schedule for this evening, Monday, August 4, 2025, at 7pm madam Detroit, would you be kind enough to call the roll for us tonight?
Councilman ashafi, bless it. Councilwoman Martin here, Councilwoman Manica here. Council proton Robinson, council president, Thomas here.
Thank you very much. Moving on to the approval of the agenda. City Council, take your time and the Chair will entertain a motion as it relates to today's agenda.
Thank you, ma'am, I moved to approve the agenda
for city council meeting today, dated Monday, August 4, 2025
chair offices, second, questions, concerns, dissent. I
Yes,
so would you? Would you mind addressing the whole council? Sir, good. Good
evening. My understanding is that the administration is requesting that one item be removed from the agenda. That would be Item six under Community Development resolution approved special land use for 14001,
Woodward Avenue, my
understanding is that there needs to be some further Council discussion and review.
Part of the item being on the agenda
is it, is this Council's discussion or just somebody else's discussion, right? Cuz I don't see how it's Council's discussions first time that they brought to us. Okay? So I'm curious about that. So it's in the isn't the policy to to look at the application see it's see that it meets the requirements from the planning commission, and then set a public hearing day, because the public is dying to hear about this one here.
Councilman minor saying is that the request is that the item be taken off the agenda so it could have that review that you're discussing right now. Who who requested? I was asked to get it pulled off the agenda by the administration.
So which administration member asked you to pull it off? Digit,
I believe it's, it's listed under
my development. He asked you, we asked you to remove it. Yeah, the mayor reminded
me just now, okay,
okay, so and I believe it, it'd be under director Clyde burners department.
Okay, it's a point of reference. This is something that we could motion to deny, a motion to approve right now. We have the agenda as it stands, and I want deliberation. Mr. Sharpie. Don't think this is one of the just where I'm counting on we have a motion on the floor for the approval of the agenda. We have a recommendation from council to from our legal counsel here to remove it. Is there any more discussion on this item? Yes? Yeah.
Been put on, on the workshop, so that there's a presentation,
a present that hasn't even been presented.
So out
Yes, council at
all right, Mister to mister Sharpie point with all due respect. Miss square. So often times we get things here that we're asked to vote on with without a workshop, and I don't know the consensus feeling for other members as to how they want to address this. I don't know a workshop would even be necessary. Having received this packet, having looked at it, I think that I feel very confident that the members in front of me have have looked at it, and yeah, so I don't again. We have a motion on the floor to approve the agenda. We have a recommendation made by our legal department to remove it, madam, Miss Manica, would you you? Could you still want to move forward with your motion?
I will retain my support if you want to move.
Maybe I didn't clearly understand you want to remove it so that they can go to a workshop.
I don't see the I don't see the reason why this you have to go to a workshop. We voted on so many important things before without a workshop, I don't see any good reason why this would need to go to a work. That's just my personal opinion. I think the application is in front of us provides us with a substantial amount of information that we would have to be labor what we see in front of us for an hour or so. I don't even know if it would merit that.
I beg your pardon. Ma'am, yeah,
yes. Ma'am, yes, ma'am. We saw, we saw, we saw we saw
errors with standing. If, if you know errors with standing, I feel fairly confident that, having had the packet since Thursday, that everybody's had a chance to look at it. I don't to to the mayor's point. There are errors. There are some significant errors in this document that is not for us council to point out. That is not for us, that is not for the council to fix. But there are errors, gross errors in the document as prepared. So I don't necessarily want to even vote this through as it is, because there's too many errors for us even touch it. I would be
send this back.
Send this back. It's not correct for one a clean vote would have to have a correct document. So check your emails. So Council President, yes, sir,
so I received an email. I'm sure that everybody else received the same email.
I did. I kind of want to keep my okay.
And the reason I'm concerned about it is
and I am as well
as I said, tell you my constituents are dying to sink their teeth to this. Okay, I take it. They got a lot to say, okay, about this particular type of of business, sure. Okay, so, so heavy, heavy, having, having, having, said that. The email said that, that the Planning Commission,
we cannot. We can't disclose that.
I'm not disclosing we can't disclose it. He's saying is everything was in order up until this point, I've done my research, I've done my homework. The residents are ready to respond. I do not feel the need to table this or move it to a workshop. We never had any workshop before. Yeah. I mean, I agree
you're absolutely right, but to our, to our, to our point. No, ma'am. No, ma'am. Hold on, hold on, Madam Mayor, to the to the to your and I support your position on this. I don't even think it's worth going and having the pitchforks and torches. I think the document as it is is erroneous. There's enough errors in it that legally we shouldn't even vote on this thing because there's too many errors in it. The package is not put together properly. They're they're so they're blatant errors in it that would not allow us to vote and provide any fidelity to the vote because we're voting on something that's wrong. They can. Would
have been helpful Council President, if legal would have pointed out to me, I agree, okay, in a confidential email to us before we did our home. I agree.
I agree what I to your to your point. And I've had very rarely do I take phone calls from people to complain, but I've had enough conversations where I think all of us have heard from our constituents. I think everybody has heard from their constituents. And what I'm saying is this is not worth voting on today. And I don't know if a workshop will change anybody's mind, and I don't necessarily want to have a meeting where people come and scream their concerns publicly, when we can just vote based on what our constituents want. We are the representative voters for the constituents. So let's get back to the the order at hand, which is the approval of the agenda.
Can Council later on down the line, send us a pinpoint, confidential presentation in an email to point out to us exactly what is wrong with this application, because I'm just not seeing it.
So just just as we're on the agenda, remember, we're approving the agenda, the packet that we received, and we're not supposed to really get too far in the weeds on it the packet that we received. I'm going to refer
again remember that we want to vote on the agenda. I
Okay, in this document we
have a recommendation from and it was second, huh, just
making sure, here we have a recommendation from Planning Commission.
How does the paperwork go from the planning commission get messed up, and then come to the person,
we can't assume it's messed up. So let's do this. Yeah, so, so let's, let's do this. I don't, based on what I have in front of me, I think everybody has enough information that we don't need a workshop for this. However, this document as it is. We can't, in my opinion, vote on it because there are errors in it. If we vote on this with these errors in it, that doesn't give the applicant a clean vote. You understand what I'm saying? I do understand what you're saying. Yep. So I think they should fix it. It's not our job to tell them what's wrong. If it comes back again, wrong. It goes back. If it ever comes up for vote, open up the water hose, do what you gotta
do. Well, my next question is to you, Mr. President, yes, are you going to have more workshops in the future? So
the workshops that we so we're off, we're off the agenda, but I'll go there for you. The workshops that we had lined up for the next several months were to work on ordinances. In order to work on those ordinances. We needed support. And the partnership of the McKenna group, you guys fired them last week. They still here. Listen, mind you, city council.
