And also our pledge will be by councilwoman and you would like to participate in these five heads.

We thank you, Father God, for today.

We thank you for our city that is prospering.

Lord help us to become one so that we can be better people, a better community, and to become a better all together.

In the name of Jesus, we pray everyone say Amen.

Amen.

I pledge all the United States of America for which it is one is Madam Claire Row.

Councilmember Young isn't with us this evening.

Councilmember Seals.

President.

Councilmember Balls.

Present.

Mayor Potem Garcia.

Present.

Councilmember Ostash isn't with us this evening.

Councilmember Braddock.

Present.

Councilmember Wiggins?

Present.

Councilmember Hammond.

Present.

And Mayor Moore.

Present.

You have seven present and two absent.

I'd like to welcome everybody to city council meeting tonight.

This meeting is being televised, but at a later date.

It will be on YouTube.

We ask that all council persons.

Please silence your phones and your computers.

Audience, if you could do the same, we sure would appreciate it.

This is not a bullying or a clapping section.

We want to be do it all decent and in order.

And with that being said, do we have any announcement?

Yes, Mayor, the city's convenience station will be open this Saturday, March 14th from 8 a.m.

until noon for city residents to drop off bulky or miscellaneous items for discussion.

The next regular city council meeting will be Monday, March 23rd, and we'll begin at noon due to start student government day.

And that takes us to public hearings.

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

Speaker must limit it very much to the subject of the public hearing.

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

Our public hearing is regarding the proposed Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Development Grant Application for Improvements to the Saginaw Riverfront Park located along Southwater Street in downtown Saginaw.

Do we have any spokespersons who'd like to speak to this?

Yes.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Jeff Cart.

I'm with Wade Trim, and we're working with the city on uh upcoming grant application to support Riverfront Park.

Now you've probably heard several presentations regarding the Riverfront Park project.

I'm focusing on a particular component, which is the trail.

And this is a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.

We'll be submitting for the trail portion of Riverfront Park.

And the idea behind that is that will allow us to get the highest score.

And we plan to submit the grant by the end of this month, and we'll receive notice of the award near the end of the year, and then funding would become available in early 2027.

This is a competitive program.

The minimum match is 25%.

We're going to be proposing an overmatch, which gives us a 63% match, which gives us a higher score and a higher uh degree of hopeful success.

Riverfront Park Trail, a little bit about the project.

I understand everyone on council has this when I'm talking about these maps that I'm talking about.

Um so I have it before you is a map of the project area.

It's about point three miles of pathway.

Uh like I said, the focus of the grant application will be on the trail.

And since this is the Iron Bell Trail, we also get extra points for that.

And since this is the Iron Bell Trail, we also get extra points for that, and uh the trail will be aligned to accommodate other improvements as part of part of the riverfront um park improvements.

Uh the grant application will include a lot of amenities associated with the trail, like bike racks, repair stations, benches, and picnic tables.

And I also provided an overlook of the entire park with a red outline that shows the focus of the grant application, and as you can see, the trail will be realigned to accommodate some of the other park amenities.

I also provided pictures of existing conditions at the park, uh, one showing uh the start of the trail uh between the existing building and water street, one showing the trail continuing into the park, and then uh another showing the parking lot, and this parking lot will be turned into a sitting area along the trail with some picnic tables.

Also provided some photos showing the park just off of Thompson Street, and this will be a new entrance area, and the trail will also bisect the area in the picture on your uh in the packet you have, and then there's also a photo that shows the park as you're heading from the north.

You're probably familiar with the site, but just to offer some perspective.

Um, the project this project for the riverfront park trail.

The cost is uh about 1 million 90,000, and the uh grant from the MDNR, the MDNR trust fund grant would be 400,000, and the match from the city would be 689,900, so almost 690,000.

Now the resolution on tonight's agenda commits matching funds for the grant.

The match I talked about, the 689.

Uh, this is funding that you've already committed for this match.

It's not additional funding from the city, these are funds you've already committed, but we're using these funds to demonstrate a very strong match for the grant.

So we're gonna request the maximum grant amount of 800, and along with that 689 match, like I said, it's 63 percent as opposed to the 25% minimum.

So with the committed overmatch, we should be able to obtain maximum matching points for the grant scoring, which gives us a good chance.

Uh, other funding requests are also pending for Riverfront Park.

Uh we we were able to secure, we secured a one million dollar grant last year from MEDC uh for the project, and we also submitted a major federal grant application to the National Park Service that was a five million dollar application.

That program is was put on hold.

It's supposed to come back soon, so it should be reopened soon, so that's still another um funding that will be pursued.

And um, the city also recently submitted a congressional request for community project funding uh for the for the park project, and we're also evaluating of any potential philanthropic support from local foundations, area foundations.

So that should give you an overview of the project.

Thanks.

Thank you.

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

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

Last and final time.

Is there anyone else who'd like to speak to this hearing?

Hearing done, I need a motion to close this hearing.

Move.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clark.

That takes us to public input.

Individual will be called to the podium by a clerk.

Please speak clearly so that we can understand you.

And you have three minutes.

Excuse me, three minutes to make your presentation.

Madam Cluck.

My first speaker is Jose Barajas.

Right here.

Good evening, council members.

My name is José Barajas.

I lived in the city all my life.

I was involved in a lot of activities.

I refrain from a lot of these.

I stand here before today to speak at a place that was once a beating heart of our community, Jibway Island for generations.

The island was a plate, a piece of land or a line item in the budget.

It's where our communities came to life.

I want to close my eyes for a moment and remember the sound of the summer concerts echoing over the water.

Remember the vibrant colors of Cinq of the Mile celebrating the crowd, the line path, and annual parades.

Thinking of the fireworks that brought us together July, and simply more personal moments that family reunion is the first birthday parties, Sunday afternoon picnics, filling those crowds with laughter.

But today the vibrant picture has faded into quiet, lock off reality.

The island has become a locked out and don't touch.

Momentary.

This brings me to a hard question regarding the physical responsibility as residents.

We pay our property tax faithful, a portion of those hard-earned dollars are earmarked for the maintenance insurance, upkeep of the public space, including the island.

So I asked council why are we paying for a place we cannot property use?

What is a justification for collected taxes to maintain a public space that has effectively been close to the public most serious tradition?

What makes the situation even more frustrating is an alternative we have been forced to accept our families and want to host a reunion or community group once to organize an event.

We are forced to leave the city limits.

We are hearing over the township, a place we pay no taxes.

We are paying them out of pocket fees to use the parks and facilities.

It is a bitter pillow to swallow.

We are funding our own parks with our taxes, stimulated stimulation, being forced to subsidize our neighborhood township budgets to find a place to sit together at a picnic.

It is double taxation and our time and our wallets.

And it's a below our public pride, our local pride.

We are now asking for much.

We're asking for restoration of our community heritage.

We ask for the gates to be opened, for security process to be fixed, and for the island to return to the people who pay for it.

Do not let any season go by where residents are forced to take their celebration and their money elsewhere.

Let's bring the concert parades and families back to make Jeboy Island our own island again.

And also, you know, a lot of people do not live in a city, they don't want to use Jeboy Island.

They live out of city limits.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Our next speaker is Carolyn Bashins.

Good evening.

My name is Carolyn Bashins.

I'm a resident of the city of Saginaw.

I am here concerning the residents at 2216 North Bond in Saginaw, which is condemned.

In the past six months, if not longer, I have been to the inspections department several times.

Was told the ins and outs of a squatter dwelling in this condemned home.

Was also told the vehicles would be ticketed and towed after so many tickets and days.

Next was proceeded to be told that the police department would have to handle the issue.

I proceeded with the lieutenant of the police department only to be blown off again, referred back to city inspections and denied help once again.

