ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to call the Highland Park City Council. A pleasure to call the Highland Park in person and virtual city council meeting to order on this Tuesday February 20 2024 at 7pm are opening ceremonies today I'd like to remind all of our guests and our citizens here that we are in the month of February this month is set aside for Americans of African descent, to mark our history and to celebrate the contributions that we have made to this country. We are Americans of African descent. So I want to make sure that we take this opportunity to talk to our children and our grandchildren, those of you who have them about the amazing contributions that we have made to this wonderful country despite how we viewed in the world. There's no place like home, ladies and gentlemen. So let's go with the roll call. Madam Deputy Clerk, Councilman
Shafi here, Councilwoman Martin here. Councilwoman Monica, council Pro Tem Robinson Council President Thomas here.
Thank you very much. So we'll move on to item three. That's the approval of the agenda. I will allow members an opportunity to prepare to take an action on the approval of tonight's agenda. City council at your pleasure.
Never walk away if we have an item that customer Shafi wants to walk on okay, if we could
get that addressed. We still waiting for a motion on the floor. Is that is that item in writing?
Is it something that it is also customer Shafi? Do you have copies? Oh, you
know what? I did not make it. Okay, I printed that one out but I can run it make some copies.
I'll wait for those copies. I can't Can I can I make a motion on the resolution and I don't have it in front of me. So
when everybody was was said it was
brought up tonight.
And then and then we're missing the minutes as well. In here for our special meeting.
Brought a man separate. Yes, it was a separate document. The clerk present in front of
him. Okay. We're gonna break slightly. Should we get that document? Yes,
please move to a five minute recess.
All those in favor?
Okay. Thank you
very impromptu
Mr. Shelby, would you go ahead and read their resolution while we wait, don't
make some copies. So that she just took it to make some copies.
While we wait we will also need someone to initiate action on adding the minutes for the February 9 special meeting.
Council President I moved to add the minutes.
Yeah, we're in recess right now. But when you could include that whatever motion it comes to the floor.
Some punch
are we going to place this on the legal
counsel affairs? That's fine. Okay. OKAY.
Eight
so.
Section we're talking about San Council, council, city. Council has a section before this council
okay mannequin you want to bring us back this mannequin. You want to bring us back
I moved to we can make reach of me. Five minute recess.
All those in favor? Aye. Aye. The meeting is back in session at 7:09pm. We are on item three. The approval of the agenda City Council. What is your pleasure?
I want to make a motion to amend the agenda.
Second wave. Yes, please. Be thorough. Oh, okay. So
to add the special meeting minutes Thank you very much. And then I also want to have the discussion with glee one set of open closed session. I want to have an open session.
Separate let's do
that here
okay. First motion I want to make is to add the minutes for the special meeting for February 9 2024. All right. Second, okay.
So this is related to the this is the you were making a motion to approve the agenda with the following amendments the addition of the meeting notes for the night and, and
have the Glee with discussion stuff happening in a closed session a habit as an open session can't do that. Okay.
You saying no. You
know, you're there conferring with attorneys. And so, we will come back out and you will have an adequate opportunity to take whatever action is necessary, but the attorneys are talking I'm talking with council first. And that's the reason for the closed session.
Okay, so then so then I want to change it to having it for to schedule for another day.
Okay, help me understand what we're doing here. Just make sense of it. So that when it's time to vote on it, I understand what's being voted on. If you don't mind starting over you become
so I want to approve the minutes but I want to amend the agenda for the gleyber we have a discussion to schedule for another day
to table the discretion to remove it. Okay. Do you have so there's our support, support, support for council folks. And so we have a motion on the floor for the approval of today's agenda, with the addition of the in person and virtual minutes. For February 9. And the removal of item five from the agenda. Its motion has been made by Councilman Martin and supported by Councillor Pro Tem Robinson Am I gonna write all the same council president? That's not clear. That's why I asked him to repeat two items. Here. Okay. Closed Session is one hold on a second. Mr. Shafi right now Miss Martin and Miss Robinson actually have the floor. I'm trying to clarify what the motion is. Before we get into any detail
about item five. That would be a and b.
Correct. That's right. That's what you asked for right now.
What's your question? I will
remove it. Okay. So that would be having that stricken from today's meeting altogether?
Correct. I just want to move it to another day. That's it.
That's the motion on the floor ladies and gentlemen. additional discussion or can we vote on this? Yeah, you gotta have some additional discussion. I'm sorry. Miss Monica asked to be acknowledged Mr. Shafi, I heard you I'm gonna make sure I have an opportunity for you to speak as well. I'm Hispanic. If you would.
Like before we go. The item on the floor is the approval of the agenda. It's not for a full blown discussion where now we're talking about the approval of the agenda. Okay, so,
okay, so are we leaving out I heard her motion. But prior to this, Martin, one about the total session, what we what we were discussing, special meeting, agenda. And Mr. Shah fees resolution, which is what we took the five minute recess for.
It just disappeared. All right, but let's take them one at a time.
All right, okay. Okay, so, so again, I'm, I'm gonna I'm going to offer a compromise. Okay. Instead of us removing item five. It's very easy for this council. If they don't want to have the closed session. We can vote no, they need a four vote to go into closed session anyway. Okay, so we could vote no, if we don't want to have the closed session, but we need to get into this Gleevec contract. And we need to deal with this today. This is the first time this all has been cool. And God knows how long because this water is a serious issue. Yeah. And we need to deal with this on this deadline today. So I think that we can vote no on the code section. And then we could get into this Glee would do if if Miss if if Councilwoman Martin would admin per our her motion to simply just do that instead, but we can simply vote no. On the call session. Right. Okay.
Well,
thank you for that. So considering the fact that SSE considering the fact that it has been explained to us twice by the attorney assigned to city council, that this is a pending legal matter. And therefore this matter must be discussed in closed session. The fact that we are ignoring that recommendation is troubling. It should cause great concern for the citizens in the room that the five elected officials here are disregarding the law first, and then the recommendation of the attorneys that we're paying for Miss mannequin you had your hand up.
I did. And I guess I just wanted to reiterate that I'm missing something because you're told that every closed session we've been in is a litigation and he cannot be discussed out here. I'm not sure why we need to have this conversation.
differently or whatever you want to do on five beat but not to have a discussion about this with the lawyers seems to be very different.
The item on the floor is still item three, the approval of the agenda, Madam Pro Tem I would
like to also mention what is detrimental is this is the first time that we're meeting with the city attorneys to discuss any of this for a vote will first open on the phone.
Okay, look, listen,
man. Yes, please. much burden.
First, you cannot meet with them. That doesn't make sense. You gotta meet up on the body your meat folding your meeting. So whether we have a first discussion, that would be another question. Yeah, we still have to have one. This is not about we're not voting just
playing this. Not voting. There is no resolution and there is no resolution for us. To vote on today. The resolution that we just received. It's a real thing. It's I can hold it in my hand. There is no resolution on this. So
let's let's do this council if I may, please. A couple of things. One, you have a request to add the minutes. Let's vote on that. Then you have a separate requests relating to whether it's a closed session or not. And we're having some discussion on that. It would certainly be my advice to counsel as any other lawyer would advise counsel to at least talk to the lawyers about what's going on. We received a 250 page document late on Wednesday, February 14. That provides late then left a Thursday and Friday. Yesterday was a holiday so certainly the legal department has not had a sufficient amount of time to prepare a resolution saying that, you know this should move forward. counsel can rule in whatever fashion it deems appropriate, but at least talk to the lawyers about it first. If you were charged with murder you wouldn't want to sit up here and say okay, let's just talk to everybody about it. And just let's talk to us to see what's going on. You know, no, you were under time constraints. This is not what was imposed by the city of Highland Park. These are constraints that were imposed by the courts. You know, but there's a stipulated order that was extended. And today was the day now you can vote it up or down, but at least let's talk about it. And if you want to come back in the main session, and talk that's fine, but at least let's talk with the lawyers. We've had people who have traveled here, you know, for California, let's talk to the lawyers first. That will be my advice to counsel and if you want to come back out we're not trying to hide anything from the citizens. You know, you have people that are here that want to hear what's going on, but we want to tell you first because we got the documents laid ourselves. So we wish we could you know that things were different. They're not. But don't call someone Martin, please don't do that. Let's just go into closed session, you know, and talk about it. And then we can come back out and the council can take whatever action that they deem appropriate, but to just say, No, we're not going into closed session. We don't want to talk to the lawyers but you keep saying oh, well, that's not first time. Talk to them. Well, then let's talk. And if we need additional time to talk, then of course you'll make that decision, but at least allow us an opportunity to confer with you outside the presence of the citizens right now. And then we'll come back to the main session. Don't do that as a lawyer don't do that. Let's talk about the issues and then counsel can make a determination though how you want to proceed, but to just remove it. You know, that's not wise before you at least have some advice from the lawyers in closed session. That was you know what if we could have rescheduled we've been trying we have judge Rashad that's here. We have all these parties that have been working behind the scenes since last week trying to get things done and trying to get it rescheduled. We'd like to share some of those concerns with you, but we don't necessarily want everything that's on the news right now. So let us talk in private and they will come back out in full session. And you can take whatever action that you want to at that time. We're not trying to tell you to vote up or down. We're not trying to tell you we're just trying to explain to you what happened and we'd like to do that in private first. As we've done with any other closed session, because again, this case is still pending, if not completely resolved. We have to go back before the judge on this matter.
Tell us about the water crisis as a whole. We're trying to we're trying to get a resolution. Well, you know that it's been going on for a number of years, but it wasn't until late last year that we finally you know, tried to get some sort of resolution after hours and days of mediation, but we're not completely there. We're trying to get there. But we're not there yet. So for this an opportunity. You have people here that specialize in this, this area who've been working on this cases these cases for quite some time. You had 10 cases as a whole relating to different areas EPA, Gleevec, you know you had 10 cases so let us talk to you about that. However long it takes, and then we'll come back out but didn't to say oh, let's just have a different day. Now we under some time constraints and we want you to know about that too. And what could possibly happen and nobody here you know, wants to see a levy placed on their property. Nobody wants to see that happen. You know, so there are things that we're trying to avoid here. And again, we have this time crunch that we've been placed in as lawyers too, and nobody wants to be in that document either. But we're here so we got to deal with it. Let's talk in closed session, and we'll give you some more information about that. And then you can come out and make whatever decision you think is appropriate.