So the help that we're going to
get, help that we're going to get, that still up in the air right now, until we sort this thing out, we need them to work on the ordinances, which is our highest
priority. I thought it was our job, so not the McKinley point of information. Go
ahead and we get back to the vote. I'd like to know
if we're going to
for this, because you're saying that we should not vote on it. I agree, due to the errors. Yep. So are you. Are we going to remove it, but remove it, not for a workshop, just to be brought back, to be brought back agenda, or are we going to table it? So what I
if so, what I would like to see is this item come off today's agenda and go back to CD, be corrected, and then come to us for a vote, so that we can vote and deliberate at such time, any citizens that want to be heard. My motion, I will rescind my support, so I'm here to entertain a motion on tonight's agenda. Do we have one?
The motion is, I approve. I'm sorry I moved to approve the agenda with the
removal of item six.
That's the same motion just made Miss Manager,
no, ma'am, no,
sir, that was the recommendation. Now we have a motion and chair Office report the motion is on the floor is to approve tonight's agenda with one modification that will be the removal of item six under Community Development resolution to approve the special land use for 14001,
Willard Avenue, tequila down.
Madam Deputy Clerk, would you please call for the approval of today's agenda removing that item?
You support it?
Yes. I offer support. Correct. Alpha support. Chair of support, Councilman
ashafi.
I'll vote no for the removal. I
I got to tell me what's wrong with it. I'm sorry.
Councilwoman Martin No.
Councilwoman Manica Yes. Council proton Robinson Yes. Council President Thomas
Yes. Motion carries to the people who voted. No. Listen, I want us to have a clean
vote, and somebody needs to tell
us what's wrong with it. I think, I think
Council President,
you actually right, but considering what it is already, when it comes back, if it comes back with errors, then it's got to go in the ring, right, right?
Yeah. But if they want us to vote, then they need to give us the proper information so we know exactly what the errors are from this time to the next time. Okay, I'm tired of being left in the dark
here. I can't. I will actually be happy to share that and please, Imma give my highlighter out. Imma get my items. So the motion is so it's always in the doctor. The agenda has been approved. Let's move on to item four. That's the approval of the proposed minutes in person and virtual workshop meeting for July 21 City Council. What's your pleasure?
I moved to approve the in person and virtual workshop meeting held July 21 2025
chair, open, support,
questions, concerns, consent, between dissent,
roll call, vote. Would you please take the roll now? Councilman
and Shafi.
What meeting was this? This was virtual, virtual
workshop for the 21st
for the spark grant, yeah, okay, yes.
Councilwoman Martin Yes, Councilwoman Manica Yes, council president Robinson, yes, Council President Thomas,
yes, moving on to the in person and virtual regular meeting for July 21 2025
city council. What's your pleasure?
I move to approve the in person and regular meeting July 21 2025
I got, I got a questionnaire. Council President, go ahead. Is this? Isn't this the one? Okay? Hold a second. I see it. Never mind. Uh, yes.
Councilwoman Martin Yes. Councilwoman Manica, yes. Council proton Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas,
Yes. Motion carries last and may approve minutes in person and virtual special meeting for July, 20, fourth, 2025, city council, what's your pleasure? Second? We have a motion from coaching Robinson seconded by Yes. Councilman Shafi, questions concerns, dissent or in person, virtual special meeting, July, 24 2024, I'm sorry, 2025, uh, please call the
roll on that. Councilman Shafi, yes. Councilwoman Martin, yes. Councilwoman Manica, no,
I was not in attendance.
Council person Robinson, yes. Council President Thomas,
no, I didn't attend. Thank you.
Okay, this is the section of
meeting that we turn over to Mayor McDonald.
Good evening. Everyone citizens, good evening. Out of the body, I'm gonna have one pick two things I want to talk about. One is tomorrow. Out here at the Massachusetts, California areas, the police department will be hosting this annual national night out. Please come out and support your police department. It's free. Live without food, entertain. Co host will be here.
Also. We have live bands
and other things going on, prizes, whatever they have out there, please come out and support. It is free. Tell your neighbors, tell your friends. Come out. National Night Out is celebrated all across the country by police departments, and so we want to support our police officers and make sure that they know that they are supported by staff. The other thing I have right now is the list that you have. That's just one list. I want you to know that the county has torn down and starting to tear down 70 of their properties. So they have their properties being torn down. They have the CDBG properties, which is approved through the county. Those are coming down. They're turning down our properties. And we have 40 houses and three large builders that has been standing forever. One is burnt out, really, really bad, to the point where it cannot be renovated. And the citizens in that area, on what Wayne and fan park have been disappointed with that building, because there's all kind of smells coming from it. There's all kind of debris that's always out in front of it. There's a lot going on right there. They see people going in and out. It's a danger, and that building will cost us for a little bit over a million dollars to tear down. We don't have those funds, and we were able to the county to begin to offer those funds for us to have that building down, the same as 25 Highland and Lynelle, those buildings cost an astronomical amount of money to tear down that the city do not have, and to be offered the money by the county, when a county, who are honorable commissioner and her commission is a blessing, just like we was offered that 100 million dollars from the state to get our infrastructure these these buildings need to come down so that new ones can go up and people can move into this city. You don't realize a lot of our population left when all the buildings became vacant, and then once they became vacant, and stayed vacant, the one that I know of, specifically that's on the list on Lynelle, it's been vacant now for almost 30 years, or back 30 years, no one is coming to rescue us. We have to take advantage of these funds that we get from our county and from our state and from our federal government, so when they're offered and we can take care of these things so that we can get new developments in this city and make sure that there's people Coming here, that's what we need to look at. The only other thing is, I'm going to make a statement here.
I got a call today from
the federal government.
They're fed up. They give us this funds. They're fed up with the bickering, the argument, the going back and forth about things they see no progress. And so with that being said, my administration has
had enough of being
milk you
cussed out, called all kind of names this that's not professional. You can disagree. We don't have a problem with that. Disagree with whatever you choose to disagree with. That's your prerogative. But to belittle people, to talk to them like they're inhuman, we're not tolerating. We have had lawsuits filed because people do not know how to control them, their tempers, their conversations and at this moment, I have police officers ready to leave. I have fire department ready. We just got them cool. They're not going to stand here and let anyone degrade them, and they're doing a great job on also as far as the planning, planning firm, the
state pays for
them, the planning
firm, the building inspection, it pays for itself. We don't pay them. It pay now, actually, we're gaining money by having them because we get part of their collections. We don't pay them any but we're getting money. And when you take your personal agendas, because something happened with somebody or someone you don't like or you didn't like, and you you little these people, we're not we will not come anymore. You guys can just do what you need to do. We'll send you the information. Write your questions down, send it to us, send it to the attorneys. We'll get the questions answered before the meeting, and you all decide on whatever you want to decide, because this continuous badgering, this continuous
dogging out people
and the hate crimes, because that's what it is. It's a hate crime. It's going to stop. This is your meeting. You can dictate how you want to run it. That's fine with me. But we don't have to be here,
and I will not let them be abused anymore.
