Ferndale City Council Meeting – March 9, 2026

The Ferndale City Council met on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at City Hall, 300 E 9 Mile, Ferndale, MI. The agenda was approved with an edit that moved the police promotions presentation before the Planning Commission Annual Report. All votes were unanimous by roll call unless otherwise noted.

Presentations

• Police Promotions: The police chief recognized the promotion of Stephen Rowe to sergeant, along with Austin Bishop and Dan Coosdale, for their advancement to supervisory roles. Bios highlighted their service, training, and awards.
• 2025 Planning Commission Annual Report: Chair Michelle Foster presented the commission’s annual report. The Planning Commission reviews site plans, special land uses, PUDs, and rezonings, and meets on the third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. She noted major 2025 actions: unanimous approval of the 1401 Faro warehouse expansion site plan and special land use; recommendation of denial for the 22230 Woodward Avenue car wash after multiple discussions; and unanimous approval of the Iron Ridge conditional rezoning/site plan at 660 E 10 Mile Road. She also said the master plan was last adopted in 2022 and that the five-year review process will be starting. 2026 goals include monitoring the new zoning ordinance, updating bylaws, holding a joint City Council/commission meeting, and hosting housing policy educational forums.
• 2026 DNR Grant Applications: Parks and Recreation staff presented planned applications for Linen Park, citing accessibility needs, aging equipment, and use by the summer day camp at nearby Edison School. The project would replace play equipment, add ADA features, install a walking path, repave the basketball court, and add amenities. Staff plan to apply to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (50% hard match) and the Natural Resources Trust Fund (minimum 26% match; city typically proposes 50%). Applications are due April 1, 2026; initial scoring and a withdrawal window occur in September; awards are expected in December 2026, with construction anticipated in summer 2027. No action was required; enabling resolutions will be brought to the next council meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: February 23 and February 26, 2026 meeting minutes; sustention of FOIA denials 26-51, 26-73 through 26-76, 26-78, and 26-79 and denial of the requester’s appeal; water infiltration testing at The DOT by Fishbeck ($8,400); ESRI GIS software renewal ($5,545); Plante Moran professional services agreement (agenda amount $25,000; transcript read $55,000 — discrepancy noted); traffic delineators from Traffic and Parking Control Company, LLC ($10,000); ground storage tank inspection by Dixon Engineering or competitive bid ($7,500); TLS-4 automatic tank gauge upgrade by R.W. Mercer ($8,662); generator maintenance with Cummins Sales and Service ($34,299.60); Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan updates by Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. ($15,700); special event permit for the 108th Memorial Day Parade on May 25, 2026; and bills and payrolls.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The call to audience was open from approximately 7:25 to 7:57 p.m.
• Jess Newman, speaking on behalf of the school board, announced the March 4 State of the District event, the boys basketball district championship, “Wizard of Oz” performance dates March 14–22, the high school bus loop closure for construction, and expressed support for an enhanced school millage on the August 2026 ballot to fund teacher recruitment/retention, programming, safety, and arts/culture.
• Larissa Richardson, director of regional partnerships for Mayor Sheffield, introduced herself and expressed interest in regional cooperation.
• A DDA representative invited residents to a wayfinding community input session Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Affirmations and announced the Match on Main grant program (up to $25,000, 10% business match).
• Angela LePart, resident and pastor at MCC Detroit, expressed strong support for an ICE-protection ordinance, called for stiff penalties and a prohibition on asking immigration status, and described ICE enforcement as terrorizing communities of color.
• Frank Castronova, president of the Ferndale Memorial Association, promoted the 108th Memorial Day Parade on May 25.
• Catlotash (715 W Breckenridge) co-signed LePart’s comments and said Ferndale should lead on protecting community members.
• A speaker noted Ferndale has not signed a 287(g) agreement and argued local police should stay out of immigration enforcement, citing civil-rights concerns and the Supreme Court’s Rodriguez decision.
• Chris McClonus supported strengthening the ordinance and making the moratorium permanent, opposing detention centers.
• Chris Gilmer Hill, a District 8 state House candidate, supported both items and recommended making ordinance violations a fireable offense, citing Detroit enforcement failures.
• Simon Cohen supported banning all ICE buildings and urged modifications to the exigent-circumstances and collective-bargaining sections.
• Sherry Wells contrasted spending on immigrant detention with homelessness funding and supported the moratorium.
• A Detroit resident described Ferndale as a “cousin” city and supported the ordinance.
• Prasad Beningopal thanked Councilmember Kelly and offered specific language to define exigent circumstances narrowly and to require supervisor approval and written documentation within 48 hours; he also argued all city employees should be held to the same ordinance-compliance standard.
• Christina Gallardo, a therapist, supported the ordinance as the “bare minimum,” described clients’ fear of disappearance, and requested clear penalties.
• A final speaker supported the ordinance but suggested a legitimate judicial warrant exception for felony or high-misdemeanor cases.

Discussion Items

• FY2027–FY2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Assistant City Manager James Quizan presented the six-year plan, identifying just over $99 million in capital needs. About 40% of total costs relate to the general fund and 46% to water/sewer funds. For FY2027, general fund capital requests total $8.2 million. Facilities make up 37.6% of six-year general fund capital needs, up from 15% last year; City Hall and DPW combined account for over $10 million. Lead service line replacement totals about $28 million (62.5% of water/sewer needs), and water main projects total about $6.8 million. The plan includes $3 million in parks capital for next year, including $2 million in grant-funded work. Quizan emphasized the CIP is a planning document, not a budget, and includes mutually exclusive projects such as rehab vs. new public safety headquarters. Council confirmed waste bins remained in the plan. Approved unanimously.
• Temporary Moratorium on Immigration Detention Centers: The city manager explained the six-month moratorium would allow study and potential zoning changes; the city attorney noted courts view six months as a permissible temporary period and it can be extended if research continues. Councilmember Sabatini said the resolution was proactive and aligned with community values. Approved unanimously.
• First Reading of Immigration Enforcement Ordinance: The city manager summarized the ordinance: it defines city resources, prohibits 287(g) agreements, restricts use of city resources absent a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances, bars collection of immigration status information where legally permissible, and establishes annual reporting. The ordinance acknowledges collective-bargaining rights. Councilmember Kelly said it was a legally defensible starting point and thanked the community. Approved unanimously for second reading on March 23, 2026.

Call to Council & Department Updates

• Parks and Recreation announced the March 28 Easter extravaganza at Wilson, Geary, and Martin Road parks; spring adult softball registration; and multiple senior trips and classes.
• DPW announced yard waste pickup beginning March 23, two weeks early, and said street sweeping has started and will continue for about two weeks.
• The fire chief announced a Memorial Day parade firehouse open house, a Skywarn spotter training on March 31, and Ferndale’s selection as a pilot community for an expanded Oakland County text-alert system.
• Councilmembers gave updates: Councilmember Kelly highlighted Art March events; Councilmember Sabatini mentioned the strategic planning session and resident concerns about package delivery drones; another councilmember previewed ordinance committee work, including fats/oils/grease, vacant structures, trees, responsible contractor policy, a balloon-release prohibition, a possible AI data-center moratorium, and a resolution supporting repeal of Michigan Public Act 389 of 2016.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the FY2027–FY2032 Capital Improvement Plan unanimously.
• Approved a six-month temporary moratorium on immigration detention centers unanimously.
• Approved the first reading of the immigration enforcement ordinance unanimously; second reading and potential adoption are scheduled for the March 23, 2026 regular meeting.
• Approved the consent calendar unanimously, including a $34,299.60 generator maintenance agreement and a special event permit for the 108th Memorial Day Parade on May 25, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.