I'd like to open up today with prayer and please.

The prayer will be led by Tobias Councilman Young.

And I will do the plea.

Gotta talk loud.

Dear Heavenly Father.

We'd like to thank you for providing us safe passage here and from this meeting that we have today.

We ask that you touch our hearts and our minds with your compassion as we conduct business here today on the city of on behalf of the city of Saginaw and its residents.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the floor of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

Under God and divisible with the reason just as well.

Well called Madam Pledge.

Councilmember Young.

Present.

Council Member Seals.

Present.

Councilmember Wallace.

Present.

Mayor M.

Barcia, present back.

Council Member Osash.

Present.

Councilmember Radh.

Present.

Council Member Wiggins.

Present.

Council Member Yannah.

Present.

Present.

Again, good evening.

This meeting of City Council is an open meeting.

I asked that the audience remain from clapping booing and any obnoxious behavior.

Council persons, please silence your phones and your computers.

Audience, if you would do the same, I truly would appreciate it.

Once again, this is a meeting, and I'd just like to remind everyone.

It is a public meeting, and it is going to be here on the web page.

Madam Clark, do we have any announcements?

President, we have one the fourth annual remote Saginaw Businesses from her treatment events.

Is this Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 in the parking lot of the slash pad at 1830 for me?

Vendors can still sign up to participate by contacting Cassie Zimmerman.

We have a proclamation on the agenda.

It's recognizing the 75th anniversary of Goodrow the Florist.

And that proclamation will be read by Mayor Pro Tim Garcia.

The City of Saginaw Proclamation, whereas Good Roll the Florest has proudly served the residents of the City of Saginaw for 75 years, providing exceptional floral arrangements and outstanding customer service since its founding by Raymond Goodrow.

And whereas under the leadership of Raymond's children, Gary Goodrow, and Jeanette Goodrow Ballion, the current owner, the Florida has upheld its legacy as a family-owned and operated establishment.

This enduring legacy now embraces a third generation of florists, including Jeanette's daughter, Elizabeth Billion.

I'm sorry if I'm saying it wrong, but nearly every family member leading their talents at various points throughout the years.

And whereas this long-standing business has been a cornerstone of Saginaw's economic vitality, creating jobs, supporting local suppliers, and contributing to the community.

Goodwill the Florida has constantly given back to the community through participation in civic events, contributions to charitable organizations, and supports for school nonprofits and local initiatives.

And whereas through three quarters of a century, Good Rose have enhanced the cultural life of our city by celebrating our most important life milestones, including countless weddings, memorials, celebrations, and anniversaries.

And whereas Goodwill the Florist has demonstrated remarkable adeptability, resilience in the face of changing times, economic challenges, and industrial transformations, all upholding the traditions and values that have shaped its legacies.

Throughout it all, Goodwill the Florist has chosen to remain in the city of Saginaw.

And whereas the City of Saginaw proudly recognizes Good Roll of Florida's for significant contributions to beautifying our community, sustaining local commerce, and serving generations of family with care and dedication.

Now therefore it be resolved.

Do hereby extend this expression of esteem and gratitude to the Goodwill, the Florist for their profound success in the city of Saginaw over the past 75 years.

We congratulate Good Roll of the Florida and extend our very best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

And witness where I have unto set my hand in cause the seal of the city of Saginaw to be affixed this 20th day of October in the year of our Lord 2025.

Brenda F.

Moore, Mayor, Councilmembers Priscilla Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem, Michael D.

Boss, Eric D.

Braddock Sr., Carly R.

Hammond, Billy Bill Ostache, Cacinda Seals, Heidi Wiggins, and Tobias Young, and Timothy Murray, a city manager.

I'm not saying it right.

Gardners.

Good job.

Good role.

Good role.

Come on up.

Okay.

I knew it wasn't correct.

Come on up.

I need you to make the loop.

Your proclamation and then give us a word.

It's okay.

It's okay.

We all go ahead and congratulations.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sweetie.

Yes.

Very good.

Oh, congratulations.

If you would like, you can come up and say something.

I'll just say it.

Okay.

Okay.

Just wanted to offer the opportunity.

All right.

She's my silent army.

She makes me look good.

Awesome.

Thank you very much, Council members.

Miss Mayor.

You know, 75 seems like a number.

But when you put years in back of it, it all of a sudden encompasses so much more.

And I hate to sit up here and tell you that.

My daughter just took a wedding for the third generation bride.

We did her grandmother's, her mother's, and now we're doing hers.

And when I look back that I go, darn my old.

But uh I wouldn't have it any other way.

We're very, very proud of the fact that people have been coming for uh to us for 75 years, and uh Saginaw has changed quite a bit, and we try to remain the same.

Keeping up on trends and changing times is not always an easy thing to do.

Fighting for business every day as a small business owner is something that never stops, and I applaud all the small businesses of Saginaw, and I applaud what the city is doing to help those small businesses grow and establish themselves like uh we have and I can't thank you enough for being uh town to grow up in that was extraordinary in my point of view.

Uh I grew up on Remington between Howard and Brown.

I don't know if any of you know where that is, but we used to get on our bikes and ride down to my father's shop on Jefferson, and we usually planted about 11:30 in the morning so we could get down there right at lunch.

And dad would take us to lunch, and then from there we'd walk to Home Dairy.

And then he'd give us 10 cents, and we'd go across the street to Kreske's and spend it on candy.

And then we go back to the flower shop and sweep the floor, wire pine cones, whatever he needs done, and then back home we go.

And a lot of times on our way back home, we'd hear Ernie Harwell, and at that time you could listen to a tiger ball game from West General or from East Gennessee to Remington and never miss a play.

Because everybody had the radios on, everybody was out on their porches, and it was a great time to grow up in the city.

And I still believe that is that's still alive today, just in a different way.

Uh we have to hang on, we have to survive, and we have to find out ways of how to do that.

And that's why I think it's so important that an open dialogue is established with all the community leaders and the small businesses of the city.

Uh, never stop listening to your mom and pop shops because they are the heart of America and they're the backbone of this country, and uh we need these small businesses to survive.

Uh there again, I thank you very much for the opportunity to say a few words.

I certainly uh will cherish this proclamation, and I'm hoping to see my daughter up here to receive the 100th anniversary proclamation.