So I'm hoping that we can go from today and working through these things and getting them done, so that the federal government is not calling me, telling me they tired of sending money, and it's looking like it's nothing happening, or they're tired of what us sending for grants and things like that. And then when it gets time for it to vote on stuff, it's it's turned down, or things are turned down, or whatever the case may be, they don't want to send anymore, and that's not good for the city. I want us to come together and do what we need to do for the city. You don't have to, like me, that's that's on you. I don't care at this point, but what you have to do is the job that you was elected to do, and that is to grow this city, that's all I got. Thank you very
much, Madam Mayor. And first, let me apologize to your staff for having to endure that. I hate to be able to concur to since day one with her efforts to try and improve the morale. It's been very rough for the people in the building to have to endure some very uncomfortable, sorry but experiences at the hand of city council. So we're all individuals here, so I want to extend my apology to your staff
for that unnecessary stress.
Council President, with all due respect, please speak directly for yourself, sir, I'm speaking for myself. Only you say it for council as well. It just
came I do Yes, as a chair, I will say on behalf of Council, yes, sure, I will. Yes, I will. It's fine. That's great. So we're going to move on to we have a special guest here today. We also have Wayne County Commissioner Martha G Scott, who was asked to be added to the agenda. We want to make sure we turn the floor over to her, Miss Scott, it's always a pleasure to have you here. I know you have something that you wanted to talk to us about, so we want to make sure you have as much time as you need. Please join us here at the podium.
Thank you so much. Good evening, Mr. President, city council members, Madam Mayor, and to the public. Thank you all for allowing me to be here.
I guess I gotta kind of follow some things that what the mayor was saying.
This city
has been doing these things since about 40 years ago. When I was the mayor, I was grateful to be the first black woman elected mayor of a major city in the state of Michigan.
For that and I was president of the city council. I have served at the state level six years as a state representative, nine and a half as a senator, and then return back to the county where I was for a few years and Civil Service Commissioner there. So I'm grateful for all of that. So I do thank God for the opportunity to serve the people. And I say that because I know that's why I'm where I am today. Is because when I was appointed Wayne County Commissioner back in 1977 it was not easy. I was working at Michigan Bell, I was even afraid to tell them that I was coming down to the county for an appointment, because Chester Wozniak from Hamtramck had resigned his position, and Commissioner Jackie curry called me and asked me if I would come
for the appointment,
I said yes, I was a precinct delegate, and I'm still a precinct delegate today, because one of the attorneys that was at The 13th congressional district said we don't have a precinct delegate in your area. So would you please sign on to be a precinct delegate? To all of you, it's a great starting point to be a precinct delegate. And I became a precinct delegate because Shirley Chisholm was running for President of the United States. Okay, friend of mine came by and asked me to be a precinct delegate. I said, I want nothing to do with politics. She said, why? I said, because it's dirty. She said, then you get in and help clean it up. Then she said, If Shirley Chisholm can run for President of the United States, you can certainly be a precinct delegate two or three blocks in your area. Well, I loved me some Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan. Those were two strong, dynamic black women that I was so proud of. So I said, Yes, I will do that. Working at the telephone company, the black women there came out and did door to door, you would have thought I was running for president, because back then, we didn't have a lot of us that was in elected positions, and I've lived it all. When I first, my family first moved here to Highland Park, blacks couldn't live all over the city. There were certain areas that you lived in, but it had everything. And my reminder, my father said to me, everything changes, because everything must change, so this will change. But he was on the bus one day and heard two men talking about a city called Highland Park that had free college. He said, I gotta find that city, because I have five children that need to be educated. So he did, but we lived either
west
of Oakland or No, I guess it was east of Oakland and west of Hamilton.
That's where we live back then.
So I was so proud to be able to be able to run for office and to be able to serve, and I know it came from on high, because on that day in 1977 there were 13 white males in me, and I got that appointment that day. So I know it came from on high, and that's why I continue to serve and do what I do.
I'm grateful.
But in order for us to rebuild the city that was so beautiful, couldn't live all over, but we could at least live here, come on and be educated
here. Yes,
and it was one of the most beautiful cities that you'd ever want to see we were number one. Okay, we were rated higher than the gross points that later I had the opportunity as state senator to serve them.
So you see
things that I'm hearing now are not good. My department heads at the county, I said all of that to tell you just a little bit about where we came from, that what is going on. You have got to talk to your people at the city, because so much can be done
that are not being done because they're not coming together.
To do start with you all, when I was married,
the library could be the most
beautiful library
you want. It can be, yes, it would have been
okay. I had a wealthy woman in Grosse Pointe that gave me money for the high school and for for all of mine. I represent three different cities I live here, I represent a large portion of Detroit as my largest park area, and ham training. Highland Park is my smallest there, because we have left Highland Park and in order to rebuild it, we have got to come together. You don't have to like each other, you don't have to love each other, but you do have to work together, right, right, right.
I sit down at the county fighting
for Highland Park all the time,
but Highland Park has got to work together in order to get them safe there. So I did ask the department economic development what was going on with my was
going on. This is your
know, but anyway,
I'm not just putting it on URL, but it's been on everything. But back then, being the first woman certainly was not easy. But I have the best staff that we could have ever had. We did so many programs,
and it says going down, down, down, down, but it
can't be about
right? It's gotta be about the city, right? Each one of you, I don't approve the districts, but you all have districts. The city is too small. Everybody ought to be accountable for this whole city, right? Yes, that's when I was there. We had 33,000 33,000 residents
down from 60,000 when we moved here.
So think about, pull yourselves together and say what you have been elected to do was to serve the people, not yourself. Titles mean nothing,
right? You don't do anything with right?
So I'm going to say from this day forward, my ma'am said, Let us come together and get some things done.
Are some projects that
the county has right Now
that needs to needs to happen. I
anyway, there are three years,
and it's, it's the monies that come In to do you
rose, we have 2223
and this year there's money for 25 but you have not put in for that. That's what this letter was about. So if you need some help to get that dinner, please work with us.
Uh, they do it every year. So because they have not put it in this year, not yet, if there's three years that is waiting right now, service,
right it is you have to put it in the request of what your staff did in order to get it. I believe it's 40,000 each each year, and they use some of it
out. So you need to put that in writing to the town
economic development department to get that done, so they can give you that money and then you put in for 25
Yes, please get that
because I can't keep asking for money if you're not going to use what they already have for you, we have to work there, but we have to work collectively together. Alright, yes, ma'am, put all that nonsense aside.