Okay, so the item on the floor is the approval of the agenda and we are 1/5 consensus vote for the 8900 people that live in the city. Each of us are 1/5 20% of the vote. We are supposed to act in the best interest of the citizens. It is our mandate that we act as if we were sitting with nine of y'all. And we got to consensus on what we should or should not do. I don't think anybody would want their legal matters discussed in an open forum. This is this is your business. This is your business. So what are we doing ladies and gentlemen, we have a motion on the floor from Councilwoman Martin supported by counsel approach and Robertson for the addition of the in person and virtual meeting on February 9. We also have a hanging issue. Well, let's do one at a time. Okay, so how are we going to do this? I run the meeting you guys make the motions. All I do is ask for the vote.
Yeah, we send support because you're sending the
motion. We are
adding this other resolution because we didn't add the one with the treasurer's position. You can't do that.
So we send your emotions or
we have a motion on the floor
be sending the other people on special meeting
on the other item that he wants to take them separately.
I would advise you to depart with your client.
This Martin Yes. So you have a motion regarding the special meeting. Can we take a vote on that first?
Vote on the special meeting. Okay.
So we have a motion on the floor as it relates to the agenda. We're going to extend item three apparently we're going to have two actions on item three. This is the approval of the agenda. Miss Martin helped me if I'm misspeak, you have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's agenda with the addition of the in person and virtual meeting notes here for February 9 2024. It is supported by Councillor Pro Tem Robinson. No. Okay. So give me the motion. We've had a lot of conversations. I'm going to make sure I get the motion correct. So I'm going to ask the author the motion to please restate it.
I want to make a motion to amend the agenda. To approve and amend the agenda to add the special meeting for February 9 2024. And then I was asking about number of fire. Okay, okay, got it. Just to add the February 9. Special meeting.
No.
No Shall we are sure to have support on the Florida.
Come on. Let's do it in the clerk please. Do you read a motion that was given?
No
that Ms. Martin moved to add the special the minutes from the special meeting and Miss Monica who that and then she went to removing Item five, five and that's the one that Miss Robinson seconded so I'm lost on where we are as well.
So can we please just receive almost so I'm gonna resend
our motion. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we are on item three. The first thing I'm gonna do is I want to approve the agenda and add just make an amended February 9 2020 for special meeting minutes.
Support.
We have a motion on the floor from Councilwoman Martin supported by Councilman Shafi to approve tonight's agenda with the following amendment adding the special meeting in person and virtual meeting minutes for February 9 2024. Is that correct?
Yes. Okay.
Madam Deputy Clerk, please.
Excuse me. Councilman Shafi yes to add the minutes. Councilwoman Martin Yes, the only added minutes Councilwoman Monica. Yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson.
Yes to add February 9 2024 minutes. Council
President Thomas?
Yes, motion carries. So the agenda as as amended includes a section for the approval of the in person and virtual special meeting minutes for February 9 2024. Let us proceed to item four. This is approval of proposed minutes City Council. What's your pleasure on this item? No.
We still have other other things.
They didn't have heard motion said approved isn't I'm waiting
well we had different aspects of the agenda. Normally we would take everything but because you know that will add in increments and you know some things might be so we're gonna have another motion on Idol. She has item number five I believe that came up and then we have another amendment relating to the walk on.
So let me make sure I'm getting this correct. Constant. Yes. We just approved the agenda. No, we approved one question. We
approved one amendment to the agenda. Okay. And that's I'd ask that it be broken down into three because you can't them and all could fail. All right,
city council. We're still in item three.
Council President I like to make a motion to amend the agenda. For for a walk on item that was given to us. By Attorney John Clark. To feel the vacant position for Jenny fee, which will be empty on the 21st 22nd Actually, okay, is it 22nd? Oh, yes. Okay. So there is there is a resolution and a posting. I would like to move to be added on to the agenda, please.
We have under item three approval of agenda. We have a motion for a walk on from Councilman Shafi for a resolution Mr. Shafi, would you please read that resolution?
Absolutely.
Ask for support when he's finished. I want to make sure everybody hears what this resolution is. Before we ask for
city of Highland Park resolution resolution to approve posting for city treasurer position, whereas the city treasurer is an elected position in the city of Highland Park. And whereas the Wayne County Circuit Court has ordered that the city treasurer is ineligible to hold the position of treasurer and whereas as a result of the court order, the position will be vacant February 22. You are correct 2024 Absent further court action, and whereas pursuant to the city charter, there is a process for replacing I'm sorry for replacement of city treasurer pursuant to city pursuant to Highland Park City charter section 430. Now therefore, be it resolved. The pursuant to Highland Park City charter section 413. See, the Highland Park City Council directs the city clerk to determine if any individual in the last preceding Election for treasurer received the boats other than Janice beam which is the now now therefore be it further resolved that if there are no individuals that receive votes in the last preceding the election for the city treasurer that are eligible to hold office, this Highland Park City Council directs and city staff to poach the position of city treasurer so that qualified candidates may be considered for placement in the position by the Highland Park City Council and pending special election to permanent Park to permanent placement and adopted this 20th day of February 2024 by vote of Highland Park City Council.
Thank you very much support for Mr. Sharp his motion to have this
support as
well as the posting Miss Councilman Shafi Oh yeah.
I can I can read the posting as well. If you would, if you like,
please go read city
of Highland Park. The park city city council posting, the position of treasurer for the city of Highland Park has become vacant and is and it is incumbent upon the Highland Park City Council to name a replacement until such time as especially electric may be held. In order to be eligible to be the city treasurer and individual must comply with applicable provisions of the city charter of Highland Park including one the individual must be at least 25 years of age and have been a registered a lecturer, I'm sure a registered elector in the city of Highland Park for at least one year to the individual may not be in default to the city of Highland Park, or county of one. Three, the individual may not have violated election laws, including violations of oath of office in the preceding 10 years. For the individual may not have been convicted of a felony for dishonesty, deceit, fraud, or a breach of the public trust while holding any elective office or a government position. In the past 20 years. By the individual may not hold another office or employment with the city of Highland Park. And number six the individual may be able to obtain I'm sure must be able to obtain a surety bond, as may be required by Highland Park City Council. individuals interested in applying for this position should contact the city of Highland Park human resources department. Key reliance on or before February blank 2024 We have to
pick that date. Right it has to be after the 22nd
Okay, thank you having read that we have a motion on the floor
that date now customers before the vote
so hold on a second. Let's look at the dates here. So we're gonna pick a date here that the seat is vacant on the 22nd Right? Correct. Okay. I want to give what I would like for us to give people ample amount enough time to put in their their resumes. So let's say we have everybody's resume in by the 26th
of February.
Oh would what would y'all like? Delayed
we should Well yes. 30 days to 30 days
no 30 days to fill the position.
You can't if
it's not necessarily really used 30 days to
interview to interview a qualified candidate you cannot say
the treasurer's position is vacant. The city grinds to a halt. We
have a deputy treasurer
who's working anything. It still has to be filled. So
to hire a professional to serious position you don't do we so
what date would y'all like that? Okay since everybody at least then why did you ask me?
So why not? Why not three weeks which is the adequate amount of time you have to put a posting on has to go on? It has to go on indeed has to go on LinkedIn where do you think you're gonna get these? How are the candidates going to be made aware of it? A person qualified to do this job is probably busy. So they're just not laying around looking for you know, waiting so job
so what date would you say what date would you advise kind of 21 days would be a fantastic what date would you advise we need to date to go on
2026 If that's what you like count on because we
need Okay, all I'm saying is please hold on a second. We need three dates here. We need a date for when applications have to be in. We need a date for the interview and a date for the appointment. I need three dates from this council. I need three lates
question. Question. Yes, ma'am. What's the date was the earliest
and the 23rd in terms of the 23rd but collect resumes for at least three weeks?
Well, I wouldn't say three weeks if you're still going to interview because you had to fill it in 30 days I would say to start with you want immediate two weeks, maybe two weeks? Because you fill it within 30 days.
Okay. So two weeks will put you at ease. J is it will put you at the set of 22 weeks we'll put you at the SEC
2030 thing
even just say March 7, Friday, Friday at 8am
have 30 days to fill the correct correct the 30 day is what? Anybody
before March 7, so that'll be March 22.
March 23.
I'm looking at my calendar I need I need three dates. Here.
So yeah, posted on the 23rd.
The nine necessarily, I mean I'm just saying so
let's say the eight is a Friday at eight
and interview on
council go and have a public interview where it takes place. Absolutely. It's got to
be public meeting. Yes, it's got to be public.
So I have a meeting at
fourth and 18th.
I guess we will have a special meeting is going to be the 18th for the interview.
So here's my question. Council president in your words.
Nope, I've hired people before I know how challenging it is. You guys go for it.
Here's my statement. If we do this need for why pick the week before? Because what happens if somebody that we get nobody? Well, we have to go back. I know I know. You don't want to hear that. I'm just saying when we don't get anybody then we have to put it back out
okay, okay, so here's the dates I'm offering. The dates I'm offering the posting the 23rd. Applications in bar next council meeting on the fourth appointment on 80. And that's where I'm saying appointment. No, problem solved. That's, that's there's literally two council meetings away.
motion proceed, okay. So I like to make a motion to to to set these dates. The posting for February 23. deadline for applications in March 4. appointment to the seat March 18.
Special meetings
Okay, with all of that, so you're gonna need to restate that motion from the beginning so that we can follow along. We've had a lot of confusing conversations and I my expectation is before we vote on this again, we're still on I would like to make a motion.
Let me make this clear. So the fourth we stopped taking applications right? And on the 18th is when we're looking at resumes to pick who we want on the 18th know
the 18th is going to be the appointment date the field seats day, so we can have a special meeting anytime between that day. We can either have it on the 11th of next week after the fourth
is not given the interview date just saying that.
