City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 IN CITY HALL 1. Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Mayor Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk, gave the Invocation. 3. Council Members present at roll call: Deanna Koski, Michael V. Radtke, Jr., Maria G. Schmidt, Liz Sierawski, Michael C. Taylor, Henry Yanez, Barbara A. Ziarko. Also Present: Mark Vanderpool, City Manager; Donald P. DeNault, Jr., Assistant City Attorney; Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk; Carol Sobosky, Recording Secretary. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Koski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to approve the agenda as presented. Yes: All. The motion carried. 5. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER Mr. Vanderpool reminded everyone that the next City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. due to a Warren Consolidated School District bond election on Tuesday, May 3. He noted that the City of Sterling Heights Department of Public Works is preparing for their annual street sweeping program, which includes all city streets. He advised that the program typically begins in late April or early May, depending on the weather, and runs through the end of November or early December, starting with the major roads, followed by the neighborhood roads. They repeat the cycle four times each year. Mr. Vanderpool introduced Beautification Commission Chairperson Gary Isom, who will share a special celebration held tonight at the City’s Nature Center and talk about an interesting sculpture and pledge made by the Mayor and City Council. Beautification Commission Chairperson Gary Isom stated their Commission’s mission is to encourage all city residents and property owners to preserve and enhance the beauty of public and private properties, often through planting beautiful flowers and other plants as part of their landscaping. This year, the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 2 Beautification Commission wanted the City to take the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge through the National Wildlife Federation. He explained that this pledge allows municipalities to take actions to help save the monarch butterfly, whose populations are declining rapidly. He explained the pledge involves a commitment by the municipality to create a habitat for the butterfly by planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly plants and educating residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community. He stated that earlier this evening, members of City Council and City Administration joined the Mayor as he officially signed the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge for Sterling Heights, and Mr. Isom outlined the action items the Commission will take to fulfill that pledge. These include hosting a native seed or plant swap during their annual plant exchange on May 14, the planting/maintaining of a monarch and pollinator- friendly demonstration garden at the Library’s Children’s Garden and at the Nature Center’s Butterfly Garden, commitment to work on the conversion of spaces to monarch habitats such as the Sterling Relief Drain habitat restoration and a butterfly flyway at the Red Run Drain. They will also host an outdoor education program that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly nectar plants. He added they plan to accomplish this by their fall quarterly luncheon in September, where they will have a monarch butterfly theme and will feature the first vice-president of the Macomb County Master Gardiner Association as guest speaker. They will submitting a final report of the Monarch Pledge activities completed to the National Wildlife Federation by December 1, 2022, and he hoped their actions will help to preserve the population of the monarch butterfly population, while encouraging residents to continue to beautify their community. He thanked the City for taking the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in Sterling Heights. Mr. Vanderpool concluded his report by thanking the Mayor and Council as well, and the good work of the Nature Preserve staff, Mr. Langlois, and the artist who did a fantastic job on the sculpture. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 3 Mayor Taylor thanked Fusion Fabricating for donating some of the scrap metal that went into the butterfly sculpture in a small garden outside the Nature Center. He thanked artist Kyle Burnett who create the sculpture, and he thanked the Sustainability Commission, Arts Commission, and Beautification Commission for their continued work in support of the City of Sterling Heights. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Mayor Taylor stated this to consider the application by Mancini Holdings 7255 LLC for a Speculative Building Designation at 7255 Eighteen ½ Mile Road. He invited Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner to give a presentation. He indicated there are three applications by Mancini Holdings, and he indicated that if Mr. Bonner would like to give an overview of all three of them, he is welcome to do so. Economic Development Director Luke Bonner explained there are three different items related to Mancini Holdings, represented by Edward Mancini and Marcello Mancini, and he explained each of the applications. He stated the first (Public Hearing A) is related to a Speculative Building Designation at 7255 Eighteen ½ Mile Road, and this designation preserves the right for the future tenant who leases space at that facility to come back and request an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate through City Council. He advised the current property under construction is an 80,000-square-foot building, being an approximate $6 million investment in real property, which, under their Tax Abatement Ordinance, would start a tax payment term at seven years, and the number of jobs created by the company would dictate the final term for which that company would be eligible. He explained that speculative building is also in an existing Industrial Development District as approved on June 6, 2017. Mr. Bonner explained that the second application (Public Hearing B) is a second Speculative Building Designation at 42260 R Mancini Drive, located directly behind the first building. It is another building currently under construction and measures 26,000 square feet, which is an approximate $3.2 million investment in real property, and it also starts at a seven-year term under their tax abatement Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 4 guidelines. It is in an Industrial Development District as approved on May 15, 2001. He stated approval of this request would preserve the right for a future qualified tenant of that building to come back and request consideration of a tax abatement. Mr. Bonner explained the third application (Public Hearing C) is to establish an Industrial Development District for 42800 Merrill Road. He noted that building was recently demolished and housed the former State Police Crime Lab, but they are proposing a 16,000-square-foot industrial building, The intent is to be able to come back in the future if they do not have a tenant, and they can request a Speculative Building Designation for that building as well, which would then preserve the right for a future tenant to come back and request a tax abatement from City Council. He noted the City Council did this for 42605 Van Dyke, which was also a Mancini Holding building. It sat vacant for a number of years, a Speculative Building Designation was placed on it, and it was leased to Hydroform, who then came before City Council to request a tax abatement. He, along with Mr. Mancini and his son, are available for questions. Mayor Taylor informed that these will be taken separately for audience participations and deliberations. He indicated they are starting with Mancini Holdings 7255 LLC, and he opened the public hearing. No one from the audience spoke, and Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing. Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Radtke, RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution approving the application by Mancini Holdings 7255 LLC to designate the new industrial facility being constructed at 7255 Eighteen ½ Mile Road as a speculative building in accordance with Public Act 198 of 1974. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated she is in favor of going forward with this request, as described by Mr. Bonner. Yes: All. The motion carried. B. Mayor Taylor stated this to consider the application by Mancini Holdings 42260 LLC for a Speculative Building Designation at 42260 R Mancini Drive. He indicated that a presentation has been made, and he opened the public hearing, inviting comments and questions from the audience. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 5 There were no comments from the public, so Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing. Moved by Councilwoman Schmidt, seconded by Councilwoman Ziarko, RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution approving the application by Mancini Holdings 42260 LLC to designate the new industrial facility being constructed at 42260 R Mancini Drive as a speculative building in accordance with Public Act 198 of 1974. Yes: All. The motion carried. C. Mayor Taylor stated this to consider the application by Mancini Holdings 7255 LLC for a Speculative Building Designation at 7255 Eighteen ½ Mile Road. He indicated that a presentation has been made, and he opened the public hearing, inviting comments and questions from the audience. Mr. Edward Mancini, applicant, thanked the Mayor, Council, and City Attorney, and stated he is here to continue to invest in Sterling Heights. He stated he was here as a young child when his father owned the company, and he is now starting to break his son into the business. He stressed they love the City and want to continue working and investing in it. Mayor Taylor closed the public hearing. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution approving the application by Mancini Holdings 42800 LLC to establish an Industrial Development District (IDD) at 42800 Merrill Road. Councilwoman Ziarko thanked the Mancini family for investing in Sterling Heights, adding their developments in the City have a great reputation. She questioned whether the ingress/egress points for this property in the future will be coming off Mound, Eighteen ½ Mile, or Merrill. She clarified she is not concerned with it at this point, but it might be something she will be concerned with in the future because of the heavy traffic in the area. Mr. Mancini stated this is the location of the former State Police site, and the existing entrance will remain the same. He added there will be another entrance just to the south of it as requested by the Fire Department, so they have access to the site with their firefighting equipment. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 6 Mayor Taylor thanked Mr. Bonner and Mr. Mancini for being present tonight. He also thanked the Mancini family for their continued support of the City of Sterling Heights and development in the City, adding his appreciation for everything their family has done in the City for decades. Yes: All. The motion carried. 7. ORDINANCE INTRODUCTIONS A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider introduction of ordinances amending Chapter 12, Article V of the City Code to modify definitions and hours of operations for body art facilities and Articles 11, 12, and 31 of Zoning Ordinance 278 to allow microblading as a primary or ancillary use in C-1 (Local Convenience Business District) and C-2 (Planned Comparison District) zoning districts. He invited City Planner Chris McLeod to give a presentation. City Planner Chris McLeod explained that this is an introduction for two potential ordinances to be considered this evening. The first addresses hours of operation for body art facilities, and the second addresses C-1 and C-2 districts, as well as the definition section of the ordinance. He explained that microblading is a semi- permanent tattooing on the body, primarily on eyebrows. It is applied with a disposable hand tool with its application much like a tattoo and is an ancillary service to beauty salons and spas. It is becoming a more popular service provided over the last few years, with five or six of them coming before the Board of Appeals, and numerous other inquiries that have not gone through the Board of Appeals process. It is still considered a form of tattooing at the state level, and would still be considered, with some exceptions, as body art or tattooing here in the City, although they are trying to remedy some of the procedural issues caused by that designation. Mr. McLeod explained the zoning ordinance amends the definition of microblading relative to the zoning sections, but also addresses making microblading a permissible use in the C-1 and C-2 districts. Since C-2 uses are allowed within the C-3 district, this use would also be allowed in the C-3 district by default, so all their commercial districts would allow for either a primary or Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 7 ancillary use of a business for microblading. Microblading is currently considered a body art use which requires special land use approval only in the C-2 district, and there are strict requirements with regard to locations within that Special Land Use provision, making it difficult to locate a body art facility within the City. He advised that the Planning Commission considered the proposed amendment at their March 9, 2022, meeting, and they voted unanimously to recommend approval from the zoning side of the request. He added there was one public comment at that meeting expressing favor of the overall amendment. He clarified that the Planning Commission is not required to act on the regulatory provision in Chapter 12, Article V of the City Code, which addresses the hours of operation. The hours of operation for a body art facility are currently 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but the proposed amendment would increase those hours by a total of three hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. He reminded that these uses are a licensed use within the City, so they will still need to obtain a license from the City Clerk. The remaining regulatory provisions and licensing would remain as is, noting this provision deals with definition as well as hours of operation, and he reiterated that this part of the zoning amendment package does not need Planning Commission review. Mr. McLeod advised that City Council consideration is for one or both of these, confirming that they can be broken apart even though they are being proposed together as a package. He offered to answer questions. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for public comments.  Ben Orjada – expressed favor of the adoption of these ordinances; stated body art has been negatively stereotyped, he felt they should be an option to the public at large.  Brandy Wright – in favor of the proposed ordinances; stressed it is not something limited to “bikers” or “criminals,” but professionals make use of it; agreed that the hours of this service should be expanded. Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Taylor, RESOLVED, to introduce the ordinance amending Chapter 12, Article V of the City Code to modify definitions and hours of operations for body art facilities; and to introduce the ordinance amending Articles 11, 12, and 31 of Zoning Ordinance No. 278 to allow microblading as a primary or ancillary use in C-1 (Local Convenience Business District) and C-2 (Planned Comparison District) zoning districts. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 8 Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated it is time to allow some of these services to be much more convenient to the public. She indicated she partakes of microblading for her eyebrows, and she will be voting in favor of these ordinances. Councilwoman Ziarko expressed her support and questioned whether the person performing this service will still be licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Mr. McLeod replied affirmatively, adding that any action the City Council takes does not exempt them from state licensing. They would also be locally licensed. Councilwoman Ziarko commented that it came to her attention recently that it is a three-year wait to get an appointment with some of the local artists, so it is something that is beginning to be in demand. Councilman Radtke expressed full support of the ordinance changes. He commented that the material in their agenda packages states that body art facilities “shall be in a consolidated shopping center with a gross floor area exceeding 100,000 square feet.” He questioned whether that is the requirement in the C-1, C-2, or C-3 zoning district. Mr. McLeod replied that is the current provision that body art falls under with the C-2 district, and it is a Special Land Use provision, so it has to be in a shopping center in the C-2 district that meets that threshold. He clarified that is the tattooing side of it, and the proposal tonight is to pull the microblading service out of that, so they would not have to meet that provision. Councilman Radtke questioned how many 100,000-square-foot shopping centers are in Sterling Heights. Mr. McLeod estimated that there are seven or eight shopping centers in the City that are 100,000 square feet in size. He replied to further question that he does not have a definitive average size of shopping centers in the C-2 district, but it would be much less than 100,000 square feet. Councilman Radtke recently read that one out of five people in America have a tattoo, and the restrictions on tattooing in general seem to be highly restrictive. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 9 He felt these restrictions were created at a time when tattooing was frowned upon, and that use is classified with adult entertainment and pawnbrokers. He did not feel the people using tattoo facilities today fall into that description, so he questioned whether they should go further and lessen their tattoo requirements in general. He questioned whether there have been a lot of petitions through Board of Appeals to locate a body art facility in a shopping center that is less than 100,000 square feet. Mr. McLeod replied that, between true body art, which includes tattooing and microblading, they have seen two or three requests for full-blown body art facilities, but they have seen five or six requests for microblading facilities. He added that when they have telephone or counter conversations, outlining these requirements can often be a deterrent right away. Board of Appeals has reviewed each of the cases that has come before them, and he indicated the biggest issue was the hours of operation, which is why the potential change is being brought forward. Councilman Radtke noted that the petitioner must demonstrate a hardship under the current requirements when they seek a variance from the Board of Appeals. Mr. McLeod replied that is correct. The application can be brought to them for two reasons. If the facility is in a C-2 district but the shopping center does not meet the minimum 100,000 square feet requirement, it could be considered a dimensional variance. If the facility is in a C-1 or C-3 district, it is considered a use variance. They must show a practical difficulty or hardship in either case to obtain a variance. Councilman Radtke questioned whether they should review locations where these facilities could be located. He understood that they have had absolutely no complaints or issues regarding the couple of tattoo facilities currently in the City. He questioned whether the City’s requirements are too stringent if it is not a problem. He questioned whether there have been any complaints about the existing facilities. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 10 Mr. McLeod replied he is not aware of any complaints in terms of zoning or enforcement issues. He did not know if there are any police issues. Councilman Radtke stated he would like to look at amending the part of the ordinance to make it easier to establish these businesses, and although having these in a C-1 district may not make sense, but he suggested the possibility of the C-3 district. He added that he would be willing to expand the hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., which is when he believed most salons would be open. He has no objection to someone wanting to get a tattoo early in the morning. He indicated he will support this, but hopefully with some changes. Mayor Taylor recalled this was brought forward based on business owners trying to figure out a way to reduce regulations on the microblading industry. He explained the concerns of the business owner who approached him about this was that there are a number of different stylists and business owners who rent space from the landlord inside of the building, and they either could not do microblading, or if they were allowed to do so, the hours of operation for the entire facility had to comply with the limited hours placed on the microblading. He questioned whether the changes could bifurcate the requirements, so that the microblading would be required to have limited hours of operation, but the salon services in the same building can maintain longer hours. Mr. McLeod explained that, based on application of their current ordinance, while the hours may be extended as proposed, those hours would still be the regulatory hours for the entire operation of the business. He noted the proposed changes in the current draft would make it better because they are adding three hours of operation daily, but it would not alleviate the salon from being held to those same hours of operation. Mayor Taylor inquired as to the policy justification for holding the entire salon to the hours of operation for the microblading service. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 11 Mr. McLeod replied that the way it is implemented at this point, to regulate one part of the business under certain hours but allow the rest to be regulated under separate hours becomes incredibly difficult to regulate. Mayor Taylor questioned the policy justification for saying microblading can only be done until 9 p.m. but hair can be cut until 10 p.m., or microblading cannot start until 9 a.m., but hair can be cut starting at 8 a.m. Mr. McLeod replied that if the hours get expanded even further, that would help alleviate any issues or potential conflicts. He added that they can eliminate hours of operation, which would fully eradicate any conflicts. He clarified that if the microblading remains part of the regulatory ordinance which specifies it is part of the “body art” ordinance, ultimately it will fall within the hours of operation outlined in the ordinance. Mayor Taylor inquired as to whether there is a reason they cannot split microblading and tattooing into two separate entities. He does not understand the justification to prohibit tattoo parlors from being open until 10 p.m. He questioned whether the two are too similar to be separated. Mr. McLeod stated they are already doing it slightly by removing them from the zoning provision. The state will still have them under a “tattoo” or “body art” license. He deferred to Assistant City Attorney Donald P. DeNault, Jr. Assistant City Attorney Donald P. DeNault Jr. explained that, regardless of the terminology used, whether it is “microblading” or “body art,” the state still refers to it as a “body art facility;” therefore, it is still required to have a “body art facility” license, so the entire suite still falls under the state’s regulatory authority. The state also allows local municipalities to have their own local laws. He replied to inquiry that they could bifurcate the two in terms of hours and it can be done, but the entire facility will still be recognized as a body art facility under state law. Mayor Taylor questioned whether there is any detriment to their business to be considered a body art facility and would that result in any unintended Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 12 consequence to the hair stylists or other salon services being offered if these facilities are labeled as “body art.” Mr. DeNault replied the only unintended consequence is that they would have to go through the regulatory licensing process both at state and local levels, involving more processes in terms of paperwork, background checks, medical training, etc. When a salon takes on the responsibility of offering microblading as a service, they must understand it will be a regulatory hurdle for the establishment. The owner of the salon does not have to do all the microblading