City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, I'm going to call the meeting to order for June 16th, 2026. It's 6.30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Thiele, would you please? Yes. Roll call, please.

Mr. Patz? Here. Mr. Clark?

Here.

Mr. Armstrong? Here. Mr. Wallace? Here. Mr. Thede?

Here.

Mr. Thomas? Here. Mr. Johnson? Here. Mayor Woolley? Here. Mrs. Bower is excused. Mr. Dragone? Here.

Let's go to 4.1 on the agenda. May I get a motion to approve the agenda?

Motion.

Motion by .

I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment to item 7.2, quote, motion to approve case number 26-20 PUD-21001 Van Boren as an industrial PUD development. Existing building in sight and to approve the PUD agreement. Uses include specialized self-storage,

medical and professional office space support motion by mr wall supported by mr clark any discussion there are none all in favor say yes yes yeses have a motion period 4.2 motion to approve the acceptance of the minutes held june 2nd 2026 and dispense with the world

any discussion

Anything from the audience here? All in favor say yes. Yes, all opposed. Yes, it's have a motion. There's communication.

Thank you Mr. chair. So, if you, I just want to read something real quick. As many, you know, we had a situation yesterday. We found. Unresponsive in the pool situation, but I just want to read something real quick email that I just copied in. This is to Chief Blair from actually the fire chief and our fire chief. Chief Blair, I wish to bring to your attention the actions of Taylor Police Corporal Anthony Ward and the rest of the Taylor Police Department officers who responded and assisted to the Taylor Fire Department or assisted the taylor fire department during a very difficult incident on june 15 2026. on june 15 2026 at 14 4 hours the taylor fire department received multiple calls 911 calls reporting a person later identified as a 12 year old female who had drowned in the pool at their department's taylor fire department dismissed immediately with the call out over the radio to any available units while entering the incident into the cab The county chief, Russ McNamee, was at party at Goddard Roads when the call went out and immediately responded, observing Corporal Hoare responding at approximately 1,000 feet ahead of him. County Chief McNamee reports that upon Corporal Hoare's arrival on the scene, and without hesitation, he immediately ran to the pool, found that the victim had no pulse, and immediately began performing CPR on her. County Chief McNamee grabbed the medical equipment from his truck and followed closely behind him. Corp. Board continued performing CPR, compressions, we had a mutiny achievement and we secured the victim's airway and provided for us with the BBM and so the remaining fire department and the Taylor Police Department crews arrived on the scene as we were leaving them several minutes later. We've actually performed the media CPR with the actions of the other officers who gave squad three and escorts to the hospital went above and beyond the scope of their expected duties. This was all done under the unusual and extremely difficult circumstances. And directly and positively affected the treatment, transport and outcome, giving this young victim her best chance of survival. At last check, the victim was still in critical condition after being transferred to Corwell Boyle Over Pediatric ICU. Although very unfortunate, this incident is a shining example of a case of public safety departments working together during very difficult and unusual circumstances, resulting in giving the young victim less chance of surviving, which may have not otherwise been Afforded because of the nature of the instance, we have achieved for this that we need to achieve healing in the entire fire department.

We wish to recognize the thing.

The police department officers. Actions and assistance during this unusual is probably sincerely that we are your chief. So I'm reading this just to recognize them because it just makes me proud that they're quick actions and the ability to work together just makes me that much prouder to be a part of this community, not just as the mayor, but to be a resident here. And unfortunately, if we deal with these types of situations more than a lot of people realize, it doesn't always make the difference. And I read that because I want people to realize how Which I appreciate you guys and not everything makes the news and you guys working together and helping one another out at those times. To drop off a hat, you guys are there doing everything you can to help somebody and to save a life, you know, in most cases. I appreciate that and that's the reason I'm here today.

Next on the agenda is the consent agenda. All these items will be approved in one motion. They're normal, everyday things that we do every year, year in and year out. Can I get a motion on the consent agenda? Motion to approve, Mr. Chairman. Second. Second by Mr. Feedy. Any discussion on any of the items? Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes.

All opposed, yes is counted. Motion carried. We move to the regular agenda, 7.9.