Okay, so So allow me to make my motion clear, please. Okay, so now I'm gonna give you four days since she says she she wants to be so technical about it. Let's be thorough. Posting, posting for the position, February 23. deadline for applications March 4. Special meeting for interviews in person, march 11. appointment to the seat of treasurer March 18 of this year 2024.
We have a second. I second. Ladies and gentlemen, let us please do we have that medical
that vote you hadn't put the dates in so
this is supposed to fill this out. Again, this is we're building this plane as we fly it so he made a motion to include this resolution. Okay, so he's filling out the resolution. He's filling out the language of the resolution by including on this resolution. We this is a handwritten posted date of February 23. Collection of resumes by the fourth special meeting on the 11th and posting by the 18th Okay
so let's let me let me
you can do it all on one or you can do it with the amendment because there was already there were there were spaces.
So right now the motion on the floor is to add the resolution to approve the posting of the position for the city treasurer. And that that we have laborious ly spelled out what those criteria are, and given dates for how this should proceed. At this point, there's a motion on the floor to amend the agenda item three, made by Councilman Shafi supported by counsel Pro Tem Robinson, if you would be so kind as to call the roll on this item, please. Councilman
Correct? Yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson. Yes. Council President time. Yes.
Thank you motion carries. Are we done with the agenda or can we do anything else? Okay. All right. Just want to make sure. almost an hour for that. Okay. So moving on item for the approval of the proposed minutes City Council worship. Wait a minute, one second. We're going to add that in at number 11.
We are good on both
the London Council President I'm sorry. Both I'm gonna be in the lobby. That
is a one that's a that's a that's a two bird. Okay. This is ambi there's something notice the two bar this is the these this resolution with these dates as a single item.
With the posting or when you're doing the resolution as a posting a theme. You're going to bulk as a
as 1111 This is a two part A and this is all in one week. There will be no need to approve this resolution if you weren't going to post these dates. We everybody clear on that? Okay, one supports the other. If we can move into item four, which is the approval of the minutes in person and virtual regular meeting minutes for February the fifth city council What's your pleasure?
I move to approve the proposed minutes in person and virtual regular meeting February 2020.
You have a second. Chair offers a second discussion. floor is open this is for February 5 Please proceed.
Okay, the resolution to approve the purchase or sale of lots and land at Grant and let's grant that we get some clarity on a four vote or that three votes. Here's where she's on on February 5.
The meeting? It was my understanding that it was fleshed out in the actual document. It was put on the screen and it was fleshed out in the actual document. And we had laboriously gone over this for like six meetings. We have clarity. The
clarity was under under section two. Oh, because you only need three for regular property that was whether or not it was a park or whether or not the property have been used for public purpose. That's when four votes would be required. the very first sentence that's in section two. Oh, so yes. That was valid.
Thanks for the questions. Now deputy clerk would you call the roll on the approval of the in person and virtual regular meeting for February 5.
Councilman Shafi No. That's a woman Martin. Yes. Councilwoman Monica Yes, council Pro Tem Robinson No. Council President Thomas yes.
Thank you. Motion carries. Next item is the special meeting in person and virtual meeting notes for February 9 2024.
Motion to approve.
Have a motion on the floor. Do we have a second? motion on the floor by Councilman Shafi second by Councillor proach and Robertson Mehta deputy clerk would you please call the
council woman no special meeting women, women women. This is a special meeting. Yeah, that was on February 9.
We're taking the row Madam Deputy Clerk. Do you have do you have concerns or questions man?
No. Let's make sure this distinction between we had one that was for the fifth the regular meeting and we had the other night. We took the
vote on right took the vote on their pass. Right you
were on the night I'm sorry, three, two.
It was hard to hear Miss Martin. You are the person voting we heard from Mr. Shafi. This is on the special meeting. minutes for the ninth if you will please re answer. So the deputy clerk Yes. Okay.
Thank you. Councilwoman Monica. Yes, Councillor Robinson. Yes, Council. President time No. they didn't make a motion to approve the amended agenda
that we are through two changes today that are saying one thing so they admitted the agenda the first time. Yeah, the second amendment to the agenda. At this resolution is a notion that it's so confusing. So many sidebar conversations city council, we need to make sure that we approve the complete agenda with all of these amendments, modifications and
I'll make a motion to approve the complete agenda with all of the
amendments. We have a motion on the floor from Councilman sharpie to approve the amended agenda with all second from from Council. Woman Monica, if we could please take the roll on that. Councilman
Shafi. Yes, Councilwoman Martin No. Councilwoman Monica? Yes, council president Robinson.
I already know me. Are we taking a vote? No. Thank you very much. President time Yes, motion carries.
Exactly.
Okay. So it's better to be thorough. As often as we possibly can. We have had the the minister approved. We've had the agenda approved and had the agenda amended to the nth degree. Now we're going to move on to the section of this meeting where the mayor addresses the citizens and city council Madam Mayor they will wait
sorry, man please.
I really don't have much. I just want to thank everybody who they sent a call text Facebook policies.
me their their their love and support
for the city. And that's all I have today. All right, thank you ma'am. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an amended agenda. Moving forward. Item five under the city administration. Community Development. Item six finance department item seven. Fire to Item eight. Recreation under item nine, outside communication under item 10 and the resolution related to the treasurer's office under item 11. This is the time for two minutes that a citizen can come to the podium and address anything that is on the agenda for two minutes. At the end of the two minutes. I'm going to say thank you very much and I'm going to ask the next citizen to come up to the podium. Mr. Mark has to price sir. How are you?
I'm a Catholic himself. Mr. President.
I'm excellent sir. The floor is yours.
How's everybody doing? Gave me a screen. I won't take too long because I saw a minute late already. But um, again, my name is Mark Alfre price. I'm from the school board. A few things. I'm about five. I hope the City Council does weigh about a water. That's my first thing. I'm also my second point was to thank that council for being that treasure is held mentioning that treasures possessions faking or the Chander I used to build a city charter so that's like a big deal to me as some of the some of some of the other former city charter members are here to Amala last point was about 10 B. I bought that chunk TIF faster for I hope you guys approved that because last year it was a big success. So I hope he does approve that.
Thank you.
That's all thank you send it off happy by
getting the Miss for Good
evening. I'm confused. So on five are you got to go on into a closed session or what did you come up with with all these amendments and what are we doing with this? Where's it going? We are I'm long because I thought it was fully amended.
We're going into closed session. Okay. See that was on the agenda to vote so it's gonna be on the agenda to vote
on correct. But I thought it had to be approved.
With those were rescinded. Okay, I know.
I know. I'm confused and I'm here every two week. anybody listening is just as confused. So you're gonna go into a closed session. Tonight.
We're going to vote vote to go into a closed session. The vote will determine that
Okay. Thank you Miss Florida.
Roslyn Martin, I want some clarification of Glen Wah. So now I got a water bill. So I want somebody from Glen Wah, the lawyers or somebody to talk to us about what the heck is going on. I don't want to hear from Robert Davis. I want to know from Lanois what's going on? This is gonna affect our charter we need to know that means you guys need to change something or we need to move to glenworth.
Citizens participation this is not City Council dialogue for for council Affairs Council will have an opportunity to make note of your questions and then to answer those questions in an expository way. Good evening, ma'am. How are you?
I'm fine. I'm Charlene Turner Johnson, Highland Park resident for 54 years. I'm making a comment on a letter. The Highland Park water advocate sent a letter by email to all of the city council members stating that we urge you to approve the settlement agreement with clay we're not sure that all of you received it. I didn't get a reply from all of you. But given that the Settlement Agreement is changing, and we don't know what it is, we don't know what the conditions are. We don't know what the capacity of the city is to fulfill the conditions. We don't know what the costs may be to the residents of the city. I'm here to say that that letter that we sent and it sounds like you agree. That letter that we said is not applicable at this particular time until we know what the conditions are what the capacity of the city is to handle the conditions and what the cost may be. To the residents. We resend the letter that we said thank you. Thank you
Good evening, everyone. Miss fry? Um, yeah, we don't know. I mean, how do you vote on something that you first got to eight pages a night yet? 300 pages and a couple of days. So how do you vote on that? I appreciate your questions. I understand no close meeting and all that kind of stuff. But the question is, I was reading Why is Miss Watson I don't know. We'll be observing the council meeting. That's one question and another question is how much do we pay leave a month in or the water department a month? How far how much do we pay a month? To the water department or ugly? What can that be answered tonight before it's over with and the properties next door to other properties at the Rec Center next door to the rec center or do they go with the Rec Center and if the Rec Center don't want them anymore? Are they allowed to sell them? You all write these questions down and try to answer them later. Just Yes, I do. Oh, okay. Okay.
I see no more citizens approaching the podium. So we will move Thank you very much those of you who came forward to speak so we will move right into the next portion of the agenda. This is item five under city administration. City council. What is your pleasure?
I will go into a closed session to discuss the settlement is a great mix
of motion on the floor from counsel and Monica to go into closed session to discuss the settlement with the Great Lakes Water Authority. Chair offers a second to any any discussion on that item the motion that's on the floor, right? Yes, ma'am. Please go right after this session. And when we come back out, what's
that unknown? It depends on whatever the members want to do. Whatever action you decide to take or not is up to the members. Additional questions? Yeah.
Is leeway here today?
No Anybody from the Great Lakes Water Authority want to raise their hand to be to be to be recognized? Yeah.
They were they were so nice to drop off the new the New King James Version. I thought they will be here in person. Yeah. So so nice to give us a new version of the King James Bible.
So with that being said, we have any additional questions right now the motion on the floor is to go into the closed section session to hear from our attorneys as it relates to this break that was dropped on our desk Wednesday at 5pm. On Friday, would you please call the roll on going into closed session. Madam
councilman? Councilman Shafi
we're we're taking a vote on going into closed session.
Councilwoman Martin no that was a woman Monica. Yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson. No. All right. Council President time. Yes. So
we are not going into closed session. So that means we move straight on to the resolution to approve the contract and settlement with the Great Lakes Water Authority.
