Livonia City Council Study Meeting - January 5, 2026: Sidewalk Waivers, Waiver Petitions, and Contract Approvals

The Livonia City Council held a study meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. in City Hall Auditorium. All seven councilmembers were present: President Reid, Vice President Brockway, and Councilmembers Budzinski, Persiconi, Ptashnik, McCullough, and McDonnell. New Director of Government Affairs and Community Outreach Erica Smith introduced herself and said the mayor could not attend. The council heard public comment, referred a proposed car-wash spacing ordinance to the Law Department, and gave direction on 17 new-business items for the January 14 regular meeting. No final votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Steve King (Coventry Gardens) said his ban from the Recreation Center and Senior Wellness Center was not based on misconduct but on being an outspoken critic, and asked the council to help correct what he called retribution.
• Christopher Martin (resident) asked for clarification on the new Director of Government Affairs and Community Outreach position. Councilmember Budzinski explained the position already existed, the prior director left, and Erica Smith is the new liaison between council and administration.
• Betsy Calhoun (Granada St.) praised the household hazardous waste program and suggested the city develop a plan for curbside electronic waste.
• Noah Wojcik (Brookfield St.) raised concerns about a lifted sidewalk at Community Choice Credit Union, the sidewalk at Hubbard and Five Mile, and a downed tree near Seven Mile and Merriman, asking the city to investigate or coordinate with DTE.
• Cindy Fleming (Woodring St.) suggested displaying important packet information on screens during meetings to improve transparency and reduce repeated questions.
• During agenda items, Christopher Martin asked the price of the Connections Magazine printing contract ($71,736) and whether the recreation center entrance repaving would include a heating element (it would not; the estimated cost was over $1 million).

Council Referral

• Councilmember Ptashnik referred to the Law Department a proposed ordinance that would prohibit new car washes within one mile of any existing or already approved car wash along the same corridor. The referral was directed to the Regular portion of the January 14 agenda for a vote.

Discussion Items

• Item 1 – Sidewalk waiver, Livonia Builders G2, LLC (20610, 20630, 20650 Meadowview): Assistant City Engineer David Lear said there are no sidewalks in the subdivision. Council directed approval on the consent agenda.
• Item 2 – Sidewalk waiver, Infinity Homes and Co., LLC (20129 Osmus): Lear said there are no sidewalks on the street, making a new one impractical. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 3 – Symmetry Management site-plan amendment (39200 Seven Mile Road): Planning and Economic Development Director Mark Taormina said the new Kava restaurant could not reach an access agreement with the Pentagon condominium association to use Chippewa Drive; the Planning Commission recommends approval with enhanced directional signage to prevent unauthorized left turns. Council directed approval on the regular agenda.
• Item 4 – Outback Steakhouse SDM liquor license (13010 Middle Belt Road): Taormina explained the request for a Specially Designed Merchant license to sell packaged beer, wine, and mixed drinks. The Planning Commission voted 4-2 in December and recommended restricting the waiver to Outback rather than letting it run with the land. Petitioners said sales would follow the same ID-verification process as dining and would not be offered through third-party delivery. Councilmember McDonnell asked for additional information from the police chief because the police department letter opposed the request. Council directed approval on the regular agenda. Note: the agenda lists the petition as 2025-10-02-17; the minutes appear to repeat the Symmetry petition number 2025-02-02-05 in error.
• Item 5 – Charara Property LLC oil change at car wash (38400 Joy Road): Taormina said two oil-change bays would replace a storage garage at a coin-operated car wash approved in 1985; the resolution would limit hours and lighting for the oil-change use only. No letters of dissent were reported. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 6 – Detroit Light Action LLC banquet center (28370 Joy Road): Taormina said the proposed Nova Loft banquet center would be capped at 100 people and require waivers of the 300-foot separation requirements from residential districts and a church. The applicant said events would hard-stop at 10 p.m., cleanup could continue until midnight, no alcohol would be served, and the back door would be locked. Councilmember Budzinski offered an approving motion with a 10 p.m. event end time; Councilmember McCullough offered a denying motion due to noise concerns. Council directed both approving and denying motions to the regular agenda.
• Item 7 – 2026 Connections Magazine printing bid: Communications Director Kristin Houchins said Acuform was the lowest bidder, saving more than $15,000 per year versus other bidders. The three-issue contract total is $71,736, compared with a little over $85,000 paid to Hearst for the current year. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 8 – Livonia Television equipment donation to Clarenceville High School: Program Supervisor Michael DiFazio said cameras, tripods, light kits, and sound mixers would be donated directly to the school's media program rather than auctioned. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 9 – Trinity Livonia sublease and health services agreement: Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ted Davis said Trinity has provided physical and occupational rehab at the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center for 10 years; the renewal includes $60,000 per year and 20 corporate passes. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 10 – Rotondo Construction recreation center entrance repaving: Davis requested a waiver of formal bidding because Rotondo held 2025 unit pricing, with a not-to-exceed amount of $129,935.50. The work would be done in three pours to keep the center open. Councilmembers noted the project exceeds the usual $30,000 bidding threshold but supported the waiver because rebidding would cost more and delay trip-hazard fixes. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 11 – Leaf vacuum upgrade via MIDEAL: Assistant Public Works Director Doug Moore said a demo during the 2025 leaf pickup program was extremely helpful; the upgrade costs $26,500. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 12 – MISS DIG 2026 subscription: Moore said the $26,450.48 subscription is required for digging work and includes training and system costs. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 13 – Fire protection system bid: Moore said the low bidder failed to complete page three of the bid document, so Midwest Alarm Services was selected; its three-year total is $52,584, only about $300 higher than the low bid. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 14 – SOD Solutions tree trimming contract extension: Moore requested a one-year extension and an increase from $250,000 to $375,000 not-to-exceed. SOD Solutions was the low bidder in 2024 and has worked with the city since about 2009. Moore said the city spent $452,000 on tree work in 2025. Council directed approval on the regular agenda so the packet could be updated to reflect the $375,000 amount.
• Item 15 – ERG Environmental Services hazardous waste contract amendment: The agenda said the drop-off would change from year-round to seven-month service, but Moore and the minutes said that wording was incorrect; the request is actually to continue or restore year-round service for the remaining two years. Moore reported 2,023 residents served in 2023 at just under $150,000; 4,200 residents in 2024 at $280,000 producing 275,000 pounds; and 4,350 residents in 2025 at $260,000 producing 268,000 pounds. Residents pay $5 per 100 pounds. Council directed approval on the regular agenda due to the wording correction.
• Item 16 – Cityworks software agreement with Azteca Systems: Moore said Cityworks handles service requests, inspections, work orders, inventory, payroll, and fleet maintenance; the one-year cost is $105,952.20, split equally between refuse and water/sewer accounts. Council directed approval on consent.
• Item 17 – Outside vendors for fleet maintenance: Moore requested waiving formal bidding and setting aside $300,000 for outside vendor services because DPW is training new mechanics; the amount should decrease as staff gain experience. Council directed approval on the regular agenda.

Key Outcomes

• All 17 items were placed on the January 14, 2026 regular meeting agenda. Items 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16 were directed to the consent agenda; items 3, 4, 14, 15, and 17 were directed to the regular agenda; item 6 was directed to the regular agenda with both an approving and a denying motion.
• The car-wash spacing ordinance referral was directed to the January 14 regular agenda for a vote.
• The council did not take final votes at this study meeting; the directions set the agenda for the regular meeting.