Southfield City Council Regular Meeting – March 23, 2026

The Southfield City Council held a regular meeting on March 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included presentations honoring youth teams, reaffirmation of the city’s welcoming status, appointments to city boards and legal staff, public comments on the ICE lease at One Town Square and a building permit dispute, a discussion on a drone-as-first-responder trial program, and a zoning text amendment for drone-related land uses. Several consent agenda items were approved, and a 12-month extension was granted for a mixed-use development.

Presentations & Resolutions

• Southfield Lathrup Village Falcons Cheerleading Team: A joint mayor‑council resolution proclaimed March 23, 2026, as Southfield Falcons Cheer Team Day, recognizing the team’s national grand champion award. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
• Levy Middle School Amazing Shake Team: Students and the coordinator were recognized for their upcoming national competition in Atlanta. The city presented a gift of cookies.
• Welcoming City Resolution: Mayor Siber reintroduced a joint resolution reaffirming Southfield as a welcoming city for immigrants, refugees, and all people, citing recent national events and the attack on Temple Israel. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Appointments

• Assistant City Attorneys: The city attorney recommended Sonia Chennault (county/state prosecution background) and Daniel Weberman (civil litigation, commercial/real estate). Appointments were approved unanimously. Both were sworn in.
• City Center Advisory Board: Larry Ross appointed.
• Historic District Commission: Kimberly Nicole Doakes appointed.
• Youth Appointments (non‑voting): Darla Lee Rose (Library Board), Tyrrell Lawrence Lockhart (Parks & Recreation Board), and Reagan Ayanna Simmons (Total Living Commission) – all juniors at University High School, terms through June 30, 2027. Appointments approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously without discussion. Items included:

• Adoption of fire department fee schedule
• Continued participation in Oakland County P25 radio system interlocal agreement
• Seal and tile replacement project for police department
• Scheduling of public hearing for single‑line special assessment roll
• Airspace link remote ID sensors
• Purchase of additional security camera video storage server
• Purchase of Cisco WebEx customer assist
• Purchase of Flex Gate dividers
• Authorization to sign SMART specialized services operating assistance contract (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026)
• Purchase of blackflow prevention module from OpGov
• Initiation of special assessment project F1178 (10 Mile right‑of‑way fence)
• Approval of 13 Mile Road resurfacing agreement
• Resolution of support for 8 Mile & Greenfield Lighting Project
• Authorization to purchase benches and trash receptacles for pedestrian/bus stop improvements
• Award of contract for Nine Line trail head signage concrete base fabrication and installation

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charlie Leduff (Oakland County Sheriff’s Office): Provided an update on the Synar Initiative (tobacco/vape sales to minors) – 78 vendors in Southfield, random compliance checks, three failures noted. Thanked the police department.
• Elena Burke (Congresswoman Tlaib’s office): Announced the Congresswoman’s introduced legislation (Medicines for the People Act, Housing Our Communities Act) and reaffirmed opposition to the ICE/Redico lease at One Town Square. Invited residents to a Know Your Rights town hall on March 31.
• Cameron Fink (Southfield resident, co‑founder Southfield Neighbors Action Committee): Opposed the OPLA (ICE lawyers) office at One Town Square. Claimed Redico removed OPLA from the building directory after initial listing. Called on council to demand a public town hall with Redico.
• Jill Spadafora (Southfield resident): Argued ICE has a pattern of behavior that is a continued risk to the community. Asked council to send a letter to Redico demanding a town hall.
• Alex Carter (Southfield resident): Asked council to issue a public statement requesting Redico hold a town hall. Noted Redico is not responding to public inquiries.
• John Koske (Coalition to Shut Down the Camps): Stated the Redico lease enables ICE and called it evil. Warning that inaction implicates the council.
• Sydney Thompson (Southfield resident): Referenced Abraham Lincoln and urged council to stand up against ICE presence.
• Dandridge Floyd (Southfield resident and landlord): Described a dispute with building official Charles Woodward over requiring a permit for replacing a P‑trap. Claimed Woodward escalated fees and penalties when questioned. Asked for an independent review and for council to evaluate the professionalism of communications.
• Devin Hampton (Southfield resident): Welcomed the community, highlighted his own home purchase experience, and praised the building department for requiring permits to protect buyers.
• Sakina Bolden (Principal, University K‑12): Thanked council for appointing youth scholars to city boards.
• J. Racinos (Southfield resident): Opposed ICE, linked immigration enforcement to U.S. foreign policy, and called for an end to current immigration policies.
• Betty Robinson (30‑year resident): Complained about Inganook Park bathroom conditions – ceiling fallen apart, no repairs for over two years. Requested action.
• Greg Keeler (Southfield resident): Mentioned Congresswoman Tlaib’s $3.1 million grant for senior home repairs, requested a sewer line for his street, and noted a free home loan program from Oakland County.
• Unnamed speaker: Raised campaign finance concerns about a council member’s report and asked for an update on the Middle Point project across the street.

