OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Midland City Council Meeting - August 24, 2026: Zoning Petition Denied, Sister City Update, Tridge Budget Approved

City Council — Monday, August 24, 2026
BodyMidland, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:46:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

The following presentation of the Midland City Council will begin in a moment.

0:06

The Midland City Council is the city's legislative body.

0:09

It sets policies, approves budgets, determines tax rates, and adopts ordinances and resolutions to govern the city.

0:16

It is made up of five elected officials that represent the wards in which they reside.

0:20

And councilmen are elected to two-year terms.

0:23

The mayor is elected from among the council members by vote of the city council.

0:28

City council meetings are held at 7 p.m.

0:30

two Mondays per month in council chambers at City Hall.

0:34

This presentation is provided by the MCTV Network, a service of the City of Midland.

0:38

Replays of this meeting can be found on MGTV Channel 188 on Charter Spectrum through Channel 99 on ATTUverse or on demand at WW.city of MidlandMI.gov.

0:51

Select meetings are available on MZ TV Network's Government Affairs Podcast Channel.

1:02

Good evening and welcome to our August 24th, 2026 meeting of City Council.

1:07

Please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:30

Right.

1:32

Honorable Mayor Donker.

1:34

Here.

1:34

Councilman Wazbinski.

1:35

Here.

1:35

Councilman Soler.

1:36

Here.

1:37

Councilman Brown Wilhelm?

1:38

Here.

1:38

Councilman Passick.

1:39

Here.

1:40

All right.

1:40

Thank you very much.

1:41

Does anyone in council have a conflict of interest with anything on tonight's agenda?

1:46

No.

1:47

Okay, seeing none, then we'll move on to the consent agenda.

1:50

All resolutions marked with an asterisk are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion.

1:56

There'll be no separate consideration of these items unless a citizen or council member so request during the discussion stage of the motion to adopt the consent agenda as indicated.

2:05

If there's even a single request, the item will be removed from the consent agenda without further motion and considered in its listed sequence in regular fashion.

2:14

Would anyone from council like an item removed from the consent agenda?

2:18

Okay, saying none.

2:19

Would anyone from the public like an item removed from the consent agenda?

2:25

All right, seeing none, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

2:28

So move.

2:29

Second.

2:30

Second.

2:31

Any other discussion on this?

2:33

All right.

2:34

All in favor, please say aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

Opposed.

2:38

All right.

2:39

That passes 5-0.

2:41

All right.

2:42

That takes us now down to item number three.

2:45

And this evening we have one presentation and a proclamation.

2:49

And so we'll start with our presentation, and that has to do with our sister city Honda, Japan, and our students are here, and who's ever introducing that?

2:58

Mr.

2:59

Sarah.

3:00

Please.

3:05

Since 1981, Midland has enjoyed a strong relationship with its sister city of Honda, Japan.

3:12

One of the most important aspects of this relationship is our student exchange program.

3:18

One year we send three Midland students to Honda, Japan to learn more about their culture.

3:23

And the next year, Honda sends three students to Midland to learn about our culture.

3:28

2026 marks 45 years of that relationship.

3:32

Earlier this summer, we sent three Midland students to Honda to learn more about their culture.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████████27%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%
Procedural████████████12%
Parks and Recreation██████████10%
Zoning And Land Use████████8%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Flood Management████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Midland City Council Meeting - August 24, 2026

The Midland City Council met on August 24, 2026, at 7 p.m. in council chambers. The meeting covered a consent agenda, a presentation on the sister city exchange with Honda, Japan, a retirement proclamation for Selena Harris, a public hearing on a budget amendment for Tridge replacement design, a public hearing on a zoning petition (ZP 673), and approval of the City Forest Master Plan. The zoning petition was not approved as the motion died for lack of a second.

Consent Calendar

  • All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Zoning Petition 673 (Rezone from OS to NC): Over 30 residents spoke in opposition to the rezoning of 3100 and 3120 North Saginaw Road from Office Service (OS) to Neighborhood Center (NC). Common concerns included increased traffic, safety hazards for pedestrians and cyclists, noise, light pollution, floodplain development risks, and incompatibility with the residential neighborhood character. Many referenced a protest petition signed by 203 of 205 contacted households. A few residents cited the 2020 dam failure and flood risks. The applicant (Chad Leahy, representing Midland Midland 5 LLC) and engineer (Whitney Pizala) argued that the rezoning only allows further site plan review, and that traffic, noise, and floodplain concerns would be addressed in future permitting. The petitioner's attorney (Andrew Thompson) argued the rezoning would create spot zoning and that the neighborhood does not need retail services.

