City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 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; Marc D. Kaszubski, 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 (7/0). 5. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER Mr. Vanderpool stated he has two interesting projects to be highlighted this evening. He noted that each year, they report on the Sustainability Commission, and this evening the Sustainability Commission Chairperson will give a presentation. He introduced their Sustainability Planner, Alexis Weinberg, who would like to kick off the presentation. Sustainability Planner Alexis Weinberg stated that 2024 was an exciting year for sustainability, and she introduced Sustainability Commission Chair Nathan Inks to share some of the work they have been doing. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 2 Sustainability Commission Chair Nathan Inks stated that 2024 was the first full calendar year that the Sustainability Commission was operating with nine regular members and one ex-officio member as part of their expanded Commission. They made good use of the various committees they established, and he briefly highlighted those committees and the work they have done over the past year. The Green Energy Committee worked on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to expressly permit solar panels throughout the City. They are recommending adoption of an ordinance that is coming before Planning Commission this month for its public hearing. The Reduce, Reuse & Recycling (R3) Committee handles all things dealing with reducing, reusing, and recycling, and one of the key items they worked on was looking at ways they could increase the amount of items diverted from the landfill or recycled, as they began the process of transition to Priority Waste from GFL. They had someone from the Catalyst Leadership Circle talk about how they can eliminate and reduce food waste, both at home and in restaurants throughout the City. The Office of Planning and the Sustainability Commission are continuing to work on initiatives aimed at the elimination and reduction of food waste. The next committee is the Stormwater and Wetland Committee, and they worked on identifying vernal pools throughout the City and analyzing ways to reduce impacts from climate change, specifically heavier rainfall, and flooding. The Biodiversity Committee is focused on ensuring that they are promoting native plants and native trees, both on private and public property. This committee developed Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 3 an educational handout that will accompany new street tree plantings, and he credited one of their members for the excellent job in coming up with the materials. He talked about the MI Healthy Climate Committee, which was a committee that intended to work with the State of Michigan Health and Climate Committee, established as part of the Michigan Healthy Climate Plan. He explained that, unfortunately, the State committee was not very responsive to communications from Chair Mark Graf, so they placed this committee on inactive status until the State becomes more responsive to their communications, although it was active for part of last year. The last committee is the Tree Committee, and they put on a very successful Arbor Day event last year at Dodge Park. They planted some trees in Dodge Park, handed out samplings, and last year they conducted a rain barrel giveaway as well. They also assisted the Office of Planning in identifying opportunities for grant funding, and they were happy to receive a $4,000 grant from DTE that went toward the planting of trees in Arlingdale Park. Mr. Inks explained that, in addition to the various committee activities, the Commission was also responsible for some broader activities, including the launch of the TreeKeeper Contract. A comprehensive tree survey was done, and that information was entered into a software system called TreeKeeper. The Sustainability Commission worked with the Office of Planning and the Purchasing Department to recommend the purchase of the TreeKeeper software so they could continue that subscription. They now have data of all trees in the right-away and non-forested areas of the public parks, so as they Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 4 are planting more street trees, DPW can input new trees into this database. This can also help with maintenance by keeping track of it, or if the tree is removed for some reason, that tree can be removed from TreeKeeper, so they will know that is a location for priority planting. Mr. Inks provided information on their GHG (Green House Gas) Inventory, performed as a leadup to the Climate Action Plan. The GHG Inventory looked at both community greenhouse gas emissions as well as the greenhouse gas emissions that the City is responsible for as part of its governmental operations. The Sustainability Commission was very active in reviewing the data from the GHG Inventory and working with the Office of Planning and other stakeholders to use that data as a baseline to set goals in the Climate Action Plan. The Commission spent a lot of time last year going through the details of the Climate Action Plan, and in February 2025, that City Council adopted plan. The Office of Planning and the Sustainability Commission are now working on implementation of that plan. The Sustainability Commission was created in 2020, so they adopted the Sustainability Plan in 2021. They began the process of updating that plan and decided to hold off for any significant updates until the Climate Action Plan was adopted and until the Planning Commission had adopted the Master Plan. Since both of those have been adopted, they will be going through to determine what updates they need to make to the Sustainability Plan. He stated those are the exciting developments that have occurred over the last year, and on behalf of the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 5 Sustainability Commission, he thanked City Council and City Administration for their support. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for questions or comments from City Council, but there were none. He thanked Mr. Inks and the Sustainability Commission for all they are doing, adding they appreciate it, and he is sure the community appreciates it as well. Ms. Weinberg referred to a comment made by Mr. Inks in his report about someone who was working with the City on reducing food waste. They are continuing that discussion next Tuesday, July 8th, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. online, where they will be conducting a Food Waste Info Session for restaurant owners. They will be joined by Make Food Not Waste and TooGoodToGo, which are organizations that look into reducing food waste and maximize profits for restaurants. Give Thanks Bakery will be able to share how they are personally reducing their food waste. Anyone interested can scan the QR code to register, and once registered, she will forward them the link to join the online meeting. Mr. Vanderpool commented there is a lot going on with sustainability, and another successful initiative is their Electric Vehicle Pilot Program. The feedback has been great, and they have approximately five EVs in the organization on different platforms, including DPW and Police. The EV Police pursuit vehicle has received great reviews, so they will be expanding that program to acquire another four or five EVs that will be purchased this year as part of their budget allocation for vehicle replacement. Their charging Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 6 stations are moving forward, with State Electric and their partnership with General Motors is moving forward in installation of the charging stations. They will have a total of thirty ports across the City, and they will be public as well, including some at City Hall, with locations near the Upton Center, the Community Center, and a number of other locations. Mr. Vanderpool explained the Community Garden is also part of their Sustainability program and initiatives. He noted it is spectacular, and there is a micro forest involved in that as well. They are exploring a solar field behind the court building, and they have to get through a lot of research first, but there will be more information to come. Mr. Vanderpool gave a shout-out to the City’s first responders, especially the Department of Public Works, who have been working under oppressive conditions. They have had twenty-eight water main breaks since June 18th due to pressure surges from the Great Lakes Water Authority, which has been occurring all over the Metropolitan area due to power outages and sporadic brownouts causing spikes. Their DPW staff have been out in this extreme heat repairing those water lines. He also recognized the work of the Fire Department, EMS, and Police Department personnel in extreme weather conditions, and their good work is very much appreciated. Mr. Vanderpool concluded his report by reminding everyone of the July 4th holiday and the use of fireworks. They are in a five-day period where individuals can use consumer-grade fireworks, but he emphasized they can only be used through Saturday, July 5th until 11:45 p.m. He urged everyone Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 7 to be safe and enjoy the fireworks but emphasized that anyone using them beyond the 11:45 p.m. deadline risks incurring a $1,000 fine. It is incredibly disruptive to children, veterans, dogs, and others after 11:45 p.m., so he requested everyone to take note of that. He stated there is more information on the City’s website, and this concludes his report. 