Saginaw City Council Meeting Summary - July 14, 2026

Good afternoon.

We want to start off tonight with prayer and play as prayer.

We'll be led by Council War McSills and pleased by Mayor Pro Tim.

Garcia.

Please speak loudly.

I surely will.

Please bow your heads if you will like.

We thank you, Father God, for today.

We ask you to bless us today in the business of the city of Saginaw.

We ask you to bless the citizens, Lord, and keep us safe, Lord.

We ask you to lead us and guide us in our truth.

Lord, we bless you today.

In Jesus' name we pray everyone say Amen.

Amen.

We stand one nation.

Under God.

Well called, please, Madam Clerk.

Councilmember Young.

Present.

Councilmember Seal.

Present.

Councilmember Balls.

Present.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Present.

Councilmember Ostache is absent.

Councilmember Braddock.

Present.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Present.

Councilmember Hammond.

Present.

And Mayor Moore.

Present.

You have eight members present and one absent.

Okay.

Again, I'd like to welcome you to this city council meeting.

The housekeeping to do council people.

If you can turn your phones on silent, I should appreciate it.

Um as well as your computers.

Audience, I ask that you do the same because when somebody's talking and the phone goes off is distraction.

This is your city council meeting.

We ask that you respect one another, no booing, no clapping, no obnoxious behavior.

Madam Clerk, any announcements?

Yes, we have a couple.

July 21st at 4 p.m.

is the deadline to file for city council candidacy.

There will be one two-year term and four four-year terms on the November 3rd ballot.

Petition packets are available in the clerk's office.

Absentee ballots for the upcoming August 4th primary are available in the clerk's office, and early voting will begin Saturday, July 25th from 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

at 6.18 CAS.

That takes us to public input.

You will be called to the podium by the clerk.

Please speak.

Please speak clearly so that we understand.

This is not a question or answer period, so you will not get an answer from us.

Once you will call, you have three minutes to do your presentation.

Please, please try to get it all in in three minutes, especially the highlight point.

Madam Clerk.

Our first speaker is Ann Marie Bakoski Sullivan.

Good evening, Council members, Mayor, City Manager, and City Staff.

My name is Anne Marie Batkoskey Sullivan, and I'm the executive director of Positive Results Downtown Saginaw.

On behalf of our board of directors, I want to thank you for allowing me a few minutes to share what's happening in downtown Saginaw this summer.

First, I'd like to personally invite each of you to join us for the 28th season of Friday Night Live, which kicks off this Friday in Morley Plaza.

This year's opening concert is especially exciting as we are celebrating America's 250th anniversary with a performance by Saginaw Eddie, the Saginaw Eddie concert band, celebrating its incredible hundredth season, followed by Shakedown the Bob Seeger experience.

Our concert series continues every Friday through August 21st with themed evenings including Fiesta on the River, We Love Saginaw, Downtown Hodown, Riverfront Rock, and Motown Night.

Every concert is completely free and features live music, food vendors, a beer and wine tent, activities for kids, nonprofits, and a chance of thousands of people, thousands of people to gather and enjoy our downtown.

I also want to highlight our another event that we has had tremendous success this year, our tailgating with the Michigan Arsenal football team.

I don't know if you've been down there, but we've been tailgating before each event.

Um it's in partnership with the Dow Event Center, which I know is a Saginaw County facility.

They're another wonderful um opportunity to bring in more people to downtown.

We've had hundreds of attendees, uh sold a lot of beverages, logged about 200 volunteer hours and welcome visitors from across Michigan and even neighboring states.

This Saturday is our last one, so we invite you to come down to our the last tailgating.

Um starts from one to five.

We even have a cornhole tournament going on this weekend.

Also, as summer winds down, our work doesn't stop.

September 19th, we'll host our annual We Love Saginaw Fundraiser, which helps support all of our free events that we put on in the community.

Then again, we begin preparing for our annual holidays in the heart of the city celebration, our Christmas parade, and other events to bring people downtown.

Before I close, I'd like to publicly thank the city of Saginaw.

Positive positive results downtown simply could not do what we do without your partnership.

From preparing Maury Morley Plaza for Friday Night Live, setting up barricades and helping us get our parade routes ready to responding whenever we call.

And whenever we quite have a question, call or need assistance, your departments consistently go above and beyond.

I know Phil's in the room tonight, and I truly appreciate all of Phil Cartwatt's help and his team is fabulous.

Your public service crews are truly second to none.

They are professional, responsive, and always willing to lend a hand often behind the scenes without receiving the recognition that they deserve.

Please note that we notice it, we appreciate it, and our community benefits because of their dedication.

On behalf of Positive Results Downtown, thank you for everything you do to help us create a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for thousands of residents and visitors each year.

Again, thank you for your continued support of our organization and our mission.

I hope to see you all on Friday as we kick off Friday Night Live.

Come out to our last Michigan Arsenal tailgate on Saturday and continue celebrating everything that makes us great.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Chandelier Yarn.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

Thank you for allowing me to speak as it was stated.

My name is Chandelier Yarn.

I mean and my family, we volunteer various capacities all throughout Saginaw for over 10 years now with my family.

Ojibwe Island is uh a great one of Saginaw greatest treasures.

Uh, with that recent open reopening of the island, we have an opportunity to create a space that is warm and welcoming and beautiful for every visitor.

And also, as people approach the island, the large amount of rocks are one of the first things they notice.