Motion to approve the second reading of the rezoning of partial 60-002-99-001-701 of the Northwest Section 3TS-3S-R10E, City of Taylor, Wayne County, Michigan, from I-1, I-1, slash B2 slash TDGH, Light Industrial Regional Business, Taylor-Dearborn Heights Gateway overlay to I1PUD, Light Industrial Land Unit Development. This property is located at the south side of Van Boren Road, between Clipperton and Merritt Street. Thanks a lot. support most registered uh town supported by mr wallace any discussion you want to come explain this yes i do

This rezoning is to pave the way for a proposed PUD at the former building. We are fortunate that we had an applicant and a developer that wishes to reuse the existing site to preserve that beautiful building and to make way for new businesses, including self-storage facility, an advanced center, a conference center, and professional office space. And I believe this would be just the beginning of all the improvements they'll do there. Does anybody have any questions?

Okay. No questions. Any other discussion? If there is none, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed? Yeses have it. 7.2. Motion to approve case number 26-20 PUD 21001 Van Boren as industrial PUD. Existing building and site to approve the PUD agreement. uses include self-storage, specialized self-storage, advanced comfort zone, medical office, professional office space. May I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion by Mr. Thomas. Second. Second by Mr. Clark. Any discussion? Anything from the audience? All in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed, yeses have it, motion carried. 7.3, motion to approve City of Taylor budget amendment 2026-009, dated June 16th, 2026. Motion. Motion by Mr. Wallace. Support. Support by Mr. Thomas. Any discussion? Hope not, because Jason's not ahead. That all ends last night. Anything from the audience? Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed? Yeses have the motion carried. 7.4, a motion to amend CCR number 2.40-25 on the Civic Plus annual subscription to add language that annual renewal fee will increase at the rate of 5% as agreed upon in the original agreement. Motion. Motion by Mr. Clark. Support. Motion by Mr. Wallace. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes. Yeses have the motion carried. Let's go to 7.5. Motion to approve that Queen's sole source for the purchase of firefighting rescue equipment in an amount not to exceed $64,704 Funded through the General Fund, Fire Department, and Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Grant. Motion. Motion by Mr. Armstrong. Support. Support by Mr. Katz. Any discussion? Anything from the audience? Hearing none, all in favor say yes.

Yes.

All opposed? Yeses have it. Motion carried. So, the point 6 to approve highway field sole source for the purchase of firefighter rescue equipment, the amount not to exceed 11,828 dollars. But if you're a general fire department, they should be the top of the labor and economic economic opportunity grant. Motion motion by Mr. I'm strong support support register part any discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed, yes is had, motion carried. 7.7, motion to approve firehouse innovation sole source for the purchase of firefighting rescue equipment in the Mount Mattrick Sea, 11,145 funded through the General Fund Fire Department Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Grant. Motion. Motion by Mr. O'Neill. So moved. Supported by Mr. Bass, any discussion?

Mr. Chair, in relation to these last three motions, they're all sole source, which means they weren't bid on. However, the reason they were done, as we were explained by our assistant fire chief, was due to compatibility with our department and other departments. And just so you know, the amount of money that was quoted for these things is actually a very good deal for us in comparison to other communities that purchase the same equipment. I found that we are paying somewhere between 5% and 7% less than other communities further east of it. So even though it's a sole source, I'm very comfortable that this is a good deal for us. Thank you.

Any other discussion? Hearing none, I want to thank provider for artificial turkeys on the driving range for a mountain optic sea, $39,860, funded through Lakes and Taylor Capital. All in. Motion. Motion by Mr. Clark, supported by Mr. Thomas. Any discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes.

All opposed, yeses have motion carried. 7.9, a motion to approve David National, Kirk Mentor, to provide DS400 program of support in the Mountain Optic Sea 25,000 funded through General Fund IT Contractual Services. Motion. Motion by Mr. Wallace. Support. Support by Mr. Armstrong. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed? Yeses have it. Motion carried. 7.10, motion to approve and their paid technologies, current vendor for new Microsoft 365 backup and email security licensing for fiscal year 2027 in amount not to exceed $36,443 funded through IT, through general fund IT contractual services. Motion. Motion by Mr. Bass, supported by Mr. Thomas. Any discussion? 7.11. Motion to amend CCR number 7.283-25 to increase the authority for Downriver Creek by $11,000 for fiscal year 26 funded through the general fund TBA building and repair maintenance. Motion. Support. Motion by Mr. Thede, supported by Mr. Park. Any discussion? If there are none, all in favor say yes. Yes. Opposed? Yeses have the motion carried. 712. motion to amend ccr number 7.295-25 blanket purchase agreement to increase authority to for fairfax electric service for additional four thousand dollars and decal for additional six thousand from your general fund small flex repair and maintenance account by mr thomas Second. Supported by Mr. Deedy. Any discussion? If not, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed? Yeses have the motion. Period. 7.13. Motion to amend the annual action plan program. Action plan program year 2019 for community development plan. that funding in the amount of $165,005 for program here, economic, economic, CDE, what's that say? Business assistant to CDE and CD3 food bank assistant funded to CDBG. by mr wallace any discussion can we get someone to talk about this please

