Good evening.

We'll start off tonight with prayer and pledge.

We will have prayer led by Mayor Pro Tim Garcia, and the pledge will be led by councilman.

Yeah.

If you'd like to participate, please bow your head.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this beautiful day.

Um, talk router, sorry.

Thank you, uh Jesus, for this beautiful day, and um be with us and guide us in leadership as we make decisions for the city that are not always easy.

Also be with those that are traveling near and far for the holiday coming up, Lord bless our city and our staff, and thank you for everything.

Amen.

Amen.

One nation indivisible.

You just had a bet on your life.

Councilwami Seals.

Madam Clark, welcome, please.

Councilmember Young.

Councilman Young.

Present.

Councilmember Seals.

Present.

Councilmember Balls.

Present.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Presenta.

Councilmember Astah.

Present.

Councilmember Bredock is absent.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Present.

And Councilmember Hammond is absent.

You have Mayor.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry at the same time.

That's okay.

I can be left out.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Yep.

And Mayor Moore.

Present.

All right.

You have seven presidents.

It would be good if I was here.

So I wouldn't have confused you.

Okay.

Do we have any announcements?

Yes, we have a few.

City offices will be closed Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Trash recycling and yard waste collection will be delayed for some residents the week of Thanksgiving.

Those that are normally collected on Thursday will move to Friday, and those that are normally collected on Friday will move to Saturday.

The last week for yard waste pickup is the first full week of December, ending on December 5th.

As a reminder, leaves may not be raked into the street and should be placed in paper yard waste bags for marked bins for curb collection.

The public works building at 1435 South Washington is a drop-off location for recycling old holiday lights, and the collection will run through January 15th.

And that takes us to public input.

You know what?

I skipped over one thing.

First of all, I'd like to welcome everybody here tonight.

I know it's the holiday weekend.

I'm getting ready to come up, and you could have been anywhere but here, but you chose to come.

A little housekeeping.

Council people, please silence your phones.

And I'm guilty too, so I gotta silence mine.

Okay.

Your computers, please silence them.

Audience, we ask that you silence your phone as well so that we don't interrupt an individual when they're speaking.

Um booing, no clapping, no obnoxious behavior.

I ask that we all maintain respect for one another.

Madam Clerk, now we are ready for public input.

I'm so sorry.

Okay, and then if you'd like to read the rules for that.

Right.

The purpose of the public uh public input.

You'll be called to the podium.

You have three minutes to speak.

Please get everything you in within that three minutes.

If it goes beyond that, I'm just gonna go speed it up a little bit.

But I ask that there's no booing, no clapping, and please stay within the three minutes.

Madam Clerk.

Our first speaker is Christina Braun.

Ms.

Christina here.

On to Miguel Torres.

It's code.

Melanie Velasco.

No, see, Melanie.

Dr.

Lochbeer Kawa.

She gave us good evening, everyone.

Um, my name is Dr.

Lakir Carr.

I'm currently working at McLaren Bajan Hospital in Bay City.

Uh so today I'm here with my friend uh Raj and uh Surinder.

We are from Master G community.

So uh first I would like to give you a brief introduction.

Uh who's Master G.

Master G is a motivational life coach.

Who's giving lectures on happiness and various other topics?

Like we are presenting Master G's messages, spreading his messages for last two years almost in United States and all over the globe with his messages.

I personally, like I'm a physician, and my friends were going through a lot of issues in their lives.

Like we all do, I believe that we are going through anxiety, depression, overthinking, relationship issues, you name it.

We all have gone through at some point of our lives.

So only with the listening, a master G's lectures, our lives has been changed.

And me and my friends, we decided to come out in our community and spread this message of happiness.

So we have conducted many programs actually in the in our community.

We put the booths, we have spoken in the schools, colleges, universities.

I myself giving lectures in my hospital, which they are keep keep me inviting again and again because you know, all of us with a lot of longer working hours.

We have burnout and so many other issues also going through.

So I'm talking giving lectures uh at my hospital also, so those are really helping everyone.

So we wanted to bring this uh this uh I would say precious gift to our community also so that uh we can uh if you guys can allow us, we can spread this message of happiness.

We can uh come do a small presentations as I mentioned, we are doing a lot, so uh we can also come up and do this presentation to our community.

So um only with the listening, the anxiety, depression, um, overthinking has been resolved.

So that's why we are out here to just um request you all to give us a chance so that we can make our community as a happy place to live.

So because we believe that uh, like I personally being a physician believe that uh happiness is contagious.

So as much as they spread, it's gonna be a spread like multiple folds.

And uh and we all being uh human beings, we deserve to be happy.

A last person on this earth deserve to be happy.

That's what the Master G's believe is also.

That's why he took mission of 800 billion to come out in the public and spread this message of happiness.

So thank you so much, everyone, for listening to me today.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Rajander Kaur.

Um everyone, my name is Raj.

Um, she said everything that needed to be said.

Just one thing she forgot that we do free service, few free community lectures to anybody who needs it.

The uh anybody who needs will go and do the lecture for free.

And nobody's paying it's all voluntarily based, nobody's paying us anything.