So some might even jokingly say it should be called Rock Island.

But Ojibwe Island deserves to reflect the rich history and heritage behind its name.

So rather than allowing the rocks to divine the island, how about we consider transforming them into something beautiful that honors both the old Jipway heritage and the welcoming spirit of Saginaw?

My suggestions, I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, is suggesting that flowers and native plants like lighting benches and educational signs and artwork that reflects our history or our community pride.

I did notice uh visiting the island just recently.

If there is some, I didn't see it.

There are signs out for those that are handicapped, our senior citizens that may be all walkers or wheelchairs.

We need to make sure we got some signs out there so they'll know that this is part of their park.

I mean their island and the community itself.

They can they're uh are welcome to come.

Alongside, I would I'm also willing as a family to uh help with organizations uh by volunteering with churches, schools, city staff to make old Jitway Island look great, especially during the time that we're going to have Gospel Fest and there be other uh events that may be coming.

I know all council members should be looking at the literature of the rocks and which we were thinking we could put words of affirmation on those rocks like welcome and unity and love and joy and hope and peace.

So it won't seem when you first approach the island that it looks so cold and not inviting, uh, that it will be warming, especially when you first enter.

We don't have to start right away on at the whole entire project.

It's a process.

We can start at the entrance way and then continue and uh chunks and pieces.

And as far as uh what would you say uh expensive?

We can knock on the doors of Abels, Home Depot, different organizations, and and present them it presented in such a way where it could be a tax wide-off for them and a win-win situation.

We can also knock on doors of our teen, uh our teen, our youth before they start back to school to make this uh project a beautiful one.

Thank you for your time again.

Our next speaker is Erica Ramos on to Diane Clock.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and staff.

My name is Diane Clock.

I am on the board of trustees for the public libraries of Saginaw, and I am, but I am not speaking for the board.

And I'm here to give you a brief update on the libraries.

The last time I briefed you on the libraries, we were in the process of searching for a new director.

I am pleased to say that our new director, Johanna Oriana Cabrera, started today.

Miss Cabrera is a bilingual executive leader with 10 plus years of library leadership experience.

She previously served as a library branch manager across six branches for the Arlington Public Library in Texas.

Her focus is on creating an exceptional experience for library patrons while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

The Texas Library Association, which provides advanced leadership and management education, named Ms.

Cabrera a TLA tall Texan in 2023.

In other news, the summer reading program is in full swing and ends August 1.

If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time to get your reading log, check out some books, and beat the heat that is coming our way.

Kids get a book when they sign up and one when they complete their reading log.

Adults get a prize when they complete their logs.

As part of the summer reading program, there are activities such as Toddler Toddler Storytime, the Hoyt Lego Club, Tai Chi for Better Sleep, A Magic Show, and Family Friendly Movies and many more.

You can find more activities on the library's webpage and in the and in the beyond the bookshelf handout that I brought for you.

In addition to reading material available in the libraries, there is a plethora of items available in the library of things, such as board games, STEM kits, some musical instruments, Chromebooks, and so on.

If you want to try a new board game but don't want to spend the money only to find out that you don't enjoy it, you can check it out at one of the branches.

Each branch has different items, so check the website for that information.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Mike Thompson.

Good evening and thank you.

Tonight we focus on ARPA and on Mission in the City Park, which on Wednesday will host the annual CAP block party at 7th and Jane's.

Therefore, their proposal should be revived for 250,000 to rehab those facilities, which nearly are 30 years old.

Council has the money.

Ones are in ARPA bank accounts that earn interest revenue on unspent cash, like for the medical diamond.

State rep O'Neill pegged this sum at $4 million during a Houghton Jones meeting, and that was 15 months ago.

The feds allow you to switch those dollars to your regular budget, but that is not the purpose for ARPA.

You may ask why mission in the city should be singled out when so many other proposals also were turned down.

The reason goes back to your guide house consultants who gave you a disjointed book with about 150 genuine proposals mixed with random ideas.

You couldn't even tell the proposals from the ideas.

If you doubt this, compare the ARPA book with your own well-organized annual block grant book assembled by your own Letitia Trevino.

Guide house caused such confusion that some 2022 council members could not keep track, and some of the proposals were lost in the shuffle.

Amid this mayhem, the council tried to simplify with categories, everything from home repairs to mental health.

If your proposals category lacked a high rank, you likely were turned down.

However, the main top category was for community centers and facilities, like First Ward, Neighborhood House, Boys and Girls, the Mexican American Council, Houghton Jones, Women of Colors.

The latter pair would have missed out if they had not reminded the council that they had applied, and so only mission in the city was excluded.

This would be similar to making Crayons number one, but then not including all the colors.

Final question taxpayer money cannot go to a church, but mission in the city is not a religious entity.

It is separate from New Life Baptist, like countless other arrangements, both in Saginaw and nationwide.

Michigan in the city began 30 years ago for the entire community.

Whether anyone may worship or not, the park should be included in your ARPA budget.

Better late than never.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is Danita Dorsey.

I don't see Danita.

On to remarks of council.

Council members, you have three minutes as well.

We will be here tonight with Councilman Ball.

Citizens.

I'd like to thank everybody for come out to the city council meeting today.

I really don't have a lot to say.

A lot of issues in the city this lately, and I'm kind of happy about that.

I just want to reiterate that if we want the city to be a better place to be, and we need to be involved in it.

Need to evolve in kids' lives, especially the kids who don't have father at home.