I have reached out to consumers about electricity being rigged from the house to the bus in the drive, which is being lived in.

Have reached out to Amos O'Neill's office only to be told that the inspections office was reached out to, and the house will be getting boarded up.

Only to make a complete fool of once again and left with unanswered issues and results.

I am here today to ask the city council as well as the mayor to why this problem is not of importance or being handled.

What can this man possibly have over everyone's head, or who does he possibly know within the system that this matter is being left unresolved?

I would like to ask if this eyesore was across the street or in the neighborhood of any of these professionals.

I have contacted with the matter be handled.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Our next speaker is William King.

William, on to Michael Thompson.

Good evening.

Thank you for this time.

My goal always has been to promote citizen involvement, both through newspaper reports and with my volunteer experience to help build neighborhood associations.

I have spoken about your meeting agenda and how you could adopt changes so that your proceedings are more clear and interesting for your constituents and promote citizen involvement.

And so I will repeat the two main proposals.

Move the remarks of council members to the end of the meeting, not smack in the middle.

Also begin meetings early at 5 30 with an hour to take closer looks at important challenges we face.

All of you have rejected both of these ideas.

And so tonight I seek compromise.

On remarks, the meeting chair could ask if any of you have something to say instead of calling on you one by one.

Members are not called on individually to make motions or to propose action items.

So why is it different on remarks?

Is talk more important than action?

This was a big misstep in 2023 when meetings were filled with remarks of counsel, and then at the very very end, the ARPA dollars, millions of dollars were passed with little or no discussion.

For the single topic issue reviews at 5 30, please just try doing one and see how it goes.

Maybe the land bank for the first focus session because you know we need to talk with the land bank.

And it just doesn't happen.

All this time goes by.

That's why we need special sessions like that.

Maybe Ojibwe Island would be a good time to have an hour discussion on before you start acting on it in a couple weeks or four weeks.

In closing, another way to promote citizen involvement in education is to support and to respect the grassroots groups that already are reaching out into the neighborhoods.

One of them is said in our CAP.

You may disagree with CAP on occasion as I do myself, but so what?

They are getting citizens involved who never took part before, and isn't that what we all want?

It would have sent a positive signal when CAP did the survey on our give way.

If you would have just piggybacked on it, thank them.

There's nothing wrong with the survey instead of doing your own.

That would show respect and support for community groups that are not seen so far.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is Melanie.

Don't see her mayor onto the remarks of council.

So you have three minutes for your comments.

We will start tonight with Councilwoman McSeals.

All right.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I just want to thank you all for uh your support and understanding during my recent time away.

Uh I'm grateful to be back in action and ready to continue serving this community with renewed focus, especially after kind of looking death in the face.

Um thank you to the staff and fellow council members and the residents who keeping things going.

Um I was away during uh due to medical uh reasons and um and I just appreciate all the prayers and and people reaching out why I've been gone.

So I I thank you all for uh being there for me while I've been in the hospital, in and out of the hospital the last two months.

Thank you.

Um the next couple of months I am still on the men, but I'm still here to do my due diligence, and even though I'm not fully healed, I am still going to push, and uh my my goal is to keep Saganal moving forward.

Um that's what I'm gonna continue doing.

So if you need anything, let me know.

I also want to give you my card, and I would like to talk to you about that address.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have councilman ball.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I have a lot to say this evening.

Just want to uh welcome everybody to the new season that come uh here today.

Uh don't get too happy with it because we've been missing it.

I can imagine probably have a snowstorm next week.

Oh, this weekend, excuse me.

But anyway, um, I'd like to thank all the community organizations for getting involved in helping out our children.

Uh, there's a lot of uh different organizations that's getting involved and going out to the schools.

Uh I know the uh help group is going out to the schools.

The um another group is going out to the uh we and their group are going out, and there's a lot of people that's getting involved with the children who normally don't have to you know go to the schools and work with those children.

So I just want to thank them for going out and doing what they do because it's gonna make our community a better place than having a dog can spend time with a cut with a kid.

The um another group is going out Terry uh we and their group are going out and there's a lot of people that's getting involved with the children who normally don't have to you know go to the schools and work with those children so I just want to thank them for going out and doing what they do because it's gonna make our community a better place when a dog can spend time with a with a kid um summertime is coming up so we all have to be vigilant about the things that we see in our community uh Saginaw has been notorious for having uh uptick in crime as the weather get warmer so we're gonna hope and pray that we don't have these issues this year like we normally do and um you know get involved with the children in your neighborhood I tell you it it really makes a difference it really does uh I have an opportunity to uh spend some time with the kids in the neighborhood they've been out playing basketball I'm not gonna say I've been out there acting like Mr.

Braddock and going out there and playing I'm not gonna do that.

I don't think I can uh handle that uh that boot he got on his leg but uh I will give those kids gate array to something like that I'd be the water boy but uh I just want to be engaged with those children as much as I can so uh other than that I just want everybody to have a great day and a great summer thank you thank you next we have Councilman Braddock thank you thank you Madam Mayor um yes Mike Boss I'm I'm about sat down now find something else to do play some chest protective or something but um yeah I don't have a whole lot to say I kind of you know saying thoughts of what Mr.

Balls was saying about the summer it's getting warmer um we know we have the neighborhood cleanups coming up and everything so we encourage the neighborhood you know encourage the citizens in our community to come out um participate in neighborhood cleanups as they start coming coming uh coming up um also one of the big things that everyone been talking about is Ojibwe Island I appreciate the um Mr.

Ozek for um for uh presenting that everything and I and I just would like to say that um I believe everyone on this table um want to see Ojibwe open um no one in this table wants to see Ojibwe closed okay and our goals and our mission is to open it safely all right and open it safely and then open it for for the community to enjoy it um the events that you were talking about we looking to plan events for the event um for the OJWay we're looking to open OJ Way with an event not just to say it's opening and so there's a there's some things that we have to do to open the old OJ way as far as when it comes to the construction you know as far as the things you had in your questions so with those things that were part of some of the questions that you had in your packet that would be some of the reasons why the park would be closed down far as getting the roads redone and things of that nature but um I would say that nobody on this board wants to see the once well we want to see OJIT way open and um you know and so it's out there like the city council wants to keep it closed or we're trying to keep it closed but no that's not it.

We just want to open safely and and and make it enjoyable for the whole community right and everybody in the city and so you know with the push that's good the community is coming out you know standing up for something but um I'm pretty sure everybody at this table and the colleagues at this table we want to see OJWA open just like y'all do.

But that's all I have for the most part thank you.

Thank you next we have Councilwoman Wigan.

Thank you Mayor Moore.

Thank you to everyone who came out tonight and also everyone that's watching online to all the the public speakers tonight appreciate your comments again we're gonna you know talk about Ojibwe until it is open to the heicular traffic that is that is the goal and I think our community wants a hard yes that's basically what the community wants I myself can uh you know talk to what I want and what I've heard from the community and that is for it to be open to with uh for vehicular traffic as quickly as possible um you know you know to say yes it is open um it's great but I don't know about you but I don't want to have to lug a cart to take picnic supply uh supplies to the middle of the park you know that's not something I'm interested in so um it also should not be a topic that's to me politicised or weaponized to to cause division in our community um it's it's something that is important to the heart and who Saginaw is and like I said the goal is to open it uh at least for me uh to uh vehicle the hickel traffic as quickly as possible you know we have um the beautiful headwaters Saginaw headwaters that's basically you're walking you have you can park and walk you got a lot a lot of area there um I remember having Wicks Park uh growing up when you go from M13 to Fortnee Street and you could drive through until there are pot hoses biggest half a Sagana and so that is now close to vehicular traffic because we just couldn't afford to fix all those miles of uh of uh traveling for cars so that's an area where the people if they want to can walk as well so Ojibway being as you get as unique as as it is to Saginaw uh with the vehicle traffic it's important and it's something we need to uphold and say uh I'll move on from that just wanted to uh say my condolence condolences to uh Naisha Clark Young's family she was a very important uh member of this community gave back

So that's an area where the people, if they want to can walk as well.