Thank you.

You can't tell me.

Age.

Age has a lot to do with everything.

I call it growing with grace.

Madam Clerk.

On to public the purpose uh public hearing is for us for the for the public to address the council.

This is not a question or answer period.

Speakers, you have three minutes to say what you need to say.

Please get it in those three minutes.

If not, I will allow you a couple of more seconds to wrap it up.

Our first person is first person is Melanie Melasco.

On to Joyce Seals.

Good evening evening, Madam Mayor, Council, Mr.

Manager, and staff.

I'd like to thank Mr.

Morales for co-chairing our power of a promise uh fundraiser along with Bishop Albertus Johnson.

They did a dynamite job, and they did it along with our Promise Zone Director, Deborah Sanchez.

This is one of only two events that we host for the promise each year.

I was truly disappointed that none of you were able to attend the event.

I knew that one of you, but Mr.

Oshtash was out of town and she wasn't able to come.

The success of the promise is a win-win for the city and the school district.

It was created by our legislature to be an economic tool to assist in stabilizing and increasing our population.

Your understanding and participation goes a long way in supporting this concept.

Page three of the book that I gave you, page five is will show that we have given over one million four hundred and five thousand seven hundred and forty-seven dollars to seven hundred and seventy-four students.

And the National Student Clearing House through 2024 shows the following.

And that's a group that keeps the track of students from the time they start all the way through college.

And 49% of Saginaw promised scholars persisted to the second year.

Program certificates, 13, associate's degrees, 56, bachelor's degrees, 152, master's degrees, 33, doctoral candidates, two, jurisdictions one, and there were 65 degrees that the report showed they did in did not identify the degree level.

And many of these students stay in and live and work in Saginaw, and we saw that at the promise for one of our graduates who's now an LPN, African American male LPN, and neither is mother or father gone to college.

He was the first one.

And he's doing he went debt-free.

Also, I want you to know that I haven't dropped our marijuana concerns.

We are researching and gathering data right now as we speak, and we will be back.

Thank you, ma'am.

Our next speaker is Dylan Hellas.

We are distinguished people tonight.

Some less than others.

Three of which are uh will be receiving certificates of occupancy shortly, um, with the other nine coming, four coming this fall and uh five more coming in the spring.

In partnership with Habitat, we've also been able to renovate more than 50 homes.

Uh either it's um roofs, windows, paint, porches, um, things to help people uh stay in their home, stay in the neighborhood, and uh continue to have pride in where they live.

Uh we also received uh through the Healthy Community Zones grant with MDHS five hundred thousand dollars for a renovation of uh Bliss Park, which we are working with city staff on a design and timeline for the work there.

Uh and then finally um we have three employees who will be taking advantage of Covenant's $30,000 in down payment assistance uh to move into the Covenant neighborhood, uh, and then an additional 30 employees who are currently working with Habitat on their uh mortgage readiness and financial literacy to be able to uh become homeowners shortly themselves.

Um very exciting uh and of course very proud on behalf of Covenant to share that with you all.

Uh as for the neighborhood enterprise zone, uh, of the 12 that we uh homes that are slated for the neighborhood, uh 10 of them are located in currently existing neighborhood enterprise zones on the south side and west side of our Cooper and Harrison campuses, uh and two of the three that uh are already constructed are uh in the um neighborhood enterprise zones.

Um so they these have been a great tool for directing development in key areas around the hospital, uh near CMU Health and Mary Freebred and also Bliss Park.

Uh and really uh what I want to um make sure you guys know these are uh an affordability tool by capping uh the property taxes over a 15-year period that helps bring down mortgage costs and helps people who maybe uh couldn't attain housing uh in the neighborhood have the opportunity to do so.

Uh it's an opt-in program, so um if you know you guys uh allow this and you know the people moving in, renovating their home, moving into new homes, uh choose not to take advantage of the program.

Uh there is no loss to the city.

Um, but um there's also the opportunity for uh folks to you know see some mortgage relief and hopefully become you know first-time homeowners here in the city of Saginaw.

Thank you all very much.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is Christopher Pryor.

Good evening to our honorable mayor, mayor pro Tim, uh to our city council, and to all of you, council uh men and women, thank you for your commitment and service to our wonderful city.

Um sometimes you probably don't get as appreciated as much as you should, uh, but no, we say thank you.

Thank you for your time and commitment to make Saginaw stronger.

Uh today I want to just stand and just say that we're our ongoing progress of the medical diamond, extremely excited about what is taking place, your work to make sure that things continue to move forward for a healthier, safer community.

So we applaud the work and the effort that has been done there.

As you've seen, one of my reasons and former mayor seals brought it up is our progress and the momentum that we are having, but just making sure we're still aware of the effect that the marijuana dispensaries have in our community.

And so, of course, we know the the effect that it has on our children.

I know there is not we can't close all of them down, uh, but my desire is to ask you to really be strategic in our efforts to continue to monitor and to see what's taking place.

I go to our elementary schools every Tuesdays and some Thursdays.

Um I smell the uh propundant odor that comes from out of the vehicle that our children ride to school in.

It's not a pleasant smell.

Um, it affects our children.

Um, it affects our education system.

Several months ago, I brought to you 75 signatures from business owners within the city who have stated that they are not for this.

I would ask that we would just kind of revamp or look as much as possible in regards to life.

I've asked some questions that I wrote down is money more important than the safety and future of our children as well as our families.

Are we investing in solving a problem while we're simultaneously feeding into it?

With that being the case, one of the key things that I would ask is that we would I know we can't undo the medicinal purposes and the recreation, but if we would reopen dialogue on a citywide moratorium, um I think that is very important if we can have some form of discussion, if we can implement new zoning ordinances, um looking at the density and those areas of where they're at.

If we can also use the uh nuances doctrine to be able to look at some things so that the those in authority under the nuances doctrine can regulate or shut down operations that are harmful to public health.

Last, I would ask you to look at exploring maybe a sunset clause.

I am not a lawyer, um, but I would ask you to look in avenues rather than just bringing problems, looking at solutions of what we can do, and then we can prioritize our community voice in regards to initiatives to keep Saginaw stronger and safer.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Council members, you have three minutes as well.

