OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Saginaw City Council Meeting Summary - November 4, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 4, 2025
BodySaginaw, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:40:27

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

We'll start off tonight with prayer and plague.

0:13

I'll need the prayer and the pledge.

0:15

For those who would like to participate, please do so.

0:19

Most gracious Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking you to give us clarity and understanding of the decisions that we have to make.

0:26

Father, we asked that we be mindful to work for the betterment of the citizens of this city.

0:34

Watch over all of our employees and all of our citizens.

0:37

These things we asked in the mighty name of Jesus, and they all said amen.

0:41

Amen.

0:43

Congratulations to the God of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:50

One nation under God into this rule liberty justice.

1:06

Well called Madam Clerk.

1:08

Councilmember Young.

1:09

President.

1:10

Councilmember Seals.

1:11

President.

1:12

Councilmember Balls.

1:13

President.

1:14

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

1:15

President Councilmember Ostach.

1:17

President.

1:18

Councilmember Braddock.

1:19

Present.

1:20

Councilmember Wiggins.

1:21

President.

1:21

Councilmember Hammond.

1:23

Present.

1:23

And Mayor Moore.

1:24

President.

1:25

You have all members present.

1:28

I'd like to welcome everyone to our city council meeting.

1:32

This is a meeting that is being recorded.

1:35

We ask that everyone please abstain from booing them any obnoxious behavior.

1:41

The housekeeping.

1:43

Council members, can you please put your phones on silence as well as your computers?

1:48

Audience, I asked that you do the same thing so that we don't interrupt when others are talking.

1:54

Once again, this is a meeting that is being aired on TV, and we ask that each of us respect one another.

2:03

Madam Clerk, do we have any announcements?

2:05

Yes, Mayor, we have a couple.

2:07

The city's convenience station is open this Saturday, November 8th from 8 a.m.

2:12

until noon.

2:13

Residents may utilize the station to drop off miscellaneous or bulky items for disposal.

2:18

City offices will be closed Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

2:24

That takes us to public input.

2:27

Okay.

2:32

Madam Clerk.

2:34

Would you like to read the rules?

2:36

Oh, I'm sorry.

2:39

Presenters who are presenting with us tonight, we ask that you come to the podium when you're called, and there's your call, please.

2:46

You have three minutes to do your you have three minutes to discuss what you need to discuss.

2:52

This is not a question or answer period.

2:55

And when you come up, can I ask everybody to talk louder?

2:59

These mics are on, but they're not projecting out there.

3:03

So can I ask everybody to speak a little louder, especially from the podium?

3:08

Madam Clerk.

3:09

Our first speaker is Melanie Velasco.

3:20

Good morning or good afternoon.

3:22

Oh evening.

3:27

You know my name is Melanie Velasco.

3:30

Um my original complaint that I had was uh these uh cable boxes, but I guess that's ATT's issue and to worry about uh where also trees are hanging over lights where um you know the weather is gonna get bad and you gotta have see the road.

3:49

Um so because they don't have all my pictures, my next is we got drug addicts running around and we need this like mailboxes and like paper boxes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████20%
Public Safety███████████████████19%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Health████████8%
Economic Development█████5%
Youth Programs█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Saginaw City Council Meeting Summary - November 4, 2025

On November 4, 2025, the Saginaw City Council convened to discuss public safety, community welfare initiatives, utility concerns during the federal government shutdown, and the accreditation of the Police Department. The meeting featured significant public testimony regarding the city's response to the SNAP benefit suspension and the operational status of the "Saginaw Just Transition in DABA" project, alongside council member reports on recent community events.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the purchase of a 2026 Ford Maverick for the Water and Wastewater Treatment Services Department for $32,689.
  • Appointment of new members to the Human Rights Commission.
  • Introduction of Ordinance 0-204 to amend city codes regarding property maintenance on non-owner-occupied and unoccupied properties.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Melanie Velasco (Resident/CNA): Expressed strong support for immediate action against public drug use and alcohol abuse. She argued that the current situation is killing the "future generation" and urged the deployment of undercover officers to raid a specific nuisance location behind the Premier. She stated full support for living citizens over "zombies" and emphasized the need to stop the distribution of drugs and alcohol.
  • Joyce Seals (Saginaw County Prevention Coalition): Expressed support for capping the number of liquor stores and distribution centers. She stated that having 29 special designated distributors exceeds the recommended limit of 15. She argued for a complete halt on new licenses and transfers of liquor stores into the city to ensure the community remains conducive to growth and the upcoming "Medical Diamond" development.
  • Hurley Coleman (Saginaw CAC): Expressed deep gratitude for the successful implementation of ARPA and Just Transition funding. He stated that the work has improved food storage and transportation without city funding for the specific project, highlighting the success of past collaborations.
  • Dr. Pamela Pugh (Saginaw Just Transition in DABA): Expressed support for the reality of their delivered services. She argued against the mischaracterization of their project as failing or purely administrative, stating that the project delivered direct services without receiving a single dollar from the city. She opposed any reclamation of funds without acknowledgment of the work completed.
  • Roy Stevens (Dreams Incorporated): Expressed full support for the educational impact of the Just Transition in DABA project. He detailed the tangible outcomes for youth regarding soil science and food systems.