From our own pocket, we spend money to travel, make copies, do whatever we need to do.

It's all free.

And we really would like to do it for anybody who needs it in the community.

I just we need to need your guidance to do it.

Or just guide us who can how where we can do and go and do it.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi everyone.

My name is Surrender.

I'm living in Bay City.

Um I listened to those lectures, I think near about four or three three or four years.

Um start, I listen to those lectures.

This I feel uh stress in my mind, and I have a health issues.

That's why we my friend give to me uh listen those lectures, and uh then I've startled.

I not believe her.

Only listening is in our power cover me or my health issues.

But uh, when uh uh day by day I feel depression and I'm not uh concentrated in my family or the work areas, but when I um understand her, I listen uh small times in the night times or daytime, but not properly listen.

Day by day, day by time change, then I listen properly, then I feel big change in my life.

Uh then I feel I spread the message in my family and my um neighbor.

Uh I think they works also same, like thinking about me.

Then uh I met with uh the master G two or three times.

Uh it's a big difference.

My life and my neighbor lives.

So that's why we um uh we feel only listening power is uh more strength with the beliefs.

Yeah, but uh that's the way I connect with my sisters and my connect with my neighbors.

Uh uh not not work only uh uh kids or not only in the adult age uh adults, it's all over votes that uh health issues, anxiety, uh any choice, any issue and the society issues, any type of issues, cover those lectures.

That's why we want to uh really insist everyone, please listen uh those lecture and uh take that time to yeah uh need everyone too happy.

Yeah, that's that mean uh spread the message.

So that's the main purpose of be here.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you, City Council.

Yes, my name's Melanie Velasco.

I misplaced my glasses once again.

And I thank you for allowing me to jump into the I'm running late.

Looking for my glasses.

Okay.

Anyway, uh, you had pictures of things that I was very highly concerned about.

So I misplaced them.

I don't know, there's a lot of things in my butt anyway.

I have a new issue that's very highly important.

We're gonna have Christmas uh get togethers going all around the city.

We're gonna have the Christmas cookie.

Um, you know, that um contest and all that, kids are gonna be wandering.

My suggestion is maybe the parents could come up with like a big t-shirt with some kind of glow in the dark symbol of their their nickname, so that if their kids are like wandering and off and from a distance, oh that's my kid.

Oh no, that's my kid.

You know, by the signal signal on their t-shirt, it's a very good idea.

I'm thinking because uh we don't want our kids coming up missing.

And the other suggestion is that um I think uh during this also time um I'm highly concerned for um people that are walking at night or even kids coming back from whatever the function is, that uh maybe the city can come up with some kind of sign, and you're you're you can do some kind of a verification on these people that as a sign of a safe home, that if somebody's in danger or they have car trouble and their phone don't work and they're on the side of the road outside their house, that there's the sign in the window or on their door says we are a safe home, and we will call the police for you.

Um I do a lot of walking.

Um at 64 years old, I still can walk 10 miles, maybe 20, and I'm in good health and I like walk sometimes day and night.

Um now I'm gonna start carrying mace and other things, but let's not talk about that.

Anyway, what I want to say is I believe that houses we know are legit.

I often sit at um a past uh city council members' home.

I sit on her porch sometimes.

I know she's a safe home.

Um I sit at another place that I think of like a church.

It looked like a church, so I often sit there and sometimes I pray.

Um because I pray a lot.

Nobody would think that I do, but I do.

It's inside anyway.

Um those are my highly concerned.

And again, like these lights, these lights out here, they're um not being able to see the streets and in the branches are all over the streets.

Um I'm glad my van is moved from the street because there was a lot of branches around where my van was parked.

Now it's in a safe place, but I did get a ticket because I parked there too long.

But anyway, I understand the law.

Uh you know what?

Those are the first two tickets I ever had that I can recall.

Parking violations.

And uh, I don't think I ever maybe I have one other business years ago.

I don't get tickets and um I can even drive a really big bus.

I owned a bus, so I maybe one day might be a bus driver, you know.

Um, I don't know if I'll pass all the vacations, but I'm excellent driver, and I don't want any kids hurt during this holiday time.

It's love your children, love your family.

God bless America.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It takes us to remarks of counsel.

We will begin tonight with councilman balls.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I don't have a lot of comments to uh say today, but I do like to share uh some of the things I did this weekend.

Uh the help group had the opportunity to spend some time with the uh with the children and their parents.

And we have it to have uh Terrence Robeson, uh member of the uh Saginol Sports Hall of Fame, who played uh play basketball at the uh Nevada Las Vegas, and he uh even went to play overseas.

And when he came back overseas, he got the opportunity to be a professional basketball player for two years for Orlando Magic.

But uh before he done that, he uh has some trials and tribulation in his life.

Uh unfortunately, his mother passed away when he's only 11 years old.

Uh she happened to be my classmate.

And his dad went to school with me too.

He was all classmates, and uh Terrence ended up uh getting involved in alcohol and drugs and stuff like that, but he did rebound and got his life back together.

But to see him share his story with the youth of our help group, I think done something for them uh because now the kids know that there may be trials and tribulation as you're growing up, but it's always a way to get out if you have somebody that's looking out for you.