I would say that if we want the city to be better, that we definitely got to engage these children.

You can engage them at the first work community center neighborhood house, uh, big brothers and sisters program and uh help the kids out because all they need is just an adult to really uh talk to them.

Um I talk to the children in the neighborhood every day.

Um my wife uh have a tendency to tell me that I'm out in the garage with my friends, and I do be out there with my friends.

I got uh about uh four or five regulars that stop by to get snacks and water and stuff like that.

They kind of they they uh really drinking the hell out of my water right now.

And uh the wife says, hey, if you want them to have water, you better start going out there getting it yourself.

So uh we gotta do what we gotta do.

And I'm on a fixed income being a retired person, but uh I can't um spend my money better if I don't invest it in children's lives.

So I thank God for the opportunity for me to be able to do that.

And I'd like you to join me in trying to help the kids out in the city of Saginaw.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Councilman Braddock.

Come on.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to your city council meeting as well.

Um, I'd just like to say the opening of the way um I I like to um join everyone that is enjoying the part of seeing a lot of people riding by.

I actually rode in there before I came in here just to look at it, and so we're seeing some people that are um enjoying it, you know.

Uh the traffic is flowing through pretty good.

Um, I went there Sunday, and so it was cool to see the community come out and join it, you know.

And and I think as time comes on, we could probably put some more things, some more amenities out there in the future.

So, you know, I'm looking forward to that.

And um, and it's hot outside, so I would say everybody make sure they hydrate, make sure y'all check on any seniors, elderly people that may not have any AC or something like that over the over these next few days.

It's going to be extremely hot.

We don't want any incidents, you know.

Some people be sitting in the house with no AC or anything, so especially a lot of some of the elderlies.

So, you know, you know, if y'all can in our community, look out for that.

But other than that, that's all I have right now.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilwoman would.

I will also keep it short here tonight.

I just want to thank everybody for coming out and speaking, giving us the update on what's going on at the library and Friday Night Live, everything that's going on in Saginaw.

So I appreciate all of the speakers and the ideas that were shared today.

Um wanted to mention that the Eastide Soup Kitchen is giving another drive-through food distribution event, and that's going to be next Monday, um, July 20th.

It starts at 9 a.m.

Uh, so if with with children being out of school, you know, the need is there.

So I appreciate them doing that.

Um I want to say thank you to the staff of the city of Saginaw for putting on such a great event for the reopening of Ojibwe.

You guys did a great job.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It was a nice event.

It was nice to see a lot of my neighborhood out there just hanging out, enjoying what's uh what we've been missing.

So um, and it's a beautiful area, and um really really excited about everything that's coming to Ojibwe and the process and the progress that's that's continues to be made.

So thank you for that.

And that's all they have right now.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Council Woman Hand.

Thank you.

Um thank you to all of our public speakers.

Um, specifically, I want to thank uh Anne Marie who puts in so much work into Friday Night Live at such a job in in downtown.

Uh, and thank you to Miss Chandelier for your generosity dedication to the city of Saginaw.

Um, I will say that your idea um I have uh you know we have an arts and enrichment commission.

There's also a couple organizations in the area that do a lot of work in public art, and I will help to forward some of your ideas.

It would help if you had a digital copy, but feel free to email me and we can start a correspondence.

I think we have some mutual friends, so I'll reach out.

But thank you again for your for your volunteering dedication.

And you know, the the ideas and the warmth is very much appreciated.

Also, thank you to Miss Clock.

Uh, what a wonderful update.

I'm so glad to hear about the library resources.

We get, you know, the amazing pamphlets every year about the summer activities.

But it's it's really great to hear about progress to hear about new people coming in.

I love library of things.

Um, yes, I've I that's that's all fantastic uh to bring in.

Um I also wanted to mention I was at a conference specifically for locally elected officials uh for a long period of time last week and got ideas specifically around a phenomenal it's it was in Baltimore and there was a co-op uh for an entire strip mall that they had built in a specifically disinvested area.

It was a food desert.

It was blight.

Uh it was run down, vacant space that the uh city leaders worked with nonprofit and economic development groups to get a 17 million dollar investment in.

And because they did the whole building, they were able to help bring in certain franchise operations, not one, but two grocery stores.

So I got my hands on all the information that I could.

I made some really great connections, and I look forward to bringing those in more ideas into the city of Saginaw, where obviously we we we exist in a food desert, we have a lack of resources, and we have all the need in the world for a collaboration.

Um, and being a part of seeing really great things happen in cities where there's there's been disinvestment, like in Saginaw.

It was great to have the opportunity to collaborate.

Um thank you so much for your time.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilman Young.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um thank you, everyone, for uh coming out to the meeting today.

Um I want to repeat what um other council members have said that was uh I want to congratulate staff on putting on a good uh ribbon cutting ceremony and that was well received.

We had a lot of uh residents that came out, so it was a beautiful event, and uh it was very nice out there, and uh I decided to come back on Sunday, which is most of the time is when I would go, like I spoke to staff about, you know, like a lot of my um friends and colleagues, you know, we're on different shifts working in different cities, and that's really the only time that we'll run into each other.

So, you know, I went out there and I said maybe I'll run into a few friends, and I wasn't out there five minutes, and one of my old friends had pulled his low rider out and he put right next to me, and it's three more friends, and everybody's around the cars.

