find something for for that demonstrates retirey healthcare or healthcare. So this is our fiduciary fund. Um and this is our retirey healthcare or it's called public employee healthcare. So this fund solely is responsible for our oped or other postemployment benefits. So allocations are put aside for each department based on their current active employees who are eligible for retirey healthcare. Not all employees are eligible. So there is a small population of employees that are eligible. We make sure each year that we put money aside so we can um make sure that this is a benefit that is sustainable for long term. And also

Madam Chairman I'm going to ask the same question every year. Is the court doing anything with their payments? So he says that much. Well said but that's better than that much. Yeah. So to answer that question, um, historically for the last couple years, they have not paid their premiums. However, they did pay their February and their March premiums for current and retirees. So that does show some progress. Um, but the previous months for fiscal year 2526, no. But we do have two months of payments. Are we still um are we still um giving them a bill or

Well, we have um Yeah, we build them monthly. No. Okay. Yes. Yes. All right. Fine. Yep. It is good to know that they have paid their February and their March premiums. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. And for this lastly for this funding of this fund they went from 12 12.71% to funded to 22.71%. So we are definitely going in the right

um way to fund this for the retirees. So just a few information and and each time as we present the um preliminary budget sometimes there's changes edits. So there's our uniform chart of accounts that always changes. Gazsby updates. Um we go through and just make sure that we are in compliance with those standards. Um also to just making sure that we review staffing and accuracy for our white on our fire fringe and any staff for the city, making sure it's accurate. And also to just updating um some information for the water and sewer um for the lead line removal. So our next steps through the chair just one question on on the lead line removal. Don't we have like five years to complete all that throughout the city?

I think it works. I'm going to defer to Roberto on that one. Yeah, I'm I'm while we're talking about it, I was just wondering what year we're in. And well, the lead line removal has been like an ongoing project and and we have a requirement from Eagle for the last probably like 8 to 10 years that we had to take out 5% of our known lead lines a year. That's so that that was a requirement and and that's like till 2040.

Okay. And then the the whole controversy is is is like spending public money on private property. That that was a past lawsuit that all municipalities lost and that's how we got on to the grant um that uh Maria is talking about. We solicited grant funds and we were awarded. So we have $1.2 million to complete our obligation of that.

Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? So, we'll go on to the next exciting steps of this budget process. Um May 11th, we have our public hearing um and pre of the preliminary budget as well as May 26th, I will be back in front of you and we will have our final um budget adoption and appropriations presented to council. Any other questions from the deis? for me. You know, I think I I appreciate both of you guys. Um, you know, we said I go through the budget process with you every year. It's starting to make more and more sense. It's still a lot of moving parts with it, but you guys do a great job. You tag team well together. You know, y'all the 18 to me, Mark, thank you for he was sitting in on a lot of the budget meetings as well. D Jones, he um was able to sit in a couple. It just brings a lot more enlightenment to actually sit and see kind of what's going on behind the scenes. So, thank you.

Thank you guys for all your work. It's is truly appreciated that our the city's funds are being managed well. And I just want to say thank you to the mayor, chief of staff, and all the administrative staff that helped us do this as well. Um, it takes a team and it takes us all together. There is a lot of work that goes into this 237 page document. Um, but we do work, you know, what is the best needs of the city and that's our um main goal.

Well, and I do need to commend our department heads. I'm I say this all the time. They know their craft. Like they're very impressive and I mean don't don't let Maria fool y'all. She's a taskmaster. She's she's a nice taskmaster, but she's a taskmaster. She be on top of that budget. I mean, just like the mayor was saying, she um um she's very This is her thing. This is her craft. And and our department heads the same way. Y'all know y'all craft. I really appreciate the director. They know they come in there ready. Um um Maria's very detailed. Gary, they be on them, but they come in ready with their with their items and what they're doing. So, kudos to you guys as well. Um, y'all work well together as a team and then the outcome is this. So, thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. So, if there's any questions or no other questions, that's all I have for tonight. Thanks, Maria. Thanks, Gary. Thank you. Very good pres presentation. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. And I wanted to thank you personally just for all the questions that you answered even though it gave me 20 more. That's okay. You know, I told you I get really excited. So, you can come call me anytime. This is kind of my jam. My jam. You make it uh you make it a lot easier to pick up a lot. I'm glad to hear that.

Is there any Is there any more discussion? Um nothing else? Nothing from department heads. Well, then it takes us to number four, public comment. And this is a portion of the agenda for those who are in the audience and would like to uh have something to say or have comments, you may do so at this time, please raise your hand and after you've been acknowledged by the chairperson, approach the podium. Please note that you will have three minutes to speak and any additional time will be upon the consent of the chairperson. Madame Chair, I do not have any written requests from the audience to speak. Thank you. Is there anyone from the audience that would like to speak?

I think they did all they work. We can close that out. So noted takes us to number five, adjournment, and the time is 6:49 p.m. A motion will be in order, please. Support motion. It's been motioned by Mr. Wsworth, seconded by Mr. Wilhigh to adjourn this special meeting. Mr. Wsworth. Yes, Mr. Willhigh yes Miss Abdo yes Mr. Bullot yes Mr. Osco. Yes. Chair votes. Yes. We are journ next meeting is at regular meeting at 7:30. The next 7:5 we have a close session at 7:15. Okay.