And they pray, I'm sorry, our councilman balls, and the pledge will be led by councilman ostage.

Thank you.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.

Lord, please guide us on this path, the path of those who do righteousness, not of those who do wrong.

And Lord, please look over our city.

And everybody that works in our city.

And Lord, please, please, please.

Take these guns out of these children's hands and teach them how to be brothers and sisters.

So we all can live in peace.

All this will be acting in your name.

Amen.

Amen.

And to the Republicans, one nation.

Under God.

And it is for all.

Well called Madam Clinton.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Present.

Councilmember Seals?

President.

Councilmember Boss.

Present.

Mayor Protama Garcia?

President.

Councilmember Ostach?

Present.

Councilmember Braddock.

Present.

Councilmember Wigan.

Present.

Councilmember Hammond.

Present.

And Mayor Moore.

Present.

You have all members present.

The purpose of the committee of the whole is what is for the city of Saginaw's tax cap overview update on the five years, strategic plan, goals, and objective.

Madam Cluck.

On to public input.

Our first speaker is Celine Manan.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, let me say this.

You okay?

You okay?

Oh, okay.

Um this is where you address the council, you will not get any answers.

Um for that, let's move.

On you, sir.

Okay.

Thank you.

State your name.

Okay.

Oh, there it is over there.

This is my first time coming.

I haven't been here in a while.

But uh, I want to thank you for this opportunity and thank you guys for having this meeting uh for this important uh subject.

It's uh in my opinion, one of the most important subjects that we face as a city.

And I want you to know my name is Selim and Ann and I live in Saginaw.

I've been here a long time.

I'm at 1514 Milton Street here in Saginaw.

And I'm here today because since they introduced this uh this uh I don't even want to call it what y'all call it, you know, scalp.

Yeah, since they introduced it.

I initially was against it.

And I've been quietly working behind the scenes to try to change it.

And I knew when they put it in place that it wasn't right, it didn't make sense.

But because of the divide in this city, the east and the west, the black and the white, they were able to come in with the scheme and convince people that this is what you should do.

Yeah, we have problems in the city, but you don't hurt the whole city because of the problem.

And then they came and they told us that this is somewhere else.

They're doing it in this place.

They don't we didn't find no place where nobody ever implemented where they put a tax cap on somebody.

But that was just one of the campaign things that they wanted to do.

And I knew that they were going to do it temporarily until they get a seated on the on this council of people that they want to place.

Then they're gonna go out and ask the people to remove it, and they went back several times and they were not able to do that because they did not tell the taxpayers that we only put this in because we didn't like the administration that was in office, and we wanted to handcuff them.

That's what they did to our city.

So I'm uh I saw that.

It hurt us.

Now I'm gonna say this.

I travel the world, and I've been to many places, and I come back and I hear people arguing over I'm on the east side, I'm on the west side, I'm black and I'm white, and I'm in the world and I'm looking at people.

We all won.

Saginaw can't get to that.

We have been taken advantage of because of this disunity that exists here.

And now those people that supported it are starting to recognize it was not right because it has put a terrible harm on our community.

A real bad harm.

And we'll talk about it when we get into the zone.

But this is a crime, and it needs to be removed in every hand on that.

Council members, I say this, and I'm not gonna say much, but I say to you, the number one priority for the city is that that tax cap be removed so that we can take our place as the respected cities that exist.

Midland don't have it, Freeland doesn't have it.

Nowhere else does this exist.

Well, you tell the city to operate for 40 years on the income that you started with.

How can that be?

So it's a crime.

So whatever we can do, whether we get the mayor, we get somebody in or somebody to help us to change this, we need to do it, and we need to do a right away and we can move forward bringing this city together.

That's where I am.

And I just want to share that with you, and thank you for this opportunity to have a few words with you about this tax cap.

And I don't mean to make any enemies.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Charles Allen.

I don't see Charles, so that moves us to reports from the manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

So first we're gonna have the tax cap presentations.

We have our finance director, Lori Brown here to do that.

And we also have a video that she made that we'll have on the city website, and the recordings of this meeting will be posted as well.

Let me say this before you stop.

We need to speak up louder, Council Parsons, because they can't hear out there.

So we've got to talk like we outside and project.

The mics are here, but the mics are basically for the audio.

Therefore the YouTube, the channel.

So if you would not mind, please talk up so that they can eat even our speakers.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Gotcha.

As City Manager Morales mentioned, I'm Lori Brown, and I serve as the city's finance director and also as the city assessor.

There is proposed legislation to remove the dollar cap.

So I wanted to run through the legislation, mechanics of the cap, and the impact of removing it, the dollar cap.

There is a longer recorded presentation on the city's website, but I will run through it briefly.

Our charter language, excuse me, is summarized on this slide, and it was put in place in 1979 by a vote of citizens.

We are allowed to levy up to 7.5 mills or 3.8 million dollars, whichever is less.

State statute allows for a maximum operating millage of up to 20 mils.

Charters generally have a maximized authorized millage written into them, but if the charter does not specify, then the default maximum is 10 mills.

In the original 1935 city charter, the maximum millage was set at 15 mills.

That later changed to 10 and then changed again in 1979 when the tax caps were voted in.

Our charter language is unusual because it not only includes a millage cap but also a dollar tax, a dollar cap on tax revenues.

The $3.8 million dollar cap was the 1978 property tax revenue on the ad valorum rule.

So the intent in 1979 was to cut the millage rate from 10 mils to 7.5 and also hold property tax revenues the same as 1978.

There are limitations in place that prevent a local government from increasing taxes.

Okay, shifting to tax rates.

This slide shows a breakdown of where your taxes go.

The 25 combined millage rate for residential properties in the city is around 56 mils for all entities.

One mill is for general operating, and the other is police and fire special assessment.

So you can see about 24% of your bill stays at the city.

City operating is 6.3 mils this year, and the special assessment for police and fire is 7.5 mills levied on real property only.

The total property tax revenue is about 7.5 million.

We levied $3.8 million for city operating and $3.7 million for police and fire special assessment.

This slide shows the calculation of taxes with and without a dollar cap.

So the normal calculation that all other cities do is they take the total taxable value by the authorized millage rate.

The first calculation shows that our 2020 2025 revenue would be without the dollar cap.

The revenue would be about $4.45 million.

The second calculation is what we do to back into a millage rate that keeps our revenue below the $3.8 million.

We divide the maximum revenue of $3.8 million by the taxable value to determine what our millage rate will be to stay under the $3.8 million.

This year's millage rate is $6.3365 millions, resulting in $3.8 million in revenue.

So you can see there's a difference about $632,000.

As our city grows, our revenues stay flat because of the dollar cap.

It does not matter if we have investments that increase our total value.

If a major project brings housing, commercial office space, or spurs other development, it does not increase our property tax revenue.

When a city grows in value, there is usually a need for additional services like police and fire.

Other cities can support additional services because their revenues increase along with growth.

Our property values increased in 2025, and we should have seen approximately 630,000 in new revenue, but the dollar cap has forced those revenues to stay flat.

We just talked about property tax revenues remaining flat, and they've remained flat at 3.8 million since 1979.

If the dollar cap was not in place, we would have collected approximately 29 million dollars more over the last 46 years.

Our millage rate remember is capped at $7.3830, and we've levied that for the past seven out of the past.

I'm sorry, we've levied that for the last for seven out of the past ten years.

As property values started to rise in 2023, the millage rate was reduced a little each year to stay under the maximum revenue of $3.8 million.

The point is that the rate has not fluctuated significantly, and historically we have levied the maximum millage.

Since the millage rate has been pretty consistent, I wanted to show you the impact to a homeowner if we levied the full 7.3 in 2025 instead of 6.3.

The first column is taxable values ranging from 10,000 to 80,000.

The average taxable value in the city in 25 was around 22,000.

So if we just look at the taxable value of a $20,000 with the taxable value of $20,000 or maybe a true cash value of $40,000 home, that homeowner currently pays about $127 in city operating taxes.

That homeowner would pay about $21 more per year if the maximum millage was levied.

It's less than $2 a month or $1.74 per month.

You can use this chart to estimate what an increase in taxes would look like for you.

So this brings us to why we're here tonight.

The strategic planning goal for the tax cap is to support the bill in the legislature with the end result of the bill passing.

The recommended action is to draft talking points on what lifted the tax lifting the tax cap will and will not do.

So the proposed legislation is House Bill 4121 of 2025 and is sponsored by State Representative Amos O'Neill.

The legislation would prohibit a local unit authority to impose a revenue cap on property taxes.

The legislation would only remove the $3.8 million dollar cap and would leave in the millage rate cap of $7.5.

That would stay in place.

So here are some suggested talking points based on all of that information.

So I often hear comments or social negative social media posts about how the city spends money and whether they are responsible and transparent.

I would remind everyone that council agendas, budgets, financial statements are all available online for public viewing.

Any purchase over $2,000 must be approved by council per city charter.

That's pretty restrictive.

You can't purchase much for less than $2,000.

OMB has received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award for 17 years in a row.

And the finance department has received GFOA's certificate of achievement for excellence and financial reporting for 15 years in a row.

So what about inflation?

Doesn't the 3.8 million dollars increase with the rate of inflation?

No, the 3.8 million is a hard dollar cap and does not increase at the rate of inflation.

It was 3.8 million in 1979 and it's 3.8 million in 2025.

What about growth and development?

Doesn't the city get more money as it grows in value?

No, the revenue does not grow as the city tax base grows.

What about the maximum millage rate?

If the dollar cap goes away, what millage rate will we pay?

Again, we'll pay that maximum millage rate will stay at 7.3830.

There is no proposed legislation to change the millage rate.

What about Hedley?

Hedley is a statewide law that limits property tax increases.

Hedley will remain in effect and keep the millage rate permanently reduced to 7.3830.

What is the budget impact annually if the dollar cap goes away?

An annual increase of 600,000 is only about 1.3% of the city's total general fund budget budget of around 45 million.

The tax cap going away does not create a huge windfall for the city.

So what can you promise that we will get in return for the dollar cap being lifted?

This is an important one because again, this is not a huge windfall for the city on an annual basis.

We can't promise additional services that may not be financially feasible.

As additional revenue is generated, it should be directed to council's objectives.

What millage have I been paying and how much will it go up?

Again, the maximum millage of 7.3 has been levied for seven out of the past ten years.

The average homeowner of a 40,000 house would pay about 21 dollars more in 2025 without the dollar cap.

Finally, what is the long-term impact?

How have city revenues been impacted?

The loss averages around $630,000 a year, which again is not a huge amount.

But looking long term, the city has lost about $29 million since 1979 with the dollar cap in place.

So $29 million is a pretty sizable loss overall.

So that wraps up the talking points from my perspective.

I'd be happy to hear anything additional thoughts from council.

Do we have any comments but from city council members?

Any questions?

Yes.

Laurie, thanks.

Excellent presentation.

And uh this is a passion of mine.

We talked a lot about it.

It's really important that the point that you're making that even though the voters voted a 7.5 mil, heavily reduced this to 7.3.

We're not going above that.

That's where we're going to be at this passes.

That would be up to a vote of the people to change your charter again.

So if we feel the need, you could change your charter.

Um I think that's a really good thing to take away from this.

That in when I talked to people, I said you always got to look at your first line item.

Your property taxes only fluctuate a couple dollars because of the adjustment.

So now we've adjusted all the way down to 6.3 million.

And as property values in it with the medical diamond and the housing coming in, that's only going to increase again, and we're gonna decrease the millage rate.

So we're gonna do it's like a flat line.

Yep.

And I just wanted to comment on that because that is when I first started looking into this, that's what my aha moment was when I started to see this.

Good points.

Yes, councilman.

Are we planning on giving this out to the media of a full report on exactly what you just show?

Somebody well, I'll put it this way.

Maybe the council may need to vote to make that happen or something, but we need to let the citizens know exactly what they're what we see in the C there's not a lot of money and wow, you know, so they can understand.

Yep, so it um there was a longer presentation about the mechanics that was posted to YouTube, and then we can add the talking points out there as well.

Okay, thank you.

So this will be this all of our presentations now.

Usually SGTV cuts those and posts them separately, so anybody can watch the presentations individually instead of watching the whole meeting.

So that'll be posted, and then um you know one of the goals of the presentation was to get to council the talking points so that you all have the same information that you can share with people because I know a lot of you go out and talk about this, but um one thing in the past we've had a lot of different things out there about what what you could do and couldn't do with the money, so we do want to emphasize it's not it's not a windfall that we would get immediately anyway, but it's a long-term growth for the city, and Lori made some really good points of the one of no matter how much new investment you get in the city, you don't get any tax dollars from property taxes.

So you could have a brand new GM battery plant open in the city, and you get new income tax, but as we see the um employees are continually reduced at those production sites, so the personal property they just adjust it.

Um so and then the comments about transparency with the use of funds.

I think Saginaw probably has the most restrictive purchasing limit of any local unit out there.

We're at $2,000 that was set in the 30s.

So back then I think you could buy vehicles for less than that and a lot of other things now.

Pretty much everything comes back to council.

Well, I'm listening.

It seemed like we need to get that out to the media and let them know that.

You know, we need to let them know the same thing you guys are saying we need to get that out today.

Everybody's not gonna look at the website.

We need to get it out there.

Okay.