We will begin tonight with Councilman Young.

Hello everyone.

Thank you for coming to your meeting.

Um I did in the past week uh during fire prevention.

I um attended that and um attended the award ceremony and I had the opportunity to hear uh a lot of what the firefighters have done in the community and a lot of what they done and accomplished and got awards for.

I didn't even hear about it in the news, you know, the life-saving measures and different things that happened.

So that was a good experience to see, you know, what those public servants uh uh do.

And um I like to speak to the the marijuana um issue and I am for you know um ordinances or uh moratoriums to make sure that that doesn't also become an issue just like the liquor store problem.

I think the community has a oversaturation of liquor stores that adds to it too, so I understand the need to not you know make another industry the same way, but we already have a existing issue of oversaturation of liquor stores.

That's the hub for the crime and blight in the city.

So I think that needs to be addressed as well.

So we're putting something together to address one industry.

It seems like that similar industry would fall under that, and we could, you know, make some progress in the area too.

Um that's all thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilwoman Seals.

Good evening, everyone.

Um I just uh I had a great uh last two weeks.

Um I met a couple of firefighters at my school at Francis Ray Academy, and um we had a fire drill and they were commending our school on having a very quick response to getting out the school, and um I was telling the students about our pro uh the program at the high school, how they can become firefighters, and our kids were very excited becoming firefighters when they leave high school.

And so uh the firefighters were actually promoting it to our students and I work at a K8 school, so they were really excited about being firefighters, and so um that was pretty cool just to hear the dialogue between the firefighters and the students at my school, and they were so young.

So just to see um the firefighters having those dialogues out in the community with little ones was really cool to see.

Um also um uh speaking about small businesses today and listening to you speak today.

Um, I'm a small business owner, and I truly believe that um small business owners are the backbone of the community and of our country, of our economy.

And so um they have been on a decline lately, but we are coming back up.

And without small businesses, we will I mean our country will not make it.

And so I know the economists they know that it takes small businesses for our country to run.

And so um I'm glad that you know your business hung in there and and have survived all that time, which is a blessing.

And so um it was good to see that you received that award today and just give us us newer small businesses, just hope that you know we can make it 75 years.

So that was awesome for for us to see today.

Um also I did attend uh the Riverfront Development Committee uh commission meeting and the city county school liaison uh committee meeting this the last two weeks.

So I've been pretty busy for the last two weeks, so I had a pretty pretty awesome time.

I'm tired.

So yeah.

So that's it, madam mayor.

Thank you.

Next, we have councilman boss.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I don't have a lot to say today, but uh I would like to congratulate you on the 75 years.

Your speech is so nice.

I think I'm gonna come down there and get some flowers from my wife.

Um we call you today.

Anyway, I too remember going to Parker's.

And uh it was really nice.

And uh I remember getting my quarters and nickels and going to Kreskies too, says you brought up a lot of good memories.

You know, walking downtown, you know, from four or five blocks away and going downtown and joining ice cream and stopping at the uh uh the meat market and and and he give us a piece of that ring baloney the kids be saying so it's we got all good memories from downtown Saginaw.

But uh yes, yes, I am and Brenda's a little bit older than me too, so I could remember her as the uh lifeguard at uh bees all the swinging groups uh yeah that we we were like Tad Falls looking up at Brenda on the diamond board, brother.

That's partial.

I like to say too the Pastor Pryor, uh had the opportunity to uh spend some time with him and some of his parishioners and the health group down in Lancing at the uh community violence intervention program and lasting we had a couple of weeks ago and got a lot of good information to bring back to a combat crime and drugs issues in our city.

Um it was really uh good to see the state policeman down there uh doing what they've doing.

They got a lot of good things happening to uh help out our community.

So I'm looking forward to adding those to the rest of the things that we're doing in our community help our kids stay out of trouble.

Um I've been busy too.

Uh my I had another granddaughter got uh married in uh Detroit last week, so I'm happy about that.

Somebody else can pick up the rings.

But uh, you know, they're growing up and getting older, man.

So I just thank God to be here you know to see that.

So thank you, Brent.

I don't have anything else to say.

Thank you.

Next, we have Councilman Ashtage.

Thanks, Mayor.

Uh welcome everybody to the Anderson Center tonight and those watching from home.

Um just a few things.

Uh over the last couple of weeks, the city had their citywide meeting, which was at our fire department's training center, uh, also led by our fire department chief, Brandon, and so he did a great job.

There's some really good information uh there that night, and then they also kind of touched on the arson watch program that's coming out too.

So there's more information out there on that.

Um proclamation uh congratulations.

Um when I first moved into the city, I moved into a house that Michael had lived in, Michael Goodrow.

So we always used to share stories about Sheridan Avenue.

And uh then I moved over on Delaware Street, so right down the street from you, and I had used Jared Flores shop before, too.

So thank you.

Congratulations.

Um Dylan, that's exciting news.

Um, I'm excited to see this next NEZ on the docket tonight.

There's a lot of good things that are happening over at Covenant.

If nobody's seen these homes, they're really nice, they they fit the neighborhood.

Um, and uh it's just a good thing that you guys are doing over there.

So thanks for continuing that.

And I believe I was at your kickoff when the tent was up.

I can't be for sure, but uh I'm pretty sure.

So um another thing too is again we talked about um Mayor Seals, uh, you brought up the Saginaw Promise.

These are some really interesting statistics when you take a look at this.

So uh hats off to everything that you're doing with that program, and hopefully next year I can uh get a ticket to the event and join you.

Um something else.

And we also brought up the dispensaries in the city again.

I know uh Miss Sealsween, you and I have spoke and you emailed me.

Uh Pastor Pryor, feel free to get my email address off the city website, send me an email.

I'd love to have a conversation.

Um it's more than we can talk about here.

Um sometimes we have to bring in her legal team and we start talking about moratoriums and capping um and how we're set up in the city.

I can say that the new zoning uh that the city has, not only did it offer some new incentives for uh small businesses again in the neighborhood, especially in the cathedral district, uh, but also rezone the city for where the dispensaries can actually be, and kind of brought those GIS maps down, so I kind of tighten it up a little bit.

So feel free to give me a call.

I'd love to talk to you about that.