Discussion Items

  • Police Department Accreditation: The council heard from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police regarding the Saginaw Police Department achieving accreditation. Chief Ruth expressed a position that this is a significant step forward for change and emphasized the need for continuous support from officers and citizens to maintain this standard of excellence.
  • Utility Services & SNAP Benefits: Council members discussed the impact of the federal government shutdown which has resulted in a 50% suspension of SNAP benefits. Councilman Hammond expressed concern regarding the vulnerability of the population and the unpredictability of funding reinstatement. Councilwoman Wiggins emphasized the need for the city to be more connected with DHS processes to refer residents to utility assistance programs.
  • Water Tower Operations: The City Manager provided an update on the water tower project, noting that filling is scheduled for December. Councilmember Balls inquired about water circulation to ensure freshness, receiving confirmation that pumps will be manipulated to ensure the water level drops at least once daily.
  • Nuisance Gatherings: The City Attorney discussed a potential ordinance to address "nuisance gatherings" (moving parties). Councilmember Young expressed opposition to creating new ordinances without sufficient manpower to enforce them. Councilman Braddock requested to view the draft ordinance to understand potential penalties and support.
  • Late Fee Waiver Motion: Councilmember Young moved to waive all late penalties on water and sewer bills for the duration of the SNAP suspension and one additional cycle. Councilwoman Wiggins opposed the motion as framed by the city, arguing against using SNAP as the sole justification for a waiver that might not cover future scenarios.

Key Outcomes

  • Adoption of Waiver Motion: The Council voted Aye to approve a temporary waiver of all late penalties on water and sewer utility bills. The waiver will cover the period of SNAP suspension and one additional billing cycle following reinstatement, to be administered by the City Manager.
  • Nuisance Gathering Ordinance: No final decision was reached; the City Attorney agreed to distribute the draft ordinance to council members for review before potential introduction.
  • Commission Appointments: The motions to appoint members to the Human Rights Commission were approved.
  • Water Tower Status: Confirmed that the water tower will be filled in the second week of December, with full operational status expected by next spring pending site restoration and pipe connections.

Meeting Transcript

We'll start off tonight with prayer and plague. I'll need the prayer and the pledge. For those who would like to participate, please do so. Most gracious Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking you to give us clarity and understanding of the decisions that we have to make. Father, we asked that we be mindful to work for the betterment of the citizens of this city. Watch over all of our employees and all of our citizens. These things we asked in the mighty name of Jesus, and they all said amen. Amen. Congratulations to the God of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God into this rule liberty justice. Well called Madam Clerk. Councilmember Young. President. Councilmember Seals. President. Councilmember Balls. President. Mayor Pro Tem Garcia. President Councilmember Ostach. President. Councilmember Braddock. Present. Councilmember Wiggins. President. Councilmember Hammond. Present. And Mayor Moore. President. You have all members present. I'd like to welcome everyone to our city council meeting. This is a meeting that is being recorded. We ask that everyone please abstain from booing them any obnoxious behavior. The housekeeping. Council members, can you please put your phones on silence as well as your computers? Audience, I asked that you do the same thing so that we don't interrupt when others are talking. Once again, this is a meeting that is being aired on TV, and we ask that each of us respect one another. Madam Clerk, do we have any announcements? Yes, Mayor, we have a couple. The city's convenience station is open this Saturday, November 8th from 8 a.m. until noon. Residents may utilize the station to drop off miscellaneous or bulky items for disposal. City offices will be closed Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. That takes us to public input. Okay. Madam Clerk. Would you like to read the rules? Oh, I'm sorry. Presenters who are presenting with us tonight, we ask that you come to the podium when you're called, and there's your call, please. You have three minutes to do your you have three minutes to discuss what you need to discuss. This is not a question or answer period.

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