So Ojibwe being as you get as unique as it is to Saginaw with the vehicle traffic.

It's important, and it's something we need to uphold and say.

She was a very important member of this community.

I gave back to this community through art through uh fighting for uh different rights and different uh policies in this town, and we lost her.

And I just want to say my condolences and my heart goes out to that family.

Um, but they're all fighters, and they will continue to fight and participate and give back to this community.

I'm thankful for that.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Next, we have councilwoman Emmy.

Thank you.

Um, first, thank you to all our speakers for coming and having your voices heard at our meeting.

Um, and uh thank you to Mr.

Bajas for also putting out the uh text letter as well.

That's gonna be really helpful for your full statement and ideas.

Um to Mr.

Thompson, um, I agree with you uh particularly about moving the uh remarks from council to the ends of the meeting.

Um I'm gonna work on a motion and we'll see.

We'll see what happens.

Uh, because I think that would just be a rule change or an order change.

Um from that, I know uh this upcoming Wednesday, March 11th, we have a citywide meeting, which is happening right next door here from 5 30 to 6 30 at the tennis court building known as Garber Courts.

Uh it's gonna be about play dates in the park.

Um, right after that meeting, I will be hosting starting at 7.

It's gonna be at Oracle Brewing, a civic engagement strategy session.

So that's for some folks in the community.

I've gotten an enormous amount of feedback, um, particularly messages of support these past couple of weeks.

People have stopped me.

So thank you to everybody who stopped me at the grocery store and the coffee shop and on the street.

I really appreciate it.

Um, and uh partially because a lot of people have been reaching out asking how can I get more involved?

How do I know more about um you know how to be part of the decision makings of the city?

I decided to host this uh strategy session.

So that's gonna also be at um on March 11th, and it'll be at 7 p.m.

at Oracle.

Um, and uh beyond that, I I just wanted to say that um thank you all so much who have chosen to speak up and speak out about um what you'd like to see in this community and how you'd like to see your resources spent.

Um I believe that Ojibwe Island is a park that should be accessible as soon as the construction is completed.

I believe that the time frame between now and then is long enough to establish whatever services we need to uh make whatever budget adjustments we need to because our our budget is happening in between those times uh to be able to um commit to addressing any concerns we may have prior to opening the park.

I I I feel that a date is needed.

It's been five years.

Thank you.

Next, we have Mayor Pro T M Gassi.

Good evening, considering citizens of the community, and welcome back, JJ.

Um, I'm glad you're back and a little bit more healthy, probably, than what you were when I last saw you.

Um, thank you tonight as well for your speakers.

We hear your concerns and we appreciate it.

Like I said, we don't know everything unless we're out there, or sometimes things flip through the cracks, but it's nice to hear the citizens reach out to us.

Um, I did see a post last week, and I got in contact with the guy that made it, and we made things right, and thanks to the staff here at the city of Saginaw.

Um, sometimes you know, things get overlooked, and that's why it's great for you to come, especially Mr.

Brajas.

I know him.

Um, and speaking about Ojibwe.

Um, I don't know when the last time I could even imagine when I had a picnic, but I just know now that I'm older than work involved.

I don't know if I even want to handle taking everything because I live so close by, but um, yeah, we are looking at opening the Ojibwe Island, so let's just you know get that straight right off the bat.

We do want to utilize that more, and it has been being utilized now until the construction's coming.

So let's just make sure that we keep using these resources that we have here in the great city of Saginaw.

Um, we do have great events coming for the little ones.

Make sure you register them for the play dates in the park.

I share a lot of stuff on my Facebook uh community alerts because people are not aware sometimes where those resources are.

There was one by my house, a Butman Fish.

They had um for the kids that were getting library books and pizza, and so there's a lot of great events on Monday the 16th.

The Sweep Kitchen is having their uh food giveaway.

They've been having a monthly on the vice president of the East Side Soup Kitchen and what they get in warmer.

I'm going to try to volunteer.

In the winter months last year, I had pneumonia during this time and trying to um lead the counselor.

I could barely talk.

It was one of our longer meetings, but um, we're getting ready, so pray for safe travels to um MML league.

So I will be a moderator out there.

This is my second year in a row, and I also will be receiving award there Wednesday, so I'm excited.

So we do do a lot of um work behind the scenes.

I know you guys see us up here, but some of you guys don't know what the world work that we do behind the scenes, and a lot of the time it's on our own time.

We don't get paid for any of this.

We do it because we love to serve our community, we love to help our citizens, and we truly love what we do, and that's why we're here.

And so, like I said, we take your concerns seriously, and there is a lot of things going on in the community, and and it's good to hear these concerns because if you guys didn't have no concerns, then we're not doing our jobs.

So continue to make sure that you guys do the survey.

I don't know if you're aware on the city's website.

There's always great information going on there, so utilize those resources.

I just did a webinar Friday about digital accessibility, and this is great.

I said that we have one of the great ones that you can go on there, and I love our Saginaw um sign that we have out there, and it's so easy to access.

So, you know, we're losing a lot of stuff to digital, so especially our seniors, but thank you, have a good night, and that's all.

Well public speakers, thank you so much for coming out.

Um I'm not gonna rehash what was said.

The sentiment is across the board.

We do want to open O Tip Way, but we want to open it safe.

Um this week has been probably a trial week.

A lot of, again, a lot of individuals who were here last week are not here this week.

Um, yeah, my circle is getting small, it seems like.

Other people who I used to see, I won't see anymore.

However, I'm gonna go back to my same thing.

All we need to do is show a little.

That's all.

If you think that you want to talk to somebody, don't think about it.

Do it.

Because tomorrow ain't promised.

It is just not promised.

Um today was a hectic day.

It really was.

Uh there were individuals.

We went to uh we mentor some young people from what is that?

The school guy, I forgot the name of the school.

Saginaw United and Sassa.

And so we had meetings with them, and they're getting ready to give us some suggestions as well to what they want to see.

You may think that we're not listening, but we hear you.

We hear you.

But I also need you to understand.

Rome was not built in a day.

This city has been neglected for so long.

Now we are getting pampered.

So it's gonna take us a little time.

I understand time is of the essence with everybody.

But sometimes when you move too fast, you move wrong.

Just like the young lady with the house.

No.

I'm on the next snow house, has got people standing.

No, sometimes we have to keep talking about the same thing.

So thank you for coming.

We need to continue to talk about the things that we can change.

Because some things we can't change.

But there are some things that we can change.

And if we are making the effort to change it, I asked you again to please allow us their time.

It's not to say that we're not gonna do it.

It's to say that it's on the way.

So please, for the next 48 hours, you got a loved one or a friend that you not talk to in much, and you think about pick the phone up and call.

Thank you, madam clerk.

And that takes us to reports from the manager.

Mr.

Manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

We have a few uh announcements and our updates, and we do have a presentation this evening from our city engineer for our upcoming projects this summer.

Uh, first, I will um let council know and remind you that the Saginaw Police Department Memorial and Award Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 11 a.m.

Uh, council members are invited, and um it's uh open to the public too.

The ceremony will be in the front lobby of the police department, 612 Federal Avenue.

Please join us as a Saginaw Police Department honors its officers who lost their lives from the performance of their duties.

