Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to Saginaw City Council.

We will be led by prayer by Councilman Bobs, and I will do the Pledge of Allegiance.

Everybody would like to, can you please bow your heads?

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, master of the day of judgment.

We come here today to ask you to look over our city, uh lift up our city, and bless our neighborhoods, protect our registers, and grant our local leaders with wisdom, wisdom, integrity, and we pray for peace in our streets, healing for our herding and unity amongst our community.

May our city become a beacon of hope, and may you grant your grace and your mercy over all of us as we ask for you in your name.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for registers, one nation under God, individual liberty for all.

Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Councilmember Young.

Present.

Councilmember Seals.

Present.

Councilmember Balls.

Present.

Mayor Protem Garcia.

President.

Councilmember Ostash.

Present.

I don't see Councilmember Braddock.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Present.

And I don't see Councilmember Hammond.

Mayor Moore.

Present.

You have seven present and two absent.

This is a public meeting of the City Council, Sagma City Council.

Audience, we ask that you refrain from bullying clapping and any obnoxious behavior.

Again, council people can I get you to put your phones on vibrate as well as your computers.

Audience, if I may, ask you to do the same thing.

Madam Clerk, do we have any announcements?

Yes, Mayor, we have a couple.

Those wishing to vote early may visit the early voting center at 618 CAS this week through Sunday.

Daily hours will be 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

with the exception of Wednesday when the center will be open until 7 p.m.

The city clerk's office will remain open the same hours as the early voting center for residents wishing to vote absentee or any other election registration related needs.

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 the comment from the speaker regarding a Pacific action being requested.

Speakers must limit it, excuse me, their remarks to the subject of the public hearing.

Please state your name.

Excuse me.

Please state your name.

And please state your name and if you are a supporter of opposition of the public hearing.

The main designated speaker has 10 minutes.

Everyone thereafter has three.

Madam Clerk.

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is not a question or answer period.

So we will not be answering you.

Madam Clerk.

Our public hearing is regarding the authorization of the issuance of the water supply system revenue refunding bond series 2026.

Is good evening, council.

What you have my name is Mike Green here, I'm your director of water and wastewater treatment services.

What you have before you is the public hearing for us to refinance some 2016 bonds.

Um the amount is owed to 13 million dollars.

And what that will do is we're anticipating about a half million dollars in savings by doing that over the life of the bond.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak to this subject?

I need a motion to close this hearing.

Support.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clark.

That takes us to public input.

Speakers, we ask that you remain, we ask you to remain courteous and respectful when you approach, when you approach the bench, again, no boying clapping or obnoxious behavior.

Madam Clerk.

Our first speaker is Irthan Oymigill.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the council.

My name is Irfan, and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.

Here the respectful request two things first that the city would consider the late fee assessed my property.

814 Mackinaw Street, and second to City Council review whether the current rental registration late fee structure is appropriately proportional.

On February 12, 2026, I came to the Treasury Department to pay all my non-owner registration fees for my rental properties.

Whenever I make payments like this, I make it a habit to verify that there are no other outstanding obligations.

My intention was to ensure all my properties were properly registered and current.

Unfortunately, uh one of the properties, 814 Mackinac Street was unintentionally missed.

It was an administrative oversight, not an attempt to avoid payment or disregard the city's requirements.

I was informed that in addition to the 150 dollar registration fee, I was required to pay an additional 150 late fee.

This means the penalty was equal to 100% of the original registration amount.

Um reviewing the broader late fee policy.

A hundred percent late fee is an extremely punitive penalty.

While I understand the need for consequences to encourage timely compliance, a penalty should remain uh maintain a reasonable relationship to the purpose it serves.

A late fee structure based on proportional approach or an inflation adjusted fee would still encourage compliance while avoiding a penalty that effectively doubles the cost of the obligation.

A hundred percent uh a hundred percent penalty does not.

Therefore, I respectfully request one that the city review my specific case and consider the late fee of 150 assessed to my 814 Mackinaw Street, to that the city council consider reviewing the rental registration late fee ordinance to establish a more proportional penalty structure moving forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Jeff Bowles.

Uh greetings, council and staff, uh public.

Um couple things to cover.

Um grateful to be here.

Um, the new system ordinance.

Um I understand it's gonna be or possibly be introduced today.

Um I'm here to uh oppose that.

Um it should not either be introduced or passed today.

Um I encourage you to take a step back, engage the community properly, and then try again.

I think we can do a better job with it.

Um you have groups like help, you have groups like loyalty and other CVI groups that can help that process go much better.

I think we can get a better ordinance if we even need one, to be honest, because I think what we need to do before we even entertain any new laws, we need to look at the current ones and see if those can be in uh enforced before we look at any new laws.

Um speaking of policing and in enforcement, um, there's a viral video of Saginaw police body slamming a team.

Looks to be like a young girl, and that's yet another instance of how the use of force in the department must be looked at.

Council, you have the power as a collective to direct the manager to open an investigation.

It's time for more accountability.

You as a body, a full body can make that happen with everything that's happening around us.

We have we're having ice raids, we're having citizens living in fear, um, you know, people being taken away from their family.

It's time to bring clarity to all of it, and that has to come from the council table.

Um ultimately, that's why I'm here.

Um, you know, we need clarity in how we operate here, you know, respectfully.

We need the manager to manage, and he's doing a great job at managing the city, and he should be able to do that.

But what has to happen is this body has to govern.

He manages, you govern.

Y'all have it has to come from y'all.

Like, we can't expect the manager to manage and come up with the ideas and come up with things.

Y'all have to govern.

So do that.

We need our council to govern.

Ideas come from this body, direction, clarity, leadership.

It comes from y'all.

As a city, we need all of you to lean in and make it happen.

And finally, we're here to help.

At Saginaw Cat, you guys know.

We convene the community multiple times a month.

We can help you do that.

But we can do it together.

I hope that y'all hear me.

I hope that y'all take our offer and let's get it done.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Excuse me, thank you.

Our next speaker is Rebecca Yeager.

Good evening, Mayor Moore, City Manager Morales, and honorable members of the City Council.

My name is Rebecca Yeager, and today I am here on behalf of Andrew Went and the Hispanic Leadership Initiative of Saginaw.

I want to take a moment to share information about our second annual school supply drive.

Last year, we were able to provide 167 backpacks filled with school supplies for our local students.

This year, our goal is to reach 200 students.

I have a flyer with information about the school supply drive as well as a list of local businesses serving as donation drop-off locations.

Donations are being accepted through this Wednesday, August 5th, or next Wednesday, sorry about that.

And the drive will be on August 7th at the SBRC marketplace.

If you or someone you know would like to help support local students, we would greatly appreciate your support.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Cameron Matthews.

Hello, City Council.

My name is Cameron Matthews, and I'm here out of concern for AI powered cameras, or as the popular umbrella term for them, flock cameras, which are the most popular brand of the cameras.

I'd first like to explain what these cameras are.

They're also known as ALPRs or automated license plate readers.

They use AI to create a profile of passing vehicles by scanning them using infrared light.

This means decals, stickers, make and model badges, and of course, your license plate will be captured alongside with the date and time submitted into a database.

This data is used to track your movements.

Not only do they use this to track your movements, but they also track your vehicles, and they send Bluetooth pings to your phone and send packets of data back to the database to verify the drivers and the passengers of the vehicle.

So even if you hitch a ride with a friend or family member, they know who you are and where you are at all times.

Even how you walk is being locked, logged, processed, and analyzed.

Flock says that it only stores this information for 30 uh excuse me for 30 days.

However, that's only a flock.

There are other manufacturers that are less concerned with data privacy than Flock.

Manufacturers Axon, Motorola Solutions, Genitech, and Leonardo, just to name a few, all with different agendas concerning you, your whereabouts, and your data.

