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Highland Park City Council
Unknown Speaker
00:00Robinson, here. Woman Monica
Unknown Speaker
00:03here. Councilwoman Martin.
Unknown Speaker
00:09Councilmember eshakti.
Unknown Speaker
00:12Thank you very much. We can move to the next item Madam Clerk.
Unknown Speaker
00:19Love agenda.
Speaker 1
00:22Council members. This is the point where we approved the agenda Do we have any walk ons?
Unknown Speaker
00:30Yeah. I want to
Speaker 2
00:39under under outside communications, I want to have it removed or conflict of interest.
Speaker 1
00:49We have a motion on the floor from Councilman Shafi as it relates to the agenda for item eight outside communication. He has an emotion to have it removed. Do we have a second? Second, we have a second from counselor proton in a discussion at all on that.
Speaker 3
01:19Setting the term the year representing these what kind of quick niches
Unknown Speaker
01:28we have any other walk ons with the agenda
Speaker 1
01:45Yes. Yes, we do. Let's take a vote on the change the agenda. Madam Clerk, would you call it a row? The the item on the floor is the removal of item seven lb outside communication. This motion was made by Councilman shopee was seconded by Councillor Protune Robinson if you would be so kind as to take the vote.
Unknown Speaker
02:06That was the president Congress.
Unknown Speaker
02:08Yes to have it removed.
Speaker 4
02:10Sam Roberts. Yes. Councilwoman Monica? Yes, Councilman Sharpie.
Speaker 1
02:17Yes, item has been removed from the agenda. Do we have any additional walkins at this time? Yes. Ma'am, if you would.
Speaker 5
02:25I'm allowed to walk on the resolution to retain tax levy workout and restructuring lawyers.
Unknown Speaker
02:33Do we have a second?
Unknown Speaker
02:38Second with question.
Speaker 1
02:40motion on the floor. From Councilman malecha. Second to Councilman a Sharpie with question, sir, if you would.
Unknown Speaker
02:45Can I get a little bit more detail on today? Please.
Speaker 1
02:58This is the resolution that was passed out to all of us it's on your desk right in front of you.
Unknown Speaker
03:10It was also email earlier
Speaker 1
03:15attorney burden said this was also emailed to us. I take a moment for you to gather your questions. Did you need to address them directly to our council? Yes, Mr. Clark, if you would,
Speaker 6
03:31yes sir. So actually the presentation in the item is on the agenda. I think it's the very first item the law firm of Trotman and pepper. Their two representatives are here today. Councilman, they are prepared to make a presentation and answer any questions you have in advance of any vote on that. Proposed resolution. So as part of that, resolution, I thought my apologies I was out of the state. I got back late last night. So my apologies. I wanted to have that to you earlier. There was a lot of eyes and ears reviewing those documents before they were submitted to council. So I do apologize. I was hoping to have that to you sooner. I did email today mid day and I broke down cat. But John copies for review, but we have two very capable lawyers here who are going to be making a PowerPoint presentation to you and we'll answer any questions you have in the PowerPoint presentation was handed out to you as well. Both in my packet in and independently.
Speaker 1
04:41We're just we're just adding it to the agenda right now. That specific no voting is taking place right now until it gets on the agenda after the President does
Speaker 6
04:47you know vote on the proposed resolution until they make their full presentation and counsel has full opportunity to ask every question that they want to ask before there would be any requests for her vote.
Unknown Speaker
05:02Any other questions? No, thanks, John.
Speaker 1
05:10So the matter on the floor currently is the motion from Councilwoman Monica to walk on the resolution to retain tax levy workout and restructuring lawyers. That motion was made by Miss Monica he was seconded by Mr. Shafi with questions. Two questions persist sir.
Unknown Speaker
05:26At the moment now,
Unknown Speaker
05:28okay. Any further questions?
Unknown Speaker
05:33I would like to acknowledge the Miss Martin's here.
Speaker 1
05:38Thank you, Madam Deputy Clerk. Could you include Ms. Martin to the row Thank you very much. So at this point, we're voting on amending the agenda, adding this resolution and that is a resolution to retain tax levy workout and restructuring lawyers to be added to the agenda. Madam Deputy Clerk if you are concerned, Madam Clerk, would you be kind enough to take the roll on amending the agenda?
Unknown Speaker
05:59President Thomas Yes. Robinson, no. Council member Yes,
Unknown Speaker
06:08Martin
Unknown Speaker
06:10council member Asha?
Unknown Speaker
07:18We no one I have more time to read.
Unknown Speaker
07:21So, let me get this straight we're going into bankruptcy potentially and we have a law firm here with the presentation ready to discuss
Unknown Speaker
07:36in the set the necessary tools that we need to go into this discussion with the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Speaker 1
07:45And walking this on the agenda was voted down and a vote of three to two. Just want to make sure I got this clear. City of Highland Park is going into bankruptcy discussions and members of council have voted not to retain an attorney to represent us during those proceedings. Mr. Clark? Yes. Something you wanted to add?
Speaker 6
08:04Yes, sir. So I have a friendly suggestion. The presentation is still on the agenda. The lawyers are here. It would be my suggestion, humble suggestion to counsel to Let's proceed with the agenda as proposed. Let's have the presentation. answer your questions and maybe at that point, there could be an amendment at that point. To add the resolution to the agenda for review and approval.
Unknown Speaker
08:47Mr Clark, that's going to have to go at Council affairs.
Unknown Speaker
08:51That'll be at the end.
Speaker 1
08:53No, no. So this is part of the updates here. You can you're going to add it as part of the full legal updates. Because I know we're getting updates on two of the resolutions that previously passed.
Speaker 6
09:04Yes. So I believe it's number one on the agenda or the part of the discussion of the two prior resolutions. Okay, we can so the presentation today would dovetail into those two prior resolutions, following the presentations and that point Council could amend the agenda at that point to add this resolution on.
Unknown Speaker
09:24Absolutely. Okay. So right now we're at the point that we're approving
Speaker 1
09:31the amended agenda, we remove the outside communication. We did not add information for bankruptcy protection. Madam Clerk, would you mind taking the role in the approved agenda?
Unknown Speaker
09:45Because the President Congress
Unknown Speaker
09:46Yes. No.
Unknown Speaker
09:51Council, woman Nanika
Unknown Speaker
09:54Yes,
Unknown Speaker
09:55I'm so Martin.
Unknown Speaker
09:58No
Unknown Speaker
10:00Councilman Asha?
Unknown Speaker
10:38Know,
Speaker 1
10:39okay, what that means is that the item for outside communication will remain item seven
Speaker 1
10:53Well, I'm going to public works will remain Item six vetoes will remain item five. And now we're moving on to the approval of the minutes Madam Clerk.
Speaker 4
11:05minutes in person and virtual special meeting April 10.
Unknown Speaker
11:11Council How would you like to proceed on this
Speaker 5
11:19phone or in person and virtual special meeting. April 2023.
Speaker 1
11:27Have a motion on the floor to approve the minutes from the April 10 meeting. Do we have a second? Chair offers a second you have any questions? Madam Clerk if you would. Now so President Thomas yes to approve the minutes. Pro Tem
Unknown Speaker
11:47Robinson No. Nanika Yes. Councilwoman Martin.
Unknown Speaker
11:53No.
Unknown Speaker
11:56Councilman Ed Shafi
Speaker 1
11:57no minutes for April 10 are not approved. Next item please. First is
Unknown Speaker
12:03virtual regular meeting in service.
Unknown Speaker
12:07Council How would you like to proceed?
Speaker 1
12:15Item on the floor is the approval of the virtual regular meeting for April 17 2023.
Speaker 5
12:23I'll make a motion to approve the minutes in person and regular special meeting. I'm sorry, regular meeting April 17 2020.
Unknown Speaker
12:34Do we have a second?
Unknown Speaker
12:37Chair will off for a second. Madam Clerk. Would you take the row?
Speaker 4
12:41That was Thomas? Yes. Tim Robinson. No. That's a woman Monica.
Unknown Speaker
12:48Yes.
Unknown Speaker
12:49That's a woman Martin. I'm sorry. I mean,
Unknown Speaker
12:56you're no.
Unknown Speaker
12:59Councilman that Sharpie
Speaker 1
13:00No. Okay, we're not approving the minutes for April 17 as well. Next item, please.
