The Ferndale City Council met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 7:03 PM at City Hall. The meeting featured presentations from Affirmations Community Center and the Environmental Sustainability Commission, a lengthy public comment period with both supportive and critical remarks, approval of a consent agenda (with one item tabled), and a vote to place a charter amendment on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
I call this meeting to order at 7.03 p.m. If you're able, please rise to the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the play of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and justice role. Kelly LaSalle. McColski. Sabatini. Here. Leaks May. Here. And now approval of the agenda, please. Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda with one change. Um I'd like to table 7J until the next meeting in July. 7J. Support the approval of the agenda with the amendment proposed by Mayor Pro Temikolski. All in favor of the agenda with amendment. Any opposed? All right. All right. So now we looks like we have a couple of presentations today. First one being uh Affirmations Community Center update. Hello, welcome, Tracy. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Good evening, Mayor, City Council, City Manager. Thank you for the opportunity to share an update on Affirmations. Your LGBT LGBTQ plus community center right here in Ferndale. As Michigan's largest and one of the longest standing LGBTQ community centers in the state, Affirmations continues to serve as a hub for mental health care, youth, and adult support, arts and cultural, all arts and culture, basic needs and basic needs assistance and community connection. In 2025, we saw an in saw the impact of that work in powerful ways. Last year, more than 30,000 individuals and families came through our programs and services, everything from counseling and support groups to wellness programs, food assistance, and resource navigation. Our mental health program provided over 3,500 counseling visits delivered by a team of licensed and student therapists supporting individuals, couples, and groups. We also held 40 vaccination and testing clinics helping strengthen community health access right here in Ferndale. And none of this would be possible without our volunteers. Over 230 people who help run programs, the food pantry, health outreach, and peer-led support, our peer-led groups. Those numbers tell a story of scale, but what we are seeing in 2026 tells a story of momentum. So far this year, just through May, over 11,000 folks have walked through I've already walked through our doors. That's a pace that will surpass last year's engagement, and it reflects the growing need for safe affirming and a safe affirming community spaces. In March, probably my favorite event, don't tell Ferndale Pride. Okay, Ferndale Pride's one of my favorite events too. But March, we reopened our gallery gallery in partnership with the downtown development authority as part of their art march, strengthening our role as cult as a cultural anchor in Ferndale. Our annual youth prom and prom review together welcomed over 30 attendees. These events give LGB LGBTQ plus young people and adults the chance to experience joy, uh safety, and belonging, often for the first time. Our partnership with Ferndale Pride has also grown significantly. This year, several thousand people came through our doors during Pride Weekend alone, using the center as a gathering space, a cooling space, and a community hub. Just last Thursday, we hosted our give out day celebration with Ferndale Project, and what what is just as amazing? We had more than a dozen local business businesses right here in Ferndale participate in our campaign. That kind of local partnership is what keeps our work sustainable and deeply rooted in this community. Across all of this, our mission remains the same to improve the quality of life for LGBT uh LGBTQ plus Michiganders through education, advocacy, community connection, and inclusive services. And our vision, an equitable an equitable world where LGBTQ plus people can love, live, and thrive, continues to grind continues to guide every program we offer. Affirmations is proud to call Ferndale home. We are grateful for the city's ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing to serve as a resource, a partner, and a place belonging for everyone who walks through our doors.