OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodySaginaw, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:03:47

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

I'd like to start the city council meeting with prayer and pledge.

0:15

Prayer will be led by Councilman Braddock, pledged by Councilwoman Wiggins.

0:23

Heavenly Father, we thank you, Father God, for allowing us to see you another day, Father God.

0:27

We ask for you to bless us, Father God, who bless the city, Father God, protect the children in our city for God, Father God, the elders, and also Father God, as we see here make decisions for our city, Father God.

0:37

We ask for the Harmony, Father God, Unity, Father God, and Father God, we ask you to get rid of any division, Father God in our city.

0:44

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

0:48

I pledge allegiance.

1:12

Council members.

1:13

President.

1:14

Councilmember Seals.

1:16

Present.

1:16

Councilmember Balls.

1:18

Present.

1:18

Mayor Procome Garcia.

1:20

Present Councilmember Octa.

1:22

Present.

1:22

Councilmember Braddock.

1:24

Present.

1:25

Councilmember Wiggins.

1:26

Present.

1:26

Councilmember Hammond.

1:28

Present.

1:28

And Mayor Moore.

1:29

Present.

1:30

You have all members present.

1:32

Thank you.

1:33

Good evening again.

1:35

Happy New Year's to everybody.

1:37

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

1:41

As we have the housekeeping to do.

1:49

As well as your computers.

1:51

Audience, if you could put your phone on silence, I would greatly appreciate.

1:57

This is a public meeting.

1:59

We ask for no movie, no obnoxious behavior when individuals are talking.

2:04

And everyone, please talk loud enough so you can be heard.

2:08

These mics are here, but they're going for the YouTube.

2:13

So if you think you're talking loud, you're not talking loud.

2:17

So you have to use what they say.

2:20

Your outdoor voices so that we can hear you.

2:23

And with that, Madam Clark to be having the announcement.

2:26

Yes, the city offices will be closed Monday, January 19 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr.

2:33

holiday.

2:33

Trash collection will not be impacted.

2:36

The next city council meeting will be the annual strategic planning planning session on Friday, January 23rd.

2:43

The meeting will be held at the Castle Museum and will begin at 9 a.m.

2:47

That takes us to public hearings.

2:53

Okay.

2:55

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

3:08

Speakers are limited to their remarks to the subject of the public hearing.

3:14

Please state your name and say if you are in support or opposition of the subject, public hearing.

3:22

The main speaker or the designated representative has 10 minutes to speak.

3:27

All others behind them, they have three minutes.

3:33

So we will not be answering.

3:49

Please come to the podium.

3:56

Thank you, Council.

3:57

My name is Ryan Higuchi.

3:58

I work for AKT Periolis.

4:10

We are working uh together to prepare a brownfield application for a cleanup grant.

4:15

This happens every year with EPA.

4:17

They set aside money from the federal budget to do these kinds of grants.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Public Health█████████████████17%
Transportation Safety█████████████████17%
Youth Programs█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The Saginaw City Council convened on the evening of January 13, 2026, with all members present. The meeting opened with a prayer led by Councilman Braddock and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key agenda items included a public hearing regarding a federal environmental grant for the Behringer Building, public comments covering infrastructure maintenance and community figures, and updates on the RX Kids maternal health program and the city's Safe Streets safety action plan. The council also adopted resolutions to authorize bonds, event permits, and a temporary moratorium on data center development.

Consent Calendar

  • Budget Amendments: Approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to reflect changes occurred during December, including a line item increase for dues (estimated at $19k-$23k range) for the Michigan Municipal League and other affiliations.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ryan Higuchi (AKT Periolis): Provided a technical presentation supporting the application for a federal EPA Brownfield cleanup grant for the city-owned Behringer Building, noting the grant's competitive nature and the necessity of the cleanup for future renovation.
  • Unidentified Speaker (Cassie/River Caddis team representative): Expressed support for the Behringer Building grant, citing the property's historic status and the need for incentives to facilitate affordable housing redevelopment.
  • Jessica DeVone (River Caddis Group): Expressed support for the grant application, emphasizing the competitive landscape and the team's commitment to cleaning the building regardless of the grant outcome.
  • Melanie Velasco: Expressed strong concern regarding residential sidewalk snow removal and tree branch hazards, arguing for stricter enforcement and fines for residents who fail to clear sidewalks, which creates hazards for pedestrians.
  • Mike Thompson: Expressed support for the current council members' performance regarding telecasts and budget transparency but offered a position that meeting agendas should be restructured to place Council Member remarks at the end rather than midway, and expressed concern over the frequency of "calling the question" to cut off discussion.
  • Betsy DeParry: Expressed full support for renaming Weddock Park to honor the late Kevin Rooker, a community leader and park caretaker, alongside his partner George Weddock.
  • Councilwoman Wiggins: Expressed full support for the petition to rename the park to honor the legacy of Kevin Rooker.
  • Councilman Young: Expressed full support for the park renaming initiative and the brownfield cleanup grant.
  • Councilwoman Seals: Expressed deep sorrow and support for the community's loss of Kevin Rooker, calling for a unified focus on the city's future needs.
  • Councilman Boss: Expressed full support for the park renaming and emphasized the importance of community engagement and mentoring youth, sharing personal anecdotes about touching lives through small gestures.
  • Bill Kamm (Partner of Kevin Rooker): Expressed overwhelming gratitude for the community turnout at the funeral and vigil, sharing emotional tributes and the couple's philosophy of living life fully.
  • Councilman Brenn: Expressed full support for the park renaming and called for unity and passing leadership legacy to the next generation as the city enters 2026.
  • Unidentified Speaker: Expressed full support for the park renaming, praising the legacy of Kevin Rooker and Bill Kamm, and announced a local charity initiative providing 582 toys and $1,500 in gift cards to children.
  • Public Comments on Data Centers: Multiple speakers, including Councilmember Nash, expressed support for the temporary moratorium on data centers, emphasizing the need for forward-thinking regulations and community engagement regarding potential economic impacts and land use.

