Ferndale City Council Meeting Summary - August 24, 2026
Ferndale City Council Meeting Summary - August 24, 2026
The Ferndale City Council met on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting covered consent agenda items, public comments, a failed lease agreement for a parking lot, and unanimous approval of updates to the vacant property and short-term rental ordinances. The council also received departmental updates on parks, fire services, and state budget cuts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Simon Cohen (954 West Marshall, FIAC member) expressed strong support for the two candidates on the consent agenda for board and commission appointments, praising their perspectives.
- Bill Robertson (244 La Prairie Street) voiced concerns about proposed short-term rental amendments, particularly the limitation on one-night rentals. He suggested forming a group of council and short-term rental owners to discuss both sides, questioned the statistics behind complaints, and urged against penalizing all owners for a few problematic ones.
- Lauren Reidenauer (590 East Maplehurst) spoke in support of her application for the accessibility committee, expressing desire to broaden access for residents and visitors.
- Cole (927 Investor Avenue) introduced himself as a 22-year-old first responder and resident, seeking to serve on the accessibility committee.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda was approved unanimously (5-0) and included:
- 7A: Approval of August 10, 2026 meeting minutes
- 7B: Appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions
- 7C: Extension of temporary moratorium on immigration detention facilities
- 7D: 2026 Sidewalk Hardship Committee Resolution
- 7E: Updated resolutions of support and financial commitment for Michigan DNR grants ($175,000)
- 7F: Resolution denying licensure appeal of short-term rental at 2341 McDowell Street
- 7G: Grant agreement with U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence for emergency planning ($10,000)
- 7H: Management and maintenance plan for Downtown Ferndale Social District
- 7I: Audit support services agreement with Watson & Yates (not to exceed $240,000)
- 7J: Approval of bills and payrolls
Discussion Items
8A: Lease Agreement for 165 E 9 Mile (Parking Lot)
The proposal was to lease the lot at 165 E 9 Mile for $1 to create 23-24 parking spaces, with estimated site preparation costs of $15,000-$17,000 and restoration costs of $10,000-$20,000 (if not taken over by a future developer). Potential monthly revenue was $6,900. Risks included uncertain term length, unknown maintenance/snow removal costs, and potential loss in a worst-case scenario of $8,000-$13,000. No feasibility study was performed. Council debate noted the auto parking fund's limited capacity and the lack of data from other parking initiatives (restriping Breckenridge, valet parking). Valet parking efforts were paused at the DDA level despite a fully negotiated contract with Credit Union One. The motion failed 3-2 (Kelly, Mikolski, Sabatini opposed; LaSalle, Leaks May in favor).
8B: Amendments to Chapter 6 (Building and Building Regulations) – Vacant Structure Ordinance
Code enforcement staff presented data: 102 confirmed vacant properties (72 residential, 20 commercial, 10 industrial); 34 properties registered and inspected; 17 removed from registry after ownership change; 66 tickets issued (12 paid, 13 dismissed due to burden of proof, 38 pending due to unlocatable owners). The amendments change interior inspections to exterior-only (cutting inspection time from 1 hour to 10 minutes), require notarized affidavits and driver’s license information, and add an in-house abatement provision. Success stories included converting a former nightclub and several dilapidated properties. Questions addressed handling probate, hospitalization, and long-term absences. The motion passed 5-0.
8C: Amendments to Chapter 7 (Business Regulations) – Short-Term Rental Licenses
Proposed changes include: requiring posting of license with max occupancy, installation of noise monitors, mandatory meeting with city manager after 6 complaints (with possible revocation), extending the violation window from 12 to 24 months, and a 24-month ban on operating without a license. The previously proposed two-night minimum was removed after consultations with short-term rental owners. The city reported approximately 140 complaints to police and CED, with 12 properties having active violations. Council members praised the ordinance committee’s work. The motion passed 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Lease agreement for 165 E 9 Mile parking lot: Failed (3-2).