In addition, we'll be recognizing officers who within the last year have demonstrated exceptional conduct beyond that of normal call of duty.

As Councilwoman Hammond mentioned, we do have our citywide meeting this Wednesday at 5 30 p.m.

Uh next door Garber Court's uh clubhouse facility.

So it's an opportunity to see uh what they have over there, but the meeting will also highlight upcoming community events planned for spring and summer, including updates on the 2026 play dates in the park series, which begins March 21st at the first ward community center with street ball hockey day.

Six additional events are planned for May, June, and August, and all events are free to the public.

Though registration is required due to limited space, so make sure you check that out.

Brian Keenan Leckle of Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Director will also provide an overview of mobile recreation programs planned in county parks this summer, including activities such as Gaga Ball Move Music on the Move, Art in the Park, and Water Wars.

In addition, positive results downtown Saginaw.

We'll have a preview of their 2026 Friday Night Live series and other downtown events.

As uh Mayor Pro Tem mentioned, we do have our uh Jibway Island survey out there, and we're currently inviting residents to participate.

The survey provides an opportunity for community members to share their input on the future and use and accessibility of the island.

It's open through March 31st, so we have a lot of time to complete it, but I will say that uh within uh less than a week we received over 700 responses.

So we'll keep um promoting that and uh getting that out to or organizations to share.

Uh the MBS uh airport did receive some awards, so I want to mention that.

Um the Michigan Department of Transportation recently announced the award winners for outstanding achievements in Michigan Aviation.

Happy to share that MBS International Airport received two significant honors.

They were named the Air Carrier Airport of the Year and also received the Project of the Year Award for MBS International Airport Solar Canopy and Charging Network Project.

Uh MBS International Airport is operated by the MBS International Airport Commission, a governmental body representing the city of Saginaw, the City of Midland and Bay County.

Commission provides government governance and oversight for the airport while professional management and staff handle day-to-day operations.

And funding for the airport doesn't come from our tax dollars, it comes from a combination of airline leases and fees, parking and concession revenue, and federal and state aviation grants.

The mayor Moore and Tom Miller Jr.

and I all serve on the airport commission.

Um Councilman Ball served on the commission as well, so he's aware of uh all the services out there.

We congratulate James and his team for their leadership and management and dedication to MBS Airport.

And finally, we do have uh student government day coming up.

Our next meeting on March 23rd will be at noon and will feature student government day.

It's a great opportunity for youth to learn more about what city government does and to meet city council members and staff.

Um we looked at this last year, I think, and the tradition of student government day began in 1927.

So it's been around for a long time.

Um American Legion Post 22 first sponsored the event in that year.

And to our knowledge, the only interruption has been due to COVID.

For three years we did not do it, but started that up again a few years ago.

So we're looking forward to hosting that next meeting.

And um we'll uh get council members a schedule for the day if you'd like to attend some of the events that are going on.

I think we begin at 8 a.m.

And with that, I'll ask uh Travis Hare, our city engineer, to come up and provide his update.

Thank you.

You guys probably can hear me without this, but um, I'm Travis Hagar, city engineer.

I know many of you have seen me quite a few years in a row now.

So I'm happy to be back.

Uh do want to apologize in advance.

I'm a bit under the weather, so please pair with me.

Um I have a lot of slides to go through, so I will try to go through them pretty quickly, but please do stop me if you have any questions or concerns or anything.

Uh just overview 2020 2026, excuse me, construction season.

Um, first off, we're gonna go through.

I'm gonna do a summary of some of the 2025 projects that we had completed.

I need to ask this question.

Can we tilt this so others can see it?

I mean, it's just so we council can see it.

I'm just asking the question.

Can we tilt just so that the audience can look?

We got it.

I'm sorry.

We got it here.

No, yeah, because we've got it on screen.

And so I want everybody to see it.

F card transparency.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

No problem.

All right.

First of all, we'll go through the 2025 construction, and then I'll go through the what projects we have planned for this summer as well.

Nope, too far.

All right.

First up, we had uh a couple road reconstructions in the old town area, uh, Adams Street and Cass Street, um, two blocks each from Michigan to Niagara.

We received, I think about half of that project was paid by a Michigan State tap grant, um, and that grant allowed us to put the brick in on CAS.

Um, so that's to my knowledge at least.

That was the first brick road we've we've actually constructed, new brick road in probably about 120 years.

So that was a really exciting project for us.

Um, I will say we would love to do it uh on every road in old town and downtown areas, but it does, I think double the cost of the total project.

Just to keep that in mind.

Excuse me, Travis.

Yes, sir.

Were those Saginaw bricks?

No, unfortunately, they were not.

So we we were looking at trying to salvage the existing sagina brick, but they were in such poor condition that we would not have enough to put back.

We definitely looked into that, and it was gonna cost another 300,000 roughly as well to salvage them.

So a couple different things put into that.

We got about 300 at the house.

Yeah, we we may or may not have a few piles of them from old projects that we could use in other places, though.

Uh, next up we have our we had uh mile reconstruction of wheeler street from Michigan to Graschett.

Um we do have a few uh tidy uh items to tidy up with that with turf establishment, um, but that was a one mile reconstruction with water main some sewer work and a railroad crossing.

Um we also had Hess Avenue from Jefferson to Sheridan.

The total project limits went from Williamson to Sheridan, um, but the reconstruction limits were from Jefferson to Sheridan.

Um we did convert that road from a one-way to a two-way and added bike lanes on both sides as well with that project.

Uh next up we had our our 2024 millin resurface.

Um, that was a combination of major streets and local streets.

This was kind of on the northwest corner of Court in Michigan, so back behind the new Great Lakes Bay Health building there.

Um, we had I think that was about 1.2 million dollars total worth of uh resurfacing in that area.

Um, and then the fall of 2025, we had our first local road millage project that passed in August of 2024.

Um, so we completed our first project with those uh second of county road millage funds.

Um I think it was about 1.25 million.

Um, and we did we did a lot of the streets from Michigan over to Mason, kind of on the southwest side of court, so kind of behind the jail and courthouse in that area.

Um, that that project could only use that money for local roads, which is why we didn't do some of the other roads around the jail because those are all major streets, so different pot of money, just to explain that.

Uh we did have uh the Court Street Bridge, as I'm sure everyone knew for the first couple months of the summer last year.

Uh, that was closed for concrete repairs.

Then we did an epoxy overlay on that.

Um, we only paid about five percent of that total project cost um because of state uh bridge funds.

So that was a cool project for us.

That was the last bridge over the river that we needed to put an epoxy overlay on, keeps the water from infiltrating into the deck.

Um, hot topic, I'm sure, with Ojibwe Island.

So we did complete the soil or the bank stabilization on that with some ARPA funding, and we also did there was about a three or four hundred foot section of Crayle Park along the river as well over here just across Fordney.

Um, so that piece of the project is complete from 2025.

I think there's a railing to put up, and that's it.

Other than that, that that portion of the Ojibwe Island project is done.

Um, I missed this with the so we did put in a pedestrian island as well at court and Fayette.

So that was part of the 2024 millinery surface.

Um, we have been receiving complaints from courthouse trying to get across the street with that parking lot, and we were able to secure another uh 12,000 to put that that refuge island in.

So it's kind of our our pet project, our pilot project, and now we're gonna see if we can start putting them in in more locations where they're needed.

Come on.

Uh this is kind of our water and sewer road patch restoration.

Um, so as you know, we have water main brakes all all winter long, and we cannot do the permanent road patches um during the winter if they're asphalt, especially.

So our maintenance and service guys will go out temporarily patch it, and this is a an annual project we'll have every year to come back through and try to replace those.

Um we are probably I would say on average 10 years behind.

Um, so we're trying to have catch up every year with some more funding to continue uh repairing those patches.