Through the chair, city council, mayor, members of the public. This is leftover COVID CARES Act monies. And we have decided with our assistance from our HUD rep to move the money and transfer it to food bank assistance, which is there's narrow eligibility for the CARES Act funding. And this we're able to spend the last amount there of 165,000 for the food bank assistance. And that will deplete our CARES Act funding by doing that.

I just want to say that it was very restricted with this money, what we can do. And that's why it was kind of sitting there and then luckily our representative reached out and said that we could use food banks. In these times right now with rising costs and everything, fish and boats has been taking a hit. Other people have been using them more and more. So we're very happy to be able to make this size of a donation to them.

And they had it on their paperwork

Very quickly, and this will be very, very beneficial to the officials as well as the residents.

Through the chair, so what would happen if we didn't use this money for something wonderful, like feeding the community.

Well, through the chair, we're not sure what HUD may do with leftover CARES Act money. I'm sure there's more out there. We don't know. They may transfer to the regular CDBG program or just recapture it and use it for other. We don't know. So we're hopefully not going to find out and we'll spend it on this and should work out well.

Thank you.

sure that was our biggest concern that we didn't want to risk them taking it back we would rather uh get the deficient votes we did more than risking it and taking it back absolutely thank you sir uh any other discussion here we go all in favor yes i oppose yes has had a motion here with 714 motion to approve mayor to sign approved amendment to the annual action plan for program year 2019 community contract act funding in the amount of $165,005 for fishing loads funded through the CDBG. Motion. Motion by Mr. Clark. Supporting by Mr. Armstrong. Any discussion? There are none. 715, motion to amend CCR 4.168-16 to approve setting CGE public hearing number two from June 16th to July 21st to receive suggestions, proposals, ideas, and comments from interested citizens concerning the proposed use of Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, Community grant funds for a five-year consolidation plan from years 26 to 2030, and the answer plan for program year 26 to 37. Motion. Motion by Mr. Kass. Support. Supported by who? Mr. Wallace. Any discussion? If there are none, all in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed, yeses have it. Motion carried. 7-16. Motion to amend and increase the purchase of laptops from as originally approved under CCR 6.25-26 for a new amount not to exceed $40,000. 20th year general fund election supplies. Motion to approve. Motion by Mr. Wallace. Mr. Thomas? Aye. Support. Support by Mr. Wallace. Any discussion? Motion carried. 7.17, motions are approved. Resolution of Great Lakes Authority, member, partner, or facilitator authorizing the execution of a legal service agreement, 3M DuPont Public Drinking Center. Motion by Mr. Thomas, supported by Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Mayor, could you talk about this?

So, Mr. Chairman, this is basically, you know, a lot of people heard the word PFAS, and this is us entering into an agreement with a legal firm.

Basically, there's lawsuits. I think, Mr. Clayton, you want to kind of discuss this? You can probably talk about it a little better than I can. You can kind of go into the details a little better than I can.

a multi-district litigation. It's a national litigation that's being brought as indicated against DuPont and 3M with regard to PFAS that were found in the water supply. I'm happy to report that Taylor's water has been tested and has absolutely zero PFAS. We don't have to worry about that, but the Litigation concerns is that Great Lakes Water Authority charged a fee, part of their cost to remove those PFAS before they came to the City of Taylor. So this is basically to recoup those expenses for removing PFAS from the water.

Any other discussion?

Through the Chair, I just want to make sure in case anybody didn't hear clearly. Council said there is no problem with this material in the water.

Thank you.

Any other discussion? All in favor? All in favor? Yes. All opposed? Roll call, please.

Mr. Armstrong?

Yes.

Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Thede? Yes. Mr. Thomas? Yes. Mr. Pat?

Yes.

Mr. Clark? Yes. And Mr. Johnson? Yes.

Motion to carry. Number eight is open business. Let's go to audience first.