And I'd like to add that there is no resolution. Correct. So
this was down. This went down three to two. There's
no B. There's no There's no red because the legal notice that I haven't ever left there. The to review it. We need it more time writing Reading is Fundamental. Why don't we just well this is done the way you schedule there's a deadline because there's a certain way for us
to deadline every everything.
Yeah, so item. Item five A is finished. We're moving on to Item five be resolution to approve the contract and so with the Great Lakes Water Authority city council, what's your pleasure? We know as on best anatomy, right now, hold on a second. Let me just let me just because we've had a very laborious evening already. Let me just reiterate this and you guys can do what you choose. For item five B. There's a resolution to approve contract and settlement with the Great Lakes Water Authority. City council What's your pleasure?
Call session.
Motions whatever information Yes Miss Manica.
I know that we're all be Yep. Can I make a motion? Different? Motion differently and changed. So you
will be so you'll be altering the agenda. And what happens if there is nothing done on Item B? It is dead on arrival. Right.
So I guess my question is
going to be what I wanted to make.
Got a motion to approve with discussion. I want to discuss it. Now the motion to approve with discussion.
What are we approving? Exactly.
There's no resolution
you could do it or just
edge you just asked us correct. To approve the contract. Yeah. And I just asked if we're going to approve the contract. I want to approve with discussion.
Okay, that's fair game. It's fair game. There's a motion on the floor from Councilman Shafi. Yes. There
is no resolution it doesn't
move we do the contract with the Great Lakes Water Authority. Correct. Okay. So if we're going to move to approve or not approve, I want to approve with discussion is within his purview that we are here to discuss this Bible, and we're going to discuss it tonight.
It's within his purview to do that. All he needs is support for it to come out on the floor support a motion on the floor from Councilman Shafi to approve this measure with support from Councilwoman Martin
so here's the discussion. We're
on the floor right now. Miss Monica, you want to be recognized first. Okay, please go write it. So
here's a discussion. We're going to discuss it with my colleagues. We're going to discuss it Who are we going to discuss it when? No. City council, city council members will need to be addressing the issue with four city council members and Lloyd So again, I'm asking where are we going to discuss it with because nobody on the other side can make any decision you
don't have to sign it. We have to sign it. We're we're we are bound by this. You're not the point point taken. But I'm saying if all these resolutions have to be signed by us, we're on the hook. We either hang together or we hang individually and that's the point we're trying to make with the idea of having the closed session so we have information to present to you because none of you on the other side of that piece of wood are on the hook for this. We are so so no I'm talking about don't have a decision. We all on anybody with a house that's got water coming into it. You're on the hook for I want to be
a council president. So council president I love how I love how I made the motion, but Miss Manica got to speak first.
I found that forgive me for that we all talking together. Okay, well, I'll defer to the lady. I'm responsible for that.
So So I want to use their words in their Bible right now. If you look under
we have not voted to bring it on the floor.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm talking.
support what discussion? Forgive me Forgive me. Go ahead,
Mr. Chopping. The floor is yours. There's a whole lot going on up here and I'm trying to keep y'all playing goalie. Okay, you're playing with the ball. I'm playing goalie, you are correct. The floor is yours. Take it away.
Okay. So in their Bible here, and I know I know. I get it. You drop this in our lap four days ago. 250 pages, and I just assumed that you thought that my nappy headed but when reading, think again. you're sadly mistaken. So according to their Bible here in Exhibit B 5.1. The city and Eagle agree and may grant the city a reasonable extension. For specific deadlines set forth in this ACA. To obtain an extension the city may submit a written request to appropriate Eagle district supervisor, D W. E HDNW. rd at the address in paragraph 6.1 no later than 10 days 10 business days prior to deadline and shall include etc etc. So using their words. You dropped this off four days ago to us in this in this dossier. In this in this manifesto, I mean, where is mousseline yet? Okay. In this manifesto you dropped off to us. They cited at least 60 MCA rooms that we have to look up and research with the state. And we had to do all that in four days. No way that was going to happen in that timeframe. Okay, and then I don't know if you remember, but in December we approved an amendment term sheet which brings up the matter of this trust account. And then this trust account in Section F. O section there baby on section now is a mother just lon Lulu made bail out the Oh, hold on second. I apologize that Section F Section D. Okay. And this agreement here in this trust agreement, which makes me question if we're reading this now. I know the state has written for this to be the way that it is. I'm greatly offended and disappointed in both the we won and the state. This did this here Trust Agreement States in so many words. They take your money, you get nothing. They dole out to you what they want you to have when you're finished. No mention of what it's going to cost in all of this. I guess this grand wherever this is, in all of this no mention of pricing, no mention of expensive, no mention of service fees. Now. None of this is in here. But you best believe that you're going to be hit with every single bit. So my question is, what is it costing us? What are the service fee charges? What are the penalty charges? And why don't we have access to our money. You're going to take the entire account under your control under your purview and then tell me I'll give you boy what I want you to have I'll give you what I want you to hit. Now I find it funny that he was not here. I mean, after all, I was looking forward to him coming through the door with their awake, appointed sheets. Because that's how I feel here. It feels like a book is being put on the neck of this black community. Yeah. Now I appreciate what's being done here to try to help us out. But that doesn't mean you get to beat me over the barrel afterwards.
Can we please work on the core treatment
must be across the board. Yeah. Betsy must be across the board and we have not received that we got this Bible four days ago. And even though I read through it thoroughly, it only left me with a million more questions and a million more answers that I don't have. So you're asking me to make an informed decision in four days on 250 pages. I find it unacceptable. I think it's a slap in the face. I think we deserve better. I think an extension should automatically been given more than four days when they slapped it on our table. Because in case you were unaware they were expecting us to vote on this on the 15th after they voted on the 14th they didn't want to give us the four days. I believe that the four days was compliments of Judge judge Gretchen right. I thought so. Thank you for the four days. Okay. So in four days, we had to read that and get all the information that we possibly could get all that understanding that we possibly could, which was literally impossible. It literally reached like stereo instructions. But I'm not slow, and I'm not stupid. I know when I'm being taken advantage of. So I have an issue here. And I believe that we need more time to investigate this document to get a better understanding of what's being done. And we're going to sign away on live, we can at least get the right to know what we sign in the wind. And that's all I have to say. Before we go on. I
see your hand madam proach and let me remind the members of city council whether or not you've read this book or not. Members have an opportunity to address an issue on the floor twice. You renewed discussion twice. Okay, for up to 10 minutes. Twice only madam Pro Tem please would you?
I just want to say for the record that I work for the citizens of Highland Park because I am a citizen. And this truly affects me as well. Yeah, the candy shop
guy Excuse me, Miss lots. your audio is wide open. Thank you. All right. Hey man, and I also wanted
to state that in this 250 Something whatever you want to call it completely worth. It states that Highland Park has not been in compliance with anything that they have asked us to do. And I would like to sit and talk with someone from day one. I've been trying left for past six months. They won't even come to talk to us because I was told that they weren't ready. When will they be ready? We demand to sit and talk.
Thank you Okay, additional comments on this? I don't have any additional comments or offer. st get it up.
He was appointed discussed this man. I'm not sure what we discussed. Yep. I know. Because it sounds like we just wanted to tell the residents.
What I could have been done after he said and talk to the lawyers to ask them a few questions. Because he made it might have been something that they could have told us in there that we would have came out and said something different or I don't know if we have one or don't because I haven't talked to him. So I'm still at the discussion. And I keep asking that. So it's not about this. I don't want to say anything to you guys. It's the timing in the Plex that you want to put it in. Because all of that could have been saved after we had a closed session. So at the end of the day, we still have not talked to the lawyers who helped me mediate this whole situation. So talk to the people they got the expertise, or at least the information they all do is an answer. Maybe some of your questions, so they have to go through it and get the answers. So when do we now talk to the lawyer?
Okay, no, man we just had a comment is you had the floor you asked him for the floor again. Okay, should it should have been so I'm all for my comment, and then we're gonna move to the vote. So nobody in this room would allow somebody with no experience in a drill to work on your teeth is not a single woman sitting in this room that would allow a person with no experience to do your hair. There's nobody in this room excuse me, you were quiet when everybody else was talking is very telling that you're talking now that I'm talking there is nobody in this room would allow a sick relative to be tended to by an untrained medical professional. Nobody I wouldn't. I wouldn't let somebody fix my car. Before I went on a road trip with my family. None of us would allow someone who didn't have professional experience to do anything in any other aspect of our lives. We call Excuse me, ma'am. When everybody else was talking. Did you notice how quiet I was? That is very telling how rude you are. It's very telling how rude the audience is when I'm speaking. No, it's very telling how rude the audience is when I'm speaking. It that's very telling. It's very telling. I thought these were citizens. These sounds like cheerleaders for a particular issue. I'm making a statement. Mr. Howe Shafi spoke uninterrupted the audience didn't say anything Miss Manica spoke uninterrupted. And the audience didn't say anything. Madam Pro Tem spoke in the audience didn't say anything. Did you guys get together before you came here to decide that you were going to interrupt when the Council President was talking? I'm making a point related to the item it's on the floor. None of us would allow an untrained professional to care for our baby. Nobody in here. So the question was, like mismanaged arrays, which is very telling you it's very telling and it's very rude. It's very telling and it's very rude that you didn't take the time to speak when anybody else was talking is very pointed. And I'm asking a question. What so what's so ironic is I am in support of what Mr. Al Shafi is saying but you're so hell bent on offending me that you didn't even let me get that out. I am in support of what Miss Robinson is saying. But you people got your notes before you got here. So you have been on screaming at me I'll make my point. I will make my point. I will make my There you go. I will make my point. I will make my point. It's very telling I am in support of what they say it tonight. We don't agree on very much, but I am in support of what they are saying. And the point that I raise is none of us would allow an untrained professional to come in and do anything and other any other aspects of our life. And we should have at least taking the opportunity to hear from the attorneys. We don't know what information they could have provided to us that could have been conveyed to you. It's very telling how rude people in this audience are it's very telling. It's very, very telling here I am saying to you I am in support of what they're saying. I absolutely support their position. But I got an education tonight. Thank you very much. I recognize and remember all the faces. Can we go ahead and call for the row on this thing. Mr. shopee this is your second generation go right ahead.