Uh we did uh crack seal project, first one we've done in a few years.

Um we did about 25 lane miles of of uh uh overband crack fill, and these are usually done on roads that have been resurfaced within the last six to eight years to try to keep the water from getting in there and damaging it more.

Uh, we did have kind of an exciting one we've we've had in the budget, and we're cutting for probably about six or seven years.

Um, we were able to build a new traffic engineering pole barn.

This allows us to pull in with our equipment, load up all the signs, and then pull out the way we have now.

They had to back in all the way about 150 feet to get in there.

It's a lot safer.

We were able to secure some general fund with that budget as well.

So we appreciate that.

Um, those guys over there are extremely happy.

Uh, a couple non-road and bridge projects.

I'm gonna steal a little thunder from Mike Grinier.

Um, so we had the three million gallon alveoli storage tank, as you can see that went up last year.

Um, they're still working.

I think we I don't want to speak too soon.

We got a couple months left, um couple weeks, excuse me.

So, a couple weeks left to finish that.

Um, but it's it's looking good, and we'll have everything wrapped up here in the next couple weeks and tidied up in the next month or two.

Um, along with that project, there was a lot of water main work out front of the water treatment plant.

Um, so that was that was water main piping uh to accommodate the tower once it's put into service.

Um, that mulch I think will be going away.

That was a temporary that was a temporary application so that we could have the uh light up the city event so there wouldn't be mud.

Um, so those that'll be going away, they'll be planting grass this spring just for that picture there.

Um, and on the right, the Hancock parking structure that was about half ARPA funding and half sewer funding to renovate the parking deck structure and also the CSO basin below.

Um, so that project is complete, and I think we're working towards close out.

Um, kind of an exciting piece I wanted to bring up.

Um, first the first bullet here, you guys all know.

I'm sorry, it's kind of small over there.

Um, first bullet you guys know the August 2024, the local road millage pass for Saginaw County.

That gives us about one and a quarter million per year to spend on local streets, and so we did successfully complete the first project in the fall of 2025.

Um we have another one coming up.

You'll see in a few slides here for 2026.

Um, but one big thing that just came out in this past fall was the the state gas tax increase.

So they they converted uh income tax, they took income tax out of the gas tax and increased the gas tax and also added a marijuana tax, which I know can be a little controversial, but as far as me with road funding, it helped a lot.

So I will say for for fiscal year 2026, we were getting a 33% increase in our overall road budget.

That's not just for road projects, but that's for pothole patching, snow plowing, traffic signals, anything related to the road work.

Um starting in fiscal year 2027, it's actually a 50% increase of our current budget, which is uh huge for us.

So I know it did come with a little bit of a reduction general fund, but but we are very excited about the road funding to try to continue to improve our roads in the city.

Just want to put up your project selection factors.

I've had this on here every year.

Um, the only thing we we have kind of shifted our focus a little bit, we added in condition of underground utilities on here as well, specifically ours, you know, whether it's city sewer or water mains.

Um, we've had a big push to try to replace more water mains every year.

So now we're kind of focusing on areas where either the water main's in good condition that we won't have a water main break after paving, or if we have the money, let's replace the water main now, do the road at the same time so you can get some cost savings by doing it all at once.

Uh, just this looks a little scary.

This is our PASER ratings.

So, as you know, um PASER rating, I think it's one to four is or one to three is failed.

Four to seven is fair condition, and eight excuse me, seven to ten is good condition.

So, just as a comparison to last year, it we're pretty much on par with the last year.

Um, our goal, especially with our asset management plan has been to maintain the condition of our overall road system just because the funding has not been there to truly improve the score.

So now we're hoping with the increase in budget and the local road millage that we'll actually start to see these PASER ratings bump up and we'll actually start seeing improvement in the overall road system.

Um, just my table of contents there for the projects.

So first one mentioned this quick 2026 local road millage.

We are looking at replacing water main on Arthur and Maple in this area.

This this is we're gonna do all the roads from the city limits to Salt Street south of West Michigan.

So as you know, that's that includes like Wheeler and I think Stanley down there.

So that's gonna be our project this summer.

We're gonna be doing water main around May or June on Arthur and Maple, and then we'll be doing the actual road resurfacing uh shortly after that in July and August.

Um so that'll be our next round of local road millage dollars.

Uh that total project's about two and a half million.

Uh then we also we were awarded, I think it's 430,000 in CDBG dollars in the last round.

Um, and so we're actually that project's out for bid right now.

So that's gonna be kind of we're doing Granger and Lion resurfacing and some ramps around that area as well.

Um, if you don't know, that's kind of where the old town drive-in is kind of in that area.

Um, so we'll be focusing in that area for the mill and reciprocals for the C D BG project.

That's kind of on the same schedule.

We'll start that in maybe May or June, and that'll be done probably um end of July, early August.

Uh concrete road repairs.

This is uh we're doing water main as well.

This is gonna be North Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Street between the I675 on and off ramps and Weiss.

Um, so we're doing water main on Schaefer because we've had a few breaks in the last five to six years.

Um, and so before we do any concrete repairs on the road, we want to make sure that water main's taken care of.

Um so we'll be replacing water main from Weiss down to I think it's Clark.

Um, and so we're replacing that first.

Um, we are expecting to have final plans for that in the next couple weeks, so we'll be putting that out for bid and starting that around end of May, early June.

Um the water fund pay for those water main correct, yes.

Yep, the water fund pays so on this project specifically as well.

So any road we have to rip up to replace the water main would also be covered by the water funds, and then any of the concrete repairs that we were going to do anyways would be covered by the road fund.

Okay, and that's the case as well for like the local road millage project at Arthur and Maple.

Any road that we rip up, um, the sand, gravel, and asphalt to go back, will all be covered by the water fund too.

Yep.

Good question.

Um, so this will be the first concrete road repair project we've done in a couple years.

Um, so that'll be nice to see.

You'll see a theme here.

We've got a lot of projects that have kind of been put on hold for a while, and now that we have some extra funding, we're actually getting them off the shelf.

Uh next one, if this will work.

There you go.

Next one, uh, we actually had a pre-construction meeting today.

Um, so Weiss Street water main replacement.

We got a DWSRF grant or loan, I should say.

This was approved previously at council to that principal forgiveness, which is basically the grant portion, will cover about 80% of the cost of this project, closer to 85, I believe.

Um, we're gonna be starting that in the next couple weeks.

Um, so as soon as that starts, then Weiss will be closed from Mason to Michigan, and then from Bay Road to Mason, we'll have one lane open for westbound traffic only.

So that's gonna be a little bit of a headache working with a lot of the businesses and school that's on the north side of Weiss, but we'll make it work.

Um, so that'll be starting, and that completion, I think, is about the end of October.

Um, so that's kind of a unique one for us because it'll it's be a water main lining.

It's the first water main lining that we've done.

So there will definitely be some uh learning curves to go with that project that we're gonna have to work through.

So considering the fact that we shipping water out the Hemlap for that project out there, are they helping with any of this stuff?

Uh no, nothing with this.

Nope.

I think you're talking about like the Phoenix project that's out there.

Yeah, yeah.

So I think the only the only project we are doing to accommodate that is the Grashett Booster Station.

Okay, that's the one that's at Tittabwasi River right there on M46.

Okay, um, and that was I believe 100% covered by uh Thomas and Richland Townships.

Okay, yep.

And that one's almost done as well this year.

Right, Mike, I got that right.

Perfect.

All right, and so then once we're done replacing the water main on Weiss, then we're gonna go back through and resurface everywhere from Bay Road to the east to Michigan.

Um, we are not resurfacing from Mackinac to Bay because that is a road commission road, um, not the city road, and they preferred us not to.

