OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Ferndale City Council Meeting - February 9, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Monday, February 9, 2026
BodyFerndale, Michigan
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 52:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I didn't see um I I see I'm looking at 1.63.

0:05

Well but this is 1.7.

0:08

Maybe it was a typo.

0:09

I don't know.

0:09

Okay.

0:11

But that's the old agenda.

0:13

And it'll change all of the time.

0:18

Yeah, the bid tabulation has the 1.734.

0:21

So that would have been the seven o'clock already.

0:32

All right.

0:33

Escalating line replacement.

0:38

Yes.

0:39

And yeah.

0:41

Oh good relationship.

0:42

Okay.

0:42

All right.

0:42

Thank you.

1:05

Good evening.

1:07

I call this meeting to order at 701.

1:09

If you're able, please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

1:13

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, but which expansions one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:28

Maybe the rule call, please.

1:30

Johnson.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Kelly.

1:31

Here.

1:32

McColsky.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Sabatini.

1:33

Here it leaks back.

1:35

Here.

1:35

And then also approval of the agenda.

1:39

Mayor I move we approve the agenda as presented.

1:42

Support.

1:44

All in favor?

1:45

Aye.

1:47

Any opposed?

1:49

All right.

1:49

So the first thing we have coming up is a presentation on the update on the water billing.

1:59

Hi.

2:00

My name is Brenda Zarosley.

2:02

I'm the deputy finance director.

2:07

Yeah, you just have to turn it on, Brenda.

2:09

There's a switch on the side too.

2:14

If you open the presentation, it should you should be able to click through it with that.

2:18

Oh, I got you.

2:19

Okay.

2:40

So during current billing process for cycle one, there was an issue when I was doing some training where I missed a step that caused it to estimate the majority of the bills in that cycle.

2:55

Oh yeah, okay.

3:08

So that this will not happen again.

3:11

We are working more and more with uh DPW as far as getting the water bills current in the way that they're supposed to be.

3:18

Um historically, there has been a disconnect between finance communicating with DPW.

3:23

So we are starting um to improve that, and we've actually gotten quite a bit of feedback from residents so that they have clarifications on their bills, and it's been pretty good.

3:34

Um sometimes we do have to estimate the bills when we don't get a read.

3:40

Um the estimated reads are based off of prior usage, so it's not some random number that just comes out of the air that we charge people.

3:49

Um bills are calculated based on the wastewater usage, the readiness to serve fee, and how much water was actually used.

4:00

Um the readiness to serve fees fixed rates, cost for managing and maintaining the water distribution.

4:07

Um so it does not fluctuate, it is ten dollars per month.

4:14

Um water usage, the rates at the units is what shows on the bill from what you used the last time to your current, so it'll give you your total units amount, and that's what we calculate your bill off of.

4:31

Um our water rates are pretty comparable to our neighbors.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Racial Equity█████████████13%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Community Engagement██████6%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Ferndale City Council Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Ferndale City Council met on February 9, 2026 at 7:01 PM. Key actions included approval of the consent agenda, award of the 2026 Water Main Improvement Program contract, and adoption of the Racial Impact Assessment Resolution. A presentation on water billing addressed a recent estimation error and provided rate comparisons.

Presentation: Update on Water Billing

  • Deputy Finance Director Brenda Zarosley explained that a training error caused most bills in Cycle 1 to be estimated. The city is improving communication between Finance and DPW. Estimated bills are based on prior usage, not random numbers. Ferndale's quarterly bill for 16 units is within $8 of the regional average of $298.77. The city has a combined storm/sanitary sewer system, making separation cost-prohibitive (estimated $200 million). Council requested the presentation and standard operating procedures be shared publicly.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jess Newman, Ferndale School Board Trustee, provided district updates: State of the District on March 4, Preschool Open House on February 25, Middle School bond project outreach, Giggle Pickles Robotics team advancing to world championship, and the spring musical "Wizard of Oz" (March 14–22).
  • Prasad Venegopal (1425 West Troy Street) praised the PSYOGs ordinance community meeting and urged continued conversation on surveillance policies and the anti-racism resolution. He asked that the racial impact assessment apply to all city policies, not just policing.
  • An unnamed resident announced joining the pastoral team at MCC Detroit, focusing on pride and social justice, and offered to be a resource to the council.