Discussion Items

• Drone as First Responder – Flock Safety Trial Program:

  • Police Chief and Sergeant Morris presented a one‑year free trial of drone‑as‑first‑responder (DFR) using Flock Safety. Four drones and two docking stations (at police HQ and fire station #5) would provide 100% city coverage within a 3.5‑mile radius. Response times of 80–90 seconds versus 10–15 minutes for traditional patrol.
  • Drone capabilities: 400‑foot altitude, thermal imaging, night vision, and integration with existing Flock license plate readers.
  • Privacy: 30‑day data retention (hard delete unless downloaded), transparency portal showing flight logs, no data sold, permanent audit trails, and local control over sharing.
  • Training included at no cost. Fire department cross‑training possible.
  • Council questions: cost beyond trial (budget planning to follow), weather resilience (tested during year‑long trial), ability to carry AEDs (future payloads possible), and legality of shooting down drones (crime).
  • Council voted unanimously to approve the one‑year free trial.

• Request for 12‑Month Extension – 1911 W. 10 Mile Mixed‑Use Project:

  • The developer (represented by Mike Housty) requested a 12‑month extension to commence construction on a mixed‑use building (34 apartments + commercial). Original approval was 18 months; one 12‑month extension is allowed.
  • Financing challenges: project cost ~$10M, market value ~$7.5M; MEDC funding was drastically cut. Developer is exploring alternative materials, condo market study, and debt financing.
  • City administrator noted site conditions (debris, windblown trash) and asked developer to clean up.
  • Council approved the extension unanimously (expires April 17, 2027).

• Zoning Text Amendment – Drone‑Related Land Use Regulations:

  • Deputy Planner presented the amendment to add definitions for drones and drone ports, and establish review processes: small drone ports (≤15% of site) administrative review; large (15–50%) planning commission; major (>50% of site) council special land use.
  • Public hearing held: residents raised concerns about privacy, noise, potential abuse, and whether federal agencies would be exempt. Planner clarified that the amendment regulates land use (where ports are built), not airspace (FAA preempts).
  • Ordinance introduced and adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous votes: Adoption of Falcon cheerleading resolution, welcoming city resolution, appointments of assistant city attorneys and board members, consent agenda, drone trial approval, 12‑month extension for 1911 W. 10 Mile, drone zoning text amendment, and unattended collection bins ordinance.
• Motion to approve minutes of February 23, 2026, passed unanimously.
• Ordinance 1830 (drone zoning text amendment) introduced and adopted.
• Ordinance 1831 (unattended collection bins – moved from zoning to building department enforcement) introduced and adopted.
• Councilmember announcements:
  • Councilwoman Haynes praised Stevenson Elementary for reading month.
  • Councilman Mandelbaum reminded residents that yard waste collection begins April 6.
  • Council President Pro Tem Hogue noted McIntyre legacy celebration on Thursday and final walkthrough of Southfield‑Lathrup High School on Saturday.
  • Councilman Brightwell urged veterans to enroll in VA benefits.
  • City Clerk announced FOIA software going live April 1 to streamline requests.