Speaker 4
13:08Person virtual special meeting April. 20th.
Speaker 1
13:12We have a motion on the floor for those people who were present to accept the minutes for the virtual special meeting on April 2023. I'm sorry, April 20 2023. We have an action on the floor by city council.
Speaker 7
13:29I want to make a motion to propose minutes and the in person virtual meeting on April 20 2023.
Speaker 1
13:35What does that motion man approve the minutes. So we have a motion to approve the minutes of the virtual and special meeting on April 20 2023. Made by Councilman Martin Do we have a second? Second? We have a second by council Pro Tem Robinson. Madam Clerk, would you take the row?
Unknown Speaker
13:56President Thomas yes.
Unknown Speaker
13:59So Pro Tem Robinson Yes. Monica? Yes. Councilwoman Martin? Councilman eshakti. Yes.
Speaker 1
14:13Those minutes are in the permanent record of the city of Highland Park and perpetuity Thank you very much. Next item
Unknown Speaker
14:18being made Donnell we speak to council
Speaker 8
14:34everybody, everybody stuff. Okay. That's I'm sure I'm not gonna stand up here. I want everybody to see me and to hear me. Can you hear me? Good evening. Good evening to the animal body. I just want to be brief quick. I am here to talk about all of the events that's going on this week. First, sec first. We're gonna have a walk with the mayor Sapir. Also we have a fire. Our fire department is having an open house this Saturday. 6pm I'm sorry. 12 noon, come out. They have some giveaways. Things that for kids, things for your household. So come on up. Now to address our issues. We are in a state of emergency. Okay. We are in a state of emergency. And our if I water is not a priority, then I don't know what it is. I don't know what it is. We have to go into mediation. This next Monday the eighth and negotiate. Making sure this levy does not hit or making sure that it's possible if it happens, that the citizens will not bear the brunt and cannot afford it. So when people refuse to vote to hear about what they're gonna do and mediation that's yeah, it is. So I have no choice but to declare a state of emergency and in the state of emergency. We will move forward with what we have to do to make sure that our water levy is not put on your taxes. And if it happens to go into court doesn't go away that you will not be paying 8000 or whatever it is they're trying to pay. I'm gonna turn this back over. That's all I have to say. And I hope that in the in the city council affairs that you reconsider this motion, and if not, I will declare a state of emergency.
Unknown Speaker
17:06Thank you, Michelle.
Unknown Speaker
17:09Next item please.
Speaker 4
17:10We will update the last discussion regarding two resolutions sent to the treasurer.
Speaker 1
17:18At this point, the legal department will provide us an update on the two resolutions that were passed. We have our city administrator Miss square who's going to address the audience.
Speaker 9
17:30Good evening, everybody. I'm just gonna give a brief introduction. What we have on the agenda tonight. We have the two resolutions that the council passed and sent to the Michigan Department of Treasury to the state treasurer and to the governor. And we have all of the lawyers here tonight. Because of course we had to get lawyers from all over the place because nobody would take this case. And so we have Calvin Griggs be back from California, and we have Troutman pepper here. The they are restructuring and bankruptcy attorneys and when we were here at the previous meeting, there were questions regarding bankruptcy that we couldn't answer because we didn't have a bankruptcy attorney. And so we are in pre bankruptcy now. And the reason why this is important at this stage is because you have to go into mediation, and you have to bargain in good faith in mediation, because if you don't, the other side will get you in court and deem you ineligible for restructuring and bankruptcy. And so we this has been a long fight longer than most of the people in this room. Have you even been involved in it? Those of you who no no, it goes back to the year 2000 Maybe the year 1996 When Chrysler left. And so the bottom line is we couldn't afford the sewer bill in 1996. We got a fixed rate from the federal court. What we have fought for is we have contracts that they are not honoring. They are dishonouring Highland Park's contracts, we have contracts. They are changing the story every time they appear. We went from not paying anything. They have billed us $100 million. We've paid 40 million. They've act like we've paid nothing. They say we owe 60 million. How can we owe $100 million for water and sewer bottom line? We have fought to this point and we are not going to give up until the very bitter end. And so here we are tonight. The lawyers are here. We're going to explain chapter nine bankruptcy now we know that we probably will not be allowed to file for it. But the fact is, we're in pre bankruptcy now. We were in pre bankruptcy back in 2014. When we went to Neutral Evaluation, Neutral Evaluation is pre bankruptcy. We didn't settle then because there was no reason for Detroit water to settle with us because it's a hostage situation, basically. And so we are here tonight to make this presentation and to proceed to go forward. We have tentatively to date schedule, because there is no way in the world that we can allow that levee to take your house.
Unknown Speaker
20:52You have houses
Speaker 9
20:54if you don't have a house, maybe you don't care. But the fact is we have all these businesses in town that are paying these taxes, the the marijuana folks, those are businesses that they will levy and take. So we have got to fight this we've got to fight it so that you can hold on to what's left of the city. So with that without the I've said what I had to say, you know I'm passionate about this because I've been here for all this time. I walked in here to a loss and for 10 years, we have tried to overturn it. We have tried to be heard, we have tried to have our contracts honored and we have been dishonored and disrespected. And everybody's got a lot of opinions about Highland Park but nobody has a solution. And so we have been left to fend for ourselves and to figure it out. And so that's what we're doing here this evening. So with that being said, I'm gonna let Deb come up and Bob
Speaker 10
22:21person who was controlling the slides could put up the first slide please
Speaker 1
22:24to lackey if you could help our guests with their first slide. Thank you all right, he can hear you.
Speaker 10
22:29My 
name is Robert Hertzberg, him with troutman and pepper Troutman pepper law firm. I'd like to thank the Council for giving me the opportunity to appear here today. I appreciate this opportunity. Next slide, please. We're going to provide you with a brief background on the firm. Our experience in the financial restructuring area, our personal experiences, and a background and overview of chapter nine, which is the chapter in bankruptcy that applies to municipalities. The Troutman pepper firm is a national law firm with over 1200 attorneys nationwide and 23 cities. Deb and I work in the Southfield office of trouble and pepper. We're recognized as a tier one restructuring firm nationally and we're recognizing the Best Lawyers in America. Next slide please.
+2
name is Robert Hertzberg, him with troutman and pepper Troutman pepper law firm. I'd like to thank the Council for giving me the opportunity to appear here today. I appreciate this opportunity. Next slide, please. We're going to provide you with a brief background on the firm. Our experience in the financial restructuring area, our personal experiences, and a background and overview of chapter nine, which is the chapter in bankruptcy that applies to municipalities. The Troutman pepper firm is a national law firm with over 1200 attorneys nationwide and 23 cities. Deb and I work in the Southfield office of trouble and pepper. We're recognized as a tier one restructuring firm nationally and we're recognizing the Best Lawyers in America. Next slide please. Speaker 10
23:29In 
our restructuring group, we have over 50 restructuring attorneys providing legal services, feeling in the bankruptcy area and financial transactions. We have extensive experience Deb and I representing a municipality in the bankruptcy. We worked on the city of Detroit case which will give you further information on in a minute. Next slide please. If we are hired Deb kowski and I will be leading the engagement. It will not be other people from traveling pepper. They will work on it but we will be leading the engagement and be the ones responsible for what happens on your behalf. Our resumes are attached in the next two slides that slide and the one after. If you could change the slide to the next one. Next slide sir I've been practicing in the financial restructuring field for now over 4040 years, and Deb has been practicing restructuring and bankruptcy for over 20 years. So between us we have over 60 years of experience in the bankruptcy field. We are both experts in the area. We also have extensive experience litigating in bankruptcy court in the US District Courts dealing with bankruptcy matters. If you could turn to the next slide, please. Most attorneys have no experience representing municipalities. There have been very few that have ever been filed in the United States. Devin I happen to work on the City of Detroit's bankruptcy which I'll walk you through our experience but we're a small group of attorneys who have ever even dealt with municipal bankruptcies.