These AL these ALPRs are a safety and privacy concern that must be banned before a slippery slope into misuse, resulting in mass surveillance and mass surveillance network in order to profile and spy on the population of Saginaw.

I urge I excuse me.

I urge everyone here to go to a website.

It's called don't get flocked.com.

Type in your zip code and see where these cameras are in your neighborhoods.

Understand that it's not only those who break the law that are getting watched, but so are you, your children, and your grandchildren.

I yield the rest of my time.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

On to Thomas Roy.

Hello, Mayor, Mayor Pro Town, Council People, City Manager.

My name is Thomas Roy, and I am president of Secondary Fireworks.

As you know, on July 4th, we celebrated the 4th of July on our beautiful Saginaw, Michigan.

We had a great presentation.

And I also want to thank each and every one of you because all of you attended our fireworks, and I appreciate that.

But I also want to give a heads up to Mayor Moore.

Many years ago, I did a um, we did our cans over on the Saginaw High, and they were doing the drumline.

Um and I tried to get the guy that did the drum line, and unfortunately, he wasn't able to do it.

So Mayor Moore made her phone call, and thanks to her, we had an awesome performance by the Saginaw High or Saginaw United Drumline.

They did a great job leading the flag across the bridge.

Um, and thank you, Mayor.

I also want to thank all the um the workers.

They did a wonderful job cutting the grass, the maintenance.

You guys do a fantastic job.

The workers as behind you do a great job.

I can't say anything bad about them.

I appreciate the city, I appreciate the work that you all do.

Um, and Bill George is unable to be here tonight, but we want to present this with you to the city.

Um just uh a thank you or not you individually just got all the control for that.

Um we're looking forward to um it could go in that shadow block.

They could go into shadow blocks or stage.

Um we look forward to next year's fireworks, and we hope you all join us again.

So thank you.

We appreciate you guys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I don't see Bill George.

On to Lori Patterson.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and Saginaw City Council members.

My name is Laurie Patterson, and I'm here today on behalf of MidMichigan Conservative Alliance organization.

We are a new conservative group right here in the community, and we're committed to promoting the core values, pursuit of happiness, and the principles that we have made that have made this great country includes including our freedoms.

Uh but more than that, we're a positive group, faith-based, and pro-community at our hearts.

We're looking for ways to give back and make a real difference in Saginaw County.

Our first action is to host a food giveaway thanks to our wonderful sponsor, I will not name, at the Saginaw Eastside Soup Kitchen located at 940 East Genesee Avenue starting at 9 a.m.

You should all have a copy of the flyer with you.

If you're in need of a hand up, we invite you to come by and receive a box of food while supplies last.

We would like to invite the Saginaw community to attend.

We hope you'll join us and let us serve you in this small way.

As we grow, we're excited to expand our group and partner with other organizations in the area to help even more.

If you'd like to get involved, whether you're looking for support or want to lend a hand, we love to hear from you.

You can reach out to me at l Patterson.mca at gmail.com.

Thank you for listening, and we look forward to seeing you at the food giveaway.

God bless you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

On to Janae Harris.

Janae Harris.

All right, we'll move on to Angel Gomez.

Good evening, Mayor and uh members of the council.

Um, my name is Angel Gomez.

I am the Latino Caucus chair here in Saginaw, and I have come to talk to you guys about what happened in the township this weekend.

There has been nine men who were picked up by ice in the Saginaw Township area, and they are being held somewhere by the Kalamazoo.

Um, unfortunately, we don't know their names, but these are men who have families, men's who are brothers, husbands, sons.

So one of the biggest problems is I don't see our elected leaders standing up about ice or um making regulation to help protect the Latino community here in Saginaw.

And I'm not saying become a sanctuary city, there are other ways that we can do that that we can stand up.

So, what I'm asking is that um you review, negotiate, renegotiate, um, read the contract from Flock, uh, because they can they can share this information nationwide.

Someone in Florida can say, I need this license plate, and it will hit in every state that that license plate has been in that has flock cameras.

That is a huge invasion of our privacy.

We can ban ice from using city-owned parking lots to set up their operations.

Right now, they have been known to use public parks.

Um, they have large parking areas to set up for these raids.

Um we can prohibit our police departments from using to helping ice unless they have a judicial warrant.

Um you could direct the city attorney to audit uh any third-party data sharing that is happening on that level.

You can pass a formal resolution declaring that the city will not comply with enforcement unless they have a judicial warrant.

Saginaw is considered one in the top ten of Michigan cities that have a Latino population, the highest Latino populations.

So it is very important for you guys to stand up and show that you're with the Latino community, whether that's passing any of those recommendations or even saying that you're gonna review the flock uh contract and see what's in what is in that contract and what could be used against our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Michael Thompson.

Good evening.

I do not take for granted the privilege to speak here during these times of national repression.

This leads to the crackdowns and killings by rogue ice agents and the local roadside detentions last week.

We should stand against wrongdoing against anyone, especially when it happens in our own backyard.

Even if we feel border crossing should be restricted, we all should agree that this was not the manner in which to proceed.

Enforcement should not stoop to inhumanity.

Therefore, I ask my city council to revisit the ICE restraint resolution that you turned down last February.

Please do not repeat the excuse that Trump might seek revenge by taking away Saginaw's federal dollars.

It's only a tiny fraction that he and his mega zealots might of a chance that he and his mega zealots might find us in the wilderness.

Regardless, do what is right and let the chips fall.

Also, please do not repeat the dodge of saying you already have, quote, well in the community in your revision statement.

And so this resolution would somehow duplicate.

One has nothing to do with the other.

And the resolution is very mild.

It doesn't say abolish ice or sanctuary city.

Simply tone it down and stop acting like vigilantes.

As far as saying mind our own business, city business only.

There are multi precedents otherwise.

A main one took place 24 years ago with a vote to oppose extending the Iraq war.

This was based not only on principle, but on diversion of Fed dollars that otherwise could go for needs like aid to cities.

The same holds true today.

Now at that time, council joined a push by none other than your own municipal league and the National League of Cities.

And the point is illustrated today by the ICE budget has skyrocketed to 30 billion dollars, triple the amount only two years ago.

By comparison, for example, the nationwide budget for CDBG block grants is $4 billion.

Yes, our local ICE excesses took place outside the city limits, but I reside in the city and still plead for you to act.

Beyond that, I am aiming to speak to the Saginaw Township trustees on August 10th at 5 30, and also the county board on August 18th at 5 o'clock.

A city council would resolution would help to prod them.

And also please consider Angel Gomez's suggestions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Denita Dorsey.

Good evening.

Um, on the city council meeting June 22nd, I was here and gave a public comment in regards to uh city ordinances not being enforced.

Um there was some comments from council at that time.

The next day I wrote an email to city council, the city manager, and the city attorney asking for clarification about uh some of the comments that were made.

In return, I received an email with the link to city ordinances that I had already read and quoted at this council.

So I'm here today to read my email on public record in hopes that I get a more thoughtful and intentional response to my questions.

Dear City Council members, city manager, and city attorney.

During the City Council meeting on June 22nd, there was discussion regarding a proposed ordinance that would provide more teeth for enforcement on private property, particularly in relation to businesses experiencing recurring issues such as violence, loitering, large gatherings, and other nuisance activity.

I am writing to respectfully request clarification regarding this statement.

Specifically, I would appreciate a detailed explanation of what activities or conditions occurring on private property are currently not enforceable under existing city ordinances.

Which current ordinances have been determined to be insufficient or ineffective and why?

What specific enforcement limitations have police officers, code enforcement officials, or the city attorney's office encountered when attempting to address these issues?