- Vacant structure ordinance update (Chapter 6): Approved (5-0).
- Short-term rental ordinance update (Chapter 7): Approved (5-0).
- Consent agenda: Approved (5-0).
Department & Council Updates
- Parks & Recreation: Rescheduled Movie on the Hill for Thursday, August 27 (showing "The Mandalorian and Grogu"); flag football and adult softball registration open; senior trip to Michigan State Fair on September 3 for $4 bus fare; September senior newsletters available.
- Fire Department: The state cut the smoke detector program; free smoke detectors are no longer available. The fire department will seek alternative grants. State budget cuts also affected EMS and the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MAVIS), though disaster response remains intact.
- Councilmember Kelly: Highlighted the $10,000 grant for emergency election services (item 7G), welcomed new commission members, and noted chimney swifts at Kulik Park.
- Councilmember LaSalle: Reminded of the final two 9 on 9 concert series (Sunday at 4 PM at Shiffer Park) and announced the 250th anniversary community picnic on September 19 at Martin Road Park (11 AM-3 PM).
- Councilmember Mikolski: Addressed permit parking enforcement concerns for residents without driveways, hinting at possible relief.
- Mayor Pro Tem Mikolski: Welcomed new Finance Director Donnie Johnson, thanked Rachel Crandall Crocker for Transgender Pride in the Park, and promoted Ferndale High School’s first home football game on Thursday at 7 PM honoring the Oakland County Executive. She also highlighted a $100,000 Oakland County Parks grant for upgrades to Lennon Park (basketball courts) secured quickly through collaboration with Commissioner Kate Baker and Parks Director Lorena.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Ellie. Present. Mikolski. Sabatini. Leaks May. Here. And approval of the agenda. The agenda as presented. Support. All in favor. Aye. Aye. We have no presentations tonight, which brings us right to call to audience. So if you'd like, you can come up to the podium and speak on anything on or off the agenda. You have three minutes. Please state your name and your address. And I'm opening call to audience at 701. Hello, Council. Simon Cohen, 954 West Marshall. I'm here as a member of FIAC to strongly endorse the two candidates on the consent agenda. We got some ambitious plans coming up, and we're going to need all the warm bodies and seats. And I've been, I know these two fine individuals from outside organizing, and I think we couldn't really have any better perspectives and brains on this council. So look forward to working with them. Thank you very much. Hi, I'm Bill Robertson, uh 244 La Prairie Street. Um just wanted to address some of the um concerns I have over the uh proposed amendments to the short-term rental um policy. Um I want to say that we do own a uh one short-term rental property. We've been doing it for about four years. We have a perfect record. Um as far I agree with pretty much everything that's on there except for the limiting to one-day uh rentals. Reason being is um I just feel that that that limits uh what the owner can do. We personally don't advertise that we rent for one night. I will open it like on the first of the month, I'll open it for one night for any remaining days for that month only. That just fills in the gaps. It also brings some income to the city. Um I'm wondering if there uh if there's other concerns with uh why these proposals are made to uh for these amendments, if there's something that could be done, perhaps a group created between council and and a handful of uh short-term rental owners that you could come together and just discuss both sides of the issue and everybody can get both you know the perspectives from both sides what the concerns are. And let's see. Are we having problems? I'm sure we are. Um what are the statistics on that? Um as a proportionate to the amount of uh short-term rentals that are in the city. Are these preventative things that are are being proposed because of things that have either happened in our city or other cities? Um if we I'm sure we do have the complaints, but is it scattered all over the entire spectrum of of short-term rentals in this in the city, or is it concentrated on certain locations that are repetitive? Um things like that. I just hate to see us go down a road where you penalize everybody when it's only a handful of people or a handful of properties that are causing a problem. Um that's basically it. Those are my concerns. Thank you. So if anyone's here regarding uh the uh uh a potential appointment to a board and commission, you can come up and introduce yourself as well if you'd like. Hi, council, my name is Lauren Reidenauer.
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