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Record of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting Summary - October 22, 2025

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, October 22, 2025
BodySterling Heights, Michigan
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, October 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:39

Transcript — Verbatim
1:10

Good evening, everyone.

1:11

I'd like to call this meeting of the Sterling Heights City Council to order.

1:14

If you would please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation.

1:18

I pledge an allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:22

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:31

Dear God, please bless our elected officials.

1:34

Grant them courage and wisdom to do what is right for all citizens.

1:37

Amen.

1:37

Amen.

1:40

Can we please have the roll call?

1:41

Mayor Taylor.

1:42

Here.

1:43

Here.

1:45

Present.

1:47

Present.

1:48

Present.

1:49

Here.

1:51

Present.

1:52

You council, we need approval of the agenda.

1:55

Mayor.

1:55

Mrs.

1:55

Koskey.

1:56

Move to approve the agenda.

1:58

Support.

1:59

It's been moved and supported.

2:00

Is there any discussion?

2:01

Mayor Taylor.

2:02

Mrs.

2:02

Sarowski.

2:03

I would like to please move the consent agenda number letter F to consideration eight B.

2:11

All right.

2:12

Uh thank you, Mr.

2:12

Sarowski.

2:13

Item F from the consent agenda will become consideration eight B.

2:17

Any other discussion, Council?

2:20

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

2:22

Aye.

2:22

Opposed?

2:23

Motion carries.

2:24

First item on our agenda tonight is a report from our city manager, Mark Vanderpool.

2:28

Mr.

2:28

Vanderpool.

2:29

Thank you, Mayor.

2:30

I have uh just two items in my report this evening.

2:34

Uh first, I'd like to begin with uh an update on some new customer service uh access regarding our priority waste uh disposal uh program.

2:45

Uh so with us this evening is our assistant city manager Dale Joo Jikowski, who's gonna highlight uh this feature for us.

2:54

Thank you, Mr.

2:54

Vanderpool, Mayor Taylor, and members of council.

2:57

Um as you know, just over a year ago we went live with priority waste.

3:02

Um this early in the summer, we had a little bit of a hiccup with some service issues that we've since worked through with priority and uh service has been excellent.

3:10

Um this is yet another piece of the puzzle we met with priority staff.

3:14

We heard loud and clear from our residents uh that the whole time was frankly too long when they called priority waste.

3:20

So priority has been working on this on the back end.

3:23

It's called Priority 2.0, it's a new web uh portal to make complaints for uh trash issues, which is much faster, much more streamlined, and easier for residents uh to engage with our staff uh and priorities staff.

3:38

So priority not only gets these complaints, but our DPW does as well.

3:43

It's as simple as clicking, you go to priorities website, and once you get to priorities website, you click on Sterling Heights and Sterling Heights pops up.

3:52

You can see there on the screen, it shows the entire city, it shows you what day your trash pickup is, and when you scroll down on that website, you'll see the residential service request form.

4:02

You click in the very top box about a miss pickup, heart issues, complaint damage or anything else.

4:08

Um if you want some extra notes in there, feel free.

4:11

Um we ask you, does this involve trash, recycling compost or bulk?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████████████████34%
Personnel Matters████████████████16%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Waste Management██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Youth Programs████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - October 22, 2025

