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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Ferndale City Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Monday, September 14, 2026

BodyFerndale, Michigan

SessionCity Council & Commissions

DateMonday, September 14, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:23:09

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:25

I pledge allegiance to the land of the United States of America and to the Republic that which stands one nation under the indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:42

Kelly.

0:43

Present.

0:43

LaSalle.

0:44

Present.

0:44

Mikulski.

0:45

Sabatini.

0:46

Leaks May.

0:47

Here.

0:49

And then approval of the agenda.

0:53

I move to approve the agenda as presented.

0:56

Support.

0:57

All in favor?

0:59

Aye.

1:00

Any opposed.

1:04

All right.

1:05

We're moving right on then to a presentation.

1:09

The presentation is of I'm just going to call it the acronym Ashray, Level 2 Energy Audits.

1:18

Who's presenting?

1:19

James Gazan.

1:21

Thank you, Mayor.

1:22

Good evening, everybody.

1:24

I'll get this up just a second.

1:27

All right.

1:29

So we're here tonight to talk about the energy audit findings and the energy action plan.

1:35

This was a project that was done and made possible through a grant and through various partnerships, including the Federal Department of Energy, Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Eagle, and also our consultant partner, Energy Sciences.

1:55

Back in 2024, the city was part of a collaboration that was applying for the Department of Energy's Energy Futures Grant, which was the program that came out through the infrastructure act under the Biden administration.

2:09

Our regional partners at the time included Oak Park, Madison Heights, the Landfare School District, as well as Energy Sciences.

2:18

It was this grant that we were applying for that got us the ability to apply and eventually receive Eagle's Community Energy Management Grant.

2:29

Back in June of 2024, Council approved our application for this grant, as well as our agreement with Energy Sciences to do the actual work as we move into it.

2:40

We received the grant, took a little bit of uh little bit of time before we finally were able to get to a point where we were able to accept the grant.

2:49

This happened in May 2025.

2:52

And then in June 2025, we kicked the project off working with Energy Sciences, who I'm going to call up now to help present the actual findings here.

3:02

So tonight we've got Zach Cosmo with Energy Sciences, who's been leading the project for the last six months or so for us.

3:10

Yeah, just about.

3:11

Thank you, James.

3:13

Good evening, Council members.

3:15

So today I'm just gonna briefly talk about the uh energy efficiency action plan and uh the whole project that we went through.

3:23

Um so just quickly, uh first I'll start with the audit process, um, go over some of the audit findings from the Fire Station One as well as the DPW facilities.

3:34

Um, and then we'll talk a little bit about the Ferndale Master Plan goals and objectives and how they relate back to this project and our recommendations.

3:42

Um then lastly, we'll start we'll talk about the next steps and taking our findings and turning those into costs and energy savings for the city.

3:51

So what you're looking at here is an ASHRAY level two audit roadmap.

3:56

Um stands for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers.

4:03

Um they developed this process to help identify and implement energy efficiency measures.

4:09

Um so just a brief uh summary of this process.

4:13

We started with a site visit inspection and data collection, then we moved on to interviews with the facility's staff to get an understanding of the operations and maintenance practices.

4:24

We took those, uh, the site visit and that interview, and we documented those findings in step three, and we took the energy water consumption measurements and analysis.

4:35

So we took the utility data and analyzed it.

4:38

Um after that, we analyzed that same data for energy and water conservation measures and opportunities uh to save energy as well as water.

4:49

And then we developed a detailed audit report and tabulated those conservation measures.

4:54

And lastly, we're here now in step seven, uh, where we're trying to motivate you all to implement those energy and water conservation measures.

5:05

So a little bit more about the audit process on the left-hand side here.

5:09

You can see the evaluated building systems that we looked at during our audit process.

5:14

So we went through HVAC equipment and controls as well as ventilation, lighting, building envelope, so things such as insulation, windows, and doors.

5:24

We also looked at domestic water use and as well as operations and maintenance practices.

5:30

So energy science has completed these ashray level 2 audits at the Ferndale Fire Station 1, as well as the DPW facilities located at East Canborn Street.

5:40

The audits established 2023 and 2024 utility data as the baseline for energy and water consumption.

5:47

We identified energy efficiency measures, also known as EEMs, and water conservation measures, also known as WCMs, and they were evaluated based on the following metrics.

5:58

We looked at implementation costs, utility rebate opportunities, energy, water, and cost savings.

6:05

We looked at carbon impacts, and we also calculated some simple payback as well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Liquor License█████████████████17%

Community Engagement███████████████15%

Public Safety████████████12%

Energy Management███████████11%

Procedural██████████10%

Public Engagement███████7%

Economic Development██████6%

Technology and Innovation████4%

Election Procedures████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Ferndale City Council Meeting Summary

Date: September 14, 2026
Location: City Hall, 300 E 9 Mile, Ferndale, MI

This meeting covered presentations on energy audits and the new OakAlert emergency notification system, a public hearing for a Class C liquor license for a proposed restaurant, approval of a consent agenda with routine items, and adoption of an ordinance to combine city retirement systems.