6. PRESENTATION Mayor Taylor stated this is a Nice Neighbor Award presentation and he invited Community Relations Director Melanie Davis to give the presentation. Community Relations Director Melanie Davis explained the City has a rich tradition of giving Nice Neighbor Awards to residents who go the extra mile above-and-beyond to make sure the quality of life in Sterling Heights is second to none. The Community Alliance recently held an online contest for Do Something Nice for Your Neighbor Day. They had a young gentleman who stood out, and she invited current Chair Michael Mazur to say a few words about the recipient of this Nice Neighbor Award. She added that the immediate past Chair, Cindy Bjornson, is also present in the audience this evening. The commUNITY Alliance Chair, Michael Mazur, stated they are celebrating Kyle Bailey this evening. They held a contest for people to brag about the good things they did, and although they did not know what response they would get, they ended up with multiple responses. They were impressed with Kyle because he is a young man still attending Sterling Heights High School. He has done a great job helping his neighbor with chores such as shoveling Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 8 snow, raking leaves, cleaning gutters, gardening, etc. He did not know about this contest, but just did this to help, knowing it was the right thing to do. He consistently helps, and that is praiseworthy, adding they need more people like Kyle. He urged Kyle to keep up the good work because good things will happen. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated she is very honored to present this award to Kyle Bailey, noting he is exemplary to do such good work out of the goodness of his heart and at such a young age. She congratulated his parents for raising him to be such a responsible person and giving him such a good foundation. She agreed with Mr. Mazur that they need more people like Kyle who help others without the need for accolades or the glory for doing good. She read the award and presented it to Kyle. Kyle Bailey accepted the award, and a photo was taken of him and his parents along with the Mayor and City Council members. 7. ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION S A. Mayor Taylor stated this to consider introduction of an ordinance amending Article VI of Chapter 2 of the City Code to update protocols for the purchase of goods and services and construction of public improvements. He invited Erik Skurda, Purchasing Manager, to give a presentation. Purchasing Manager Erik Skurda talked about the proposed purchasing ordinance revisions and the effects the competitive sealed bid threshold has on the City, along with why his office is suggesting this revision. Their main goal is to procure goods and services at the highest value while ethically Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 9 acting in the City’s best financial interest. In order to do that, the Purchasing Office must maintain efficient processes to achieve that goal. He explained that recent efforts have been made to reach that goal, and in 2023, a Purchasing Coordinator position was added to the Office of Purchasing, along with implementation of a comprehensive contract management system. These items have provided for improved processes, but the reason for being here tonight is to address the current sealed competitive bidding threshold as defined by the City’s purchasing ordinance. The current sealed competitive bid and proposal threshold is set at $10,000. Anything the City wishes to purchase for over $10,000 must be competitively pursued using a sealed Invitation to Bid (ITB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. There are few exemptions to this rule, and the revision of the current purchasing ordinance language will allow for an improved process going forward. As presented on the Consent Agenda at every Council meeting, the Purchasing Office initiates recommendations for City Council’s review and approval of items where pricing is secured competitively, either by an ITB or an RFP. This process requires sealed pricing submitted through an electronic solicitation network called BidNet, which is the most widely used system in the State of Michigan for municipalities, and is highly used across the United States. The current number of registered users under the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN) category within BidNet accounts for over 30,000 suppliers across all industries, so access to the system allows the City to have a larger reach to all types of suppliers. The process, however, Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 10 still limits the number of bids or proposals the City receives. By ordinance, the City cannot ask for additional quotes to supplement if they are not received through the competitive sealed process. Mr. Skurda explained that outside factors have led to the decline of sealed bids being received. The advent of online sales is readily available and is the preferential way of doing business with smaller dollar purchases. Recent inflation rose 6.2 percent in 2023 and an additional 4.8 percent in 2024, significantly impacting both consumer behavior and business operations. Persistent labor shortages compound this problem, as well as ongoing supply chain disruptions. This affects how Purchasing must operate, so expanding the Office of Purchasing’s ability to adapt and seek alternative pricing is an important component of getting the best value for the residents. He explained the Purchasing Office has issues sourcing readily available goods and services because of the current requirements contained within the ordinance language. He cited examples of those goods, including ammunition, paper, and large sewer components, and explained that formal processes to secure these routine goods limit the vendors who will apply to provide them to the City. He emphasized that an increasing number of vendors do not commit to extended term contracts and does not yield favorable competition. It diminishes values as vendors must account for unexpected market price fluctuation in their bid. Several vendors do not have the staff or capability to comply with confidential sealed bid submission forms, or if the anticipated award is less than $50,000, their profit margins are too thin to account for the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 11 processes that sealed bids require. Vendors prefer to provide a standardized quote in their format at the time of request. Vendors are unwilling or unable to hold inventory for the time it takes to prepare and submit a bid. Mr. Skurda assured that his office has the ability to seek quotes that will make it more efficient for vendors because they do not have to hold their inventory for extended periods of time in order for the formal ITB process to take place. His office can prepare the purchase recommendation within a week and have it ready for the next Council meeting. His office can often secure quotes within a day or two and can provide information the day it is requested. He noted that the BidNet platform has the functionality to solicit less formal quotes and can be used in unison to leverage its far reach while also allowing his talented purchasing staff to seek pricing through the internet open market. Mr. Skurda explained that the solicitation of quotes through all means of communication instead of the formal sealed procedure for purchases under $50,000 still maintains the competitive pricing process and allows for greater efficiency in municipal operations. Mr. Skurda showed a chart of the current