Um just an announcement, something that I saw come through in my 30 seconds that I have left.

Uh, if you need assistance from consumers energy, they do offer their cares program again.

Visit their website or call them to see if you qualify.

Uh the median income is uh booked against the state of Michigan, so it's 43,000-ish and less.

Uh so help with your heating bill.

So get a hold of them on that, and I am out of time.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilman Braddock.

All right, madam.

I just like to say uh thanks to everyone that's here today uh for coming to your meeting.

Um also I'll just like say there's a lot of good things going on in Saginaw, a lot of good a lot of work getting put in by you know the uh the individuals at this table and the citizens in inside the city.

Um we also have um Halloween coming up to Trunk Retreats.

I know um V C D has a 28th Halloween party on 9th Street at the um soon to be impact center, um Houghton Jones Neighborhood Association having one on the 30th, um trunk retreat.

So, you know, if you come out and support those also.

So you know if come out and support those also I know the city have there's on the 22nd.

Um pretty much I was able to attend the uh gun violence um with where we'll Mr.

Boss was at and um we did receive a lot of good information um from the Mission State Police and um and a few others um cities who are battling and and helping reduce the gun violence and um so we just have to continue to put in the work.

There are pretty organizations and we had a plenty of plenty of representation from Saganau there, and so um even with the Saginaw Police Department and uh help and um VCD.

So we've down there um getting a lot of good information to bring back and hopefully we can uh curb the violence and give our kids and give our youth something to look forward to for the most part.

And so um other than that, no, let's continue to um work together, continue to push forward through, you know, and uh let's make a change to make Saganaw.

Make Saginaw a better place.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Next we have Council Woman.

We get thank you, Mayor Moore.

Um, thank you to everyone who's uh attended the meeting tonight.

Um congratulations again to the Guajo family.

Thank you for putting on uh hard work and love and dedication into the city of Saginaw.

Um I have received lots of flowers from you thank you.

Beautiful.

Um again, thank you for all the speakers that came, just a couple of uh announcements.

I think it's uh the NAG meeting is tomorrow, neighborhood association um action group, they're having it at the Castle Museum at noon.

They're also they're going to announce their the winner of the neighborhood uh what is it?

It's like a neighborhood best yard winner.

Um that's tomorrow at noon at the Casu Museum.

Um as some have already mentioned that we're going to have a lot of activity for Halloween, a lot of trunk retreats in the area.

Um hope you can attend at least one of them.

Uh wanted to mention one in particular that's going to be happening uh on the Genesee corridor with uh sponsored by Terry Reed and his team loyalty.

Um that's gonna be on the 30th in the afternoon.

It's going to be up and down Genesee.

Um so I plan on being there as well as the city when that's going to be on Wednesday.

So if it's anything like the event, the uh the thank you uh to the customers in the summer, it's it's something to see.

So I'm excited to uh attend that.

Um and as well as the the uh the promise meeting.

I'm sorry I missed that.

I do plan on I want to know more about it and the work that's being done is amazing, and I would be excited to attend next year.

So thank you for reminding me of that, and I'm sorry I missed that.

And that's I think that's all I have.

Thank you.

We have councilwoman Hamming.

Thank you.

And uh thank you and congratulations to the Goodreads family and your your operated business, that's phenomenal.

Um I love the mural every time I drive by it.

It's absolutely beautiful, and it's it's it's a great it's a great staple to have in the community.

Um last week I attended a um uh meeting put on by an organization called the People's Water Board Coalition.

Um and this was about water affordability measures in the state of Michigan.

So uh as we all know, utility bills continue to rise, um, outpacing the wages that uh people may have seen a modest increase in, and the costs just keep getting bigger and bigger.

And from a municipal standpoint, we are very lucky to have our own municipally owned water supply uh right here in town.

We have amazing quality water, um, but a lot of maintaining that infrastructure depends on you know, encumbering ourselves in debt services that that cost more every year and feeding that beast of increased cost and increased cost and increased debt and increased debt is just something that's difficult to manage and it falls onto the consumers.

It falls onto every one of us as just one other line item that increases our cost of living every single year.

Um so water affordability is a um specific bill package.

It kind of saw the light of day at the end of uh 2024 in the state legislature.

Unfortunately, it was not passed.

It was something that I support.

Um, but also, you know, it affects every single municipality here because I think it's a tragedy to shut people's water off.

It's not fair, it's not right to do it.

Um I I don't support water shutoffs as a means of of you know shaking people down for their bottom dollar.

Uh and it it it unfortunately oftentimes those those bond debt services come with a cost of if your collection rates aren't high enough, your interest rates get worse.

And so those costs are even ballooning for for municipalities every year.

Um so you know, I support every single water assistance program that comes before me.

Uh, but at the end of the day, assistance is usually per application.

Those applications are sometimes in person, and it takes months to get a meeting to fill that out.

Um so I'd encourage you know, fellow council members and members of the community.

Um our water bills are probably not going down anytime soon.

This is just uh a cost that keeps increasing.

Um, and as we have to take care of our legacy infrastructure to make sure that our water is safe, it's something that we have to keep investing in.

Um, so water affordability is something that could be an answer for us, and I encourage uh folks out there to check into that in the state of Michigan.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Mayor Pro Champ Garcia.

Good evening, concerned citizens of community.

Thank you for attending this evening's meeting.

Um, yes, to the Good Row family.

Thank you for your service.

75 years speaks volumes.

I'm a small business owner myself, so I understand your work and commitment, and all that goes into, and I always say you're your best marketing, your word of mouth and your work explained.

So 75 years, that's that's awesome.

Um, I commend you, and I know my parents owned a store, we didn't last very long because of economy at the time, but it's hard work, it really is.

I mean, it's a really a commitment for your family and all those are involved and all these generations that you guys 75 years is remarkable.

That's all I gotta say.

Kudos to you guys and keep up the good work, and hopefully I'll be around.

Um your daughter is, but hopefully, 25 years I'll be around to see that hundred year mark.

Um, and also to Mr.

Helius, if I'm seeing a neighborhood association, I've been down there not this year due to my health, but the last couple years I did go volunteer and I did paint some shutters in the neighborhood with the habitat in what was a great um community event.