Consent Calendar

All consent items (7A–7N) were approved unanimously by voice vote. Key items included:

  • Approval of January 26 and February 2, 2026 meeting minutes.
  • Adoption of a resolution opposing GLWA's proposed FY2027 water (6.83%) and sewer (5.98%) rate increases, urging affordability and cost containment.
  • Setting alternative meeting dates for the March Board of Review.
  • Adoption of the 2026 Poverty Exemption Policy and Guidelines.
  • 2026 membership renewal with NTSO ($8,142).
  • Amendment to FY2026 fee schedule for massage establishment inspections.
  • 2026 Oakway Mutual Aid Association dues ($8,000).
  • Elevator door lock repairs at The Development on Troy (not to exceed $29,484.83).
  • Acceptance of DMC Consultants bid for Martin Road Park Outdoor Recreation Support Facility ($1,634,959.35) and Giffels Webster construction engineering services ($47,335).
  • Approval of SMART specialized services contract, Intertek airtightness testing ($13,000), DTE billing agreement ($8,441.20), city hall sign repairs (not to exceed $6,897.82), and bills/payrolls.

Discussion Items

2026 Water Main Improvement Program

  • DPW Director presented the project: replacing aging water mains (80–100 years old) on Jarvis (6-inch to 8-inch) and Woodward Heights (connecting 12-inch). Addendum addressing potential contaminated soil from former Rikold chemical plant was issued; low bidder BRICO Excavating did not initially acknowledge it but confirmed work at no extra cost. BRICO's bid of $647,907.50 was $60,000 lower than the next bid. Council approved the contract 5-0. Construction anticipates summer 2026 with fall completion.

Racial Impact Assessment Resolution

  • Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt a resolution directing the city manager to create a racial impact assessment, originally called for in the 2020 racial equity resolution but overdue. The assessment will initially focus on policing but council intends to expand it to all city policies. The motion passed 5-0.

Council Comments and Updates

  • City Manager Arcs announced updates: successful Princess Dance, Mackinac Grand Experience trip availability, soccer registration closing March 6, and expanded summer camp filling fast.
  • Councilmember Sabatini noted two openings on the Parks and Rec Commission and urged advocacy against GLWA rate increases.
  • Councilmember Johnson urged residents to contact state representatives about the upcoming state budget and revenue sharing.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Mikulski read the GLWA resolution (already adopted on consent) and reported that Hazel Park, Berkeley, and Royal Oak are passing similar resolutions. She also thanked the police department for engagement on the PSYOGs ordinance and support for the racial equity resolution.
  • Mayor noted GLWA advocacy at the Black Michigan Summit in Benton Harbor and welcomed school board updates as a positive step.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • 2026 Water Main Improvement Program awarded to BRICO Excavating Company LLC for $647,907.50 (vote 5-0).
  • Racial Impact Assessment Resolution adopted (vote 5-0).
  • Council directed the scope of the racial impact assessment to cover all city policies.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:53 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I didn't see um I I see I'm looking at 1.63. Well but this is 1.7. Maybe it was a typo. I don't know. Okay. But that's the old agenda. And it'll change all of the time. Yeah, the bid tabulation has the 1.734. So that would have been the seven o'clock already. All right. Escalating line replacement. Yes. And yeah. Oh good relationship. Okay. All right. Thank you. Good evening. I call this meeting to order at 701. If you're able, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, but which expansions one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Maybe the rule call, please. Johnson. Here. Kelly. Here. McColsky. Here. Sabatini. Here it leaks back. Here. And then also approval of the agenda. Mayor I move we approve the agenda as presented. Support. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? All right. So the first thing we have coming up is a presentation on the update on the water billing. Hi. My name is Brenda Zarosley. I'm the deputy finance director. Yeah, you just have to turn it on, Brenda. There's a switch on the side too. If you open the presentation, it should you should be able to click through it with that. Oh, I got you. Okay. So during current billing process for cycle one, there was an issue when I was doing some training where I missed a step that caused it to estimate the majority of the bills in that cycle. Oh yeah, okay. So that this will not happen again.

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