+1
our restructuring group, we have over 50 restructuring attorneys providing legal services, feeling in the bankruptcy area and financial transactions. We have extensive experience Deb and I representing a municipality in the bankruptcy. We worked on the city of Detroit case which will give you further information on in a minute. Next slide please. If we are hired Deb kowski and I will be leading the engagement. It will not be other people from traveling pepper. They will work on it but we will be leading the engagement and be the ones responsible for what happens on your behalf. Our resumes are attached in the next two slides that slide and the one after. If you could change the slide to the next one. Next slide sir I've been practicing in the financial restructuring field for now over 4040 years, and Deb has been practicing restructuring and bankruptcy for over 20 years. So between us we have over 60 years of experience in the bankruptcy field. We are both experts in the area. We also have extensive experience litigating in bankruptcy court in the US District Courts dealing with bankruptcy matters. If you could turn to the next slide, please. Most attorneys have no experience representing municipalities. There have been very few that have ever been filed in the United States. Devin I happen to work on the City of Detroit's bankruptcy which I'll walk you through our experience but we're a small group of attorneys who have ever even dealt with municipal bankruptcies. Speaker 10
25:14Debbie and I, as I indicated, worked on the city of Detroit chapter nine bankruptcy. We were one of the firms that were brought in by the emergency manager. We acted as conflicts counsel and special litigation bankruptcy counsel for the city. We assisted in all the trial work, mainly related to the eligibility to file Chapter nine and the confirmation of the plan of adjustment of the city of Detroit. We also represented the city and all their financial instruments and the issues that are related to that. Then we'll go over the purpose and benefits of chapter nine and the very basics of what you can expect in a Chapter nine municipality filing. Remember, it's our preference not to end up in a bankruptcy but to negotiate a resolution of this through a mediation process. We cannot settle however, for an amount that burdens the taxpayers in an unknown realistic amount and leaves them in a position of having to go through another restructuring. In the short term. It's very important that whatever we do we get to a final resolution that is financially viable them. Thank you sir.
Speaker 11
26:35Good evening. My name is Deb kowski. I want to thank the council and also thank the community for allowing my partner bother me to address you this evening. You heard it from the mayor. You heard it from this square. This is an emergency situation. This is a completely untenable situation with debt that is not sustainable, that is being threatened to be put on the tax rolls and burdening the residents of this city. So where do we come in as restructuring lawyers? I want to talk to you a little bit about chapter nine. Now most people don't know very much about bankruptcy because you know, why would you? Yeah, it's something it's an opaque it's a very niche area of law and chapter nine is a subset of that. But one of the things that people don't understand they think bankruptcy they think financial disaster. Well, yes, but what they don't hear and what they need to hear is protection. The point of the bankruptcy code is to protect distressed debtors, including distressed municipalities to give them an opportunity, breathing space room from their creditors to be able to figure out a plan to adjust their debts to figure out how to pay for things going forward, how to restructure how to become vibrant again, without the overhang of litigation of debt collection actions hanging over them like a sword of Damocles. That's what chapter nine does. I want to go through a few slides that talk a little bit about an overview of chapter nine. And if Charles could hit slide eight so the purpose of of a chapter nine is to protect a municipality, while it moves towards its goal of trying to confirm a plan that's going to let them adjust their debts in a way that's going to be sustainable moving forward. Because what we're facing right now, doesn't work. Chapter nine really importantly, unlike other chapters of the bankruptcy code, also extends protections to municipalities, officers, and most importantly, its inhabitants. So a creditor can't do an end run and say, Oh, I'm not really trying to collect this debt from the city. I'm just trying to collect it from the residents. I know chapter nine figured that out. There is a stay an automatic stay that goes into place under Section 922 of the bankruptcy code that protects not just the city, but also its inhabitants. This is a tool that the city can use to protect its residence from a tax levy, while the city tries to figure out how it's going to move forward, how it's going to adjust its bets, what kind of reinvestment it might be able to engage in and how it's going to revitalize itself. Chapter nine Automatic Stay can also protect residents from the shut off of potable water, what would be an incredible humanitarian crisis and something that we know from past experience has already been threatened in prior years. The goal of chapter nine. First of all, I want to be really clear, there is no such thing as a liquidation and chapter nine, nobody can come in and force your city to liquidate that doesn't happen. It's not allowed. What chapter nine The goal is to put the municipality on a sound financial footing so that it can do its job to provide for the health and safety and welfare of the public of its residents. Troutman pepper fully understands the devastating impact that this potential tax levy would have on the residents of Highland Park on Highland Park's tax base. It would be absolutely catastrophic for the city, and we are committed to working vigorously and pursuing every legal avenue to try to remedy this situation. And that starts with the mediation that is scheduled for Monday. Because it is impossible to go into a mediation to know what your rights are to what to know what your position is and what it should be. If you don't know what your alternatives are, and that's why you need restructuring counsel, not just with experience in bankruptcy, but with experience in municipal bankruptcy. As Bob said, this is a worst case scenario. Nobody wants to file for bankruptcy. But he also said and I think this is true, a bad deal is worse than no deal. And if you need to, you know you need to know that you have the opportunity at least to pursue a restructuring in your back pocket. Okay, Charles, next slide, please. So let me talk to you a little bit about the nuts and bolts of chapter nine because it sounds really scary from the outside. You don't know what's going to happen. Does it just get filed and then there's this runaway train and the court takes over the city. That's not how it works. Okay, so first in Michigan, well actually, let me go back a step. So you have to have authorization for a municipality to file for Chapter nine. And in Michigan, that means specific authorizations from the governor. Then if the authorization is granted, then this body would need to vote to authorize the filing in accordance with its local charter or law. Then the municipality files a petition that initiates the case, and provides notice to all of the creditors and parties and interest. Now filing is just the first step as the square alluded to. It's important to negotiate with creditors first, because that's one of the steps to proving that you're eligible. In most bankruptcy cases. You just file in and you go you file your petition, you get into court, you're in you're in bankruptcy, you're a debtor, not so easy for a municipality, you have to prove that you're eligible to be a debtor. So there's a few steps to eligibility first, you have to show that you're insolvent. Now that's something that I know this council has been addressing and looking at something that the mayor alluded to. There's definitely some really significant financial distress that would be caused by this potential tax levy. So, insolvency from a municipal perspective means either the city's generally not paying its debts as they become due or it's going to be unable to pay its debts as they come due. And that's what we're kind of facing here. A multimillion dollar huge debt that's about to be stuck onto the tax rolls. One of the other things that courts can look at in determining whether a municipality is insolvent, as its are insolvent is whether it's service, delivery and solvent. This is something that Judge Rhodes looked at in the city of Detroit case and determined that the city was unable to provide the services that are key. And that's one of the things that is very important to think about here. Whether the imposition of this tax levy and the devastation of the tax base would prevent the city from doing what it needs to do for its residents. In addition to proving insolvency, there's a few different boxes that have to be checked and one of them is hey, we tried to negotiate in good faith. It didn't work. We did our best. And now here's where we are. And that's why the mediation is so important. Another question is, and Charles if you could go to the I can't actually see the slide. I'll assume we're on the same page. A question is who gets to oversee the bankruptcy? It's not just given to any random judge. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals the Chief Judge down in Cincinnati, who oversees Ohio and Kentucky and Michigan will actually get to hand pick the judge that they think is going to be best suited to oversee the case because obviously, a municipal bankruptcy is a lot higher stakes than a lot of corporate bankruptcies. So that's an important feature of chapter nine. We already talked about. Next slide whether a municipality can choose or be forced to liquidate and bankruptcy. The city can't decide, hey, we're just going to sell everything give up and go home, and no creditor can force it to do so. The municipality cannot be forced to sell its assets. And it cannot be forced to raise taxes on residents to pay its debts where there were real constraints to doing so as there are in this case. And what's the role of the bankruptcy court in chapter nine is the judge is going to be second guessing and overseeing and nitpicking every decision of the city council? Absolutely not. The role of the bankruptcy court is very limited in the chapter nine case as compared to its role in other cases. Mostly what the court does is determines whether the debtor is eligible to be in bankruptcy, and whether its plan of adjustment can be confirmed. Sometimes there are other motions or things that the court has asked to hear along the way. But the scope of the courts involvement is often driven by what the city itself asks the court to do. Largely the city will continue to be able to operate just as it always does, but with additional protections. So if we get to the slide, I think it's 12 Chapter nine as a restructuring tool. So we've already talked a little bit about how chapter nine can protect a municipality. There's something called an automatic stay, and it comes into effect as soon as the petition is filed even before eligibility is determined. And it stays any actions by creditors pursuing the city or its officers or its inhabitants to collect debts that are owed by the city. Does the municipality have to pay 100% of its debts at the end of the day? No, that's the whole point of a chapter nine. There's a plan of adjustment, where the city figures out what it can actually afford to pay, what's going to be sustainable on a go forward basis. And that's what goes into a plan of adjustment.