And this year I would have gone, but I was having a little bit of health issues this year, but it's always a good time.

And for volunteering, you do get um good food that they give out, so that's always a plus.

If you want to go volunteer, you left that part out.

I think you would get more people down there, but they have great food uh every day.

There's somebody different vendors that are giving food and stuff.

So I've had TNT down there.

I think I've had like uh Papa John, so there's a been down there a couple times, so I know the drill.

Um, and the neighborhood is great, it looks nice down there.

You guys are doing a great job, so thanks for coming and reporting.

Like I said, I didn't get to go this year.

And then Austin, this is seals.

Thank you for your guys' efforts um for doing the scholarship.

Um, our youth we need that mentorship.

Um, I'm a first generation college student, and I know how hard, and it was so easier for me to give up being a young teen mom.

But when you have a great foundation and the support system that's rooting for you, you give these kids hope every day knowing that there's somebody like out you out there advocating for them and Miss Sanchez and that.

So that's awesome.

Kudos to you for your hard work.

Um, another note if um you know anybody that needs a food assistance Monday, October 27th at 9 a.m.

Uh East Side Soup Kitchen is doing their drive-through giveaway.

I know the need is gonna be great.

We're hearing about the cuts possibly to the snap for um November.

So um also the United Way, they always list on Mondays the different um food giveaways during the week, and I always share them as a community alert on my page.

So if you know anybody that needs any help with that, um so they they always do it every Monday, so it's helpful for those.

Um they even have some in the St.

Charles area, so they list a lot of different ones if you're in need.

Um this week, uh trunk or tree, it's always a great time with the council members, so we look forward to that.

And then um, I'll be um for the arson watch this week, giving out some tips and pointers.

We are still looking for volunteers next Thursday and Friday.

So if you have somebody you can ride, would come on down.

We'd appreciate all the help.

And that's all because my time's up.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Um week is big busy as always, but uh my public speakers.

Thank you.

We did do a moratorium.

We did a whole year.

We gave the community one whole year to come up.

Don't have a problem with reopening stuff, but it's gonna be a process.

Okay, it is going to be a process.

I don't even know where I was on the 16th.

I'll be honest.

Um anytime there's something going on, uh, if you if you're sending to the office, trust me.

The two secretaries in there, Rachel and Vicky will let me know right away, and we'll make sure that it's on my calendar.

Um again, we do have we do have Halloween coming up.

And so, council members, I'm asking if you can bring some candy.

Come stand at this table with us because the city is gonna provide the hot dogs.

Coco's maybe I said the wrong one, but they're gonna have hot dogs.

Um this has been a real exciting week because throughout the whole city of Saginaw, they've been doing trick-or-treat.

Because throughout the whole city of Saginaw, they've been doing trick-or-treat.

And so it's always good to see the little ones dressed up in the tutus, running around at the Halloween parties.

I did too.

I had an opportunity to go to the fire award ceremony, which I hardly ever miss.

And I knew counseling.

Got introduced to public speaking.

He wrote you, he read the proclamation and he said to me, but I'm not Brenda Moore.

I said, but you just read.

So you can say Brenda Moore.

He got to that point.

It was like, I'm not Britain Moore.

Okay, you'll be okay.

You'll be okay.

Notice.

Continue pray as a blessing for another 75 more years.

I utilize you a lot.

Michigan tell me you were.

No, that wasn't you.

But anyways, I've been utilizing you for years, and you do have beautiful flowers.

Um, not to say nobody else does, but you do have that's right, Mama.

Stand up.

Um but it it is gonna take a village.

We talked about and laughed, me and Mike laughed about coming up as kids.

When you stay, I'm not too far from you, living, born, bred, and raised.

So I noted the neighborhoods are changing for anyone who went to that conference in Lansing.

I didn't go, but y'all know I got a tape on it.

So thank you, Madam Clerk.

Mr.

Manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

So we did have several council members said we had a lot of events going on, and we do have a lot coming up.

Um as the clerk mentioned.

We do have the fourth annual We Love Saginaw Businesses Trunk or Treat event hosted by the city, uh Downtown Development Authority and the Saginaw Economic Development Corporation.

This Wednesday from 4 30 to 6 30 in the parking lot across the lawn here, celebration park splash pad.

1830 Fordney Street.

We currently have over 50 businesses signed up to participate.

So that's a great great group.

City staff are going to be participating as well, and they'll be working the city, SEDC, and DDA booths.

Council members are welcome to join us.

You can um come to the city booth or any of those three if you'd like to help out.

Just make sure you call Vicky Davis in my office so we know you're coming.

Um the Saginaw Fire Department hosted their annual awards ceremony and open house on October 7th.

And want to congratulate the several citizens who received awards uh for bravery that they did and assisted other citizens, firefighters and also supporters who were recognized at the event.

And special recognition goes to our Saginaw Firefighter of the Year, which is Lieutenant Colin Horgan.

He is recognized for leadership, professionalism, and dedication to City and Saginaw Fire Department.

And I also want to thank the fire department and Chief House Beck and the fire crew for hosting the citywide meeting on October 8th.

Uh great opportunity for residents to learn more about fire safety, arson watch, and the type of training conducted by the Saginaw firefighters, the burn house.

They did a um demonstration of the training they do at the burn house.

I think that was the first time I saw it, but it's pretty phenomenal, amazing that they they go into that and and uh can complete the exercise, and uh Chief gave a great narrative of what they were doing in there and um comparing it to what happens when they go into a house.

So great to learn.

I'm sure that Chief would give anyone a tour of any fire station and uh do other demonstrations in the future as well.

And I want to congratulate uh Tri-Star Trust.

They had their groundbreaking for their new building on Washington Avenue.

So they're investing here in the city, they're already in the city, but this is going to be a regional hub for them.

Um significant new building on the riverfront.

It's really the first one of the first new builds in the Medical Diamond Project.

Uh, hopefully first of many.

Also, within that Medical Diamond Project, Consumers Energy is completing their portion of the uh power line project.

They're burying those lines, and they should be completed in the next two weeks.

You're still gonna see the polls up until next year.

There's some other utilities on there that we're working with to bring those down, but they should be down next uh summer as we continue to coordinate with consumers.