Alright, yes, ma'am,
please. They said, can you talk to them as long as I have been out here, I've been in every office there is,
but there are
and each department in each office, there are different rules and regulations. You all need some training. All of you, okay, I mean that, and I understand that this state did come down a couple times, but everybody didn't take the training. So request it again and take the training please. It's important. Yes, you can't do what you think ought to be done. There are rules and regulations that we all must follow. Okay, I didn't come to preach, but when the mayor touched on all of that that I have been hearing, it was time for me to talk about it. Alright, okay, and like I said, we could have the library done so people say to me, Well, what about the library? I said, Don't talk to me about the library anymore. Omina Omar was the president of the city council, and said she had to wait until Mr. Blackwell came. That was when we have this overseer. Okay? I it, and he said he was coming for free. I I told the governor. I said, don't let him come for free. Pay him. Pay everybody that comes to this city. So they ended up getting paid, though, because I knew that's what was going to happen, but they didn't accept it, because it was coming from Martha G Scott, okay, but it ain't about me. I'm just that vessel that God allowed to come down here to help, alright, and for somebody who has lived through it all to know what is going on, and the federal government is trying to take us back there now. So if we don't stand up and work together, we will never have this city together. It will never be for our children, and that's what life is all about. It's not about us, it's about those that are coming after us. That's why my father said, Oh, I'll save my money and buy a house in Highland Park so that my children can be educated. There was five of us. I had four brothers and myself, and they've all gone home to glory. But the Lord has left me here to do the work. Amen, alright, so I intend to continue doing it as long as he allows me to. I was going to give it up this time, but Commissioner Clark Coleman said to me, they've given us four years this time, we need to do it well. Lord took her home to glory a few weeks ago, but I'm still left here, and I will do my job as long as I'm here. Alright, yes, ma'am. And if you all want to put my name on an agenda, please call me and ask me about it. First, respect me, because I'm going to respect you, all of you.
Yes, ma'am, as I said
earlier, we don't have to like each other, we don't have to love each other, but we do have to respect each other so we can get the work done for this city. It's not about anyone of us, but it's about us moving forward, and I intend to keep moving forward. Alright,
yes, ma'am, and work
with my other 14 commissioners to make sure that we get what we need for this city and for my total district, I have worked to help everybody. And in this when I was in the Senate, I had from the very poor to the very richest, but I said to those in gross point, I will treat everybody the same, no matter if you're rich or poor, because God gave me this job, alright, cuz I have retired after six years in the House and Virgil Smith, may his he rest in peace. He went on home to glory a few weeks ago, but because of him, they asked me to come back after three months and run for state senate. So I've been running ever since, okay, and I thank God for the mission to serve, because it's about serving people. That's what we're put here on this earth to do it's not about us. There's a mission for all of us, and we need to ask God what our mission is so we can do it. Okay, okay. So please. Thank you all. Thank you Miss. Thank you, ma'am. I didn't mean to take this long. No, ma'am,
two doors down, my neighbor, two doors
down. I had not been here, so I'm glad my staff did bring this, and
I'm glad that you had a chance to come to You're welcome anytime, anytime.
Thank you all. I still do coffee hours.
Yes, ma'am, my sister told me tell you hello. Yes. Alright,
that's one of my shown up the
community. Communities over on the east side, yes, ma'am,
so may God bless you all you as well. Yes, smile on you and ask him to lead you. Okay, yes, ma'am, thank you. God bless you.
Right? I'm glad that I was able to get on the phone with my neighbor, and she was gracious enough to join us. It's always a pleasure to have an icon in the room. And so we have citizen participation on the agenda. We only have three items. We have the mayor of veto recreation and the senior citizen. We do not have anything under community development. All we have after that is Council affairs. So if we don't have any discussion on agenda items, we can go right into the actual agenda. Do we have citizens comment on agenda items? I don't see anybody moving. I will move right into item four, which is the mayoral veto. Item four, this is the veto City Council's vote to terminate the building and planning services of McKinnon, associate City Council. What's your pleasure on item four, I'm sorry. Item five, excuse me. I'm sorry so this is participation. No one came up to talk about the agenda. You have a question for the agenda? Okay, yeah, then forgive me, ma'am. I have my head down, but before you get up, I want to have you come up to the podium. But let me do something. I have been asked to do this because we do have two sets of attendees. You come up to the front. I still have, Mr. Tucker, I used to have your hand up online. Okay, Mr. Tucker, I'm going to call you in just a second. Ma'am, if you will. Go ahead, I see Anthony and Anthony Tucker, ma'am, Imma have you go ahead? This is on agenda item. It's either on the veto the recreation resolution or the senior Department. That's the only thing I can speak about. At the end of the meeting, we're going to have an open citizen participation. Okay, so, Mr. Tucker, are you on let me ask you to unmute. So is your comment related to an agenda item, sir, or is it a general comment?
Anthony Tucker, online.
Your hand up still, I'm asking you to unmute
Tucker. I cannot get you
to if you would unmute yourself.
Okay, yes, yeah, it's a general question question.
So this is Anthony. I have just Anthony, not Anthony Tucker, yeah, this is Anthony Tucker. Okay, you all, you got two phones on my friend? So that's unusual, but go right ahead. Yeah, this is related to the agenda items only.
Okay? I just, I want to talk on the on the
citizen participation after work, yep,
if you stay on the line, I'd be happy to accommodate you. Okay, thank you. Get into the meeting. Thank you so much, sir. So ma'am, I'm gonna go ahead. You're up now. Yes, please. Thank you so much for being patient with me.
I fell in love with how I'm fired 50 some years
ago. But hold on, hold on hold on Okay, I got, I got Miss, Miss Martin, I got confused. This is not about the agenda. It is No, her, yours. No, okay. I'm sorry, Miss mark, go right ahead. Ma'am, forgive me. I'm running a digital meeting, and I'm also running a meeting in person. Only
thing I wanted to address was, oh, I wanted to address was, as a citizen, I'm reading about the veto, where it says, number one, the city attorney office was not provided with a written copy of a resolution so they weren't unable to prove it as as it to form. My question is, would that mean that the moratorium that I called in the non rental is because it what. There was no resolution written, so it was it not honored when I call that moratorium. That's just my question. And on that note, I gotta go back. Okay.
Okay, so I
I can't answer her her question at this point, and I don't want to proceed without her. So I'm going to go over some notes here. The next item says we don't have anybody for citizens participation on the agenda, the next item that we're going to move on to is Item four, which is the actual veto. I'm not going to move forward with the veto until Miss Martin returns. You.