bidding thresholds for some comparable cities and counties. He pointed out where the City of Sterling Heights is in relation to these other cities and counties, noting there are few communities lower than Sterling Heights. He clarified that purchases above $5,000 would still require multiple quotes, and all purchases above $10,000 would still require City Council approval. If the obtained pricing still seems unfavorable based on market research, the sealed competitive bidding Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 12 process remains an option to see if it will yield better results. Internally, all purchases still require a purchase order routed through the Office of Purchasing, and Budget and Finance will review prior to ensuring City funds are available, and the costs are evaluated. He stressed that authorizing more options to acquire competitive pricing in today’s marketplace will ensure a process that is more efficient and will ultimately yield results that the Purchasing Office is seeking. Inflation has diminished the appeal of lower value contracts, and access to suppliers has increased by way of modern communication. The adjustment to the bid threshold provides his office with the ability to present to Council quickly and efficiently for authorization to purchase goods and services that directly benefit the residents. Mr. Skurda summarized that Purchasing assists with every purchase the City makes and collaborates with every department. He assured that Purchasing is in place to provide checks and balances for all purchases, and with over 3,000 P card transactions and over 1,000 purchase orders created annually, his office ensures that favorable pricing and highest value is achieved. The purchasing office will still continue to develop, evaluate, and recommend the award for all purchases to ensure all using departments have the products and services they need to provide the residents with the exemplary service they know and deserve. He stated he is happy to answer any questions on this ordinance modification. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for public comment, but no one spoke. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 13 Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED , to introduce the ordinance amending Article VI of Chapter 2 of the City Code to update protocols for the purchase of goods and services and construction of public improvements. Councilwoman Ziarko noted the one thing that has not changed is the $10,000 threshold. She thought that was something they were trying to change in order to make it easier for the Purchasing Department. She questioned why they decided not to raise that amount. Mr. Skurda replied to inquiry he believes that it is forthcoming, but the proposed revisions provide a way for them to leverage the market at this time. It does not dramatically change the way the approval process takes place, but it is a way for them to be more efficient. Councilwoman Ziarko questioned whether raising the $10,000 threshold is something they discussed at Strategic Planning. Mr. Vanderpool replied to inquiry that they have talked about this quite extensively but raising that threshold above $10,000 would require a Charter change. They have some housekeeping Charter change issues, and he admitted that the $10,000 is a very low number and should be changed, but they would probably put it together with a few other housekeeping items in the 1968 Charter. He anticipated they are a couple of years away from proposing those changes. Councilwoman Ziarko suggested they have a formula in the Charter language so that it does not have to be done again, and inflation can be considered. If Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 14 there was such a clause in the amendment, it would be able to be changed automatically rather than always having to change the Charter. Mr. Vanderpool stated that it is a very good point. Councilwoman Schmidt stated she is comfortable with this, pointing out it has not been amended since 2009, and the world has changed a lot since then. She felt that efficiency is important, and she is glad they are doing this. Councilman Yanez requested that Mr. Skurda provide an example of making a purchase and making sure they are getting the lowest price while protecting the taxpayers. Mr. Skurda explained that within their BS&A system, they have a very comprehensive approval process for each purchase order that is submitted. A department has to submit a requisition which gets reviewed by the Department Head, it then comes to him so he can make sure he has comparable quotes for anything valued over a certain dollar threshold. After he verifies that it is the lowest price item they are purchasing, it goes to the Finance and Budget Director when it is over a certain dollar threshold, and she will make sure there is allocated and approved funds by City Council before they approve the purchase order and submit it to the supplier. Councilman Yanez agreed that is an extensive process, and he admitted that times have changed drastically in a short time, so he feels this is the time to make that change. He added he is in full support of this ordinance. Councilwoman Koski questioned Mr. Skurda why he chose $50,000 as the top ITB/RFP threshold, noting there is only one other city that has a threshold Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 15 of $50,000, one at $35,000, three at $30,000, and thirteen comparable cities with thresholds below $30,000. Mr. Skurda felt that $50,000 is appropriate. They have to take into consideration the timing of when these limits were increased, many of them not recent but possibly over the last ten years. The most recent increase was the City of Lansing, and they did go to $30,000. He reiterated that $50,000 is the appropriate amount based on the research they completed. Councilwoman Koski questioned whether the majority of their Invitations to Bid and Requests for Purchase are more than $50,000 or less than $50,000. Mr. Skurda supplied a chart in the backup information, showing the sealed Invitations to Bid issued over the last year for routine purchases under $50,000. He did not include the full list of purchases that were over $50,000, but for the items they are purchasing in this dollar range, the quotes are very accessible, and he can get those back quickly within that dollar range. He explained the State of Michigan requires 100 percent bonding for construction of public improvements for any contracts of $50,000 or more, so having that clear separation will allow his office to have very efficient paperwork and set guidelines for everything over $50,000. He would have to modify language if it were lower, so this is a number that creates more efficiency for them. Councilwoman Koski questioned how much time will be saved if the threshold is set at $50,000 rather than at $30,000. Mr. Skurda replied to inquiry that it is difficult to say, but it would save time on every purchase that is between $30,000 and $50,000. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 16 Councilwoman Koski questioned whether that savings has to do with the bid process. Mr. Skurda affirmatively. Councilwoman Koski emphasized that she is not comfortable with a $50,000 threshold because there is only one other city at the $50,000 level. Unless this is taken down to a maximum of $30,000 or $35,000, she will be voting no. Councilman Radtke agreed with Councilwoman Koski, and he explained he is comfortable with a maximum of $35,000, which is the amount that Macomb County has set for their maximum. He questioned whether the process would be to go online and source these purchases through various websites to seek out the cheapest prices. Mr. Skurda replied they can do that because it is readily available information. Councilman Radtke looked at the twenty-eight bids that would now be a quotation process. He questioned whether they have received two to three quotes on average for these products. Mr. Skurda replied to inquiry that, on average for the formal process, they solicit bids. If he can now reach out and peruse the open market, he can get multiple quotes and compare all of them, deciding whether it is advantageous, rather than waiting for the two-to-four-week process to take place, only to find out he is only getting two quotes. He cautioned that once they receive two quotes or two bids, he cannot go to the open market but has to select from one of those two bidders, unless they formally take those two bids back to Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 17 City Council and recommend rejection. He added this delays the process even