Um I see uh Mr.

Tanny is here from the Sports Hall of Flame, and I had the opportunity after uh Terrence spoke to us.

I uh went back and look in our archives when he Terrence came and accepted as an award uh from the Saginaw Sports Hall of Fame.

He was extremely happy, you know, and he shared this uh similar story with them about what happened to him in his life.

But uh the kids really got something out of it.

One of the parents uh came to the program, she shared that she thinks she got more out of the program than the kids got.

You know, so whenever we share our experiences, our strength, you know, with other people, they have the tendency to make them stronger about their day and make them feel better about some of the trials and tribulations that they normally go through.

So uh I'm just gonna continue to do what we do here in the city of Saginaw and try to help out as much as I can.

Um Amos O'Neill uh had the opportunity.

I took him on a tour of the uh new uh gateway tube recovery treatment center.

That's on the corner of uh Michigan and Holland, your old mansion there.

Uh the Mitches Bredock has turned that facility into a magnificent place for our community.

If anybody has any alcoholic drugs issues, they can come there and get counseling.

Um they feed them meals and they got group sessions and all that type of stuff like that to help those people come back and be productive members of society.

And uh having Mr.

O'Neal there, he was really impressed with the facility, you know, knowing that it's gonna be a gym here in the city of Saginaw to help our uh people out who have alcohol and drugs problems, especially considering what's going on in a in America today with different issues and stuff like that.

So yeah, I didn't get to meet you.

So uh I just wanted to share those what happened to me this weekend and the uh treatment center that's coming up here in the city of Saginaw.

Thank you.

It must be a virus today.

Yeah, council in our stage.

Thanks, Mayor.

Uh, welcome everybody once again to uh our city council meeting here at the Anderson Center.

Um Public Speakers, I just want to thank you for coming out tonight and sharing your information.

Um this is pretty interesting.

There's a lot of different categories that he spoke in hospitals, education, and uh I see you do have a YouTube channel, so I will definitely check you out.

So thanks for coming out and sharing that information with us.

Um other than that, just really a few announcements.

Um, first, my condolences to the family of Saginaw, a public school board member Maddie Thompson.

Also was a friend of mine.

Um dearly.

She was uh anybody that knows Maddie knows exactly what I'm talking about.

She was uh very much of a spitfire and um just a wonderful person to be around.

Um next, speaking of uh kids, uh Councilman Balls uh was just talking about things that he does, but there was a an award ceremony that they do every year for the Boys and Girls Club.

I was able to attend last week.

And it's a night to remember, and it's all about the kids and what the kids accomplish.

And they sit at the table with you and they tell stories about what they do and what the boys and girls club meant to them.

Um we, however, did not have one at the table, but I was an ex-boys and girls club member, so they nominated me to be that person at the table.

Uh, but anyways, it's a great event.

I want to thank um Herb Spence and uh Pete Shaheen for the chair and co-chair for helping put this on.

And also what happened at this event was truly special.

I thank you to ATT, all 75 children in the audience that night left with a free brand new laptop.

So it was really a nice event.

Um announcements, uh, Great Lakes Bay Pride is having their holiday social.

That is going to be at December 12th at the Saginaw at Saginaw Club.

Uh heavy appetizers and a DJ.

So that'll be from 6 to 9 p.m.

And then from 7 till 9 p.m.

There'll be a DJ on the third floor.

And also since the last time we were here, there were some comments about you know what does the city of Saginaw have available for assistance.

Uh, if you do go to our Facebook page, uh there was something that we put out, it was all sent to all the council members, but it was a list of different agencies that we do kind of offer up in their phone numbers for anybody that's looking for stuff to like Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, United Way Salvation Salvation Army, and such.

So that was put out there, or just give our officers a call at the clerk's office, and we can help you.

Thanks.

That's it.

Thank you.

Next, we have Council Woman Wiggins.

Thank you, Mayor Moore.

I'd like to echo the appreciation for all of our speakers tonight.

It's very good information, and I'm looking forward to looking more into it.

And I just appreciate your your comments as well.

What I got to participate in our citywide, Saginaw Citywide Food Collective, uh meal distribution or food distribution that was held at New Life.

And it was it was amazing.

It was a bunch of uh volunteers and last minute donations for food to distribute to members of our community.

It was like a drive-thru.

Um we had members of the help group, helped team members there.

We had loyalty there, team loyalty there, and it was just a beautiful time of a lot of different groups coming together to meet immediate needs of the people of Saginaw.

Um it was beautiful to see.

Um that was at New Life.

I believe the next one we're going to do a different another one uh the first week of December that's going to be held at Mount Olive on 6th Street in Saginaw.

So still collecting, um, still collecting non-perishables and giving giving those away on uh the first week of December.

Um that being said, I did I did uh talk to uh Mr.

or uh Terry Reed and Phil Ike.

They're doing uh like an all-day talk-a-thon uh, I think it's the Saturday near the riverfront, and they're gonna be taking donations for people to come by and and drop off um non-parish perishables there, and there's also going to be opportunities to give uh monetary donations, uh, just again meeting the immediate need, especially around the holidays uh for people that don't have so it's just going to be um another opportunity to give.