Council President I would like to receive my vote for approval.
So we So wait a minute, we had all of this discussion. Are you pulling it? Yeah. Okay.
So if you allow me to finish, great I would like to receive my vote for approval. I would like to make another motion to approve with amendments and a presentation from Glee where they come here. They talk to us. They explained this document to us. And after they have done that we can approve
so Mr. Sounds like the most effective way to do that is to table it so that they have to come it will be tabled until they appear. That seems like the most effective way to do it because it puts the onus on them. We got to put it on
US legal can we table this?
You started a
motion you can as Council's pleasure is counting
on the motion it would they would have died on the table if you didn't bring it to the floor. You brought it to the floor We've discussed it now. The floor is open for you do whatever you want on Item five be
okay. Okay. He was do the motion but someone supported
it that was supported by Councilwoman withdrawing their support. You need to withdraw your support.
I withdraw my support. Thank
you very much. We are on Item five under the city administration. So Item B the resolution to approve the contract.
Initially table it council president please if it's possible, can we table this matter? And give Glee with time to come to us? Give us a full presentation. I know there's a deadline on it. But they have given us so much in such a short amount of time. I can't see us not getting an opportunity to further study this document this manifesto that they don't quit
before the floor is open Mr. sabich just make the motion and we'll get it going. So I would
like to make a motion to table this item. And actually when to come to the next meeting.
To address it if you would want a personal privilege if you don't mind. Please go right ahead, sir.
I just want to I want to make a suggestion. Truly is nothing but a suggestion. Because I I believe to my core that we have to try and find a way to work. We're very and I understand the concern that you have about getting a large document delivered with such short notice. Which is why we haven't tried to extend the tack right rather than demand. Somebody show up. Again, I'm saying this is the mediator on these cases that are still in litigation. And candidly, what I learned from 18 years as a circuit judge and former chief judge in the county when and 20 years as a mediator is you can't discuss these kinds of settlement terms in public. It doesn't do anybody any good which is why I think it might be productive and I understand why you're the concern of the citizenry that things are being kept from you. It's not that at all. It's not that at all. Nobody's trying to hide anything from you. But we got a lot of details here that mean a lot of this stuff was negotiated in great detail and wording and everything else. That's why it's so long. That's why it's so involved. And we went through hours and hours working through all of this and I want to regret it. Maybe I should have stayed more involved. In it. We're doing the battle paper. Yeah. But honestly, I thought we had such a we were we were so far along than I thought it was going to come together. Well unfortunately. Here we are day and I would hate to see it just get uglier. As it's getting with what's going on today. So I'm begging him. Maybe. Again, I don't want to I don't want to take a mediation into a public forum I've just learned over the years. It's not helpful. It's just not it. does more harm than good. Which is why I don't know if you want to do it but would you consider is going into a private session just so I can explore some of this stuff with you. And me try to keep this on a path to keep the dialogue going. As opposed to the whole thing falling apart. And I don't want to mislead anybody. I can't guarantee that I'm gonna find a solution. But my theory is, you never know unless you try. And I always tell people I'm gonna try. So please let me try
was working. Is it too late to close?
We voted it down. No. You have to get back on the floor.
Now.
Hold on a second. Hold on. Hold on a second. One second. We still we're at item five on the city administration. I mean, I did make a motion and you resend it. It so now the floor is the neutral at this point.
Temporarily missin that motion? We
voted on item a vote. Item A is done. Do you have to make a new motion my
motion is we now reconsider our action relative to the new information given to us and we should go into a closed session to discuss settlement with our lawyers
support.
So you'd have to you right now we have to undo item a no
I made a motion to reconsider our action. So is that
okay, so then we have to vote. We have to get this on to reconsider. Then we have to remove that vote. And so we have a motion on the floor from Councilman Councilwoman Monica to reconsider item a closed session
in three reconsideration.
I support it already council president.
We have a motion on the floor to reconsider the closed session from Councilwoman Monica has been seconded by Councilman Shafi sufficient everybody on city council understand when we go on with this, everybody clear on what we're doing. We are reconsidering going into closed session. We have a motion on the floor from Councilwoman Monica seconded by councilmember Shafi we clear Yes Madam Deputy Clerk if you would call the roll on the reconsideration of going into closed session.
Councilman the Shafi Yes. Councilwoman
Martin No.
Councilwoman Monica? Yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson No. Council President times Yes.
Motion carries ladies and gentlemen. We're going into closed session
No, we don't go into closed session. Get you one
of these 433
Not to go in closed session. Show me in the book man.
Guys
wait. I you guys been looking
it's for a holiday. We can read them
it's just the majority it's I'm looking at that's not going to change did not come to your me and I listened to your meeting. So I did not come to yours and correct you. But I am definitely looking at Robert's Rules of Order online. Vast majority. For what I made a motion
for reconsideration. Reconsideration but it's still a closed
Miss Delphina what is it?
Separate from did vote to reconsider and then you got to vote to go in
where do you go
don't jump the president gotta come back. Oh, okay.
Oh my god. So
just forward.
Port closer
this is just a vote to reconsider. We can vote on the quote. I don't know. Where he going
to make a vote, so stay stands for reconsider
go into.
get on my nerves.
Rally maybe this year
that's the worst. Like the worst
alliteration motion was a summary reconsideration motion
while we go through this last thing for the last hour it's okay. It's okay. That's that's that is the this is our government at work. This is our government at work. So I got the information. I got some confirmation that I need to have a chance to take a look at the City Council. It is your pleasure. How we proceed in this meeting. Is your pleasure as the council Council President and as the chair I'm supposed to officiate the meeting. I don't make any decisions. I don't even make motions. Okay,
so you're at the mercy. The members
already here.
Forgive me again, if you don't mind. I know I know Virginia rules so I apologize.
No one No one cares about the county commissioner
way back and I remember going through this. Oh yeah. Oh, yeah. But anyway, the point is, I'm trying to explore whether I can get everybody back together at the mediation table on Tuesday a week from today. Okay. And if I can, I guess I'd say I think it's worth to try. As I said earlier, you never know unless you try. So I would like to try to see if we can keep this on track. Because despite the concerns that you have, and I understand that there are a lot of bigger positive things in this agreement, we don't want to lose sight of those things. You know, we're we're wiping out about $37 million of debt that the city of Highland Park has 24 million of that plus is already in the form of a judgment that our Court of Appeals has said you've got to pay. And there's another 37 million coming on another case, which we're wiping out. So that's pretty important. That's a real significant benefits in the city of Highland Park. And going forward. You know, there's a whole lot more money, it's going to be coming in for infrastructure to improve the system here. And that's another real significant benefit for the city. It puts you on a path going forward. So we'll put the heaters I mean, there's a lot of good stuff coming out of this. So let me try. Let me try to see if I can get I can't guarantee anything. But don't vote this out. Give me the chance to see if I can help nail this down and resolve your concerns. And I very much appreciate you allowing me to speak I know it's out of order but it's part but of course
especially with me in this year, Sparkbrook.
I appreciate it. I really do. And I hope you all understand where I'm coming from and why I'm making these speeches. Because I really just believe to my core that we have to find a way to solve we have to find a way. And I think we're this close. This you have to address.
Thank you, Miss Monica. You have the floor. We were on Item five under the city administration. Have we had a reconsideration for the closed session? At this point? Chair will be willing to hear entertain any motion on action moving forward.
It is. So the new motion is I moved to go into closed session to discuss the for the discussion on the settlement with the lawyers.
Okay, so I had a Great Lakes Water Authority agreement section. So we had item A that is finished. We said no. We have item b that came on the floor. It was a motion to support it and to approve it. We have 35 minutes of dialogue on Item B and it was eventually rescinded now all under item five. We have a motion on the floor a new motion to reconsider a closed session. Madam clerk would you please
vote whether or not to go into exactly for it.
So now we're voting on the closed session. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll on going into closed session? Chair support.
Councilman a Shafi Yes. Councilwoman Martin. No. Councilwoman Monica Yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson No. Council President Thomas yes, we're
back to square one. Okay, so we just exercise an hour of dialogue for no productive outcome. Definitely. That is this is our this is your government at work all those people in the audience screaming government at work moving on to Item five on the Community Development resolution to approve the option to purchase and the sale of the commercial? No, absolutely. We don't have we don't have nothing. Under item under item six community development, resolution to approve the option to purchase in the sale of commercial liability located at 12024 Woodward Avenue to J A km holdings LLC the option to the option to purchase be timely exercise by the option the City Council What is your pleasure on item six.
And apparently information ma'am.
No, we didn't. We apparently we need for both because now we've never needed close session votes before before.
Yeah, because we've always always voted agree to go and everybody's agreed unanimously. Oh, that never supposed to go in.
But we don't have that this is your government at work. So on item six.
This doesn't make any sense.
That's that's the point. I think. That's what I think that's the point to make sure that it doesn't make any sense. No, we didn't table anything yet. Council so item five came in when we're on item six. Out of five came in when no we did not what actually what do we what did we take action on?
We didn't finish the contract. Okay, well, we didn't vote it down. We didn't pay that you removed your support. So what do we exactly which means I was about to say, and then this mannequin said well, let's reconsider the closed session. So I said I would just randomly hold my motion burner reconsider the closed session.
You withdrew your motion. I
said I would temporarily hold my motion for her to do with the closed session
withdrew. So you said I withdraw it support was withdrawn by Miss Martin. And there was an attainable motion that was made by Miss Mann. We did
not vote on item 505 B. We didn't vote on it.
There was no motion and no support for anything.
Because I was waiting on this man and good to finish what she was doing for the closed session. She wanted to hold up a second for the closed session. We need to vote on this. What
are we voting on? There's no resolution to science. There's nothing Oh my God.
We are back down the same line.