Yeah, I'm
Mr. President, yes, let me just call
this a five minute recess,
I move to have a five minute recess or three minute
recess. Chair offers support all those in favor of a brief recess. Aye, aye, that's a quorum. I'm sure Mr. Martin would concur. I
I'm I'm don't go far.
Okay, motion to reconvene, 755,
it's manic.
I moved
to reconvene. Reconvene
is 755 we get a roll call vote all those in favor to reconvene. I, I, I meeting. Reconvene 755, we're moving on to item four. That is a veto of City Council's vote to terminate the building and planning services and McKenna associates City Council. What's your pleasure on item four? Sorry. Item five, you
we taking up this measure or No,
there's nothing to do unless they're trying to.
I got some questions. Cancel out the veto. I'm waiting for a motion to how we want to to proceed on Item five, what's a motion made? No motion was made. I'm
waiting. Okay, well, well, we all know how this is
going to go with regard. Let's just make a motion. Let's just be formal. Make
to you and Miss America, but I'll make a motion to overturn the veto.
Have a motion made by Councilman shoppie to overturn we have support for that. Support. Have support made for Miss Martin. Now this owner, I have questions. This is on the floor. So okay, I'll start with questions. So looking at at the last meeting, when this motion was made at the time, there was some, I believe, a misconception that somehow the McKenna group still sending out their leaflets I own vacant residential property. I received the leaflet for houses that I own, for property that I own, I have not been fine. I have not been ticketed. I own multiple properties in the city, multiple vacant properties. I have not received a fine or a ticket. I still receive mailings from the county if I pay my taxes on time or not. I still receive mailings from the county, but there is no enforcement action that was taken. So during that council affairs, when the statement that was made that somehow the moratorium had been lifted, the moratorium was on enforcement. The moratorium did not include them sending their information out they have to every year. Every year I get a vacant property notice for the property that I own behind my home every year, and I get that form, and I have to go pay my vacant property fee. If I don't, I'll get a ticket. But if the if the planning department doesn't send those out, how are people going to know that they have to renew their form? I have not received, I have personally not received any enforcement on any of the multiple properties that I own. So I didn't understand when people were talking about how the moratorium was affected the actual citizen. I am personally not aware at all that doesn't mean doesn't happen. I am not aware at all of anyone who has had enforcement action taken on them since the moratorium that we ordered back in the spring. And I have a neighbor down the street from me who owns 12 houses in Highland Park. Today, I have a neighbor down the street from me who owns 12 houses in Highland Park. He has not received any tickets or negative action, and the forms accrue, so I don't understand why we were going to fire them saying that they were violating the moratorium when they have not violated any moratorium that I'm aware of. That's just me personally and maybe, maybe my situation is unusual. But I am not aware of anybody on my block. My neighbor next door owns multiple houses in Highland Park that his family lives in. Somebody down the street from me owns at least 12 houses, if they have not told me by any enforcement action. So these are two people that I know very I've known them the whole 25 years I've lived here that they the houses that they own are not on my block. They're in the city that probably accounts for at least 16 so properties. And I don't know anybody who has had enforcement action taken on them since the moratorium. Correct me if I'm wrong.
So I've received calls. So this is not about me personally. No, I it has, it has nothing. It has nothing to be personal. I've received calls that they sent with the extending
after I call. But, but they have to send the notifications. It's a part of their requirement for the state they have to do as as a building department. They are the code enforcement, they are the building department. They are the planning department, and it's part of the building department. And code enforcement, they have to send out those notices. Just like they send out notices to people that have graffiti on their building, they send a notice out the enforcement action, which we deliberated during one of our workshops. The enforcement action is the next step is where you get a ticket, where you have to go to court. They haven't enforced anything since that moratorium at all. And I mean, if mister Clyburn was here, I don't know if he's online, they haven't enforced anything. So people are getting are making phone calls. I think those are individual cases where we really need to drill down and make sure those people, if they actually had this happen to them, get it, are getting some sort of restitution. Now, if you you go to do a driveway and you don't pull a permit, you're gonna get a fine. You put a fence up, and you don't pull a permit, you're gonna get a fine, of course. So that's if that is still quite that has nothing to do with the moratorium on rental property. The only moratorium that we have in place is on rental property. I see your hand, Mister sharp. Keep it patient.
Go ahead. Okay, so, so real, real, real quickly. Council President, um, just want to touch on a little bit of what you said. Now, it may be a few people that haven't been gotten to yet, but I can assure you, Council President, the reason they haven't gotten to you is because you are a council president.
I doubt it. No, no, no, no, no, hold a sec. I got a ticket as the city council president here. Before last I
have, I have received multiple calls from multiple people in my district. They are threatening him and telling them if they don't get their properties up to Section grade level, to uh, to uh, to Section Eight level, that they're going to be fined and ticketed this much and that much, and these are poor people who don't have this money. On top of that, it wasn't just the fact that the McKenna group continued to do what we asked them kindly three times not to do, but I found out the fact that the matter is, every $100 in which they're bringing into the city, they're keeping 70 and giving us 30. I thought they were supposed to be getting paid from the state. Why are they taking money from us?
So this, this is the part that mister, so just as we're just we're on the subject of the veto. This is the part that miss the commissioner Scott was talking about. What you just said is not
factually. Combative. No, it's not factual. I'm just simply asking no questions, and I'm trying
to answer your question. What you just stated is not factual, if you go back to the original contract, okay,
so what are they taking, then, from the money? So hold on a second. So
hold on a second. Well, we had safe bill. Safe Bill was a contracted building department, right? Okay, so safe built collected fees, but that was Hold on a second. Hold on a second. You not allowing it. Safe belt was paid for that service. That's not the permit you and Mister shopping you're talking over me, is not allowing the question to be answered. So the fees that are collected. You want to get a garage, it cost you $250 for a permit to execute the permit, they charge a portion of the fee, and a portion of the fee went to the city. That's how it that's how that's what McKenna is doing. It's a 7030, split. They go and do all the work. I just and they give us 30. But that is, that is for the collection of the fee. That is only for the collection of the fee. They're planning services, they're building department services, code enforcement services are contracted. It's their salary. People.
All I'm simply saying is Hold a second if they're being paid. If the agreement, if the MOU between us was that the state and the county would pay for them, why are they taking money from our shopping the fee we should be keep all of that
money is the fee for itself in order to get a garage. No, sir, the fee is $100 under, however you want to interpret it, sir, however you want to
interpret it. Under the McKenna group, they won't get money. I mean, under, under state built, they were in their contract, and they were being paid by us. They weren't being paid by the state and the county. Okay, so that comparison doesn't work here. Okay,
that's your issue, because that's what the documents say.