And uh there was uh a couple that was staying at the Mana U In and they looked across and they seen the cars, and they drove and came in there.

They wanted to see the cars, and they were from Ohio and they wanted to talk to us, and that's what it's for.

That's the jewel, and that's what's gonna bring people together.

And the way it's set up like that, you'll get people to interact that wouldn't normally interact, you know.

So that that'll bring the residents out.

That'll bring people out.

When you have a safe space and everybody can, you know, you have kayakers, bikers, you know, people were on motorcycles, you know, to it was just a whole mix, and that's what Saginaw needs, a good neutral place where there's a mix of activities for everyone to enjoy each other and bond, and you know, some people you won't run into until you you know come to the island.

So that was a good experience, and then it also says a lot when someone from out of town seen it and they wanted to come and be a part of it too.

So they'll go back with a good impression about you know Saginaw just from that interaction.

So, you know, I enjoyed my Sunday out there, stayed out for a little for a little while and you know, just uh enjoyed the park.

It was a long time coming.

Thank you.

That's what I have.

Thank you.

Thanks.

We have Council War.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Speaking loud as I can.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um I just wanted to um say I don't want to be before you long, but um kind of piggybacking off for everyone.

Thank you to the city staff for the opening of Ojibwe, Ojibwe Allen is beautiful.

Um I guess you just have to see an Ojibwe before it looked the way it looks now.

Um just being a kid living growing up down the street from here on the south side of Saginaw.

Um Jibway is beautiful, and they did a great job with its outlook.

I couldn't have done anything different.

Um the city staff and the way it looks is is beautiful.

Um not sure how many people actually attended.

I don't know if we have the actual number or not, but um it was um I thought it was such a great event that I actually diverted an entire field trip so that our camp can go to the opening.

So we had over 83 kids, two bus full of kids that I diverted because I wanted them to be there.

I said, you guys are gonna be a part of a great celebration, City of Saginaw, and I want you to know something special you're gonna be a part of as a kid.

You're gonna remember this day that you were there when they opened back up Ojibwe Park.

So 83 kids saw that we were there when they opened up Ojibwe Park from the ages of five to 14.

So they were really excited, they had so much fun.

You guys, the city gave and the the um the different um entities that came out to participate.

They gave the kids so much stuff.

They came home with so much stuff.

We were like, you forgot this on the bus.

You I mean, they left so much stuff on the bus.

They brought stuff back to us to give to our kids, and it was it was an amazing time.

Our kids walked over to the park.

So we took the river walk down to the Crayola Park.

So we just took advantage of the day and just utilize the river walk, utilize the river, and like um council and young just said, um, just the variety of people that was there.

We saw Saginaw at one of his greatest times.

We saw us come together.

Ojibwe is part of our legacy, guys.

And so just it being open is a beautiful place.

Um, I love the fact that Ms.

Yarn is it Miss Yarn brought in even making it even a better place, making it more beautiful.

I mean, we we I mean, could you make it better?

Oh my gosh, you just when I looked at the pictures, I almost teared up because I was like, it's gonna even look better than what it looks now.

So just making Saginaw a beautiful and better place.

I mean, we we we can't go anywhere but up from here.

So thank you, Saginaw, for making this a special occasion for everyone.

Thank you.

Next we have Mayor Pro Jim Gashir.

Good evening, concerned citizens of the community.

Thank you this evening for attending this hot cold meeting in here.

It's a little chilly for me, but I know it's outside.

Just want to thank the speakers, and I love um you always doing Friday night lives, and I'll be there on the 24th for Latin night, and I'm always sharing on my community alerts, all the great things you're doing, especially with Arson watch and everything going on.

I'm gonna try to make it tomorrow to Hooters because you guys are having an event from six to eight.

We're giving out swag to meet the team.

So I'm gonna try to go in there, get some grub and um someone's out and support you guys tomorrow.

Um, also for Miss Yarn, yes, these were great visions.

I was like, who gave these?

These are really nice.

I love the vision, the art, and I think it's great marketing, like you said, it catches your eye, and like wow, and then the history of like the Ojibwe and stuff.

I think that's um I love history, so I think this is really great.

I'm excited to see that we can get this together.

So you definitely have my support on this great idea and your vision.

Um, and Miss Clark for the libraries.

That's awesome to hear somebody from Arlington, Texas that wants to come here to Saginaw.

I have family down that way and to come here to get a job, and that just speaks volumes, you know.

Um, the library's awesome.

I live right by the bum and fish, and I utilize it when I need to go, and it's great because it's right around the block from me, so it's a great resource.

And I try to take my grandson because he's not too far up the road, too, so it's kind of nice, and then all the things that you have.

I know they said you can run out like a black stone from there, and I'm like, wow, well, that's cool, you know.

So the library has a lot of good things going on.

And for Ojibwe yesterday, um, it was my church St.

Joe's had their festival, their two-day festival, and I had so many people come up to me talking about how great Ojibwe was, how good it is, and they remember back in the day I brought up so many memories.

So it was just nice to hear everybody so excited about Saginaw, you know.

We hear negative things, but to hear the positive things and knowing that we're moving forward, you know.

We have a great staff that's helpful.

Um, I was actually with my colleague Tobias, and he was taking me around to kind of show me on his golf cart, and uh had a couple come up to me and they were saying, we don't have nowhere to park our bikes back here.

So we talked to the um manager and he was on it.

So we are gonna be getting some bike rats in the back.