So we're gonna put back the road that we rip up for the water main, but not do a full resurface.

Um, next one that's been on the shelf design for about five years.

Um now that we have some funding to do it.

Now we're gonna do the other two blocks uh Hancock and names north of Court Street.

So we did Adams and Cass last year, we're gonna do Hancock and names this year.

So then two blocks north and south of court will be completely reconstructed, all new roads, water mains, um, and so that'll be that'll be a nice boost to our our businesses in the area as well.

Um so we're looking at bidding that one out here in the next couple months or in the next couple weeks, excuse me, um, and starting that in June with about an October completion.

Um grant for that one and no brick, unfortunately.

Um, next one is our fiscal year 2026 uh federal project.

So we get um state transportation urban local funds from the feds that gets passed through MDOT, and so this is our federal project for this year.

Um, we're doing Perkins from Genesee to 17th.

That includes water main replacement, and then we'll also be widening the road to accommodate for bike lanes.

Um now some people might say, Why are you putting bike lanes in the middle where there's no bike lanes on either side?

So we are coming back in two years and completing the project on Perkins from 17th to 23rd, and we'll have bike lanes at that point as well, which will tie into what the road commission put in for bike lanes already.

Um, and then hopefully next year we'll have bike lanes on Genesee right at Perkins in that same area.

So it'll connect eventually.

We're just kind of doing it in a goofy order, so just as a heads up for that.

Um, so we will be starting that project within the next couple weeks, and that'll be under construction for most of the summer and early fall as well.

And then we have uh Federal Avenue.

So I think since Beth was city engineer, this might be the first one that we're actually designing completely in-house.

So our all of our engineering is gonna be done in-house.

Um, I think it's about 90% complete right now, Ron.

Um, so this will be the first project we've designed in-house in quite a few years.

Um, it's gonna save us around 75 or 80,000, not having to uh bid it out to a consultant.

Um, so we're trying to do that as much as we can now that we have staff.

We purchased a survey equipment total station that allows us to actually get survey grade data.

Um, so we're kind of you know, I can't sit here and tell you we're gonna be able to design all the projects in-house.

We're gonna pick a couple small ones that we can save a little bit of money on.

So this will be our first one.

Um, this is right in front of the fire station, a main fire station there in Federal.

Uh, so that'll be probably July start for that project.

Uh next one is Lee Street and the boat launch.

So this is uh one of the ARPA projects.

Um, so we're gonna be, I think we're waiting on a floodplain permit right now, but we are ready to bid this and get started as soon as that floodplain permit comes in.

Um so we're gonna be doing Lee Street from Niagara down to the boat launch and also the boat launch itself, and it's gonna be complete uh crushing shape of the boat launch and the road.

Um, we're also gonna put a new water main down Lee Street as well.

Um, so we're hoping to have that you know done in about three months, not three months from today, but once we start, it'll be about three months because we know that it's heavily trafficked in the summer for boaters, so we're trying to accommodate that and try to get it done as soon as possible.

Uh, next one is North Mason Street.

So this we were awarded some DWSRF funding for this project as well.

Um, and this also includes dead end looping south of Main Street as well.

So south of Main Street, there's about six uh dead end streets that go south from Main.

Those are all dead end mains, and what you see with dead-end mains is if there's not a lot of usage, the water could get bad quality, and so we're constantly having to flush those mains.

So, what we're trying to do is run a parallel main that's south of main street at the end of all the cul-de-sacks and connect them all together to get better water quality in that whole area.

So we received some funding for that, and that'll be bid with the North Mason project where we're replacing water main from Houghton up to State Street.

Um, and then we'll be doing a road resurfacing of Mason once that project's done as well, um, all bid together.

So that'll be that I think that's gonna be out to bid in around May, and we may do it this fall, we may wait till the spring.

We're gonna kind of leave that one up to the contractor just to see if we can get some better prices.

Plus, we have enough con we have enough construction already for the fall, so we'll see what happens with that.

But um, next one is we're finally here after about four years of design.

Um, medical diamond infrastructure, we are very close.

We have almost all the permits we need.

I think we're two away.

Soon as we get those, we're ready to bid.

Um, so our goal is we'll have this bid out in May and June for the infrastructure work, so roads, water, sewer, electrical.

Um, and we'll be starting that this fall with a completion of November 2027.

So that'll be a big project.

I think it's about what I got on here, 14 million, just under 14 million for all of that.

Um, so that'll be that'll be a big undertaking for us on top of everything else that we have going on.

So that's phase one and three.

Then the next slide is the medical diamond park improvements, which as you saw today in the public hearing.

We're constantly applying for grants to try to make up the difference in the funding gap.

And so the goal is to build it as as designed right now.

All said and done.

If we can get all the funding for that, this will be bid sometime this fall with construction starting in spring next year, and that'll be completing in the fall of 2028.

So we got a little bit yet to do on this project, but we will be starting the infrastructure work hopefully this fall as well.

I just want to give a little chart here to show.

Now this is a little skewed because you're I have the 30 million dollars in non-city funds that we got for the medical diamond.

So but we on top of that, we do have about 10 million dollars in other funding sources that are not coming from the city, whether it be grant, um SRF loan, things of that nature.

So it's a pretty good percentage.

86% of our projects this year are gonna be covered by non-city funds, so that's kind of a big deal for us.

We try to apply for as many grants as possible, as many that we can handle at least.

Um next, so just go through some other projects that not necessarily road related.

Um talked about this already with 2025, it's just our next round of water and sewer road patches.

Um, so it's usually one and a quarter million we bid out every year.

Um, we're trying to budget for more so we can take that 10-year window down to like seven or eight.

Um, but we're we're moving in the right direction.

Uh sidewalk replacements.

Um, so this is this these are special assessment projects for that sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Um, so what happens is someone will report a cracked or broken trip hazard on the sidewalk.

Um, it goes into our complaint system, and then it gets added to a list.

So we're we're behind because we get some general fund from this as well.

Um, we're behind, I think this year's project will cover all the complaints through 2019 and then a few in 2020.

So we're a couple five, six years behind.

Um, we have some discussions we're gonna bring up later on this year, and and we'll talk about maybe some ordinance changes on how we want to handle this, but just to bring that up now.

Um so the next one.

We also have an ADA ramp project.

Uh, we have lots of ramps in the old town and downtown area that are ADA compliant, except they have the domes that are there, the plastic ADA plates are broken, and so this project is going to go through and replace as many of those as we can possibly replace.

Um, and it's gonna be quite a bit cheaper than replacing the whole ramp because we already have a ramp there.

We just have to replace that one square that has the ADA plate on it.

So we're gonna try to do as many as we can in those two areas where we have the most pedestrians.

Uh we do have another crack seal project.

Um, I think last year's project we did about 25 lane miles, and I think we'll be looking at doing another 25 lane miles to try to get caught up from the couple years we have not done crack seal projects.

Uh next up, riverfront Iron Bell Trail Rehab.

So this is we applied for the full section.

We we got um grant funds to cover 100% of this cost.

I think the grant funds totaled like 862,000.

Um, so we're doing the riverfront iron bill trail from Wicks up to Ojibway, and that includes uh trailhead parking on the south end and the north end, and then we're also doing from Holland Avenue Bridge up to Emerson Street.

So that'll bring us right up to the medical diamond portion, which is what then from Emerson to the north is what the grant from today is applying for.

So we're trying to put all the pieces together and from different grant organizations.

Um so we'll be starting that work probably mid-April once the weather gets better, and then that'll be open by the 4th of July.

Uh Jubilee Island Drive rehab.

So, as I said earlier, we have the bank stable shape bank stabilization project complete.