We also have some groups that are in the community, and I see some of the representatives are seated seated in here tonight.

I hope that we can work together to get the right information out because that's 99.9% of the problems that we have misinformation, and so you actually heard it from the person who's been working on this ever since I've been on council on how to change it, and there's been other council persons who have looked at it, but council tried to pass it three times and it failed each time.

So now we're looking at going in a whole different direction, and nobody can point fingers at city council or yourselves.

This will be a state law.

Yes.

Um another question that comes up in the community.

So if we get rid of the tax cap, why can't we get rid of the income tax?

You and I have had this conversation.

So for the public that's listening, that income tax generates over 60 million dollars for the city, and that pays for 43 public safety positions.

So it's about 32 percent of our budget.

So when you take the 16 million, and Lori just showed us we're only gonna gain 600,000.

Right.

Greg Branch and I used to talk about this.

It's gonna be a slow progression before we can ever make up that 16 million.

Looking at the 7.5 public safety millage of 3.7 million, taking $600,000 a year.

That again, I mean, we could eventually, because to get to they're gonna want something, and that's what I hear in the community too.

Is if I give you this, what am I getting for myself?

And and that's gonna be a good talking point, I think that we have to educate the public on.

It eventually tell us what you want, and then let your council members, like you said, try to allocate those funds.

I can get them to the road councilman, I just can't pick them up because my I have a bad back.

We lost leaf collection, but that was 200,000 to go around the city one time to collect the leaves.

So people don't understand the cost of our so you so it's a big education piece that we have to do.

So thank you again for letting me talk about like nation.

Keep in mind with the income tax, we have a lot of workers that come in the city and and work, yes, who are not residents, so they're not paying property taxes for the additional services.

The income tax, I think probably at least 50% or more is paid by non-city residents.

And before councilman boss says it.

It's a state law.

It's not a mandate by the city.

It is a state law.

And you don't have to live where you work.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, Council Lombard.

Thank you.

I uh so a couple things on the tax cap.

First, I think that the what spoke to me as somebody who's who's looked at municipal finances was the fact that we have to work backwards from a set dollar amount to determine our millage rate.

I think that's been explained to me before in a couple ways I didn't understand, but visually just looking at that's insane.

What that means is that we have a floating millage rate that changes every year.

So is our property taxes or our property values rise, the millage rate is reduced.

And property taxes, as as much as everyone, you know, and I'm I'm gonna get to one of the issues of I have with with our current property tax system, but um it's the closest thing to a progressive tax rate we have.

The more property you have, the higher it's valued, you know, the essentially the more you pay.

It's a rate.

Um whereas the other kinds of fines and fees that we levy in this community are flat and they're a regressive form of tax.

So it is another way of looking at it.

So the issue that I have with with maintaining the tax cap obviously is reflected elsewhere.

But to be honest, with with our community and what I hear from people, it's not an issue of people not understanding what we're losing or where the money could potentially go, because our community has a very strong history of passing almost every single milligen bond that comes before it.

If they see something on their ballot and it says school, we're voting for it.

We're the city of Saginaw, we believe in education.

If it says library, we're voting for it.

If it says uh police and fire, we're voting for it because we believe in our community services overwhelmingly.

Overwhelmingly.

So when you say, do you want to see your taxes go up, which is what people read, that's that's a tougher, that's a tougher fight.

And what that means is that as a community, and and this is this is for all of us, we really have to understand where the trust issues are for our constituents.

And one of the biggest issues that I have, trust issues that I have with the city, is with our processing system for our taxes.

If I go in to pay my income taxes, um I don't uh I rent, so I don't pay property taxes, but I have received so many complaints about our processing system, particularly about the digital components, the fines and fees associated with the program.

Uh to pay three percent with no cap, no dollar cap on my income tax bill, is really hard.

Like that's the I software is making bank on that.

Um, and what I feel like is is you know I got a tax bill for seven dollars and eight cents off of a zero dollar bill.

I got a seven dollar and eight cents fine because I had no idea that even as a W-2 employee, I was expected to pay quarterly.

I didn't know that.

I I wasn't told, I had no idea, no one told me.

I feel I feel kind of stupid at that at this juncture, but at the same time, I feel like almost with our payment system, and I know everyone at this table has experienced this, or our family members we've we've seen complaints about it.

Um I think that's one thing we really need to take a look at in this community.

I believe that Flint actually has part of their payment processing system now going through the state.

Um I know that those contracts for payment processing are really hairy, and a lot of those companies that offer those services just charge a lot, and it's really hard to get away from that.

But if there's a potential for a partnership with the state for that processing plan, I think that that is a would be a really big boon to our community because I don't want to feel like I'm being insulted when I try to pay my taxes.

And I feel like our staff are getting the worst of it.

So I feel like there's there's not much we can do as a council about the cap.

We're relying on the state to try to pass a law, we're relying on the citizens to try to lead a citizen initiative.

But when it comes to building trust in our community, that's one thing that I have experienced as an issue, and it's one thing that I hear just repeatedly, continuously, that people get bills and they don't understand why they try to pay it, they told there can't, they have to pay for a copy of the paper, they gotta pay a fee when they go to pay it, even for an ACH.

It's just it's a convoluted system, and it leaves taxpayers feeling like, well, why would I make this system harder for myself?

Why would I vote to do the to do more of this thing?

I think that's what they see when they see that piece of paper on the ballot, and I think that's why that's why the citizens have voted it down.

I think some of the stuff you said maybe not be accurate either.

Okay.

So some of a lot of the fees you're talking about, and that that's part of the point of having this meeting is to make sure that we are providing accurate information.

I I believe that I think you're talking about, and I don't want to get too far off of the topic, you know, because we're we're trying to stick to two subjects, but um the credit card processing fee, I think is probably what you're talking about, which is the three percent or late fees for not filing income tax.

I think a lot of that stuff is statutory, and if I'm I'd have to look it up, but I think the state also charges you 3% when you pay your income taxes.

I was told there was also a 3% processing fee for an ACH transfer online.

Yes.

Yeah, we can definitely look into those things, but that might be a separate conversation.

I know this um state of Michigan income tax was working with the city of Detroit, too.

But typically they do that for I don't want to speak negatively about any any other local unit, but it's units that have difficulty processing those on their own.

The state, I don't think is looking to do more work like that.

Definitely we can look at other processing, but we do go through an extensive process when we when we looked at um online payment, which we didn't have for several years because we didn't want to have those fees, but it was something that people wanted, and we're glad happy to set up a meeting, but I think we have a huge majority of um probably a good amount of number of people who pay in person, even which is why our city hall is so busy.

So and you can pay like in person without any fees too.

I don't or by mail.

I I did that in my my check was misplaced.

Um that happened to be.

But I I I would I would like to see uh I would like to see an aggressive review of those processes from a user end experience.

Um, because I've I've you know heard too many complaints, and I've experienced it myself to look past it and say, you know, it's not an issue, or there's nothing we can do.

I think there are things we can do, and I think it is a recurring issue.

But that's that's all I have to say on on that matter.

We have a lot of charter information, and these meetings are important when we talk about what we need to work on.

There's a lot of things we need to work on because they're back in the olden days, and so we do need to take a look.

Maybe we can formulate a committee.

We'll look at stuff that is really affecting the community, and then let's bill from there.

Part of this is communication as well, I think, because when you look at the electronic um, there's red flag laws about keeping data, so you don't want to process them yourselves, which which could reduce those costs.

And now we have um, you know, you as a unit of government or business or a bank, you have repeated cyber attacks, so you don't want to keep that credit card information on site.

That's another issue too.

But um definitely we can uh we could talk more about that.

So we can look at that, but we can we can begin to look at some stuff.

Any more questions?

Real quick comment, just real quick comment.

So councilwoman made a really good um observation that we passed school millages and all these other things, and I know when the school millage passed my tax bill went up close to $100.

We're just asking for a dollar $74 on a $40,000 house.

So it's math.

Um thank you for that.

Any other questions?

Thank you so much, man.

Mr.

Manage.

Thank you, Lauren.

Okay.

You could admit you could omit Ms.

Yelana.

So that second item we had on our agenda is is the update on the goals, and I don't want to go, I don't want to do Nancy's presentation again because we we really don't have a lot of changes, and I I want to focus on those items that we did get back from staff.

So we're in the final steps, which is which is the goals selected based upon the priorities that we have.

And just as a brief review, our process that we went through.

We completed the session in January.

We saw additional input through community surveys in February, completed the report in June, and our consultant Nancy Oley presented the final document to council on June 23rd.

Council and the public had the final presentation on June 23rd, and we waited until July 28th to bring the mission statement, vision statement, and core values back to council for approval.

During that time in between, we did not receive additional comments or input by personal appearances or other communication between those meetings.

We did provide council the raw data from the surveys and also the summarized data.

Our next steps identified in the final report included council and department heads reviewing the report and survey results for suggestions that were not found as themes in the report, but individual outlier comments.

City administration provides recommendations regarding prioritization or amending of the goals given further research or current status and department heads meeting with their staff to determine action plans to meet the goals.

If adjustments needed to be made, they will submit be submitted to the city manager.

And these steps have now been completed, and we're here today to review some of the additional input or modifications that were recommended.

And the general consensus, I think, from our departments and department heads were that the goals were well well reasoned and well thought out, and they just had some minor changes or updates for council to consider.

The priorities identified during our session for economic development have not changed, with top priority votes being on lifting of tax caps, supporting community assets, and affordable missile missing middle housing.

And we didn't have any changes to those goals at all recommended by our staff.

And with tonight's tax cap presentation, we did uh reach the goal for property tax caps supporting the legislation and the recommendation of having a session to talk about the talking points and develop additional education for the public.

With that, as we mentioned during Lori's presentation, we want to make that available to the public.

We'll keep the other video on.

We'll post this video and I'd ask council members to please look at that, review that some more.

And if you have suggestions or you want summary for the talking points, please get back with me and we can work on that further.

Any other issues you have with that too, reach out and we can set up time to meet.

The key priorities for public safety and fire were recruitment and retention, engagement with the community, and lack of funds and resources.

We did have some notes from the departments regarding this, and I did talk to Nancy more about this when we were doing the final report because I wanted to find out what what some of the discussion was involved recruiting efforts and gain more applications.

So at this point, right now, the Saginaw Police Department and Fire Department are at our fully staffed, which hasn't been the case for years.

Has been for fire, but police usually does have openings, and I going back even when we had 90 police officers in the budget, we probably typically had around 70 because we weren't fully staffed that often.

Now we're fully staffed in both, and we have are sitting on a waiting list for our police department.

So we have candidates ready to move forward in our process.

And we did at the planning session, we talked about increasing the city residents who were employees at the city or getting employees to move into the city, and we had a set of goal of 10%.

Upon review, we find that 19% of our employees are city residents.

So we're pretty much double at our goal.

So our revised action plan recommended city administration will develop a city resident incentive plan.

And it's a good time to do that.

Our collective bargaining agreements are expiring next year, so we'll be starting discussions.

So it's a good time to implement something like that.

And then sponsor Saginaw Public School students through the high school fire academy during the next school year.

We have had discussions about this before.

We created this program through the fire department and ISD and Saginaw Schools to increase city residents who are interested in fire fighting.

However, we haven't been very successful at getting SAG and public school students to enter that fire academy.

So we would really like to work with the City County School Liaison committee to talk about how can we get students more involved and do some more outreach with that, and it may be an opportunity for us to do more of that with our fire department personnel who will be working in the schools.

And then we had no changes to our goals for engagement with the community, and our no changes to the recommendations either that were in the final report.

Arts, culture, and recreation.

Most of the priority votes went to building upon what current access assets that we already have.

Positive results downtown lawn chair film festival and others.

So we did have some changes here on some of the goals.

Walkability was the first item noted, improved pedestrian access on Washington Avenue corridor from the Dow to the zoo within five years.

That's a great goal.

We had no changes to that.

Within one year, improved Central Park District to increase use with an annual capital investment of 100,000.

The public services staff reviewed that and didn't think 100,000 would make a significant impact on the Central Park district, so they did recommend increased investment to great to have a greater impact on parks, whether that's through collaboration with the state of Michigan and the county or through additional general fund allocations.

I think there could be a combination there.

And then planned recreational activities was one of the goals.

So we do want to provide five recreational events annually through the family play dates in the park program, and that is a limited cost just five to ten thousand dollars.

Another goal was partnerships with county parks and businesses and nonprofits.

So a lot of what we were looking at with our strategic planning when we were viewing it with the consultant was the communication point, and I know some council members have talked about that.

How do we get the word out more?

So this was noted by staff that we we do currently work with Saginaw County Parks.

Saginaw County Parks provides event programming to an average of 10,000 participants each year with 150 to 175 events, and they utilize several city parks each year.

In 2024, they had events at Hoyt Park Headwaters, Mid-Michigan Children's Museum, Court Street Theater, YMCA, Jerome Preschool, Auto Rosier, Bliss Park, and Fordney Park.

And also we did receive information from the county parks about city residents that attend county parks outside of the city.

With Heithgo and Immerman Parks, they've had 70,000 patrons since Memorial Day, and about 40% are city residents.

And then there was another goal to facilitate facilitate adoption of parks.

And as you know, we do a lot of adopting of parks in the city.

We have a pretty robust program, so we kind of think maybe the focus is on specific parks, and that that may be the communication that we want.