I'm very disappointed that nothing on the homepage of your website and your calendar still indicates that this meeting was taking place in City Hall. I show up at Taylor City Hall when I'm able to attend one of your City Council meetings. I checked your agenda. I checked the calendar. I went to your website. Nothing there indicated that your meeting had been moved. Luckily, I got to your city hall earlier tonight than I usually would. I find it very unprofessional that there was no mechanism to let the press know that your meeting location had been moved. I would venture to say that there's a possibility it might be a violation of the Open Meetings Act. I don't go to City Hall unless I'm attending a meeting. I cover 10 cities. I don't run around to every City Hall to see if something's taped on the door. I would hope that in the future, if you change meeting locations, you use your communications director's mailing list to let people know of the new location and put it on your website and change the electronic calendar date. I don't think that's a lot to ask. Thank you.

I'm looking at the website now, it looks like it was posted on June 9th, so I don't know.

I don't know, I was searching your calendar right now, and I've got a screenshot that shows this.

You said the website didn't include the change, and I'm just pointing out that you're wrong, that's all.

I mentioned the website right now while I was sitting here.

Mr. Chair, but I also want to point out that this is clearly on top of our agenda as well that we're looking at, that it was all the first.

Thank you. Mary Susan, hopefully it'll stop. Okay. All right, I have two things. I know one you guys probably won't want to do, but I'll go with the first one. At Beverly and Inkster, there is painted on the road, very faded, lines. for left turn right turn going west i would like to know if you guys would please repaint those so that people know that if they're going to turn left they need to be here if they're going to turn right they can be closer to the curb because we have a lot of traffic and then it just sits is it yes yes just it's it's right where the that school used to be that's now a church. So if you guys could do that, that'd be great. The other one is speed bumps, which I know you guys don't like. But on Beverly, you need to have temporary speed bumps. These little bikes, the cars, they are flying down there. They're not just going 35. They have to be doing at least 45, 50. And I'm personally, and I'm sure there are other people there, I haven't talked to them, they're tired of this because these bikes and these cars are loud because they're just screaming down the road. Have your windows open. You can't hear the TV. You can't hear music because these guys are just flying. I find it extremely disrespectful of these people, especially these kids on these bikes. And I know I can call the police, but by the time, I don't know where they're at.

I don't know where they live, but I am concerned.

And I know you guys don't like to do speed bumps, but I seriously think you need to think about it and maybe just do temporary ones for the summer and then pull them up for winter so that you can plow the roads. That's all I have.

Something has to be done.

Yeah, and something has to be done. I'm not sure how to take care of this, so I'm just going to put it right here.

Hello, it's me again. This is the people attempting to take care of someone along between the sidewalk and the curb to the dead end where I live. However, when I was here for the last time, this is my third trip here, you guys came through with cold back and passed cold. I commend you for that. So, I don't know what to do with this lawn, except I think I'm about ready to just forget about you folks and your attempts to try to repair this, do it myself, and make some new builds for it. And also, about the water, I got a picture of some water and testers and water and meters. It's full of sediment, pollution. It's full of poison, carcinogens. And here is a photo of a tester testing the water from my faucet. That looks like garbage. There's this much sediment on an eight ounce glass. I'm cracking up water. So now I have a capsule here. That's all I have. Thank you.

Hello, City Council. Thank you very much for giving us a moment. My name is John Waterman. I'm the executive director and founder of PEAK, a program that empowers individuals with disabilities through active modes of transportation, biking, busing, and walking. I'm here today with... Yasmin. And Desmond, what's your last name? Thompson. Thompson. And Desmond, where do you live? Taylor. Great. And Desmond, did you just graduate? Yes. Where did you graduate from? The Joe Brighton Center. What an amazing school, right? He had some pretty good teachers there? Yes. What do you desire to get? Where do you want to live? Do you want to live at home or do you want to get your own apartment? My own apartment. And do you drive? How do you get around? Bus or bike. Bike or the bus. And which bus? The smart bus or the DDOT bus? The smart bus. The smart bus is what you use to travel. Can we introduce yourself?

My name is Linda Jones and I live in Taylor.

You live in Taylor. And did you graduate a few years ago? Yeah.

Where'd you graduate from? Joe Brian. Do you have a disability? Yeah, it's a car memory impairment. What does a cognitive impairment mean? Reading and writing is hard.

Reading and writing is hard. Where do you live? Do you live in an apartment or your own apartment or with your parents?