Um, and now we're gonna be looking to work on the drive.

So, this includes a crush and shape of the entire drive and all parking lots, and the gravel lot that's by the back docks will also be added as asphalt as well.

So plus, we're adding a secondary parking lot on the east side of the drive coming into the island as well.

So there will be lots of parking amenities for for the future.

And our goal is to have this done by the 4th of July as well.

I will caveat this, it's a lot a lot depends on weather.

Um, but regardless of that, we will be able to shoot the fireworks off on 4th of July if the project's still ongoing.

We've already talked to our contractor, we won't have any issue with that.

But our goal, ultimate goal is to have it done, everything done by the 4th of July.

Uh next one, Hoyt Park Upper Drive Millinery Surface.

Um, so this is that road that's on the on the top section there at M13.

Um we we did the lower Hoyt Park Drive a couple years ago as part of a grant I think we received from um the memorial cup type projects, and uh now we're doing the Hoy upper park drive with some ARPA funding as well and make some other modifications there too.

All right, flew through that.

I won't read through these, but just wanted to include we've got a couple slides here of just future out 2027 and beyond some other projects we have coming up.

Um just want to make mention the second to last one is the East Genesee.

We'll be looking to do that with bike lanes next year, and we are applying for a grant for that project as well.

Um, and then just another list of some other future projects in the next coming years.

So other than that, any questions?

Tried to slam through it for you guys quick.

Any prices, yes, council one.

Thank you.

Um, so the ADA plate replacement that's going in uh on proposed project funding.

I think that that was in and I may be wrong, but just me walking around down there.

It looks like it was snow plows that did that initial shock and awe damage to those plates.

Is there uh are we taking doing any measures to prevent that from happening in the future?

Yes, so um recently within the last couple years, we've changed our policy that any uh ADA ramps are gonna be in you know areas that can get snow plowed, old town, downtown areas, or any where we have high truck traffic, we're putting in cast iron ADA plates rather than the plastic, so it's it's about double the cost, um, but they will definitely last a lot longer.

And I've heard from plow truck drivers that they feel them, so it jolts them a little bit, but um, but they're yes, they last a lot longer when you're dealing with that kind of traffic and and plowing operation.

Um, and so that's what we're gonna that's what we're gonna be putting in.

I I have a question.

So is that the city that's got all these little spikes and people's yards?

No, so I will say, I mean, it could be it depends on the location.

Because we have to get missed digs whenever we do lead service line replacements, let's say, or um, even with we even with city staff, we might have to do miss digs, CLF flags in the yards.

But most of what's going on right now in the city is there's these fiber companies in town.

So you have ripple fiber, omnifiber, and metronet, and so they're out in Saginaw Township as well.

Um, they're kind of everywhere, and uh, we're we're doing our best to keep them in under control, but it's been kind of a little bit of a challenge, let's put it that way.

So um, but yes, so most of the most of the flags you see all over town are these fiber companies coming in and installing infrastructure.

Okay, I'm asking because it's out in my yacht.

Yeah, okay, in a lot of bought, and I'm not sure.

Yep, and I will say too that consumers energy has started up their grid project again.

So for probably three years in a row, they were all on the west side replacing gas services and gas mains.

Um, so now they are starting within the next couple weeks on the east side, kind of the northeast side.

Um, that they're gonna be installing a lot of new gas mains and gas services as well.

So it could be something to do with that.

So that means I'm gonna be tow up, not necessarily.

I can't confirm nor deny.

I just want to know.

I'm not gonna go fix it back.

Oh, they'll get fixed.

We we have uh we have a tally of everybody that's done the damage and where they're at, so we we hound them.

So we will get one from each other.

Absolutely.

Calce one and weaken and then council one and your presentation, Travis.

It was it was great, actually.

Um just a quick question with all these projects.

Are you hiring?

That's uh so I'm gonna be completely honest.

So with the with the extra funding we're receiving, um, we're gonna give it this construction season, and then at the end of the year, we're probably gonna have to review our operation to see if it's a potential to add a couple positions.

Just depends on the budget we have, you know, the space.

Um and the the other side of that is we might be very, very busy in the summer, but things definitely do slow down in the winter a little bit.

So I don't want to hire three people and then have to lay two of them off in the winter either.

So it's kind of a it's a give and take.

So we're definitely gonna be looking at that after this construction season.

Yep.

No, too there.

They've changed a lot over the last probably five to ten years.

So they do a lot more in-house than they used to.

So we've already increased staffing, at least a few crews.

Is that right, Travis?

Well, I can't say we've increased staffing, but no, we haven't added positions.

Let's put it that way.

It's just that the first couple years I was here, we were at half staff.

So I think um when the old city engineer left and I got moved into the city engineer position.

So I think when the old city engineer left and I got moved into the city engineer position, we only had six out of our 12 positions filled.

So we had uh half of our staff, and so that was a bit of a struggle.

But now we're at full staff.

Um, and like I said, we'll review at the end of this year to see to see if we need to add another person.

Maybe we do have um about six in in-city inspectors that will handle inspection of as many jobs as we can.

Some inspectors will have three projects that are covering all at the same time.

Um, some of the larger projects that maybe are outside of our expertise.

We do hire consultants, as you saw.

I think Wade Trim is doing the inspection on Weiss for us, and I think we're looking at Spicer to do the inspection on lead service line projects.

So you'll you will see consultants kind of helping out um where we need it as well.

So thank you.

Um is that uh so the the lot that is um has a barrier over it now in old town, the one that was over the critical water infrastructure.

Um, is that a paid lot now that people have to oh um I think right now it's free.

I Cassie looks like Cassie's out, but I think right now it's free, but I think at some point there will be a fee structure as part of that gate, and I think it'll be just like the courthouse had.

I think you have to pay to get out, so you'll get a ticket when you go in, and it'll be based on an hourly rate.

But I don't know that I don't know those details for sure.

Okay, I would say big.

I have a question on the Hancock um parking deck if it's gonna be paid at some point.

It will be, but I'm still working on an agreement with our current.

Perfect.

That's like I almost covered it all.

So thanks.

And also the our other newest lot at the old Jacobson site, that's a pay lot as well.

Yep.

I would just I I would hope that we could work out some sort of deal with our employers in the area for passes to be distributed to employees with some kind of flat fee structure because I think that'd be a great way to both ensure a safer parking situation for the employees in that area because I can't there's a lot of parking in that area most days.

I can't imagine a lot of people wanting to use it just because free parking is right next door, but that might be a good idea for local employers to be able to have some sign of some kind of flat monthly rate to then give vouchers to their employees.

I've seen that.

We do have a flat monthly rate right now.

I think with our other new lot of Jacobson's um Spicer's one that pays a flat rate for multiple um spots in that lot.

Yeah, they probably have a third of the lot, something like that.

Yeah, that's open for anybody, whether it's residents in the neighborhood or people that work there, they can contact the city and get that information.

I mean, any well questions.

Yes, thank you.

Um, I have a couple questions about the Ojibwe Island park improvements, um, particularly the the roadway.

Can you describe the character of any changes that are happening with the drive and with the parking lot?

I think there was a concern that the driveway was going to be narrowed to a point that cars could not drive on it.

Is that the intent or no?

No, so so the the road will be narrowed.

Um so I think right now it goes anywhere from 27 feet wide to 32 feet wide.

Um, and that's it's it's still I think the intent is still going to be it's gonna be a one-way road, but we are building it wide enough in case there's a change with whatever council and and city manager's office decides as far as opening it down the road.

Um, we are making the road wide enough that you could do two-way traffic if needed.

Um, I think it's set up to be uh 20 feet wide, and there's gonna be seven to eight, nine foot shoulders of gravel on either side.

