City Council

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025 IN CITY HALL 1. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk, gave the Invocation. 3. Council Members present at roll call: Michael V. Radtke, Jr., Maria G. Schmidt, Liz Sierawski, 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. Absent: Deanna Koski, Michael C. Taylor 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to approve the agenda as presented. Yes: All. The motion carried (5/0). A. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated this is to receive the results of the Board of Canvassers, and she invited City Clerk Melanie D. Ryska to give the presentation. City Clerk Melanie Ryska read the 2025 City Election results certified by the Macomb County Board of Canvassers on November 4, 2025. There was a total of 18,816 votes cast at this election, and the results are as follows: Office of Mayor (one 4-year term): Michael C. Taylor received 11,912 votes and is elected Mayor. Matthew Ryan received 6,290 votes. Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 2 There were no valid write-in candidates in this election. Office of City Council (six positions for 4-year terms each): Liz Sierawski received 10,953 votes and is elected to City Council. Having been awarded the most votes, and in accordance with the City Charter, she will serve as Mayor Pro-Tem for the next term. Michael V. Radtke Jr. received 10,299 votes and is elected to City Council. Henry Yanez received 10,270 votes and is elected to City Council. Robert Mijac received 9,490 votes and is elected to City Council. Maria G. Schmidt received 8,414 votes and is elected to City Council. Barbara A. Ziarko received 7,974 votes and is elected to City Council. Rick McKiddy received 7,566 votes. Deanna Koski received 7,418 votes. Moira Smith received 6,155 votes. Jackie Ryan received 5,913 votes. Teri Brinker received 5,845 votes. Daniel Acciacca received 4,976 votes. Clerk Ryska stated there were no valid write-in candidates in this election, and this concludes her report. B. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski stated this is the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025-2029 City Council by 41-A District Court Chief Judge Stephen S. Sierawski. 41-A District Court Chief Judge Stephen S. Sierawski congratulated everyone, stating he is proud of all of them and is confident they will make the community Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 3 proud as they serve on City Council for the next four years. He administered the Oath of Office to the City Council members. C. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski opened the floor to the City Council for recognition and remarks. Councilwoman Schmidt stated she is humbled, honored, and thankful to the voters of the City of Sterling Heights for bestowing her the honor of representing them for the next four years. She assured she takes it seriously, and she leads with her integrity, promising that it will always continue. She emphasized that she could not do this without a lot of people, including friends, family, and some of her colleagues on City Council. She compared running in an election as an “out- of-body experience,” and it is impossible to get through it without the support of family and friends. Councilwoman Schmidt stated she could not have done this without her mom, her brothers and sisters-in-law, her son, her daughter, and her husband, and they have gone through a lot, loving this City as she does. She explained that every election, her daughter Natalie, and Councilwoman Ziarko’s daughter Stacy worked tirelessly for them. She added she is grateful to everyone who helped and very grateful to the residents for having faith in her to carry on what she has done for the last twenty-two years. She is looking forward to moving the City forward they way they have started. Councilwoman Ziarko thanked everyone who went to the polls, regardless of whether or not they voted for her. She felt it is important for everyone to exercise their right to vote. She has been here for twenty-four years and hopes to be here Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 4 another four years. She understands that longevity can sometimes be a disadvantage, but her goal is to prove to all of the people who think it is a problem that she is still going to serve with the utmost respect for them and for the City. She emphasized that this is a non-partisan seat and she will make sure she does everything she can to make sure those are her decisions in order to serve in everyone’s best interest. Councilwoman Ziarko commented that this was the toughest election she has ever been through for many reasons, but she thanked her daughter Stacy and her running mate, Councilwoman Schmidt, adding it was a long eight months. She is confident the City will move forward and that is why they are here. She recalled in 2017, she began to change direction by not only serving the people in Sterling Heights but also paying attention to what was going on in the State. She referred to a documentary, “Michigan Divided,” where people were interviewed across Michigan, all having different philosophies and lifestyles. She became involved with the Michigan Municipal League with the goal in mind to learn more about uniting rather than dividing. It is so important, and in these difficult times, it is still her goal to bring everyone together. She welcomed Councilman Mijac to City Council, she has known him for many years, and she is confident he wants to serve and is ready to go. She quoted Mickey Switalski, whom she met in 2002 when he was going through his election for State Senate, and he had said, “This is going to be tough, but in the end, if I have my name and my family, I was successful.” She stated she feels that way today, noting she has her name and her family. Councilwoman Ziarko is looking forward to working with Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 5 Council and Administration, listening to the residents, and providing the information they need to make good decisions. She assured they are here for the residents; she loves the City and loves serving the people, and she plans to do it with honesty and integrity for the next four years. Councilman Radtke thanked the voters in the City of