I don't know if they went up yet, but they are gonna be back located by the bathroom so that way they can lock them up and then go to the bathroom and they have to worry about their bike missing, you know.

So that's great.

When usually you talk to the staff, they're pretty adamant about helping you, and that's what I like about that.

They they give you feedback, they're on it, they're sufficient about it, and you know, and that's great because I'm not a bike rider anymore, so I wouldn't have thought of that until this couple came up and they said, Well, we told somebody else we really didn't know who to talk to.

Sometimes, you know, just talking can help the right communication, getting those points across.

Hey, yeah, I didn't think about that.

I don't ride a bike, but if I had to use a rustroom and I did have a bike, where am I gonna put it?

You know, so just things like that helps communication is always key and anything and being transparent.

So I want to thank the staff for doing that for them for the bike riders.

Thank you.

Stay cool.

First, I like it.

It's repetitious, but I like to thank the public speakers.

Diane is always I need to give with you on an issue, but I need to give with you.

Ms.

Yarn.

She has been around for some times in the backdrop.

So I don't want y'all to think she just showing up.

No, she's been in the community the whole time I've been on council.

She's been in the backdrop doing things.

I need to thank the city of Saginaw two times.

One time for the 4th of July, two times for the reopening of OJ way.

Whether you know it or not, we were well received.

And so was Saginaw Hot was no Saginaw United.

Drumline.

We were well received.

We made it in the paper.

We made it to Detroit.

We made it throughout Michigan.

People are talking about Saginaw.

Oh, Jipway.

And the 4th of July celebration.

So I want to thank the community, not just the community, because we had people from out of state from our from out of our area that came.

The grand opening couldn't have been more better.

I couldn't have been more prouder of all of the work that was done by the engineers, the drafting.

Everybody that played the part in last Friday.

We even had the city manager.

I think I see the flipped a couple of hot dogs.

We see I see the attorney.

She was making popcorn.

It was a family affair.

When you talk about coming together, it only takes a little bit.

And I I watched people all day long on Friday.

I stayed afterwards.

The city cleaned the park up.

We left the park the way we found it.

So I really want to thank everybody for coming out.

And on Friday, those council persons who would like to, not mandatory.

I'll be a Friday night live.

And we have a table.

And I give away swag.

We give away swag.

And why do we give away swag?

Because I want people to know.

Represent Saginaw.

So council members, if you're not busy on Friday, I'm gonna be there from five o'clock to nine o'clock or 9 30, whatever time.

And we just have a ball.

I dance, I stop.

And Cows may balls.

I hope that you took Lois on Sunday to Ojibway.

It's obvious you didn't because you're here with us tonight.

But you know, being on council can be fun, and it is fun.

Thank you so much, Madam Clerk.

On to reports from the manager, Mr.

Manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

So we have uh we don't have any presentations this evening, but I have some updates on projects for you all.

Um, our city hall elevator project actually started today.

Uh it's the last component of the city hall renovation project, and once the elevator is complete, the uh an operational city council meetings can return to the council chambers.

That project is estimated to be six to nine weeks, so longer than we originally instructed, but it'll be a nice new elevator, which as you all know, we've received a lot of complaints about the old elevator over the years.

Reminder that we do have the water tower ribbon cutting uh ceremony for the city's new water tower this Friday, the 17th.

The project represents another significant investment in the city's water infrastructure and is an important milestone for our utility system.

SGTV is once again broadcasting on Spectrum Channel 191.

We've been off for off the air for more than a year during the City Hall renovation.

Once council meeting return to City Hall, they'll uh once again be broadcast live on Spectrum.

Staff is also completing upgrades to the transmission system, which will improve the overall broadcast quality on Spectrum for our station.

And I would also like to thank Vicky Davis and Rachel Joseka for their outstanding work coordinating the Ojibwe Island reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

I'd like to thank our department heads and city staff who also attended and volunteered their time to make the event a success.

We were also honored to have Congresswoman Kristen McDonnell Ribb, representatives from U.S.

Senator Gary Peters' office, U.S.

Senator Alyssa Slotkin's office, Saginaw County Board Chairman Jack Tanny, Saginaw County Parks Director Brian Keenan Lekkel and members of uh Saginaw City Council join us for the celebration.

Your attendance and support helped make the reopening a memorable event and highlighted the strong partnerships that continue to benefit the city of Saginaw.

I think with regard, a few of you mentioned how many people.

We gave away 400 uh ISIS, so that was pretty popular too.

We uh the county helped us with that.

They um paid for 200 of them, and the city provided 200.

Um, so very popular.

Um I will say that being out there talking about stuff, as uh Mayor Pro Tem mentioned, you can get ideas immediately.

So we do have um we do have some bike racks in in uh in our stock room.

The the Uh Saginaw bike locks our bike racks that are intended to be replacements if they're damaged, but staff was gonna get right on that and go out and get those installed since we have them there once that suggestion uh came about.

I was talking with uh Phil Carwat staff, and um you know we do uh want to try to have the restrooms open uh Sunday when we have staff there as a time when it's easy to have them open.

Um so we talked about how can we kind of combine the celebration park attendance with Ojibwe Island.

So we'll probably be be coming back to you with uh purchase request for a um either a golf car or a gator or something like that, so our staff can go back and forth throughout the day, open the restrooms up and check on them throughout the day.

So that's something that we'll be working on and bringing that back to council for a purchase.

Um so uh great to be out there with everyone and talk to people and get those kind of ideas as well.