Speaker 11
36:18There's also the important feature of chapter nine, like other chapters of the bankruptcy code that the city can choose to assume or rejects executory contracts. So if there's a contract that the city wants to make sure stays in place and gets honored, the city can assume it. If it has a contract that has burdensome terms that you'd rather get out of, but you've been stuck in it. This is your opportunity to reject it. And then finally, the last slide, how does a chapter nine case conclude what's the end game? The end game the goal of a chapter nine is filing a plan of adjustment for the cities that if the plan isn't filed with a petition, and usually it's not it has to be filed by a date that's going to be set by the court. And here's something important only the municipality can ever propose a plan of adjustment in other chapters of the bankruptcy. Code under Chapter 11. For example, if the debtor doesn't propose a plan timely, creditors can jump in and propose their own plan that the debtor may not care for. Not so with respect to a municipality, only the city will ever get to propose its plan. The plan of adjustment gets approved by the court if it meets the requirements of the bankruptcy code, for example, it doesn't discriminate unfairly among creditors doesn't mean that all creditors have to be treated equally or in exactly the same footing as we saw in the city of Detroit case. But discrimination between creditors has to be justified there has to be a reason for it. It can't just be arbitrary. The plan has to be in the best interests of creditors, which usually means better than dismissing the case. And the plan has to be feasible. Bankruptcy is not a panacea for all ills of a city there has to be some kind of a go forward plan to show that the city is going to be viable in the future. And then once the plan gets confirmed, who's bound by it? Pretty much everybody, the debtor and all of its creditors. Even if the creditor objected to the plan, voted to reject it didn't file a proof of claim doesn't matter. The plan can be crammed down and approved and enforce over objecting dissenting creditors. So that's the overview of what chapter nine might look like. And as we said before, this is not the first line of defense or the second line of defense or the 10th line of defense. This is the corner that the city is being pushed into, and the city needs to be prepared. We would hope and we will assist in every way we can if retain to ensure that mediation is successful, but if it's not, we hope for the best we plan for the worst. Thank you very much.
Speaker 10
39:01I'd like to open up to questions if anyone has questions, please. Sure.
Speaker 2
39:10I asked this question at the last Council meeting. Just exactly. From your position. How bad can you possibly get? What is the worst possible outcome for the city of house department?
Speaker 10
39:26Well, the worst possible outcome is the inability to put together a plan of adjustment okay, because we're going to need money from somewhere to deal with the claim of Cleveland.
Speaker 2
39:38Okay, I asked that question. Because you understand, you know, you guys you mentioned Detroit. And I understand that the Detroit had many lawyers but Detroit is not an excellent example. Not making me feel positive about the outcome of a bankruptcy. Well, it had the Detroit was literally, for lack of a better word assaulting. Basically,
Speaker 10
40:06the end result of the city Detroit was a good result. It dealt with his debts and allowed the city to we reorganize its affairs and move forward. That would be the goal for the city of Highland Park is to find a way to deal with the debts that it makes sense and as in the amount that we can actually deal with and be able to pay we can agree to something that we're unable to pay.
Speaker 2
40:32Okay, so you spoke about a restructuring. He spoke about making the city viable in the future to come. If we go down this path, even if we got assistance right now from the governor, who would be a temporary fix,
Unknown Speaker
40:55but that's not going to be a solution.
Speaker 2
40:57I understand that but I'm saying we need to get to a point where we want to be viable.
Speaker 10
41:02agree completely. We can have as a try to articulate and let me stated again, we can't have a temporary solution that gets us nowhere. While we do end up in the same place again, a year or two or three from now. We've got to have a plan that works from now way into the future and makes sense financially for the city.
Unknown Speaker
41:23Okay, and I like to clear up something.
Unknown Speaker
41:25Sure. Very, you know,
Speaker 2
41:28I get your tactics. I'm a homeowner myself. Okay, in fact, I have about four pieces of property in the city. And I'm saying so I know what the tax bill would look like. What I wanted to remind you and the public, the Liwa is unregulated. They are unregulated. The fastest way to regulation for gleeman is to shut off the water in the city Island why? I guarantee you they shut this water off and they're going to have everybody and they mama breathing down their throats about the crisis in which they wanted to create in the city of Highland Park. So I guarantee you believe it is not going to go down that path because they enjoy being a regular. No water will be shut out. And the courts have made it clear from the last court hearing that No way. Are they willing to allow the leeway to spread this debt across 5000 residents in the manner in which they're talking about spreading it which is why we've been pushed back to mediation. The judge made that clear is it's untenable. It's unacceptable. That's why we're back in mediation right now. Okay, no judge is going to do this, especially in an election year. And especially to a predominantly black city.
Speaker 10
42:55I agree with you. I agree with the mediate way it should be going.
Speaker 2
43:01I agree. We do need some qualified attorneys. Okay. But I cannot abide I cannot stomach the fear tactics. Okay, how long is strong? We are fighters. We don't scare easy. I don't know one person is room with fear.
Speaker 2
43:25And I don't care what's going on. We need a permanent solution. We need the governor to eradicate both debts, close to 20 and 35 and then turn around and keep her promise and restore. I want to play like the function and conditions. Because we understand that we don't do this bankruptcy. What comes out of bankruptcy, believe it or not, is emergency manager. No. Yes, it does. It's going to come
Unknown Speaker
43:53with a nod nod.
Speaker 2
43:57If we can, if we can work out a plan that thoroughly ensures that we're going to be able to stand on our own two feet. So if we manage to pay the dead, we still don't have a plan to stand on our own two feet. And one of the plants that we need to be talking about is the reinstitution of our water plan so we can get off the TW what and get this thing back on. Our plants I don't want our pipeline. I don't want our pump house out by St. Clair Shores to be on the auction block for one
Unknown Speaker
44:34it's unacceptable.
Speaker 2
44:38We have a right to life. We have a right to water and we have a right to survive in this city, man and nobody's going to come in here and push us around. And I don't like the fear tactics. And I don't like being lied to. And I don't like this one. Now I do agree we need qualified attorneys. No doubt about
Unknown Speaker
45:00but don't attempt to scare me. I don't shake. I don't be in and I don't fall Tanisha. Thank you.
Speaker 10
45:08Thank you. Any other questions? If not, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to you sir. Thank you
Speaker 12
45:26I live on my street here in Highland Park. And I'm wondering if your law firm has a Civil Rights Act. Section six it says For federally federal front funds to be distributed in a state by the state when African American predominantly African American communities are being skipped over now, this has gone pending has been going on here for 25 years. We have things that we can push back with but it isn't necessarily in the frame of bankruptcy. So I'm wondering if you're a law firm has any attorneys.
Speaker 10
46:12I can't answer you right now. Whether we have someone I'd have chat. We have 1200 attorneys we cover most every specialty there is under the practice of law, but I can't answer you right now whether we have it I'd have to get back to you
Unknown Speaker
46:31Laura is open that
Unknown Speaker
46:32what happened how would they own video How about that?
Speaker 10
46:46No. What happens is know what happens is if you go into chapter nine, you control your own destination. The city is still in place the console still in place. The mayor is still in place and makes the decisions on what we do and what we agreed to as part of the plan.
Speaker 12
47:04I just wanted to clarify wasn't talking about overseer see what I was trying to say is that is a much more limited oversight role for the bankruptcy court. So unlike other chapters where the bankruptcy court, you're almost running a business to the bankruptcy court here because your municipality, the court has much less much less of a role. So the city is much much more independent
Unknown Speaker
47:35Councilwoman Martin, you have a question?
Speaker 10
47:41Well, it's hard to put a put a time limit on it. If we can reach a quick resolution we could hopefully get in and out in six, seven months. It might take longer it could take a year could take two years, but the goal is to go in prepared and try and reach a resolution on a quick basis. And get out of bankruptcy as soon as possible. So right now six. No, no, I don't think you're voting on bankruptcy. Today. You're voting on new hire. Console to put you in the zoo. You want to dress the
Unknown Speaker
48:23governor has not
Unknown Speaker
48:25next weekend to mediation.
