Livonia City Council Regular Meeting – October 20, 2025

The Livonia City Council held its 2027th Regular Meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. Six members were present (Donovic, Budzinski, Scheel, Morgan, Toy, McCullough); Martha Ptashnik was absent. The meeting, which was a voting meeting, adjourned at 10:21 p.m. Key actions included the adoption of the FY 2025-2026 budget, a decision on the Sheetz site plan, and a referral of the Rotary Park pavilion reconstruction.

Consent Calendar

All 12 items on the Consent Agenda were approved unanimously (6-0). These included a Halloween block party permit (Item 1), SMART funding agreements for the Liv & Go senior/disabled transportation program providing $33,386 in operating assistance and $89,424 in municipal credits (Items 2, 3), a $46,011 bid for security cameras at the Kirksey Recreation Center (Item 4), a resolution supporting a DIA Partners in Public Art mural for Bicentennial Park (Item 5), an addendum for Senior Fitness Passports (Item 6), a $90,731 purchase of four liquid storage tanks (Item 7), $108,694 in repairs for a Vactor truck (Item 8), a $1.7 million Lead Identification/Removal Project funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (Item 9), a $1.7 million contract extension with D'Angelo Brothers for service line replacements (Item 10), a $198,334 amendment with OHM Advisors for water main construction engineering (Item 11), and a $2,479,179 construction contract with Murphy Pipeline Contractors for the 2025 Water Main Replacement Project (Item 12).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marleen N. (Merriman Rd.) expressed strong support for the Livonia Symphony Orchestra, urging community attendance.
• Steve King (Coventry Gardens) advocated for installing an "Urban Blue" self-cleaning smart restroom at Rotary Park.
• Jenaveve Lenoir (9063 Beatrice), Denise Mika (Resident), and Lynn Mills (Plymouth Rd.) raised serious concerns about the management and living conditions at the Silver Village and Newburgh Village senior housing complexes, alleging unprofessional conduct at Housing Commission meetings and threats of eviction against residents who speak out.
• Jenny O'Connor (West Chicago) announced a community listening forum and a Rotary Club polio fundraiser.
• Christopher Martin (Resident) urged residents to vote for candidates who actively participate in council meetings.
• Eileen McDonnell (Resident) encouraged voting and forum attendance.
• James Hooper (Resident) formally requested the total city funds spent on the defeated Municipal Facilities Package and the official language for the property tax millage.
• Deb Christiansen (Resident) addressed a recent "hot-mic" incident involving council members, requesting a public apology to the affected party and the city. Councilmember Donovic acknowledged the incident and stood by his comments, while defending his record.

FY 2025-2026 Budget and Tax Millage Adoption

Councilmember Scheel, reporting on the Finance and Budget Committee meeting of September 18 and the public hearing of September 29, moved to adopt the budget and set the tax levy. The motion passed unanimously (6-0). The total property tax millage rate was set at 13.7134 mills, a 0.5496 mill increase from the previous year. The adopted General Fund budget totals $76,979,194 in revenues and $76,970,601 in expenditures.

Rotary Park Pavilion Reconstruction

Councilmember Donovic reported that the Capital Outlay and Infrastructure Committee (Oct 13 meeting) reviewed plans to rebuild the pavilion destroyed by a 2024 tornado. Bids for a comparable rebuild ranged from $829,000 to $1.3 million, far exceeding the $260,000 insurance recovery. The city recently secured approximately $300,000 in state funds via Rep. Laurie Potsky, and the Rotary Club of Livonia committed roughly $100,000 in private donations. The council voted unanimously (6-0) to refer the project back to the Administration for a recommendation to rescope and fully rebid the project to comply with code requirements, and discharged the committee from the matter. Several residents, including Steve King, expressed frustration over the demolition of the original structure and advocated for modern, durable, and accessible facilities.

Sheetz Site Plan Petition

Following extensive debate and parliamentary maneuvering, the Council voted 4-2 to deny Petition 2025-08-08-07 for a Sheetz gasoline service station and limited-service restaurant with a drive-thru at the southeast corner of Newburgh and Eight Mile Roads. Councilmembers Toy and McCullough, who made the initial motion to deny, cited negative effects on neighboring properties and non-compliance with general zoning standards. Councilmembers Budzinski, Morgan, and Donovic argued that a ZBA variance had already permitted the gas station use and that rejecting a compliant site plan risked a costly lawsuit the city might not win, favoring approval with conditions (e.g., removal of the drive-thru). After a substitute motion to approve failed 3-3, and motions to table and refer failed 3-3, the original motion to deny passed. Voting in favor of denial: McCullough, Budzinski, Scheel, and Toy. Voting against denial: Donovic and Morgan. The denial cited failures to comply with Section 13.13 of the Zoning Ordinance, negative aesthetic effects, and concerns for public safety and welfare. Over a dozen residents spoke in opposition, citing traffic and environmental risks (particularly to the Bell Branch/Rouge River watershed), the proximity of Whispering Willows Golf Course and Greenmead Historical Park, and questioning the legality of the ZBA's variance process. Sheetz representative David Bruckelmeyer expressed willingness to remove the drive-thru.

Presentations & Reports

• Chief of Staff Dave Varga introduced Benjamin Grier as the new Finance Director. Mr. Grier is a licensed attorney, CPA, and former Finance Director for the City of Pontiac's retirement system.
• City Engineer Todd Zilincik announced the official reopening of the Wayne Road bridge after nearly a year of construction.

Council Office Staffing

President McCullough made a motion, supported by Councilmember Donovic, to refer the subject of council office staffing and salaries to the Committee of the Whole for a report and recommendation. The motion passed unanimously (6-0).