How would the proposed ordinance expand the city's authority beyond what is currently available under existing nuisance, trespass, disorderly conduct, property maintenance, zoning, business licensing, or public safety ordinances?

Has the city identified any examples where enforcement action could not be taken because of a gap in current law?

If so, please provide these examples.

Can the city provide a side-by-side comparison showing what conduct can currently be enforced on private property and what additional conduct or penalties would become enforceable under the proposed ordinance?

As a resident, I am trying to better understand whether the challenge is a lack of legal authority, a lack of enforcement tools, evidentiary requirements, resource limitations, or some other combination of those factors.

My understanding is that many activities commonly associated with nuisance locations, including trespassing, disorderly conduct, loitering under certain circumstances, littering, property maintenance violations, inadequate site maintenance, and other public safety concerns may already be addressed through existing ordinances and state law.

Therefore, I would appreciate clarification regarding what additional authority the city believes is necessary and how the proposed ordinance would differ from current enforcement mechanisms.

I would also appreciate the opportunity to review any draft ordinance language, staff reports, legal memoranda, or other materials that explain the purpose and intended scope of the proposal.

Respectfully, Denita Dorsey City of Saginaw resident.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Krista.

I am a city resident.

As a city resident and someone who occasionally organizes vigils, I have serious concerns about the proposed new nuisance gathering ordinance.

The ordinance defines a nuisance gathering as a social gathering or party, whether static or mobile.

That because of that, because of the conduct of attendees results in one or more of listed unlawful conditions that violate state law or city code, things like controlled substance possession, indecent exposure, littering, damage to property, and firearms violations.

First, I want to say that Councilman Ashtash was quoted in the Saginaw News as saying the ordinance was carefully worded to avoid inadvertently applying to protest gatherings or picketing.

However, I read this ordinance, and there's nothing in the language that excludes protest visuals, demonstrations, labor picketing, uh, religious gatherings, or any other normally protected speech from being prosecuted under this ordinance.

Nothing.

In fact, the entire ordinance is vaguely written.

For example, the organizer or property owner doesn't have to have knowledge of the violation in order to be held responsible for it.

Often people not a part of protests will come and start fights with protesters.

If that happens, the organizer is the organizer held responsible because according to this ordinance as written, yes.

What if an attendee is in possession of a legal and illegal substance?

Can the organizer be held responsible?

Yes again.

This should concern every citizen because it applies to house parties as well.

Having a graduation party and a fight occurs, you could be held accountable.

It leaves broad description for the officers who respond.

The officers don't have to give an initial warning.

So I am here to ask that we vote no on this ordinance because I believe it clearly can be weaponized to use against organizers and average citizens alike.

I encourage the city council to vote no.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Melanie Velasco.

Oh, should the council, you beautiful people?

Uh should you stay on beautiful people?

Let's state beautiful healthy, okay?

That means you're vegetables and regardier if you could recall.

You know, I got many concerns for the city, and I'd like you to see the most be the most beautiful city in all of Michigan.

You know, that would be really nice.

Okay, well, one of my major complaints is you know, those people that are protesting out there with those signs, they want a contract.

That means they want to know how much more they're gonna get, possibly in the wages so they can take care of their family.

Like most everybody needs to take care of the family and have adequate meals on the table and bills be paid, and you know that kind of stuff.

Anyway, the next issue, see they're really really frustrated.

Look, look, look how frustrated they are.

I I wish I had money to give them anyway.

Um, maybe I will one day.

But anyway, we need more trash compactors around uh, you know, dumpsters, because the city's looking like a you know Vegas or something, you know, trash town USA.

Also, our sidewalks are being ruined and destructed by big huge trees.

They are a hazard to the disabled, the elderly, the sidewalks are not handicapped equipped at all.

There are many blind spots all around the neighborhood of the west side over there, trees over freaking growing, um, where you can't even see the street lights, it's dark, abandoned houses with God knows what the heck living in there or dying in there or already dead.

Um, I'm a very active individual going on 65 in September.

Voila.

Um, yeah.

I walk, I ride, I will soon be back driving again.

The town is not safe.

The only way I think it is safe.

Now I'm gonna stand up for this.

I think these cameras around here, these flot cameras are here for our benefit, their hand, their homeland security.

Now, if you got a child that's just been freaking kidnapped, wouldn't you want to know the car that just took your child away?

Make sense of this.

You want to make your mama model, you want a description of the individual that took your child or your husband or your wife.

Be realistic.

It's home land security.

Your phones are even being tapped.

You say anything about bombing anything, blowing anything up.

Guess what?

You said the key words to the door.

They will knock.

So do not say bomb, do not say threat, do not say go skill, do not say those words because you will get a knock at your door, and you will be sent away.

Sent away.

Our phones are being tapped.

Yes, the flock came.

They're for our benefit.

Be for real.

Be for real.

Think about it that way.

Is that your loved one getting kidnapped or inducted or raped and beaten and talking off in a car and a van?

Think about that.

That makes sense to me.

And I'm going out 65.

I'm not dumb.

Be real, people.

That's all I can say.

God bless the city of Saginaw and all you lovely people, and you know I love you.

That's it.

Thank you.

Our final speaker is Corey Gage.

Okay, I have nothing to do.

Hello?

Good evening, Mayor, members of the city council, and city manager.

My name is Corey Gage.

I'm the vice president for the SEIU, salary, city of Saginaw, employees.

But tonight, I'm here representing all of the dedicated municipal workers who keep the city running every single day.

We are proud to serve this community.

But tonight we are here because that service is being stalled at the bargaining table.

Despite our best efforts to negotiate in good faith, talks have slowed.

We are facing an impasse that not only affects our livelihoods, but ultimately impacts the vital city services our residents rely on.

We are not asking for the world.

We are asking for a fair and equitable contract.

One that reflects the rising cost of living, provides safe working conditions, and respects the dedication that we bring to our jobs.

When negotiations slow, morale drops, vacancies go unfilled, and our city's operational strength weakens.

A fair contract isn't an expense.

While we understand that council does not typically sit at the negotiating table, you do hold ultimate responsibility for the well-being of the city and its workforce.

Now, what you may or may not know is that July 1st, seven city contracts should have been ratified.

All seven of those were expired.

Nobody on July 1st had a union contract with your city.

To my knowledge, that is the first time that that has happened in history for the city of Saginaw.

Since then, one may have been ratified.

We urge you tonight to step in, use your leadership and direct management to come to the table with a meaningful fair compromise.

We are just asking that you please help us so we can get back to focusing entirely on what we do best, serving the people of this great city.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your support for a fair contract.

Thank you.

Mayor, that takes us to remarks of council.

And tonight we will begin with councilmate.

You have three minutes, council.

Okay, thanks.

Oh, thanks, Mayor.

I just have a couple things.

Um I just want to address some of our public speakers that took the time to come out tonight, because there are definitely other things that you can be doing, but it's your compassion brings you here to let us know what your what your thoughts are.

And if Ron, if you're still here, um staff will get back with you on this, and they can go over that, and then we'll normally we get notified too after they've contacted you.

Um I know we'll talk about the ordinance more later.

Um it was uh I haven't talked to anybody actually until tonight or heard from you.

Um it's been on the table for about six weeks, but I did hear you tonight, so thanks for coming out and talking to me.

Danita, uh it slipped and I left town.

I wanted to talk to you because I actually had a couple questions about some of the things that you did quote, so I am going to be getting a hold of you along with Bowles and Mr.

Bowles and the other um and Krista.

I do want to say that I'm not happy with the way the news ran my story.

That was not the intention of the ordinance.

They let off with FreakNick that made it to me with families in the black some of my family is also black in Mexican, a very a racist way to lead a story.

So I was very upset, and I actually talked to the reporter about it.

Can't do anything after it's printed.

He's got an editor and they're gonna run it.