Are there parks in specifically that we want to look at having adopt a park activities that maybe to engage them more, whether they're neighborhood parks to work with the people in the neighborhood, or if they're parks in the central park system.

And no change in the final recommendation there to connect neighborhood associations with organizations that plan arts, music, cultural, and recreational events.

One of the comments from public services was to direct the investment in parks that was an earlier goal to some of the neighborhood parks to help with that engagement as well.

Key priorities identified for neighborhood revitalization included quality available housing and affordable quality housing development.

And two of the goals, initial goals dealt with the 2025 countywide study and participate participating in the countywide initiated housing study and creating those relationships.

So since our planning session, Region G has changed leadership for regional housing work, and city staff are included in updates and sit on the housing ecosystem committee.

Continued regional partnerships are necessary to attract housing resources.

However, this can be done through continued participation with our regional partners and attending any larger regional events around housing.

Suggested goal from staff was to organize and make accessible housing resources available for City of Saginaw residents via the city website and available in person at City Hall by the end of 2025.

Keep up-to-date housing data available for developers and residents and include housing goals within the master plan.

Recommendations remain the same.

There's a note that the city will commence an update of the economic development strategy and housing study before the end of the year.

Regional findings and suggestions from the Region G housing assessment will be included in that update.

Key priorities for utilities and infrastructure included the need to build in the city with existing utilities, infrastructure, new and expanded manufacturing.

So we noted that we do need better communication and partnerships, but also need to address perception and reality.

That was in the final report.

Manufacturing development has been corning and HSC over a billion dollar project.

Those locations were semi-predetermined because they're built upon the relationship with HSC that's currently there.

And we also identified the need for additional capital needs not being met.

We need additional funding for local roads.

We do have the county mill of two mills for six years now.

And then this also identified walkability and countywide collaboration similar to parks and economic development.

Goals for utilities and infrastructure.

So one of the goals was to spend 5% of available cash balance on expected capital purchases to be made within three years, be in compliance with the city's rate study.

Department recommends more flexibility in that spending to be in line with grant opportunities with a recommended goal to spend available cash balance on capital purchases as grants become available to ensure best utilization of reserves and comply with the city's rate study.

Definitely need identify the need to spend down the cash balance, but how can we best leverage that as we do it if there's matching matching requirements on grants or other funds?

Apply for a minimum of five grants and or two appropriations each year to leverage available funds for capital purchases to help offset the cost of infrastructure improvements.

The city currently applies for various infrastructure grants and earmarks annually, likely more than the stated goal.

So that may be another point where we need to track and report on that better.

And also we could attempt to increase those asks.

Repair and replace three miles of local streets each year for five years.

And this is based upon the miles of road that are currently on the years, this year's local street resurfacing project, utilizing millage funds.

This does not include any miles of reconstruction.

Reconstruction is more expensive and would uh reduce the number.

One comment we had there was to make sure we have the goals that align with the availability of funds.

They also recommended completing 88 sidewalk rant project annually utilizing road funding.

That's something that we used to do, but I think we've gotten away from that.

They're recommending going through and reinstituting that program.

And they also recommended conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of proposed rehabilitation and reconstruction projects to evaluate the feasibility of adding bike lanes and incorporate them into the project when appropriate.

Goals for building in the city lead development department added package property information along with incentives to attract new development.

The second goal is continuously work to prepare sites for development.

So we do uh have work underway and have been doing this for a while as part of redevelopment ready for providing the information.

We have that on our web page available.

Development sites across the city.

So we are working on that have been.

We do apply for grants to uh market those sites and increase their marketability.

I think maybe we focus on uh packaging those incentives so that developers are aware of what they could uh uh receive with those sites, and no change to that final recommendation for utilities and infrastructure.

Um then the next steps identified in our final report.

Department heads rotate individually through council meetings for brief updates on goals and milestones attained.

City manager and OMB director assign light items to goals and action plans for tracking to the budget as goals are accomplished, communicate their accomplishment to the public beyond council meetings.

And those I think are um our OMB director, Yolanda Bland is already has a template set up for the second item.

As we move through the year, I think it's it would be important to schedule department heads to rotate through and report uh to council regularly.

Additional next step at the end of each fiscal year dedicate a portion of the council meeting to celebrate the successes where department heads report their accomplishments in relation to their goals in the presence of their colleagues.

So that's something that we used to do that.

We used to do a final report in our strategic planning session each year.

So that might be a way to revamp our planning sessions each year when we're not going through this five-year reanalysis is to go through and see how our projects and budget have aligned with those goals.

Once higher priority goals are met, council and the city manager and department heads will look at the list of identified goals from our planning session, address those with SMART goals and action plans as part of the ongoing process.

I think that's the last slide that we have there.

So not a lot of changes.

Um what do what's what our next step and I think city administration and our staff and our departments are going to continue with the next goals as outlined in our final report.

And in this presentation, for council with regard to goals, it's really up to uh what action do you want to take next.

Um I think in the original report there was discussion of adopting the goals, but I I almost think of the goals as keeping them a little more fluid so that they can change with the budget.

If something happens mid-year, they're easier to adjust without coming back and having them improve.

If you have a consensus that these are goals that are in line with your priorities, then we move forward and keep those in our departments, and uh an upcoming report can be the tracking mechanisms that the OMB have developed.

You could pass them if you like, it's up to you as the next steps.

Yes, Councilman.

Hi.

So in regards to the strategic plan, I was really hoping to be able to have influence on some of the goals at some point in the drafting process.

Um, because I think that how these are going to be interpreted into KPIs for departments is really, really important, and that's kind of what I'm getting at.

Um what I like to see is some more specificity.

Um I I did see some more specificity and some updating of some of the goals uh, particularly with housing.

One thing that I want to point out, particularly to my uh fellow council members is that um while I believe it was uh there was like 11 points given to hey, we need more quality affordable housing.

If you add up all of the points that in housing got in general, it's 29 points across two different categories.

So that was something that was repeatedly stated as a goal.

Um I think that we really do need to develop a housing plan published for the city.

We know that one is required in our upcoming master plan.

Being incredibly intentional about developing that plan is something that I'm very interested in, uh, in something that I do think our goals need to reflect and have some numerical opportunities tied to it.

Um the region G housing assessment has been published, it's been out there.

I think the comment periods now closed on it.

And it links to, I believe, in I want to say in Saginaw County specifically, a need of over 8,000 units over the next five years.

I'm pulling that out of my memory, but it's it's particularly for the city.

They did do a summary report, and there are numerical identified needs in there, and it is broken down with rental units and with constructed units.

So what I would like to see in our in our goals is outlining when we're going to have a plan published to address meeting those needs per category.

What stakeholders we're going to engage with, when we're going to engage with them, and also what we are going to particularly uh how we're going to measure ourselves as a community as to for instance our zoning code and our code of ordinances and identify opportunities for changes where we're falling behind other communities who are doing better development, particularly of housing, particularly of quality affordable housing.

So those are the goals that I would personally like to like to see addressed in this plan.

I think that that's you know, pretty I I think that's kind of what the strategic plan is about to get those kind of numerical goals in there.

Yep, I think that's part of the process of getting the measurables.

So we did talk about creating I would welcome council members to participate in some of those groups.

So if there's a particular I know you're interested in housing, so we know that, so we'll we'll make a space for council members to participate with departments if you're interested in those areas.

So make sure you communicate that to me if you have a special interest in infrastructure or parks or whatever it happens to be.

Um, and we'll get we'll get with each of you on when we do those goals and measurements.

This is the goals and measurements, is it this register?

Okay.

You just said you okay.

I'm gonna back up because some of the things you said you you didn't have a lot of time to provide input.

It's been two months, and I didn't receive anything regarding these individual.

I received them from the departments, but but but not from anyone else.

So there was an opportunity to comment, but I'm I'm happy to provide that additional time for council members to provide input if you want to get into more specifics.

The departments are looking at measurements and have been to align with the goal.

So it's uh we're willing to work with council members additionally, but I don't think it's fair to say I haven't had an opportunity.

There has been no communication.

So I guess then I I guess that that would just be a gross miscommunication because I as when in talking back and forth about the strategic plan in open meetings, this is this is the discussion.

So, in terms of present I've oh boy, I've got I've got reams of information to be able to input on goals and strategies, and I'd be I'd be happy to send it to you all.

Write a 15-page report.

Um, but uh I mean this this was my assumption was the opportunity to have that discussion, which I I would have liked to I mean, maybe there was a communication issue.

I thought I said if you could send me comments when you had the report, that would be appreciated.

But um either way, either either we're happy to work with you all and create those.

Fantastic.

And I think that's part of part of why I would think I think it would be beneficial to be able to change those throughout the year is because of items like that.

I I also think that there was a reference to the economic development plan within some of the housing suggestions.

Um the only economic development plan I can find is 2018, but I mean I I don't see what the um what is the plan for the economic development plan, and we got the master plan, we're we're do we we're doing all the plans.

So we have quite a few different studies in the city, and that's really how we evaluate our need, and then that is how we can prioritize then when developers come forward for projects that are going to happen.

So we do have a housing study, which it was a housing analysis that came out in 2018.

We had an economic development strategy that came out in about 2020.

We update those every so often.

So currently, which was one of the things that Tim put up there, we are looking at updating our economic development strategy, but tying that into our housing analysis.

Because everything with economic development, I mean, you guys see that with every project coming forward.

If you need jobs, you need housing.

If you're going to have a business, you need to have a housing buy.

It's all interconnected.

So that's what we're going to update so that we know exactly what the city is looking like in terms of our need and our demand.

Okay.

And then that will essentially give us those numbers that you're talking about.

Yes, the Region G did do a study, which is over eight counties.

Came up with a lot of good recommendations.

We're very involved with that organization.

We're on committees, we're having a summit, we're doing a bunch of things like that, but we as the city also need to put forward our analysis and our plan.

So that's what we're currently updating.

Do you have a timeline on that?

Um, so the MML is actually fully funding it.

We got a grant through them.

Well, the MML got a grant through the state, and so we're sort of on their timeline, but it has to be done by the end of the fiscal year, so June 30th of 2026.

Yes.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Keep in mind again, this is a work in progress.

Nothing is asked in stone.

It can change, it can update, it won't decrease, it'll update.

So that if we want to be a part, council members, we can be a part.

Any other questions?

Yes.

Um, one last thing that I will say is I I do believe that we need to definitely double down on on working with our partners.

And if there is a miscommunication where we're not sure how this process is happening, I guess I wasn't sure how this process is happening.

Um, then I don't know how our outside partners are you know participating in the strategic planning process as well.

And I think particularly when it comes to our highest identified needs, and yes, I'm gonna be a broken record, it's housing.

I think that that needs to be explicitly communicated that these plans are in the works that the partners that we need at the table in order to accomplish these goals need to be there from the beginning.

They need to be there from the planning process and when we're planning the planning process and when we're developing the goals around strategizing around the planning process every step of the way.

Um so with that, uh what I would like to see is uh obviously I'll I'll send my recommendations.

Um, and I look forward to having some follow-up meetings uh on some of those goals in particular.

Any other questions?

Comment from Madam Clerk.

Mayor, if you are all set, you can just adjourn the meeting.

You don't need a motion.

Pardon me.

If you're all set, if ever no one has questions, you can just go ahead and adjourn the meeting.

You don't need a motion, and then we'll come back into order for the case.

There's a motion to adjourn.

No, no motion.

Just adjourn it.

No motion.

You adjourn it.

Tonight we'll be led in prayer by Mayor Pro Tim Garcia, and our players will be led by councilwoman.

If you like to participate, may you bow your heads.

Wow.

If you want to participate, can you please bow your heads?

Um, I just want to say, dear Lord, please guide us.

Um please Lord, uh, guide us during these meetings, our council meetings, prayer for protection over our city of Saginaw, our first responders, and all those are who hurting and loved a lost one during this time, and may God continue to be with the city of Saginaw.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with the liberty and justice for all call madam place.

Councilmember Sylvia, present councilmember seals, present, councilmember balls, present, mayor pro tem Garcia, president, councilmember Astash, present councilmember Braddock, present.

Councilmember Wiggins, present.

Councilmember Hammond, present and Mayor Moore.

Present.

You have all members present.

Thank you.

First, I would like to welcome everybody to the city council meeting tonight.

This meeting is a live meeting that is on YouTube, and you could also go back and review it or watch it on our city web page.

Um housekeeping phones, lease silence there.

I like ring tones because they got a lot of different ones.

However, they sometimes disrupt conversation.

When it's in the process doing the session, I'm asking people not to book that, do any obnoxious behavior.

This is not a three-ring circus.

This is a business meeting, and so that we can conduct the business that we need to hand that we need to handle for the city of Saginaw.

You will hear me say to my fellow council persons, please speak up because we can hear you up here, but you can't be heard in the audience.

These mics are for the YouTube and for the live remote or video.

They're not something that we can talk in when we're in City Hall and you can hear us.

So I'm asking all council persons to project to project your voice to the back of the room.

Madam Clark, do we have any announcement?

Yes, may I have a few.

City offices will be closed Monday, September 1st for the Labor Day holiday.

Trash recycling and yard waste pickup will be delayed by one day next week due to Labor Day.

And the fall team up to cleanup event will be Saturday, September 6th from 9 a.m.

to noon.