Presentations

ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audits: James Gazan and Zach Cosmo (Energy Sciences) presented findings from audits at Fire Station 1 and the DPW facilities. The audits identified 67 recommended actions over a 24-month period, prioritizing HVAC upgrades, water conservation, and building management systems. Potential annual savings are $6,700 for Fire Station 1 and $32,000 for DPW, with simple payback periods of 4–7 years and 8–14 years, respectively. Council noted that implementation will be considered during the upcoming CIP process.
OakAlert Emergency Notification Pilot Program: Communications Manager and Michael Kamnik (Oakland County Emergency Management) announced Ferndale as the first city in Oakland County to participate in the free OakAlert system (Everbridge platform). It allows residents to register via text, email, or app to receive localized alerts for emergencies like fires, water main breaks, or road closures. The system will replace the former ClickSend service and is funded at no cost to the city. Registration is now open at ferndalemi.gov/emergency-alerts.
Ferndale Public Schools Update (Presentation Order Adjusted): Superintendent Sherylan provided an update on the school year, highlighting the "Ferndale Standard" initiative focused on adult culture, special education advocacy, and ongoing bond-funded facility improvements at the high school. She emphasized the district's commitment to collaboration with the city and community partners.

Public Comments & Testimony

Lynn Clark Giner: Wished the Mayor a happy birthday; no further comment.
Shane Hudson (Hazel Park resident): Spoke in support of Brennan and Damon’s proposed restaurant, Satellite, citing Brennan’s long history of building community in Ferndale.
Jenna Ross (1018 MWill St): Expressed strong support for the restaurant, noting the need for more food-oriented businesses on the Livernois corridor and potential tax revenue benefits.
Chris Best (906 MWill St, owner of Rust Belt Market): Supported the restaurant, disclosing he has been hired as project manager for the build-out, and emphasized the owners’ commitment to mitigating noise and other concerns.
Pamela (561 Livernois, tattoo shop owner): Voiced support, saying the restaurant would enhance the Livernois corridor.
Daniel Hebert (513 Kensington Ave): Spoke as a neighbor and friend of the applicants, highlighting their deep ties to the community.
Chosen Holiday (500 Stratford, directly behind proposed site): Expressed initial anxiety about noise and hours but felt reassured after meeting with the applicants. Still requested written agreements to protect the residential character.
Hayley Zurich (501 Stratford): Shared concerns about late-night hours (2 a.m. weekends) and potential long-term impacts if the business closes, but recognized the applicants' good intentions.
Jim McLucky (903 MWill St): Supported the restaurant but urged the owners to put commitments in writing to ease neighborhood concerns.
Richard Keys (504 Ferndale St): Asked about earlier closing times (11 p.m.) to align with the Livernois corridor, but felt more at ease after hearing mitigation plans.
Derek Prattney (630 West Breckenridge): Expressed anxiety about the location (tucked behind 503 Livernois, fronting onto Fielding Street) and the late-night hours, stressing the need for meaningful respect of the neighborhood.

Public Hearing

6.A - Class C Resort Liquor License for Pretty Sharp, LLC dba "Satellite" at 505 Livernois Street

Applicant Presentation: Attorney Chris Tower, owners Brennan Camlin and Damon Borgert, and project manager Chris Best presented the plan for a restaurant/bar focusing on food and craft cocktails. They outlined shared parking agreements (20 spaces on-site plus two nearby lots), sound-deadening construction, and a commitment to good neighbor relations. The requested hours are midnight close on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends.
Neighbor Concerns: Residents of nearby Stratford and Fielding streets expressed worries about noise, late-night activity, parking overflow, and the potential for future changes if the business were sold. They requested written commitments and earlier closing hours.
Applicant Response: Owners Brennan and Damon stated they are prepared to implement sound mitigation, assist with resident-only parking permits if needed, and maintain ongoing communication with neighbors. They argued that 2 a.m. hours are vital for financial viability, noting that the food and cocktail service would continue until closing.
Council Discussion: Council members asked about accessibility (ADA), the enforceability of promises, and potential conditions on the license. The City Attorney suggested possible approaches, such as a limited-term approval with a review period. The applicant indicated willingness to adjust hours if necessary over time.
Vote: Council voted 5–0 to approve the liquor license transfer, subject to the plan of operation included in the application.

Consent Calendar (Items 7.A–7.O)

All consent items were approved unanimously by roll call vote without discussion.