I don't know how it hit.

The entire conversation was about the ordinance.

Large gatherings of groups like we just had down here on Hamilton Street at the 4th of July, which I heard was pretty unruly.

I don't know if I'd have to ask the police chief about this, but they were also with other measures to try and break up the crowd.

And I did get an email today from somebody that was there that says, yes, I did see guns during that problem, that too.

So I hope we have a really good conversation about this during when it comes up.

Um we'll see how the body feels about it.

Um, and that's all I really have, Mayor.

I'm gonna stop right there.

Oh, by the way, too, the city is hiring.

So if you're looking for work, um, go to our website under the career section, and we just produced uh more jobs that we're looking to fill.

And that now is all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have council woman weekends.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I'm just glad you kind of brought that up because I got a lot of questions because the of that article um just using freak nick just as a clickbait, it really annoyed me.

Um, it was for a reason, and it was to cause division.

We're trying to save lives, basically.

We're trying to uh reduce lives lost here in Saginaw.

And we don't have we don't have the funds to to have more police officers.

Um we get comments like why don't you just do this or why don't you just do this?

We don't have the money to do those things.

Um, and we have to stop the killing.

And I understand ordinances might not address every single possible situation, and I understand that there is potential for any law to be misconstrued and and weaponized, but the fact is we got we gotta do something.

And if you don't have the power or authority to go on to uh uh a person who owns a uh a liquor store or drug, whatever empty parking lot, um we need ordinances to be able to do that and break it break things up right now.

We don't.

Um but I understand and I hear the concerns, absolutely, and I I understand them.

Um I want to thank Angel for coming and talking about what's going on in this city that yes, months ago we did talk about, and um things were not voted on to pass, and again, trying to do things before it happens is what I am here to do.

You know, I want to be prepared before something happens.

It doesn't make sense to retroactively do something when it has already happened, and people have already been taken, you know.

Um so I appreciate your words, Abel.

And um, you know, there's so much to talk about tonight, and there's a lot, so I'm just gonna leave it there.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks for the college law, man.

Thank you.

Um I want to address uh three main issues ice, flock, and contracts.

Because they're all connected, and they all reflect um attitudes that I have run into in the city multiple times.

Um we know of detained individuals in Saginaw Township.

They could have been operating in the city of Saginaw.

From the information that I have gleaned, there were no uh dispatchers nor public police officials of any kind knew that they were going to be operating in the city.

That is the information that I have received so far.

Um I've contacted township officials.

Um I left messages with the potential contractor, people who are connected from DOT listings to try to find information.

At this time, it is my understanding that the names of the people who were detained, nobody knows who they are.

There's no information.

ICE has not been forthcoming.

Any information you have, please contact me, please contact the city.

Um as far as I understand, we may have some contact information of some of the companies that have been doing fiber optic in the city, um, perhaps trying to see if there's any information that can be shared.

If anybody's trying to support the families or the people who were detained, that information is critical, critical at this time.

Um if any other of my council members would like to help me on that, there's a manpower issue, we can use more help.

Um also I voted against all of the flock agreements that came to this table, partially because of my concerns and that information being used to help ICE deportations.

Uh there are many loopholes.

There is no such thing as having information and surveillance technology that is secure in a lockbox that just stays there forever if it's connected to the internet.

Um I hopefully we'll have more opportunity to review some of our departmental policies.

Uh and I also join other ask other council members to join me in that effort to see if there's anything we can do.

Uh township officials informed me on that call that they do have some very interesting regulations that they've looked at to ensure that those uh that that infrastructure is not being used to support ice operations.

Um in terms of contracts.

The first flock vote that we took, uh, which was on my first year of council, we were not provided the contract before voting on it.

I was told I was I was denied.

I asked for the contract, I was not given the contract.

Um I fought that right.

We were given the contract at the next council meeting.

We have received no updates or information from any of the union negotiating negotiations that have been ongoing between the city and the uh multitude of bargaining sectors.

Um tonight we have a motion to go into closed session regarding an IAFF collective bargaining agreement.

I have not seen any collective bargaining agreement.

So I really hope that there is not a motion on the floor tonight to try to approve a bargaining agreement that has not been presented to council for review, because that would be irresponsible.

I understand this is the way things have been done.

I think the way that things have been done needs to change.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Council and Wayne Young.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um I'd like to start with uh the public speaker that uh mentioned the uh late fees and uh non-owner occupied amount.

Uh that was something that um as soon as I took this seat that I work with council to um give uh uh grace period on the late fees, and I'm definitely on board with uh lowering that amount from a hundred percent.

But uh right now we made uh adjustment to that ordinance to where uh your late fee date was coming up, you would have an additional two weeks before you got that uh a hundred percent increase so to that public speaker to see if you fall within that window before that increase, but um bringing that uh late fee amount, you know, down uh when I spoke with staff, they said that it was comparable to other um cities, but I still think it's a bit much because I wanted to make it more local development friendly, and when you have those late fees that are much higher just in a city versus you know the outlying territories, it makes it less attractive, you know, in the city, so that's something that you know I like to address, or if we could uh revisit that again.

Um the public speaker to talk about the viral video, uh seeing a small clip of that, and uh the parent reached out to me and uh talked to me about it, and uh first thing I asked was was there a police report made?

And uh she said that it wasn't a police report made.

So I think you know, before council or the city says anything, it starts with uh reporting of it to see if it's held, and that we can't step in in front of that.

So she said she was going to make a report about what happened because right now there's no details of the incident if there's no uh report.

So, you know, I spoke with that uh parent, I think that was that was earlier today that I returned the call.

I got the message uh yesterday and I returned the call earlier today, and there has not been a report made or filed on that incident.

Um as far as the uh I think also too that you know for us to come up with uh really good sound ideas, you have to start with the correct information, you know, uh putting misinformation or you know, just going after viral moments and things like that, it causes a lot of confusion, and you're not able to come up with uh really good ideas with so much misinformation, just like with the article when you we're trying to move forward with the public nuisance um ordinance that from my understanding, and we're talking with the chief, there are certain situations where they can't come on to private property to break up situations before it happens.

So, my understanding that's filling in that gap instead of waiting for something to happen, they have they can be proactive.

But when you get an article that reports and says it's about the freak leak when it really wasn't, that's where the misinformation comes in and starts to try to stop the progress.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilwoman Seal.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um my comments were very similar to what um Councilman Oshtash and Councilwoman Higgins were saying.

Um I do want to talk about the volunteer work that we do here on the council.

Um I've been reading a lot about people assuming that we make a lot of money doing what we do.

Um I think that we get about a hundred dollars per meeting for this particular position.

This position we get is not a position that we get paid any money for.

I just want the city of Saginaw to know that because I've been reading and listening to you speak about this.

This is not a paid position.

This is volunteer work for us.

So when you see us out in public doing things for our city, most of us are putting in our own money because we don't get paid from the city.

A hundred dollars a meeting, that's gas trying to get here.

Um, so let you know that after you take the taxes out, it's not even a hundred bucks.

So let you know that we are working our butts off a lot of us that are doing things that we're doing for the city.

We're putting in our own grit in our own sweat in our own tears and our own blood.

We're not talking out here.

We're we're about our business, we're doing the work.

So a lot of us out here are putting in the grind.

We're not up here just talking and chomping our jaws.

We're actually out here doing the work on a day-to-day basis.

Okay.

I just wanted Saginaw to know that.

Because I've been reading and I've been watching, I've been listening, and I'm very quiet.

But one thing I will not have is the disrespect that I've been reading and hearing, and especially coming from our own city council people.

So we can't handle it, step off.

Let someone else come up here that can sit up here and work together as a unit.

Because the people of Saginaw need us to work together.