Appreciate all of you attending.

That's uh excellent event.

We're also looking forward to welcoming students from our sister city of Tokushima, Japan next Tuesday, July 21st, 21st.

Following their visit with the mayor and uh council members at the Castle Museums, they'll participate in a guided tour of Saginaw highlighting destinations such as Celebration Park and the Children's Zoo.

So we appreciate everyone helping to showcase our community uh to our international guests.

If there's any council members that have questions about that, you can contact Vicky R.

Rachel in my office.

Um we did uh as you all know, we did uh recently through our uh construction project at the parking ramp.

Um we installed fiber and and a pay system there, and we did go live with that.

Um subsequently I received a call from the old town association about the construction work that's being done on Hancock and Ames that that did take away several parking um places.

So through discussions with them, we were gonna um lift the gates and have that available during the uh project so that it won't be um we won't be charging a fee until that project's done.

We expect that to be done in September.

Um so we do want to go back and meet with uh the Old Town Business Association and talk a little bit more about some ideas that we have about parking.

Um there is a uh $30 monthly pass that businesses could get uh for their staff if they're looking for additional parking or things like that.

A couple other things that I I kind of um threw out to them that may be beneficial for the businesses is to look at a kind of 15-minute grace period for people that are picking up takeout.

That was one of the things they mentioned that they have a lot of people that come to Old Town to pick up things from businesses like Fralia's or the Breadgale.

So we'll continue to work with them and try to make it uh as as um as friendly as possible.

And finally, the 4th of July we did have a successful event as the mayor mentioned, and I'd like to recognize outstanding cooperation among our public safety partners during the 4th of July.

On behalf of the city, I'd like to thank our uh Saginaw Police Officers, the Michigan State Police, Saginaw County Sheriff's Office, Central Dispatch, Saginaw Township Police Department, Bridgeport Township Police Department, and the Saginaw County Sheriff's Mounted Division who all helped uh in the city uh for that uh annual event.

So we do thank them for their for their help and their participation.

Those are all the items that I have, Madam Mayor.

Do we have any questions for the city manager?

Yes, so on.

Thank you.

Um, I was wondering, does the city have any policies uh regulating to use some generative AI?

No, I don't think so.

Do we have a purchased license from any AI companies?

Yes.

Which what do we have?

We have I think just open AI.

I I mentioned because um I've gotten a few complaints about the use of the city's AI or using AI in official communications, especially public facing communications on you know, social media in particular.

Um just seems authentic.

Uh and it's it's I is this something that the staff is willing to work with council on in terms of policy specifically for outward facing communications.

Well, I mean, for if it's an employee policy, it would come from administration rather than council.

So if it's something that the the whole of council is concerned with, um, and you want to direct me, then uh our administrative staff can write employee policy.

Okay, thank you.

Yes, council.

Yes, when the last time someone from Saginaw visited Tomashima, uh that would be a number of years ago, and I think it was probably a delegation that Mayor Clark went on.

Right.

Um probably it was before it was before COVID.

2018 or 2019, I guess.

Yeah.

Yes.

We're they're they're coming this year, and then we plan on going back next year.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah, I didn't mention that in the update, but the students come every year.

Okay.

That's coordinated um through SVSU.

SVSU, the um the delegation from Tokoshima will be here this fall.

So we'll try to plan um some events for them as well.

Okay.

My wife wanted me to go too.

She probably questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Manager.

Madam Clark.

On to the consent agenda.

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

I need a motion to approve leaving room for exceptions.

So move.

Do I have any exceptions?

Yes.

Number two and number four.

Is there any more exceptions?

Signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clark.

Item number two is to approve the community development block grant COVID-19 agreement with United Way of Saginaw County for 288,958 for the Office of Management Budget Community Development Block Grant Division.

That was Councilmember Hammond.

Uh okay.

I have uh several questions regarding the grants.

I'm not sure who I'm supposed to direct them to, but um, this are CARES Act dollars, which I'm very confused as to how we have 288,000 dollars of CARES Act money in 2026, as this was an appropriation allocation that was made to the city in 2020 and accepted in 2021.

Hi.

Hi.

So we did receive those monies um back in 2020.

The monies were to prevent, prepare, and respond to COVID.

When the world opened up, it made those dollars harder to spend.

So we are now in the response to COVID time phase.

Um there was one caveat to the money, there could be no duplication of resources.

So when the huge ARPA dollars came out, that kind of gave us pause.

Um agencies didn't need the money, they were done preparing, they were done buying PPE, and we kind of paused to let the ARPA money settle the way that it did.

We were working on two potential projects, they both fell apart, and this is where we are now.

Okay, so February 22nd of 2021.

Um council made two decisions.

One was to accept the C V three sub-recipient agreement for 1.5 million dollars.

The subsequent vote was to appropriate 1.5 million dollars to several sub-recipients.

Correct.

So okay.

Part of that, part of the difference with the CARES money, like when we do our regular CDBG, you have to appropriate every dollar by agency with the CARES dollar, we only had to have an appropriation to a purpose, so public service, and then we had the authority to allocate the dollars to agencies later.

So to HUD, we dedicated the money to public services, and then we had the freedom to bind agencies, work with agencies as they needed to um award the amount to specific agencies.

So we awarded all that was requested, so we didn't have any other agencies that asked for money or needed money, and we work with all the nonprofits in town.