So what are we voting on? Just you just said to show us what we're voting Oh
my god. Just show us the red this contract right here is what we voted on. You just said we need to vote to approve or vote this down. Which one is going to be
if I'm not mistaken. You said I wanted this guy to be so you made a motion. You can read it. Okay. You made the motion to bring the report sir. There's no resolution you made the motion to and you say I want to discuss
it. I do not care. You can't just move away from the line. Well, we have to deal with what
are we doing? Help me understand what we're doing.
I like to make a motion to do what for five be a 4445 be to approve with amendments. You're
still shopping you brought that on the floor. We discussed it for 35 minutes and we never voted on it. Then you resend it just never voted on it. Charles Martin rescinded her support as well. And then we moved on to another motion on the floor. We
only rescind it because we wanted to reconsider the closed session. That was the only reason it was rescinded. So where we show it still gonna be there motion is motion, entertained as most so
so since we did not we didn't act there. So tell me what we're voting on again. Tell me what your motion is. We're gonna do sir. His
motion for approval with support of approval with amendments.
Okay. We have a motion on the floor to approve the resolution to approve the contract and sediment with the Great Lakes Water Authority. With the live
information, no, we did receive for somebody who needs to backup and re the minutes because I believe we did receive the we did. So therefore it would be able to be able, if necessary, but then
you came in with let's reconsider the closed session. And I said let's put everything on hold until after that vote. So I clearly said let's paper I will temporarily hold my motion to reconsider your code section again. Absolutely. That's exactly what I said. was still here on the day. So I don't
listen, can we please whatever information have the clerk go back and reread those read?
Because I don't have anything to reread, um, where you are. He's we're at a room with amended amendments. We even have to go back and we have to go back to No, I don't have that in writing. I
believe it was rescinded. And it's a new motion on the floor that
she had to rescind support,
remember? Yeah, right. But there's a new motion.
And then my motion was the new one. My motion was like reconsideration. So everything was
rescinded. You cut that's why He
sent us a new motion. Exactly. When I was
just about to make a new motion when you cut in with your let's reconsider the comb session. Now everybody's sitting here hearing. So I waited I stopped and I wait, because I didn't want to be rude. I didn't want to seem like I was pushing you around and what you were trying to do so I said, Well, let's reconsider the polls that you need. So I stopped in the middle of my motion for your closed session.
Thank you.
So you're going to renew your motion counselors?
Yes. I would like to renew my motion. And you know what? It's Yes. Okay. This is a hot mess. But the bottom line is we cannot afford not to have this deal at the moment. We can't afford it. The city is finished without it. So heavy knowing that if I gotta eat a little bit of Crow, as a result of that, I might as well put some butter on it and call it a day. Okay, so I'm going to make a motion to approve the contract between the city of Highland Park and the Great Lakes Water Authority and that's my motion.
You cannot make a motion to approve the contract. We didn't read.
Don't even don't even read this. Don't even don't even don't even don't make marble. You can
make your motion. All right. Okay. You make
it doesn't make sense. Okay. Well, again, guys. You voted down but it's not going to be on me. That's how you can explain to them. You can explain to them why they gotta get out the damn house. Explain it to them. Already got a motion on the floor. And that's the motion I put on the
floor. And then I will say point of information. So we don't have to support this motion. That's the first thing. Secondly, I'm still I'm okay. I'm gonna be on my sleeves when I can. Well, it's not my fault. I'm sorry. It's the mind. I am talking into the mind. Thank you very much. For the rest of us.
moved this audio thing
I was saying no one has given him a support.
When he started talking to
talking before, no one gave him
a support motion on the floor from Councilman Councilman Shafi. We have not heard support if anybody wants to offer support.
Do you think I've done what I'm supposed to do?
I'm gonna read these documents before we sign away your life. It is incumbent upon us to read these documents before we sign
away your letters.
One minute has passed.
So we can put another motion on the floor.
No, no, no. It's got deciphered
no support and then with ample time that will consider that laying on the floor. There has been no support offered. That is the motion has died on the floor. Okay,
so I want to make a motion to table item number five. You're
gonna support that Miss Martin. Appreciate it. You know, support that was a little bit more discussion was a little bit more discussion. Hey, you know,
we do have a motion on the table out of
five. Yep. And I just supported
support from Mr. Shafi.
Samina Shafi Councilwoman Marcin yes Councilwoman Monica
you are not sure?
I asked the question. Anybody heard me? Die. For lack of support and die for
lack of support. That was a different motion to die from lack lack of support. Customer Martin to see you have a separate motion to counsel Mina Shafi. His motion died for or failed lack of support, but she had a new motion that he scored it
is on. Councilwoman Monica table
these people
Robinson Yes, council president time this item
five has been tabled. We want Item six out of the Community Development This is the resolution to approve the option of purchasing the sale of commercial and buildings located at 1224 Wood Avenue to j k m holdings LLC as an option you should have the option to purchase be timely exercised by the option. City council. What is your pleasure on item six.
I want to make a motion to approve the resolution to approve option to purchase and sell a commercial lot in building located at 12 Zero 24 Woodward Avenue to J A km holding LLC.
Seconded by the chair if you have a motion on the floor by Councilman Martin to approve the resolution to the option you purchase made by Councilman Martin seconded by the chair Madam Deputy Chair but you please call the roll discussion we have discussion from council votes. Absolutely.
PAGE 13 of this I know that Mr. Dotson has been waiting for quite some time. And I really want to prove this for him. But on page 13 development agreement between the city of Highland Park and the holding LLC go to page 14 1.7 Where it says the building department Am I to understand that the building department is safe that's about to answer the residence permit they built. Yes. My understanding September of 2043 his contract was
correct. So what's going on with that? We have to be it we have to rebid it out but for this I understand your concern and it needs to be rebid it out so what I mean we have to draft RFP and send it out. But for this resolution, it only deals with the option to purchase. The development agreement is not what's being signed right now. There's just the option to purchase. Let me grab she's done her. Just see what I'm looking at. So the option to purchase is pages one, two and three with the exhibits and the exhibit is just what the draft of the development agreement will look like.
Oh, he's going to to get a building department.
That's what it sounds like. So what option to purchase is they get six months do they do diligence to get the finances and then we go into the process of site plan approval and everything like then we execute the purchase agreement development agreement. Then we go into the site plan review, which requires building department
the satisfied satisfied your question meta program you stopped shopping okay.
So um two questions. Yes, sir. The building next door to us correct. And we check to see if the status or the Historical Preservation Society has been lifted from my understanding that it was okay to I'm under the impression and if my memory serves me correctly, when you were on this council, require me to purchase land from the city on would it be on what would Avenue it required to be process? Thus the premier chooses it as if they may choose it correct. Oh, so when we did that everybody else? That was all fine and dandy, but we want to we want to start that process. For this individual. The mirror as the ability to okay yeah, and then you got this document here what your name is nowhere on it. But Ty Hinton's name is all over this document is not here anymore. And his picture his driver's license picture is expired back in 2023. I mean, how old is this application since 2022 Okay, it is gonna have to be read that sir. I'm sorry. Not a problem. Yeah. I can't give a green light for that. Okay. That's it. That's the council's that's the council. That's almost three years ago. New Application should have been done for the new CD director for the new counsel and for the new administration. So that's gonna be a no for me any additional questions?
I don't have a question I'm saying. So therefore, anybody who has put I'm asking Mr. Sharp. Is this what you're saying? Anybody who has previously put in applications before we hire anybody new. We'll have to start that process
has been sitting there Miss Manica. For two years, two and a half years, the two and a half years and his ideas expired. No questions still saying and then and then again. I wanted to point out the back that anybody else who's bought something know what what we put them through a totally different process. Well, here we are, once again, altering the rules and a bit somebody else. When you open up
for the community, let's make sure that we're on point. Okay, all I'm
saying is this right here. You set the precedent. Now you want to alter it? No, I did not set the I didn't set the preference. Whoever set the precedent, set your own policy. Come to think of it. I'm Mister Mr. Clyburn, you work out for President. You did set that but this ordinance was done in 2018. I took office in 2012. Okay, all right. Before me, I can I can say at least Madam Deputy 33 to 44 developments and what we're having to had to go out for me. So why are we I mean, and this is right in between, and this is right next door to City Hall. That Lane has value, okay. And for what you're looking to sell it for is unacceptable. And the fact that it hasn't been put out to bid is unacceptable. Everybody should be given a fair shake. Purchase. I'm gonna say per
the ordinance okay.
The mayor does have the ability to do that. And also part of charter we have to go and market value and market value is 25,000. Okay, and so that's why is there
mister. Thank you, Director Clapper. And so Madam Deputy Clerk, would you please call the roll on item six, please?
Please. Please, I'm sorry.
Because I don't know the rules the processes process. You're
not going to do that to me Miss basketball when we had the development right next door here, the other side of City Hall. Those people were invited for that land. development because the residence that's inaccurate, that's inaccurate. No, no, no, it didn't please get the mayor sent out an RFP for that.
Thank you. Okay, Madam Deputy Clerk, please call the roll.
Councilmember Shafie? No. Councilwoman Martin? Yes. Councilwoman Monica. Council Pro Tem Robinson.
I'm gonna have to say no until we get a building
council president time
Yes, motion carries. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Moving on to item seven under finances to submission of the monthly financial statement for January 2020 for city council. What's your pleasure?
We're on Item seven.
To approve the submission of monthly financial statement January 2024. Have
a motion on the floor from Council America. Item seven. This is the the we're receiving and filing the monthly financial statement for January 2024. Is their support. Share offer support. Man deputy clerk would you call the roll please?
To receive a fine, ma'am. Councilman a Shafi
not to give me a spreadsheet. No.
council woman Martin. No. Councilman America. Yes. Councillor Robinson? No. Council President Thomas.
Yes. Motion fails three to two. Next item under finance submission of the financial statement for June 30 2023. City council What's your pleasure?
I move to approve receive and filed a submission on financial statements. June 30 2023.
We have support. Sheriff for support. Deputy Clerk could you call the roll on item seven be.
Councilman the Shafi No, Councilwoman Martin.
No.