The event will begin and end in front of the public works building, and lunch will be provided.

Those interested in volunteering may sign up at Saginaw MI.com forward slash cleanup.

And that takes us to public hearings.

The purpose of the public hearing is for the public to address council as a whole and for council to hear the comments from the speakers regarding a specific action that is being requested.

Speakers will limit their time to will.

I'm sorry, speakers will limit their subject to the topic at hand.

The very first speaker will be will be called up, and you come up and you have 10 minutes.

Every presenter behind you has three minutes.

You can say you are opposed or you are for the public hearing that we're about to hear.

This is not a question and answer period.

We will not, we would say, but we cannot give you an answer.

Madam Clerk.

Our first public hearing is regarding the request for an industrial facilities tax exemption certificate from Menard Inc.

at 1808 Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Do we have a representative who would like to speak to this subject matter?

Come on up to the party, stay good name.

Uh good evening.

Mayor Moore Mayor Pro Tem Garcia and members of the council.

My name is Grace Smith.

I'm an economic development coordinator at Saginaw Future, the economic development organization serving the county, including the city of Saginaw.

I'm here to speak in support of Menard's proposed expansion, a 21 million dollar investment to construct a 38,000 square foot bagging facility.

The company's first of its kind in Michigan.

This new facility will package aggregates and Portland cement for Menards retail stores across the state.

The project will retain the current 76 jobs and create five new positions while continuing Menard's strong record of growth and reinvestment in Saginaw.

To support this expansion, Menards is requesting an industrial facilities tax abatement under Public Act 198.

The request is 12 years and applies only to the new construction, ensuring the city continues to receive the full benefits of Menard's existing tax base while encouraging new investment.

The abatement will provide partial relief on the new property taxes generated by the project.

Importantly, this support comes solely from the new tax revenues created by the expansion, not from existing taxpayers or the current budget.

This is exactly what the abatement program was designed to do.

Give companies the confidence to reinvest to grow and to create jobs in the communities they call home.

By approving this request, you're in your helping to ensure that Menards continues to choose Saginaw for its long-term growth, bringing with it stable employment, new opportunities, and a stronger economy.

On behalf of Saginaw Future, Amman Nards, who does have a representative here tonight?

We thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this subject matter?

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this subject matter?

Last and final time.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this?

To this public hearing.

So move.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Our second public hearing is regarding the request to amend the Brownfield plan to include the Menard Bagging Plant expansion located at 2621 and 1621 North Washington Avenue, 1721 and 1831 Finley Street, and 1740, 1808, 1812, and 1840 Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Is there anyone here to speak to this subject matter?

I'm sorry, you should just stay, sweet.

Good evening again.

My name is Grace again, uh economic development coordinator at Saginaw Future.

As we discussed during the tax abatement hearing, Menards is investing the 21 million dollars in the new bagging facility.

This project not only secures a job, jobs, and investment, but it also addresses one of our community's biggest and greatest challenges: the environmental condition of long-standing industrial sites.

This expansion includes the redevelopment of the 30-acre brownfield property with a long history of contamination.

This includes polluted soil which would be removed, along with demolition, grading, and site preparation.

According to local reporting, this represents one of the largest soil remediation efforts tied to private investment in Saginaw in the recent years.

To make this environmental cleanup possible, Menards is requesting a tax increment financing under Act 381.

This project is specifically designed to help offset extraordinary cleanup and redevelopment costs.

Expenses that would not exist at a green field location.

This is exactly what the Brownfield Plan was created to achieve, turning contaminated, underutilized property into a site of pride and productivity.

By approving this plan, you will help Menards clean up a long-standing environmental challenge while re-investing in Saginaw, positioning our community in a place where business where business growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

On behalf of Saginaw Future, and again, Menards, uh, we thank you for your consideration and support.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Is there anyone else?

I'll have to speak for the step to the party, Mr.

Jidnay.

And I didn't plan to speak, but uh I couldn't uh I couldn't let this opportunity go by.

I worked for General Motors and um 42 years, and when they came to the city, they always got a tax abatement and was pretty generous.

And I came to support it.

I was vice president of the union and I supported the tax abatement that they gave to the city, helped to preserve jobs.

But I brought up at a meeting that uh the money that the tax that we're gonna be able to give them the incentive, they should make a commitment to work with our young people in some way, whether they have a mentoring program, something to teach them about the technology that exists over there, and work with the community, work with the school system and work with our young people to bring them in because you're gonna be doing some innovative stuff over there, and we want to get our community to be involved and to learn a little bit.

So I support it, but I do want to encourage them to embalk us in some way in that capacity.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Well, sure got something to say.

Last and final time, is there anyone else who'd like to speak to this public hearing?

Hearing that I need a motion to close this hearing.

So move support.

It's been moved in support.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, Madam Clerk.

Our third public hearing is regarding the request to amend the Brownfield plan to include BNP Littleford warehouse project located at 622 Orton.

Do we have anyone who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Grace, you might as well just stay on that paper.

Because you give some steps, CA.

You can just stay up there.

Good evening again.

I'm here tonight to speak in support of the Brownfield Plan for BMP Littleford, a long-standing Saginaw-based manufacturer that has been a part of our community for decades.

The company continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to growing its operation and workforce here in the city of Saginaw.

The proposed project is at 622 Ortman Street and it involves the construction of a 12,000 square foot single-story cold storage warehouse.

This facility is critical to supporting their existing operations, improving productivity, and creating more efficient workflows.

By building this space, BMP Littleford will be able to bring key warehousing functions back on site rather than leasing an off space, off site space that no longer meets their needs.

Equally important, this project reactivates an underutilized property and strengthens the company's long-term footprint in SAGA.

The redevelopment also includes environmental activities that will result in a safer, healthier site for workers in the surrounding neighborhood.

This reflects a continuation of the company's history of environmental stewardship.

Several years ago, Saginaw Future worked alongside BMP Littleford and other partners on an EPA superfund cleanup grant to address the contamination at a nearby industrial property.

This new Brownfield effort builds on that progress by addressing the environmental concerns while also driving economic growth.

It is important to emphasize the value of the Brown Pro Brownfield program in making this investment possible.

These tools help offset the extraordinary cost of environmental cleanup and site preparation.

The costs that would otherwise make redevelopment financially unfeasible.

By approving this Brownfield plan, Council can ensure that BNP Littleford continues to grow in Saginaw rather than being forced to look elsewhere.

This is exactly what the Brownfield program was designed to achieve, transforming underutilized environmentally challenged land into a productive asset that supports jobs, investment, and community revitalization.

With your approval, BMP Littleford can continue its long-lasting legacy in Saginaw while creating modern infrastructure that strengthens both the company and the city for years to come.

On behalf of Saginaw Future, we thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Now, Ms.

Grace, if you guys speak again, you might as well stay close.

Stay close, please.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Last and final time.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

I maybe asked the attorney something.

I cannot relinquish my seat to go ask a question about a public hearing ma'am.

You can speak to when the resolution is considered at the end of the meeting.

Okay, thank you.

Yep.

Final time.

Is there anyone who would like to speak to this public hearing?

I need a motion to close this public hearing.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved to second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Our final public hearing is regarding the request to terminate Brownfield Plan 20, second national building redevelopment project for the property located at 101 and 113 North Washington Avenue, 111 East Genesee Avenue, and 101 North Water Street.

So we don't have grace this time.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council members.

I didn't prepare any comments.

This one is pretty simple.

Um we had been working with the Tom Miller, sorry.

Thank you, President of Saginaw Future.

I live in Old Town.

Laura Yolanda and I and Grace have been working with a lot of brownfields, as you can see.

This one is an abolishment of the plan for the bank building on the corner of Genesee in Washington.

Pretty simple.

We were working proactively with a developer on a project.

That project didn't happen, and so we're requesting to abolish the plan.

Actually, they the company didn't even end up purchasing the property.

Um a new owner has purchased the Huntington Bank building.

And in anticipation of a new project of which we assume that uh the developer probably will seek a brownfield as well as perhaps an Oprah.

But um it was just easier to abolish this one and start over with a new one because the plans will be significantly different.

And I will be here to answer questions on any of the brown fields, and we have a representative to from Nard that can also answer questions later on during resolution.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Is there anyone who would like else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this public hearing?

Last and final time.

Is there anyone here who would like to speak to this public hearing?

I need a motion to close this hearing.

He's been moved in second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Are those opposed?

Nay.

Madam Clinton.

Mr.

Public input.

Public hearing.

The problem, excuse me.

The speakers will be called to the podium by our clerk.

You have three minutes to discuss what your topic is.

Please stay focused on your topic and please complete them within the three minutes.

You have a clock.

If you get close to the three minutes, we'll give you time to wrap up.

Madam Clerk.

Our first speaker is Louise Simpson.

On to Taylor Stinson.

Good evening.

Good evening, Mayor, Councilmembers, and Community Members.

My name is Taylor Stinson.

And I'm Princess Hardy.

No, only one of you.

This is Princess Hardy.

We are the founders of the OpenS Incorporated.

We are both mental health workers who are deeply inspired to help our community and to close a critical critical gap we see every day with homelessness.

The openness provides safe shelter, family-focused support, and programs that are aimed to help individuals and families and secondal achieve stability, health, and a better quality of life.

Our vision is a community where everyone has access to safe housing, essential resources, and opportunity to thrive.

The openness will serve as an engagement and respite center for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

We will provide emergency shelter, family center case management, and community support programs such as full access, health services, mental wellness support, and skills training.

We know Saginaw already has several shelters working hard, but the need still outweighs the resources.

There are wait lists for entry, individuals who are prohibited from returning, and many who are not yet ready to commit to the structure of a traditional shelter.

That's where the openness is different.

We will provide daily overnight respite care, giving people a safe place to rest tonight without requiring them to return to my tomorrow if they choose not to.

We left you with a one-page handout with more details, and we would love to follow up or invite you to tour our facility.

Together, we can make homelessness rare, brief, and now reoccurring in our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm John Millen.

I live at 508 West Remington.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Council Members, Staff, and the audience.

I'm here tonight to speak on the resolution titled Resolution Declaring a Vacancy on City Council.

Many well-intentioned efforts have unintended consequences.

In this case, it has created the impression that council is providing a first step to remove a member of council.

The council has neither the power nor authority to do that.

In the city charter in section 77 is the only mention of removing a member of council.

And that must be done by the voting public under state law as a recall.

What the council does is fills vacancies.

Vacancies occur without any action of the council.

They are created by the situations described in Section 92, of which the contemplation in this motion or resolution is one particular case.

No resolution was required.

Council merely had to uh accept that the vacancy had occurred, it was either announced by the city clerk, and then the council provided the filling of the vacancy.

Part of the problem here is this impression of removal has gotten out into the public press.

People expect that some action is needed.

Section 92 is self-executing.

People resign, people die in office, or actually the case mentioned in section 77, they are removed from office by the public.

Number one, do you think if the events contemplated in this resolution occur, that the vacancy will occur whether you pass the resolution or not?

Number two, that if such vacancy occurs, will the council and city staff fill that vacancy in accordance with the city charter and the council's rules of order.

If you answer yes to either or both of those questions, you should immediately after the introduction of this resolution, table the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Moore, and Mayor Pro Tem, City Council members and our fellow residents of the City of Saginaw.

My name is Betty Holmes.

I am here to speak on behalf of what I observed during the hearing of Monique Sylvia.

But what I observe, and I'm disturbed about, and so are other people, as I mentioned what I I observe.

I observe a camera that was posted in the courtroom saying that it shows Monique Sylvia was signing signatures.

Well, this video was posted, and I didn't see nothing.

The cameraman couldn't zoom on, so there was no evidence that she signed anybody's signature, if that's what they was presenting.

I also heard the city clerk say that if she sees or acknowledge that there are some invalid signatures on a petition, her duty is to throw them out, discard them, which she did when um Mr.

Egerson turned his in.

He was six signatures short.

She threw those out.

When he came back with the other six signatures that he accumulated, those were bias.

So why did she not throw those three signatures out and cancel all this chaos?

So now we get to choose and pick when we want to prosecute people.

Why couldn't that just be a teacher moment?

Why didn't you just made it known that you didn't see her right?

No signatures.

Why didn't y'all just make it known that those signatures were her children's names that was misspelled?

So every parent should know how to spell their own child's name.

I also noted that.

And let me hear him get that.

Instead of y'all going straight to the city prosecutor, y'all went all the way and skipped the ropes and went all the way to attorney general.

What was that all about?

If y'all are just out here just to throw drag people's name in the mud, you need to be a little bit more considerate because, like the mayor always say, and I had to have it say it again.

It's a new season, it's a brand new day.

You can throw a rock and hide your hand all you want to, but eventually, somebody is going to see you do the dirt.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Charles Allen.

Good evening.

Oh, that ain't on.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Charles Allen.

Thank you.

Good evening to the mayor.

Good evening to the mayor pro tem, city council, the city manager, the city attorney, the city clerk, the city recorder, and the city constituents.

And some of y'all from the township and you know it.

But anyways, my name is Charles Allen.

I came out today to invite you all, you all, the council members, to our second semi-annual mental health awareness rally.

I did prepare a speech.

I don't usually do that, so I'm gonna go ahead and read it.

Um Saturday, September 6th, from 12 to 4 p.m.

at Saginaw Middle School, also known as Saginaw High before we did the transition of schools, the Trojans Center.