further. He replied to further inquiry that he is currently checking those bids to the open market, and he realized he can get those prices within a day, two days, or a week, and have those vendors supply those prices rather than waiting for the four-week process. He provided the example that efficiency is all about getting DPW the parts they need to fix the water mains or getting the Fire Department the turnout gear they need to replace the failing equipment. If he knows it is available, and he knows it is a comparable rate to what the sealed bid process will produce, he would like to get it quickly so he can provide all of the comparable prices within a week. Councilman Radtke questioned whether Mr. Skurda can share their concerns that they are trying to be good stewards of the people’s money. The Charter is set up for the ITB / RFP process. He agreed that prices and times have changed, but he felt there is a happy medium between $50,000 and $30,000 that will satisfy the majority of the bids, pointing out it appears as though there are only five that are more than $40,000. He would be more comfortable if they could come up with a happy medium, adding he wants to make sure they are guarding the public while still making Mr. Skurda’s job a little easier. He stated he would likely vote against a $50,000 threshold. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski agreed that $50,000 is a high number, and she felt it would “raise eyebrows” with the community because the Mayor and Council are stewards of their money. She explained she runs a monthly health care budget of $3,000 a month for a department, and although it is on a much Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 18 smaller scale, she agreed that $10,000 for the City is too low. She explained she would be comfortable in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. She understands that times have changed, and online purchasing can often offer better pricing, so the City needs that option; however, she would like to see the threshold lowered from the proposed $50,000. Mayor Taylor used the example of purchasing a vehicle. He understands if the vehicle will cost approximately $40,000, the Office of Purchasing now has to generate an Invitation to Bid, publish it, and reach out to vendors they are aware of to request that bid. They have a couple of weeks to submit a bid to the City. The proposed process would involve a scenario where they would like to purchase a $45,000 vehicle, they contact seven or eight dealerships or vendors, and they request the best price. The initial process would be the same in both scenarios, with requests being made to the Office of Purchasing and the Finance and Budget Office months ahead so they can start researching it to put it in a budget that the City Council votes on. Once the time comes to purchase the vehicle, the calls will be made to multiple dealerships, and it is not like they will not get the best pricing. He felt they may get more competitive pricing, pointing out that a dealership can run a quote in a matter of minutes, but responding to a formal Invitation to Bid may involve a lot more, such as getting their lawyers involved, etc. He does not see the benefit to the taxpayers by limiting it to the formal ITB/RFP process. He suspected they will save $0 over the course of the next ten years if they raise the threshold to $30,000 but not to $50,000. It will take additional Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 19 administrative time, and it may end up costing more because they will not be able to get the competitive quotes quickly. He trusts this is a very deliberate process, and he does not see the value to the taxpayer by making the various departments jump through hoops. He is comfortable with this, it is well- thought-out, and he commented that $50,000 is a reasonable threshold, pointing out there is not a lot between that $30,000 and $50,000 threshold. He would like to see it pass as presented. Moved by Radtke, seconded by Sierawski, RESOLVED , to amend the protocols for the purchase limit amount for the purchase of goods and services and construction of public improvements to forty thousand dollars ($40,000). Councilman Radtke commented that a car is an easy target to use as an example because it is difficult to obtain competitive bids on cars, but he reminded that they purchase everything from paperclips to water pumps to asphalt, so he felt the competitive bidding process is in the City’s Charter for a reason. He wants to make sure they are smart with the taxpayer’s money, and having their purchasing cap being highest in the State of Michigan does not make him comfortable. He is more comfortable to see that cap at $40,000. Councilwoman Koski noticed that when they are awarding different items, if it is a vendor they have used for a period of time, they may award a contract to them for three years, with the option to extend that contract for another three years at one-year intervals. She does not believe that they need to go out and seek bids, and although she would support the $40,000 cap, she cannot support $50,000. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 20 Mayor Taylor requested a vote on the amendment to the motion, and not on the main motion. Roll Call Vote (on amendment to the motion): Yes: Sierawski, Koski, Radtke. No: Taylor, Yanez, Ziarko, Schmidt. Absent: None. The motion failed (3/4). Mayor Taylor called for a roll call on the main motion. Roll Call Vote (on main motion): Yes: Taylor, Yanez, Ziarko, Radtke, Schmidt. No: Koski, Sierawski. Absent: None. The motion carried (5/2). Mayor Taylor stated this is an introduction and it will be back in two weeks. 8. ORDINANCE ADOPTIONS A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the City Code to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments. He opened the floor for public comment, but no one spoke. Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED , to adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the City Code to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski requested that Chief Edmond provide a breakdown of the amendments and the basics of the 2024 Fire Code. Fire Chief Kevin Edmond explained that the 2015 Fire Code is currently in effect, and they are looking at moving to the 2024 Fire Code. He stated that a lot of technology has evolved in that time, which is why they need to move forward. They are generally behind, but this time, they will be where they need to be. This includes all of the amendments they reviewed at the last meeting, and none of those have changed. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski thanked Chief Edmond for the explanation. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 21 Councilman Radtke commented that he has questions, and he is sorry Mr. Denault is not here this evening. He noted that Section 324 prohibits cooking in garages unless it is inhabitable space. He questioned whether they are banning people from cooking in their garages in Sterling Heights. Chief Edmond stated that most of the time the inhabitable spaces are built, and people turn them into outdoor kitchens. There is a permitting process for that, and none of it is changing, but the only change would be if they applied for a permit but keep cars and other items in there. His biggest fear is if they have a gas stove, and if they do not have a living space in the garage, they could have unintended cooking consequences. They need to mitigate those risks, because he does not want to see someone’s garage burn and it goes into their house. Councilman Radtke questioned why they do not require the stoves to be electric with a protection timer like they require in multi-family. Chief Edmond confirmed the smart burners are in the ordinance for multi- family. He would love to do that, but he emphasized they cannot regulate houses as much as he would like with regard to converting everyone to electric versus gas, but it becomes too stringent. They have a permitting process for kitchens in garages that has been well-established through the cultures they have in the community. They are making sure they are not parking cars next to the stoves or placing gas cans next to them. He emphasized that unattended cooking is a big concern. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 22 Councilman referred to D103.6.1, Road Width, and recalled the discussion at the last meeting about new roadways constructed at the 26-foot interval but questioned whether they are still looking at the 28-foot interval. Chief Edmond replied that the City has a process at the Engineer’s Office for the roads, and he goes by what the City Engineer has developed for their standard across the City. The Fire Code only requires the streets to be twenty- six feet in width. Councilman Radtke stated he is comfortable with that. He referred to D102.1.1 No Corner Connections, and he questioned the rule in the current fire code that they are amending. Chief Edmond stated he would have to go by the Michigan Building Code, because that is what would affect these structures. Some of the apartment complexes were built to have corners that actually touch; however, if there is a fire on the second floor and it travels to the attic, there is not much space between the attic and the next building. There is a chance for that fire to spread quickly. They want a separation to allow Fire Department for better access to get around the building, and it provides extra width if the building catches on fire. Councilman Radtke questioned Mr. Kaszubski what the Fire Code would be if they did not amend it to this new standard. Mr. Kaszubski stated that he understands that the Building Code will allow them to be closer, which is why they need the amendment. The referenced buildings were built in the 1970s, and they do not have anything like this in Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 23 the City of Sterling Heights that have been built since that time. In that same complex, they have separated a lot of the buildings with sidewalks because they realized it was cutting off access to green space. They are proposing to allow apartments to have 10-foot access between buildings, and if someone wants to build them with corners touching in the future, the Fire Department could go to the Board of Appeals and agree to it as long as access points are provided on each side of that building so they can get in and out. Councilman Radtke understands but expressed concern that if they build one contiguous building, it will result in more concrete and less green space. If the buildings are just touching, that is not allowed, and he does not understand that. Mr. Kaszubski stated if the buildings are moved closer together, it creates more green space on the lot because the buildings are closer together, allowing for a larger green space. By allowing the sidewalks between the buildings, they are allowing every resident the opportunity to access the various green spaces. If buildings are touching, the Fire Department would have access to every building because they are in a U-shape, but it creates a bigger hazard. No one has proposed to build a complex in this configuration in fifty years, but assuming someone wants to do it, they could propose that each will have a doorway and hallway at those points, go to the Board of Appeals, and the Fire Marshall could consider that an equivalency. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 24 Councilman Radtke questioned why they are proposing this for Sterling Heights when other communities across the country do not feel it is necessary. Chief Edmond stated that, as the City’s Fire Chief, he wants to be progressive to prevent any structure fires from happening. Councilman Radtke stated there are very few of those occurring now, and there are already these types of structure configurations in the community. Chief Edmond emphasized that he would like to have zero fires and that is his goal. Councilman Radtke felt this is an overreach, and he will be moving to amend the Code by deleting D102.1.1. Moved by Radtke, seconded by Taylor, RESOLVED , to delete section 102.11, No corner connections. Councilman Radtke understands the Fire Department’s concerns about this, but he felt those concerns can be alleviated by allowing the Fire Engine to get around the structure. If a building is an L-shaped, it is allowed, but if it is touching, it is not allowed. He commented that it does not make sense to him, and he felt they are making it harder on builders. He could not understand why builders have to construct larger structures with more concrete for it to be allowed, as opposed to smaller structures with corners touching, and he felt it is an overreach. Roll Call Vote (on amendment): Yes: Radtke, Taylor. No: Yanez, Ziarko, Koski, Schmidt, Sierawski. Absent: None. The motion failed (2/5). Yes (on main motion): All. The motion carried (7/0). Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 25 9. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Taylor stated this item is consideration of the Consent Agenda as presented. He opened the floor for comments from the public, but no one spoke. Moved by Koski, seconded by Ziarko, RESOLVED, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: A. To approve the minutes of the June 17th, 2025 Regular Meeting. B. To approve payment of the bills as presented: General Fund - $935,226.92, Water & Sewer Fund - $17,541.09, Other Funds - $2,152,523.27, Total Checks - $3,105,291.28. C. RESOLVED , to accept the proposal by Partners in Architecture, PLC, 65 Market Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043, for architectural design, bidding and construction administration services in connection with renovation of Fire Administration / Fire Station No. 5 facilities at a total cost of $489,800, plus reimbursable expenses, and authorize the City Manager to sign the Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement on behalf of the City. D. RESOLVED , to accept the proposal by Partners in Architecture, PLC, 65 Market Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043, for architectural design, bidding and construction administration services in connection with renovation of the former detention center space at the Sterling Heights Police Department at a total cost of $159,000, plus reimbursable expenses, and authorize the City Manager to sign the Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement on behalf of the City. E. RESOLVED , to accept the proposal by CoStar Realty Information, Inc., 1201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209, for a three-year subscription to the CoStar Suite of real property data services at a first- year cost of $10,004.76 and authorize the City Manager to sign the license agreement on behalf of the City. F. RESOLVED , to approve the application by Ace Pyro, LLC for a fireworks display permit on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway, subject to a final inspection by personnel of the Sterling Heights Fire Department and authorize the City Manager to sign all documents required in conjunction with this approval. G. RESOLVED , to accept the proposal by RecTrac, LLC, d/b/a Vermont Systems, 12 Market Place, Essex Junction, VT 05452, for the RecTrac SaaS parks and recreation software system for a period of five years and authorize the City Manager to extend the terms and conditions of the proposal five additional one-year terms upon mutual consent and sign the Services Agreement on behalf of the City. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 26 H. RESOLVED , to purchase printed election materials and supplies from Printing Systems, Inc., 12005 Beech Daly Road, Taylor, MI 48180, at unit pricing provided through June 30, 2026. Yes: All. The motion carried (7/0). 10. CONSIDERATION A. Mayor Taylor stated this is to consider confirmation of the City Manager’s appointment of Andrew Satterfield as Chief of Police for the Sterling Heights Police Department. He invited Mr. Vanderpool to give the presentation. Mr. Vanderpool stated there has been a vacancy in the Chief of Police position, created when former Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski was appointed the Assistant City Manager. Over the past six months, the City has completed a comprehensive recruitment process involving many stakeholders. He invited Human Resources Director Kate Baldwin to review the process. Human Resources Director Kate Baldwin explained that her office launched a broad recruitment of qualified internal and external candidates for the Chief of Police position, and this recruitment yielded two internal candidates and one external candidate. They all participated in an extensive day-long assessment center, conducted by Empco, Inc., a local company that specializes in candidate testing for public entities with expertise in public safety. The assessment center was completed in February, and involved candidate interviews, oral presentations, roll-playing, and an in-basket exercise. The three candidates were ranked on a promotional list from the scores derived from the assessment center, and the City Manager has the right to appoint from those top three candidates. Mr. Satterfield, the external Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 