Um but yeah, basically that's all I have today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have council men.

Yeah.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Um, I would like to start with thank thank you, uh speakers for the uh information that you brought.

That was good information.

And uh I'd also like to thank the staff this evening.

Uh there are some things that I wanted to address as far as the housing and uh uh different things that will foster the development of the community, and uh they were able to take that information and kind of guide me and um put together some ordinances that can address those issues.

So I wanted to personally thank the staff for you know guiding me through that.

Um I'd also like to thank um Vicky for uh continuously giving me the uh scheduling me appointments to the uh city staff and different um buildings to you know make me better as a council person because some of the things that we have to vote on comes from actually you know seeing those facilities, talking to the department heads make you better as a council person.

So I wanted to thank Vicky for scheduling everything for me.

And from that, I was able to do a tour with the police department, and that was some very good information, very informative.

You could see the issues that they're facing and uh things that they may need to help protect our community and uh got some information from the MMR when I toured that uh facility um last week.

I was you know under the understanding that uh they just serviced our area, so I would think the MLMs would be dispatched maybe around Saginaw and maybe Bay City or the surrounding area.

That organization they dispatched throughout the state, and I didn't know that they were a central hub, so they're dispatching everywhere, and some people might not know that, but that's a very efficient facility and doing that tour through there and seeing what they deal with every day.

That was uh very informative as well.

So that's all I have for this evening, and uh thanks again, everyone.

Thank you.

Next we have councilwoman fields.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Trying to speak up.

I lost my voice.

Um it's good to see everyone from the community today.

Um Dr.

Balesco and AL.

It's uh it was good to hear your program that you have.

Um I do challenge you to reach out to Saginaw County Health Department because they're doing something very similar to what you're doing.

Uh Dr.

Pruitt is has been doing something very similar to what you're doing.

And um I would love to see you working with her and uh with the Saginaw County Health Department, and she's been doing something very similar for the last couple of years.

So you two working together with Bay and Saginaw County would be very powerful with Bay and Saginaw County working together.

So I can see you guys working together and doing some great things out of both counties.

So that'll benefit not only Saginaw residents but Saginaw County residents, but also Bay County residents too.

So thank you for coming here and letting us know what you guys are doing.

Great things in Bay County and bringing that to us.

And so that just will lift our residents up here too.

So thank you for bringing that.

Yeah.

So the the holidays are coming up, so I just would like for Saginaw residents to be mindful that this is the season of Thanksgiving.

And please, um, not only for us to be thankful for the things that we have, if we are blessed to have things, but if you are blessed to have certain things, please look around your lives, and don't be afraid to give this season.

Um God has blessed some of us with a lot of things.

So don't be afraid to give to your neighbors, to your family and your friends.

Um, a lot of people don't have, so please you have things that you can give if it's food, if it's clothing, if it's time.

Please in this season, especially in 2025.

Please be a giving person, have a giving heart this season.

It is time for us to stop being so about us and now being about our neighbors.

Okay, please.

It is time for us to give.

This is the seven season of Thanksgiving.

It's a season of giving.

So I just want to put that out there in the airways.

And I know it sounds a little raspy, but it's probably needs to sound like that right now.

But please, this is the season of giving, and you guys have a blessed rest of your day.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Thank you.

A little rest.

I got it out.

Good evening, concerned citizens of the community.

I'm sorry.

Oh, sorry, go ahead.

Oh my god.

I forgot.

I forgot.

She got a whole lot to say too.

Yeah.

Mayor Pro Chip got seen.

She just I forgot.

I wanted to be clear here.

Oh, look at my time's going okay.

I gotta get going.

Good evening, concerned citizens of the community.

Thank you for our speakers and for this great information.

Um, it is important that we have these resources in the community.

I just had a classmate um last Friday that uh committed suicide and uh 41 years old, and you know that's not always the answer, but sometimes we don't know who to turn to, you know, and times and especially during the holidays.

We need these resources.

Um, I would have never imagined that, so please keep his um family in your prayers.

It was really hard to hear that news.

Um, and I I was with the family, so um just be mindful.

There's always 988 um for suicide lines, but try to reach out to your church or somebody close.

Sometimes even talking to somebody that's not related to you, it's always sometimes helpful.

I know I had had counseling before um going through divorce, and it's not always easy talking to somebody you know because you feel like they're gonna judge you.

But if you have somebody that you can talk to that maybe is not related, sometimes is more helpful, and I know it helped me personally.

Um, so just wanted to say thank you for those resources, and I will be looking into it.

I don't know how long you guys hold the classes or what, but I would like to talk to you about that.

Um, especially because I have a lot of seniors that are lonely and they don't have nobody, so this might be something that we could do with some of our senior centers here in the city.

Um, so I'd be happy to talk with you ladies about this.

Um our holiday light up the cities this Friday here at the Anderson.

So come on out and see all the great things that are gonna be going on Friday and Saturday, support small businesses.

Um Saturday we'll be in the parade, so pray for us for good weather because it's usually cold.

But I know this past Saturday was good, so I take that weather again, but um, so look for us.

We'll be on there, but most of the council members will be attending.