We will host the Back to School Mental Health Awareness Rally in concert, identifying triggers part two.

This event is presented by Michigan United, the Remnant Org, Saginaw Public Schools Solutions, Behavioral Health, and AlphaCal for Alpha Sorority Incorporated in Saginaw.

Um listen, together we're bringing resources, inspiration, and joy to our community at a time when it's needed most, when it's needed most.

These are voices of leadership, knowledge, and courage, and we are honored to present live performances, including the international recording artist, Sheree Williams, the Princess of the Rocking Gospel Blues.

All right, she'll be here with her full band, and we will list Spirits through music, and we're also gonna have local talents come out as well.

Uh, this is not just another rally, this is a real impact.

Um, families will have access to free food and free haircuts, paint therapy, yoga therapy.

There will be a kid's zones with uh face painting and games, um, raffles and school supply giveaways, and most importantly, we're giving away two full-year scholarships for treatment for mental health patients who are uninsured, they can receive free treatment for a full year with two um sessions a month plus their $200 intake that was presented by Michigan United and Solutions Behavioral Health, and we are still collecting donations so you can be a part of this movement.

I said two free scholarships for people to be treated, okay?

Um, mayor and council members, it's more than just an awareness rally, it's about giving back to our community, providing a tangible tool and resources to heal and grow and thrive.

I invite each of you not to only attend but to stand with us.

Your presence will send the message to the city of Saginaw, it's committed to mental health dignity and future for its people.

Together, we can make sure no one in our city feels invisible, unsupported, or left behind.

Thank you for your time.

Also, just wanted to share really quickly the reason why I got into this is because I was diagnosed wrongfully diagnosed um at 30 years old with bipolar disorder, finding out five years later that I actually am ADHD, and I I just I say that because there's so many holes and so many gaps in mental health treatment.

So this is an opportunity for all of you in this room to participate.

My number's 989751.

Lisa Coney is one of the organizers, Commissioner Lisa Coney as well.

Please come visit us September 6th from 12 to 4.

Thank you so much.

Anybody is welcome to come.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Celine Manan.

First day's gonna sleep.

No, but I'm delighted to be here, and I'm here on good news again.

I'm Celine Manan.

I'm Celine Manan, uh resident of Saginaw, Michigan, and um I'm here with good news, really.

I like to first of all thank the city council and the administration.

The quorum for the meetings have been beautiful.

When I look at YouTube and other city council meetings, it's a mess.

So you got a lot to be proud of.

I'm I really mean that.

In terms of operating of our city, I'm when I go to get the service, I'm proud to go there.

The people are nice to me.

I think you've done a good job.

I went to Bend Harbor, and I was recently in Flint, and these cities were taken over by emergency manager.

I'm proud that we are a miracle.

Through all the task cap that's been on us, we still have not been taken over by the state.

As a man, that makes me proud that I live in a city that we can pay our own way, and we don't need someone to come in.

And I thank you for that leadership.

That's important to know about Saginaw.

I'm here because I think we can capture something very important when we look at this rental rental ordinance overlay that was considered by the planning commission to go to zoning.

And that would have put a trailer in my yard.

I could put a trailer in my yard.

I was there when they rolled it out at Saginaw United, and it had a picture, they had a trailer outside to show you what you can put in your yard.

And I said, No, I was against it, and I brought it up.

And one of the things that I've not been able to do is find out who came who had this idea.

Who I asked, and I talked to some of the planning committee people, and I want to say we have some dynamic minds on there, some of the best minds, but I want to know who is the person that introduced this idea to come to Saginaw and say, put a trailer in your yard when we got all these vacant lots and everywhere where we can do stuff.

Why do that?

Who idea was it?

I have not been able to find out who idea this was.

So I want to say to you, I listened to the zoning committee meeting, and uh I want to say whoever brought that lady and I want to say her name, Christina McGuber.

If I'm saying her name right, she, yeah, she did a wonderful job.

She's shaking her head.

She did a wonderful job at the planning committee explaining because she went out and studied the areas that they purported to have, put this in place.

When she came back, she pointed both of them are an object failure.

Right?

They're an object failure.

East Lansing has been there the longest.

The people can't sell their homes, they got all kinds of problems.

Port Huron never really implemented it because they couldn't get the people to support it, and they never really implemented it.

So that should have killed the idea that we can introduce this thing in our community.

When here it is, it failed.

Now it reminds me of the tax cap when they came and said, Oh, we got we got a community out here doing this.

But yeah, well, tell me, show me where it's been done.

I've not been able to see that.

So it happened with this thing too, because I think when people introduce something.

The important part, I can't tell you.

Hey, but thank you for coming.

And I'm proud of this city.

I'm really proud of y'all, and I'm proud of the work that y'all do.

Thank you, brother.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is Angie Miller.

Speak loud.

Good evening.

My name's Angie Miller.

I'm the president of the Mid-Michigan Area Labor Council, and I wanted to come here tonight to give a labor update.

Um, the beginning of August, 200 book bags were stuffed by labor and donated to local agencies.

Two weeks ago, labor partnered with the food bank of eastern Michigan, as well as the United Way of Saginaw County.

As UA 85 hosted a drive-through food distribution.

349 families were helped, many of them from the city of Saginaw.

In September, Labor, with the help from our labor liaison from the Saginaw from the United Way of Saginaw County, will improve the mobility of 10 residents by constructing accessibility ramps on their homes.

Apprentices with the Carpenter's Union will do pre-builds.

And then we will go out the day of the event in about five hours, we'll have those 10 ramps on the homes.

But also the individuals who do that work, their lives are forever changed as well.

In October, we'll again be out constructing a ramp, but this time is when the women of labor do the work.

And so it is a ramp completely constructed by the women of labor.

Tomorrow, August 26th, the Mid-Michigan Area Labor Council, with the support of the unions from Saginaw and Bay Counties, will host their fifth annual pre-Labor Day picnic at the Saginaw Art Museum from 5 to 7:30.

There'll be a band, fresh Kogels off the grill, along with games and prizes.

And I'm pleased to announce that Lieutenant Governor Garland Gilchrist will be in attendance.

So come out tomorrow to the Saginaw Art Museum.

Everyone's welcome, and it is a free event.

Thank you.

Mayor, that takes us to remarks of council.

Council members.

Three minutes.

We will begin tonight with Councilman Ashtage.

Thanks, Mayor.

And uh welcome everybody to the Anderson Center tonight.

We've got a full house.

That's good to see, and everybody watching from home.

Um so for our public input, uh, folks, thank you for everybody for coming out to speak.

Um Taylor, and I believe you said your partner's name is Princess that you're open to center with.

Thank you for doing that.

I mean, it uh you said that there is a lot of entities in the city, but there is still a need.

And one thing that um not only the services that you're gonna provide, but the flexibility, that is what caught my eye.

So thank you, and good luck with your your nonprofit.

Um Charles Allen, thank you for coming out and sharing all that information.

I will definitely put this on the calendar.

I'll be in town that weekend, so we'll try to stop by and and you've got some really good stuff going on here too, especially with a lot of the uh free haircuts, free food.

There's a lot of things that you're gonna be doing besides providing mental health service and education.

Salim, always good to see you, my friend.

Uh sometimes we run into each other at Houghton Jones, but thank you for coming out and sharing your thoughts on that rental overlay.

That um particular overlay was had to do with adept of dwelling units.

They didn't want those in the city, but our staff did a really good job on bringing back a lot of information on other overlays and how it had hurt other municipalities.

So it actually just shifted the problem.

It really didn't solve it.

So thank you for your words on that.

Also, to a couple commissioners, elected officials in the audience tonight.

Uh Commissioner Coney from Saginaw County, and Commissioner Taney is here tonight, so welcome to our meeting.

I need to get to one of yours pretty soon again, too.

So thanks for coming.

Um couple announcements for the city.

We have our Saginaw Soup is coming up again.

So entrepreneurs, uh, bring your pitch competitions.

That's gonna be September 11th.

Get a hold of our city staff for more information on that.

Um, I believe Cassie Zimmerman heads that up in our economic development department, so you can contact them.

And also the nabe down in the south, uh, west side of the city, they're gonna be starting their after-school programs again.

They've got a lot of good things going on, performing arts, basketball camp, sports, stem, and steam outdoor games.

So September 22nd, they'll be starting that back up again from 3 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

So I will be stopping by there.

Hopefully, Kanika, we will run into you.

And then there was an event that went on in the city.

My employer, Dow Kemel Dow Credit Union, and also stars put on a uh financial education event.

I stopped by the stars bus location.

They were teaching people about their credit scores and how to balance and stuff.

So thank you for both of those two entities for coming and putting that together and catching those bus riders in between uh and in between the riding their buses.

That's all I have, Mayor.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilman Braddock.

Uh, good evening, everyone.

Good evening, Mayor.

Um, I have a lot to say.

I'll just like to give my condolences out to the families who um who lost their loved ones over the weekend.

Seemed like a very rough weekend.

Um, I'll just like to say um far as the tax cap.

Um, yes, I think our community uh more so um, like I say, need to be educated.

Um we need to push for that.

I think it's we have to look at our the generations after us.

You know, I like to say our grandkids, you know, we gotta look towards our grandkids.

We look at things people want instant gratification, but some things we have to, you know, wait on, okay.

And um also um just there's a lot of good in the city, you know.

I you know, it's a lot of goods happening in the city, and I see a lot of people out in the community working with our youth.

Um, you had the backpack drive, you had the you know, the food uh giveaways, you have all these different things, but we still have the violence that that that comes in and interrupts all the good.

And I hate to see that, you know.

And so I hate to see the lost ones and the young folks that are are losing their lives out there.

So, you know, don't want to really focus on the negative because there's a lot of good going on for our city.

There's a lot of positive uh things happening moving forward, and so um, as we used to say, keep Saginaw moving forward, we'll continue to keep Saginaw moving forward, and also to comment on our Mr.

And also to comment on our Mr.

Salim's um comment about uh the board, the city council.

I I watched different cities councils and um I can say I'm proud to be a part of this committee.

Um things aren't always going to be perfect, and you know, things aren't always gonna be the way it's you know, the way everybody we ain't gonna be able to please everyone, I should say, but I know that the people that are up here is our intelligence, a lot of talent up here, and um, and I think we we make the best decisions and the we could try to make the best decisions possible, but um we just gotta continue to work, um continue to do the positive that's going on around in our city and the positives that are going around in our city need to be highlighted more.

Um the resources that we have need to be pushed more, you know, and so um just looking forward to that and um and I just like to thank everyone that's out here listening that I'd collaborated with throughout the summer that helped us out with the children and um I forgot to mention it while we went out to Birch Park and um grabbed the youth out there and took them to the beach and museums and so um there's a lot of people and you had other people coming out there like uh Denzel Smalls, uh Precious came out there with the basketball court, so you have with the basketball ramp, so you have people coming in the communities doing work, and and so um let's support those people with our youth, you know, and um and let's keep moving Saganal forward.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Councilman.

Council one wiggins.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you to everyone who came uh tonight to uh be involved in public input.

Um we appreciate your words, thank you for the invitations.

Um and thank you uh for the mental health awareness rally the second second time around.

That's uh I wasn't able to be a part of that uh before, so it's really good to um have that back in the community.

Um I wanted to say I got the opportunity to visit uh the Genesee Quarter, the Four Corners with Terry Terry Reid and Val, and um and just seeing what they give back to the community.

Um it was a beautiful event.

It was wonderful seeing all the faces, the backpacks that were given out.

Um we need a lot of that in the community, and um I appreciate what the Reeds do.

Also wanna say thank you to uh Mount Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church uh with Pastor Joshua Daniels, they had the Olive Fest 2025 this Saturday.

Um they ministered to our community in a huge way, and it was beautiful to see.

There were only over 1,300 meals that were given out within a uh five hour period.

Uh 10,000 diapers were given out, hundreds of uh mothers and expectant mothers were ministered to, people were prayed for.

Um there are 150 haircuts that were given.

Um there's you know, school supplies and just the community as a whole, um, being together, it was a beautiful thing.

And um as long as we can keep doing that thing in this community, a lot of healing can help ha happen.

Um a lot of restoration can happen, and um it takes the the work of the community, and I thank those people that are doing it, and I will continue to be involved as much as I possibly can.

Um again, just thank you for to everyone that came out, and I think that's all we got.

Have you noticed they talk loud that all of a sudden they drift and then you gotta do one of these.

If I can get y'all to speak up, please.

Because I really want to hear what you're saying.

I hear part of it and then it gets cut off.

I just told you to speak.

Uh next we have council.

Councilwoman Hammond.

Thank you.

Um I want to thank everybody for coming to the meeting today, everybody, all of our speakers, all the people doing organizing in this community.

It's not easy.

It's not easy.

It's not an easy community to show up every day in.

And today was tough.

Today was a tough day to show up.

It's been a tough week.

Um and I I just wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to everybody who keeps showing up.

It's tough.

And um I just want to ask that that's keep showing up.

I'm saying.

I'm I'm I'm gonna keep showing up.

And I I I encourage all of you to do that, even even when it's hard, especially when it's hard.

Um please work to hold us accountable.

Please work to share your suggestions, your stories, even if you it's just you need somebody to rant to, somebody to somebody to hear your concerns.