Unknown Speaker
48:29Mediation is the mediation
Speaker 13
48:31or the judge did not say that that levy could not be put on jugs, figure out how to spread it out. We're gonna try to do is we're gonna go into mediation, to figure out how not to put it on at all and how to work it out how to work out the whole problem that we have because there is a second lawsuit. You know, they would sue this again for the same thing. And then there's the problem with the contract going for what they want us to pay every year he said that. We can't afford it. Period. We haven't been able to afford we have fixed rate. They didn't honor it. We're right back to where we learned it. So we are not asking. We've already asked to go she hasn't responded. What we're doing now is we are doing our due diligence efforts as a city we are doing our job as a city to make sure that when we go into mediation next week, we have the proper tool. We've been in a mediation with them 10 times they refuse to accept the payment plan for 10 years. Because they wanted a leg now that the levy is here, the judge is looking at that Levy and said this is gonna bankrupt the city. So either we get allowed to file for bankruptcy or that levy gets and we default in the way you're there already. So this was an opportunity to bring some money and talk about it. So understand what it is we're bringing matches up talking about it like we know
Speaker 10
50:19it's just an option to it's an option.
Speaker 13
50:23So you know, the resolution was to retain them on a limited basis to go into mediate into mediation with us. We have a half a day on the eighth day on the 22nd after that maybe we get a settlement. Maybe it's all after that unless the governor declares says that we can do it. This is just giving us tools so that we are walking in there. We walked in there every year. passed to IRS and let them handing us our code and kick them aside and making us continue to fight cost us a million dollars a year to fight this to keep it off. This is this is serious business. You because no one cares. And these negotiators are the same as those shares that when we think they won't get we'll turn off the water so they sent letters we had to get a restraining order and that restraining order expired when the court when Supreme Court didn't take place. So we're not making this up. Why would we? So we're here tonight to bring in the experts to talk to everybody so you know you kill you don't do it. You don't do it. But the mayor has declared state of emergency which means we have to do it. So what we tried to do was come together we talked about all that we're coming together we're gonna fight well this is the fight it's not another fight. We got to keep that levy off. Oh
Unknown Speaker
52:24it seems as if majority guys just found out stage two
Speaker 14
52:40and then the second question that I have. Well, let me
Speaker 10
52:43let me let me respond to that the reason there's been a lot of discussion of bankruptcy as is one of the options that hasn't been previously brought before you in detail for you to understand, as I said at the very beginning of when I made my remarks this bankruptcy is the last option. It's not the first option it's not the second option. It's the very last option if we can't reach a resolution in mediation, but we were asked to come and make a presentation so that everyone could understand what chapter nine is and to be in a position to use this tool in the event that we can reach a resolution.
Speaker 12
53:23It's not the city's not out. Start, there are some boxes you have to check before you get there. The first step is to get authorized. There's a statute and there's our request. And that's the first step. The second step is me showing you negotiate in good faith. That's the mediation. So it's not in the city is not eligible. It's just worrying, I think is a swepson prebaked.
Speaker 14
53:47Really my second question is how long does your association ministration because I'm trying to it seems like you guys have conversations but yet in the steel Council is being brought to council to walk with agenda.
Speaker 1
54:03Excuse me, sir. What street do you live on a Highland Park? Now I'm wondering what street you live on in the city of Highland Park. You say we I am
Unknown Speaker
54:19the city has had three hard
Speaker 13
54:25border back in the night. And again. It was the mutual evaluation and now we're at a point where it's
Unknown Speaker
54:39getting off. Record said that all we're now at the point where we're trying to minimize
Speaker 13
54:55city lost this case 2014 We reversed it. And then the other side we've had it reverse. So let me finish this castle. You're gonna always have three bears, three councils, countless attorneys. So the council at any given time is going to have a complicated issue that they create. That's just the nature of the government. They just happened to be here now. Just starting their fifth month. And the free Court sided to not to take
Unknown Speaker
55:33well, I worked and I was a very integrated part of
Speaker 14
55:44the vegan administration that was a new council administration, but the vegan administration has a conversation with counsel here. Before we got to the point that there was hearing mercy. So they the administration may have been transparent counsel, where we sat down and I was just curious why that same process is not final.
Speaker 13
56:08And it has had because all last year we spent six months with with a new path. We just now have the opportunity because we had the rule right but even before the
Speaker 14
56:22conversation just went why that information wasn't sharing. Why is it only being shared with council? Council?
Speaker 13
56:32Yes, that's where Council meets it doesn't meet with outside of meeting. Council is a council they get a floor and they meet in public.
Unknown Speaker
56:42Usually the mayor will reach out to
Unknown Speaker
56:45visual counsel we're not here for that.
Unknown Speaker
56:48We're gonna move on. We're gonna move on.
Speaker 2
56:52I got a question. Sure. I got a question. So So
Unknown Speaker
56:57say we hire you.
Speaker 2
57:00And you get to work. mediating on our behalf. There is
Unknown Speaker
57:06work with your other attorneys in the mediation.
Speaker 2
57:09Okay. There is understand the residents of Highland Park pay their bills. There is not one resident sitting here that doesn't pay the bills. Every resident has paid their bill. My question is for the businesses in the city of Alibaba, who have not paid their bills for me to answer that is not okay. Okay. I'm okay. Okay. I will I will I will add it on to you then. Can we use that in negotiation? Wiggly what? Because that money must be collected.
Speaker 13
57:47We will have a wholesale build and we have a retail bill. We send the bill out people in the town and I've heard everyone say this they pay their bill and they they think that the city is not sending money. When the fact is if you live in this city know this city you know that happens city is empty and the empty part parcels and properties. If they don't get a water bill, they get a stormwater and so they don't pay those. All right, so those bills are delayed. We also have the land bank, both wayne county in the state land bank, the city, the city. Okay, wait, where are the PTO with Wayne County they all want to pay and we just want state land banks
Unknown Speaker
58:43right
Unknown Speaker
58:48okay, because they see a drawing by the bus. Yeah, we want
Unknown Speaker
58:53Yeah. And that's
Speaker 13
58:55how we got Mayor Morgan Ross. You remember back back in those days so they nothing wayne county roads are paying for the for the dataset service. Truck and the state pays for the days. We have a lot of nonprofits in the city that don't have any money for some reason. They don't pay their stormwater a lot of the delinquent accounts but 10% of the blank what have we got st promised to try the churches. Churches have a hard time collecting up enough money to pay water bills and stormwater. So the 10% of the delinquent accounts are nonprofits speculating landowners. big place like for like yours?
Speaker 9
59:44Yeah. Last name and the price the price of the
Speaker 13
59:50property they ended up settling and they have a lot of tenants so they pay Okay, um, the schools that never pay all the debt okay. And so much like Detroit. You know, it's slow. Fall into bankruptcy is similar city of Detroit because we have a lot of institutions and a lot of nonprofits and loud properties now. And so this is not an issue. This is an issue that we have because what we have to do to collect those 2% are not paying is we have to sue everybody,
Speaker 2
01:00:28okay, or is there like a special assessment we can do for those people?
Speaker 13
01:00:32You can't you can't do a special assessment for the water bill. Water bill is it's a it's a permissively and state law regulates water bills and how they work. So, you know, sign up for a property it's an automatic lien on the property. Highland Park stopped putting those liens on people's properties probably about maybe 1015 years ago because people were losing
Unknown Speaker
01:00:59their house.
Speaker 13
01:01:00And they stopped that which is how a lot of the houses got into banks. So it's it's a problem. It's a problem. The bigger problem is it's one of the things if we were to get to bankruptcy, is that
Unknown Speaker
01:01:17those landowners would have to get come into bankruptcy.
Speaker 13
01:01:21Folks that owe money. So you know, if you own 1000 parcels that would include the government of this right now we can tell them hey without sewing them although we are associated with it's just a problem that we have because the city is striping. legal bills us as if we had 3000 people.
Unknown Speaker
01:01:44Oh, I know.