Um, last week I had the um honor and privilege to volunteer for the mustard seeds 30th anniversary on Thursday.

It was a great sold-out event, had a great time um volunteering and um they had a live auction, and three out of the five items sold in my area, so that was pretty cool.

Um, I got to see how that worked a live auction.

And then also I was at a new beginnings church.

Um, they had a hundred turkey giveaway, and I was able to go volunteer and talk to the church.

When I didn't expect to talk, I just wanted to go and support, and they've been doing it for the last 10 years.

I was able to get down there and it was really nice.

Had a lot of people, um, like I said, it was great to give back to your community.

I will be at the East Side Soup Kitchen on Thanksgiving if anybody's looking for home cooked meal from 11 to about one o'clock.

They um serve.

And um, it'll be nice if you don't know anybody that needs somewhere to go eat.

There's an opportunity.

Thank you.

Did you get all your two?

I tried.

I used a day stop or so.

I just did want to say one more thing that was important.

This is a new organization.

It's called um, and they're on Davenport here in the city.

Families and children together.

And if you need to do laundry, um, if you look them up on Facebook, um, usually once a month or twice, they have a free day where you can get laundry done.

Um, so if like people are having a hard time with their washer and dryer, they can do three loads of laundry per household.

They offer free laundry supplies, and um, if you go on their Facebook page, they do it about once a month, and they're even having a family movie night, November 19th, um, 5:30 to 7.30.

It's a new thing.

They've been doing resource libraries on Monday.

Um, so just look it up.

It's a really great opportunity for those of you know who need uh assistant with laundry and stuff because it can be costly running those water bills.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you.

Okay, it's my time.

Um the last two weeks have been really, really busy on right and well Wednesday.

It started off Thursday.

I was with the Optimist Club with the young achievers of SAG and our county.

And then after that, I left and went to Bay City because I now stand as the chairperson for all of the mayors throughout the state of Michigan.

Wow.

Um I literally had a group of people in Bay City.

I'm I I'm trying to get a Miss Agina on.

If I'm a representative, I want to represent in my own city.

But one of the things that really stuck out to me was people that came to this meeting on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with me.

They didn't know much about Saginaw.

So you know me.

I went to bragging with the bragging about all of the stuff that we got, all of the stuff that we're doing.

And so I hope to have some of them here on Friday for light of the city.

Um I wanted I if I could have planned it outright, I would have had some of them on the slope so that they could have been in the cold weather like us.

I will be into soup kitchen again.

It is a tradition for me right now to go and serve.

Um it is so true.

Well, my council people said this is the season for giving.

Not taking.

This is the season that we've all worked all year to get to to be thankful.

If you've got your parents, you should be thankful.

If you've got your children, you should be thankful.

We need to begin to be thankful about the little things.

The little things add up to big things.

Um I get totally excited because on Friday night I don't stand in the cold, y'all.

I'll do the code.

I'll do the code.

Not two days in a row.

But I get an opportunity to come in this establishment and watch the kids come through and look at all of the different gingerbread houses.

That's fascinating.

That is so fascinating.

I want it to snow.

So I need all of y'all to send a special prayer up that Saturday.

The weather.

Don't do us like it do us every year.

We do good until we get right in front of this building by the runway.

Then it begins to snow.

So we are on the back of a flatbed, doing 45 and everybody's freezing.

So say a special prayer for us.

Please.

There are a lot of people also who are doing food or meals during the holiday season.

Remember that we're still dealing with the snap.

Madam Clerk.

Yeah, that takes us to reports from the manager.

Yes, Mr.

Manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

So the first item I have is uh the government finance officers association has uh notified us that the city has received the Distinguished Buzz Budget Presentation Award for our fiscal year 2026 budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by the city and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting.

To receive the budget award, the city had to satisfy it nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation design to access how well an entity's budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

Budget documents must be rated proficient in all four categories and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

This is the 18th consecutive year that the city has received the this award and congratulations to Yolanda Bland and the Office of Management and Budget Team.

I think that's probably started with the second budget you worked on for the city Yolanda.

So it's a pretty good record.

That's awesome.

And uh the Hoyt Park Memorial Cup legacy project dedication is going to be held this Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

at Hoyt Park in the new upper level pavilion.

When the Saginaw Spirit were bidding on the 2024 CHL Memorial Cup, Hoyt Park was chosen as one of six official Memorial Cup legacy projects, highlighting its role in enhancing community development and improving quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Please join the Friends of Hoy Park and the Saginaw Spirit as they showcase the upgrades made at Hope Hoit Park and recognize the community members who helped secure the Memorial Cup bid and bring the legacy project to life.

Because the Memorial Cup bid was awarded to the Saginaw Spirit.

Over 1.6 million dollars in improvements have transformed Hoyt Park, including a new upper level pavilion with metal roof, electricity, water, fireplace, handicapped accessible sidewalk, 14 picnic tables, including accessible options, aluminum bleachers with shape tops at all six diamonds, accessible sidewalks, the diamonds four or five, bleachers and lower pavilion, and a new sixth ball diamond with dugouts.

