Rescheduled City Council Meeting

COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 035 MINUTES OF THE RESCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF GROSSE POINTE WOODS HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026, IN THE COUNCIL-COURTROOM OF THE ROBERT E. NOVITKE MUNICIPAL CENTER, 20025 MACK PLAZA DR., GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MICHIGAN. The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Mayor Bryant. PRESENT: Mayor Bryant Council Members: Brown, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall ABSENT: None Also Present: City Manager Como City Attorney Romer City Treasurer/Comptroller Schmidt City Clerk Antolin Director of Public Services Kowalski Director of Public Safety Kosanke City Planner Mangan Council, Administration, and the audience Pledged Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. The following Commission members were in attendance:  Catherine Dumke, Senior Citizens’ Commission  Donna O’Keefe, Planning Commission  Mike Ellis, Planning Commission Motion by Gafa, seconded by McConaghy, that all items on tonight's agenda be received, placed on file, and taken in order of appearance. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Motion by Granger, seconded by Koester, that all items (6A-6G) on the consent agenda be approved as presented. 1  COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 036 A. Appointment(s) 1. Beautification Advisory Commission (Mayor) a) Biographical Sketch - Christina Dubiel (Bouquenoy) - Term to Expire: 12/31/27 B. Approval of Minutes 1. Council 03/16/26 2. Zoning Board of Appeals 03/16/26 C. Items Received and Placed on File 1. Beautification Advisory Commission Minutes 02/11/26 with Recommendations* *Recommendation to approve 2026 BAC budget in the amount of $3,200. *Recommendation to approve a budget not to exceed $35,000 for the 2026 Flower Sale. 2. Citizens' Recreation Commission Minutes 02/10/26 with Recommendations* *Recommendation to approve funding in the amount of $2,000 for Spring Fest. *Recommendation to approve funding in the amount of $500 for Spring Bike Ride. 3. Historical Commission Minutes 02/12/26 with Recommendations* *These recommendations were addressed at the 03/16/26 Council Meeting. 4. Tree Commission Minutes 02/04/26 5. Planning Commission Minutes 02/24/26 with Recommendation* *This recommendation will be addressed in a Public Hearing at the 04/20/26 Council meeting. D. Bids/Proposals/Contracts 1. Bark Mulch for City Landscape Beds and Installation of Playground Mulch a) Memo 03/25/26 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Bid Documents 2. Update to Michigan Municipal League's 2026 CapCon a) Memo 03/18/26 - City Manager Como 2  COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 037 3. Credit Card Limit Threshold Increase a) Memo 04/13/26 - Treasurer/Comptroller Schmidt b) Proposed GPW Credit Card Policy 4. Active Adult Commission (AAC) Request to Amend Insurance Requirements a) Memo 04/10/26 – City Manager Como b) Draft Letter 04/10/26 – To Local Cities c) Interlocal Agreement for Joint Senior Services E. Proclamation(s) 1. The Holocaust: Days of Remembrance (April 12 - 19) 2. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12 - 18) F. Resolution(s) 1. Water Meter Reader Opt-Out a) Memo 03/16/26 - Director of Public Services Kowalski b) Proposed Resolution c) Section 44-24 thru 44-26 and Section 86-1 thru 86-61 of the Ordinance d) Proposed Water Meter and Opt-Out Rule 2. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Requests for Proposals a) Memo 03/17/26 - City Manager Como b) Proposed Resolution G. Claims and Accounts 1. Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. (AEW) - City Engineers a) 2025 Sewer Rehab Program - Invoice No. 164073 - Proj. No. 0160- 0495 - 03/16/26 - $1,507.30. b) Vernier Rd. & Mack Ave. Intersection Improvement - Invoice No. 164176 - Proj. No. 0160-0455 - 03/17/26 - $5,020.06. c) Wedgewood Resurface (Vernier-Hawthorne) - Invoice No. 164177 - Proj. No. 0160-0496 - 03/17/26 - $4,459.81. d) 2025-2026 General Engineering - Invoice No. 164254 - Proj. No. 0160-0498 - 03/18/26 - $4,445.60. e) Torrey Road Pump Station Generator - Proj. No. 0160-0473 - Payment Application 8 - Rauhorn Electric, Inc. - 03/24/26 - $174,476.21. 