Um, because I believe that what this city is about is about holding on to each other when it's hard, because it's hard.

Um I I don't have much.

Thank you.

Next we have I'm gonna need to change my seat.

I can't see, I'm blind.

Can I go up here?

Over here, somewhere.

I can't see.

I'm gonna have to go.

Okay, let me tell you.

I'm gonna have to see what I can do.

Oh god, on the edge.

Let's see what I can see.

Nobody ever told us that this building was gonna be perfect, it's beautiful.

Sun is healing.

So let's see how I'm gonna do this.

Okay.

Next week, remember the mic doesn't work only for the video.

Gotta project your voice out.

Okay, let's see what I think.

Council councilwoman.

Okay, all right.

Thank you very much.

Uh first of all, I'd like to say thank you for coming to your city council meeting.

Um, first of all, I'd like to uh say thank you for everyone that uh spoke this evening.

Uh and I'd like to uh send my condolences to our babies that uh lost their lives uh this past weekend weekend and a horrible uh uh accident and uh other uh young people that uh lost their lives in the city of Saginaw.

Uh we have to come together.

We have to do something.

Uh and uh I I just have to say a couple things.

I hope I have enough time to do it.

Uh, you know, for the former council people did the that decided that they wanted to send a letter to this council about me.

Let me tell you something.

Um first of all, you could have sent a letter to me.

Uh my address is the same, my phone number is the same.

I figured like I'm not gonna call you a coward or anything like that, but you could have sent a letter to me.

I am very receptable.

You could have sent that letter to me.

Wouldn't have been a problem at all to send a letter to me and tell me how you felt, or you know, what your opinion of me was or what you thought.

Everything has not been out in the open yet, and I would have uh looked at that letter and thought about that letter.

Uh, because I figured like this, think about who signed that letter.

Some of those people that signed that letter, and you talked about ethics and uh people uh being uh open and things that they do.

Uh some of those people that signed that letter are also people that uh took monies from people and uh for their campaign that uh voted, I mean, I think those ethics weren't all that well when you took money from people and you voted on them to get a uh building for a thousand dollars when somebody else uh put out 300,000, but you voted and you took that money.

I'm not gonna say it was illegal, but uh the ethics behind it didn't look so good.

How about sending a letter to this council in regards to the violence in this city?

How about sending a letter uh about the babies and stuff that are being killed in this city?

I mean, maybe that would have gone a long way if you did that first, you know.

Uh you know, different things like that.

In the middle of a pandemic, you came to me because I stood up with the citizens of this city against turning water off in the middle of a pandemic.

How did that look?

How did those ethics look?

I don't think that looked so good.

So when you write a letter, think about who you have signed in the bottom of that letter.

Also, some of the people that signed that letter were Milton Hall get murdered in this city.

Some of the people that signed that letter didn't have anything to say in regards to that.

Matter of fact, some of them chuckled, and some of them said we just need to sit down and relax in regards to that.

Think about who signed those letters.

Thank you very much, and you all have a great rest of the day.

Thank you.

Next we have councilwoman see us.

I'll see you in your face too.

Yes.

Thank you, everyone.

Um, I'm gonna talk loud.

Um today was the first day of school, and um I am very tired.

Just like my young lady here on the first row.

She is knocked out.

I've been watching her like that.

I want that for myself right now.

Um thank you.

Um Mr.

Selene, it was good seeing you today.

I remember my uh reason for being here, and when I met your group, um some of the people out in the audience when I met uh the tax cap group, and I began to learn about it.

And uh I remember wanting to run for city council and why I wanted to run and learning about the different uh the different reasons why I wanted to run, and I I was thinking about what I stood for, and um I was reading a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

He said, a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.

And so that's one thing that I hold on to.

I want to bring people together, not search for people to come together, but I want to mold them to come together.

And that's my goal in life is to not just to bring them together, but place them together and be able to put the pieces together, figure out how we can all work together.

And so um, I thought about what you said about the tax cap, and and we work real hard on you guys teaching me that, and and I learned well from that group and what it what it meant for our city, and just what 24% of our taxes that we're getting from uh that we're paying, just 24% is just staying with us, and that's what we've been using, that's what we've been living off of in the city of Saginaw, and just what what our employees, what they work with, and the you know, it's a miracle how we've never been happy, we never had an emergency manager, just what they can do with the amount of money that they have, and I just call them geniuses every time I think about what they can manage.

And so um, I think about even Minards, uh thinking about them, just what they bring into the table and the pride and community and the commitment that you know they're gonna help us grow in the different entities that's coming to our city to help us in this time and disposition that we're in.

So I think we're all on the right track, and as uh some of the council people say we're we're on the right track, and as the mayor said, it's a new season, it's a new day, you guys.

We just gotta keep moving forward.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilman Boss.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um, I don't have a lot to say today, but uh my heart is uh um feeling a lot of weight of the crimes that's happening in the city of Saginaw.

Every summer we go through this.

And it's so disheartening to see that the youth or young people get involved in this revenge uh actions that they taking and and not realizing uh the person they may be taking revenge on, maybe a cousin, niece or brother or somebody else, or maybe somebody else just riding a car, or maybe an associate of a person that does something to you, whatever the reason.

You know, it's just terrible for this to keep happening to our city, a small amount of people making up this um the situation that makes Saginaw look the way it looks.

Um we've got to do something.

I'm trying to do my part by being a mentor to the kids.

Been a big brother and sister program for 30 something years, and and and and I see the impact that it has on the kids.

None of my kids have gotten any trouble.

When I'm mouthed off at a poll, he's got a wedgie, and he's been a uh uh a perfect example now.

He's uh 30 something years old.

Um haven't brought any kids out of wedlock here.

Uh he's a truck driver driving all over the uh country, and he's he's a real good guy.

And the other boys I had, none of them have any kids out of wedlock.

So I know that mentoring helps.

You know, so we all can do our part by just helping out the kid, whenever you get the opportunity to speak to them and engage them and see what they up to and and and and have them do some things.

Uh I got kids come to my house two or three times a week.

They ain't looking for cookies or putting air in their tires.

Uh I'm putting a butt to work, they're cutting grass or feeding my fish in a pot or something like that.

I'm gonna put I'm gonna engage them all the time and see how their grades are and stuff like that.

But I want to give a shout out to the city of Saginaw.

This weekend was unbelievable.

I couldn't believe all the the churches giving away stuff to the kids, uh, feeding them, cutting their hair, Mount Olive, Bethel, uh, giving them book bags.

Um I was commissioned to go and buy some book bags and take them over to the place, and I didn't have any uh material to put in the book bags, but my wife asked me to get one book bag for one of the kids in the neighborhood, and that thing was when I got it back, it was full of material for the kids to go back to school with today.

And my heart just is just unbelievable the love that we have in the city of Saginaw.

You know, we got uh uh one guy, uh a lot of people like what he does.

He lets the city know about this 989, and a lot of stuff is negative.

We need to somebody, or even myself need to create a 989 good things that happen in the city of Saginaw.

That's the best way to warn people's heart when they can see all the good stuff that's happening.

Good stuff, 989, 24 hours a day.

Let's see how that changed some of the perception of what people have in the city of Saginaw.

So if uh we're gonna see if we can't get the help group to do that and start posting this stuff up so people can know what the goods is happening in the city of Saginaw.

So thank you, Mayor Mayor.

Thank you, sir.

Next, we have Mayor Pro Tim.

I see.

Good evening, concerned citizens of the community.

Thank you guys for coming to this meeting.

Um, very important information that we received earlier regarding the tax cap.

Um, I wasn't born while it was established, but I'm learning a lot, and I um watch the YouTube, and as you get older, you're more of a visual learner, so I brought things into perspective.

So if you got 11 minutes of your time, go on the YouTube and watch it because it really educates you and anything that we do, I think most important education is key for anything.

I taught nutrition with the Latino community, and you cannot tell them older women how to cook.

Um, so it was a learning curve for me to be able to do that.

But it starts at home how to educate and learn those tools.

Do your research, it's very important.

And that tax cap seems like we've lost a lot of money here in the city of Saginaw, but we have great investment coming, so let's use that opportunity to make a voice and stand up for what needs to be changed.

Back then it would met the needs, but no longer GMs here, so let's take a stance and do the right thing.

Um, and let's get keep Saginaw moving forward.

Um, there's gonna be a lot of needs just like today.

Um I had the privilege to be with uh the East Side Soup Kitchen that's near and dear to my heart, thanks to Diane and her wonderful volunteers and staff.

We actually stepped out of our comfort zone and we went to the township and we were able to help a lot of people out there, and the need was great.

I mean, people were talking about there's expensive cars, you can't discriminate.

I've worked on the forefront of being a social worker.

There are people that literally are falling in the cracks that are working just like everybody else, and they're not making it, unfortunately.

Consumers is high, the gas prices are high, eggs are high.

So, you know, um, don't judge people unless you've been in that because nobody knows what's going on in their household.

You know, um, I just I'm happy that I was able to be a part of it.

It was a little chilly this morning.

Um, of course, in Michigan, you never know what's gonna happen.

But if you're not in your community out there volunteering, you're not understanding what the citizens want.

I had the honor last week to go down um where Bill's um company Dow worked with stars and they gave the bus riders free passes for the day.

So it was awesome to sit down there and talk to a lot of those riders, and they were happy.

They had giveaways, they gave them grocery carts if they won.

Um, just educating them about financial responsibilities, how to budget and stuff, and some of those things, well, they're not taught in high school.

I didn't know how to cook, you know, so there's things like that that we need to educate, and and if we don't, we this younger generation, we need to help them because it seems like they're losing a lot of them components that you guys might have had that I didn't have in high school.

Um, but we need to be their mentors and show them the right way.

I think that's what's happening in these homes.

There's a lot of young parents that are not having those tools, and we really need to come together.

I think that's where this violence is playing the act.

Um, they're lashing out, they don't know who to take it on, their anger, there's mental health, you know, it's just a lot going on, but we need to come together and not only pray about it, but we need to, you know, utilize these resources we have.

Thank you.

I'm always the last one to speak.

And so by the time it gets to me, it's up and said.

My public speakers, young ladies.

I plan to come and visit your site.

Um Mr.

Allen.

Why are you doing this on cleanup week?

Because it's not in the topic.

Oh I do plan to make an appearance after I get everything wrapped up in the morning.

If you guys are not busy on the sixth, please come out and help us clean up the city.

I said this doing the memorial cup.

We got company, come and clean up your house.

Let's clean our house.

I no longer am going to ever say that again.

I'm just gonna tell you, like my mama used to tell me.

Get in there and let's clean this house.

Because it is important that we represent Saginaw.

This last two weekends have been totally nonstop.

Nonstop for me.

There is not enough hours in the day.

Well, I lay down, trust me, asleep.

Friday there was something Saturday, there was something Sunday there was something.

People cannot tell me that there's nothing to do in this city.

I dare you.

I dare anybody to say that to me.

There was so much going on the weekend with giving, giving, giving, giving, giving.

When is the last time that you gave something?

And you gave it from the heart.

You didn't give it with no other ulterior motive.

You didn't do it to buy out, pay out anybody.

I could tell you I did it right before I came here.

If you gotta talk about what you give, then don't give it.

Because even once you give it, it's no longer yours.

That's it.

I'm a firm believer that if we are going to survive in this city, and I know all about the crimes, and I've heard all of the comments about the council ain't saying nothing, the mayor ain't saying nothing.

What do you want me to say?

Right.

Other than I'm sorry.

That don't bring them back.

Well I keep saying to the audience is this.

I need you.

I need us to step it up.

All week in long been ringing.

I hear council talk about phones.

I wish I could turn throw my eyes upside the wall.

I've got to know who's incarcerated for guns.

I'm not upholding it at all.

You do the time, and I hate to see it, because he's mine.

I love him.

Not gonna not stop loving him, but we need to stop it.

Let's take our city back.

Thank you very much.

Madam Clerk.

Mr.

Manager, again.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

You've probably heard enough from me already.

Just uh had a few items for you to few updates and announcements.

Um we already talked about the team up to cleanup.

Individuals can go and sign up on the city website for that.

If you don't sign up, show up anyway.

That's right.

Be welcome.

Ain't turning nobody away.

That's right.

We're not turning anybody away.

We'll have plenty of supplies.

And uh this the Saginaw Economic Development Corporation is hosting the 2025 small business.

There you go.

I'm sorry.

No problem.

Um SEDC is hosting the 2025 Small Business Expo this Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.

SVRC Outdoor Marketplace.

Uh theme for 2025 is shop small dream big and is an opportunity for local business owners to showcase their unique products and services and connect with other local business owners from the Saginaw community.

Expo will have live music from Black Rose and Kids Zone and face painting and games.

2025 small business allows aspiring entrepreneurs to learn more about the SEDC and the assistance that is available when starting a small business in Saginaw.

The next item was I just put it on here, but I I like what uh council members are saying about um financial management as it relates to the tax cap and just general management overall.

We started our audit, so I had my uh initial meeting with the auditor of the fine uh fiscal services is working with them.

It's a little bit more difficult this year with the construction at City Hall, but I'll tell you all of the departments work hard with the limited resources that we have.

Um we had even 15 years ago, we had over a hundred police officers.

We went down in the 50s.

We had Chief is gonna correct me.