Councilwoman Monica? Yes Council Pro Tem Robinson No. Council President Thomas yes
to receive them file Motion fails. Three to moving on to Item eight under fire. This is a resolution to approve the Highland Park Fire Department to apply for the FEMA assistance to firefighters grant for new Fire Truck City Council. What's your pleasure on
a motion to approve
I Second. Motion Can
we have a motion on the floor from Councilman Shafi seconded by Councilman Robinson. We have discussion Miss Monica Hamlin, as you heard. Full Motion. Okay, fine. So we'll move on to Item A will take the roll on item a
councilman a Shafi. Yes, Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Councilwoman Monica? Yes, Council? Well, pro tem Robinson. Yes. Council President Thomas. Yes. Thank
you very much. Moving on to Item nine under recreation as a resolution. To approve the transfer of parcels 4300601013600 and parcel number 430060104700 and 43006010044001 to the Parks and Recreation Department. Inventory.
Motion to approve with questions,
support and emotional support from Councilman sharp and support from Councilwoman Monica. Let me pull up these parcels on langree Because I got questions on my own. For those of you who are not familiar land grid is a resource that anybody can use. Get your parcel information. For every piece of property in United States of America I encourage you to get familiar with it
okay
so ladies and gentlemen, these parcels in question. Mr. Lackey, can you open up your screen share so I can put this parcel up on the screen
for a second
ladies, gentlemen, any question will pop up on the screen in just a second this is land grid man great shows you where the parcels are. This is the one parcel since the other one I make sure I got my personal numbers correct. Yep. All the parcels are citizens at home. Like I said before, Please familiarize yourself with langree to help you with property ownership also zoning for properties. is very useful to everybody should be familiar with. Mr. Miranda, you're at the podium so I'm going to turn it we have a motion on the floor. From some customers shopping. Yes, yeah, that was supported by counsel. Frogtown. Yeah. So my question, man. Okay, go ahead, sir.
My question is just one of four. Well, it's a legal formalities. When we transfer this land over to the rec department. If legal could answer this for me when this land state with direct DEP and and and is anybody allowed to sell this land afterwards? Oh,
of course any sale have to come back. What's the intent of the use of the property is being transferred to recreation but what specific reason Okay, perfect. That's all
so are you trying to do something different with the land? No, no,
it is it is staying a green space
remains in the inventory.
Yes. Okay. Council pro tip has a question.
I see your hand, man a pro tem please. Oh,
parcel number three. This lot is attached. This parcel is attached to the old dairy workers Hall. That's fence in. person was on screen right now. I know where I'm trying to get across on the screen. not interrupt me. Thank you so much. What legal procedure will you take to get that land back? Because it is.
Those are things that we're going to work with them with. And what we wanted to do was establish that property into the recreation inventory with the intent to work with the Greenway in the Greenway partnership. And if there's any issues there, then we can take it to legal and have them remove that fence. The property survey has already been done through the Joe Lewis Greenway. So we will be able to know the exact dimensions and if we have to do any proceedings after that, we'll move forward
with them. So have you gotten contact with the owners of the
Greenway actually has because they did the original land measurements? Yes. Okay. Okay. Any
additional questions? We go and get the vote on this. All right, Madam Deputy Clerk, would you please call the roll on item nine at a recreation. Councilman
Shafi? Yes. Councilwoman Martin. Yes, Councilwoman Monica? Yes. Council photo Robinson. Yep. Council President Thomas. Yeah,
motion carries. Moving on to item 10 outside communication. Thank you, Mr. Miranda. Item A is communication from the League of Women Voters in Detroit introducing one of Washington who will be observing the meeting or the meetings of the city of Highland Park. Is she here? Illegally voters? I think she landed okay. So this is wishing to receive a file. Okay. We have motion on the floor to receive a final communication from Councilman Shafi seconded by Councilman manacle Would you please call the roll on item 10. A Councilman
Shafi Yes, Councilwoman Martin. Yeah, Councilwoman Monica? Yeah. Council Pro Tem Robinson No. Council President Thomas yes. Thank
you very much you receive a file under item 10. Are requests for the mind petty with duty outreach to host duty festivals 5k. Run parade and family day on Wednesday, June 19 2020. For City Council What is your pleasure on item 10 Be
motion to approve. I do believe that he has a presentation boards.
Okay, so a second. So we have a motion to a we could just approve it. Now. We have a motion to approve from Councilman Shafi and seconded by Councilman Robinson. Mr. Pena is here, Mr. Penny, would you like to present or would you just want to get it approved? What would you like to do? Thank you, sir. So Madam Deputy Clerk, would you call the roll on item timbi?
Councilman Jaffe? Yes, Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Councilwoman Monica? Yes, council proto Robinson. Yes, Council President Thomas. Yes.
Thank you. Very much. Are you
making a request there for a request.
Now he's had to say yes to
Yes. Okay.
So now we're moving on to item 11. We have the resolution that was provided to us by Mr. Shafi. And this is the resolution related to the approval of the posting. We've deliberated on this at length. I'm confident enough that the members of city council should be able to have a straightforward vote on item 11. It's up to the council if you'd like to make a motion on how we proceed for this council president you are you're missing the senses because the beach is no sorry we're on we still have to do your resolution we put that Okay. That's it. We're gonna vote on my father. So it so we're on. We're on 11 This is the resolution to approve the posting. For the city treasurer position, we deliberated on it at length. So at this point, we could just make a motion to approve it and keep it moving.
Motion to approve with one slight amendment Governor Brad Pitt just one slight amendment.
What's that amendment, sir.
Okay. So on the posting, not on the resolution on the posting at the very bottom here it says individuals interested in applying for the position should contact the city of Highland Park human resources. This is not a city job. This is an appointed position and said you'd like to see I would like for those applications or for those those resumes to go to the clerk and then they find a way to us. I don't think that that that that we need to be mixing counsel affairs. We sit here administration have to do not. What
you have to do is you're going to have to hand amend this and provide it to the clerk. That's completely reasonable. So we if you're going to do that, please make the alterations in forward give that to the clerk on our way out of here. So this can be improved and included in a final read Nash problem you did was prepared. This was prepared prior to this. So we're going to have to make sure that it is done properly. Yes. Moving forward. So I got that on the floor. So we have a motion on the floor to approve this resolution with a with a with an amendment of who the applications go to and that is to be turned into the clerk do we have support for this second?
Oh,
hello. Yes, ma'am. Hello, ma'am. Hello.
I hear Hebrew every good evening. How are you?
Very good.
Okay. How Samina Shafi mentioned that if you want the resumes to come to me now and I know this is your first time with vacancy fill o net, the resumes are sent to the city hall in care of city council. I do not open them. I played them in the council presidents mailbox. That's how that is done.
Okay, or after they accept it.
Thank you, ma'am. So we have a motion on the floor to approve resolution. This is item 11. The resolution to approve posting for the city treasurer that also includes a detailed explanation of the Highland Park City Council's posting with six items here we worked out the details on how these resumes will be received. We have a motion on the floor that was made by Councilman a Sharpie was a seconded by you Council Pro Tem Yeah. Supported by counsel pro tem. You caught a roll on item 11. Please,
Councilman the Shafie? Yes, Councilwoman Martin. Yes. Councilwoman Monica? Yes, council Pro Tem Robinson
Yes. All 11 A
is only 11 There's no 11 A there's just item 11 is no eight. So it wasn't what was the date? No matter what. So? Yes. So one more when we get this. You are in the middle of the vote. I mean, your your count. Let's get this did you
say yes. Council Council President Thomas
yes, motion carries. Mr. shopee court correlated to de Janeiro Miss Miss Robinson. I'm sure he can help you with that. So we are now at the portion of the agenda for citizens participation. I'm holding to honor 20 seconds slavishly today. So if you have comments that you'd like to make, come to the podium and you'll get your two minutes
Good evening. My name is Jamila Edwards, I am a Highland Park resident. Evening honorable board. I wanted to we were talking in the audience about the motion that this man can make. This man could not make that motion. It had to be one of the three that said no, to bring it back for consideration. And then when you vote for two thirds, it has to be four votes. We looked it up. I want to talk about the water bill. Doubling. Nobody has addressed that and after you decide the talk, I'd like to know why did my water bill double? And when the meters come in and you do a study, do I feel stay the same or do a comeback and if you've realized that you overcharged us do we get money back?
Thank you, ma'am.
Any other citizen that would like to be heard? for two minutes?
Good evening Council Lisa Starsky here. I would just like to remind you guys that glue up was supposed to be done with that document on the 15th of January and they took an extra month to to process it, which was fine. You know, they did say that they were going to come to speak with us and they didn't, which obviously was not fine. But I think that you have every right to ask for another week or two, to read the document thoroughly to have conversations about it to consult lawyers. Not at the very last minute just you know a few minutes before you vote. I don't think that that was fair to you guys. And I just wanted to say that I thought tabling it was the the most responsible thing that you could do. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Any other citizens that would like to be her? Hearing none I'll move on to council affairs. Thank you very much citizens.
I'm sorry, one second. Let me check online. Let me do that. We have hands raised Mr. Lackey. You wanted to speak sir?
Yes. I'm a Highland Park officer. So I'm just want to make a statement. How the council gave you guys respect to talk. I say the same thing, because our job is to take people out of here when they make noise in the court. We've been really tendered about not trying to care about Highland Park. We want you to hear everything is said and done. Don't make our job. But I'll seek it out person and possibly everybody on one person Thank you, sir. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Okay. Mr. Shafi Council affair.
