Taylor City Council Regular Meeting - May 5, 2026

The Taylor City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Taylor Municipal Building. All seven council members, Mayor Timothy Woolley, Clerk Cynthia Bower, and Treasurer Nicone Dragone Sr. were present. The council approved the agenda as amended, approved prior minutes, made a DDA appointment, approved routine purchases and contracts, held the annual CDBG public hearing, and approved three charter amendment ballot proposals for the November 2026 election. A lengthy open-business discussion focused on the Taylor Police Department's cooperation agreement with ICE.

Routine Approvals

• Approved the agenda after replacing 6.9 and adding new items 6.10 and 6.11.
• Approved the minutes of the April 21, 2026 regular meeting and the April 23, 2026 special meeting.
• Appointed David Nester to the Downtown Development Authority for a four-year term expiring May 5, 2030.
• Approved the Personal Service Contract for Special Event Coordinator and Lakes of Taylor.
• Approved Lifeline Billing Systems, LLC as the new debt collection agency for the Fire Department.
• Amended CCR 6.220-25 to increase the Linde Gas blanket purchase order authority by $3,000, funded through the General Fund-Fire Department-ALS Transporting account. Councilman Armstrong noted this was not a budget increase but a reallocation of already-approved funds.
• Approved Dollamur Sport Surfaces, sole source, for Self-Defense Training Mats in an amount not to exceed $7,239, funded through MCOLES CPE Funds.
• Approved Glock Professional, Inc. for the Gen 5 Armorer Course and MOS-I Instructor Workshop in an amount not to exceed $3,200, funded through MCOLES CPE Training Funds.
• Approved Gracie Global, LLC for Gracie Self-Defense Trainings in an amount not to exceed $9,000, funded through MCOLES CPE Training Funds. Council noted these courses train in-house trainers who can then train the rest of the department.
• Amended CCR 7.290-25 by $83,000, funded through the TBA Repair and Maintenance accounts. The accompanying schedule included increases for De-Cal HVAC ($70,000), American Generators ($6,000), Jan-Door ($5,000), and Site-One ($2,000).

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the CDBG public hearing, Caroline Patts asked how residents can apply for assistance, whether eligibility is income-based, and whether sidewalks are covered. Staff explained that the residential rehab program is income-based, not neighborhood-based, and that general sidewalk work is not currently included except for narrow, case-by-case trip-hazard or disability-related situations.
• During open business, Richard of 9622 Elm Street said ICE cooperation would erode community trust and make policing harder.
• Melody strongly opposed the Taylor Police-ICE agreement, saying it endangers people of color and undocumented residents. She was ruled out of order after exceeding her time.
• Cassie Gregory, a first-time attendee, opposed the 287G agreement and the possible presence of ICE at the Taylor Summer Festival and Taylor Cruise, arguing it would discourage crime reporting and frighten vulnerable residents.
• Helene Gaither opposed the agreement, citing deaths in ICE detention and fear among immigrant neighbors.
• Joan Pence, identified as the lead of Western Wayne Indivisible, opposed the agreement, arguing it does not improve safety and imposes hidden trust costs. She cited U.S. census data, as she described it, showing immigrants are 60% less likely to commit crimes resulting in incarceration compared to native-born citizens.
• Multiple residents defended the police department, saying there have been no ICE raids in Taylor, no school operations, and that the agreement helps ensure local officers are present if ICE acts. One speaker said the agreement is a positive because it gives Taylor police a role in controlling events in the city.
• Resident William Heimiller asked whether crime victims are screened for immigration status. The police chief responded that victims are not turned over to ICE; officers only act when a detainer or warrant appears during normal police work, just as they would for any citizen.

Discussion Items

• Community Development staff presented the draft PY 2026-27 CDBG budget. The estimated HUD entitlement is $476,251; with $50,000 in estimated program income, total available funding is $526,251. Public services are capped at 15%, or $80,718, and administration and planning at 20%, or $105,250. The draft proposes $140,283 for housing rehabilitation, $12,500 each for Fish and Loaves, The Guidance Center, and Senior Alliance, $43,218 for Senior Services, $200,000 for ADA door systems in public buildings, and $105,250 for general administration and planning.
• Staff explained that the program is a HUD formula entitlement grant, requires public input, and must be submitted by August 16. A 30-day public comment period is open, and council adoption is planned for the June 16, 2026 meeting. The proposed budget is a draft and may change based on public comment.
• The council approved three charter amendment ballot proposals. Amendment 15.2 would raise the threshold for purchases of physical materials, tools, and equipment without competitive bidding from $2,000 to $5,000. Amendment 15.3 would raise the threshold for public improvement contracts requiring council approval from $2,000 to $5,000. Amendment 15.4 would raise the related contract threshold from $2,000 to $5,000. Councilman Wallace noted the threshold was last raised from $500 to $2,000 in 1997 and would be approximately $4,800 today with CPI adjustment. The mayor said many neighboring communities have $15,000-$20,000 thresholds and the change would streamline purchasing.
• During open business, the police chief said no local police department can bar ICE from operating in a city. He said Taylor police have conducted zero ICE operations, have not gone into schools or businesses, and do not turn over crime victims. He reported four ICE-related contacts this year, including one individual who traveled more than 1,300 miles with 3,000 grams of fentanyl and nearly 29,000 pills, was charged with a 20-year felony, and was turned over to ICE after the criminal process. He also said Homeland Security, not ICE, has provided security at city festivals for more than 15 years.
• The mayor said the 287G agreement has been in place for more than a year, that no issues have arisen, and that officers he spoke with were comfortable with the policy. Several council members said they trust the police chief and do not want Minneapolis-style ICE operations in Taylor. No formal council action was taken on the ICE agreement because it was not an agenda item.

Key Outcomes

• All motions before the council were approved by voice vote with no announced opposition.
• The CDBG public hearing was opened and closed. The public comment period will remain open for 30 days, and the final action plan and Five-Year Consolidated Plan are scheduled for council consideration on June 16, 2026.
• The council directed the City Clerk to submit the three approved charter amendment proposals to the Governor of Michigan and the Michigan Attorney General for approval and to place them on the November 2026 election ballot.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.