OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - November 6, 2025

City Council Meetings — Thursday, November 6, 2025
BodySterling Heights, Michigan
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateThursday, November 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 54:21

Transcript — Verbatim
0:50

Good evening, everyone.

0:52

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

0:55

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

0:59

The invocation.

1:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:14

Dear God, please bless our elected officials.

1:16

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

1:19

Amen.

1:20

Amen.

1:21

Thinking Ms.

1:22

Risker, can we please have the roll call?

1:24

Maybe Taylor.

1:25

Here.

1:26

Here.

1:28

Here.

1:31

Here.

1:32

Present.

1:33

Thank you.

1:34

Council, we need approval of the agenda.

1:36

Mayor Taylor.

1:37

Mrs.

1:38

Zarko.

1:38

Move to approve the agenda as presented.

1:41

Support.

1:41

Then moved and supported.

1:42

Is there any discussion?

1:44

No discussion.

1:45

All in favor say aye.

1:46

Aye.

1:47

Opposed.

1:48

Motion carries.

1:49

Oh, that was a little bittersweet.

1:51

I gotta say.

1:52

It was a little bittersweet.

1:53

Uh Ms.

1:54

Koski is not here tonight.

1:56

Um I'm informed that over a 36-year career she's missed two meetings.

2:01

Um what an incredible legacy.

2:04

And she's always the one that made the motion to approve the agenda.

2:08

I was willing to make the motion to approve the consent agenda.

2:12

Uh so we're thinking about you, Ms.

2:14

Koske, and we already miss you.

2:16

Um okay, with that, we'll move on to the first item on our agenda tonight, which is our city manager's report.

2:23

Our city manager, Mark Vanderpool, Mr.

2:25

Vanderpool.

2:26

Thank you, Mayor.

2:27

I have a very brief report this evening.

2:29

I wanted to remind everyone that our city offices will be closed on Veterans Day, which is November 11th next Tuesday.

2:37

So please take note of that.

2:39

Uh refuse collection will not change, so there is not a delay in refuse collection.

2:44

But most importantly, I wanted to remind everyone of our annual Veterans Day ceremony uh that takes place at 11 a.m.

2:52

at the senior center.

2:54

Please note that the senior center.

2:56

It's hosted by our community relations department in collaboration with local veterans group and is open uh to the public, so we encourage you to attend.

3:04

We always have great attendance at the event, and it's a very meaningful uh tribute.

3:10

So uh we look forward to seeing everyone there.

3:12

If you'd like more information, please feel free to call our community relations department or visit our website again.

3:19

That's next uh Tuesday at 11 a.m.

3:23

And Mayor, let me just uh conclude by uh congratulating you and the city council on behalf of administration uh for uh your victory in next term on city council.

3:36

We look forward to working uh with you and the council to continue the good work going on in the city and to continue to advance the city's long tradition of excellence and also wanted to on behalf of administration welcome uh the new our newcomer to council Robert Mijak, and at the same time again on behalf of administration.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Elections██████████████████████████████████████38%
Community Engagement████████████████████████████28%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Summary of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - November 6, 2025

The Sterling Heights City Council met on November 6, 2025, the day after the general election. The meeting included the swearing-in of three new police officers, approval of routine items, an appointment to the Community Alliance, and extensive tributes to retiring Councilwoman Deanna Koski, who served for 36 years. Council members also discussed election results, upcoming events, and a request for an update on the North Van Dyke property.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda: Approved unanimously.
  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously, including routine approvals.

Presentation: Swearing-In of New Police Officers

  • Police Chief Andrew Satterfield introduced three new officers who joined the department on November 3, 2025. The officers were sworn in before the council:
    • Officer Lillian Jimenez: Previously served as a dispatcher at Lone Star College (2015), corrections officer (2017), and deputy and hostage negotiator in Montgomery County, Texas.
    • Officer Webb Bradley Webb: Grew up in Dearborn, nearly two years of experience with Detroit Police Department, pursuing a bachelor's in business administration from Cleary University.
    • Officer Kimberly Trend Camp: Native of Sterling Heights, attended Sterling Heights High School, has experience with Detroit Police Department and Madison Heights Police Department, holds a bachelor's in business administration from Wayne State University.
  • Council members welcomed the officers, highlighting the community's support for public safety and the importance of the Safe Street millage in staffing. The mayor noted that the city is pro-police and committed to providing necessary tools.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager's Report: Mark Vanderpool reminded that city offices will be closed on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, with no change in refuse collection. The annual Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the senior center, hosted by community relations and local veterans groups. He also congratulated the council on their re-election and welcomed new councilmember Robert Mijak, noting that a tribute to Councilwoman Koski is planned for November 18.
  • Appointment to Community Alliance: Councilmember Radke moved to appoint Hunter Narone to the Community Alliance for a term ending June 30, 2026. Narone was described as an active community member who recently moved back. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Request for CCF Property Update: Councilmember Sarowski requested that the Community Foundation (CCF) present an update on the status of the North Van Dyke property, including the purchase agreement and permit progress, at the first council meeting in December (December 2, 2025). The request was supported by the council, and administration will coordinate with CCF.

Council Reports & Tributes

  • Council members thanked voters, poll workers, and the city clerk's office for a smooth election. Over 18,000 voters participated. Councilmembers also reflected on the campaign and the importance of democracy.
  • Extended tributes were given to retiring Councilwoman Deanna Koski, who served 36 years and missed only two meetings. Colleagues praised her encyclopedic knowledge of city history, dedication to police dogs, and kindness. The mayor read a statement from Koski thanking supporters and congratulating the new council. Members expressed that she remains a valued part of the community.
  • Councilmember Schmidt noted the DPW food drive running through the holiday season, accepting donations at city buildings.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
  • Appointment: Hunter Narone appointed to the Community Alliance (term ending June 30, 2026).
  • Direction: Administration to request an update on the CCF (North Van Dyke) property from the Community Foundation for the December 2, 2025 council meeting.
  • Tribute: Councilwoman Deanna Koski honored for her 36 years of service; a formal tribute is planned for November 18, 2025.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately [time not specified].

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. The invocation. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible 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. Thinking Ms. Risker, can we please have the roll call? Maybe Taylor. Here. Here. Here. Here. Present. Thank you. Council, we need approval of the agenda. Mayor Taylor. Mrs. Zarko. Move to approve the agenda as presented. Support. Then moved and supported. Is there any discussion? No discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Oh, that was a little bittersweet. I gotta say. It was a little bittersweet. Uh Ms. Koski is not here tonight. Um I'm informed that over a 36-year career she's missed two meetings. Um what an incredible legacy. And she's always the one that made the motion to approve the agenda. I was willing to make the motion to approve the consent agenda. Uh so we're thinking about you, Ms. Koske, and we already miss you. Um okay, with that, we'll move on to the first item on our agenda tonight, which is our city manager's report. Our city manager, Mark Vanderpool, Mr. Vanderpool. Thank you, Mayor. I have a very brief report this evening. I wanted to remind everyone that our city offices will be closed on Veterans Day, which is November 11th next Tuesday. So please take note of that. Uh refuse collection will not change, so there is not a delay in refuse collection.

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