training as long as the microblader has been licensed by the State. Mayor Taylor inquired as to how the City’s local regulations differ from those of the State of Michigan. Mr. DeNault replied the current ordinances were written in approximately 2008, and the local level deals with the establishment rules. The state level is looking more at the medical training, the disposal of sharps, how the tools are used, background checks, and overall body art certifications. Mayor Taylor questioned whether the City regulates how late a salon can remain open. Mr. DeNault and Mr. McLeod confirmed there are no regulations for the hours of operation for a salon. Mayor Taylor stated he could see no policy reason why microblading cannot happen whatever time a commercial business can be open. He could not see why microblading should be treated any different than a nail salon or a hair salon if that is a service that is expected in a salon. He would like to see the hours completely removed for microblading to allow the salons to offer it and not have to shut down early or open later, adding it will be a big inconvenience to the salon if they want to offer the service but must shut down early. He questioned whether it would be better to ask for an amendment now or to ask for it to be prepared at the adoption hearing. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 13 Mr. DeNault felt it would be better to ask for it to be reviewed and brought back. He stated he would like to look at it to determine whether there are any interconnected pieces. Mayor Taylor stated he can support the introduction today and they will address it at the next meeting. Councilman Yanez questioned whether they would have to have specific hours, or whether the ordinance could limit it “to the hours of operation of the business.” Mayor Taylor commented that is what he is asking. He could not see why they would treat it differently than any other business. Mr. DeNault felt the best thing would be to eliminate hours of operation for microblading rather than trying to place a time on the hours of business. Councilwoman Ziarko stated she does not have a problem with the hours of operation. She is licensed by LARA as a hairdresser and confirmed that there are times where a salon will open early because of a wedding or special request. When there is a salon that offers different services, the salon is still under one license, and the owner of that salon is responsible for the people working there under that license. She pointed out the Beauty Mart is divided into different businesses, and this concept is becoming very popular in big box stores, where there may be thirty different operators under one roof. Each operator must have their own business license. Mayor Taylor understood that if they are all part of one business, they all must shut down, but in a “suite” arrangement, he questioned whether they all operate independently. He questioned how they would be regulated if they are still all in one building. Mr. McLeod stated that is a question they are often asked, noting there are a lot of independent contractors under one roof. He clarified they have taken the position that, unless they have a stand-alone unit that has its own address and is fully functional by itself, that is the only way they can regulate the business. There may be multiple tenants leasing space, and they each have their own license, but it is Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 14 the person who owns the entire tenant space that is the license owner, and the others are all sub-contractors within that tenant space. When someone comes forward with a license under body art or massage, the person who is the ultimate holder of that tenant space must be part of that application and is the responsible entity. Mayor Taylor felt that makes it more important to him to eliminate the hours of operation entirely. He questioned the meaning of the phrase in the ordinance which states “all uses shall be an integral part of the center.” Mr. DeNault replied it is intended that the business will be integrated into the center and not as a free-standing building or an outlot in the parking lot, but it is to be part of the overall strip center. Mayor Taylor noted it states, “they shall not be closer than 1,000 feet to adult entertainment use.” He questioned whether the City has adult entertainment uses. Mr. McLeod replied there are a couple of them, and the classification depends upon the level of merchandise being sold. Mayor Taylor inquired as to the policy justification for that requirement. He questioned why a tattoo parlor cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a novelty store. Mr. McLeod reminded this provision houses a number of uses and a number of things regulated under this provision. They do not want like uses that fall within the same category to be located too close to each other. They do not want an area where it becomes a larger conglomeration of these uses. He understands that body art and tattooing is different than it was years ago, but it is still regulated under that umbrella. Mayor Taylor understood that they do not want a lot of “undesirable” uses together because the entire area could be considered “undesirable,” but he felt this sends the wrong message to “keep these businesses away from where the good people are.” He admitted he has some problems with this ordinance, but he Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 15 wants to get it through to help the business owners as well as the customers who are using these facilities, without unreasonably restricting them. He did not know whether these regulations are still meaningful in 2022. Yes: All. The motion carried. 8. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Taylor stated this item is consideration of the Consent Agenda. He opened the floor for public comments.  Ben Orjada – referred to Item C; recalled recent discussion on possible escalating penalties for repeat violations on residential properties; would like to see a similar provision for commercial and industrial properties who are delinquent on the upkeep of their properties.  Ms. Bahri and Ms. Kattula, members of the Chaldean Community Foundation – referred to Item I; thanked Mayor and City Council for issuing a Resolution declaring April as Chaldean-American Month; Ms. Bahri provided some statistics on the numbers of Chaldean / Assyrian / Syriac people living in Macomb County, specifically in the City of Sterling Heights, as well as their contribution to Michigan’s economy. Moved by Koski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: A. To approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 5, 2022. B. To approve payment of the bills as presented: General Fund - $696,294.74, Water & Sewer Fund - $35,187.36, Other Funds - $1,050,912.69, Total Checks - $1,782,394.79. C. RESOLVED, to accept the proposal by Landscape Services, Inc., 22932 Rasch Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48035, for noxious weed / grass cutting services through December 31, 2022. D. RESOLVED, to waive the competitive bidding requirement in accordance with City Code Section 2-217(A)(9)(b) and approve Addendum No. 1 to the Managed Janitorial Services Contract between the City of Sterling Heights and LGC Global Energy FM, LLC, 7310 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48202, and authorize the City Manager to sign the Addendum on behalf of the City. E. RESOLVED, to approve the Independent Contractor Agreement between the City of Sterling Heights and Kimberly Vitale, 54948 Whitby Way, Shelby Township, MI 48316, and authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement and any extension on the same terms and conditions. F. RESOLVED, to award the bid for rebuild / repair of light and heavy-duty vehicle transmissions and remanufactured replacement of heavy-duty transmissions to J.B. DLCO Transmission, Inc., 24111 Groesbeck Highway, Warren, MI 48089, based on unit costs bid for a two-year period and reject all bids received for re-manufactured replacement of transmissions in light- duty vehicles. G. RESOLVED, to award the bid for rental of tents, lighting, tables, chairs, and accessories for city events to Stan M. Perry Co., Inc., d/b/a Perry’s Tents & Events, 4600 Clawson Tank Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346, at unit prices bid for two years and authorize the City Manager to extend the bid term an additional one-year period at the unit pricing bid. H. RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution designating April 2022 as Sikh Awareness Month in the City of Sterling Heights. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 16 I. RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution designating April 2022 as Chaldean- American Month in the City of Sterling Heights. J. RESOLVED, to adopt the resolution designating April 28, 2022, as Workers Memorial Day in the City of Sterling Heights. K. RESOLVED, to waive the competitive bidding requirement in accordance with City Code §2-217(A)(9)(b) and approve the contract between the City of Sterling Heights and DiLisio Contracting Inc., 23525 Lakepointe, Clinton Township, MI 48036, for the 2022 Local Road Concrete Reconstruction Program, City Project #22-392, and Ryan Road Pavement Improvements, 14 Mile Road to Metropolitan Parkway, City Project #22-396, in the cumulative amount of $4,740,649.66, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign all documentation required in conjunction with this approval. L. RESOLVED, to authorize the Community Relations Department to proceed with contracts for the 2022 Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair headliner performances on Friday, July 29, 2022, and Saturday, July 30, 2022, and authorize the City Manager to sign all documents required in conjunction with this action, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney. M. RESOLVED, to schedule a special meeting of the City Council on May 17, 222 at 6 p.m. for the purpose of recognizing and congratulating recipients of scholarships awarded through the 2022 Sterling Heights Area Community Foundation Program and direct the City Clerk to post the appropriate notices in accordance with Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. Yes: All. The motion carried. Mayor Taylor thanked the women who were here tonight to highlight the work the Chaldean community does here in the City of Sterling Heights and in the State of Michigan, and he stated the City is honored to have such an incredible population here. 9. CONSIDERATION A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider approval of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Action Plan. He invited Finance and Budget Director Jennifer Varney to give a presentation. Finance and Budget Director Jennifer Varney provided a brief review of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), noting the City is to receive $19.8 million over two years, and half of that money was received last May, with the second half expected to be received this May. The funds must be obligated by December 2024 and spent by December 2026. She outlined the allowable uses for these funds, including in response to the public health emergency or its negative impacts, for premium pay for essential workers, to provide government services to the extent of revenue lost, and for investments in water, sewer, or broad band infrastructure. She stated the two specific use of funds prohibited include any contribution to a Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 17 pension plan, or to pay down debt. She stated the City can show revenue losses for the entire amount of ARPA funds received, so that allows the broadest use of funds for any government service. Ms. Varney explained the projects in the proposed ARPA Action Plan, as well as the details of those projects, including the Plumbrook Road Resurfacing in the amount of $4 million, and the Ryan Road Concrete Repairs totaling $1.6 million. The park- related projects include a two-mile multi-use path along the ITC Corridor, in the amount of $2.5 million; land acquisition for Riverland Park improvements in the North Van Dyke District, in the amount of $1 million, in combination with funding from the Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA); and potential purchase of open space adjacent to Fillmore Elementary School for development of a park, in the amount of $1 million, in combination with a potential grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF). She explained that Neighborhood Improvement projects include $2 million allocated to enhance the City’s annual sidewalk program; $500,000 for street tree inventory, with the remaining funding to be combined with the $250,000 MEDC grant to plant approximately 2,000 street trees over the next three years; development of a Community Garden, in the amount of $250,000; and development of self-sustaining micro-forests throughout the City, in the amount of $1 million; rehabilitation of regional retention ponds, in the amount of $500,000; and a comprehensive traffic calming study, in the amount of $100,000. Ms. Varney outlined the miscellaneous projects, including the Direct Household Assistance Program, already in progress, in the amount of $500,000; job training for unemployed workers, in the amount of $500,000; premium pay for essential city workers, in the amount of $505,320, which was distributed last September; and additional funding to combat illegal marijuana grow operations through the City, in the amount of $300,000. She added that $50,000 is allocated for administrative expenses related to administering the grants. She advised that the proposed plan leaves about $3.5 million of the 19.8 million unallocated for future Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 18 projects, capital expenditures, and contingencies, with some additional ideas including home assistance grants to help residents with energy-efficiency improvements, as well as matching funds for other federal, state, and county projects that would benefit the City. Ms. Varney informed this equates to just over $19.8 million in ARPA funds, and to date, they have spent approximately $645,000, primarily for the employee hazard pay and the direct assistance to households. She concluded her presentation by stating they are looking for feedback and approval of the ARPA Action Plan, and this will allow City Administration to further investigate and present the detailed project plans to City Council for approval. She clarified that City Council is only approving the plan at this time, and each individual project would be brought to Council for approval for anything expended. She explained that two road projects and the neighborhood street trees was included in the 2022 / 2023 budget, so any of the other projects, when brought to Council for approval, would also need a budget amendment to fund the project. She stated she, along with the managers and directors who would be responsible for the projects, are here tonight to answer questions. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for comments from the audience.  Ben Orjada – in favor of the ARPA Action Plan as presented; acquiring the former Fillmore Elementary School building for a Community Center South, which would strongly benefit the south side of the City.  Nathan Inks – expressed support for the ARPA Action Plan, specifically the ITC Corridor Pathway; willing to help if there is anything residents can do to get ITC to consider linear paths to connect park amenities; and the traffic study for Ryan Road; would like to know the economic benefit of moving so much traffic on these roads.  Brandy Wright – would like to see a Community Center in the south end of Sterling Heights; appreciated the plan for the Community Garden and the ITC Corridor Pathway, with both getting everyone outside together and enjoying the City. Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Yanez, RESOLVED, to approve the American Rescue Plan Act Action Plan and direct City Administration to proceed to implement the projects presented. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 19 Councilwoman Ziarko was comfortable approving this plan because they have seen it a few times. She questioned whether the City has set up the criteria for how residents will be eligible for the street trees, and if not, she suggested they could offer them to new residents coming into the City who do not have a street tree, as well as those who have had their trees taken down because of the Emerald Ash Borer disease. Public Works Director Michael Moore explained that at this time they have not determined the specific parameters, although the points raised were very good. He would like to see his team work with the Mr. McLeod’s team to set some of those parameters, taking their time to set up a successful project. Councilman Yanez stated that, regarding the Plumbrook resurfacing, the City is fortunate to get $4 million of their tax dollars back for this purpose. He questioned Mr. Bashaw to explain the resurfacing where the asphalt and cement join. He further questioned what the plan is for asset management for this road. Mr. Bashaw replied to inquiry the last time they resurfaced Plumbrook was in 2003, so it has been almost twenty years. In 2003, they put in a thinner asphalt section on top of a pulverized asphalt material. They are looking to do a thicker asphalt material to thicken the road base that will provide something that will last at least twenty years. The section from Utica Road to a little beyond Schoenherr was a concrete base that was milled off, with asphalt on top of it. They will look at the road base to see if there is something different they can do to get that section to last longer. Councilman Yanez questioned whether there is a heating issue that can cause some of the asphalt on top to crack and break. Mr. Bashaw replied there are concrete joints under the asphalt, and during the winter, the joints can move so slightly, but that movement causes the initial crack. Those cracks spread from there. Councilman Yanez questioned how they will join the asphalt to the point where the concrete starts at Schoenherr. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 20 Mr. Bashaw replied they do a “butt joint,” so it is a little thicker to match the concrete, and they would seal it as well. Councilman Yanez asked Mr. Bashaw to address asset management regarding all the roads in the City. Mr. Bashaw replied they rate all their major and local roads each year, equating to 290 miles, and they chart the deterioration. They chart each road’s current condition and how many years it has left, although some roads deteriorate quicker than others. Using that data for the local roads, they create a five-year plan for their major roads to forecast what they will need in funding, and what they anticipate they will have in funding for the next five years. They are aware there may be some projects that may not be on the list, but they will look for alternate funding to complete the projects. Councilman Yanez expressed concern that they will be putting $4 million into Plumbrook, but after a tough winter and in a short period of time, it could deteriorate again. He stressed that road takes a lot of traffic. Mr. Bashaw assures they do a pavement analysis and cross-section design for all their projects. They did one for Saal Road and ended up having a slightly thicker section than they used in the past, with six inches of asphalt on a stronger base. It was designed according to the soils underneath and how the pavement can perform on it. They will go through the same process with Plumbrook. Councilman Yanez questioned Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Langlois whether ITC pays for all the lawn mowing in that area, and if they put in the pavement, will the City be responsible for anything other than the pavement. Mr. Langlois replied those would be the details they would have to sort out as they started having conversations with ITC. Councilman Yanez recalled at Freedom Hill, they have a ten-foot-wide path, and they are responsible for mowing the shoulders of that path. He questioned who will negotiate that with ITC. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 21 Mr. Langlois replied there would be a number of people involved in those conversations, including the City Manager, City Development, and others. He agreed those are important conversations to have as they determine the feasibility of having that trail. Councilman Yanez questioned whether the Community Garden will be under the authority of Parks and Recreation. Assistant City Manager Jeff Bahorski replied these are currently only project concepts so they have not yet decided whether these would be under Parks and Recreation. Councilman Yanez felt if they are going to encourage people to plant fruits and vegetables in a community garden, they must be harvested. He questioned who will do the harvesting, who will receive the produce, who will supervise the garden, who will do the clean-up, etc. He is aware that Michigan State University Extension hosts a program on canning foods, and possibly they could have classes to teach people how to can so they would be able to have fruits and vegetables all year long. Mr. Bahorski stated the City has always looked at best practices when they begin vetting projects. He pointed out there are community gardens that are incredibly successful, and there are some that fall apart in a year or two. He stressed gardens are a lot of work in hot weather, but he felt it is most likely that anyone wanting to participate will have to sign an agreement with the City so the City can preserve their rights to terms and conditions. If someone does not hold up their end of the bargain, they will not be back. Volunteers are great but it is difficult to get committed people when everyone is so busy. He assured it will be well thought out. Councilman Yanez recalled a community garden in Detroit where one of the neighbors taught people in the neighborhood how to can, so people in that neighborhood had fruits and vegetables all winter long. He stressed there are a lot of talented people here, and there are most likely some seniors who could use Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 22 the food grown in a community garden. He agreed it is a great idea but wants to make sure it is a project that is done right. Mr. Bahorski commented they may be able to have a “ten-percent rule,” where ten percent of what is grown goes to seniors or the urban community that needs fresh produce. One of the benefits of a community garden is the ability to provide fresh produce to their residents. Councilwoman Schmidt asked Mr. Vanderpool how much ARPA money the County received. Mr. Vanderpool replied to the best of their knowledge, the County has received $160 million in ARPA funds. They have not had a chance to collaborate with them in a meaningful way, but that is why they reserved $3.5 million so they can leverage it with state, federal, and county money to do projects that benefit Sterling Heights. He cited Moravian Drive as an example, noting it is a county road that is in horrible shape. Any work on it would require a local match, so some of the City’s ARPA funds could be devoted to it if they could get Macomb County to repave Moravian next year. They want to work with the County Commissioners and the County Executive, along with the Director of Roads, to get projects like that done. Councilwoman Schmidt stated she is extremely upset about the County promising a sidewalk along Mound Road, then backing out of that portion of the project, forcing the City to spend $2 million of its own ARPA funding to put in the sidewalk, when the County received $160 million. She felt that $2 million could be used elsewhere in the City to help their residents, and she felt it is deplorable that the County is not using their funds for that sidewalk. She would also like to see consideration of a pedestrian bridge over 18-1/2 Mile Road and Mound. She inquired as to whether Ms. Varney could speak to that. Ms. Varney clarified that, of the $2 million the City is spending, $500,000 of that is for the sidewalk on Mound, and the other $1.5 million will be used to fix other sidewalk gaps in the City. She admitted it is still a significant amount of money. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 23 She further clarified that the $2 million of ARPA funding is in addition to the normal amount that is usually budgeted for sidewalk gaps. Councilwoman Koski noted the Sidewalk Gap program is something they have been working on for many years, and the idea was that everyone would be able to get to one of the five or six major city parks. She inquired as to whether that will be considered when moving forward with the Sidewalk Gap program. Mr. Bashaw replied that is considered a “priority sidewalk gap.” The program will be implemented over a few years, but the first round this year includes the south side of Clinton River Road, which is a connector to the Edison Corridor, which leads to Dodge Park, and that was taken into consideration. Councilwoman Koski inquired as to how a resident living at 14-1/2 Mile and Ryan would get to Dodge Park. Mr. Bashaw cited a route along Ryan up to Metro Parkway, then east along Metro Parkway. He explained that sidewalk gap is completed. Councilwoman Koski wants to make sure everyone has the ability to ride their bike to a major park. She hoped they will consider that when they work on the Sidewalk Gap program. She inquired as to who will handle property for park acquisition and pocket parks. She referred to the south end of the City, where they need green space and parks to provide a space for activities. Mr. Langlois replied the “land acquisition for park in south end of the City” refers to the former Fillmore Elementary School property. He replied to further inquiry that they have not identified anything else in the south end at this point. He stated the south end of the City has very good coverage for parks, and this one area is missing a park, which is why they are seeking to acquire that parcel of property. As they look at the North Van Dyke property, that is something they will be working on with Mr. Bonner as to how it gets developed to create a good synergy between the park and business developments. Councilwoman Koski referred to the lots owned by the City on Utica Road, and there is no open space to plant additional trees because those lots are covered Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 24 with trees. She inquired as to whether there is any consideration given to turn those lots into a nature preserve or pocket park for the residents. Mr. Langlois replied that it sits as natural land currently and is not something they have discussed. It is ultimately a nature preserve although it has not been designated as such. He pointed out it is city property that can be accessed by their residents. Councilwoman Koski suggested it should be something they should consider. She suggested that could be a start of a green space. Councilman Radtke expressed frustration that nearly one-third of the ARPA funds, which can be considered a gift of money from the federal government, are going to be used for roads. He felt the roads continue to cost more money than anything else. He questioned the plan to fix some of these roads if they did not have the ARPA funds. He commented that they do not have a plan or a cost benefit analysis of why they have the roads they do. He questioned whether they are only facilitating people getting from some of the southern communities to communities further north, which equates to Sterling Heights residents using their tax dollars to subsidize other people’s commutes. He agreed they need to fix Plumbrook, but when looking at all the roads, they need to prioritize. He pointed out that most bus stops, other than those on Van Dyke, are not handicap- accessible. He felt this should be made a priority, along with street trees. He felt they need to make hard decisions on what roads they need to have, and how big they need to be. He suggested that the County should pay for the county-owned roads. Councilman Radtke stated he loves the City but felt they need to rethink the infrastructure, and the direction they are going with roads, they will never “catch up.” He complained that too many residents are cutting down their trees, and although residents have the right to do that on their property, they do not have the right to do so on the city-owned rights of way. He emphasized that street trees beautify their city, and they slow traffic down, while increasing property values. He agreed with Councilwoman Schmidt that the County should be paying Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 25 for the sidewalk on Mound Road, especially since they were granted so much in ARPA funds. He stated he is opposed to a pedestrian crossing across 18-1/2 Mile Road, because he felt engineers designing the roads can do so in a way that stops traffic for people who live here. He is concerned with money being spent to fight illegal marijuana grow operations because he does not know where it will end. He stressed he wants to stop them and sponsored the ordinance to inflict higher penalties, but he does not know if they are getting the value for their money. He pointed out that governing is choosing amongst priorities, and he questioned whether other cities spend as much money on fighting illegal marijuana grow operations. He stated he will vote in favor of the Action Plan because he supports most of the projects outlined, but he felt the City needs to look closely at roads and what they will cost in the future. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski loves the ARPA Action Plan, which is meant to improve some of the things that have happened as everyone’s lives have been affected by Covid-19. She agreed roads have not been improved and infrastructure has been left to fall to the wayside, but she is a homecare nurse, so her work life has been on the residential streets, local roads, highways, and byways, to get to her patients. She does not subscribe to the idea that they should not be spending money on roads and will never “catch up.” She stressed they must spend money on roads, and if they do not spend the money on the roads people are already driving on or decrease the road sizes, the other roads will end up with more traffic. She stressed they cannot “make the city smaller” because they already have the people here, driving on the roads, and she stressed “they need to drive on something” and they cannot decrease the number of people. She pointed out that they are catching up slowly, referring to Mr. Bashaw’s earlier report on the percentage of good roads compared to several years ago. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated it is unfortunate to have to spend money in tackling the illegal marijuana home grows, but it is a never-ending battle that they need to fight. She is glad they are looking at Ryan Road, beautifying the retention ponds, and acquisition of the Fillmore Elementary Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 26 School property that can be used as a south-end park. She agreed with Councilwoman Koski that when they have city-owned property that is a green space, that is to their advantage, and they should not be selling them. There is a mini forest on those parcels, and there is no reason to sell them to a developer. She agreed with Councilwoman Schmidt that a pedestrian bridge is essential for the 18-1/2 Mile / Mound area because it is extremely treacherous. She felt it sounds logical to get people to stop at a traffic signal, but they do not always follow the rules. Mayor Taylor thanked administration and all the directors who helped put this plan together. He stated it is like a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to have this money given to local communities so they can invest in themselves in a meaningful way. He compared this to the Parks and Recreation ReCreating Recreation initiative they did, and he hoped it will help other communities see the value and benefit of investing in themselves. He felt the proposed Action Plan is a good blend of what their priorities should be. He stressed infrastructure will be something they will have to continue to prioritize, and he pointed out that since 2014, they have seen $450 million in investment in roads in the City of Sterling Heights. They have been deliberate on how they prioritize their roads, and in 2013 when their neighborhood roads were crumbling and they were without a plan, they passed the Safe Streets millage. He is confident they will meet the challenge when that happens again, and he hoped the State of Michigan will come up with a fix. He does not feel that anyone is willing to get off their addiction to the automobile, but they can create different alternatives to residents. They have done that through their Parks and Recreation programs. Mayor Taylor pointed out that they constantly receive complaints about speeding on roads, and he noted they are spending $100,000 on a traffic-calming study. He questioned whether they will be able to do that study prior to the two upcoming road projects proposed for Plumbrook and for Ryan Road. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 27 Mr. Vanderpool replied that the $100,000 traffic-calming study included in the proposed ARPA funding is a holistic study that is citywide, focused on neighborhood roads and speeding in neighborhoods. It would be looking at curb extensions, mini-islands, island dots, speed humps, speed cushions, signage, more trees, etc. He explained they are trying to extend the useful life of Plumbrook as much as possible, and with the resurfacing they will most likely get another twenty years. To tear out the road and completely rebuild it would amount to three times the cost. They are looking at a feasibility study to add bike lanes to Plumbrook, which would be done as part of the Plumbrook resurfacing. They are looking at an ancillary study on Ryan Road, and they just applied for a $300,000 grant to study Ryan Road from 14 Mile to M-59. He pointed out it would take years to complete the study and will take another five years after that to secure the funding, adding it could end up being a $50 million project. He felt they need to go ahead with the projects as outlined at this time because the roads are in bad shape and need work immediately. He added in the meantime, they can look at what Ryan Road will look like in ten years, noting that the improvements with the ARPA funds are just repairs that will get them five to seven years. The improvements to Plumbrook should last for about twenty years. Mayor Taylor stated he is excited to hear that Plumbrook could include bike lanes, and possibly some people will opt to take a mode of transportation other than the automobile. He reiterated the plan incorporates a good mixture of their priorities. He is glad they were able to provide hazard pay to their employees, commending them for doing an incredible job throughout the worst of the pandemic and finding creative ways to do things that could not be done with the restrictions that were in place. He commented that he does not want to see neighborhoods turned into “marijuana factories” so if they can make their neighborhoods safer for the residents who live in them, he felt that is important. He is looking forward to see how they can partner with the County to bridge the money they have. He pointed out that Sterling Heights makes up approximately fifteen percent of Macomb Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 28 County, so he optimistic that another $24 million could potentially be coming back into the City of Sterling Heights by way of the County, not to mention the State’s share of ARPA funding. Councilwoman Ziarko stressed they have to realize how fortunate they are that this money is coming directly to them. She pointed out this is historic that federal funds are being issued directly to the municipalities. She questioned whether they are receiving interest on this money. Ms. Varney replied they are getting very little interest because of such low interest rates. She stated they currently have about $9 million in ARPA funds currently earning interest. She informed that the use of the interest is not restricted. Mayor Taylor acknowledged the work that the Michigan Municipal League (MML), National League of Cities, Conference of Mayors, and other national organizations did on lobbying to get this money coming directly to the local governments. Yes: All. The motion carried. 10. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mayor Taylor opened the floor for comments from the audience.  Denise Zanke, president of the booster club for the Utica Academy for International Studies – requested blessing of Council for first annual Phoenix 5K Fun Run, starting at 8:30 a.m. on May 21st at Heritage Junior High for a one-half mile loop down Dodge Park Road and around Oakbrook Elementary School, finishing at approximately 10:30 a.m.; added they will not be crossing any major roads and there will be 50 to 75 runners; she added they notified homeowners on the route that they may see some foot traffic that morning. Mayor Taylor wished them well and thanked Ms. Zanke for letting them know about this event.  Brandy Wright – commended the Sterling Heights Police Department on a recent routine traffic stop which led them to a bust of 20,000 fentanyl pills and powder; thanked the Police Department for being instrumental in getting drugs off the streets, saving lives, and for helpful programs such as Help Not Handcuffs and Comeback Quick Response Team.  Ben Orjada – inquired about coordinating work on driveways at the same time as the roadwork on Mandale; expressed his support of marijuana dispensaries in the City; suggested possible locations and his reasons for why he believes it is a good action to take. 11. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 29 Mr. Vanderpool responded to Mr. Orjada’s question about Mandale and suggested his mother can work with Mr. Bashaw to coordinate having her driveway work done at the same time. He explained they work with residents who want to improve their approaches or driveways at the same time. He stated that, regarding marijuana dispensaries, the Mayor and City Council directed Administration to establish a task force to look at the issue in a comprehensive way. The task force will begin their work in May, and the Consultant Service Agreement will be coming to City Council on May 4, at which time they will share publicly the framework of the task force and its purpose. The task force’s draft report will be due to City Council by September 30, and a final report by October 31. City Council will have very comprehensive information looking at both sides in an apolitical way, and they can then decide on how they want to proceed. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski commended Mayor Taylor for his job at the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge this evening. She indicated she has grown milkweed since she was a child, and she offered to provide milkweed pods to anyone who would like them. She stated they are easy to grow. She noted that today was the last date for anyone wishing to file to run for office in November, so she wished all candidates good luck. Councilman Yanez thanked Mayor Taylor for signing the resolution to take the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. He stated he has maintained a pollinator garden for several years, and for this to succeed, many of these gardens are needed because hummingbirds and monarchs travel. He stressed pollinators are needed to keep the agricultural industry as successful as it is in Michigan. Councilman Yanez understood both sides of the discussion this evening about spending $300,000 on fighting illegal grow operations. He does not like to have to spend that money, but stressed they need to maintain high-quality neighborhoods, adding that grow houses are causing havoc in the neighborhoods, resulting in drug deals outside of homes and power transformers being blown up. Entire neighborhoods are losing their electrical service as a result, which is a huge inconvenience and many times Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Page 30 a threat to their safety. He stated this is not about growing marijuana but is about safety and quality of life in the City’s neighborhoods. He informed that Representative Shannon and Senator McDonald currently have bills that would alleviate a huge part of this problem, but they have unfortunately been stalled. Councilman Yanez announced that SHINE Day is coming up this month, and he would like to see the City approach their corporate citizens to take part in a “Corporate SHINE Day.” Mayor Taylor thanked Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski for filling in for him at the last meeting when he was on vacation. 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 13. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. 14. CLOSED SESSION PERMITTED UNDER ACT 267 OF 1976 Mr. DeNault stated there are no items for closed session this evening. 15. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. MELANIE D. RYSKA, City Clerk