Irregardless of that, sir, irregardless, regardless. Okay, regardless of all of that. Thank you. The bottom line is, the mayor does not have the authority to veto a motion. The charter clearly states in the section in which she quoted, the charter, clearly states she only has the authority to veto a resolution or an audit. She does not have the authority to veto a motion. If that's the case, Miss Martin brought up a prime example, if she has the authority to veto anything that we says, then what's the purpose of this council? Why are we here? She could just run the city. How she they will see fit. Miss Hart pointed out clearly that we made a motion, verbal motion, to put a moratorium on the rental ordinance. Okay, but that wasn't veto, okay? We make all no shirt. Please don't interrupt. Go ahead, right? We make motions here all the time. Council speaks through his motions, his resolutions and his ordinances, and you can push that however, the hell you and Mister boss. Okay, well, we speak to our emotions, our resolutions and our ordinances. That's the only way this council speaks. Okay, we've made numerous motions numerous times at this council. If we give her that authority, if any council member gives her the authority to be of anything that this council says you are, part of my language of fool.
Okay, thank you. I'm stop you right there, because you're you're going to call for the vote, you are misconstruing the facts. You're misconstruing the facts. Can we go ahead and call for the vote? Madam Deputy Chief, please go right ahead.
What she quoted. We have emotional she does not have overturned
a veto made by Councilman al sharply supported by Councilwoman Martin. Would you go ahead and call the roll on that please.
The motion was made to overturn the veto made by Councilman asafi, supported by Councilman Martin. We already have two nos to overturn. Go right ahead. Please
no to overturn. Yep,
council president Robinson, so the motion was to
overturn, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. My vote was to overturn. You said no, no. I said no to what he was talking about. My vote is a yes to overturn, okay,
my my vote say yes to overturn. Yes to overturn.
Yes to overturn. Some clarification from the clerk on what
the actual motion is, yes.
The motion was to overturn the veto.
Yes to overturn
Yes. Okay, no.
And why am I not surprised?
Not surprised at that.
I'm not surprised at that at
all. Council president Robinson,
the mayor, does not
have the authority. I They know she don't have this authority, but they're going to
get it. Robinson have the
authority. Okay?
Records, so is it Yes?
Okay, uh, no. To overturn motion does not care. You need a super majority. Moving on to item six under recreation, that's a resolution to issue an RFP to Wayne County government. So for a city council, what's your pleasure
making a motion to remove?
So no, ma'am, ma'am. We approve the agenda. So right now we have the resolution six, a resolution to issue our people to Wayne County, intergovernmental agency. We can't just go willy nilly like that. It's Item six A, this is what Commissioner Scott was referring to. So for Item six a city council, what's your pleasure? It's a resolution too, issue, RFP for the Wayne County intergovernmental agency grant project. So moved, we have a motion on the floor by Councilwoman Manica chair will offer support,
questions, concerns
this council is irrelevant. You just gave the authority to the mayor.
Have a good day. Alright? So for we have a motion on the floor made by Councilwoman Manica, supported by the chair, to approve the resolution to issue an RFP for Wayne County intergovernmental agency, IGA grant project, questions, concerns, dissent. Would you please call the roll on item six, a Madam Deputy Clerk?
Councilwoman Martin Yes. Councilwoman Manica, yes. Council proton Robinson, yes. Council President Yes.
Motion carries, moving on to item 6b resolution to issue two, RFPs for the Council of Michigan, foundation, CMF, Department of Natural Resources, Spark grant, city council, what's your pleasure on item 6b this is the continuation. Miss, no render. Here is for us to get this, to get this approved. This is a resolution to issue the two RFPs. She came back to us for, I'm not just saying this is she she was here. She did the workshop. Now all she needs us to do is approve this resolution so she can issue these RFPs City Council. What's your pleasure on item 6b I mean, I'm ready to entertain a motion on 6b August the 19th. I'm ready to to entertain a resolution for, I mean, a motion for item 6b
it didn't
approve. Thank you. The resolution to issue two RFPs for the CMF, DNR, Spark grant chair offers support.
Do we have questions concerning the same amount? Approach? If you said you had something that you wanted to refer that
you wanted to miss, is here any questions?
It's not the same resolution. She's issuing two RFPs. She's asking for RFP. Okay. No, I didn't put anything. There's Miss Miranda there. Okay, go ahead. Let's call for the vote on item 6b Would you please,
madam, Deputy
Clerk, Councilwoman Martin, yes. Councilwoman Manica, yes. Council approaching Robinson.
Council President time Yes.
Motion carries moving on to item seven under the senior Department. This is a resolution to authorize the Highland Park Senior department to request and accept training funds from the south east Michigan senior regional collaborative to strengthen capacity, uh, Powerful Tools for Caregivers. Is that this last one that you provided us here. Okay, okay, city council, what's your pleasure on item seven or under senior citizens? We have a motion. We have a motion to approve from Council Pro Tem second by Councilwoman Manica, questions, concerns, descent, we can go ahead and call the roll Council madam, Deputy Clerk, please.
Councilwoman Martin Yes. Councilwoman Manica, yes. Council Pro Tem Robinson, yes. Council President
Thomas, yes. Thank you. Motion carries so now this is the portion of citizens participation. Let me get to the people online first. Our attendees, we have Carla o as the first person I'm going to ask you to unmute. Give me a second to get my timer together.
Okay, Carl, I'm gonna give you two minutes and 30 seconds. Can you hear me? Hello. Go ahead and speak up. I want to make sure we can hear you. Okay. Can you hear me? Anybody had a remote control? Can we turn this up so Miss Oliver, can be heard? What's the remote there? Can
you hear me? Now? Hold on
just second, Miss Oliver, let me make sure I get the volume up
I can hear you fine. I want to make sure that the gallery carries go right ahead.
Okay. Um, so this I wanted to listen to to the meeting in regard to the Lyco and the in the approval or disapproval of that. This is where I was confused. As far as the legal representation, because technically, her
doesn't have the authority to repel emotions,
where I think Martha Commissioner,
as far as everything that she was talking about, I think everybody needs some understanding of what the documentation actually said. Now, whether or not there could be legal ramifications for having a verbal one thing, but the fact that we just got two um, disapproval to overturn the retail does not align with what so like I said again, we continue to, as a city, continue to do things that are Not in order and also in the best interest
of what is already stated within the target.
And just, you know, these meetings are recorded and they're meeting so, you know, it's something to really think about. Like I said, a verbal motion that is a beef within itself,
but also things that the land doesn't actually have, is a whole nother difference. And again, it seems like no one will be listening what to what the commissioner just stood up and basically just said about training and understanding and giving each other the respect, and I agree nobody can be forming out of
but that's just
my point of view, my point of view at home,
until I saw the voting.