Unknown Speaker
01:01:46It's like they never adjusted the bail
Speaker 13
01:01:54figure and but these are things that we don't have to talk about tonight. But these are the things that we will talk about as we become more valuable see, as the council has an opportunity to be here longer than four months. All right. So I
Speaker 2
01:02:20I want to say this here. If this council decides not to move forward, and the mayor chooses to do her state of emergency, then that's fine. You know, I'm saying that it's not right. You know, I'm saying I would rather I would rather have my hands free of it. Then to be involved. But to be honest with you, I will say this. No Highland Park I can tell you right now, and I'm pretty sure that everybody has taught me our property, our water plant and our pipe is not up for negotiation. So it's a non starter. It is a non starter weekend not continue as a as a viable city. Without it. It must be restored. We must be restored. I know there's another way that we can work this issue out without sacrificing everything about you in the city of Highland Park, because I know that that's gonna be the first thing that rolls off their tongue. Well, what about that plant and that pipe you got over there? We'll be willing to drop the dead if you give us that hell no. Okay, because it's worth more than what we all understood. And I'm saying so we have to hold on to that.
Unknown Speaker
01:03:39All right, thank you very much. Thank
Unknown Speaker
01:03:40you, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
Unknown Speaker
01:03:45Can I just say one thing?
Unknown Speaker
01:03:47Man, you got the difference here and yes, ma'am. Madam Mayor, if you would.
Speaker 8
01:03:52Only thing I want to say is I agree with Councilman Shafi. I know it's I know it's a shock. But I do and so those were never items that we were considering. Releasing. That's all I gotta say.
Unknown Speaker
01:04:10Amity audience is going to be the last word on this.
Unknown Speaker
01:04:13I just had a question. Young lady square. One of my concerns
Speaker 1
01:04:25is that we can't hear you up here ma'am. I'm sorry. We wouldn't mind projecting a little bit.
Unknown Speaker
01:04:31That was a I don't know what it was. They handed out a fact sheet started the bill the water bill. Ultimate you had a town hall meeting. Okay. The question I have, knowing the information.
Speaker 4
01:04:49Former emergency back to Robert Mason sign some type of agreement.
Speaker 13
01:04:56Yes, literally said according to this, they can charge whatever they want. I would like to know when they're right on what agree agreed to such an agreement. And I'd like to know how can we do this?
Unknown Speaker
01:05:13Well, listen.
Speaker 13
01:05:17What has happened here over the past almost 10 years, of course.
Unknown Speaker
01:05:25We've been informed
Unknown Speaker
01:05:27because our positioning
Speaker 13
01:05:30our positioning for is that they even order the old em law was it was never implemented. Back then. There Yup. came in that was one of his
Unknown Speaker
01:05:47tours of duty.
Speaker 13
01:05:51They never got it approved. It was something that he filled out. Then they just took it and said Here judge five hands, bro, prove that at the least the Detroit water and sewer board. This was some unilateral em order that endeavor even had grandpa they took him to court. And their position is that that trumps our 1996 federal consent board right tell you what's going on. This is this was back.
Unknown Speaker
01:06:28Right. All right. Yeah. Justice. Yeah. It's injustice.
Speaker 13
01:06:36There's no other way to describe it. We have a you have a water plant in the state of Michigan. You are required to have an emergency water. We have that. I sent it down and this stuff that they don't want to look at. I sent a letter down there and told that we had a contract they sent a letter back so we're gonna try to water off. If you do have that we're going to terminate it on May 1. This is not some day at the beach. This isn't some gay friendly Coffee Klatch that's going on. This is 10 years in court with them fighting to get the levy off of your house and your property. This is no gay. Nobody's playing with you. Nobody's trying to keep secrets from the council. None of that. This is serious business. And when they went up the plant, land at the same time. We can't afford this bet we're gonna build our own system. Right. And they talk about me they got leaks and they got us and they're going all around the world at these conferences talking about how wonderful they are but water authority they are you would think they would help their neighboring
Speaker 5
01:08:11communities. But they would they want to help you.
Speaker 13
01:08:16They rather than talking about dissolving the city forget that he is talking about the sound of the city in 2014. Because the legislature can dissolve. So this is what happened here over the last month that the residents in this town and the mayor and the elected officials got off on military Yadus and whatever else he got up on and you stood up and you fought and
Unknown Speaker
01:08:51you did.
Unknown Speaker
01:08:54And you gotta see it. Through because this story's got to be told and if they didn't do it this time of day that's that's why it's going to be
Speaker 4
01:09:13page. You stop all right.
Speaker 13
01:09:17So you gotta keep it up. And we got to keep pushing forward. That we you know, we we gathered resources to do remember the damn lawsuit is on the water bill because you had to fight stands day
Speaker 1
01:09:57President Yes, sir. You have 201 Okay, we're gonna take those two Now mind you, we're going into citizens comment and I want him to know I'm going to wait here to two minutes and 10 seconds after that two minutes. I'm gonna thank you for your time and we're going to move on because we're already an hour in and we haven't even gotten to our agenda. So can we get the first person on line? Can I state their name? This is a question for who? This was a question for the attorney or this was a question from Miss square, and they've all left the room. So at this point, there's really no discussion we're on illegal updates. If they wanted to add their comments as citizens comment, we're about to move into that right now.
Unknown Speaker
01:10:46Elaine Mackenzie,
Speaker 1
01:10:50we're about we're about to about to move into citizens comments. This will be related to agenda items. I can give you a full two minutes in that timeframe if that'll be acceptable for you.
Speaker 15
01:11:00Okay, good evening Council in. No, it actually won't I was my question is going to be for the attorneys. So I will left. All right.
Speaker 1
01:11:12Right now. I do apologize. Ma'am. You are welcome to come back during citizens comments. Thank you. We have an at the other party that's on on hold. Would they be willing to move into citizens comments?
Unknown Speaker
01:11:25Right J
Speaker 1
01:11:29I do apologize for the delay, sir. We are an hour in and we haven't even gotten to where are you? Calling me? Yeah, we're moving to the citizens comments section. Gray. Jay. Can you hear me sir?
Unknown Speaker
01:11:47Yes, I can hear you.
Speaker 1
01:11:49Okay, so would you be willing to move into citizens comment? We're going to move down the agenda. We're already out. We're in and we haven't even started our agenda. The next item on the citizens comments and I'll allow you to go first. Well, okay. I'm sorry. I removed the permission to talk. Okay, thank you. So before we go forward, Miss Monica, you have something. I do want to remind the audience this is cities. This is City Council's meeting. So we do have to adhere to our little five of us here and agenda items. But y'all are welcome. We just have to go through a procedure Miss mannequin you have questions for us?
Speaker 1
01:12:46Mr Manik, after consulting with the city attorney, you do have the latitude to make a motion to bring that resolution to council affairs. It's up to your colleagues, how we proceed with that. But the floor is open if you decide to do so.
Speaker 5
01:13:03First, I just want to make sure that we understand that right now we're just holding where I'm asking to put it. So I make a motion to amend agenda approval to include resolution to retain tax levy worked out restructuring.
Speaker 1
01:13:26We have a motion on the floor to amend the agenda by Councilwoman Monica this motion is to amend the current agenda to add the resolution to retain the tax levy workout and restructuring loggers. Do we have support for that? Yes, ma'am. Do we have support? The chair will offer support we have any discussion. Any questions or discussion. Madam Clerk? Yes ma'am. Sorry, Miss Martin, forgive me. That is weird. So mediation starts Monday. I'm not. I work. So today is where I be. So we have a motion on the floor from Councilwoman Monica, to amend the agenda to add the resolution to retain tax levy workout and restructuring lawyers do we have support from other council members?
Unknown Speaker
01:14:25You already offered support council president.
Unknown Speaker
01:14:29We have support from Councilman Shafi.
Unknown Speaker
01:14:31No, I say you already offered some council president
Speaker 1
01:14:39Okay, so let's go ahead and pull this. It looks easy down there. So, Madam Clerk, would you take the roll on that amendment
Unknown Speaker
01:14:48that the President
Speaker 1
01:14:57will discuss will be among council members Council do we have discussion from the members on this? Hearing none, Madam Clerk. Would you take the take the roll President Thomas? Yes.
Unknown Speaker
01:15:08How's it pro Tim Robeson. No. Councilwoman Monica? Yes. Councilwoman Martin eshaq.