27 candidate, achieved the highest assessment center score, and accordingly, is ranked first on the promotional list. The City Manager and she conducted formal interviews of all three candidates in March, and each candidate was asked to participate in a written exercise to share their vision and ideas of what the Sterling Heights Police Department could be under their leadership. In addition, subsequent interviews involving select City directors took place with all three candidates and City Council members. She noted that this was a very thoughtful and prudent recruitment process, and throughout the process, Mr. Satterfield’s candidacy has continued to be at the forefront of consideration. She emphasized that he comes with glowing references from current leaders and elected officials from the City of Troy and comes highly recommended from other public safety leaders in the region. She shared highlights from a few of the numerous letters of recommendation received for him, included in the backup material. Mr. Vanderpool reviewed the ranks and accomplishments that Mr. Satterfield served in the City of Troy, where he served for twenty-seven years. He started as patrol officer, and was involved as background investigator, firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, chemical munitions instructor, SWAT team member, SWAT team sniper, Honor Guard, evidence technician, detective in two separate undercover surveillance units, and traffic safety team and mountain bike team member. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in a supervisory team leadership role in Honor Guard, evidence tech unit, SWAT sniper team, and developed and managed the Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 28 state-of-the-art training regiment for over one hundred fifty departmental employees with a focus on tactical and emergency response preparedness. He held the rank of Police Lieutenant, where he directed the Professional Standard section handling internal affairs, police officer recruitment hiring, training, grant-writing, and emergency preparedness. He also directed firearm training facility management at the Troy Police Department Training Center, and the Firearms Range. For the last six years, Mr. Satterfield has served as Police Captain, overseeing the Operations and Support Divisions, and include supervision of the Road Patrol, Traffic Safety, Commercial and Motor Vehicle Unit, Evidence Technicians, Drone Team, Canine Unit, SWAT, and Honor Guard. He outlined many of his other responsibilities, and he noted that it was under Captain Satterfield’s management that the Troy Police Department achieved accreditation in 2024. Mr. Vanderpool talked more about Mr. Satterfield’s credentials, including academic and professional achievements. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University, and a master’s degree in administration and leadership from Central Michigan University. He graduated from Northwestern University School of Police and Command. He received four Chief’s awards, two Community Service awards, four Unit citations, and numerous other recognition awards. His community involvement is extensive, and he recently retired with twenty years as a volunteer fire department, established the Satterfield First Responder Scholarship Endowment, and served many civic and charitable organizations. He is also proud of his military service as a Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 29 United States Army Reservist, and a member of the American Legion Post 167. Mr. Vanderpool stated that Mr. Satterfield is highly recommended by leaders all over the region. He stated he has been impressed with Mr. Satterfield’s professionalism throughout the process, his collaborative spirit, enthusiasm, and desire to become part of this championship team. He intends to become an active member of the community, and he has already been watching City Council meetings, attending City events, and interacting with Sterling Heights Police Department personnel. He is very confident that, based on his experience, extensive academic background, outstanding references from colleagues, subordinates and outside agencies, he will be a very valuable addition to the City’s leadership team. For all of these reasons highlighted, he respectfully requests the Mayor and City Council confirm Mr. Satterfield as the City’s next Chief of Police. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for public comments, but no one spoke. Moved by Sierawski, seconded by Koski, RESOLVED , to confirm the City Manager’s appointment of Andrew Satterfield as Chief of Police for the Sterling Heights Police Department in accordance with the Charter of the City of Sterling Heights. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated she is happy to have a resolution and to welcome Mr. Satterfield as the City’s Police Chief. She is anxious to move forward. Councilwoman Koski stated she is very impressed with Mr. Satterfield’s resume and the letters of recommendation. She stated she is grateful to have Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 30 him decide to be the City’s next Police Chief. She thanked Mr. Satterfield’s wife for sharing him with the City. Councilman Radtke welcomed Mr. Satterfield and expressed confidence that he will be an excellent Chief of Police. He commented that he is disappointed with this process, specifically with the extracurricular activity exemplified by the Police Department behind the nomination for Chief is unacceptable. He emphasized they have a process; they try to stick to it to be fair to everyone, and he wished more members of the department would follow that process. He is confident that Mr. Satterfield’s leadership is needed, and he will have his hands around it quickly. He wished him the best of luck. Councilwoman Ziarko agreed with Councilman Radtke with the comments about the extracurricular activities that took place starting about a year ago. She expressed disappointment in some of the people she had respected, and she felt in the future it would be a good idea for the City to publish the process so that residents know how it is done. She felt that could eliminate a lot of confusion. The process they have in place is an agreement with the Police Department and Administration, and that is what needs to be followed. She welcomed Mr. Satterfield to Sterling Heights, and added she is sure he will do a great job. He has a great Deputy Chief who will help him in this transition. She extended her welcome to Mrs. Satterfield, who was also present this evening. Councilwoman Schmidt thanked Interim Chief Ken Pappas, commending him for the fantastic job he did during his time served as Interim Chief. She Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 31 appreciates it, and she is confident he will be an asset to the new Chief in his transition into this new position. She welcomed Mr. Satterfield, noting he comes highly recommended. She has every confidence in him and the Police Department to join with the new Chief to work well together. She concurred with her colleagues that the process was unfortunate, assuring it was no reflection on Mr. Satterfield. She is looking forward to moving on. Mayor Taylor congratulated Mr. Satterfield, stating he is a tremendous, highly qualified candidate for this position. He felt all seven City Council members, the Administration, and the team who interviewed Mr. Satterfield and conducted exhaustive references and background checks unanimously agreed he would make a great Chief. He welcomed Chief Satterfield and his wife to the Sterling Heights family, and they are grateful he decided to continue his career here. He stressed that this City has not had issues that other communities have had in terms of disrespect for the Police Department or calls to defund the Police Department. The residents are huge supporters of the police work that goes on here, adding that everything they do in the City starts with public safety. He thanked Interim Chief Ken Pappas, adding that it has been an incredible pleasure working with him. He is confident that Deputy Chief Pappas will continue to be a leader in this organization, and what he does for this Police Department matters. He thanked him for his leadership over his entire career with the City. He does not disagree with his colleagues who expressed concerns about the process, but he felt the process is good and thorough, and they make sure they look at everything to Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 32 arrive at the best possible decision. He expressed disappointment, however, in some people who had strong opinions but did