2. McKenna - Building/Planning Services a) Invoice No. 21849-119 - Building Services - February 2026 - 03/18/26 - $45,622.70. b) Invoice No. 22-064-51 - Planning Services - February 2026 - 03/17/26 - $4,338.75. c) Invoice No. 25-030-10 - GPW MSHDA Zoning Ordinance Update - February 2026 - 03/17/26 - $1,400.00. 3  COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 038 3. State of Michigan - MDOT 00183 a) Program # 218128CON - 03/10/26 - $3,853.94. b) Program # 219533CON - 03/10/26 - $27,129.88. 4. Tomlinson & McGrail, PLLC - Legal Billing - Invoice No. 389 - March 2026 - 04/01/26 - $2,914.00. 5. WCA Assessing - Assessing Services - Invoice No. 031826 - April 2026 - 03/18/26 - $7,911.08. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None A legislative update was provided by State House District 10 Representative, Veronica Paiz. Some of the topics discussed included the State Budget, Revenue Sharing, Property Tax, March was Reading Month, CARS Act, Housing Legislations, School of Choice and other bills introduced. Councilmember Granger appreciated the Housing Bill regarding state control over local zoning being addressed. Representative Paiz also addressed upcoming events including “Knowing Your Rights” Virtual Town Hall, United Methodist Church Food Drive, Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall, Constituents Services on the Road, and Coffee Hours at Grosse Pointe local libraries. Representative Paiz is available locally on Mondays and Friday and is willing to meet individually or in groups. Mayor Bryant and City Council read aloud the proclamations regarding the Holocaust: Days of Remembrance (April 12-19) and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12- 18). The City Council recessed the Regular City Council Meeting and convened as a Zoning Board of Appeals at 7:30 p.m. Upon conclusion of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, the City Council reconvened at 8:10 p.m. Motion by McConaghy, seconded by Gafa, that City Council approve and authorize Nickel and Saph Inc. to continue to be the city’s general liability and property insurances agent and approve the renewal proposal as presented in an amount not to exceed $408,148.27; and to approve a budget amendment from prior year reserves in the amount of $24,115.27, as reflected in the total amount taken from the accounts listed on the City Manager’s memo dated April 13, 2026. 4  COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 039 Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: Brown, Bryant, Gafa, Granger, Koester, McConaghy, Motschall No: None Absent: None Mayor Bryant accepted the resignation of Heidi Uhlig-Johnstone from the Senior Citizens’ Commission with regret, and directed appropriate thanks and recognition be sent to Ms. Uhlig- Johnstone. Under New Business, the following individual was heard:  Councilmember Granger stated that Heidi Uhlig-Johnstone resigned from the Senior Citizens’ Commission as she was appointed as the Director of the new Adult Day Care on Kercheval Avenue. A majority of the cost for the Adult Day Care was absorbed by the Active Adult Commission Millage. Under Public Comment, no one wished to be heard. Motion by Gafa, seconded by McConaghy, that the City Council recess the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:14 p.m. and convene in Closed Session, pursuant to MCL 15.268 (c) for strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of collective bargaining agreement. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Brown: Yes Bryant: Yes Gafa: Yes Granger: Yes Koester: Yes McConaghy: Yes Motschall: Yes City Council reconvened in regular session at 9:29 p.m. Motion by Motschall, seconded by Koester, to adjourn tonight’s meeting at 9:30 p.m. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 5  COUNCIL 04-13-26 – 040 Respectfully submitted, _______________________ _______________________ Paul P. Antolin Arthur W. Bryant City Clerk Mayor 6