Ferndale City Council Meeting - November 24, 2025

On Monday, November 24, 2025, the Ferndale City Council met at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 300 E 9 Mile, Ferndale, MI. The meeting included the Parks and Recreation Commission annual report, a presentation on the proposed Axon automated license plate reader (ALPR) agreement, a CDBG public hearing, approval of the consent agenda, and a roll-call vote to table the Axon agreement to the December 15, 2025 meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved with an edit adding item 4B, a presentation on the proposed Axon ALPR system, before the call to audience.
• The consent agenda was approved in a single motion: November 10, 2025 meeting minutes; appointments/reappointments to city boards and commissions; a 48-month Toshiba Business Solutions lease for $63,522.72; the ESO software platform annual payment of $9,739.01; purchase of two Blackline gas monitors for $13,553.00; purchase of RCX Sports MLS GO soccer uniform kits for $9,751.70; suspension of paid downtown parking enforcement on Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025; and bills/payrolls as submitted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The call to audience ran from approximately 7:36 to 8:32 p.m., with a three-minute limit per speaker. Many residents commented on the proposed Axon ALPR agreement.
• Supporters, including Sharon Chess, Patrick Van Lynn, Mark McConnell, and a representative of Jewish Ferndale, expressed support for giving the police department the technology, citing public safety, crime-solving benefits, and the recent foiled attack planned against Ferndale.
• Opponents and concerned residents, including Angela Lapard, Mara Livzy, Andrea Popovich, Eddie Sabatini, Chris McLonis, Kalitash, Chris Gilmer Hill, Deanne Oxal, and others, argued the timeline was rushed, community engagement was inadequate, and the contract raised privacy, civil-liberties, ICE/federal access, for-profit data incentive, and Axon ethics concerns. Several asked the council to delay the vote and include civil-liberties experts in a true public conversation.
• Some speakers raised non-ALPR issues. Dennis August asked for better street-cleaning and snow-removal parking enforcement; council agreed to schedule a future presentation on enforcement policies.
• The CDBG public hearing was opened at approximately 8:32 p.m. and closed at 8:41 p.m.; no residents offered public testimony.

Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report

• Parks and Recreation Commission representatives reported 2025 achievements, including $100,000 raised in grant funding, summer camp registration selling out in three minutes, a design award for Wilson Park, and new youth and adult programming.
• 2024 statistics included $2.4 million in grant funding, a 47% increase in youth sports participation, a new girls' basketball league, and more than 15 senior trips.
• The commission's strategic priorities are empowering volunteers through the Amelia volunteer portal, strengthening communication through infographics and surveys, and connecting through collaboration, including a Martin Park mural subcommittee.
• Martin Park and Wilson Park construction were completed in 2025; the Martin Park bathroom/concession facility is expected to go out to bid soon.

CDBG Public Hearing

• The Director of Community and Economic Development presented Ferndale's Project Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant application: $85,000 for code enforcement and $200,000 for a new ambulance.
• CDBG funds flow from HUD to Oakland County to municipalities. Oakland County is emphasizing larger, high-impact projects, with formula-based funds for public services and proposal-based funds for public facilities.
• Ferndale has approximately 50% eligible area-wide benefit block groups, and low-income household income limits were reviewed. The application is due December 5, 2025.
• Council authorized the CDBG funding allocation and application as submitted. City staff noted the upper funding limit is likely around $300,000 and that an amended ask would require a new public noticing period.

Axon ALPR Agreement Discussion

• Police command presented a proposal to replace the terminated Flock Safety ALPR pilot with a five-year Axon ALPR agreement. The pilot began in March 2023 with 16 cameras, 15 of which completed the pilot; ALPR service ended November 13, 2025.
• The department compared Axon, Genitech, Motorola, and Recor, and recommended Axon because it is law-enforcement-only, uses one-to-one data sharing, gives the city ownership of cameras and data, and had the strongest alignment with city policy. Proposed annual cost was approximately $2,465.95 per camera for nine cameras. The chief's presentation cited the five-year total as $110,967.60, while the motion stated an amount not to exceed $110,167.60.
• Councilmembers raised questions about data hosting, vendor access, de-identified data, AI training, live video, facial recognition, retention, auditing, and contract-change protections. Councilmember McCulski proposed a contract addendum with strict data-ownership, no-third-party-access, no-facial-recognition, no-live-streaming, and 90-day notice provisions.
• Councilmember Kelly said the process was too rushed and she was not comfortable approving ALPR at that time. Chief defended the timeline and vendor choice. Councilmember Polica voiced support for the technology, citing solved crimes and unsolved-crime victims. Councilmember Leaks May voted with the majority to postpone but emphasized the need for public education.
• Axon representatives offered to provide written answers to unresolved questions and to work with the city manager and legal counsel on contract language.
• A motion to table the Axon agreement to the December 15, 2025 regular council meeting passed by roll call 4-1: Johnson, McCulski, Kelly, and Leaks May voted yes; Polica voted no.

Department Updates & Announcements

• DPW: Leaf collection will be extended with one additional citywide pass on Monday and Wednesday of the following week; items must be at the curb by Monday, December 1, and bagged leaves will be collected through December 19.
• Parks and Recreation: Santa will visit Ferndale on Saturday, December 6, with events at Wilson Park, Gary Park, and Shiffer Park, sponsored by Ferndale Elks Lodge, Corner Grill and Bar, Giorgio Conti Jewelers, and Western Market.
• DDA: Paid downtown parking will be suspended for Small Business Saturday on November 29; a downtown wayfinding and signage project is beginning in early December.
• CED: The next planning commission meeting will include three applications, and second-round senior chore bids were awarded.
• The city will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving; the meeting adjourned at 10:22 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the amended agenda.
• Authorized the CDBG Project Year 2026 application for $85,000 for code enforcement and $200,000 for a new ambulance.
• Approved the consent agenda in full.
• Tabled the Axon ALPR agreement to the December 15, 2025 council meeting by a 4-1 roll-call vote.
• Directed staff to explore a neutral facilitator and community engagement session on the Axon ALPR proposal and contract guardrails before further action.