not have the courage to put their names behind those opinions. He explained in those situations, respect is lost, and it is hard to gain it back, but he emphasized that today is about the future of the Police Department and the City of Sterling Heights. He stressed he is confident they made a good choice, and the City is in great hands, and they will successfully move forward to continue the legacy that this great police department has laid down over the last fifty to sixty years. Yes: All. The motion carried (7/0). Chief Andrew Satterfield thanked everyone, stating he is deeply humbled and honored to accept the responsibility of serving as the next Chief of Police for this City. He assured he does not take this position lightly, because it is a sacred trust between the Police Department and the community it serves. He is grateful to the Mayor and City Council members for placing that trust in him. He stated that God has blessed him with this opportunity, and through every challenge and triumph in his career, he has leaned on his faith, and he will continue to do so as he leads this department into the future. He thanked his wife, Amy, who has sacrificed a lot through his life in public safety, dealing with long hours, middle-of-the-night calls to duty, spending holidays alone, and often worrying. He thanked her for keeping him grounded. He thanked the men and women of the Sterling Heights Police Department, past, present, and future, and stated he is proud to serve alongside them in this department as a longstanding tradition of professionalism, courage, and community Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 33 partnership. He assured he will work every day to earn their trust, lead with integrity, and create a culture where every member of the department feels valued, respected, and equipped to serve with excellence. He thanked the Mayor, City Council and city leadership for their vision, their support, and their commitment to public safety. He pledged to work with each of them to ensure Sterling Heights remains a safe, strong, and thriving community for all. He recognized the City staff through this selection process, commending them on their professionalism and thoroughness, and he appreciated it because he knows he is joining an organization that is thoughtful, fair, and cares who is joining this elite team. He assured the citizens they serve that their Police Department is here for them, they will listen, protect them, stand with them, and together they will build on the great legacy of safety and service for which Sterling Heights is known. He thanked everyone again for this opportunity and asked God’s blessings on Sterling Heights and the Sterling Heights Police Department. 11. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mayor Taylor opened the floor for communications from citizens for any item not on tonight’s agenda.  Joe Trompeter – resident on Sumpter Drive and has been a resident of Sterling Heights since 1968; concerned about Arlingdale Park, where a City pickup truck goes through the park twice a day; questioned what they do because it looks like they are only driving through. Mayor Taylor stated they will get Mr. Trompeter a response, but they do not engage in back-and-forth conversation at this part of the meeting. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 34  Mr. Trompeter stated he would like to know the purpose of them driving through the park every day, sometimes twice a day; he noted that a tree was knocked down after the last storm, but they have not done anything about it.  Sarah Fisher – resident in the 14 Mile/Schoenherr area in Sterling Heights; she read the Climate Action Plan today and felt it looks good; she is interested in composting, and read that composting is one of the goals to both educate citizens in their own backyards as well as to provide a drop-off center who live in condominiums or apartments without backyards; stressed composting is important and she encouraged the City to make the effort to create a drop-off center for composting; commented that twenty-one percent of Sterling Heights residents do not live in a single-family house, equating to 28,000 people in Sterling Heights who cannot compost in their backyards.  Carol Chi – resident of Sterling Heights since 1981; concerned about the 264-year-old Chinkapin Oak on Van Dyke; she stressed it is so much more than “just a tree”; understands they cannot stop developers from developing private land, but she stressed this was not private land until Sterling Heights received ARPA funds, bought it, and sold it to a developer; she expressed concern about the way the developer is developing the property; commented that the ARPA funds were going to be used to buy another park; complained that there are so few green spaces left and Sterling Heights is fully built out; would like to see it developed as a park; noted that is the only sizeable greenspace left in the North Van Dyke Area; commented there were fourteen landmark trees on this parcel, along with floodplain and wetland; talked about sustainability; suggested the City buy the land back and keep it as a park. 12. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Mr. Vanderpool addressed Mr. Trompeter’s concern, explaining the City has park monitors who go around all twenty-six parks, and many times they have to open the gates to the parks in the morning and close them in the evening. He stated they also go through parks without gates for litter control, to dump garbage, and a routine they are required to follow. It may not happen directly behind Mr. Trompeter’s house, it happens throughout the park. He noted that if there is a fallen branch on park property, he assured they will follow up and Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 35 get it removed tomorrow, and he added that it should not have taken two weeks. They have an extensive park system that requires significant monitoring, and that is their job, going through each park every day to monitor them. Mr. Vanderpool addressed the comments from Ms. Fisher regarding composting, and he agreed it is an important component of their Sustainability Plan. He is hopeful they will be able to introduce in the near future a meaningful composting program in Sterling Heights beyond what they are already doing at the Community Garden. He stressed that it is cutting edge, and he suggested that it might be an ideal location for some composting operation. He explained there are other cities, Denver being one of them, that have house-to-house composting, with each house receiving a small container. They place that bin out at their curb every week, and the program has been very successful. Mr. Vanderpool cautioned that the City is in the middle of a refuse contract, so it cannot be changed immediately; however, these are ideas they need to consider in the future. He assured Ms. Fisher that they appreciated her feedback. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski highlighted the ribbon-cutting they had at Nelson Park today, and she encouraged residents to visit Nelson Park to view the Community Garden, their butterfly house, where they will be getting more butterflies, and the beautiful park. The ribbon-cutting was for multiple paintings of some of the features in the park, done by two different artists, and she provided details of those paintings and the artwork, including a Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 36 planter made from a former windmill turbine. A swing was also painted, also part of the former turbine, and placed on its side with the swing in it. She talked about the Children’s Garden where they also had paintings done. She stressed that parks are important, so they want to continue to improve their parks, and they need to be kept up. She liked Ms. Fisher’s idea of having a place where people can drop off their compost. Councilman Radtke talked about the possibility of changing the street width requirements. He found out from the Fire Chief earlier today that it is included in the Building Code. Without objection, he would like to request that Mr. Vanderpool look at it, look at the EPA report sent to them, look at what other surrounding cities are doing, and prepare a report to see if they can change the width requirement moving forward, clarifying he is not requesting a change to those already existing. Mayor Taylor questioned whether any of the Council members had objections to Councilman Radtke’s request, but no one indicated having an objection. Councilman Radtke expressed concern regarding a telephone call from his father yesterday, indicating that Priority Waste did not