People call us all the time, we're always in communication with what's happening in the in the community, and there wasn't a need for it, so we held it.

So the 288,000 has been floating in within like C D BG monies since 2021.

It was allocated to us.

We don't actually have the money here.

It's money that we have the authority to draw from.

Yes.

So what was the total do you know what the total allocation in 2021 was was of CARES CARES Act dollars?

Um you stated the 1.5 Yeah, there's 1.5.

And then there was another allocation of a maybe 388 or so.

I don't have that number with me.

So aren't there weren't the requirements since this is CARES Act dollars, much like ARPA for it to be spent or allocated by a certain point in time?

No, just allocated to a purpose, which was public services.

Excuse me, madam mayor.

And excuse me.

Point of order.

Point of order.

I thought we was to go back and forth.

Each person can ask a question before another person keep asking another question.

Am I right?

We're not in discussion of motion.

She was she yelled it up for VHGH.

With the exception.

Am I right or I didn't hear what he said?

I'm sorry.

My question was, shouldn't the other council members may ask another question for it?

We keep going for one person.

Not until there's a motion to approve.

So she's just getting her questions.

Right.

Okay.

That's fine.

That's fine.

Um so this so we were in compliance with HUD the entire time.

And then we have so since then and now we've been in constant conversation.

We know how much we have left, we know the things that we can do with it, and we look for projects, we talk to agencies, we try to put projects together, and this is where we are.

Okay.

Um I was attempting to review the uh agreement with United Way for these funds.

Yeah, um, and I'm I'm still not totally clear on that on the timeline of of funding and what I was reading about, you know, HUD allocations, but for the United Ways program, um, there's in the contract that there's no program title that this these monies are going for in the sub-recipient agreement.

I asked to see the exhibits, and they I guess they weren't able to get to me before the council meeting.

I haven't had an opportunity to review are there exhibits all completed, or do they exist in a form that is completed?

So the exhibit only shows the budget and it shows the amount going to program expenses to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Okay.

So I don't know what you're looking for exactly.

Are you looking for specific programs?

Yeah, because usually with subrecipient agreements, they need to be very specific about what program we're funding.

Usually, yeah, but because it was CARES, we just had to have the category specific.

So it's public services and it's to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

It's a regular sub-recipient agreement, though.

Madam Mayor make a motion to be approved.

Is there a second?

Second.

It's been moved is second.

Now sorry, we have the second.

Thank you.

You're on a discussion about it now.

We have discussion.

We can keep going now.

Hold on my minute down this way.

Yeah, I'd like to know what was the other two projects that uh that we had on the books to do when they and they failed through, they didn't go through.

What was the other two projects?

Uh we were trying to do something out at that's park, and we were trying to do something with the old good neighbors mission with the good neighbors mission.

We are still waiting for site control.

That project is still something that we would like to do, but we have to have site control, and we weren't able to get to site control in time.

And with the parks, there was other money that went to the parks, and so we can't duplicate benefits, so we had to back up from that until they were done with that money.

And at this point, we work with the parks department.

At this point, there's a shovel ready project that we could do.

Okay.

Thank you.

Council wanted wigged the I guess the decision to go with United Way.

What is that based on?

So United Way is a partner of ours anyways, and we needed somebody who could help us get the money out of the door.

It's a reimbursement grant.

United Way works with all the agencies, they also know who's doing what, who needs it, and it's just an easier way to move the money to the community.

And we already did our due diligence when we opened it up, and we had all the agencies respond at that time.

So we don't have to do another open solicitation like that because we've already did that part.

And CDBG, we're always in communication with with nonprofits in the area.

So when people need money, they call and they say, hey, would you guys, you know, so and all of our the people that were funded initially, we're still in contact with those people, and we're always asking what do you need.

We have meetings, we have orientations, we have information sessions all the time.

So we are not looking to slight anyone, but United Way is the partner that we currently have that we can use to get these monies out in time.

Do they have to use it within a certain amount of time?

Yes.

Yes, by August 21st of this year.

Yes.

Thank you.

Yeah.

And we are ready.

Um we've been talking to some agencies that are already doing the work, and this is just going to help them finish the work and help us spend the money.

We have a no, we don't give money back policy.

That's right.

As directed by our mayor.

So we're we do not intend to give any money back.

Let me just say this.

I'm gonna let you speak, Councilwoman.

I I need for the audience, I don't want you to think we're doing anything behind your back.

This was something that we started, then we got to our dollars, and we put all on that money, not knowing that it was gonna come back to me out like a haunt.

Because we only got six, maybe six, eight weeks to spend this money.

And when we allocate it out to ARPADs, we helped a lot of people too.

But it was a holdback on this on this on the cares grant.

The money is going to be spent.

They know my motto, we don't get no money back, and so we're gonna work with all agencies who are eligible to do what they need to do to get this money out.

You can't return money.

Hear me, y'all.

You can't always ask for money like I do and return no money.

If I return a penny, it's gonna be a reflection.

Uh they didn't need the money, no way, and that's not true.

Y'all know we need money.

So, councilwoman.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

So I'm I'm confused with a couple a couple issues here.

My first issue is that because this was a 2020 and 2021 program, all of the material that I can find has expiration dates around 2022.

So I don't I I don't understand, like that doesn't only for the commitment.

Only for the commitment.

So the I I guess I don't understand from the votes that I'm looking at with the timeline of receiving the funding, drawing down the funds.