And refurbishment of the existing five ball diamonds, and conversion of diamond lighting to energy efficient LED fixtures and a new electronic sign on Washington.

So some pretty significant enhancements to the park.

The U.S.

Department of Transportation awarded the city of Saginaw with a safe streets and roads for all grant.

The city has been developing a comprehensive review of all roads to create a safety action plan to help prevent roadway facilities or fatalities and serious injuries.

Visit our project website for more information and recent updates, including a summary of public survey, summary of mapped priority locations, focus group presentations, and vision and goals for the plan based on public feedback.

And that's at hub.safe streets for Saginaw dot com.

And finally, the City of Saginaw would like residents to provide their feedback as we develop the city's housing and economic development strategy.

The Saginaw Neighborhood Housing and Economic Development Survey is now available on our website for citizen input.

The information we receive from our residents will help capture important information on the city's existing economic conditions and housing market, and the survey will be available on the city's website through Friday, December 12th.

And this is being funded through the Michigan Municipal League through the My Home Project, which supports investment to accelerate housing construction rehabilitation while also promoting updates to local regulations, activities, and housing readiness.

So thanks to the MML for that.

If you haven't looked at their project, the My Home Project is a really great initiative, so you can check that out on their website too.

And those are all the items I have this evening, Madam Mayor.

Do we have any questions for city managing?

I have a comment.

The Marie Davis Senior Center this Wednesday at 1.30 at 233 Rose of Avenue.

And I used to go to that senior site a long time ago, but I'm glad to see that they're reopening it downtown here in the city of Saginaw for our seniors to um people to go to because I would go and they would be playing cards.

And I just enjoy talking to the seniors because they have so much wisdom.

So I'm just wanted to bring their attention to that.

This one is 8130.

That's it.

Any questions for city management?

I'd like to congratulate our city manager.

He is now a trustee of Michigan Municipal League.

Any questions for city manager?

Okay, Mr.

Manager.

Madam Clerk.

On to the consent agenda.

Okay.

It's my turn.

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

I need a motion to approve the consider gender leaving room for exceptions.

It's been it's been first and second.

Do we have any exceptions?

Hearing no exceptions.

All those in favor signify by saying I.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Do we have anyone who went to any city meeting in the last two weeks that would like to report out Madam Clerk?

On to appointment of board, commission, and committee members.

I need a motion to approve one and two, meeting rule for exceptions.

Second.

Do we have any exceptions?

All those in favor signify saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On to ordinance adoption, we have one on the agenda.

It's to amend chapter 151 property maintenance regulations of Title 15 land usage by amending section 151.112, non-owner occupied property, prohibited conduct, section 151.113, non-owner occupied property registry, section 151.114, unoccupied property registry, and section 151.117 fees of the City of Saginaw Code of Ordinances 0-204.

I need a motion to adopt.

So move.

Second.

Any questions?

For the vote, all those in favor signify by saying I.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

This is a one is it will be laid over under our charter application.

No, Mayor, this is the adoption.

So this is the final one.

So it's not they don't.

Oh, that line is still on your your agenda.

That's what it is.

How did you have a script?

Okay, and I'm actually following my mistake.

This time it was not me.

I'm looking at my right here.

Okay.

Well, you know, but it's always good to laugh.

Laughter is good for the soul.

Okay, so we are at Madame Clerk.

Miscellaneous business.

Do we have any motions or anything that we think that we need to deal with?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Um, I like to uh make a motion to request that city staff and any interested members of council uh meet with the movement strategy center uh for the endow situation that's going on just for due diligence to sit down, get into one room, talk, figure this out, um, because I I need more information.

So that's the motion.

Support that it been moved and supporting any discussion.

I just had a question.

I thought we had gave it time last time, and that we were gonna make a decision soon because that there was a deadline that we had to have it done by.

Is that correct?

That's part of this, yes, to get the information so we can finalize this.

But like when is the deadline because I know they've met that's what I'm trying to figure out.

Well, I mean, the the deadline for spending the funds is next, the end of next year.

They have to be expended.

I guess the the questions I have is the city staff and our consultants have communicated everything that needs to be done to the uh Saigon Just Transitions in Dollar.

So they had have had that information for a long time and have not done any of the requested work.

I guess that's that's my issue.

I mean, I haven't been in those meetings.

Um, and I and I'm trying trusting the information that's being provided by the city, but I think it's uh just due diligence for transparency for us to make an informed decision.

I just think if if that's possible, I would like that done.

Well, I mean, just for a point, we you know, to have counsel involved in those meetings could have issues as far as the open meetings act and having a quorum.

So we did have meetings set up with council members to attend with our consultant and with staff.

So you know our concern, our goal all along is to ensure that all of the rules are followed because as several of you know, we've already had an in one grantee where we have had funds that were not accounted for.

So we don't want that to happen again because ultimately the city can be could potentially be on the hook for those if they're not spent correctly.

Right.

And that's and and absolutely agree with with with that.

I did attend meetings with uh with guide house and city staff.

I'm trying to get an entire picture because I speak to the members of the endowment.

It seems like a lot of the information or the questions is pointing at a specific person and not the group as a whole.

So I'm trying to figure that part out.