Unknown Speaker
01:15:19No, the man may have a state of emergency. Yeah,
Speaker 1
01:15:21so it's been voted on twice. So the issue is dead on the floor. We will move on to citizens participation. We're going to ask for two minutes at the end of that two minute time. I'm going to say thank you very much and welcome you to the next meeting so that you can discuss whatever is on that agenda. But this pertains to agenda items only everyone should have a copy of the agenda. It's going to be two minutes only. I'm going to ask you for your name and your city of residence
Speaker 16
01:15:58to this honorable body that evening, my name is Marcel is Bryce. I'm a resident of the city of Detroit, Michigan. I am a property owner in the city of Highland Park. I just want to speak to the fact that I've worked in government affairs for the last 20 years. And I've never in my life seen a process where administration has been so non transparent about the residents of this city to come up here and to make this city better. They put a few they put their voting you they put their trust in you and to have administration as not openly sharing information. Information as important as the bankruptcy is crazy to me. I also attended the last meeting others for the public hearing on your marijuana amendment or and to hear that the mayor vetoed a public hearing. That's what what was vetoed a public hearing the opportunity for this body to hear from the residents of this city on how they feel to veto a public hearing. I have never seen that before in my professional career ever. Never. And also when we got here, the elevators was broken. And I personally had to carry a senior up the stairs. That was just despicable. Because after the meeting, they weren't because I am a council Pro Tem roll the elevator. And I just think that's despicable. And I just want you all to know that, hey, I understand your frustration. And the administration should be transparent with you. They should have talked to you about the issues of this city. That's all I want to say. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
01:17:25Thank you. Any other citizens No, don't even.
Speaker 1
01:17:43I just want to say this 2014 I was not in office. I left office the end of 2011 didn't come back to 2016 Thank you
Speaker 1
01:18:00so lucky to have someone on the line that was holding can we get that person to come forward? I want to give them an opportunity to address items that are on the agenda. So
Unknown Speaker
01:18:12I'm looking for him they don't have anything more.
Speaker 1
01:18:16So hey, if you're still on the line, I want to make sure we have an opportunity to hear you I do appreciate your patience and I apologize for the delay but we have business on the table. If you're still available, I'll wait for you
Unknown Speaker
01:18:31re J
Unknown Speaker
01:18:36while we get them we had our hand raised here in the front. There this is Hello, this is right Jake white Ceman How are you this evening?
Speaker 17
01:18:45I'm very well. I but I do own property and Highland Park and I have been here for like 11 years and I want to say it's crazy how everybody act like they don't understand what a chapter nine is. I pay my taxes. I pay my bill. I don't want anyone to be able to live in my home at all. So I don't understand why people aren't City Council or the citizens don't understand how important that to move forward with this. Process is I don't want my homeland. I work too hard to be here. And I bought this house out here and he left me years ago so if this be anybody that have something to say about this going on our taxes should be the homeowner and I don't want it on my
Speaker 1
01:19:41Am I agree? I do. Thank you for your comment. We appreciate your input
Unknown Speaker
01:19:45council president. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
01:19:48Council president. Ma'am.
Speaker 8
01:19:51I just would like to speak to Mr. Bryce's comment. Every council member received the same emails that I receive from John Clark when it came to this water issue and Kathy here. And so when he says that we have not informed the council, when I receive an email, they're receiving the email at the same time. So that's a false statement. Secondly, the when you're saying that you own this property here and that you're you're concerned about these things, then you should be concerned about the water hitting your property. But the focus is obviously something else. It has nothing to do with water. So I just want you to know that council members and I have every email so that you can have every email that they receive, and I receive that they are tagged on the same email. Thank you. That's all I have to say.
Speaker 1
01:20:58Yeah, we should also be fun the audience. Let's get this the citizens participation. The mayor has the overall ability, but let's get to it. We'll have plenty of opportunity, sir. We'll get it'll be all hours during Council assuredly. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much for
Speaker 18
01:21:11Hello, my name is Sharon Flint Childress. Although I'm a resident of Detroit, my sons live in Hala. Park and my grandkids too. So I still am and Ted attached to Highland Park. I consider myself to be a Parker for life, as I've told people raised here, gone to school here and continue to fight for this city. And I know what the nice lady was talking about when she spoke of how the water bill has haunted the city and the citizens of Highland Park for decades by now. Because I remember when I was a younger woman, going to the meetings and fussing about the water bills, where you will get a water bill that was astronomical. You hear people saying that work for the water department. This slipped and told at one of the meetings that the meters were defective and still we had to pay the bills or it would be put on our our taxes. We've struggled in this city for years and what frightens me is this is just another opportunity to to disenfranchise on minority city. Now. Yeah, our governor, Governor should be interceding by now. Whatever the courts were saying where we were still going to be charged for this and it was gonna be on our homeowners taxes. That's just another way to run minorities out of this city. And I tell you, what we need to be doing is going up there to Lansing protest and not just sitting here in these meetings, where we express how we feel and I know all of the people here are concerned about it. And the cities, the citizens of Highland Park are concerned not just the homeowners, but the residents because whatever happens to the homeowners if your winter is gonna fall right on you. I have a little old tenant now. Okay, I'm not gonna start crying that I'm she can't afford what some of these people are saying they're going to charge when they buy our house. I have a rental house that they want to buy, so they can charge $1,400 A month a flat for two family flat to somebody that's going to be coming from downtown. What am I supposed to do with Miss Brown? Who's a little old
Unknown Speaker
01:23:30lady, and I don't want to interrupt you, but
Speaker 18
01:23:33I know my time is up. I'll be back next time and I'll be I'll be going to Lansing first. And every time I see it on the Highland Park news thing on Facebook. I'm going to be there and I'm going to continue to spread what I'm talking about because when you look at other cities, or even in Detroit, where black bottom was messed up because of freeway this is just another way to steal our land
Speaker 1
01:24:01all right. We got people coming to the podium ma'am. And then sir you as well. We try not to go to 11 o'clock tonight y'all so
Speaker 19
01:24:15I try to make this quick. My name is Rosalyn Martin. I'm a resident of Highland Park. Good evening man worked here. Grew up here. Worked at a high school college. School District. My question is, there's something on here about Vito regarding the attorney and the council is the attorney for the Council or the attorney for the mayor was what's going on here
Speaker 1
01:24:44that that Beto was well we'll get into its specifics, certainly, but that was on the agenda. Yes, ma'am. That was a request by three members of council to hire an outside attorney for an issue that they wanted to bring forward. This had nothing to do with the mayor. Yes, on that day the mayor was in Washington DC at the White House.
Unknown Speaker
01:25:02So this is just for one item.
Speaker 1
01:25:05This item is so tight. No, no that that that item. There were members of council who wanted to hire an attorney for an item that they wanted to address. That's what that's about.
Unknown Speaker
01:25:16Not for the whole city jail, man.
Speaker 1
01:25:18That's the one item Yes, yes. Yes. Yeah. Speak on that. No, ma'am. During Council affairs, if you don't mind taking a notes. Request. Yeah, I don't want to I don't want to interrupt you too. So that was that's the and we'll get into that shortly. That's the next item on the agenda and I have the letters from the mayor that I can read to the public. Okay, okay. Yes, ma'am. And Sir in the back. Thank you for your patience
Unknown Speaker
01:25:48you might say your name and your city of residence please.
Speaker 20
01:25:50My name is Reginald Brantley and I'm the one that pay the taxes on my mother's house on Sterling. Okay. Okay. Thank you. So talk to me real fast. I'm a retired construction worker. Yes, sir. I live in 91. We did a job and paneer motion picture studio. Michigan was number three for moviemaking, California, New York and then Michigan.
Speaker 1
01:26:12On pause right there. Is this about an agenda item? I just want to make sure yeah, let's get to that. Got a blitz buggy minor Russian.
