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Record of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - January 7, 2026

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, January 7, 2026
BodySterling Heights, Michigan
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, January 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:44

Original source
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1:05

All right, good evening everyone.

1:06

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

1:09

Please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation.

1:14

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, which stands one nation.

1:22

I'm indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:27

Dear God, Amen.

1:36

I don't know.

1:39

Madam Clerk, can we please have the roll call?

1:43

Here.

1:45

Hi, Jack.

1:46

Here.

1:47

Here.

1:49

Present.

1:50

Here.

1:52

Present.

1:53

Thank you, Council.

1:53

We need approval of the agenda.

1:55

Mayor Taylor.

1:57

Move to Mrs.

1:58

Arco.

1:58

Move to approve the agenda.

2:00

Support.

2:01

We're moved and supported.

2:02

Is there any discussion?

2:04

No discussion.

2:05

All in favor signify by saying aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:07

Opposed.

2:08

Motion carries for sign on our agenda tonight.

2:10

Is a report from our city manager, Mark Vanderpool.

2:14

Thank you very much, Mayor.

2:16

If you can make it over the humming and buzzword.

2:19

Yeah, I was trying to text our IT room downstairs, but if they can't hear it, we have a strange buzzing going on in the house and chambers.

2:28

I'm sure they'll correct us.

2:29

Anyhow.

2:30

I'm sorry.

2:31

Thank you.

2:32

The Sterling Heights Ethnic Community Committee invites the community to join them for their second annual Dr.

2:38

Martin Luther King Jr.

2:40

Unity Walk on Monday, January 19th at 10 a.m.

2:46

The event will feature opening remarks from our guest speaker, Bishop James Williams, a reading from Poet Zigzag Claiborne, light refreshments, and a short one-mile walk through our community, starting and ending at City Hall.

3:02

Uh those of you who participated last year was kind of cold, a bit blustery.

3:07

Uh we had to shorten the walk some.

3:10

I don't think we made it a mile, but we had a great turnout.

3:13

And uh if it happens again this year, in fact the weather is supposed to be a little colder on the 19th.

3:20

We will uh shorten the walk, of course.

3:22

So again, it's right here at City Hall on the 19th, starting at 10 a.m.

3:28

So we encourage all of you uh to attend.

3:31

And also I want to mention in in that uh spirit uh we our city offices will be closed on the 19th, so please take note.

3:41

The Sterling Heights Public Library has launched their first ever little free sled library.

3:48

Uh some of you may have heard about this in the news.

3:51

It received uh quite a bit of media coverage.

3:54

Uh for those who like to sled and would like to take a trip down the hill at Dealia Park, Great Sledding Hill.

4:01

It will be located near the pavilion in the parking lot in the park's north lot.

4:06

Uh so please take note.

4:08

So there's tur thirty sleds.

4:10

Uh you can simply check them out.

4:12

Uh it's free to residents, and it's a new amenity that we're offering.

4:17

Now the it's not gonna help next week, or I should say the remainder of this week in the next week, uh, because it's warming up, of course.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Economic Development██████████████████18%
Technology and Innovation██████████████14%
Procedural█████████████13%
Environmental Protection█████████9%
Public Engagement█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Pending Litigation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sterling Heights City Council Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Sterling Heights City Council met on January 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in city hall chambers. The meeting included a presentation of survival coins to two cardiac arrest survivors, adoption of an ordinance regulating virtual currency machines, a failed budget amendment for council education, and public comments on a proposed Sheetz gas station, tree preservation, and code enforcement. The meeting lasted approximately 2.5 hours.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the agenda unanimously.
  • Approved the consent agenda (routine approvals) without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Carol Chi (Moravian Street resident since 1981): Expressed opposition to the removal of Sterling Oak and other trees in the largest remaining green space, citing floodplain risks, carbon release, and betrayal of the PPP park vote. Urged state regulators to deny development.
  • Mr. Romano (resident, commercial vehicle owner): Requested review of ordinance 37 regarding commercial vehicle parking, citing contradictory language (3/4 ton vs. 1 ton) and noting his court case was dismissed but he still lost his truck. Asked council to fine-tune the ordinance.
  • Rob McGregor (Metro Detroit Petroleum Alliance): Opposed Sheetz gas station development, arguing predatory pricing, conflict of interest (Oakland County Commissioner Dave Woodward and law firm Kurtz Hell), lack of Michigan investment, risk of brownfield sites (307), and double standards for local businesses. Noted a public hearing scheduled for March 3.
  • Raimi Yousaf (30-year resident, BP gas station owner on 15 Mile & Mound): Opposed Sheetz, stating it brings no new entertainment or affordable housing, imports out-of-state employees, and harms local small businesses that employ local workers.
  • Elizabeth Capolo (Sterling Heights Drug Free Coalition): Announced meeting schedule changes and invited council to join upcoming meetings.

