Taylor City Council Meeting Summary – November 7, 2023

The Taylor City Council met on November 7, 2023, for its regular meeting. The agenda and minutes were not available in the source material; the following summary is drawn from the raw transcript. Members approved the agenda and the October 17, 2023 minutes, heard updates from the mayor and police chief, approved most regular-agenda items, denied a first-reading rezoning, settled a risk-management claim, and defeated a proposal to create a standing special counsel for the council. After a closed session, the public meeting resumed at 6:46 p.m. and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Mayor's Communications and Police Updates

• Mayor announced City Hall and all city buildings will be closed Friday, November 10, 2023, in recognition of Veterans Day; Veterans Day specials will be at Lakes of Taylor and Taylor Meadows that day.
• Winter Fest will be Saturday, December 2, 2023, beginning with a 5K at 9:30 a.m.; the parade steps off at 5:00 p.m. and finishes at the Sherden Pavilion.
• Mayor reported Jalapalooza drew about 3,000 children and an estimated 6,000-8,000 total attendees, with temperatures around 76 degrees; registration was capped at 2,500 children. He suggested exploring a temporary 15 mph subdivision speed limit on Halloween or a magazine reminder to slow down.
• Police Chief Blair reported the city received a $750,000 COPS grant to hire six additional officers, funded over three years with the city responsible for the fourth year. He credited legislators, including Senator Geis.
• Chief Blair also reported bipartisan state legislation (House Bills 4065 and 4066) for violent crime reduction has passed its first hurdle and could allocate $840,000 to Taylor, and that arrests have been made in the postal key theft cases, with federal prosecution underway.

Closed Session and Settlement

• The council voted unanimously to enter closed session to discuss risk management claim QL0827 and pending litigation, returning to open session at 6:46 p.m.
• By a 5-2 roll-call vote, the council approved the settlement of claim QL0827 as recommended by risk management.

Rezoning Request Denied on First Reading

• Case 23-25Z was a request to rezone parcels on the north side of Goddard Road between Beech Daly and Continental Drive from O-1 Office to RM1 multi-family residential. A motion to deny the first reading was made by Councilwoman Brandana and seconded by Councilman Johnson.
• Councilwoman Witten spoke in support of denial, noting the Planning Commission unanimously recommended against the request; she cited other appropriate multifamily parcels, the existing concentration of apartments, a traffic study completed while school was not in session, wetlands, and a drain through the property.
• Applicant Ali Hamush asked the council to table the decision, saying his intention was senior housing (55 and older) on the O-1 portion and that he was not seeking to change the R1C area. He requested time to talk with the community and the planning department.
• The motion to deny first reading carried, so the rezoning did not advance.