We need to work together as a nine, or at least five of us, so we can get the job done.

Because I know I'm tired of it, and I'm here for a purpose and for a season and for a reason.

And I want to get it done, and I want to do it happy.

And we shouldn't have to go and get beat up to do our job that we're volunteering for.

Just to let Saganal know we're not getting paid big bucks.

This is pennies, but we give our hearts for it.

Some of us do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Councilman Ball.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I don't have a lot of comments today, but I would like to mention to the audience and to the speakers and everybody in the city of SAG and all that.

Uh if we want to have less violence in the city, we're gonna have to have more people step up to the plate and spend some time with the kids.

I've been talking about just ever since I've been here, and I will not we're talking about mentoring.

Mentorship works.

You know, a mentor is a loyal friend who helped raise a young man or a young woman.

You know, somebody to step into their life to be an advisor, a teacher, or just a guide in their lives.

Uh I think we have a problem in the city of Saginaw.

There's not a lot of parents.

There's a lot of fathers who's absent.

And somebody got to step up to the plate.

I'd rather be a doer than a complainer.

You know, a lot of people complain about what the kids do and they don't get involved in the children's lives to make them better human beings.

No, so I would prefer to be involved in a kid's life and see what happened.

You know, we plant some seeds, uh, do some nurturing and uh see what the harvest is gonna be like later on.

You know, and normally I know for a fact that when you mentor kids, they do become better.

Productive members of society.

Uh my first little brother, I had all kinds of issues with this guy.

But I still can I stay with him.

He ended up being a great young man.

He uh did not father a kid out of wedlock.

He's married, he'll take his wife take care of his kid and the previous kids that she had.

So I know that it works, and now he's uh teaching his kids things, and his son is an honored student.

Um I know it works, so we just have to buckle down and help out our children, and we guarantee we don't have all these issues that we haven't with children running around being uh loud and disrespectful and stuff.

I was at the uh Friday Night Live the other day, and I saw a lot of young teenagers walking around with no parental guidance with them.

I was hoping and praying that they didn't get into any issues, and I didn't see any, and and I'm glad of that.

But I know there's other places where issues is happening because we don't have people with those children, you know.

So somebody got to do it.

Is it gonna be the police?

They're going to have ordinance to try to help stop these situations, or either he's gonna be the same guy to pick these kids up and take them to jail, or either he's gonna be calling the coroner to come and pick them up.

I'm tired of the corner picking up our children.

I'm sick and tired of it.

And if we don't do something about it by coming here beating up on people who trying their best to do something about it, get involved in it.

I've been involved in a union ever since I was hired in the plant.

38 years I worked in that plant.

And a lot of times when I first started, I always pointed my finger at the people that was in charge of doing things.

Things didn't get done the way I want them to it.

Somebody told me, Michael, maybe you need to get involved in the situation.

And I've been doing it all my life, and I can guarantee you that if you get involved, something will happen, but you got to get involved in those kids' life.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Mayor Pro Chin Garcia.

Good evening, concerned citizens of the community.

Thanks for everybody coming out to speak.

My people are being under attack right now, and this is a sensitive matter.

And that's the reason why I'm on this council to fight for my people.

My grandfather came from Mexico from Montreal.

Like my dad was first language was Spanish.

They didn't pass it on because they didn't want the embarrassment that he went through and the bullying.

So I don't speak Spanish.

I understand it.

But the people that were taken Saturday were not kidnapped.

They were detained.

Away from their families, don't know where they're at.

For my understanding, the township is not aware, the sheriff wasn't aware.

A lot of people weren't aware.

I did make a statement on my page because those are my people that I'm fighting for.

I'm advocating for them, and that's why I'm in my position today.

Is because we need voices at these tables.

He has a lot of great resources for my Latino community or out there or anybody else that want to share.

We had over a hundred shares with the resources for them, for them to feel safe.

I know a lot of people didn't even show up to work because they're living in fear right now, and we shouldn't have to.

We're in a day and age that this shouldn't even be happening at all with any race.

This is ridiculous.

And I'm gonna keep fighting as long as I'm alive for my people because it's important that we have voices at these tables that were willing to do that and make those sacrifices.

It's just so upsetting to know that they were working so hard to provide for their families, which most of us are trying to do and taking.

They were working in their yards.

Now I can't be at the protest because it happened to be today.

I had another obligation, but I have to be here at council because I'm the voice for a lot of people here, and that's why I was elected in the seat.

But I do want to stand and look at some things more with my Latino community and see what we can do to, you know, get some stubs resolved here because it shouldn't be happening.

I shouldn't have to worry about my grandson or friends and family come up missing, or you know, where are they at?

Are they in Pontiac?

You know, and it's it's our right and due diligence to make sure that everybody's safe.

They shouldn't have to live in fear.

I had a friend today.

They opened up a new store, and she was being followed while being shot because of our skin color.

Now I heard about that when my parents were in the 70s.

Yeah.

But not now in this day and age.

We're in a new era.

There's no reason for this.

So it's just heartbreaking, and I'm just praying for those families because I I don't even know what they're going through.

I can't believe the trauma on safety they feel.

How are they going to provide?

Are there water going to be shut off?

So just continue to pray.

Thank you.

That's all I have to say.

It's my time.

Um, first of all, I want to thank the GAP long for inviting me to their Latino graduation, their scholarships.

I was truly impressed.

They gave away 15 and a thousand dollars apiece.

Friday night live was Friday.

It was live.

It was Friday.

Um there was discussion, Councilman Balls on the non-supervision.

And so I think that they're gonna handle it.

Um my public speakers, I thank you all.

We get wake-up calls every day.

And it's not that we're not trying to respond.

Um we got emails, I've been getting emails for the past two weeks on unity and what's going on.

I don't mind anybody telling the citizens anything.

I want you to tell them the truth.

Don't tell them part of it.

Tell them all of it.

And then when you, me include, when you step out, you need to step up representing the city.

Not an individual, not yourself.

I can't speak for everybody up here, and I think that everybody up here does a hell of a job.

However, some of us need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.

Because right now, what we're doing is we're getting caught up in things that don't have anything to do with us.

They don't have anything, they're moving the city forward.

And then it's hard to work in a city.

That's about as bad as what Mayor Pro Tim say, being afraid.

You're afraid to come to a meeting, or you're afraid to say your feelings because you think you heard somebody's feelings.

This is not an easy task, trust me.

I've been doing it for a while, and I hear it all the time.

See you at the ballot box.

You know what?

I have given my all in all that everybody up here gives their all in all.

So the threat of see you at the ballot box at this point.

If I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, I'm speaking freely.

Move me.

I'm okay with it.

I'm okay with it.

But remember, we are an entity with a responsibility, the things that we have to do.

And no, every decision is not gonna be easy.

I do a many sleepless nights trying to figure out.

Do I ride the fence?

Do I get on the fence?

I can't ride the fence with y'all.

I gotta tell you how it is.

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

Mayor, that takes us to reports from the manager.

I'm waiting on you.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Sorry.

Just waiting for you.

Um, as the clerk mentioned, we do have the August 4th primary upcoming, and there's early voting at the Saginaw County Governmental Center.

I do want to thank uh City Clerk Chris Bolsman and her staff uh for their work preparing for the election and assisting residents throughout the voting process and having uh the voting and her office as well.

Uh extra elections this year, so it's extra work, and we really appreciate everything that they're doing to help with that.

We have two upcoming uh community events in in August.

The city's Playdates in the Park series continues with tennis and pickleball day on August 15th, Saturday at Garber Courts, followed by skateboarding day on Sunday, August 23rd at Celebration Park.

Both events are free, but advance registration is required.

There will be giveaways, including tennis rackets, skateboards, and helmets for kids, and I want to thank our community partners for helping provide these recreational opportunities for local youth and the families, and anyone can call the city if they want more information about that.