Okay. So ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what's going to happen here. I appreciate the fact that it has been tabled. I understand why my colleagues did I mean totally agrees with them. We definitely did not have enough time will not give it enough time. But I just want to say very quickly, unlike unlike the council president has made the statement. I definitely read this bad boy. It took me four days. In fact, I read the last summer right before I got here. Okay. And after I read it, I had more questions than answers. So even though I read it, I was still confused by it. Okay. I will say don't get me wrong in the least. I didn't comprehend half of what went on here. But I definitely read Okay, and to be made to look like I didn't read it is it himself? But that's it. So I get that. Oh, but I think they believe what needs to come before us. I'm tired of them stole it out. I don't know who it is, or which side is playing this game going back and forth. You know, I'm saying I do remember that. Just just at the start of the meeting in the workshop, somebody told us that somebody had informed him not to come here. So maybe that's the same process and I happen to hear for believe they will maybe advise, it wasn't a good idea to come here. You know, saying and that need to be the case. I mean, after all, when you drop a 250 page manifesto, I'm pretty sure it's gonna raise a lot of questions that they might not want to answer. But I'm not worried about what's in the manifesto. I'm worried about what's missing. What is it costing us? What are the penalties? What are the service fees? What access do we have? What is our role here, which is no way you need to be thinking, is this all about what they're going to get when they're going to get in and how they're going to get it? And they mentioned the fact that of fees and penalties, but no mention of what those fees and penalties may be okay. I don't even know what our monthly bill it's gotten to me. I don't even know what that is. And that should have been something that should have been included in here. Okay, we need to know these things. Now, I'm not trying to hold up the process. I definitely don't want to levy on the residents, but at the same time, I do agree with my colleagues. We need a little bit more. But they need to come before us and really talk to us and give us a clearer understanding anything that is pending. Legally. They don't have to discuss this. But this manifesto here is public knowledge. They can at least discuss that. Okay, because this is online for anybody to look at. Is there for you to look at because gleyber voted on it on the on the 14th which made it public knowledge from that point on subjected to the Open Meetings Act just like ours, okay, so anything that they agreed upon, you can now have access to see what he wants. Okay, so keep that in mind. I'm hoping that we could get through this process. I'm hoping that all is not lost.
But we
have been here before. We've been on the brink of the pit of the fire before and God is always holding us back and we're on the brink of the pinup fight and God has always told us that I think we're going to be okay. Keep praying with the HP and let's keep fighting Thank you. Thank you Miss Martin.
Good evening HP. What can I say about this 400 Page Bible? What can I say about it? The reason why I felt like it needs to be tabled because there needs to be a lot more clarification. You know, their signatures in here. There's things that have been agreed upon, but like City Council, Shafi said, what were we agreed upon, you know citizens just said that her her build doubled. Okay. What it doubled because she's covering what what is that? What is it paying for? Is it paying to bring the bill down? Is it because the meters are coming in? Is it all the above? What is it so there needs to be more than just read this for days and then talk to the attorneys. Now the other thing I find very interesting is Glee was had several times to come and talk to us. Right and then with we've been in litigation, right but they were prepared with 100 lawyers and they were all ready, but they're not ready to answer questions. Yeah, that doesn't make sense. I am not clear about that. And my thing is, we all deserve some understanding, especially if it's going to triple double we don't know. We need some clarification. And then that being said, I want to say thank you for coming out this evening. But those of you who stayed this long, appreciate it through all the turmoil that's been going on up here, and I'm gonna go ahead and turn it over to Councilwoman Monica
this evening, everyone, thanks for coming out this evening. I am going to respond. So I really looked it up. I still don't see the vote of the two thirds, but I do see what you refer to. So always depends on how you read so I can admit to that. I the way he voted. And so I'm not sure if the audience was trying to correct me more so or correct. The president because he said yes, he was already voted yes that it was okay. But just like you are correcting those on something, I think is one of the things that could be taught as well like how to make the correct motion. So if you're going to correct one you need to correct all now is this the time and place? Maybe not. But I'm sure some of us talk to each other outside of here. And if you can teach those things as well and teach them outside because I'm not, don't fall into this. And I can omit the other thing is make sure that you understand and I want to talk to my council members. I don't understand everything even all the time without a vote when I don't understand I do not vote when I didn't understand. As far as the residents, I said this again, I respect you. I asked you to respect me. I can't tell you what to do with the rest of the council people, but I actually respect me and if you host a meeting, you do not see me coming in this running or online disrupt and make sure that you got your business's order while you're trying to keep our business in order. Because I think more than just City Council and Administration is out of order in the city. So we need to help each other instead of trying to put the fines read from man and make each other look bad. You need to take that into consideration and I say that with a clean heart because I am one of those people who deal with the water vapor and I deal with more than one. So again, you need to take that into consideration. Y'all like to see a fight, but you better know what battle you in. All you're not in the same fight. I guarantee so stop coming in here trying to cause commotion. I appreciate the officer pointing that out. being disruptive doesn't help anything. It does not Oh, all these second and third agendas is what got us here in the first place. I love you all apart. I love HP. But you're not. This is ridiculous. And if we have to say that you have to be escorted out that's what's going to happen from this point on. As you knock off disrespecting. Have a great night.
Evening HP ya know I love y'all. I brought this up at the last Council meeting not the special meeting but the council meeting in regards to sales and, and the contract that's been up since September of 2023. And my question again is what's going on with that? And from October to the present any development that was approved and was approved from the building department is it for white anybody heard in contract has been expired since September of 2023. I am asking from October to present that if the building department had to approve anything it void because he doesn't have a contract with the city like Bill. Anybody answered that question. I
would say that. If someone if a contract expires then more often than not people aren't on a month to month at that at that point until it's actually renewed or two it was brought back to council for a vote to approve a new contract. But what that what they're doing is not just cancelled out.
Make sure we stay this
just saying it's still stuck in this field. It's just like with counsel people who have sorry just like with appointments, you know, they remain in that position until someone else's either they're reappointed or someone else is appointed. So you know his work is just not cancelled out. But I will see what I can find out in terms of when we can get that back before Council in terms of a renewal. Let's do the next. What can you do you want to send me an email and I'll follow you sent one to me.
No, Mr. Clark. Oh, Mayor,
okay. All right. Hey, would
you
want to forward it to me? Are
you telling me that I have to send it to nine o'clock. I just cut out the middleman.
So I'm saying what you said to John Clark. If he would forward it to me, then I will follow up. I can do have to send stuff to him. I can he's a city attorney. But because you're here tonight asked me the question. I want to be able to try to assist you so if you would send it to me. I'll try to follow up. I can do that. Thank you.
Floors yours President.
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. I'm a slow learner but I'm learning I noticed quite again I noticed how quiet it is when everybody else was speaking and I love to make eye contact with people why they're being disrespectful and it just makes me ask the question why? What am I doing to you? As you figure you want to spend your whole two weeks getting ready to come in and be disrespectful to me in this chair? What did I say November 6, I shouldn't even be sending I shouldn't be sitting here if the election wasn't tampered with. So no good deed goes unpunished. Somebody voted disenfranchising people to Highland Park. And so I'm sitting in this chair for the job to come every two weeks and make offensive comments. I'm a slow learner, but I'm learning. I'm learning and I'm gonna start to attend your meetings as well so that I can share with you the joy that you're bringing to me. Let me point something out to you. centerline is a city that is surrounded on all sides by another city is surrounded on all sides by another city. So those of you who are hell bent on saying the Highland Park and never lose his charter you're wrong. Just like the state legislature got together to talk about this water thing. And the Senate and the Governor, they can do that and we can lose our charter and we can become a neighborhood in the city of Detroit. When I say this is your government at work. That's not to make you mad. That's just to make you ask the question. Are you seriously unaware that we could lose our charter become a neighborhood in the city of Detroit? If you haven't gone to sleep on that notion? Ladies and gentlemen, please do. Our population is at 900 and drop it. How long do you think it would take for the legislature and the governor to get together to say you know what, you people can govern yourselves? I'm not the city council president in Highland Park on the city council president of Highland Park. So when I go to Lansing tomorrow, I'm not gonna be able to pretend I don't live here. I ain't gonna be able to pretend I'm not your neighbor, but I don't want my dog and play with my kids around the corner. sitting in this chair, my responsibility is to make sure as City Council President Oh, Highland Park that I'm looking out for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and it is not to come here to play tennis which are long issues. If I want to do jujitsu, I know where to go. I want to get punched in the face. I know exactly where to go. I meet with my friends three or four times a week and we punch each other in the face. We don't have to do it in real life. But if you think that that's what this meeting is about, and we are putting ourselves in severe Jeopardy, you can lose the city. You can lose the city. Don't don't think so. That's fine, Believe what you want to believe. But just as easy as the legislature got together to decide that we're going to kick this money in and move heaven and earth. And senators who've never heard of you before and House members who've never heard of you before made a decision they voted either in favor of or not. But as global situation. We can lose our city seat and become a neighborhood in the city of Detroit if we cannot govern ourselves. And that's something that we are in Black History Month about to totally disenfranchise ourselves by losing our city seat and potentially lose our charter as a small town if we don't get our stuff together. It's okay. Hala Park has long been the victim of voter disenfranchisement. Here we are in black history month and it's not the Mississippi Delta. And it's not Boss Hog. And Cooter. It's a money interests and people with legal knowledge who are turning your city into a basket of confusion for what? Well, what for 8900 people. The closest Detroit City Council District has 92,000 people in it. They'll split the city and quarters and just like that you had a park will be a neighborhood like island you like bright more. Like Easting was village it'll be a neighborhood. Let us keep playing these games. What do they say? Mess around and find out right? play stupid games win stupid prizes, these battles of personality and grandstanding will mean absolutely nothing. If we lose our city's charter, keep playing these games all these experts. I'm not an attorney. So I don't play when I didn't stay in the Holiday Inn last night either. Keep playing these games with the way that our city is run and very soon. You will be a council Councilman business district or council woman Sheffield's district, Councilwoman Callaway is district. Don't take my word for nothing. The entire state of Michigan is watching everything that goes on in these meetings. It's a couple 100 people watching this fee right now. All I have to say is
keep playing. You know, games you can win or lose. That's our future.
And on the water.
I read 10 pages of that document and I knew that we were being screwed. I didn't waste four days reading because I know we were being screwed. I sat in on mediation. This is not what we signed up for. Okay. I knew that I had you don't have to drink the whole carton of milk in order to spoil I needed to sit. And I started it was right. The consensus is we don't owe We don't owe. We don't owe except Mr. tongues. In that funny, ladies and gentlemen, having concluded our business for the city of Highland Park. The chairman will declare this meeting adjourned.