Southfield City Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2026
Southfield City Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2026
The Southfield City Council held a regular meeting on April 21, 2026 at 6 p.m. (as per the recorded date). Key actions included adopting resolutions regarding state housing bills, approving a conditional rezoning and special land use for a landscape contractor yard, and advancing a point-of-sale ordinance. Public comment featured strong opposition to the proposed ICE legal office in the city. The meeting also included presentations on transit grants and election preparations.
Presentations
- Oakland County Transit Access to Transit Grant: Lindsay Wallace (Principal Transit Planner) presented a $420,000 grant for the nine-mile mid-block safety crossing. Commissioners Smith Charles, Taylor, and Woodward presented a check. Commissioner Woodward highlighted the funding source as the countywide transit millage. Council thanked them.
- Clerk's Election Update: City Clerk Gabby Grossbard presented plans for the 2026 election, including new precinct locations, targeted postcards for affected voters, a mailed informational trifold, early voting in Room 115, and partnerships with the Secretary of State Mobile Office at high schools to register seniors and recruit poll workers. Council praised the transparency and design.
Resolutions and Motions
- Resolution opposing Michigan House Bills 5529-5532 and 5581-5585: The Mayor and Council adopted a joint resolution opposing these bills that would preempt local zoning authority (including allowing accessory dwellings, 500 sq. ft. minimum, and reduced setbacks). Councilwoman Banks and Councilman Mandelbaum detailed concerns about infrastructure, property values, and loss of local control. Passed unanimously (7-0).
- Resolution supporting House Bills 5660-5661 (Michigan Home Program): The Mayor and Council adopted a joint resolution supporting incentive-based housing reforms that preserve local zoning authority. Passed unanimously (7-0).
- Appointments: Reappointed Jeffrey Lee Gunn to the Art Commission (absent); appointed Devin Hampton to fill a vacancy. Sworn in by the Clerk. Passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Nicole Massey: Opposed the documentary proof of citizenship ballot initiative, citing financial backing from a single billionaire and impact on low-income voters.
- Diane Martin: Raised concerns about traffic, car repairs, and code enforcement response in her residential area.
- Cameron Fink (Southfield resident, with daughter): Called for a town hall with Redico regarding the lease to OPLA (ICE legal arm). Criticized lack of transparency and urged council to act.
- Ann Lehman: Asked council to pressure Redico to hold a public town hall on the OPLA lease.
- Jill Spadafora: Supported citizen involvement and urged residents to become election workers.
- Ben Gardner (Wayne County resident, All Voting is Local campaign): Supported a resolution opposing the documentary proof of citizenship ballot initiative, calling it a barrier to voting for low-income and minority populations.
- Alex Carter (Southfield resident, SNAC): Demanded council send a letter to Redico for a public meeting, citing Lathrop Village's example. Described ICE actions and said Redico is not part of the community.
- Elliot Carter (Southfield resident, SNAC): Criticized council for not publicly demanding a town hall, referencing the city's resolution on community safety.
- Garland McWilliams: Complained about poor road conditions on Mount Vernon, asking for repaving status.
- Robert Johncox: Raised concerns about blight, unpaid taxes, and lack of developer progress at the former Leonard School.
- Greg Keeler: Criticized the city for not addressing sewer line issues dating back 26 years, leading to lost property and tax revenue.
- Susan Yegissian: Asked council to send a letter to Redico for a public meeting, citing community fear.
- Harold Tyler: Complained about construction disruptions and lack of communication on Silvercrest.
- Jessica Mahalik: Raised two issues: possible asbestos exposure at the Northland Mall construction site and demanded end to ICE lease.
- Keith Harris: Called for diversity in the local Democratic club and criticized a person named Joe Persons for threatening statements.
- Pam Zero: Criticized some council members for late campaign finance filings, demanding accountability.