And the city will also host its inaugural neighbor day block party on Saturday, August 22nd from 1 to 5 p.m.

at Hoyt Park.

The event is to celebrate the important work of our neighborhood associations and encourage more residents to become involved in their neighborhoods.

An award ceremony is planned to recognize community members who help to make neighborhood special.

The event will feature live music, uh, free food, a back-to-school giveaway, youth activities, door prizes, and an opportunity for residents to connect and celebrate their neighborhoods.

We also hosted a group of students from Tokushima last week as part of their annual visit to Saginaw.

And we extend to thank you to SVSU for coordinating the students' visit to Saginaw and our region.

They do that every year, and I want to thank council members who joined the students for lunch and uh to share the cultural exchange with them.

Following lunch, Mayor Moore, Vicky Davis, Rachel Joseph, and I led the group on a riverfront tour highlighting the splash pad, skate park, Saginaw County's oldest home, the Shine Bright Mural, Ojibwe Island, and the Saginaw Children's Zoo.

This fall we will have a delegation from uh Tokoshima from the city government, Tokoshima coming if they haven't been here for at least uh three years.

So we'll keep council updated on the events that we have scheduled with them during their visit.

And um finally, uh the previous council meeting.

Um we discussed the possibility of partnering with Saginaw County to help uh with parks and recreation and the city parks.

I do have a meeting upcoming with the county administrator and the uh parks and recreation director to talk about that possibility and explore the opportunity, and I'll provide an update to council members after we meet.

So those are all the items I have, Madam Mayor.

Any comment?

Yes, Councilman.

Thank you.

Um, when did the contract expire between the city and CIU 517M?

They are all of our contracts expire June 30th.

June 30th, yes.

And when did the city first enter into uh bargaining for those contracts?

It's been several months.

Several months?

Yeah, I don't have the exact date.

Uh and can you tell me when the next date for bargaining is currently scheduled with SEIU 500?

I can tell you the last event that we had.

We provided, I think, an offer to the union, and uh they said they had some additional items that they wanted to send back.

Our negotiating team it's next Thursday, yeah.

But our negotiating team did say put that in writing and send back.

I'm not sure if they got that back.

It was several weeks I last checked and it hadn't been returned by the union.

That what hadn't been returned?

I'm sorry.

The additional items that they were requesting be added to the contract.

Doesn't that require a bargaining session to be able to present the we asked for it to be presented in writing?

Okay, and so that's the stated reason for not being able to schedule the session?

Uh we have one scheduled.

Okay.

That's scheduled for the 6th.

August 6th.

Okay.

Um, do you have any additional dates scheduled after that with the anticipation of meeting additional dates?

I don't think we have any additional dates scheduled this time.

Would it be difficult for the bargaining team to schedule a date within the same week if there was an issue with um you know completing the bargaining session and that day?

I don't think so.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions like a city manager?

Yes, Council Homby.

Thank you.

Um, I'm sorry, you mentioned about the did you mention about the splash parks?

Are the bathrooms open yet?

Has that position been filled?

I'm seeing the heads nod.

The bathrooms are we had to go we had to close them temporarily with that just so you know we're supposed to stay at five.

We won't have been able to get two, so then we have staff up there we've had open book.

We had that uh that small coming in a lot of it.

We're having problems breathing in that.

So for temporarily to the smoke clear out, we have a shutdown for a little bit so that they are back over with the restroom zone.

Thank you.

And then we'll download it for the whole movement that's back button.

Thank you very much.

No other questions.

Madam Clerk.

It takes us to the consent agenda.

The consent agenda opened a bag of the on the city black phase.

I need a motion to approve the consent agenda, leaving room for exceptions.

So move.

Second.

It be moved and supported.

Do we have any?

Do we have any exceptions?

Yes.

Uh number four.

Number four.

Are there any more?

Okay, we'll vote on.

We'll vote on all with the exception of four.

All those in favor saying I.

Item number four is to approve the purchase for Secure Comm Group LLC for $38,910 for additional cloud video storage to increase the retention period for City Hall security camera footage for the technical services department.

That was Councilwoman Hammond.

Hi, Jeff.

Hello.

Good evening, Mayor.

Can we ever come?

Council member sure.

Thank you.

I I apologize, I wasn't able to get my questions in right before the meeting.

Uh just had a lot going on.

But my my main question was that the camera that the security footage was identified as just city hall security footage.

I was wondering what the particular cameras are in City Hall that it has this particular data retention issue.

So it's all the cameras in City Hall and only City Hall.

In the ones facing outside of the City Hall.

But they are all in City Hall property.

And there's 37 cameras in the cover all common area.

And then we do have a couple of departments that have cameras inside the department if they're meeting directly with the public.

Let's say the fiscal services were treasury, I believe the clerk's office and the manager's office.

Have cameras outside and inside.

Okay, and inside like the lobby area, right?

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Um can you tell me about is there a specific issue that came up of of why 60 days was needed instead of 30 days?

So this is a new system.

Uh prior to this, we had two different system.

We had a card entry building um system, and then we also had the security uh camera.

So when they redid city hall, we combined the two into one.

So this is the first time that that we've had both systems together.

But but were there any specific issues where there was something passed?

There were multiple issues that were called to see if we could look back beyond 30 days.

What those issues are that the department had called us to look at it.

Um the standard when you uh have the Vicata system is a 30 days.

You have to request extra days.

So at that time when we put it in, we did not request for the extra time.

In our old system, we actually internally had up to six months.

So this is a quite a change.

You know, you could go back if something happened.

But with only 30 days what we found already, we had three requests to go back beyond the 30 days.

Thank you so much for the information.

Yes, I will I'll motion to approve.

Okay, thank you.

Do we have a second?

It's been moved to second all those in favor saying I on those opposed, and Madam Clerk.

And to board commission and committee reports.

Do we have any boards of commission that need to be reported?

Madam Clerk.

And to appointment of board commission and committee members.

I need a motion, maybe room for exceptions.

We have two appointees.

Do we have any exception?

All those in favor, signify by saying I.

Madam Clerk.

And to ordinance introduction, we have the one there.

It's an ordinance to add uh section 94.120 nuisance gatherings to chapter 94.

Nuisances, health and safety, Title 4, General Regulations of the City of Saginaw, Code of Ordinances 0-204.

I need a motion to introduce.

So move.

Seven four.

Discussion.

Yes, Council On.

Thank you.

Um I had a couple questions for the author of the ordinance introduction.

Um the nature of which being two main issues.

Number one is that um in the discussions about when we came up with this ordinance and we were going through the draft period talking about how we didn't want to do the introduction right away.

We wanted a time period to be able to reach out to community organizations and ask to develop kind of a dialogue around this.

Um, I'm wondering specifically which organizations were reached out to and which organizations or and which people from those organizations said that this ordinance was something that they supported.

Um and I asked that question because I did reach out to a couple of organizations, including uh some local CVI organizations, and they had not uh they had not been reached out to about this ordinance otherwise.

Um, and they had multiple suggestions, great suggestions for differences that the and things that the city could could work with them on uh to improve relations and improve programs, um, but this was not it.

So I'm I'm wondering where specifically this ordinance came from in terms of a community demand and a community deed, uh particularly from our regional uh CVI groups.

Um and then the second issue, uh, which was also brought out by one of our public speakers today that I had with it, is um this is a very broad ordinance.

And having been on picket lines before, having been a part of uh demonstrations before, um, I can tell you that that I'm I'm very concerned with the application of this ordinance where if we apply it in one instance and say, well, you know, we got a noise complaint, it's on private property, we're gonna shut this down.

Then we have to apply it unilaterally in all instances where there's a complaint.