pick up yard waste or recycling until noon today, which is one day later than their regular schedule. He stated this is a frustration for the residents in that neighborhood, and he felt it is unacceptable according to the City’s contract. He indicated he voted against this contract, partly for reasons such as this, and he was concerned they would not be able to follow through, adding that it is a long contract for a new company. He was afraid that a new company without experience would Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 37 have trouble picking up the garbage, and that seems to be coming to fruition. He finds it unacceptable, and he questioned Mr. Kaszubski as to how they hold Priority Waste accountable when they do not meet the standards set forth in their contract. Mr. Kaszubski assured there are several provisions that allow for fines and allow for the City to hold Priority Waste to task for failing to live up to their obligations. He replied to further inquiry that he has met with Priority Waste and explained to them that this is unacceptable. Councilman Radtke hopes this will be rectified in the near future. He maintained that this is unacceptable. Councilwoman Schmidt gave kudos to the Fire Department who were on scene last week after the storm because of the many downed power lines, but she also commended the DPW, for being there within a half hour to clear the fallen trees and branches from the streets to make sure emergency personnel could get through. They were in neighborhoods the following day, cutting down trees and cleaning up after the storm. She added that DPW are the unsung heroes of the City, being part of public safety but not frequently mentioned. Councilwoman Schmidt participated in the Bear Cub Book Club reading at the library last week, and she talked about how fun it was. She remarked how enthusiastic the kids were to be there on a summer day, eagerly reading to Officer Reynolds, Councilwoman Ziarko, and herself. She looks forward to participating in it again. She also had the opportunity to attend the Sterling Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 38 Heights Tactical Medical class graduation, with nine firefighters who went through a tactical medic training sponsored by a national organization. This is to coordinate with the Police Department, and she explained that in a hostage or emergency situation, the Fire Department is typically placed on a hold outside of the perimeter. These nine firefighters are now trained to go in with the police officers to handle what needs to be addressed immediately. She is proud that the Police Department and Fire Department are so cohesive and work together in supporting each other. She congratulated those nine graduates for completing the rigorous training. Councilwoman Koski recalled mention of green space earlier in the meeting. She asked Mr. Vanderpool to explain the City’s conservation plan for green space in the future. Mr. Vanderpool replied to inquiry that the City has made a strong commitment to conservation. They have one of the largest nature preserves in the area, which is an eighty-acre nature preserve by Corewell Health. He added that, for the first time ever, residents will see some natural pathways through this area and will be able to experience that treasure. They will be spending millions of dollars to acquire property and preserve it as open space in areas that are not development areas. He clarified that North Van Dyke Avenue is a significant redevelopment area, and is an area that needs some attention, which is why they have gone through a comprehensive Master Plan for that area. They have also done the same for Lakeside so they can redevelop those areas. They are preserving open space, acquiring land, extending Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 39 pathways, building new pathways, all of which are part of conservation. He referred to the award-winning work that the Sustainability Commission has done, having won an award from the State of Michigan for all of the work they have done in the spirit of conservation. He added that the City Council has a strong commitment to this area. They are now providing universal curbside recycling so every homeowner can participate. They are planting 15,000 new trees in the City of Sterling Heights, which is a $7.5 million commitment to reforest their neighborhoods across the City. The City strengthened their Tree Preservation Ordinance, and it is one of the more rigorous ordinances of its kind in the area. They are now reviewing additional tree preservation options in commercial areas and will soon be reporting back to City Council on that initiative. He noted these are a few examples of conservation and he could continue on and on. He does not believe they are missing a conservation area in the City, but he referred to Ms. Fisher’s comment about composting, so if there are areas that need improvement, they want to hear that feedback. Councilwoman Koski commented that the conservation they are missing is something like the nature preserve with no pathways. She emphasized they need green space for the animals who were displaced from their homes. She is looking for a conservation plan for green space that has no pathways. She noted that Sterlingfest is coming up and they will have volunteers to help out. The CERT program and COPS program were promised caps to go with their Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 40 shirts, and she felt they would greatly appreciate getting these caps, especially considering the hot temperatures in which they will be working. Councilwoman Ziarko reported that she and Councilwoman Schmidt volunteered together for the Bear Cub Book Club reading program. She also noted that they both attended the Tactical Medical Program graduation ceremony, celebrating the achievement of nine firefighters who successfully completed that training. She explained she attended a conference for the Michigan Municipal League (MML), and they talked about housing. She commented that, instead of focusing on attainable or affordable housing, they should focus on housing for every stage of an adult’s life, including those graduating from high school who want affordable apartments, those who are graduating from college, getting their first job, newlyweds starting out, those starting families, and those going into their senior years where they want a condominium that is still in this City. One of the biggest obstacles they discussed was Proposal A and what the State could do to help out. Some of the suggestions were to change zoning ordinances to make it easier for people to build, and how they communicate that information to accomplish what they want to do. She mentioned hearing a speaker, who happens to be a personal friend of Economic Development Consultant Luke Bonner. In speaking with him, one of the first things he mentioned to her was that he had heard all about Velocity. She thought it was interesting that this speaker was aware of the Velocity Center and what they do there. Councilwoman Ziarko also pointed out that people from other communities are talking about Sterling Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 41 Heights and highlighting features that are often taken for granted by those who live in the City. Mayor Taylor wished everyone a very happy Fourth of July holiday, noting it is the 250th Fourth of July celebration of our country. He urged everyone to be safe and to shoot off their fireworks before 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 5th or they will be fined $1,000. He thanked the police officers who showed support for the new Police Chief. He stressed they have a great City, a great Police Department, and he once again congratulated Chief of Police Andrew Satterfield and his family. He added they are looking forward to having them as part of the community. He urged Chief Satterfield to get out and meet as many residents as he can, adding they love and support the Police Department. He stated he could not be prouder of the work their Police Department does, and although a lot is expected of Chief Satterfield, he would not get this job if he was not up to it. 13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 14. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. 15. CLOSED SESSION PERMITTED UNDER ACT 267 OF 1976 Mr. Kaszubski stated there are no items for closed session this evening. 16. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED , to adjourn the meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried (7/0). The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Page 42 MELANIE D. RYSKA, City Clerk