I can't remember how many firefighters we had, but we have 38 now.

I know we had over 70 probably 15 years ago.

Um we had multiple parks employees, over 100 um parks and rec's employees.

We have basically zero now, other than the part-time over here.

Um, but the staff uh keeps going and does what they can do with the uh resources that we have.

I know in um 2013 our fund balance was about 245,000.

We have over 13 million dollars in fund balance now.

The work we're doing on City Hall, we didn't borrow for that.

We used ARPA, but we're putting over four million dollars of it from our Capital Reserve Fund, which we never had.

So I the staff does such a great job, and and I'm glad to see uh several of you recognize them and uh what um councilman Braddock mentioned about planning for the future and and your grandkids.

That's a lot of what we do here.

Um the tax cap.

If you remove the tax cap, you'll have an impact years down the line.

But you take action now to have that impact later.

Um early 2000s, the city um did move away from the pension fund.

If you look at the audit, that's a huge cost.

We have a um hybrid plan now.

We went to a DC retiree health care, we moved into retiree savings plan.

Those two costs are probably over a third of our general fund budget, but making that change when it when the council administration did it in those years, that's gonna have an impact 20, 25 years from now.

So a lot of that planning is long term.

So I I really like to hear that.

I appreciate that so much.

Um, and finally, uh a bit of um good news that we've been waiting for.

HUD has officially approved and sent notice to the Saginaw Housing Commission that the purchase of 2701 East Genesee to be developed into a park has been approved.

So Saginaw Housing Commission will send a letter from HUD and sign purchase agreement tomorrow as outlined by HUD.

The city does have to purchase the property at market value, which has been determined to be $20,000.

So with that investment, we can move forward on uh continuing to uh create that park, preserve the gate, and create that space.

So that's great news.

And I I really want to thank uh Cassie Zimmerman again.

She's been working on this for a long time, and she said a lot of patience and a lot of perseverance.

So that's great news.

So that concludes the management update.

Any questions for the city manager?

Okay, councilman balls.

Well, thank you very much, man.

Are you talking about the whole fairground or just a couple acres?

It's a couple acres around the um the the design.

Yeah, HUD allowed that split, and then um believe me, we were trying to get it for no cost, but part of their rules is um market value, and actually the work that the city funded at the uh at the fairgrounds with the ARPA dollars significantly increased the value of that property.

I think it was much lower before.

Um but we're happy to pay that trade bar.

So visually speaking, if you look at that park uh percentage-wise, how much is that going to be for design and how much is gonna be left?

Is did Cassie leave?

Yes, he's a dollar.

Okay, she's talking outside.

I think Mr.

Carwell got an answer from it.

The portion, the portion he purchased, I think is just is over about a year and a half out of 45 or 50 acres.

Oh, it's 45, 50 acres for the whole property.

So, what they're gonna do with the rest of it.

It's up, it's in the housing commission's hands.

Okay, okay.

You know what the area is right there at the gate.

Yeah, which is which would make Genesee look gritty.

Yeah, okay.

No questions on this council.

My exact question.

Okay, of course.

Yes, Council.

I just have a comment.

Um, I just want to say that the staff that said it's agonized amazing.

If you look at their audits for 15 and 17 years going strong, I mean they deserve a round of applause.

I've been in audits and they are not never that smooth, depending on who you're working with, but kudos and great job to you guys for doing that.

That's a long time.

15 and 17 years, that's almost like half of my lifetime, but um good job here.

Yeah, I'm gonna say I just want to say I appreciate you guys.

I know that like I said, there's staff that I can reach out to if I have a problem with a citizen and their rate on it, and I can't thank you guys enough for you know looking out for me when I sometimes still don't know who to go to or what department, and I can hit you up on your personal cell, and you guys make sure that you know those citizens are taken care of and explain why things weren't you know taking place, and that helps me know my job a little bit better.

So I really do appreciate you guys for all your hard work and answering my questions and making my job a lot easier to understand my role as a council member, so thank you.

That's all any other questions.

Yes.

Uh Sheridan Park neighborhood, uh trainer on the side uh where the houses at the city on trainer and Sheridan.

Yeah, that's kind of like asked to see what portion you talk about.

I think that's shared between us.

So I have to look at the city map away.

Okay, with Sheridan Park at that neighborhood.

You know what that's your park is the city.

Okay, well, all that land right behind there, like on that fence, is terrible.

Uh I drive that way going home.

And with my wife in the car, she wants to know who's responsible for getting that cleaned up.

So you want to see the council.

You need to make sure they pick this paper up.

Pick this paper up.

I done heard it so much that I'm bringing it to y'all now.

I'm gonna have to get out there and pick it up this Saturday, my damn cell, but I would hope that we can get somebody to clean that neighborhood up.

It's terrible going down there.

So we'll we'll get with your councilman after the meeting and get on the map so Phil staff can go look at that.

You're not just gonna give me a garbage bag, are you?

I appreciate that.

Saturday.

Any questions?

Any other questions?

Yes, yes.

Council forming um city manager.

I just had a question.

I had uh actually a couple of uh I guess like uh people that own house homes and they're they rent them out or they rebuild them and then rent them out.

Um there I was told that there is a vacant tax.

Why is that if they're building or remodeling?

There's a vacant property ordinance where you get a certificate.

Um council passed that at one point.

I think when there were a lot of foreclosures, okay, and there were a lot of vacant properties that banks owned and and weren't caring for.

Uh definitely we can take a look at that again if it's something council wants to wants to re-examine.

I would like that if it if it's being worked on and yeah, to encourage that.

I can see that where you might you might have some exemptions or if you're getting in the print process or something versus if you're not pulling permits, right?

And actually doing the work, yeah.

Yeah.

Any other questions?

I'd like to thank the city manager because I can come to him and I could call him any time with my crazy ideas, and he'll just say, let's work on it.

Um I too have been around and watched different council members.

The one thing I learned about our city manager is he's approachable and he's workable compared to some of the other managers that I've seen in other cities, and so you are to your whole staff is to be commended for the work that they do, and and we don't tell you guys enough city workers, we appreciate you.

So we plan to do that in a form real soon for you, to let you know how your council people, your council personnel really feels about you.

So hopefully in the near future.

We won't talk about it, we'll be about it.

We're just trying to confirm the date.

And all city council, if you can, I need you to be there.

Because we're gonna do a salute to our staff.

Yes.

I know, I know.

I took the thunder away.

I took it away.

I'm sorry.

Any other questions?

Madam Clerk, thank you so much, Mr.

Manager.

Takes us to the consent agenda.

Okay.

The agenda has been available at City Hall and on City Web page.

Um I I need a motion to approve the consent agenda, leaving room for exceptions.

So move.

Okay, second.

Do we have any exceptions?

Oh my God.

Call for the vote.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Time to board commission and committee reports.

Do we have anyone who we had a meeting with any program that affects SAGN or any organization?

Do we have anyone to speak?

I just have a yes.

Um, for the East Side Food Kitchen.

We are gonna be breaking ground next month for the hunger solution expansion, and unfortunately, we will be at conference.

Um, wish I could be there.

So hopefully somebody goes live so we can see that because we did give our dollars, but we unfortunately won't be here to witness that.

So stay tuned.

Great things are coming that way, downtown.

Thank you.

What day is the signal?

September 18th.

We had conference.

Okay.

That's all.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Madam Clark.

On to resolutions.

Our first is establishing an industrial facilities tax exemption certificate for Minard Incorporated at 1808 Veterans Memorial Parkway.

I need a motion to adopt.

So move.

He's been moved to support discussion.

Councilman Balls, you have some questions.

No, I wish he was here.

But he said here.

Oh, do you want to see?

I just hope that uh we can hire some people in the city of Saginaw.

Come on in.

Come on in.

Don't stay in up.

I want to make sure you all camera.

So we can so we don't have to be trying to figure out who the voice was.

I really appreciate you guys coming to our city and investing money and jobs in our city.

Uh but the best way to help our city out with uh eliminating crime is a lot to do with poverty.

A lot of people that don't have jobs end up in trouble.

So hopefully you guys can help out with that.

You know, uh I don't want to beat up on the city.

I hope you guys have more than 19% but participation of people who are working in the city that works there.

But uh we we need your help with hiring people in the city of Saginaw.

Uh Nick Redder with Madards.

Uh definitely appreciate that.

Um, you know, we are very much uh looking forward to this project getting people hired here from the city of Saginaw.

We are a company that promotes within.

Um so even if you start say on the line, hopefully that means uh management opportunities, technician jobs in the future for um, you know, especially the young kids to to grow up in, and if I'm not mistaken, I do believe our site manager is a Saginaw resident, um, has grown up here, lived here, um, been here for a very long time.

So really look forward to this.

Yes.

Do you have any programs for like high school students like any um entrepreneurship or uh any type of apprentice programs or any students like um internship programs?

There are some programs that we run throughout some of our plants.

I'm not 100% certain on what the plant here in Saginaw does.

Um we have partnered with local colleges as well.

Um I know we've done that in some other um states, and again, I'm not 100% certain what this particular plant does here in Saginaw.

Again, it's kind of uh the site management kind of takes that responsibility.

So um, so if there's an opportunity, we'll be happy to look at it.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Yeah, we would love for you to look into that.

Yes, yeah.

I just wanted to add uh councilman balls.

Um about six months ago, part of our strategic planning process that did include the mayor and the manager.

Um I wanted to do when taking over at Saginaw Future after being there for 22 years was uh we had a program called Community Ventures about six years ago where they um state asked us to partner with um local churches, the NAACP to find chronically unemployed individuals, and then it was our job to meet with um Covenant Um Morley Brothers and next year set aside their prohibition for hiring nonviolent ex-offenders.

Uh Saginaw County hired two thousand chronically unemployed individuals through that program, more than Oakland Wayne and Macomb County.

Uh that program was cut by the the current governor because it wasn't very popular around the rest of the state, but um we formed a little committee, we've only had two meetings.

Um but we're at about four percent unemployment in the county, which is pretty much full employment in um the Corning Project has hired 1,300 people.

Um we formed a committee of black pastors, uh Saginaw Community Foundation and Saginaw Future to try and we don't have a plan yet, but to form a connection between I think I think one issue is that folks that are chronically unemployed that haven't worked in a long time are disenfranchised by the system in general, and they stop looking for jobs.

So I think it's part of my mission, part of our mission at Saginaw Future is to re-engage those populations and try to work with the employers to um form a connection and a system uh to help those people because there are jobs available.

I just think uh some of the folks um all over the county, but specifically in the city have stopped looking.

And so we're working on it, be happy to sit down and talk with you about it.

Um like I said, we had about six pastors, and they brought in a dozen uh most of them were offenders.

Um one challenge we're having currently is we do have violent offenders.

Um talked to a guy that had committed a murder, but it was 30 years ago.

So we're we're trying to work with our local uh employers to find out what their rules are uh regarding marijuana, uh nonviolent offenders, violent offenders, and so it's a work in progress, but it's uh something we're working on.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Okay.

Any other questions?

No.

Okay.

Thank you.

I need a second.

Second.

Okay.

Okay.

We good.

Okay, I've thought we won.

We good.

Okay.

We do need a motion to approve this though.

And we got a motion second.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Our second resolution is amending the Brownfield plan to include Menard Bagging Plan expansion located at 2621 and 1621 North Washington Avenue Avenue, 1721 and 1831 Finley Street, and 1740, 1808, 1812, and 1840 Veterans Memorial Parkway.

I need a motion to approve.

To adopt, I'm sorry.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

Councilman Balls, you got any questions about that?

Thank you very much.

Yes.

Councilman Mahan.

Thank you.

So unfortunately, I I do have an issue to bring up about this resolution and uh two of our subsequent resolutions on our agenda today.

Um, because these both uh were uh moved through the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

Um recommendations were made by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority out of meeting.

Unfortunately, the minutes for that meeting I could not find published on our website.

Um there was a July 8th meeting that was referenced, and there was a July 29th meeting that was referenced.

Um the July 8th meeting was not um the notice was not published on our website for that meeting that I could find.

Um the July 29th meeting was published, and um I did have a conversation.

I did bring this to the attention of some of our city staff to which I received uh response to that uh just after our special meeting started.

Um, however, it is subject to attorney client privilege, so if we want to get into it, I would just ask that someone else ask a question about it.

Um but my concern is that um the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority doesn't have any minutes posted on our website for the past since mid-2023, and they've definitely met and they've definitely approved minutes.

So there are quite a few minutes missing from our city website, and I think that we need to be holding ourselves to a certain standard when it comes to public transparency for our for our um and our public hearings, making sure that people are these things are available for the public to view, especially when if we put certain meetings on our calendar, and that's the standard, we need all the meetings to go on the calendar so people know that's a reliable source of information.

If we're publishing all of our agendas and all of our minutes in one place, we need to make sure that we're adhering to that standard so that citizens know that's the place where they can go to view the meetings.

Um I try to stay abreast of of quite a few of our committees.

It's it's tough.

I did sign up for the listserv.

Um, but I um right now I'm I'm I'm not in approval of of this resolution.

Um I would support uh postponing it until we can make sure that we can get all those minutes published online for the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for the the public to review.

So yes, councilwoman make a motion to uh table uh resolution.

Can we make a motion to table uh resolution number two?

Councilman, can I suggest that you may make a motion to postpone make a resolution?