And the problem that I have with that is are we going to say, you know, oh we had we had a complaint about this particular issue, so we're gonna say that this this gathering is in violation of the ordinance, and I I don't see protections against that.

Uh and especially on private property, you're talking about um situations that aren't actually protected under the First Amendment.

Uh, there are specific things that are protected concerted activity that are protected under, you know, the NLRA and LRB, but the problem that I have is is I've seen a lot of instances where local authorities take it into their own hands to crack down on certain kinds of activity.

Um, and I'm wondering about this particular ordinance if it is applied in every instance and every case equally.

We're doing a lot of work.

Um we're potentially getting a lot of people into trouble that I don't think as council we've necessarily considered all the ramifications of.

So those are those are the two um uh those are the two interrogation uh points that I have.

Would someone like to respond?

I'm not certain if she was directing the questions to her fellow members of council or to staff because this was a council initiated ordinance.

I can know we can talk to each other, yeah.

Well, we can't talk to each other, right?

The way this got to the table for us to take a look at uh approached by the police department and our city attorney, and they thought I could support something like this, and that's so I read it.

Um we all know that nothing gets to the table unless one of us sponsor it and bring it forth for us to discuss.

So that's first of all how it got here.

Um a comment was made about noise.

Uh the the ordinance specifies that it's got to meet chapter 94 of our news and noise policy.

So if it's not part of that, it's not gonna be it.

Normally that's like a 50-foot range of noise, even if you live in the city, if you look at this part of the ordinance, night chapter 94, dogs barking, large horns, making noise, yeah.

You know, it's it's self- you know, self-made noises or people screaming and yelling.

Um I don't see, and I worked with our city attorney on this because we talked about the concern of our constitutional right to protest, and that is a constitutional right to protest.

So that this ordinance does not stop you because state law nor federal law can overstep and um municipal law can't cannot uh trump that.

The part of a protest, we talked about that too, because the ordinance lays out exactly what the uh nuisance gathering is gonna be, so I highly doubt that people at a protest are gonna be exposing themselves in public nudity or urcating or defecating unlawful sale operation or possession consumption of alcohol or substance abuse.

So it I thought it clearly laid out exactly what was there.

We've all seen this.

We saw Alleghen County, and we also saw Mount Pleasant, which this ordinance was pretty much verbatim uh right of those two cities.

Um, I did not hear from any of the other uh organizations regarding so that question is anything, and I don't know if the city staff reached out to anybody, but we had laid that over for a couple of meetings, and you seem to know quite a few of these organizations, so I'm thinking maybe you talk to them, but nobody has talked to me.

Because I know you're pretty work closely with CAF and Jeffrey Wolves is here too.

So even when the news article came out, my phone did not ring again as to why this was written the way it was, and what did I say?

So I always tell everybody if you got a question, you know how to get a hold of me right from the city website.

I will call you back.

Because I always call everybody back or email them back with an apology to Danny Dorsey, you did not get a response from me, and I apologize for that because normally I'm very good at responding, and my colleagues know that, even when it comes into the group.

So who are you addressing your question to?

Council or I was addressing my question to the author of the ordinance.

The author is the attorney.

Okay.

Hold on a minute.

Anybody on this and yes, Councilman Boss.

Yeah, I would like to speak on the ordinance.

I uh whatever it takes to save our kids' lives right now.

I'm for that.

If this ordinance comes up to the fact where uh we're having some issues with it is on the legal side, I'm sure we would take care of that, but hopefully, uh I don't think our police are gonna be Cestapos and go out here and try to stop every party, but I'm sure that if we have some issues where uh I mean we we didn't see what happened.

Innocent kids getting killed.

But going to uh um just for other kids are gathering at.

And we know that other kids are using these is almost like uh um like a shooting range.

Pick off the person who you don't like or she's still on a different side of town, or you have a different kind of shirt on or something like that.

And I'm sick and tired of it.

I'm sick and tired of our kids dying in the street for nonsense because they want to go and stand out in the party and drink and stuff in one spot.

I'm sure the police got plenty of work to do, where they're not gonna be just riding around looking for this.

I mean, our community violence is an intervention program.

We have a drone class where we teach our kids how to fly drones to look at these situations to see if they can help out anyway.

I mean, so the the governor the governor has put a lot of money in the state in Michigan for community violence intervention programs.

So either we gonna intervene and try to do something to save these kids' lives, or even we're gonna let them go out and nilly willy do what the hell they want to do and end up getting killed.

I would prefer for us to try to do something and try to work it out that way, and if we have some kinks in our armor, and we straighten that out.

But I really want us to try to do something to save these kids' lives.

I'm not leak uh one of legally give them an opportunity to go out and do what they want to do where they want to do it.

Last time the police came and they got how many guns?

I don't have it was eight, nine, ten guns, illegal drugs, and all that type of stuff.

So that did work, and that saved some lives that day.

So whatever it takes to save our kids' lives, I'm willing to work with that.

And if we have some problems with the police afterwards, we're gonna work with them too and make sure they don't harm our children.

So that's my comment on that.

Thank you, madam mayor.

All done.

Yep, I just want to expand on what he said about that uh drone class because I actually uh sat in uh in that drone class and uh you know spoke to the uh children and and I talked with help too, and they were talking about um you know getting a grant, and I spoke with the chief about it, and I even brainstormed the idea if they got a grant and those kids need to fly the drones that maybe we can couple that with some of the banquet halls and entertainment venues, and they could be out there practicing flying the drones and creating some kind of uh surveillance deterrent.

So we are out here coming up with good ideas, and we're reaching across the aisle trying to talk to you know other agencies and things like that, and if it doesn't work, at least you're putting forward the effort.

So I'd rather put more effort into trying to fix things and then trying to put the effort into I got your moments or trying to stop the progress moving forward.

You know, I'm trying to, I'm trying, and even when I spoke with the chief, you know, the explain some of the ordinance that are on the books, you know.

When I just spoke about the the liquor store gatherings and how they're you know operating in the community.

I spoke with them about that, and there are some ordinances that are on the books, but there are also gaps in the ordinance that won't let them come on to private property at certain times and things like that.

So if you're trying to really fix some problems in the community, you need to talk to the people who are on the ground and really see what's going on instead of taking your viral moments off of Facebook and deciding what we should be doing up here, talk to the agency and the department heads, and then you'll get a better idea of what needs to be done.

That's all.

Yes, I just have a comment.

Um, I don't know prior to us introducing this or bringing it up, but I did visit a store on the south side because I'm always on that area, and they do have a sign now on their store, so I don't know if that's helping them be proactive.

And it states um no more than 10 cars in the parking lot, no large gatherings.

So I think these store owners are hearing us and they do want to work with us, so I was happy to see that um something is coming out of this um from all of this.

So it's good.

Hold on, let me let me do my question.

I'm directing this to management.

Um, and once we do and the attorney, when we introduce this, it's like everything else that I always ask.

Can we go back and amend it?

Like if something is not working or something is not going right, can we come back and make an amendment?

Yes, as we can with all ordinances.

Okay, I I need for the audience to understand.

We are working progress.

So everything is not gonna be done to your specification, whatever the word is.

It is going to take time.

Just like with OJPI.

That's why I kept asking the question.

Can't we come back and revisit?

The answer was yes.

So I didn't need for the audience to understand.

Nothing is in stone.

If we move this and introduce it and it passes tonight, we're still working on it.

It's a work in progress.

Am I right or wrong?

You are correct.

All ordinances are living documents.

Yes.

I just wanted to get that point in.

Yes, Councilwoman.

Thank you.

So Councilman Ostash's point, uh, you identified where it says in new nuisance gatherings are defined.

Uh you mentioned reasons A through D, use of possessions or drug, nudity, urination, unlawful sale.