But that's all,
Alright, ma'am, that's your time. Thank you so much.
All right, we have people in the audience.
Come right up. Ma'am, go right ahead. State your name for the record, please. Thank you so much.
Good afternoon, city council. My name is Shamika Nichols. I am the Executive Director of solidarity, as well as a resident of Highland Park. With the removal of the firm, what does that mean for programs like our whole homes whole communities program, where we're using $8 million to do home repairs for free for residents, our program hasn't rolled out officially yet, but we have an inquiry list that we've been building, so Just wondering how that will impact that program. Yes, what would the firm that was just fired? How would that impact
negatively? It was very negatively. Yes, okay, go ahead.
So what I guess, what I'm saying is, without that during Council, yeah, okay. And then I also want to make mention of the ordinance that was for the sustainability task force that has still not been addressed by Council. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much, ma'am.
Good evening. Please state your name for
the record. Hi, good evening. My name is Melinda Jones, Highland Park resident. Of course, I would just like to say my daughter is nine years old, and she's very interested in the politics of the city. I explained to her every meeting after the meeting, what has occurred, what you all voted on, what that means for our city. For example, a few weeks ago, the zoning thing that that was voted on, she didn't understand what was happening, and I explained to her that now that property doesn't have his own and now she gets what that means. So for any city council member to sit in this meeting and curse the way that he did is disrespectful to every citizen in this community, especially the children. Because what example are we setting for them for the future? What example are we setting for them for the upcoming leadership? Because we all are going to have to leave at some point, every one of you are not going to be in a seat for the rest of your lives. At some point, this nine year old is going to be a 30 year old who might be on the city sitting on the city council, and what example that she has to follow. We watch these videos, she will look back at these meetings, these webinars, and realize how ridiculous this city looks because of its leadership.
Thank you. Thank
you, ma'am. You've been so patient. I'm almost ready not to eat the time at all for you, I just want to let you go. But if you would please state your name for the record. My name is Amanda Oliver.
I've been in Highland Park for 50 some years. My first child was born in Highland Park. I love Highland Park. Well, I don't have 14 properties and don't have five, but you know what? I love my neighbors, but I don't think my neighbors love me. They talk about everything that they have in Highland Park. But do you be concerned about the people that don't have nothing, or are you just throwing your trash and your person yard? They can't do it? I have cut grass in Highland Park. I have went around and tried to keep the sidewalks clean. I'm 71 years old, and I can still keep it moving. Well, you know what? I'm tired of us sitting around talking about what we have, but you throw your dirt in somebody else yard, yeah, but that's alright, because you know what? I know it's a stronger power. So whatever you do, the Lord sees what you do. Okay. Now here it is. I have pleaded from the the mayor all the way down, I was cheated our property because they gave the property for $1 to somebody else. Well, that same property stands empty. I had to go around and take grass rats running around my property. I can't I asked somebody about the sidewalk, and they told me it was a county problem? To keep the sidewalk clean? I wonder, how do you feel if you're walking down the sidewalk and you gotta cross over or maybe just go ahead and let them fleas get on you. I wonder how do you feel? But it's alright. It's alright. Because you know what? I pray, 567, times a day, then let Highland Park come back the way I remember it. And you know what they own 20 I know Jews that had owned 20 lots in Highland Park, but you know it didn't look like a dump the way it looked now. But that's alright. God will forgive. Thank you, amen. Thank you. You.
Good evening. City Council, citizens of Highland Park. I am Robert Lodge. I want to talk about the item that was taken off the agenda, Item number six, community development. This is one of the two establishments that I informed council about several weeks ago. The majority of citizens in Highland Park have made it clear we do not want this type of business in our city. The Planning Commission has voted and recommended not to have this establishment. And I'm in our city and I'm asking the elected council members to stand with the citizens. Therefore, we are expecting this esteemed Council, when it comes back on the table, to vote no, and I thank you for your time. Make sure. Thank you. Okay, I
don't see anybody else coming, so we're going to move right into Council affairs with you. Miss Martin, anybody online? Uh, no more.
Nobody's online,
nope, let's roll. Alright, looks
like we're going to get out of here before nine. That is nice. All right, so I wanted to sit there and say thank you for everybody coming out, being here. That was awesome to share. I'm sorry I didn't catch her name, the young lady with the nine year old that is, say it again, Linda, Melinda, that was awesome about your daughter, that she's interested in politics and interested at such a young age, that's our future. I am so happy to hear about that, my apologies. I know I'm not the one that said it, but I can give a humble apology about what she heard. Unfortunately, I'm only 1/5 of this body, so let me go ahead and say that also the sustainability. We do have a meeting, and I got some questions to ask to find out what's going on, so we can dive and sink some teeth into that. I also wanted to address I thought that we had, I guess, motions. I don't know if we say motions matter. They don't. I'm kind of little confused. It's a little shaky on that. But I thought we made a motion about communication and transparency of having our agendas and what's in our packet to be before the citizens. I'm still wondering where, where do we stand on that? I also want to address Miss Holmes. I did see that 252, Taylor on the demolition sheet. I just want to go ahead and put that on the record. Also, I was received an email about 138 Brighton. I am going to she's not here. I'm gonna have to talk to the mayor to find out what is going on with that particular property. On that note, I'm gonna go ahead and dial back and say thank you for being out here tonight, you guys. I'm I appreciate when you guys show up, considering how our city council goes, I appreciate that so much, and I'm gonna go ahead and turn this over to America.
Hi, good evening, everyone. I just have some reminders the mayor mentioned one, and that is the night out, officers, night out that is tomorrow, five to eight, right next door. Coco is our host. We'll have DJs, music giveaways also. There will be, I will say it's a band called we done. We'll also be there as well. I also want to say thank you to the police department and Saint Luke African, Methodist United I'm sorry. Methodist Episcopal Church, congratulations on your clothing drive. I went by. It was really successful. They had a lot of clothes and things donated. So congratulations to the unity between the police department and one of the churches here in Highland Park. Also, please look on the Highland Park website. There are some dates from August 4 to August 8 for The Gleaners Community Food Bank, August 4 to August 8 for The Gleaners, Community Food Bank. Also, Wayne Metro is offering the faucet and water safety program that's replacing faucets. They also will help you fill out a lead service application, and that does require a home visit appointment from their auditing team. Also the school district of Highland Park Barber is scheduled to have their open house. Oh, I guess it's called the centennial celebration. And jazzy jazz that's coming up from two to six. And I don't know why. I don't Can you give me the date for that, August 22 back to school. August 22 Thank you. August 22 right? So again, it's two to six also. I look forward to anyone seeing you tomorrow at cakes and shakes on Woodward for mix it up with Manica, from five to six, from 530 to 630 that's that's all for me this evening. Thank you,
madam. Pro Tem,
good evening, everybody. Thanks for coming out.