Um I want to thank our uh former mayor Joyce Seals for coming and talking about the Saginaw promise.

I had a lot of those stats on my paper as well because they're pretty phenomenal.

That's can have a huge impact on our community as as uh she said a lot of those students stay here, they want to stay here in the city and they want to get the education and move on.

And I'll echo um what she said about I think his name was William Hodgkin, he's an LPN.

He gave a great speech at the event talking about the impact the education has had on him, and he's he has a job, he wanted to, he wanted to get a nursing degree, I think they said since he was a kid, and um he said several times he's debt-free.

So he really encouraged uh the kids to continue their education and not to worry about the cost because of the Saginaw promise, and I say that um I think the event had more attendees.

I think this was the most attendees that they've had, um, which is also encouraging, and I I would think that um I I've been on the board since this summer, but the a number of people on the board, they're all volunteers.

Pretty much the entire operation is volunteers other than one employee.

So they put a lot of time into it, a lot of planning, and um it's it's great to see.

So I want to um thank uh Mayor Seals for inviting me to be on the board.

Also, um we have been uh receiving additional information about the state uh budget.

Uh gas and weight tax, as you know, there's a change with um sales tax and gas and weight tax.

That's gonna impact us two ways.

It's gonna significantly increase our road budget.

So our current year we ex are expecting to receive 2.8 million dollars in additional revenue and 4.3 million dollars next year, so that's a pretty significant increase for us.

It's going to the budget is going to decrease our general fund revenue sharing allocation because the exchange and the gas and weight tax is removing sales tax from gas.

So revenue sharing comes from sales tax.

So right now we're looking at probably about 220,000 of decrease in general fund revenue.

Um so we're look current currently looking at the broad budget and ways to absorb that loss.

But the definitely a pretty significant increase in in road road money.

Um and finally, we did have as um council member uh seals mentioned we had our city county school liaison meeting this week, and um we had a short presentation from the League of Women Voters, and I had talked to Karen Lawrence Webster about this project previous to that presentation.

Um it's uh proposal to create Saginaw City of Saginaw Youth Council.

So the purpose is to engage our city of Saginaw public school students in local government and for the students to identify an issue that the city council can consider for change.

And the participating students uh the proposed target audience is City of Saginaw Public School District with Saginaw United and Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy.

Nine total students, six from Saginaw United and three from SASA, ninth to twelfth grade, and City of Saginaw residents.

A selection project would be determined our selection process would be determined through an application process with the schools.

So participating city council members and city administration, each city council person would be designated as a mentor to one of the students.

The council members serving on the Saginaw County City School Liaison Committee would represent the city and help coordinate the event along with members that the mayor may delegate, and um to move forward with this.

We're looking for a full city council support to officially partner with the school district on this project.

Any meetings involving a quorum of council members and students would fall under the open meetings act.

City staff would present to student groups about their roles in local government, including Office of Management Budget Development, Wastewater Elections, Public Safety, and other departments, and coordination would be a joint effort between a member of the city council or members of the city council and a faculty representatives from uh SASA and the Saginaw United School.

The City Manor's Office would provide an organizational support such as scheduling meetings, reserving city facilities and coordinating with departments for tours and presentations and contacting city staff and reserving rooms at a city.

Uh the schools would also provide that administrative support, and this supporting organization is a Saginaw County League of Women Voters, and they would facilitate initial meetings until the youth council is established.

So that was I think supported by our entire city school liaison committee.

So if any of the members of that committee, and I I'm sorry, I believe out uh councilman or councilwoman Wiggins had also worked with Karen Lawrence Webster on this previously.

So any other council members want to comment on that group.

No, you you did a fine job.

I didn't even know you were there, and you still got a good report.

You did good.

Okay.

All right, that's all I have, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Dan.

Do we have any questions for the city manager?

I would I would have one thing.

So if for um if the council does want to move forward with this, um it would be I think I defer to the clerk and the city attorney, but I think it would just be a simple consent motion directing uh uh city administration and the um city county school liaison members to proceed with this uh project with the school district.

So move.

Okay, so the council member can make the recommendation doing Ms.

Mr.

Laney's any questions at the city manager.

I have one.

We are nearing the cutoff for ARPA dollars.

We have some agencies or the it's a question.

Do we have any jeopardies of returning money or groups that have not proceeded?

I know that we have one.

We talked about it for a minute, but we did stay on it.

I think the council needs to take a look at as well as to what what's the next step because we don't want to give money back if we don't have to.

So hard to get it, you don't want to give it back.

So do can you get can you report out for us?

Yeah, I I think the only one that we don't see proceeding um was the one that we provided a memo to council for on August 8th, and it's the Saginaw Just uh transition organization.

Um we had uh identified through our consultants and our city staff the five uh concerns and recommended some changes to that, either two options, either changes or um uh terminate the sub recipient agreement, and we did set up meetings, I think with staff and um guide house, our consultant.

I think most council members had an opportunity, I'm not sure.

Uh council member Young has has done that yet.

I know he's met with several staff members, um, but uh we can definitely send you that memo again so that you can review it and advise if you have any questions.

I think that uh all of us need to really get serious because the money was supposed to be allocated, but when the money is allocated, it's allocated for what you asked it for.

You can't change it midstream, and we really need to look at that because we're looking at another month, and we got to prepare a report, and in that report, any money that is not totally committed or spent, we have to refund.

So I think that council as a whole, we have an obligation to the citizen.

Uh remember, any money that we pull back a claw back on as we call it, that money will go into the housing program, which will help roofing and furnaces, 50% goes there, and the other 50% goes to parks and recreation.

So council members, please.

I I think we really need to take a look because we only talking a month.

And we don't want to get caught with doing falsified reports.

We said we transparent, let's be transparent.

Any other questions?

Yes, yeah, thanks, Mayor.

Um, yeah, and Timmy I've been thinking about when you you talked about the budget tonight.

I haven't really had the chance to see what's coming from the state.

Um I will be paying attention to MML the stuff they put out and the 208 uh blogs and then anything that they'll do at their Monday meetings, and by the way, too.

If you can't get their live with the league on Monday, it's always on their Facebook page afterwards.

Um but you mentioned the road funding, and that's a pretty substantial.

