OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - December 3, 2025

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, December 3, 2025
BodySterling Heights, Michigan
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, December 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:59:29

Transcript — Verbatim
1:21

All right, good evening, everyone.

1:22

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

1:25

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

1:30

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:38

One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

1:43

Dear God, please bless our elected officials, grant them courage and wisdom to do what is right for all citizens.

1:49

Amen.

1:49

Amen.

1:51

Thank you, Ms.

1:52

May.

1:52

Can we please have the roll call?

1:54

Mayor Taylor.

1:55

Here.

1:55

Mrs.

1:55

Sarowski.

1:56

Mr.

1:57

Myjack.

1:58

Here.

1:58

Mr.

1:58

Radke.

1:59

Present.

1:59

Mrs.

2:00

Schmidt.

2:00

Present.

2:01

Mr.

2:01

Yannis.

2:02

Mrs.

2:02

Arko.

2:03

Present.

2:04

Thank you.

2:05

Just real real briefly.

2:06

Ms.

2:07

Sarowski is not here tonight.

2:09

Her mother-in-law recently passed away.

2:12

So want to give condolences to the Sarowski family, uh, to Judge Steve Sarowski from our district court and the loss of his mother, and uh wish uh wish our best to the Sarowski family, and uh she's away with uh with family tonight uh attending the funeral.

2:31

So we will see her back in in two weeks, of course.

2:34

All right, council, we need approval of tonight's agenda.

2:37

Move to approve the agenda as presented.

2:39

Support it's been moved and supported.

2:41

Is there any discussion?

2:42

Mr.

2:42

Mayor, Mr.

2:43

Yannis.

2:44

I'd like to move uh uh consent to agenda item D to uh consideration item nine B.

2:50

Okay, so seven is it uh eight D will become nine B.

2:58

Is there any other discussion, Council?

3:00

No further discussion.

3:02

All in favor signify by saying aye, aye.

3:04

Opposed.

3:05

Motion carries.

3:06

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

3:09

Mr.

3:09

Vanderpool.

3:10

Thank you, Mayor.

3:11

I'd like to begin by reminding everyone uh it's that time of the year again, and this coming Saturday, December 6th, from 5 30 p.m.

3:21

until 8 30, uh, right across the street, including the Upton House.

3:26

We will celebrate uh Sterling Christmas.

3:29

It's one of our uh most popular events, uh second only to Sterling Fest throughout the year.

3:36

We get thousands of people that come.

3:38

Uh Saturday night might be a little cold, but it's perfect uh for the event.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cryptocurrency Regulation███████████████████████████27%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████13%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Public Safety████████████12%
Economic Development██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Arts And Culture████4%
Zoning Regulation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - December 3, 2025

The Sterling Heights City Council met on December 3, 2025, to receive several presentations, introduce an ordinance regulating virtual currency machines, adopt a 12-month moratorium on billboards, and approve a stormwater utility feasibility study. The meeting included updates on the city's branding campaign, library outreach, and the annual financial audit. All votes were unanimous except for the stormwater study, which passed 6-1.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda was approved as amended, moving consent item D to consideration item 9B.
  • The consent agenda was then approved unanimously, including routine approvals.

Presentations & Reports

  • City Manager Report: Mark Vanderpool reminded residents of the Sterling Christmas event on December 6, 5:30–8:30 p.m., featuring tree lighting, ice skating, and a food drive for the Community Food Banks of Macomb County.
  • Look No Further Campaign Update: Brandon Chestnut of Identity PR presented Phase 2 of the city's branding campaign, which includes a resident attraction effort targeting 800,000 people in Metro Detroit actively searching for mortgage or moving information. A new video featuring four Sterling Heights residents was shown.
  • Library Outreach Presentation: Librarians Jessica De Greek and Lindsay Block reported that outreach visits increased by over 95% in 2025. Programs include home delivery (up to 12 weekly deliveries) and deposit collections for assisted living facilities.
  • Nice Neighbor Awards: Two awards were presented: Helga Babich (who helped rescue a neighbor after a medical emergency) and Megan Turner, owner of Old House Family Restaurant, nominated for community spirit and a coat drive.
  • Annual Comprehensive Financial Report: Nick Mackey, Assistant Finance Director, and Dan Merritt of Raymond Robson presented the audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Key financial stats: net position increased $42.7 million; general fund revenues $136.8 million, expenditures $134.7 million; general fund balance $43 million (31.9% of expenditures); property tax revenue up $4.3 million. The city received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion and GFOA awards for financial reporting and budgeting.

Ordinance Introduction – Virtual Currency Machines

  • Presentation: Police Captain Colleen Hopper detailed the rise of cryptocurrency scams, citing 27 virtual currency machines in Sterling Heights, 23 active fraud cases in 2025, documented losses of $542,000 (with estimated potential loss of $1,076,000), and an average victim age of 64. The proposed ordinance requires a specialty license for machine operators, yearly inspections, a $1,000 daily transaction cap for new customers (within a 14-day new user period), mandatory fraud warnings, and a customer service helpline.
  • Council Discussion: Councilmembers expressed strong support, emphasizing the need to protect seniors and curb fraud. Councilman Radke suggested sending a letter to state legislators for statewide action. The ordinance was introduced (first reading) unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Billboard Moratorium: Planner Dr. Jake Parcel explained that billboards are currently banned, but the Zoning Board of Appeals receives variance requests without design standards. A six-month moratorium on new billboards was proposed to study whether to allow them and develop standards. Council amended the moratorium to 12 months (moved by Mytaj, seconded by Zarko) and adopted it unanimously.
  • Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study: Council considered accepting a proposal from Raf Kelly Financial Consulting for $83,700 to study stormwater utility options. Councilman Yannis opposed, citing insufficient public engagement and concerns about process. Councilwoman Schmidt noted the study was already budgeted after a 4-3 vote. Councilwoman Zarko defended the process. The motion passed 6-1, with Yannis voting no.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.

Communications from Citizens / Council Reports

  • No citizen comments.
  • Councilman Radke requested that the city explore internal neighborhood branding and better wayfinding signage, noting that the current Look No Further campaign is outward-focused.
  • Councilwoman Zarko asked for painting lane arrows at the intersection of Hall Road and Schoenherr to reduce accidents.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda approved as amended (unanimous).
  • Consent agenda approved (unanimous).
  • Ordinance to regulate virtual currency machines introduced (first reading) (unanimous).
  • Resolution adopted establishing a 12-month moratorium on new billboards (unanimous).
  • Resolution approved to accept the stormwater utility feasibility study proposal at $83,700 (6-1, Yannis dissenting).
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

All right, 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 allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, 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. Thank you, Ms. May. Can we please have the roll call? Mayor Taylor. Here. Mrs. Sarowski. Mr. Myjack. Here. Mr. Radke. Present. Mrs. Schmidt. Present. Mr. Yannis. Mrs. Arko. Present. Thank you. Just real real briefly. Ms. Sarowski is not here tonight. Her mother-in-law recently passed away. So want to give condolences to the Sarowski family, uh, to Judge Steve Sarowski from our district court and the loss of his mother, and uh wish uh wish our best to the Sarowski family, and uh she's away with uh with family tonight uh attending the funeral. So we will see her back in in two weeks, of course. All right, council, we need approval of tonight's agenda. Move to approve the agenda as presented. Support it's been moved and supported. Is there any discussion? Mr. Mayor, Mr. Yannis. I'd like to move uh uh consent to agenda item D to uh consideration item nine B. Okay, so seven is it uh eight D will become nine B. Is there any other discussion, Council? No further discussion. All in favor signify by saying aye, aye. Opposed. Motion carries.

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