I mean, make a motion to postpone second.

Did we get a second?

Second.

We've got a new motion on the floor.

Oh right.

I didn't need to give a chance to compare with the attorney yet.

You made a motion so we can go into discussion.

That means discussion.

Right.

We now discuss any questions now.

Councilman CEOs.

Okay, can you gotta talk loud?

Yeah, can you explain to me exactly what is um transpiring because she obviously has said that there is there are no minutes posted for the Browns meeting, and I'm not understanding what she's talking about.

Sure.

I I think the the initial concern was whether or not the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority had been in compliance with the Open Meetings Act when they noticed the July, I'm sorry, June 8th and July 29th meetings.

They were those notices were posted on the public notice board in the city clerk's office.

Public notices are not required to be posted online under the open meetings act.

They can be they often are, but they are not required to be.

Likewise, the same with the minutes.

The minutes are required to be available to public inspection.

The June 8th meeting minutes have been available in the clerk's office for public inspection.

Had Councilwoman Hammond asked for a copy of those, they could have been provided.

The July 29th meeting minutes have not been approved yet by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority because they haven't had a meeting meeting since July 29th, so they haven't gone back onto an agenda for approval yet.

So yeah, because I don't think quarterly more on an as-needed basis, really.

We can go months without any applications for a brown field.

Because they are on the county uh circuit.

So I'm trying to figure out what does that have to do with the city because we meet on a bi-monthly basis.

So did you check to see how often we meet?

Absolutely.

So uh basically I think it's a qu in manager.

Um I it's it's a question.

Um, and I think there's potentially an issue with OMA.

I have to look further into it because OMA practice says basically uh you're supposed to publish meeting donuts publish uh meeting minutes the way that your city determines you publish meeting notices.

So I'm not sure if that is in our like um oh gosh, we have a uh public participation standards document that we have.

I've I didn't have a chance to review that in time for this meeting.

But we do have the standard of posting meeting minutes to our website.

We also have a standard of posting notices on our website.

So that's that's that's what I take issue with is the fact that we we in in certain certain circumstances if you know if we're not holding to that standard all the time, it's not a standard.

But you're talking about Brown meeting.

The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting, yes.

If you look online right now, there are no meeting minutes posted since 2023, and they have met at least twice, or no, at least three times in between 2023 and July 29th.

So the fact that there are no meeting minutes available between that time online, despite it being available for city council, it's available, it's not available for the human planning commission, but it is available for the historic district commission.

Kind of sometimes it's it's it's been inconsistent, but for this particular case, the problem again, the problem that I have is that we haven't been consistently notifying our citizens in the same way the way that we tell people they can find information if they come to us and ask, we say, you know, here it is online.

Well, we haven't been doing that with this particular authority, and because the resolutions, the three next resolutions from the authority are uh recommendations that the authority made, so that's something that they had to pass in their meeting.

Um, because we don't I don't have record because the public doesn't have record of that meeting.

That's why I have an issue with these particular resolutions.

I don't have an issue with the content of them, I have an issue with the process and making sure that we're maintaining a standard for our residents that they can trust.

Yes, Councilman Fox.

I I understand uh councilwoman's uh concern um but I don't want to hold them up from getting this project done and and and I and I would feel that her comments have put them on notice that they need to put the minutes in there so she can make sure she's seeing them.

But I I don't want to hold up the process.

So I understand how the sister feels, but councilwoman feel, but uh I'm gonna vote to approve this and let um the Brownfield authority know that they've been put on notice about putting those minutes where they need to be at or either she can look in the clerk's office and find out where they are too.

So one of the two.

So I like to make a motion that we approve this.

Uh no, you don't need to make a motion we got a motion on the club.

We can do a discussion.

Right.

You're you're currently under discussion for the motion to postpone.

The motion to postpone, right?

Okay, yes, councilwoman CLB.

Uh looking at these.

Oh, yeah.

Look at I'm not oh okay, I can get loud enough.

Looking at this two weeks from today or at the next council meeting, would it make a difference?

That's why I want it.

Would it make a difference?

We are looking to start to clean up stuff here within the next week or two.

Okay.

Obviously, standing here and saying if it delays it two weeks, is it gonna completely destroy everything?

No.

No, I don't know.

Book has a little bit of inconvenience for us.

Possibly.

Would it make a big difference?

It'll make a difference.

I'm not gonna say it's not catastrophic, but it'll make a difference.

That's what I want to do.

We will have to postpone some things that we were planning for.

And you don't want to postpone things.

Preferably not.

Okay.

All right.

That's what I want to do.

Just trying to give you an honest opinion.

Okay, thank you so much.

I have to call for the question, Matt.

Okay.

Can the clerk please read the motion on the floor that we are currently considering?

Well the motion.

Okay, you you got it.

Is there a second on the call?

Please read second on the call.

The motion is to call the question.

The motion.

Did I give a second?

Yes.

Second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Yes.

So the motion that you're gonna conduct your vote on right now is to postpone the resolution.

The motion that we're getting ready to decide now is to postpone the or is to postpone.

It's to postpone the resolution.

Yes.

Calling for the vote.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Royal call vote.

Councilmember Sylvia.

No.

Councilmember Seals.

Nay.

Councilmember Balls.

No.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia?

Nay.

Councilmember Ostash?

Nay.

Councilmember Braddock?

Nay.

Councilmember Wiggins?

Councilmember Hammond?

Aye.

Councilmember Mayor Moore.

I'm a council person.

No.

All right.

You have eight nay and one yes.

That motion is denied.

So now you're going to conduct a vote on the main motion.

The main motion.

Yeah.

The main motion is to adopt this resolution.

Call for the vote.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Well call vote.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Yes.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia?

A.

Councilmember Ostash.

Yes.

Councilmember Braddock?

Yes.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond.

Nay.

And Mayor Moore.

Yes.

You have eight yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

The third resolution is amending the Brownfield plan to include BNP Littleford Warehouse Project located at 622 Orton.

I need a motion to adopt.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved to second.

Any discussion?

Yes.

I have the same concerns with this resolution.

Um and I believe this is the one that came on the July 8th meeting.

Um that's the one where there was no public notice posted online, and the minutes of that meeting are not public are not available online either.

So I'm gonna motion to postpone uh yeah, I'm gonna motion to postpone.

I need a second.

Second.

Discussion.

Call for the vote.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Yes.

Councilmember Seals?

No.

Councilmember Balls?

No.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia?

No.

Councilmember Ostash?

No.

Councilmember Braddock.

No.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Councilmember Hammond.

Yay.

Mayor Moore.

No.

You have two yes and seven.

No.

That motion is denied.

That's to postpone.

So now it's just on the motion.

That's just the postpone motion.

So now it's the motion to.

Right.

That was the postpone motion.

Now we're at the main motion.

All those in favor signify by say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Aye.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia?

All right.

Councilmember Astache.

Yes.

Councilmember Braddock.

Yes.

Councilmember Wiggins?

Yes.

Councilmember Hamlin.

Nay.

Mayor Moore.

Yes.

You have eight yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

The fourth resolution is terminating Brownfield Plan 20, Second National Building Redevelopment Project for the property located at 101 and 113 North Washington Avenue, 11 East Genesee Avenue, and 101 North Water Street.

I need a motion to adopt.

So move.

It's been moved to support.

Any discussion.

Yes.

I'm going to motion to postpone.

I need a second.

Yes.

Let me second.

It's been moved to second.

Any discussion?

Yes.

Why are we postponing this one?

For the same reasons as the other two?

They're all they're doing is terminating a contract.

I know, but it still was a recommendation by made by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

And I've been on this council seven years.

We've never had problems.

Well, then you didn't have a standard.

Minutes are always available in the clerk's office, let them be known.

It's public if you ever want to see them and they're not online because sometimes they don't get online right away.

Sometimes they have to be approved.

That's before we had a website, everybody's within this one.

Okay.

All right.

Okay.

Any more discussion.

I just have a comment.

Um if we're we're gonna hold the staff to be accountable and be transparent.

I think as council members we need to as well.

Just FYI.

That's all agreed.

Any any other comment?

The motion is what?

The motion is to postpone the postponement.

Okay, that's what I thought.

I'm calling for the vote.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote.

This is just on the postpone, remember.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Excuse me.

Just in the postpone.

Say that again.

It's to postpone the resolution that I read.

I'm sorry, is that your vote?

No.

Yes.

Councilmember Seals.

Councilmember to use that.

No, I'm the other one.

Yes, and no.

I don't want to vote.

Yes, no.

Exactly.

She tired.

She said no.

Your vote is no.

Okay.

Councilmember Balls.

No.

Dizzy.

Mayor Protem Garcia.

I say yes.

Councilmember Ostash.

I'm sorry.

No.

No.

Councilmember Braddock.

No.

Councilmember Wiggins?

No.

Councilmember Hammond.

Yay.

Mayor Moore.

No.

You have one yes and eight.

No, that motion is denied.

So now you're back to the main motion.

Now we're back to the original motion.

By the way.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll pop up.

Councilmember Sylvia.

Aye.

Councilmember Seals.

Yes.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Yay.

Councilmember Ostash.

Yes.

Councilmember Braddock.

Yes.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Yes.

Councilmember Hammond.

Nay.

Mayor Moore.

Yes.

You have eight yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

The fifth resolution is declaring a vacancy on city council.

I need a motion to adopt.

I need a support.

Or discussion.

I didn't know both demo.

I got no discussion.

Um there was a public input on this tonight, and my comment is to this is that councils have had people resign and they've done a resolution as well.

So it's just formalizing, it's just stating what our charter states, and that's it.

So but I so I'm just commenting on that earlier comment.

What did you say?

So what the res the resolution is all it's doing is just saying this is what our charter says.

It there's no action by us in any form.

It's not an action by it actually appears as though it's some action.

Okay, that's that's what I want to do because I wanted to postpone it because we don't know what's gonna ready to happen Wednesday, but if there's no action, then there's no action.

So I'm good.

This basically just says that in the event of the census, we'll be ready to post it.

That's all it's saying.

Oh, okay.

Okay, it's not saying get off.

Right.

You're done.

It's saying it needs it.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Anybody else it doesn't it doesn't give us any power to do anything?

Right.

Our charter.

Right, we don't have no power.

Anyway, I wouldn't through.

Because I think the citizens of this city that voted me in the second highest uh of the vote.

I think they should be able to have a voice to do whatever they need to do.

So other than that, thank you so very much.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

Yes, councilwoman.

I guess that would be my comment, but I just wanted to voice it.

Um it's kind of I was wondering, I was like, how why would it have to wait until the June 27th when the conviction was earlier?

It seems like if this was something that was actionable, it wouldn't affect uh at the date of conviction.

So I understand that you know we're just we're just supporting what our charter says says, and we are not making a decision because we cannot.

So thank you.

Basically, for those who really want to know, until it says it in our charter, she's actually sent we have no power to remove anyone.

The citizens put them in council woman, Sylvia is right, but that would mean at the next election, there would have to be uh uh an emergency uh early call for a meeting, and it would be on the expense of us, and so this is not condemning her from us, it is just following some it is following procedures.

It's stated in our book, it's stated in our in our handbook, I gave everybody a copy of it, so we're we're not condemning anybody, we're just following protocol, Mayor.

I would agree that you're not condemning anyone, but you are taking action under the charter under the declaring the vacancy upon sentencing because sentencing is when a conviction occurs, it's not when a jury verdict comes down, right?

It's when sentencing occurs.

Thank you for clearing it up for me.

Thank you.

Yes, I got a question for the attorney.

So in this particular case with our charter, are we gonna do this when somebody moves out of the city, dies, resigns?

The the difference in those is that when someone resigns or moves out of the city, those are instances of self-removal, they're taking it upon themselves to resign from council.

This is effectively a removal for cause, and so by doing it this way, the individuals being afforded an opportunity to be heard, which is during this discussion before any action is taken.

Okay, thank you.

Yes, so because she decides to stay that we get a chance to do this to almost like protect ourselves, is that what you're saying?

To follow the charter.

To follow the charter.

Because there has not been a resignation.

Okay.

I'm just trying to clarify.

So it shows that you know we we attempted to do something.

We attempted that you're upholding your charter provision.

That we're upholding our charter.

Okay.

Any other discussions?

Call for the vote.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Our final resolution is authorizing the sponsors of specified community events to use amplifying equipment.

Second.

Who had the motion?

And the second was thank you.

Any discussion?

Yes.

Yes.

Where does where are they using the amplifying uh staff?

Yes.

No, we need to cry.

But the black parties on Morris Street between Sheridan and Oakwood.

And then the other one's the last flash at celebration park.

Um, and then the other ones on Northwork between Sears and that and our North Ork.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Madam Clark.

Mayor we're gonna move on to miscellaneous business, but I've been asked to mention to remind everyone that the splash park is closing also on Monday, so get in and get splashed before then.

Last day last day.

So we recommend if you get one last swim in.

Or standing in the water done on Monday, which is the holiday, and we could do a cooldown.

Hopefully, we will have a hundred degree weather on Monday.

It's coming.

So you're under miscellaneous business.

Do we have any motion?

Do we have any motion to journal?

No, do we have motion to the journal is always in order?

It's always in order.

Second.

Second.

All those in favor should we talk about saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Everybody have a good next two weeks.