You did not mention reasons E through J, which is unlawful dumping, placing, or depositing of trash or litter on private or public property.

F the damage or destruction of private or public property, G, the generation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, which obstructs the free flow of traffic within the public rights of way or interferes with the ability to render police or other emergency services, H the generation of noise in violation, I, public disturbances, brawls fights, quarrel, or similar disturbances of the peace, or J, violation of the fire code, building code, or zoning ordinance due to the over-occupancy or overcrowding of a building structure dwelling it, or any adjacent deck or patio or the obstruction of stairways or entrance to a building structure or dwelling unit.

That is very broad.

Um, and I do see issues.

I I do have issues with how broad it is, and to my point specifically, my direct question is which community violence intervention organizations helped in the construction of this ordinance because I reached out to help.

They did not hear anything from council members.

The original intent of us talking about drafting this ordinance is to come together to have a forum to have a specific discussion about what was needed, and if this ordinance came out of that, I have no problem.

I have zero problems with putting forward an ordinance that is similarly structured with the protections again about the things that I mentioned about overreach, but I wouldn't have any issue with that.

But the entire genesis of putting this out there from our previous council discussions was to have the discussion, and I don't think that that work was done.

I don't think that we have taken that opportunity.

What I would support instead at this juncture is either the establishment of a commission or a committee to specifically empower our organizations who are working on these issues to be able to establish recommendations, help develop policy to can that can get us to the place where we need to be in order to do things to actually prevent violence.

Uh, because I I we absolutely have the authority as counsel and the responsibility as council to act and to do things about the things going on in our community.

I'm worried that this particular instance is not a situation where we we took something that was what the community was asking for, that was what these organizations were asking for.

Um I think we we they they are have they been a part of the conversation?

That's that's my question.

Which specific community violence intervention organizations or representatives were involved in the construction of this ordinance language, mayor can I thought one motion, please.

You don't have to ask me, you can just go.

Yes, I am supposed to motion on the floor.

It's been moved to second.

Second, thank you.

Okay, we're voting on calling for the vote.

Right, Miss Chris?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay, roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

All right, Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Aye, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, aye.

Councilmember Astash?

No.

Councilmember Braddock is asked, and Councilmember Wiggins.

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond.

Nay.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have six yes and two no.

That motion is approved.

So now you take your vote.

Now we go back to the main motion.

Can you read it again, please?

I'm sorry.

It's an ordinance to add section 94.120 nuisance gatherings to chapter 94.

Nuisances, health and safety, Title 4, General Regulations of the City of Saginaw Code of Ordinances 0-204.

You heard the you heard what we're voting for.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote, please.

Councilmember Young.

Aye.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Aye.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Aye.

Councilmember Astash.

Aye.

Councilmember Braddock is absent.

Councilmember Wiggins.

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond?

Nay.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have seven yes and one no.

That motion is also approved.

We move on to resolutions.

Our first is authorizing the city to submit an outdoor recreation legacy partnership grant application and commit matching funds.

I needed to say that this ordinance will be laid over per chap per charter.

Good catch.

Position.

I'm sorry.

And look.

She was going so fast.

Wait a minute.

She said it too quick.

Okay, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

So we need a motion to adopt resolutions.

And the first one is are we doing it all together?

No.

Would you like me to reread it?

Yes.

It's to authorize the city to submit an outdoor recreation legacy partnership grant application and commit matching funds.

Support.

Second.

It's been moved in support.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Point of order.

Do you ask for discussions on resolutions?

I stand to be corrected.

Did we have any discussion?

Yes.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

Um I was wondering because the uh this particular grant application is leaning on other grant applications, and the capital stack is kind of getting overwhelming for this particular park.

Um, my two questions are um this is to the city manager or city staff or whoever may be able to answer.

Um, to date, how much of our general budget funds have been committed to the completion of this project?

I know there are lots of grants coming in when people say that the city has spent this much money, they kind of get sticker shot.

You mean general fund dollars?

Correct.

Zero.

Okay, um, so by the end of theoretical end of this project, how many general fund dollars will be spent to the completion of this project?

Should be zero.

Should be zero.

So if you read in the if you read in here the 16910 we're asking for, it says the city's committed 11910.

That's already some of the 33 million we've received from grant from the state and federal dollars.

Yes.

So that will be used as the match to get the five million to short the difference that we need.

Understood.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Any more discussion?

Let's go for the vote again.

Sorry about that, right?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Our second resolution is to authorize sponsors of various community events, the use of amplifying equipment.

So moved.

Second.

It's been moved and second.

Any discussion.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Our third resolution is to authorize the issuance of water supply system revenue refunding bonds, series 2026.

So move seconds.

So moved.

Did I say any discussion?

Yes.

Thank you.

Um I had a question uh for R3.

I was just looking at page um eight of 17 of what is on the memo for Saginaw City Council, and I was just looking for the top lines where it says interest rate maturity date, date of original issue, and then C USIP uh and the principal amount.

I was just uh I I didn't see those, it were just blanks.

I didn't know if that's because it hasn't been decided yet, but I was just wondering what those top lines were in anticipation of passing this resolution.

It covers your mind.

Um we will not get that information until closing on the bond.

Understood.

So this is basically approving moving forward with the uh taking the bond and moving forward to closing.

We'll have other information at that point.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

You need miss Mr.

Mike came up to he so we could just let him talk.

Really can you talk about water?

Any other comments?

No.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Number four.

Is to recognize eyes on the prize is a nonprofit organization for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license.

So move.

Second.

It's been moved in support.

Any discussion.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, nay.

Madam Clerk.

Take sure to miscellaneous business.

We are now in miscellaneous.

I need a motion.

Do I have to read all the read it right out?

Huh?

Yes, read it right as written.

I got reading.

I like it.

Motion to go into closed session pursuant to ML MCL 15.268 in connection with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters.

The IAF local 102.

Need motion to approve.

Support it.

It was moved.

It was supported by a roll call, do we?

Yes.

Roll call vote.

I'm sorry.

Councilmember Young.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Aye.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Present.

Aye.

Aye.

Councilmember Astache?

She's present.

Make sure you guys are listening.

Councilmember Astache?

I look at our to meet.

Councilmember Braddock is absent.

Councilmember Wigan?

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond?

Aye.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have eight yes votes.

That motion is approved.

You are in closed session at 801.

I need a motion to approve.

No.

We would read that motion.

Read it.

I'll read it.

Oh, a motion.

Motion one.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

I got you.

Motion to approve the tentative agreement between the City of Saginaw and the International Association of Firefighters known as IAFF.

That's discussed under closed session.

For the term commends on July 1st, 2026 and to expire on June 30th, 2030.

Second.

It's been moved and supported.

Any more discussion?

Yes.

Thank you.

I do not intend to cast my vote on any matter involving my responsibility as a city council that I have not had ample time to review.

I also I believe all workers have a right to a track contract.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any any more questions?

Yes.

Just a comment for the public on what we're voting on right now that this contract was ratified by our police department.

And we are looking for the city.

Firefighters.

I mean firefighters.

Sorry, wrong form.

Firefighters.

Any other questions?

It's voted time.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Nay.

Roll call vote.

Councilmember Young.

Aye.

Councilmember Seals.

Aye.

Councilmember Balls.

Aye.

Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.

Aye.

Councilmember Ostash?

Aye.

Councilmember Braddock is absent.

Sorry.

Councilmember Wigan?

Aye.

Councilmember Hammond?

Nay.

And Mayor Moore.

Aye.

You have seven yes and one no.

That motion is approved.

You are still under miscellaneous business.

Do we have any more?

Discussion.

Do we have anything else?

Any other motions coming forward?

If none, I need a motion to adjourn.

It's been moved to support all those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.