Roseville City Council Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Roseville City Council met on January 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. All council members were present. The transcript-only record shows a unanimous consent agenda, two presentations, budget amendment approval, an appointment, two closed-session votes, and post-session approval of a litigation settlement and an AFSCME letter of understanding. Council returned from closed session at 7:38 p.m. and then adjourned.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously by voice vote; no items were pulled for discussion. Motion by Councilman Watisha, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hall.
• There were no abatement requests.

Public Comments & Testimony

• First hearing on agenda items: no members of the public came forward.
• Second hearing on city business: no members of the public came forward.

Presentations & Reports

Recreation Authority Programs – Sarah Frederick

• Sarah Frederick, Assistant Director of the Recreation Authority of Roseville and East Point, presented upcoming programs for January through April.
• "Feed the Dream" was rescheduled from Thursday, January 15 to the previous Thursday due to a snow day and unsafe weather, with crafts, a food drive partner LiveRight, and East Point's Arts and Cultural Division Commission donating non-perishable goods.
• A Unity and Diversity event celebrating Black History Month is scheduled next Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Recreation Authority Center. It will include make-and-take crafts, a community vision board, a local artist mural, free digital family portraits, spoken-word/poetry sign-up, and a book reading by local authors.
• A "cardboard box drive-in" during midwinter break will show the movie Littlefoot; registration costs $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents.
• Upcoming spring events include: adult spring egg hunt on Wednesday, March 25 at Dooley Park; doggy spring egg hunt and kids' spring egg hunt on Saturday, March 28 at Huron Park; and spring craft and vendor show on Saturday, April 11 at the Recreation Authority Center. Vendor applications are still open.
• Swim lessons at East Point and Roseville High School run through the end of April in four-week sessions; additional enrollment is encouraged.
• A councilman asked whether family portraits have a fee; Frederick confirmed they are free.

Fire Department Cyanokit Presentation – Chief Keith Jacobs

• Chief Jacobs explained that the Roseville Fire Department now carries cyanide-treatment kits (Cyanokit). He cited Shelby Township's October 2025 use of the kit during a house fire rescue, with a full victim recovery, and a subsequent Macomb Daily article.
• The kits have been under review by Macomb County's EMS protocol board since 2023. Warren, Shelby Township, Clinton Township, some Med Star supervisor units, and Roseville now carry them. Captain Joel Britt of the Roseville Fire Department was described as a leader in bringing the option to the county.
• Chief Jacobs cited 3,900 civilian fire deaths from smoke inhalation in the county in 2024; 80% of fire victims die from smoke inhalation versus 20% from trauma. Carbon monoxide kills 50% to 80% of smoke inhalation victims, and cyanide affects 35% of smoke inhalation victims and is 35 times more toxic than carbon monoxide.
• The kits bind cyanide in the body so it cannot damage the brain or heart and is later excreted. Since the kits were placed in county fire squads at the end of 2025, there have been three documented saves: Warren, Shelby Township, and Clinton Township.
• Each kit costs $2,500 and expires in two years. Roseville purchased two kits through the revised EMS budget, at no additional general fund cost; the only potential cost was overtime for paramedic training. The two kits can treat two adults or four children.
• The department has mutual-aid understandings with Warren and Clinton Township for larger incidents and with St. Clair Shores, Fraser, and East Point for communities that do not yet carry the kits. Replacement kits are available immediately through St. John Macomb.
• Chief Jacobs stated he knew of at least five incidents in his career where the kits could have changed outcomes, including a 13-year-old boy who died on Christmas Eve.
• Asked whether the state may mandate the kits, Chief Jacobs said the county could mandate them and he expected county-level action by the end of 2026.
• Council comments characterized the kit as similar to Narcan for smoke-inhalation victims; Chief Jacobs agreed with the analogy.

New Business

Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Amendments – Mr. Walters

• City financial staff presented the January budget amendment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Walters said the amendment covers purchases already made or trended over budget; a deeper revenue review will follow in June.
• The amendments include: a $563,000 Vactor sewer jet in the water fund; police vehicles in the capital replacement fund; a $500,000 transfer from the general fund to the capital projects fund from last year's surplus; about $700,000 in pavement-patch program overage in the major street fund, still expected to net out and leave a surplus; and $863,000 in library capital renovation expenditures to be paid from the library's $1.2 million capital reserve without impacting the operating budget.
• Additional Local Community Stabilization Authority revenue was received and included to offset expenditure increases.
• Asked about Great Lakes Water rate increases reported around 6%, Walters said the exact final amount was not yet known and that the city had increased rates in anticipation of the 13 Mile pump station repair; a grant for that project may allow some water rate relief later.
• Council unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget amendments as presented. Motion by Councilman Knox, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hall.

Closed-Session Requests

• The council voted 7-0 to enter closed session to consult with the city attorney about trial or settlement strategy in Michael Burkle as personal representative of the estate of John R. Burkle v. City of Roseville, et al., U.S. District Court docket number 2:24-cv-1320-LJM, citing MCL 15.2681H/E.
• The council voted 7-0 to enter closed session to discuss a proposed letter of understanding between the City of Roseville and AFSCME Supervisors Local 1917, citing MCL 15.2681H.

Appointment

• Connie Rollin was reappointed to the Beautification Committee unanimously. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Hall, seconded by Councilman Watisha.

Department Reports and Council Comments

• City Manager Monroe thanked the finance staff, asked residents to direct snow-plowing concerns to DPS Director De Bruin or his office, reminded the public that crews can work only 16-hour days, and praised the police department's weekend work.
• The Police Chief reported that an officer injured in a serious weekend incident was recovering and that the department was focused on mental wellness. The emergency response team, using less-lethal munitions, gas launchers, an armored personnel carrier, and assistance from Warren, resolved the incident within about one hour.
• Council members thanked recreation staff, the fire chief, the finance staff, police, fire crews, and DPW workers. Mayor Taylor said the injured officer was within millimeters of losing his life, the officer's family was grateful, and attacks on public servants offend the community. He also defended DPW crews against social-media criticism and noted the city is accepting applications.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Fiscal year 2025-2026 budget amendments approved unanimously.
• Two closed-session motions approved 7-0.
• Connie Rollin reappointed to the Beautification Committee unanimously.
• After closed session, council unanimously approved a motion to accept the settlement terms in the Burkle litigation and authorized the city manager to execute all settlement documents. Motion by Councilman Knox, seconded by Councilman Hoover.
• Council unanimously approved the letter of understanding with AFSCME Supervisors Local 1917 regarding the plumbing/mechanical inspector position as discussed in closed session. Motion by Councilman Watisha, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hall.
• Meeting adjourned by unanimous consent after the closed-session report items were completed.