7.A: Approval of August 24, 2026 meeting minutes
7.B: Appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions
7.C: Proclamation of Constitution Week (September 17–23)
7.D: Proclamation of Michigan Downtown Day (September 26)
7.E: Uniform video franchise agreement with DIRECTV
7.F: Public Safety Answering Point Agreement with Oakland County
7.G: Interlocal agreement with Oakland County for $10,000 Harding Park In-Line Skating Rink project
7.H: Contract for utility and sanitation rate study ($32,700)
7.I: Software renewal with Neumo ($10,167.47)
7.J: Contract with Bendzinski & Co. as registered municipal advisor (up to $35,500)
7.K: Rental of front-end loader from Michigan CAT ($19,160)
7.L: HRC professional services for lead service line replacement design (up to $71,900)
7.M: Fire headquarters renovation concept development services (up to $15,000)
7.N: Authorization for uniform kit purchases via RCX Sports, LLC (12 months)
7.O: Approval of bills and payrolls

A representative from the DAR read the Constitution Week proclamation and invited the community to a bell-ringing event on September 17.

Discussion Items

8.A - Ordinance Combining Retirement Systems

The City Administration presented an ordinance to merge the General Employees Retirement System and the Police and Fire Retirement System into a single Ferndale Employees’ Retirement System. The change follows a voter-approved charter amendment and is intended to streamline governance and create a combined funding strategy that reduces the city’s annual required contributions. The ordinance does not change existing benefits. Council approved the ordinance unanimously (5–0).

Key Outcomes

Liquor License Approved: The Class C resort liquor license for Satellite restaurant was approved 5–0, subject to the plan of operation.
Retirement Ordinance Adopted: The ordinance combining the retirement systems was adopted unanimously.
Consent Agenda Approved: All routine items (7.A–7.O) were approved without opposition.
OakAlert System Launch: Ferndale will officially launch the OakAlert system within days; residents can register now.
Community Events: Upcoming events highlighted include the Fall Festival (Oct. 3), Fire Department Open House (Oct. 3), Funky Ferndale Art Fair/DIY Street Fair (Sept. 25–27), and the Community Picnic (Sept. 19).
Energy Audit Next Steps: The CIP process will incorporate recommendations from the ASHRAE audits.
Planning Commission: The public hearing for the Cyprus development has been postponed to October 7; a site plan for a self-storage facility will be considered on September 16.

Meeting Transcript

I pledge allegiance to the land of the United States of America and to the Republic that which stands one nation under the indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Kelly. Present. LaSalle. Present. Mikulski. Sabatini. Leaks May. Here. And then approval of the agenda. I move to approve the agenda as presented. Support. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed. All right. We're moving right on then to a presentation. The presentation is of I'm just going to call it the acronym Ashray, Level 2 Energy Audits. Who's presenting? James Gazan. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everybody. I'll get this up just a second. All right. So we're here tonight to talk about the energy audit findings and the energy action plan. This was a project that was done and made possible through a grant and through various partnerships, including the Federal Department of Energy, Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Eagle, and also our consultant partner, Energy Sciences. Back in 2024, the city was part of a collaboration that was applying for the Department of Energy's Energy Futures Grant, which was the program that came out through the infrastructure act under the Biden administration. Our regional partners at the time included Oak Park, Madison Heights, the Landfare School District, as well as Energy Sciences. It was this grant that we were applying for that got us the ability to apply and eventually receive Eagle's Community Energy Management Grant. Back in June of 2024, Council approved our application for this grant, as well as our agreement with Energy Sciences to do the actual work as we move into it. We received the grant, took a little bit of uh little bit of time before we finally were able to get to a point where we were able to accept the grant. This happened in May 2025. And then in June 2025, we kicked the project off working with Energy Sciences, who I'm going to call up now to help present the actual findings here. So tonight we've got Zach Cosmo with Energy Sciences, who's been leading the project for the last six months or so for us. Yeah, just about. Thank you, James. Good evening, Council members. So today I'm just gonna briefly talk about the uh energy efficiency action plan and uh the whole project that we went through. Um so just quickly, uh first I'll start with the audit process, um, go over some of the audit findings from the Fire Station One as well as the DPW facilities. Um, and then we'll talk a little bit about the Ferndale Master Plan goals and objectives and how they relate back to this project and our recommendations. Um then lastly, we'll start we'll talk about the next steps and taking our findings and turning those into costs and energy savings for the city. So what you're looking at here is an ASHRAY level two audit roadmap. Um stands for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Um they developed this process to help identify and implement energy efficiency measures. Um so just a brief uh summary of this process. We started with a site visit inspection and data collection, then we moved on to interviews with the facility's staff to get an understanding of the operations and maintenance practices. We took those, uh, the site visit and that interview, and we documented those findings in step three, and we took the energy water consumption measurements and analysis. So we took the utility data and analyzed it. Um after that, we analyzed that same data for energy and water conservation measures and opportunities uh to save energy as well as water. And then we developed a detailed audit report and tabulated those conservation measures.

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