Um just to get everyone together to answer the the questions and the misinformation or the the misunderstanding so that the inform so that the decision that I make is informed as a whole.

And I and then I would suggest that there be designated council members to attend that meeting just because if it's if it's a motion to have you know, any council member we could have those issues.

Absolutely.

I just want to um I know that you sent out an email regarding um this Sunday, yesterday, um, regarding you know, there was red flags and stuff, and I know they had ample time, so um I guess those were the recommendations of guide house that we've paid for them to get their advice, and they've been doing this.

I know they worked with Detroit and stuff, um, and we sat in the meetings and you know they mentioned there was red flags.

So I guess I'm not really sure what more that you I guess one of my issues is a guide house is saying uh a portion of it is based on the location that it's was supposed to be held at the fairgrounds, and that was never stated.

It was it was in DABA mentioned that was one of the organizations that they would be working with, as well as other community organizations as well as other churches.

So I'm not sure why a big decision is based on a location.

So that's that's one of my issues.

So it is my opinion as what I've seen, because I've I have not talked to the organization.

I've read over all the documents that was given by uh guide house, and so just from the original grant and from the revised grant from that was given to the city and the recommendations that were given from Guide House.

It is my understanding that the original grant acts for a specific location, and then there was a change.

So the original grant complied with what the what the city acts for when the change happened, they were out of compliance.

Right, but the location was never we're going to make a community garden right here and only here.

So that's what I'm talking about.

There's like some miscommunication somewhere.

So I'm trying to bridge that gap.

The original proposal was part um was inclusive of greening the fairground site, and that's eligible under ARPA.

Right.

But they were also working with um like different organizations like the name, they were working with different churches, they were working with so why would that disqualify them if that location was taken from them basically disqualify them?

Because in the when it was originally sent to council in the packet, it said that the budget had to be approved and the proposal approved, because even in the beginning, solar was never an eligible.

I'm not even talking about solar, I'm talking about the two community gardens and the work.

Well, I think the the proposal submitted was never fully approved.

It was pending guide house approval.

Okay, so kind of drilling down into it, and then the location that they had um originally planned was off the table.

No new location was provided for gardening.

So we requested that information.

And that wasn't given to you.

Um I think we've signed either revised proposal.

Yes, I received the information from the city and also received information from like the Endaba, and it's conflicting.

That's why I'm saying I think that's a good thing.

I think we've given you what we've received from Endava.

And uh yeah, and I'm saying that I've getting information that request specific requests, line items were sent to the city, and like that that line kept changing.

So I'm trying to figure out where the disconnect is.

That's why I'm asking for well, I think the location is just a small piece too.

There were five things, five or six things that we are recommending needed to be provided, and we didn't receive those.

So even though the location changed, if they would have came up with another location, that that may have fit that line item as qualified, but there were still other issues too beyond that.

I mean yes, Councilman Block.

The situation has come up, and uh some of the people that's involved in this are really retirable people that you know are really honest as far as I'm concerned in this community have done a lot of things for this community.

You know, I would like to for this to be put to bed to rest and give them the opportunity to meet with maybe a couple of city council persons and maybe yourself and maybe somebody from Guide House to see we can iron this out and get this done.

I mean, the people have done some work, they have not received any money at all.

So it's not like they've taken money in this place and doing things they shouldn't be doing with it, it's just they haven't received money for the they haven't been paid for the work that they have done.

So I would like to have this meeting so we can iron this out and get it to be and to rest.

You know, and I think that'll be a nice opportunity to get maybe a couple of other people in here that we can sit down and discuss it with.

I mean, it's not gonna hurt us to do that.

I mean, at least we get it done and over with one way or another, because we have had people that came here last week and said about all the work that they have done and they haven't been compensated.

So let's get it get this to rest what by letting them come and present their case.

I think it's only fair to the council and everybody else to have that done.

So I would have uh seconded motion, approve of that.

Okay, Shandy.

Well, I would a comment I would make is they may have done work, but they never had any of that approved.

So I don't think you are at a point where you can even go back and reimburse that.

But clearly, though, there the recommendations, there were two recommendations, and of course, one was that you could uh terminate the sub-recipient agreement and return the funds, but there's also another recommendation is to change a category, increase the risk rating, require measurables, and have structured support programming and increase program funding, which seems entirely reasonable.

I mean, the whole point is to do programming, uh, and that's one of the issues with the budget is the significant amount of overhead for administration.

They haven't received anything.

I mean, they haven't made compensation anything, instead of having provided the information that was requested, though.

So I just want to make sure that I'm understanding that they haven't got any compensation because they're not meeting the requirements from the grant or whatever, they that's why they're not getting the we required every sub-recipient to have an approved budget and proposal prior to proceeding with their project.

So that's what I'm saying.

So, how much more longer are we gonna keep going if we already know from Guide House it's been telling us and we've had no problems with other ones that and it's all based on treasury guidance and rules, it's not like we're saying right we don't want to fund this project or anything like that, but we have to be able to account for the money and and say it was spent according to Treasury guidelines.

And do you know when we had those breakout sessions?

Did all the council members um sit in that for this organization?