Regular Agenda: Routine Approvals

• Approved Metro Airport truck repair for Ladder 1 at not to exceed $6,521, funded through the General Fund fire repair and maintenance account.
• Approved Smiley Tire Company as the sole-source, lowest qualified bidder for tire purchases at not to exceed $2,725.
• Approved Wisecom Technologies as low bidder to furnish and install window roller shades at not to exceed $28,100, funded through federal forfeiture funds. During discussion, staff said federal procurement rules prohibit applying the city's local vendor preference; a Taylor company's quoted price was 2.9% higher, about $817 more.
• Approved sponsoring two police officer cadets to attend the Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy at $13,426, funded through the MCOLES Safety Academy Assistance Program. One cadet, Raymond Richard, introduced himself.
• Approved Star Chase as sole source for vehicle-mounted pursuit reduction technology at not to exceed $71,280, funded through federal forfeiture funds.
• Approved Downriver Community Conference (DCC) membership dues for 2023-2024 in the amount of $14,679.
• Approved Ulta Equipment as sole source for repair to the Comcoast site loader at not to exceed $36,030.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works or designee/city engineer to execute Wayne County long-term maintenance permits for city stormwater management systems.
• Approved Downriver Mutual Aid (DMA) membership dues for 2023-2024 in the amount of $49,390; staff explained DCC is the community conference organization and DMA covers mutual aid services such as SWAT, hazmat, and dive teams.
• Approved intergovernmental agreements with the city of Romulus for sanitary sewer service to 16251 Inkster Road and 16255 Inkster Road.
• Approved the SMART municipal and community credit contract for July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, in the amount of $176,988.
• Approved the MLCC special license application for Winter Fest Holiday Stroll 2023.
• Approved Hudson Inc., state contract holder, for a John Deere Gator at not to exceed $33,841.
• Approved DA Central as sole source for the Linnell Card Access Server Rebuild at $1,980.
• Approved two new purchase agreements for the Taylor Sports Plex with B Well, My Friends DJ Services, and Amazon; the mayor noted the DJ skate event starts November 10.
• Approved Printing Systems Incorporated for absentee ballot envelope and application printing services for the 2024 elections at not to exceed $12,000.
• Approved Kent Communications as low bidder for printing and mailing the early voting notification mailer at not to exceed $3,973.
• Approved the U.S. Postal Service as sole source for postage on bulk mailing of absentee ballot applications and early voting notification mailers for the 2024 presidential primary election at not to exceed $8,000.
• Approved earmarking $200,000 in ARPA funds to identify and replace lead service lines. Administration said current pace targets completion around 2033-2034, ahead of the 2040 deadline, and the city is seeking grants.
• Approved budget amendment 2024-004, dated November 7, 2023. It amended the water fund for the $200,000 ARPA lead-line action and made a net-zero General Fund adjustment for prior ARPA approvals for IT, furniture, equipment, and laptops. Staff reported about $5 million in ARPA funds remains; obligations must be in place by December 31, 2024, and expenditures completed by December 31, 2026.
• Approved a motion authorizing the mayor to sign grant contract E2024-6-0 with the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) / LARA, transcribed as 'Michigan Indigenous Fence Commission,' for the term October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gina Reese, a Taylor resident for over 50 years, described a backed-up private storm drain system on her block that all sump pumps drain into. She said the blockage and smell were causing water and sediment next to her house, and she could not afford a $5,000 cleanout. She asked the city for a remedy. The mayor and corporation counsel said the city is not responsible for the private drain, suggested the homeowners could circulate a petition for a special assessment district, and the mayor said he would check with community development about possible grant/loan assistance.
• Mary Sousa criticized the special counsel proposal for not being placed on the regular agenda, saying residents could not research it and the normal Granicus agenda procedure was not followed. She later asked that the maker of motions be clearly stated; Councilwoman Brandana clarified that it was her motion.

Council Discussion: Towing Contracts

• Councilman Ramick said the city's towing contract has been expired for about four and a half to five years and extends itself until a new RFP is written or a new list is accepted. He urged the council to draft and issue a new RFP.
• Corporation Counsel Plato said the council is not required to accept the lowest bid and can consider other factors. Councilman Johnson added that the current arrangement was not a bidding process and that the city should write a contract benefiting residents. No formal motion was recorded on this topic.

Special Counsel Proposal Defeated

• Councilwoman Brandana moved to amend the city council rules and procedures to retain special legal counsel for the council. The proposal named Jeff Schroeder as special counsel at $250 per hour for municipal matters and $275 per hour for litigation, to serve until November 2025, attend council meetings, advise council members, and take legal action to protect council rights. The city attorney would be directed to cooperate.
• Opponents argued the proposal was a charter violation because the charter makes the corporation counsel the legal advisor to both the mayor and council and allows special counsel only for a specific matter and limited time. They cited the lack of a budget amendment, the cost, and the attorney's representation of Warren's council, where disputes had generated nearly $1 million in litigation costs.
• Councilwoman Brandana responded that the council needs independent advice when a conflict arises and that an attorney's opinion is not controlling law. Corporation Counsel Plato said his verbal opinion was that the proposal would be a clear charter violation; special counsel could be retained by majority vote for a specific issue and limited time, but not as an open-ended two-year council attorney.
• Councilman Ramick recommended obtaining a written opinion before any vote. The motion failed by a vote of 3-4.
• After the vote, Councilwoman Brandana moved to have Corporation Counsel submit a written opinion on the legality of the proposed council-rules amendment by November 16, 2023. That motion passed 4-3.

Council Announcements

• Councilwoman Brandana noted a Texas Roadhouse dine-to-donate event for the Taylor Historical Society on November 7 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., with 10% of proceeds donated.
• Councilwoman Witten reminded residents that the Senior Alliance Medicaid/Medicare Assistance Program will be at the Ford Senior Center on November 9 and November 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Appointments can be made at 734-727-2067.
• Councilman Johnson thanked veterans, noting Veterans Day is Saturday.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and October 17, 2023 minutes approved.
• Risk-management settlement QL0827 approved 5-2.
• Rezoning case 23-25Z denied on first reading.
• All routine regular-agenda items were approved as listed.
• Towing contract RFP discussed; no vote recorded.
• Special counsel amendment defeated 3-4.
• Written opinion on the amendment requested from Corporation Counsel, due by November 16, 2023, in a 4-3 vote.
• Mayor committed to follow up with Gina Reese on community development options for the storm drain issue.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.