Did they did they do we know where the funding would have to go?

Because when people ask questions about roads, I always look to fill and staff because it can and Beth it gets complicated or Travis because it could be local roads, or is it just the state roads, some major roads?

That's the government state.

They have to be state roads.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay, 51.

Okay, all right, that makes sense.

That makes sense.

I do know that there was some 24% tax on the cannabis industry too, which should help increase in road funding as well.

So okay.

And thanks for bringing up the um this would be my second last thing.

You brought up the fire department.

Your congratulations to our firefighter of the year.

Um I am working in the office 50% of the time now, so I can't just jump over, jump back.

So I was not, I was in the office that day and I missed your event, but uh I'll try to I will be retiring in 12 months, so then I will be full time.

Yeah, right.

I can make all your events again, but uh but congratulations to you for that.

It's always a great event.

Thank you.

Yes, council and which one?

Sales.

Go ahead.

Um, I want to ask Tim.

You gotta talk loud.

I wanted to ask Tim Um, is there a way we can see how much uh ARPA dollars are have been spent already so that we can make a decision as a whole so we can um properly able to uh make this decision together?

Yep, it's on the city website.

Okay, there's an ARPA section so you can look at what's been allocated and what's been spent on the projects.

We'll send a link out so that it's easier for you to get to the question, right?

Was it the question down here?

Yes, councilman.

Um I have a question about the uh the surface friction test that's going to be um on the on the that's on that's coming up.

You gotta talk loud too.

With the surface friction test that's coming up far as the test, what's the timeline on that test, and also if approved, and then also um based off the um results of the test.

Consent.

Do I have to yeah, I think it's probably more appropriate to wait till that consent agenda for that?

Just make sure you make an exception.

Okay, okay, just we have to talk louder.

We can't hear you over here.

You can't hear we all here councilman boss if you have a question.

Thanks for calling me, mayor.

Um, I noticed in the budget that a lot of uh child organizations that we normally gave to for the last two or three years, some of them are not getting any funds at all.

Is that because of the uh that we get less funds or the organizations are not doing what they used to do or what?

But I think that's under that's under the consent agenda too, so we probably want to wait until we get to that point.

Are you talking C D BG or ARPA?

C D BG, right?

C BG.

Okay.

Yes, council one.

Um, have you received any guidance from the state?

Um, because I I believe it's the road funding that you mentioned set to hopefully increase that's tied to the increased marijuana tax.

I believe that's gonna be challenged in court.

Was there any guidance from the officials you were talking to about potentially affected timelines, or if that gets tied up in court that the money won't be there, or was there any discussion at all about that issue?

No, I and I think the the uh road fund increase that I mentioned was all related to the um the gas tax is my understanding from engineering.

So if there's another one another source that that no, we I don't think we've had any update from regarding that funding.

Okay, I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

I have one more.

Yeah, I know that we also were able to meet with um I think Guy House, and I know I wasn't able to make that meeting.

Um, is there a way that we can get that information on each entity that received ARPA dollars so that we can make a coaxive decision on um the monies that they receive for ARPA and their application information?

So it won't just be a dollar amount for that particular organization, but that we can see uh their actual application their initial application with their dollar amount to go that coincide with what they apply for initially.

We have that if you want to stop in the manager's office and see Vicky.

We have a phone that has so that I can make a uh uh very you know comprehensive decision and not just one off of a dollar.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Madam Clark.

May I take us to the consent agenda?

The consent agenda has been available at City Hall and on the city web page.

I need a motion to approve the consent agenda leaving room for exceptions.

Do I have any exceptions?

One yes.

Any other exceptions in favor signify by saying aye.

Madam Clerk.

I have please the purchase.

Excuse me, with SME for $7,900 to coordinate and conduct testing of surface friction at Celebration Skate Park for the public services department facilities division.

That was Councilmember Braddock.

My question was with that.

How would that influence the uh opening and closing of the park?

Yeah, so I think that uh once it's approved, they'll be able to mobilize fairly quickly to do the work.

Do you want to say that you may say I'm no debomity to be here?

Instead of shouting out it is scheduled for tomorrow if it's approved tonight.

Okay.

So that's open questions.

I got another question.

Yeah.

I thought the people we gotta let him pass it, then we come back and then I'll open it up.

All right.

Oh motion to approve.

So I'll put by discussion.

I thought the uh people that was doing this, the painting had already um did the research to find out that the paint will hold up.

So why are we doing this again?

Because um experts are telling us the paint is what the the paint the type of paint is okay, but application may make a difference in the friction.

So we are testing the non-painted surfaces and the painted surfaces to verify that they're similar friction factors.

Okay, I thought it was to be safe.

Okay, that's why.

So other words they did a research and they said it was safe.

Now we're gonna do double up on it because um I'm sorry, but so we we're testing it to protect the city for reliability reasons.

Yes, so there are to be safe.

There are several skateboarders, and there are other organizations that say that any paint can impact the friction and can make it less safe.

So um our goal is to determine if that if this paint has done that and if it has if we're hoping there isn't a change, a difference in the friction model so that we can just proceed right now.

We've given that given the organization the ability to paint vertical surfaces, but we're not painting the skate surfaces at this time.

I don't know if they've proceeded or not.

I've been talking with them, uh Phil Carwat has, but that's our goal is to make sure that so that we can reassure the uh community that it is safe.

Thank you.

Yes, um, if it rains tomorrow, will this test be rescheduled?

Um I don't know.

Okay, and they have to let you know.

Okay.

Um and for the uh I know in the information that this council received uh the information on the particularities of the paint and the application process and the VOCs and all that.

Uh it was mentioned that there's a curing process that has to be completed in order for it to you know have its full retention.

Has that has that timeline been fulfilled for the painted services?

Are you you're talking about the paint?

Yeah.

Um I would assume it has occurred on what's been painted out there, yes.

Okay.

Um what is like the level of acceptability for slippage?

I have no idea what a slip test would even entail.

Is there like a score?

Yeah.

Um I can't tell you, but the equipment they're using is being shipped was shipped already up to their Michigan office from uh Texas.

Okay.

Um if the paint pres uh what would happen if the test is a failure for friction?

Um you mean if they don't match, we would we would have to look at the results and make a decision on what to do.