I live in my own apartment.

And how do you travel around the city of Taylor?

The bus.

Which bus?

The smart bus.

And you're doing something very special. Did you have some good teachers at Joe Brighton?

Yeah, I'm a triple trainer.

You're a travel trainer. What does that mean?

Riding the bus. So? Teaching the kids how to ride the bus.

Which kids? Kids with cognitive impairments like yourself?

Yes.

Do they look up to you?

Yeah.

Desmond, would you like to live independently like Kamisha? So right now the city of Taylor has made an important decision and it made it a long time ago to invest in transportation, to invest in the smart system. This August there's a renewal and a millage is coming up. that will not cost the citizens any more money, but that commitment to this renewal will increase the ability to travel from place to place. I'm excited about the potential that it means for Wayne County, but scared because if it doesn't pass, the smart bus is gone. and these two individuals' dreams gets crushed. If you don't have a way to go shopping, you can't live on your own. If you don't have a way to go to work, you can't support yourself. So please support the Smart Bus.

City Council. I've lived in Taylor for three years. And I want to talk about a little bit about garage sale permits. They don't exactly, I sell flowers and I started selling strawberries when I bought the house. The whole farmhouse 105 years old. Well, I got harassed a little bit the first year, and then they said, get a garage sale permit. So I did that. But bad weather, farmers are losing their crops, and I got an insight on overstaff, like Amazon. Fresh produce and flowers at discounted prices for people in that neighborhood. They walk, they socialize. Well, this year the farmers are stuck again. May was terrible. It rained the whole month of May. There is so much overstock right now, they're starting to throw stuff out. I just want some kind of permit, a farm stand that just allows, you know, the way that America was built on farm stands. You know, grass sale permit, it's OK, but it's temporary. Seasonal grow is good, so agriculture permit or something of that sort. That's about it. And then I live on Clippard and near Morton Pugh. It's a drag strip there. I mean a drag strip from the stop side to the next stop side to the baseball park.

And I don't know. Traveling every day.

Yes. And I got two Porsches I sit on, and it's the same people. The same.

The police department would make more money on Wake Road than they do on town. Here's the reality. We only have so many people. Yeah. We're a big city. Oh, yeah. I know. It's growing. It can't be everywhere.

Yeah. I was thinking of putting one of those signs out with the guy with the flag. Slow down. Slow down. No, no. And it's the younger generation. And there's kids on bikes. E-bikes when they cross the street. The rolling stops. You think you got time, but here comes a car right on your butt.

And they've been doing that for years because I played little league.

Yeah.

And another thing. A few of our friends were hit there.

Yeah. The concession stand that used to be at the ballpark. What do you contact about reviving it? Getting snacks?

Little league.

Little League is not owned by the city of Taylor? Oh, okay. But that's all I gotta say. I love Taylor. Been around Taylor for six years. Now I live here. I'm not from the East side. I never thought I'd live here. So a farm stand would be great because there's people that sell Michigan corn, Michigan tomatoes, but I don't think they got a permit. So make it easier for everybody. You know, Amazon was built in a garage. Bring back the small business. Thank you.

Any other discussion from the audience? Anything from the council? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. Oh, we do have one.

This is from Chuck King. City of Taylor Council, do you have any ideas on how to reduce violence in Marist City?

Mr. Chair, it deserves some kind of an answer. I think that technology is being deployed by our police department probably is the greatest single thing that they can do to multiply themselves and be in many more places than they could in the other way. It was one of my major areas of interest when I got elected. And I think that that's probably the best answer is that the city, the council, the administration are very much supporting high technology purchases. I think that we've got to meet some And they're actually deploying everything they can so that they can respond quickly to problems and keep a good eye on what's going on.

We also would like to mention that there's a need for volunteers for the Wall That Heals. It's a four-hour shift available Wednesday, August 12th from 2 p.m. through Sunday, August 16th at 2 p.m. For more information, please contact Angie Witten at 313-492-1172 or taylorwallvolunteer at gmail.com.

Please and thank you. through the chair just a reminder that we're going to be here for the next city council meeting too two weeks from today three weeks i'm so sorry oh your calendar doesn't it's july 7th very sorry it's july 7th we will be here for the next meeting because the chambers are still being moved down any other discussion from the council motion to adjourn

Thank you, Mr. Paul. Supported by Mr. Thomas. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? That is a no. The meeting is adjourned.