Discussion Items

  • EPA Brownfield Grant (Behringer Building): Council members discussed the competitive nature of the grant, with Councilman Young and Councilwoman Wiggins expressing encouragement for the application. The project aims to remediate asbestos, lead paint, and other hazards in the historic 1893 building to prepare for 48 affordable apartments and ground-floor retail. The grant is strictly for cleanup, requiring a competitive application with a January 28th deadline.
  • Park Renaming: Council members discussed the petition to rename Weddock Park in honor of Kevin Rooker. Bill Kamm expressed that while the park is in need of a new sign, the historical marker for George Weddock must remain. The council moved to support the renaming.
  • RX Kids Program: Dr. Christina Harrington presented the launch of the RX Kids program, providing unconditional cash assistance to pregnant women and new mothers. Council members expressed excitement, with Councilwoman Wiggins seeking clarification on funding duration (secured for at least three years) and other members asking about eligibility for twins and tax implications. The program provides $1,500 prenatally and $500/month for six months post-birth.
  • Safe Streets Safety Action Plan: The consulting team (C2G) presented a safety plan aiming for zero traffic deaths by 2050. Councilman Young raised concerns about the lack of projects on the high-speed, dangerous corridor of Hess Road, to which Councilman Hammond explained that the eastern portion is under Road Commission jurisdiction. Councilman Calsible noted the need to ensure bus stop infrastructure is included in the Michigan Avenue renderings and expressed concern about perceived disparities in investment between downtown and neighborhood areas.
  • Strategic Planning Session: City Manager Tim discussed the upcoming session on January 23rd, which will focus heavily on the Medical Diamond and related health initiatives, featuring presentations from MDOT, CMU, SVSU, and Great Lakes Bay Health.
  • Medical Diamond: The council acknowledged the upcoming strategic planning session's focus on this major regional health initiative.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Resolutions:
    • Authorization for the issuance of hospital revenue and refunding bonds for Covenant Medical Center.
    • Authorization for the use of amplifying equipment at specified community events in 2026.
    • Authorization for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at specified community events in 2026.
    • Adoption of a Temporary Moratorium: Passed a motion placing a six-month sunset moratorium on the development of data centers to allow for the development of zoning policies and community engagement.
  • Public Hearing Closure: The public hearing regarding the EPA Brownfield grant application was closed with a unanimous vote.
  • Budget Approval: The consent calendar, including the amendments for municipal dues, was approved unanimously.
  • Next Steps: The city will proceed with the strategic planning session on January 23rd and the public hearing on the Safe Streets plan is scheduled for February 23rd for final city council approval.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to start the city council meeting with prayer and pledge. Prayer will be led by Councilman Braddock, pledged by Councilwoman Wiggins. Heavenly Father, we thank you, Father God, for allowing us to see you another day, Father God. We ask for you to bless us, Father God, who bless the city, Father God, protect the children in our city for God, Father God, the elders, and also Father God, as we see here make decisions for our city, Father God. We ask for the Harmony, Father God, Unity, Father God, and Father God, we ask you to get rid of any division, Father God in our city. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. I pledge allegiance. Council members. President. Councilmember Seals. Present. Councilmember Balls. Present. Mayor Procome Garcia. Present Councilmember Octa. Present. Councilmember Braddock. Present. Councilmember Wiggins. Present. Councilmember Hammond. Present. And Mayor Moore. Present. You have all members present. Thank you. Good evening again. Happy New Year's to everybody. I'd like to welcome you to our city council meeting. As we have the housekeeping to do. As well as your computers. Audience, if you could put your phone on silence, I would greatly appreciate. This is a public meeting. We ask for no movie, no obnoxious behavior when individuals are talking. And everyone, please talk loud enough so you can be heard. These mics are here, but they're going for the YouTube. So if you think you're talking loud, you're not talking loud. So you have to use what they say. Your outdoor voices so that we can hear you. And with that, Madam Clark to be having the announcement. Yes, the city offices will be closed Monday, January 19 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Trash collection will not be impacted. The next city council meeting will be the annual strategic planning planning session on Friday, January 23rd. The meeting will be held at the Castle Museum and will begin at 9 a.m. That takes us to public hearings. Okay. The purpose of the public hearing is for the public to address the council as a whole and for council members to hear the comments from the speakers regarding a specific topic requested. Speakers are limited to their remarks to the subject of the public hearing. Please state your name and say if you are in support or opposition of the subject, public hearing.

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