The Sterling Heights City Council met on October 22, 2025, to discuss a range of topics including a new customer service portal for trash collection, lighting improvements on Metropolitan Parkway, a resolution honoring a young environmentalist, approval of two collective bargaining agreements, and a unique dinosaur-themed playscape for a new park.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved as amended, with item F moved to consideration item 8B.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Nathanya Fonseca (high school senior, founder of Planet Forward) spoke in support of the resolution recognizing her with an International Young Eco Hero Award, thanking the Sustainability Commission for their support.
  • Mr. Ochada (resident) expressed strong support for the Mosasaur playscape, stating his nephew loves dinosaurs and he looks forward to being the "cool uncle" taking him to the "dinosaur park."
  • Sarah Fisher (resident) asked about the planned satellite library at Red Run Park, specifically whether library returns from other branches would be accepted.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager's Report
    • Priority Waste Portal: Assistant City Manager Dale Jojikowski presented Priority 2.0, a new web portal for residents to report trash issues, reducing wait times. The portal integrates with the existing C Click Fix app. Statistics: 8,000 houses per day for trash, recycling, yard waste (24,000 potential pickups). In August and September, out of 1.566 million potential stops, only 334 service issues were reported—a 99.98% efficiency rate.
    • Metropolitan Parkway Lighting and Landscaping: Lead Civil Engineer Scott Sharon outlined plans to light the remaining unlit three-mile stretch of Metro Parkway between Van Dyke Avenue and the eastern city limits (near Hayes Road). New black LED light poles will match those on Van Dyke. Additionally, median landscaping will be enhanced at Schayner Road and Dodge Park Road intersections. Community Relations Director Melanie Davis described new public art display structures (no fewer than three along the corridor) that will promote city events and feature local artists. These are being built by Detroit Design Center, whose founders grew up in Sterling Heights.
  • Recognition of Nathanya Fonseca: Sustainability Planner Alexis Weinberg presented a resolution recognizing Nathanya Fonseca for receiving the 2025 International Young Eco Hero Award from Action for Nature. Fonseca, an ex-officio member of the Sustainability Commission, founded Planet Forward, a youth-led initiative planting native trees and creating pollinator gardens across Macomb County.
  • Collective Bargaining Agreements: City Manager Mark Vanderpool presented two CBAs with MAPE Professional/Technical Employees Union and MAP Police Clerical Employees Union for January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030. Highlights: first-year base wage increases of at least 10% (more for those with less than five years tenure), defined contribution plan increases from 7% to 10% by end of term, and a health assessment incentive ($750 for employees, $500 for spouses). Subsequent years: 1.5% on July 1, 2027 and 2028, and 1% on July 1, 2029. The agreements also change the reclassification process to require collaboration with managers. Director of Human Resources Kate Baldwin and union president Robert Surgot were acknowledged for negotiations.
  • Mosasaur Playscape for Red Run Park: Finance Director Chris Skirda and Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Langlois presented a proposal to purchase an ADA-compliant custom Mosasaur playscape (a 3,500 sq. ft. dinosaur-themed play structure with synthetic unitary turf surfacing) for Red Run Park at a total cost of $349,963.02. The discount was 40% off list price obtained at the National Recreation and Park Association conference; only one other similar structure exists in the U.S. (in Texas). The playscape will be installed in the park's central hub near restrooms and seating. The park is expected to open in fall 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution Adopted: Council unanimously adopted the resolution recognizing and congratulating Nathanya Fonseca for her International Young Eco Hero Award.
  • Consent Agenda Approved: Approved as amended (item F moved to consideration).
  • Collective Bargaining Agreements Approved: Both CBAs were approved unanimously (two separate motions) for the MAPE Professional/Technical Union and MAP Police Clerical Union.
  • Mosasaur Playscape Approved: The proposal from PlayCore Wisconsin Inc. (dba GameTime) was accepted unanimously. The playscape will be installed at Red Run Park.
  • Strategic Planning Direction: Councilmember Radke requested, without objection, that the continuation of the ITC pathway south to 14 Mile Road and filling sidewalk gaps be added to the January strategic planning agenda.
  • Leaf Pickup Extension: Councilmember Schmidt asked about extending yard waste pickup. City Manager Vanderpool indicated it likely will be extended into early December and will communicate details.
  • ITC Tree Trimming: Councilmember Koski inquired about ITC tree trimming. Vanderpool confirmed work is ongoing and residents can call city management for assistance.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Sterling Heights City Council to order. If you would please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation. I pledge an allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Dear God, please bless our elected officials. Grant them courage and wisdom to do what is right for all citizens. Amen. Amen. Can we please have the roll call? Mayor Taylor. Here. Here. Present. Present. Present. Here. Present. You council, we need approval of the agenda. Mayor. Mrs. Koskey. Move to approve the agenda. Support. It's been moved and supported. Is there any discussion? Mayor Taylor. Mrs. Sarowski. I would like to please move the consent agenda number letter F to consideration eight B. All right. Uh thank you, Mr. Sarowski. Item F from the consent agenda will become consideration eight B. Any other discussion, Council? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. First item on our agenda tonight is a report from our city manager, Mark Vanderpool. Mr. Vanderpool. Thank you, Mayor. I have uh just two items in my report this evening. Uh first, I'd like to begin with uh an update on some new customer service uh access regarding our priority waste uh disposal uh program. Uh so with us this evening is our assistant city manager Dale Joo Jikowski, who's gonna highlight uh this feature for us. Thank you, Mr. Vanderpool, Mayor Taylor, and members of council. Um as you know, just over a year ago we went live with priority waste. Um this early in the summer, we had a little bit of a hiccup with some service issues that we've since worked through with priority and uh service has been excellent.

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