Because I know I was I think there um I think it was before Councilman Young and I think uh councilwoman seals had a conflict.

Yeah, I don't know.

Um I I'm the only one who did not attend.

So everybody else did so they were aware of what guide house side then.

Yep.

I I did my due diligence and study very hard.

Okay, and only thing I have not done was talk to Indaba uh individuals, but I know the character of the people there, and I trust them, and I know the type you know the type of work they do, but at the same time, I am a dedicated loyalist to who I am as an individual, and I'm here to also support the city of Saginaw.

I was voted in as a leader here in the city of Saginaw, and I will uphold that.

Um the people Satana put me here.

So it is my job that I will do my due diligence because I am here just like the rest of us up here.

We have to also be sure that you know if if the other 50, 60 recipients did the you know, did their due diligence and turned in their paperwork and did their five things that they did their five things to receive their funding, then Dava also has to do the same thing.

And if I have to go to Indaba and say that, and I will do that as a leader in the city of Sagtima, I will do that.

I will sit down with Dominic and say, hey guys, we have to do this.

This is something we're gonna have to do.

And you know, their family to me.

They're like my family.

So I believe in them.

I know you know, I know they're not sitting there not doing that.

I know they're doing the work.

So, but at the same time, we all have rules to buy.

And I believe in them.

I know they can do it.

It is always a tough seat, and I think people underestimate this seat up here that I'm in and the seat that these young young individuals are in.

Our due diligence is to do what's best for the city.

Yeah, not an individual.

Not on a friendship basis.

We have an obligation as elected officials to follow recommendations unless we can come up with something that's entirely better.

Yeah, you know what?

I'm ready to put this to bed.

Because the longer we the longer we keep going, we're gonna keep coming up with the same more excuses, or if we do a little something else.

Yeah, um, all of us received a communication on yesterday morning.

If you didn't read it, then I think you need to read it.

It's spelled everything out.

We got this is not the first notification that we received.

It's not the first.

And and now I can tell you for me, I've got people inboxing me through the councils, whatever that's whatever that is that they got on my phone that is emailing me saying do the right thing.

Exactly.

Okay, and so I've been on council long enough to know that I gotta sleep good at night and sleeping good at night is doing what's best for the city of Saginaw.

I don't just talk Saginaw, I walk it, I live.

So for me, our due diligence is to let's let's do what we gotta do.

You know, I the people who are involved in there, I don't think anybody shady or shicey, I'll take nobody doing nothing cooking, but it's not about that right now.

It's about we've done this with another group, and we've caught if you don't know, we're caught in catch 22.

Because there's money we're gonna have to pay, but we've got to pay back.

Okay, and the citizens who did not spend it.

I don't like that.

I said when this money first came, my whole thing was it's a blessing, but it was a curse.

Because it can tear your city up, and that's not what I'd like to see happen, and that's just me.

So for me, I really put this to bed.

Uh, whatever we're gonna do, we've already voted that when we do, if we take back any money, it's gonna go into two pots.

We're gonna help some more people get some roofs and furnaces, and the rest will go, it's 50-50, it will go into the fund for parts and recreation.

So I I just need to get that off my chest because I'll keep we're gonna go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

We're not gonna solve anything.

We've gotta make a decision.

Might not be what everybody wants to do, but we have to.

Yes.

I'll hear the call for the question.

And what was the motion?

Unless the do I have second?

Second.

It's been second.

All those favor signify by saying aye.

All right.

Okay.

All those opposed.

What's the original?

The motion as I recorded it, correct me if I have something wrong, is to request that city staff coordinate a meeting with interested council members in the movement strategy center to go over the details for due diligence.

Did everybody hear that?

Yes.

Okay.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

All right.

Councilmember Seals.

Nay.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Nay.

Councilmember Astash.

Nay.

Councilmember Braddock.

Yeah.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Yes.

Councilmember Hammond is absent and Mayor Moore.

Nay.

You have four yes and four no.

A tie denies the motion.

A tie denies the motion.

So you're still under miscellaneous business.

Because we miss in one.

No, we need to take it.

Motion to adjourn.

No, one from we're still under miscellaneous.

Yeah, we're still under miscellaneous.

So we're not.

I got a motion to withdraw the allocation to SGTI and terminate the subrecipient agreement relating to SAIN.

Do I have a second?

You want me to read it again?

A motion to withdraw the allocation to SGTI and terminate the subrecipient agreement relating to same.

This was provided by staff.

Second.

It's been moved to second.

Any discussion.

Is that correct, Tim?

I just want to make that's what yes, that was what was recommended.

Okay.

One of the two.

Any discussion.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

Alright.

Councilmember Seals?

Councilmember Balls?

Aye.

Mayor Protem Garcia?

Aye.

Councilmember Astash?

Aye.

Councilmember Braddock?

Aye.

I'm sorry.

Yes.

Councilmember Wiggins.

No.

Councilmember Hammond is absent and Mayor Moore?

Yes.

You have six yes and two no.

That motion is approved.

You are still under miscellaneous business.

We're still under miscellaneous.

Is there anything else?

Need a motion to adjourn.

It would be a move.

Can I get a second?

It's been second.

I'm not saying