Like we are not voting today to draw down additional funds, even though we we voted to do that in the past, and then we spent all that money that we had drawn down.

So I'm confused by the the timeline of the the drawdown matching with you know, we're we're accepting drawdown, we're giving money, and also the other concern that I have is that um again we have I I have one uh portion of the um agreement with United Way, but that doesn't involve any details or program.

So if we are, you know, this this isn't going through the Human Planning Commission, this isn't coming from a recommendation, this is coming to council for review, and I haven't been able to review the portions of a contract or an agreement that has all the meat and bones in it because it was not provided to council, it's not the packet.

It's the exhibits are referenced, and those are all the important parts, but I I haven't been able to review any of the any of the program details or any of the budget items, like any of the important stuff for a $300,000 allocation that we're voting on today.

So the you had a couple questions in there.

The award was given when it was we had to commit in two years, and we had six years to spend the money.

So we are we are in compliance there.

We're not we have time to spend the money.

The money is going to United Way, and I believe the purpose for the money was written in the on the agenda, the purpose where it says for education programs to deal with literacy for children who were where the schools were closed where they weren't able to go to school regular.

That was written in the agenda, correct?

Correct.

That portion was written in the separate part of the agenda, it's in number four.

That verbiage is what we can do.

So that that verbiage where we are going to to help education programs to help low to moderate income children who literacy scores have fallen due to the COVID-19 crisis.

That's what the money can do.

That's what we're going to do.

And so we're giving it to United Way to find programs in the community to assist to get us to get the money spent.

So what are the programs being funded?

So it's not, we don't have everything yet.

We're still talking to people.

We're talking to people like Rosen Hope.

We're talking to people like the Charles McNear School.

We're talking to the NAB, we're talking to the Reed Association, and anybody in the city who is working on a literacy program that addresses low moderate income children whose literacy scores have dropped due to the COVID-19 crisis is eligible.

And that's what we're doing.

Those are the people that we're talking to.

And like I said, United Way has their finger on the pulse.

We talked to all the agencies in the community.

We kind of know who's doing what, who has agreed to work with CDBG, who can spend the money, who can be compliant.

If there's someone that you know or an agency that you know that you don't think we've talked to, have them call me.

Point of order, you have to be recognized by the chair.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um I guess what I would say is that uh excuse me, councilwoman.

We get two questions.

Did anybody else have any questions?

I do, madam chair.

I would like to call for the vote if that's okay.

Protocol says that every member gets two to get two questions in.

So can we call for the vote?

Councilwoman Seals can call for the vote because she hasn't been recognized to speak once yet.

So everybody gets a shot one time before you go back for a second time.

So her motion is in order.

So that's only one person, two people that vote three.

Um councilman balls, councilman wiggins, and yourself and councilman Hammond.

Right.

So the other council person, do you have anything you would like to say?

Mayor, she was recognized and made a motion, so you just have to clarify if there's a second to her motion or not before you go.

Okay, so it was a motion to call for the vote.

It was seconded.

Now we vote.

On the call.

We vote.

On the call the question.

On the call the question.

All those in favor signify signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

All right.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Aye.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Aye.

Councilmember Ostache is absent.

Councilmember Braddock.

Aye.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond.

Aye.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have seven yes and one no.

The motion to call the question is approved.

Now you take your vote on the motion to approve.

Now we are calling for the vote to either approve or disapprove.

Approve.

To approve.

I'm sorry, I can't hear.

See, I told y'all you can't hear in this place.

We're voting on.

Can you read it on the on the original?

Can that's right.

Can you read it?

Yeah, to approve the community development block grant COVID-19 agreement with the United Way of Saginaw County for 288,958 for the Office of Management Budget Community Development Block Grand Division.

That's what we're voting for.

Okay.

The vote has been called all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

All right.

Councilmember CO.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Aye.

Councilmember Ostash is absent.

Councilmember Braddock?

Aye.

Councilmember Wigan?

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond?

No.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have seven yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

We move on to item number four.

It's to approve the amendments to the fiscal year 2027 approved budget to recognize changes that have occurred during the July period.

That was Councilmember Hammond.

Uh motion to approve any questions.

Thank you.

She is a motion on the floor.

Can I get a second report?

All those in fake.

Any questions?

She I'm sorry.

Councilwoman Hammond said she didn't have any questions.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

And so she approved.

So I got the second.

So we're moving on.

Any discussion?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On to board commission and committee reports.

Do we have any boards or commission that anyone went to it concerns the city that we need to share?

Did you go to a meeting?

Oh no.

It just was a Christmas temple meeting.

Go ahead.

I just have one.

I I forgot to make it my public comment for the East Side Soup Kitchen for July 27th.

They're doing Christmas with the kids.

Um is that that's not a city board of commission?

Oh, okay.

Okay, no problem.

Thank you.

Okay.

If there if there is none, madam clerk.

On to appointment of board commission and committee members.

I need a motion to approve the recommendations, leaving room for exception.

So moved.

Second.

Do we have any exceptions?

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On to resolutions.

Our first one is to authorize sponsors of various community events, the use of amplifying equipment.

I need a motion to adopt.

So move.

Second.

Any questions?

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Our second resolution is to authorize the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages during specified community events.

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

Second.

Okay, any discussion.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

On to miscellaneous business.

Do we do we have any motions on the floor?

I need a motion to adjourn.

So move support.

It's been moved in support.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Everybody have a good two reads.