Sterling Heights, noting this is his fourth election. He considered it an honor and privilege to be supported by the voters and returned to office. His goal is always to make this City the best city in the State of Michigan to live. He explained that he attended high school here, came back, and he thanked his family for everything they have done to help him in this election. He especially thanked specific members of his family who have always helped him, served as his number one volunteer, and thanked them for all of their support. He added that his father is here and is very proud of all of the work they have done, and his brother and family are also here tonight. Councilman Radtke emphasized that Sterling Heights means the world to him, and they are not only on the pathway to success, but their successes are proven every day, through the implementation of ReCreating Recreation, restoring the Safe Streets millage, and the Pathways to Play and Preservation. In the last eight years, they have taken the City to the next level. At a time when a lot of cities are disinvesting, Sterling Heights is reinvesting. He felt the election results show the support of the residents, and he has been thinking a lot about what they can do to improve their city even further. His first goal is to continue the ITC trail and make every part of the City accessible by bicycle on the trails to all parks. He urged Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 6 residents listening to reach out and let Council know how they want to see their City improved. Councilman Radtke pointed out that they are always talking and thinking about how they can improve their City, so this is a full-time job. He praised and thanked former City Councilwoman Deanna Koski for being a tremendous source of knowledge on the history of the City, and she should be honored and proud for all of the work she has done. She will be missed, and he cautioned Councilman Mijac that he has “big shoes to fill,” but with his experience as a County Commissioner, he is certain he will be able to “hit the ground running.” He once again thanked all of the voters who came out, adding it was one of the most contested elections ever. He talked about what it feels to run in an election, placing your name on the ballot and asking voters to support you. He added they hear nasty comments, and they never know exactly where they stand until the day after the election. He stressed he is privileged to be the second-highest vote- getter, although he added it is difficult to be the first in this City. He is happy to return, and he considers it an honor and a privilege, expressing confidence they will do great things over the next four years. Councilman Mijac thanked the voters of Sterling Heights. He knows he has big shoes to fill, and he commended former Councilwoman Deanna Koski for all of her years of service. He explained he will be supporting an initiative to rename the Nature Center in her name. He noted this campaign started for him in March, gathering signatures, and it is the first he learned of that entire process. He thanked the residents for signing petitions allowing all of the candidates to run, Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 7 and he commended City Clerk Ryska and her team for being extremely professional. He noted that his good friend, Fred Miller, served as County Clerk in Macomb County, and he had nothing but great things to say about City Clerk Ryska, her professionalism, and her Clerk’s Office. He thanked the residents of the City for taking time to serve as election workers in order to make their democracy work better. He looks forward to working with his fellow colleagues on Council, Mr. Vanderpool and City Administration, and the residents and businesses in Sterling Heights to keep everything moving forward. He urged residents to contact him if they have any concerns. He thanked his mother and his wife for their support, noting they are everything to him. Councilman Yanez started by thanking his wife for her support. He stated he has been given the opportunity to serve this City since 1995, first as a firefighter/paramedic, followed by his service as a State representative, and now as a City Councilman. An election is a contract between candidates and the people whose consent they seek to represent. That contract is that the one elected will represent them to the best of their ability, putting personal feelings and political alliances aside. Each of those serving on City Council represents 135,000 people, and that is an awesome responsibility. If someone has an issue, reaches out, and wants their help, it is the responsibility of the Council member to do that. He continues to be honored to receive the support of the voters so he can come back to represent them. He emphasized this is a great City, but there is always work they can do to make it even better. He talked to a lot of people when he was Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 8 campaigning, and he got input on many topics. He assured they want to work on things, even including transparency and how they can make government easier and better for the residents to understand through communications. He thanked everyone and emphasized that he is excited to be back and serve the City again, looking forward to serving with the rest of the Council for the next four years. Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski thanked her family, adding that her children have been working on elections for most of their lives. She stated that, between her husband and herself, they have been blessed to have a lot of great family support. She thanked her kids for working the polls for her again this year, adding that it takes a lot of time and they have to take time out of their busy schedules to do it. She noted that even her daughter-in-law was outside working the polls for her, and it was a very cold day. She especially thanked her husband, whom she has known since she was five years old and would not be here today without him. She is proud of him, of their relationship, and of their family, and she expressed her gratitude. She thanked her friends who helped her out, and she thanked the voters, adding that she is humbled and honored to see how democracy works and being a part of it. She believes they are doing good things for the City, and she is glad the voters had faith in her to continue to serve them. She promised to always listen to the residents and to serve as their voice if they need her to do so. She assured she will always be transparent, and although she may not always vote the way some people would want, she will always give her answers. She stated she will always be honest and caring in her approach on Council and with the Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 9 residents. She agreed with comments from her colleagues that this was a rough election, and many people are unkind. She explained she tries to ensure she will never reflect that attitude of being unkind to someone else and will never intentionally disrespect them. She stated she is available and urged anyone with concerns to contact her, pointing out that the phone number on the website is her personal phone number, and she is happy to take calls. She congratulated all of her colleagues, and she welcomed Councilman Robert Mijac. She stated she has known him for a long time, and he has always been an honorable man and one who has served the residents of the County well and will now be serving the residents of the City of Sterling Heights. She thanked former Councilwoman Koski, who served and will continue to serve as her mentor. She stressed that she misses her tremendously, but she knows that Ms. Kosky will do other things with the City where she will be well-received. She has faith that her love for this City will continue and they will be able to draw on her knowledge. She thanked the voters once again and encouraged them to contact her if they need anything. 5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Mayor Pro-Tem Sierawski opened the floor for comments from the audience: • Jerry Seija – stated he has been attending these City Council meetings since February 1981 so he has attended a lot of swearing-in ceremonies; welcomed the reelected council members and congratulated Councilman Mijac, wishing him well for the next four years; thanked he City for the Veteran’s memorial service that took place yesterday; thanked City Clerk Ryska and her staff, adding that they work extremely hard and do a great job; thanked former Councilwoman Koski for her service to the residents, the City employees, and her kindness, adding she always went out of her way to help people; thanked Councilman Mijac and wished him well; noted Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 10 the Mayor is out of town, but he extended his best wishes to the Mayor as well for the next four years. 6. REPORTS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL Mr. Vanderpool, on behalf of Administration, congratulated the Mayor and Council on their reelection, as well as newcomer Councilman Mijac. Administration looks forward to working with them again over the next four years to continue all of the incredible projects taking place across the City. He pointed out that almost all of them have been started under this Council in one way or another, and he is honored as City Manager, on behalf of Administration, to continue that good work. He noted that the election serves as a form of validation – much like the citizen survey – of the good work being done. He added that more information about the summer’s citizen survey will be presented at the second meeting in December. They will be highlighting all of the areas where the community feels things are going well, and they will also be looking at some areas where they need to continue to do some work. He knows first-hand that it is not easy being a Mayor or City Council member, noting the amount of information they have to decipher every single day, pointing out they get information from the City daily, sometimes hourly. Once a week the City Council also receives a long packet of information they have to review, decipher, and generally there are comments, questions, and follow-up information that has to be provided. He pointed out that this is in addition to the City Council packet that goes out every other week. He explained that is on top of the Strategic Planning material, budget information for the hearings, other special meetings, ribbon-cuttings, special events, volunteerism Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 11 that they all participate in, the Master Plan, and the Zoning Ordinance are just a sampling of the work that goes on at City Council level. He commented that it is all-encompassing and far more than a full-time job, and as Administration, they appreciate the work of the Mayor and City Council members. Mr. Vanderpool stated the City is renowned for having good government, and that starts with the leadership of the City, which is the Mayor and City Council. They are ready to continue by chipping away at their Visioning 2040 Plan, which is transformational for the community. He recognized, on behalf of Administration, former City Councilwoman Deanna Koski. He has had the privilege and honor of driving together with her to Council meetings, and he admitted it was a little lonely for him on his ride home last week, so he will miss that. He commended her for the amazing work she did for the City, and they are all looking forward to paying tribute to her at their next meeting. He welcomed new Council member Robert Mijac on behalf of Administration, and he looks forward to working with him. Mr. Kaszubski took a moment to express how blessed he is to work with the Mayor and City Council. He looks forward to working with Councilman Mijac as well. Mr. Kaszubski explained he has been serving the City in various capacities for over twenty years, and he considers that he has the best seat in the house. He is looking forward to the next four years. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. 8. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. Special City Council Meeting Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Page 12 9. CLOSED SESSION PERMITTED UNDER ACT 267 OF 1976 Mr. Kaszubski stated there are no items for closed session this evening. 10. ADJOURN Moved by Ziarko, seconded by Schmidt, RESOLVED, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: All. The motion carried (6/0). The meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m. MELANIE D. RYSKA, City Clerk