I wanted to apologize
also and
our pastor is here, and thank him for being here.
And my sister, Joyce,
Attorney bosnick, I
know you got a lot of
stuff,
but I mean right where and who and what law gave the mayor the authority, you know, emotionally,
and we said it's an
action or action or and we told
about it because it should have been at the same been a
discussion action for you to sit upon yourself, to call it an action where it clearly states action
or discussion,
with that, I'm done.
Okay. Thank you so much. So to veto or not to veto, this is kind of a silly question, and I'm going to share my screen. I want to make it clear, especially after having a conversation with Commissioner Scott prior to the meeting, there is a disconnect between what is actual and what people make assumptions in their mind is actually going on. So I want to make sure that you see, at home on the screen the type of communications that I get from members of city council. This is I'm worried about, y'all, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about people on city council. Okay, on the screen you see an email. This is the email that I received from Councilman Shafi related to firing of the McKenna group. It says, First, allow me to say, for the record, you published a veto of our Ara firing of the McKenna group, which happened on July 21 at our regular, scheduled meeting for the Highland Park. For the record, excuse me, I did not interrupt you. The citizens do not have a chance to see our email. This is public record. This email goes on to explain. Excuse me, ma'am, for the record, you only sent this to council president into the attorneys. You did not send it to the rest of council members, therefore making it invalid. You do not reserve the right to veto motions that Council makes you only reserve, Excuse me, ma'am, you only reserve the right the chart of the city of Highland Park. Two veto resolutions the Council makes, not their emotions. Therefore the firing of the mechanical group stands whether you like it or not. Three, the mechanical group is supposed to be paid from the state and the county. Yet I come to find out that, therefore, every 100 that they are bringing into the city. They take 70 and they give us 70, which they are not supposed to do, was one of the reasons for their termination. They are stealing from the city of Highland Park. Man, would you be so kind? My point is that this is the type of communication that we receive. So if you're wondering why there is such a disconnect, it's because there are documents that are provided to us by the city, by the various department heads, and these are the responses that we get. How is it a good idea? Because of someone's emotional response to getting a ticket for operating without a permit to fire, the planning service for the city that it took us two and a half years to secure, we had to go up to Lansing and ask the Governor to pay for this service, they provide three things in one and the permits that they draw to execute the permit and to get it issued, they take a portion of the fee. The remainder of the fee, which was not coming to the city now, goes into the city's coffers. This whole idea of making this motion was asinine. It made absolutely no sense. How does it make sense for a city that just received through by your leads, the largest of the state, they provided us with planning, building, with code enforcement through a grant, which we don't have to pay any money for, and we didn't have any of these services. And now we spent a workshop. We spent over an hour planning to work on ordinances where we're going to require their help, and at the end of that meeting, somebody makes a motion to fire the people that we just said we were going to use for the next three months. That was ridiculous. That was absolutely insane. That is what we deal with you on a regular basis. There are things that are written that the law that Commissioner Scott says we need more training. Mr. Sharpie said I I can't speak for anybody. Don't speak for him. I'm telling you, as somebody who's been using Robert's Rules since I was in college, we needed parliamentary support. They voted no. So we're in a situation of chaos. I'm telling you, based on my day job, that the things that happen here will get, get will get half the city council fired. It doesn't make any sense. It's what's written on the page. This is like a circus. There is no disconnect. In the last month, I've been in department level meetings with executives for the county, for educational institutions, for professionals in business, and they say to me, don't bring your council members. We're not wanted. We're not welcome. It ain't all of us. It's some of us. Every newscaster in the state of southeastern Michigan has called me about the fiascos of our meetings. So it's not people not working together, it's people not reading and writing and understanding? It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I digress. Let me go to people have been asking about, people have been asking about sharing the meetings, and we have been telling you it is not an easy process. This is for the city of Ann Arbor, agenda packets and minutes. If you go to the city, they'll show you. This is their website. Their media income is twice ours. This is their website. These meetings go back to the first of the year. If you click on any of these meetings, all of these things are supported. Somebody's day job is to upload this information. This is 20 to 35 hours a week, the details of the packet, the video, the agenda, the media, the minutes, the private information that has to be redacted. They don't. We don't have the staff and or the people, and there are people that are screaming at us as if we're not providing it. I'm showing you online meeting details. I'm just going to click on something random from Jan from January. All of these items are supported. Every line item you see is supported by data. The website has to maintain this forever. This is somebody's day job, a full time. FTE does this. We got 20 people in this building. So when people talk about how we're deficient, we don't have the staff, we don't have the money. The median income in Ann Arbor is $80,000 the median income here is about 24 $25,000 twice the twice the income, okay, 40 times the people. And they have to have a full time FTE to do this. So please stop coming here saying that we're doing something deficient. Stop sending those emails. Mr. Black, whatever this guy's name is telling us what we should be able to do. All of these people talking, and no one is doing anything. All of the critics aren't doing any of the work. I cut the grass in front of my house. It's city property. I cut the grass. I cut 50 parcels of land every month in this city, and all of it ain't mine. Okay? I cut mine. Everybody else cutting theirs. Where is the resources? We couldn't even get a a turning place lawnmower. So the people who are saying they're tired of our city council, be specific. Be specific. Because all of us are not your headache. All of us are not embarrassing. You. I'm in a room
with a president of an organization, and they say to me, the
only reason you're here is because you're not them,
and because they want to do something for Highland Park, but they refuse to come anywhere near this city council. I gotta lead this place to go meet on behalf of the city. And I do it every month, and we don't get paid to do it. I'm at meetings to do something to benefit this community every week, and we don't get paid to do it. They make more money than me at Popeyes to do the job. So that's that. So there's your online package. If you got like Mr. Lackey said, a full time employee 45 $50,000 for another admin whose only job is to support our package. Sounds like a good plan to me. I only have 16 months remaining. So the question is, come together to do what I'm together when I get here, I'm together when I get here. I've been told that myself, Ken cockle Jr, Dennis Archer and John Conyers got our degrees out of a church basement. I graduated from Wayne State University, but I was told I got my degree out of a church basement. Okay, by a member of the city council. So, honey, I'm gonna keep showing up, doing what I'm asked to do, the veto. The actual motion was asinine. Not having a written resolution was stupid, and making that motion was irresponsible. Again, you're sawing the branch that you're standing on because you're mad at the tree. I'm just saying. You can't make this up. You can't make this up, having concluded all business related to the city of Highland Park, chair will entertain a motion all those in favor. Hi. Meeting adjourned. 834. Thank you. You.