Discussion Items
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Planner Terry Croad presented a six-year, $267 million CIP (FY2026-27 to 2031-32) covering equipment, facilities, parks, technology, and pedestrian enhancements. Fire station replacement ($13M) and crime lab renovation were noted. Council approved after discussion. (Vote: 7-0)
- Conditional Rezoning (PCZR26-0001) and Special Land Use (PSLU26-0002) for 2777 Franklin Road: Redico requested conditional rezoning from Regional Center to I-1 Industrial (limited to landscape contractor yard and office) and a special land use to operate a landscape contractor yard on 4.87 acres. The site includes a maintenance building, storage of trucks/trailers, and landscaping materials. Public hearing featured opposition from residents, the American Center Commerce Association, and Commissioner Smith Charles, citing inconsistency with the Master Plan, spot zoning, and concerns about aesthetics and precedent. Supporters (including Redico) noted compatibility with adjacent uses, conditional zoning safeguards, and job creation. The City Attorney and Planner argued the request was reasonable and not spot zoning. Council voted 5-2 to approve both the conditional rezoning and the special land use (Councilwoman Banks and Bland voted no). Ordinance 1834 was introduced (5-2).
- Vacation of 1984 Consent Judgment: The city approved vacating a consent judgment that allowed a two-story office building on residentially-zoned land at 2950 Telegraph Road, clearing the way for future rezoning. Passed unanimously.
- Point-of-Sale Ordinance: The council introduced and adopted an ordinance requiring a point-of-sale inspection and certificate of occupancy for residential sales to ensure code compliance. Passed unanimously. Ordinance 1835 introduced.
- Closed Session: Council voted unanimously to enter closed session to discuss an employee matter.
Key Outcomes
- Housing Bills: Resolutions opposing preemptive bills and supporting incentive-based housing passed 7-0.
- 2777 Franklin Road: Conditional rezoning and special land use approved by a vote of 5-2 (Councilmembers Banks and Bland dissenting). Ordinance 1834 introduced.
- Consent Judgment: Vacated by unanimous vote.
- Point-of-Sale Ordinance: Adopted and ordinance introduced unanimously.
- Capital Improvement Plan: Approved for FY2026-27 through 2031-32.
- Appointments: Devin Hampton appointed to Art Commission.
- Next Steps: The city will follow up on road concerns, Leonard School blight, and public communications; the legislative committee will review a resolution on voting rights.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The City of Southfield regular meeting agenda of the City Council will come to order for April 20th, 2026 at 6 p.m. Mr. Clerk, if you can please take roll call. Good evening. Councilwoman Banks. Present. Councilwoman Beland. Yeah. Councilman Brightwell. Yeah. Councilwoman Haynes. Present. Councilwoman Pro Tem Home. Councilman Mandelbaum. Present. Council President Hicks. Here. Sir, you have a core. Thank you, sir. If we could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance to the flag. And to republicans. Under God. Presentations. We'll have a presentation of award for Oakland County Transit Access to transit grant for the nine-mile mid-block safety crossing. Thank you through the chair. I'd like to welcome Lindsay Wallace, Principal Transit Planner with Oakham County Transit. And uh our uh she'll introduce our commissioners. Good evening, Commissioners. Sorry. Um my name is Lindsay Wallace, and I am the principal planner at the tr in the transit division at Oakland County. I am also the program manager for the access to transit programs. The Access to Transit Program provides funding to municipalities to design implement projects that make make it safer, easier, and more comfortable to get to the transit services in your community. We fund projects that address the first and last mile problem, such as accessibility, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, distance and time barriers, and safety concerns. Just a little program timeline. We had a call for projects, fall of 2025. In the winter of 2026, we prep we selected the projects, and right now we are in the middle of executing the agreements and starting to work. 420,000 is the proto project cost. Today we have commissioners Smith Charles, Taylor, and Woodward to present a check to the committee council. Thank you. Okay, if there's something real quick. Yeah. If I could just add, um, Oakland transit, so all you know, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart as someone who led the countywide transit millage. Many of you uh were very helpful in that campaign. The resources to help fund this as a result of that millage. And so, Mr. President, Mayor Hurtem, Council and Mayor. Uh, this is a uh this program is designed to figure out how to really bridge those last mile barriers for best usage, um, and we're gonna be doing more of it, but it's only possible because Southfield showed up strong to say not only do we support transit, but we support a countywide approach to transit so that people can get where they need to go. And in addition to this, new routes to from Southfield to Novi to Wixham and beyond that where people can get to work centers and back and forth that never existed before because of the old opt-out um uh system that no longer is in place because all of Oakland County is part of Oakland Transit, and we had an incredible team as any of you have seen here that's developing programs like this so that we can build up the infrastructure to make transit better.
openpublica.com