Okay.

Um for other skate parks.

One more you get two questions.

Okay, but they're running over into more than two.

So go ahead.

Um for the uh I totally lost my train of thought.

Um so does this company often do slip tests to this?

I've I've checked them tests.

Yeah, friction, sorry.

Yes, they do.

Okay, okay.

And do you know what kind of equipment is involved in that?

I don't.

Okay.

We can take a picture if you'd like, or you could come out.

Okay, maybe see it happen.

Interesting.

I got to do that.

I think Mr.

Carwat does, he made these arrangements.

I I don't know all those details, sorry.

You might want to make appointment.

And then they could probably go into detail.

Yeah.

More in the office.

And then that way you can get your questions answered.

In the other.

Yeah, we have questions.

Thank you.

For other communities and areas that have painted their skate parks already.

Was there any outreach to other like cited um locations that had been painted?

Did they use a similar kind of paint where there are similar concerns?

The type of paint that was used, there's no problem with that paint according to others that have painted.

Okay.

Including the manu or the person that designed the skate park.

They confirmed that this was an acceptable type of paint.

Yes.

It could cause additional issues with for slippage.

Yes.

So this is our way to be able to confirm whether it does or doesn't.

Just I mean, if they if we have to ensure that it is safe.

If the test is completed tomorrow, do you know how soon the results will be?

Uh tests are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

Okay.

Sorry, first days tomorrow.

That might be a rain backup, but or it might be taking two days.

And the result time frame?

I I don't know that.

Assuming it's pretty quick.

Is really the liability on the city.

Yeah.

That's really the question.

I think having a skate park is a liability.

Well, it is, but you know, we approved it.

So now we need to make sure that the citizens are safe.

Um at this point, it don't matter if it was tested or whatever.

We just gotta make it right now.

Yes.

I just would like to say I think I'm not sure who made the decision to check the who uh the application part, but whoever did, I thank them for checking that.

Um not sure how we came to that conclusion, but thank you.

So that you know we're covering ourselves.

So thank you for checking the application and in this process so that we are covering ourselves.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Any other questions?

Uh put vote.

All those in favor ship the five by saying I.

Madam Clark.

Do we have any boards of commission reports of any city activity?

Um, yes.

I did it in the riverfront development commission.

Um I know also that our um city manager was there also with me, and uh we did have a we had a new chair and a vice chair.

Um we talked about our role in this very historic moment because uh right now we're kind of redeveloping ourselves.

Um right now there's some very historic things happening in Saginaw right now.

Um Saginaw is going through a uh redevelopment, and uh this hasn't happened in a long time in our city, so uh we're just trying to find our place and uh kind of where we fit and how we're going to proceed and uh in our capacity and how we will position ourselves and and work with the the city council.

So we talked about a lot of things, the medical diamond, um we talked about uh uh the DDA and Old Town or uh Riverfront little um even uh Ojibwe Island and how we'll work with city council.

So I think the uh Tim probably has a little more specifics because he spoke a little bit more than I did, but I think I took more notes than anything, but uh there was a lot of information going on in in that meeting that I uh learned a lot in that meeting, so I'll let you speak here.

Okay, yes.

Um I also attended the school, the Avon meeting with Tim talked about uh gave a good uh brief of that earlier.

Uh they're just looking forward to working with the youth, and um, you know, uh we see in other cities.

I've been seeing other cities and other youth, I mean other communities doing it, so I'm looking forward for us doing it.

Um Heidi and been working with Heidi from the beginning with this, and so we'll like to see it grow to where it needs to be.

So looking forward to that, and looking forward to all the city council support on it as well, and so um we're looking to move forward with that soon.

That's all okay.

Anybody else?

I'd like to thank councilwoman Wiggins, because when I asked her, she didn't hesitate.

She said, Oh sure.

She wanted to be a part of that, so I do want to thank you.

Thank you for uh for hanging in there.

Okay, Madam Clerk, and to appointment of board, commission, and committee members.

We have two appointments, and we're gonna do them together, leaving room for exceptions.

We have two appointments leaving room for exception.

I need a motion.

So move.

Second.

Is there any exception?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Resolutions we have one, and it's establishing neighborhood enterprise zone covenant three.

I need a motion to adopt.

So all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On two miscellaneous business.

Our first item, Mayor is consideration of a FOIA appeal submitted by Catherine Ellison.

I need a motion.

I'd like to make a motion.

Uh I move to uphold the estimated fee associated with Catherine Ellison's FOIA request.

It's been moved in support.

Any discussion?

Sure.

Mayor, I'm sorry, who had the second?

Okay, thank you.

Mayor Pro T.

It was quiet, but she did it.

So quiet, it's like can I ask the clerk to repeat the motion, please?

That's on the floor.

The motion.

Yep.

The motion is to uphold the estimated fee associated with Catherine Ellison's FOIA request.

Any discussion.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Did I get a nay?

Raw call vote.

Councilmember Young.

All right.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia?

Yes.

Councilmember Ostache.

Yes.

Councilmember Braddock.

Yes.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Yes.

Councilmember Hammond?

Nay.

And Mayor Moore.

Yes.

You have eight yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

Her second item under miscellaneous business is consideration of a FOIA appeal filed by Jamar Barnes.

I need a motion.

I move to uphold the estimated fee associated with Jamar Barnes' order request.

I need a second.

Second.

Did I hear second?

Second.

So quiet down.

Councilwoman Wiggins.

Discussion.

All those in favor signify by saying aye, please.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Madam Clerk.

You're still under miscellaneous business.

We're still in miscellaneous business, Councilman Boss.

You wanted to make a recommendation.

Yes, I do.

That we uh uh go along with the uh recommendation for the uh um students to be a part of our uh council that the uh manager was talking about earlier.

We should not be shouldn't have a CSINO youth council with cooperation from this diagonal school district and city county school the Amazon committee.

I propose we ask council direct the city personnel, city clerk, city attorney, and city county school liaison to move forward with the creation um of the cities of Savonar Youth Council.

Good notes.

So the motion is made.

We're gonna reverse it by councilwoman.

You can tell she's an educator.

She's always writing.

Um I need a second.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

Any discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Miscellaneous business.

I need a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Those opposed