  • City Forest Master Plan: Two residents spoke in favor, requesting improved signage and accessible trails.

Discussion Items

  • Sister City Honda, Japan: John Metcalfe, Chair of the Sister City Committee, presented the 45th anniversary of the Midland-Honda relationship. Three student exchange participants (Gabe Nicks, Magdalene Spears, Luz Maldonado) shared their experiences. The program has exchanged about 120 students since 1982, with over 3,450 home stays. Next year's host families needed.

  • Proclamation for Selena Harris: The council unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing Selena Harris, Director of Community Affairs, for her 35 years of service, effective September 11, 2026. Harris spoke about her career and the importance of local government.

  • Tridge Replacement Design Budget: The council held a public hearing on a budget amendment to accept $50,000 from the Tridge Endowed Maintenance Fund (held at the Midland Area Community Foundation) for design and engineering services. The Tridge is 45 years old, with a maximum life of 50 years. Public hearing had no comments; the resolution passed 5-0.

  • Zoning Petition 673 (Public Hearing): City Planner Kent Kane presented the staff recommendation for approval of the rezoning from OS to NC, citing consistency with the master plan (neighborhood mixed-use future land use) and the 10 criteria. A protest petition meeting the 20% threshold was filed, requiring a two-thirds vote for approval. The public hearing included extensive opposition. Council discussed the implications of traffic, hours of operation, floodplain, and the need for a buffer. The motion to approve the resolution died for lack of a second, meaning the rezoning was not approved.

  • City Forest Master Plan: Parks Director Marcy Post presented the master plan for City Forest, a 520-acre park. Key features: universally accessible lighted loop, centralized trailhead, improved parking, covered ice rink, chalet restroom addition, and a potential tubing hill with magic carpet lift. The plan is a long-term vision dependent on funding. The council approved the resolution 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved 5-0.
  • Proclamation for Selena Harris: Adopted 5-0.
  • Tridge Budget Amendment: Approved 5-0. The $50,000 from the Tridge Endowed Maintenance Fund will be used for design and engineering, with construction targeted for 2028.
  • Zoning Petition 673 (Rezone from OS to NC): Not approved – the motion died for lack of a second. The property remains zoned Office Service.
  • City Forest Master Plan: Approved 5-0 as a conceptual guide for future improvements.
  • New Business: Council agreed to send a survey to residents regarding short-term rentals in preparation for a joint meeting with the planning commission.

Meeting Transcript

The following presentation of the Midland City Council will begin in a moment. The Midland City Council is the city's legislative body. It sets policies, approves budgets, determines tax rates, and adopts ordinances and resolutions to govern the city. It is made up of five elected officials that represent the wards in which they reside. And councilmen are elected to two-year terms. The mayor is elected from among the council members by vote of the city council. City council meetings are held at 7 p.m. two Mondays per month in council chambers at City Hall. This presentation is provided by the MCTV Network, a service of the City of Midland. Replays of this meeting can be found on MGTV Channel 188 on Charter Spectrum through Channel 99 on ATTUverse or on demand at WW.city of MidlandMI.gov. Select meetings are available on MZ TV Network's Government Affairs Podcast Channel. Good evening and welcome to our August 24th, 2026 meeting of City Council. Please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Right. Honorable Mayor Donker. Here. Councilman Wazbinski. Here. Councilman Soler. Here. Councilman Brown Wilhelm? Here. Councilman Passick. Here. All right. Thank you very much. Does anyone in council have a conflict of interest with anything on tonight's agenda? No. Okay, seeing none, then we'll move on to the consent agenda. All resolutions marked with an asterisk are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There'll be no separate consideration of these items unless a citizen or council member so request during the discussion stage of the motion to adopt the consent agenda as indicated. If there's even a single request, the item will be removed from the consent agenda without further motion and considered in its listed sequence in regular fashion. Would anyone from council like an item removed from the consent agenda? Okay, saying none. Would anyone from the public like an item removed from the consent agenda? All right, seeing none, can we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So move. Second. Second. Any other discussion on this? All right. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. All right. That passes 5-0. All right. That takes us now down to item number three. And this evening we have one presentation and a proclamation.

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