And so if you know we try to tell people don't park on the grass and everything, they don't they don't listen sometimes, but what we're doing now is we are accommodating that a little bit with these eight or nine foot gravel shoulders on each side.

Basically, what we're doing is we're crushing the entire road and we're only paving back 20 feet.

So what the original width was that's gonna be there still, it just might not all be asphalt.

Yep, and then the parking lots are staying the same width, um same size, there will be no change there.

But there's an there, and there is an additional, correct.

What's the reasoning behind needing an additional parking lot?

Is it near the entrance?

Yeah, it's on the east side of the entrance coming off of Court Street or as a rust, excuse me.

And uh, so I think we're gonna have roughly 10 spots in that with one handicapped spot as well.

And it's gonna basically mirror what's on the west side currently.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

Travis, can you um just update council too on the level of revenue that changes that you've had with the millage and and the changes at the state?

Yeah, just as a reminder, yeah.

So the millage, the setting county road millage is uh a 1.25 million every year.

Um, just as an example that that almost doubles what we get for local roads every year.

So as of August 2024, that basically doubles our local street budget.

Um and and not not a lot of the snow plowing and pothole patching cost comes out of the local street budget.

So what that'll help us do is actually put most all that money towards projects, and so that's you're gonna see you know a lot more pavement going down with these local streets.

Uh it's a great thing.

Um, and then with the the state budget that was passed in the new gas tax policy.

Um, like I said, the current fiscal year we're in.

Um there's a little the current fiscal year that the feds are in, 2026, we're receiving a 33% increase.

Um, but starting 2027, it's a 50% increase.

So I think right now our total between major and locals is about eight and a half, nine million dollars.

It's gonna go up to twelve.

Um, so it's that's a huge increase for us.

So and I will I will caveat that a little bit because three years ago we received a 15% decrease in the overall budget.

So from three years ago, it's probably more of you know, a 30% increase, let's say, but any anything we can get will take.

So any other questions.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Yeah, Travis.

No better.

Thank you, Travis.

And uh that clues the manifest.

That concludes the management update.

Any questions for the city manager?

Yes, Council.

Thank you.

Um that this presentation we received for the public hearing today from Way Trim, is that available on the city's website?

We can make sure it is.

Yeah.

I I would also ask that um if there is a public hearing and there's any information gonna be presented to council that it's available to the public or attached to the agenda prior to the meeting, because the whole point of the public hearing is for the public to be reacting to the information that's presented.

So it just makes sense if we're looking at something that's not you know available to the public, we make that available to the public.

Sure.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Thank you, Mr.

Manager.

Madam Clerk.

On to the consent agenda.

The 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 we have any exceptions?

Hearing none, all those in favor 65 by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On to board commission and committee reports.

Do we have any community meeting reports?

Okay.

Madam Clark.

Next item is appointment of board commission and committee members.

I need a motion to approve leaving room for exceptions.

I'll move second.

It's been moved to second.

Is there any is there any uh hearing that all those in favor signify by saying aye?

All those opposed, nay, madam clerk.

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

It's to amend the official city map to rezone lot nine, west 30 feet of lot 10, including adjacent vacated alley, block one, South Remington's edition, lot nine, excluding west 70 feet, block two, South Remington edition, also west half of vacated adjacent alley, lot 10 excluding west 30 feet, block one, South Remington's edition, west 70 feet of lot nine, block two, South Remington's edition from R1 low density residential to B1 neighborhood business.

I need a motion to introduce please.

So please introduce it.

Did I get it?

Any questions?

Any comments?

Yeah, what's going on over there with all this?

Is somebody doing something over there or something?

What?

Thank you, guys.

Yeah, this was a request from a property owner who's looking to reopen a convenience store that's over in this area.

Good.

And he owns a couple of the properties and then a couple of them are owned by somebody else.

Okay.

Thank you.

Over on the shared street.

The OCA and Marquee.

And used to be up a long time ago.

Okay.

Oh, but what is it?

Yeah, and we're sitting scoop.

What's that school over there?

Oh wow.

Yeah, right over there.

All right.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

I mean, taking it.

No, you're good.

Is there anything else?

Appreciate that.

Any other questions?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

This ordinance will be laid over with the provisions of the state law.

Madam Clerk.

On two resolutions, we have one there as well.

It's authorizing the submission of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Application for the Saginaw Riverfront Park Improvements for the Public Services Department Engineering Division.

I need a motion to adopt.

So move.

Second.

It's been moved and second to the discussion.

Yes, Councilwoman.

Thank you.

I have a question on the funding for this project.

So I know that uh part of the match that we're discussing in the presentation.

Um, well, well, the match discussed in the presentation was I'm not sure how contingent that expenditure is on getting that grant.

So basically, if we're unsuccessful in in receiving this grant, what is what is going to be done with the money that otherwise would have been used as a match.

I think the presenter left, is that right?

So the so the match, the match that's listed in the resolution would be coming directly from the LEO grant that was already received for from the medical diamond project itself.

So if we don't get that grant, it would just there would it's not like we're losing that matching funding.

That matching funding will still be utilized on that park because we still have about a three and a half million dollar funding gap.

So with if we got this grant, it would just take that extra half a million and reduce that gap.

That's all.

Thank you.

And I would just say the nature of my concern was if there was any ARPA dollars just with the timing, that's a very tight deadline with from the the deadline of the grant.

But um, no, that answers my question.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

No question.

Uh I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I guess if for some reason I'm not going to be able to do that.

Travis, can you come back?

Mr.

Travis, can you come back up, please?

Just stand there for me.

Stand there for a minute, please.

If by some miracle through either private funding or something that we have the money to cover our city's contribution, would is that a possibility, and would we be able to use that money for something else?

So you're asking, would we be able to use the grant money for something else?

Or what no, the the contribution of the city, like the like the you know, the six whatever that's oh, yeah, absolutely.

So right now we have we have a hundred percent of the LEO grant uh money uh obligated, let's call it towards that project.

So we're we're not taking any money from that grant.

The the trail piece is already included in that total cost of the entire Saginaw Riverfront Park.

So we're just identifying a piece of that to hopefully get some funding for that.

We're already that match is already being provided.

Um we're just we're taking advantage of that match being there already.

So we're not actually increasing the match.

We're still we're not increasing the I think it was 30 and a half million.

We're not we're not trying to utilize that funding in a different way than it's already being utilized.

It's just we're taking advantage that the money's already being spent on that park to act as a match for this grant.

Yeah, is it it's not a new project or an additional project to the park?

It's in the plan, so they have this gap funding gap right now.

So basically, if they didn't get any additional uh private funding or any additional grants, the park would probably be phased.

So you may not have as many features as were presented, but they have uh I don't know, Phil probably has five or six different funding options going on.

Yeah, we so there's one.

Um I think the guy from Wake Trim, um he had brought up one that we have, I think it's like six point eight million dollars um that was part of the recreation legacy program through the feds.

They they paused that.

Um we were so we were the only it goes through like a regional review.

We were the only project in the state of Michigan that was selected to go on to the federal review.

Um so that just based on that, we thought we had a very good chance of getting that grant, which would more than cover the the funding gap we have.

Unfortunately, they suspended that program.

They are reopening it, hopefully in the next month or so.

Um, and with the success we had getting through the state of Michigan review and being the only recommended project, we think we still have a good chance of that.

Um other questions?

Not until you sit down.

Yes, I'm gonna stand up for a while.

With that being said, thank you, Chad.

With that being said, all in favor signify by saying aye.

All opposed, Madam Clark.

Takes you to miscellaneous business.

Do we have any motions to put on the floor?

Hearing none.

I need a motion to adjourn.

Second.

If they're moved and second, all in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.