Discussion Items

  • Survival Coin Presentation (Fire Department): Fire Chief Kevin Edmund recognized two cardiac arrest survivors (Mike and John) and presented survival coins and citizen awards. Responding firefighters were introduced. Council members praised the department's training and urged continued support. Mayor noted recent saves by police officers as well.
  • First Amendment to Appropriations Ordinance: Unanimously adopted without public comment or discussion.
  • Virtual Currency Machine Ordinance: Councilmember Radke introduced the item, thanking Grosse Pointe Farms council members for inspiration. Speakers: Councilman Lev Wood (Grosse Pointe Farms) described the timeline and fraud problem; Dennis Roses (AARP Michigan) noted senior vulnerability; Cassie Thierfalder (AARP Michigan) thanked council for adding daily/monthly transaction limits. Council praised the revisions and passed unanimously.
  • Budget Amendment for Council Education/Training: Proposed to increase budget by $30,000 from reserves. Debate: Radke supported for learning best practices; Sarowski supported for equity across members; Majack opposed due to cost; Zarko opposed, suggested per-member allowance; Yannis opposed, preferred funding employee training; Schmidt opposed, wanted rotation and feedback. Roll call: 3 yes (Frankie, Radke, Mayor Taylor), 4 no (Schmidt, Yannis, Zarko, Majack). Motion failed.
  • Reappointment to Community Foundation Board: Unanimously appointed Mary Smolensky to a term ending December 31, 2028.
  • Council New Business: Yannis requested list of city subscriptions to publications; discussed CPR class fees (currently $35-$50) and proposed using $30,000 for grants to cover class costs for residents who cannot afford them. Sarowski supported and suggested a hardship program. Schmidt asked for data on class frequency and costs, suggested making some classes free. Zarko raised concerns about data centers in industrial zones (noise, energy, water), requested moratorium study. Radke seconded data center concerns and wished residents a happy new year. Mayor noted he would not be convinced by arguments against Sheetz based on it being too popular.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Virtual Currency Machine Ordinance: Adds licensing and daily/monthly transaction limits; effective immediately.
  • Adopted First Amendment to Appropriations Ordinance: Affects fiscal year 2025-2026 budget.
  • Failed Budget Amendment: Council education and training budget increase ($30,000) defeated 3-4.
  • Approved Reappointment: Mary Smolensky to Community Foundation Board.
  • Future Items: Sheetz public hearing scheduled for March 3, 2026; staff to report on CPR class options and data center regulations; council to explore per-member education allotment.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Sterling Heights City Council to order. 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, which stands one nation. I'm indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Dear God, Amen. I don't know. Madam Clerk, can we please have the roll call? Here. Hi, Jack. Here. Here. Present. Here. Present. Thank you, Council. We need approval of the agenda. Mayor Taylor. Move to Mrs. Arco. Move to approve the agenda. Support. We're moved and supported. Is there any discussion? No discussion. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries for sign on our agenda tonight. Is a report from our city manager, Mark Vanderpool. Thank you very much, Mayor. If you can make it over the humming and buzzword. Yeah, I was trying to text our IT room downstairs, but if they can't hear it, we have a strange buzzing going on in the house and chambers. I'm sure they'll correct us. Anyhow. I'm sorry. Thank you. The Sterling Heights Ethnic Community Committee invites the community to join them for their second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk on Monday, January 19th at 10 a.m. The event will feature opening remarks from our guest speaker, Bishop James Williams, a reading from Poet Zigzag Claiborne, light refreshments, and a short one-mile walk through our community, starting and ending at City Hall. Uh those of you who participated last year was kind of cold, a bit blustery. Uh we had to shorten the walk some. I don't think we made it a mile, but we had a great turnout. And uh if it happens again this year, in fact the weather is supposed to be a little colder on the 19th. We will uh shorten the walk, of course. So again, it's right here at City Hall on the 19th, starting at 10 a.m. So we encourage all of you uh to attend. And also I want to mention in in that uh spirit uh we our city offices will be closed on the 19th, so please take note.

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