City Council

CITY OF LINDEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M. LOCATION: LOOSE SENIOR CENTER, 707 NORTH BRIDGE STREET, LINDEN, MI 48451 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong. The meeting was held at The Loose Senior Center located at 707 North Bridge Street, Linden, Michigan 48451. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. A Moment of Silence was observed for fallen police and fire. ROLL CALL & INTRODUCTIONS City Council Present: Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong, Mayor Pro tem Jerry Link, Pam Howd, Denise Miller, Thomas Hicks, Brad Dick, Brenda Simons Absent: None Others Present: Ellen Glass, City Manager; Scott Sutter, Chief of Police; Brian Will, Fire Chief; Don Grice, Director of Public Works; Brooke Card, City Treasurer; Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk; Michael Gildner, City Attorney; John Windlow, ROWE Professional Services a. Excuse Absent Member(s); None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. Dementia-Friendly Communities Workshop By: Jim Mangi, Dementia Friendly Services Jim Mangi presented on dementia, causes and impacts; shared personal experiences; ways to incorporate dementia friendly services in our community; challenges people with dementia experience; public education, activities, community involvement; and shared resources. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CORRESPONDENCE a. Planning Commission 2025 Annual Report Glass provided brief description of item. Armstrong acknowledged receipt of the item and also acknowledged receipt of a resident’s email about trash collection. PUBLIC COMMENT None. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 Page 1 of 4 CONSENT AGENDA a. City Council Meeting Minutes from December 8, 2025 b. Application to Use Public Property - LAFF Pathways Paddle & Pedal Festival: Saturday, June 13, 2026 c. Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Fee Schedule (Cemetery Administrative Fee) d. Financial Reports Motion by Howd, second by Miller to accept the consent agenda. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Dick, Miller, Hicks, Simons, Link, Armstrong, Howd NAYS: None ABSENT: None DISCUSION ITEMS a. F.A.C.T. Consortium Cost Allocation for PEG Funding Applications Glass explained the topic will return next meeting, referenced applications and reviewed breakdown provided. No public comment was received. No questions or comments were received from Council. Glass further explained the application review and approval process. b. Downtown Parking/Intersection Reconfiguration Grice reviewed reasoning for the topic; presented on parking locations and availability within the downtown. Sutter explained monitoring of parking availability, referenced memo provided. Grice reviewed discussion with Church, their concerns and an agreement; shared potential parking scenario for design and number of spaces; and explained getting Council’s direction. No public comment was received. Council and Grice discussed further engagement with the Church and inquire about their plans for the lot. Brief discussion between Link and Gildner regarding an agreement. Link and Grice discussed the DDA-owned lot; using grindings from Broad street re-paving and reasoning; current temporary gravel lot now; properties along river. Simons discussed public parking signage; number of spaces available and questioned if perceived issue and cost. Armstrong explained looking and pursuing. Motion by Link, second by Armstrong to engage with the Presbyterian Church in conversation for the possibility of sharing public parking and to engage with our engineers to help with design and guide. Also, to look further at that parking lot, cost and if we can get those millings for free. Grice clarified property details. Kanyak requested motion clarification, Gildner clarified and confirmed no objections with Council. Motion carried 7-0. Grice introduced intersection reconfiguration topic. John Windlow, from Rowe Professional Services, provided an introduction; shared a presentation on truck turn model scenarios and reviewed in detail; shared potential reconfiguration; discussed option to re-stripe the median and impact on bike land and parking spaces at intersection; further discussed traffic signal type/programming change and reasoning, further discussion with Will regarding route and reasoning. Public comment regarding bike lane removal down by the boardwalk toward Clover Beach, Grice explained sharrows. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 Page 2 of 4 Councilors, Windlow and staff discussed bike route; light cycle, type and timing and current difficulties turning at that intersection for semis, large trailers; secondary stop mark suggestion by gas station; fire truck routes and signal; requested more information and cost for both striping and new light poles and lights; and shared concerns and observations at intersection. Discussion between Armstrong and staff regarding bikes and sidewalks, and grants for lights, Grice explained. Motion by Armstrong, second by Simons to research all of the things pertaining to the traffic. Motion carried 7-0. c. Budget Priorities Glass explained purpose of topic; shared brief overview of budget process and explained wanting Council’s requests and priorities. Referenced update email; documents from session with Lew, explained ongoing and planned projects. No public comment was received. Dick discussed projects needing to be finished before new ones; include what was discussed tonight and some additional road projects. Miller asked about work sessions regular meetings and voting, and about 1013 North Bridge Street, Glass explained. Simons asked about the city’s LAFF Pathway investment and about Triangle Park, Glass explained. Hicks commented on looking forward to seeing more in the budget and briefly discussed Triangle Park restoration with staff. Howd discussed current projects getting done, water wells decommissioned and DPW property, and safe city facilities. Link discussed current projects and also recording of meetings for the budget. Armstrong referenced conversation about budget items with Glass, including things discussed tonight and the Mill. Miller asked about changing welcome signage at Triangle Park, Glass explained; also Miller thanked Dick for serving as pro tem. Card reviewed budget process and timeline for draft; engaged with PFM for water fund analysis; and budget adoption in May for Fiscal year 2026-2027, explained some projects will be finalized and some will carry into the new budget; and requested Council share additional thoughts with staff. Link discussed sharing a grant writer with another municipality and reasoning, brief discussion with Glass regarding challenges; current staff’s success with obtaining grants and can explore options; Miller requested seeing the grants applied for. Howd shared a grant resource for intersections, brief discussion with Staff. Link asked if we have a list of grants applied for with status of current grants and reason. Glass explained importance of getting Council’s priorities and reasoning; and brief discussion with Armstrong about Departments tracking grants. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Glass provided an update on the following items: • Recent Planning Commission conditional rezoning approval • Annex project completion • Mill project update • Contact Staff for training registrations • Upcoming Chamber Forecast Breakfast • Alpine Pharmacy ribbon cutting success and grand reopening • Staff working on getting meeting recording information for upcoming budget No public comment was received. No questions were received from Council. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 Page 3 of 4 COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS Armstrong apologized for Dick being skipped during last meeting’s Council Comments. Dick commented on the Lindenwood Project, commended ROWE on hand delivered letters to residents regarding recutting of driveways; and thanked volunteers for Christmas parade. Miller thanked staff and volunteers. Hicks thanked everyone, commented on 2026 and briefly discussed Rolston Road completion and speed signs with Grice. Howd provided a Metro meeting update and commented on team building opportunities, training and CapCon. Link thanked Dick and team for Holiday Happening; thanked staff and ROWE regarding curbs in Lindenwood; commented on Rolston and briefly discussed speed limit with Sutter; and thanked everyone for year-round budget efforts. Armstrong thanked staff and Dick for service as pro tem; provided Small Cities update on America 250, if any events being planned to share, shared passport project and email to contact her. Miller commented on Armstrong being Vice Chair for Small Cities. Hicks shared seasonal issue with car wash and ice at intersection, with Grice. No comments were received from Councilor Simons. CLOSED SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Miller, second by to Howd to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Armstrong at 8:34 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________ Approved: ________________ Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 Page 4 of 4