Speaker 20
01:26:17No, you Okay? Okay. So what the system said bothers me today like I told me my church do not know St. Pete people in front of me know like, stuff like that. But I'm gonna keep it real. I wanted to find out about his bankruptcy in Detroit. talk real fast. Could you give me two minutes sir. It was the one the time of day being Great Lakes Water Authority is leasing that water for 40 years. It's kind of strange. I'm gonna do this shoe my car. Then you will try to charge me what you want. Because now it's in your possession. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker
01:26:53There you go. Make sense. Now I'm
Speaker 20
01:26:55gonna go while we'll go somewhere and I don't see my mother pay the water bill every three months. My dad was my dad my mom has six of us it's mighty strange. You're paying water bill every month enable one person in the house yeah, love your mom keep a real water is liquid gold. Coming on Hold on You don't let them hit the wall I'm gonna tell you something my father said. He said before you get in the hole first know how to get out of it. And I'm gonna tell you about this man. This man had a dunk it always y'all Yeah, he got sick. Of this donkey. So he dug this hole through the Dunkin Donuts cup on he Hall Hill. So I make up dirt and debris in there finding the duck he got out. Well, gotta make some noise, because I'm gonna tell you real fast. Mike Ilitch was going to build on evergreen a ham Fridays. pulled the plug on it. The family asked him what's going on? He said we're going to Detroit. They asked him why don't you go Detroit when it's down. He said that's when you bout Detroit got out of the religious? Dan Gilbert's the amendment rules. I'm gonna say real fast in 2001 do a joint venture of electors between the United States and Canada. That's the reason for the bridge. Yes, sir. Five years after that you're gonna put in a tunnel.
Speaker 1
01:28:24Okay, I got the picture. And I'm gonna thank you for your time. I'm gonna talk as I walk. Yes, sir.
Unknown Speaker
01:28:29I'm gonna stand sandwich. You know? We gotta
Speaker 1
01:28:32get out. And I love you brother. But we got it. We got it. We got to keep it move. I gave everybody two minutes and I don't want to be
Speaker 20
01:28:37proud. I'm retired. I retired when I turned 53. I could sleep as late as I want. Okay, all right. I'd be looking forward to you to disrespect Vaughn says real
Unknown Speaker
01:28:46fast. We over the two minutes though.
Speaker 20
01:28:48I showed them a picture in the hospital Henry Ford on 90 mile and his sir. They illustrate come to me.
Speaker 1
01:28:56And with all due respect, sir, we over the two minutes I asked assistant Lee. Yeah, I'll give everybody two minutes and look the door is open. We have two sections for citizens comments, one at the beginning for things on the agenda. Another one at the end. That door will always be open, and anybody who raises their hand. I'm going to acknowledge you in the room to give you an opportunity to talk but we do want to make sure that we get through the business to the city first. So that people can see us handle our business. You guys came here to see us conduct our business and we already let me let me let me get this straight where I went 30 minutes and we haven't even got to the next item on the agenda. So Mr. Gorsky. If you could wait until the citizens comments at the end. We'd appreciate it. We want to get through the next few items. We're going to whiz through these I'm sure. All right. Moving on with the agenda. We'll close to this participation. Madam Clerk if you would call the next item.
Speaker 4
01:29:52Veto meal number five a resolution for special meeting and public hearing for first reading part 120.
Speaker 1
01:30:07Okay, thank you very much. So I remind all members of city council received this document as soon as it was published. This is from Madam Clerk on April 24. Dear Clark green on April 20 2023, the City Council passed a resolution for a special meeting and a public hearing for the first reading of the proposed amendment to the Highland Park marijuana ordinance 2020 Dash three to be scheduled on Thursday April 27 2023 to 7pm The Council is hereby on notice that pursuant of the charter, Section six dash three I am vetoing the action and thereby suspending the operation of that resolution. While I understand councillors concern, they must adhere to the provisions and procedures implemented for the amending of ordinances. The proposed amendments are not ready for the first reading, as the document is ambiguous, inaccurate and incomplete. It was not approved by the city attorney is contrary to the city charter and inconsistent with state law for the reasons stated above the resolution is without legal effect, absolutely veto adoption of that the adoption of the resolution at the next meeting of the city council by an affirmative vote of at least four of its members is sent respectfully from Mayor Glenda McDonough. So Council as it relates to Item A it's up to council decide how we dispose of this item discussion. We have We don't even have a motion on the floor sir. We need to have we need to have a motion for action before we can discuss anything.
Speaker 1
01:31:50Right No, ma'am. So what you do here is this is a veto so the motion that can be made is to overturn the veto
Unknown Speaker
01:32:05So do we have any actionable item hey
Speaker 1
01:32:12we have a motion from Councilwoman Martin to overturn the veto for the resolution for a special meeting and a public hearing for the first reading of the proposed amendments of the Highland Park marijuana ordinance 2020 Dash three. Do we have support for that? Support with discussions we have support from Councilman Shafi to overturn the veto. The floor is open for discussion, sir.
Speaker 2
01:32:37Okay, so for the record. They talk about following protocols and doing things in accordance with the charter. We followed the charter Exactly. Not only did we follow the charter Exactly. We gave ample time for the city attorney to see the amendments and to weigh in on the amendments. Every council member was informed by Miss Martin, there will be amendments to be brought and she asked for everybody's opinion. And in and not only that, but according to the charter. Oh no, hold a second. Allow me to read refresh your memory on your current marijuana ordinance. It was never submitted to the city and they did it in secret. You had no public hearings. You had no you had no say whatsoever about it, which is in violation of the law. Our proposed ordinance is not only going to have a public hearing is going to go to Planning Commission and it's going to go to zoning board all in the processes in which the previous council did not follow and you didn't get to say okay, so we followed the rules accordingly. They just vetoed it because they didn't want to deal with it at this moment. Well, I understand that this particular problem here can bring about to $5 million a year into the city of Highland Park, which we sorely need. It's been legalized here you approved it yourselves. The ordinance must be fixed. We are in lawsuits in courts right now over the ordinance and there's no reason why it should not be fixed and not addressed.
Speaker 12
01:34:25The workshop to do this but all the workshops. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker
01:34:34Council by council president
Speaker 1
01:34:35so the workshop is of the purview of the city council president and this has not been a permanent fixture in Highland Park government. In fact, after talking to the previous council presidents the last two, this is a feature that was added to allow for discussion of items that would eventually be on the agenda. Now if you want to have a conversation about that the first time I saw this to Mr. Shoppies point the first time I saw this document was when it was brought to me two minutes before a minute a meeting was started. And during the planning of this have any special meeting the typical procedure is to establish a quorum. No one reached out to me to establish a quorum no one provided me with any document no one asked for my input. And so I was able to offer none.
Speaker 2
01:35:21Okay, okay, so you might have a seconder Council, but we were all naturally email and I had the email on my phone. I can show it to the public right now. If they look to see. I do have an email. So we're
Speaker 1
01:35:33in discussion for the veto. I also have my computer here and I can see it as well. The issue that's on the table is whether or not we're going to veto overturn his veto. Now the first time I saw that document, you handed it to me standing right here at this desk. I had never seen it before. So that's not beyond that. Beyond that item A is about the public hearing and a first reading the marijuana meetings. I rarely came to city council I'll watch them on television. That was the most attended meeting I've ever seen in the city. It was standing room only there were people out in the hallway. I remember three where it was so crowded in this building. You couldn't even get in the room. It was so hot. You couldn't even stand in here to Mr. Shoppies point. The previous ordinance was not done in accordance with the recommendations for the city attorney. So I'm not a party to this so I don't really have any anything to offer. This is the the desire and the intent of three members who were very compelled to make changes to it. I wasn't involved in that process. So I don't have anything to offer as far as context all that I can say is I was not asked to participate. My opinion wasn't requested. And after hearing that there is a standing writ of mandamus a court order a writ of mandamus is a court order I'm a certified civil mediator in the state of Michigan, I have no intention on losing my credentials, disobeying a judge's order. So I didn't participate in it because I wasn't asked and because after being told that I felt it was appropriate to stand down, but it is city council members right to members on city council have the right to call a special meeting, determining whether the procedure was done properly. It's incumbent upon those members. So the best thing for me to do as an individual was to get out of the way and allow you to do what you felt you were compelled to do, which is exactly what I did. So, so right now we have on the floor you made a motion to overturn the veto. Mr. Howe Shafi supported that motion. Beyond that, do we have any other questions and discussions or did you have a further point that you wanted to raise? That's right, I'm that document that you handed to me. No, that's my point. You handed me a document. You handed me amendments to an ordinance. No, no, no, ma'am. We have a meeting on the 17th It's, it's on Zoom. It's public record. I sat in this chair. Right. I sat in this chair just a minute before the meeting started you walked up to me and you handed me a legal document. Now I'm not a lawyer. But I spent 10 years in college and nobody hands me a legal document and says act on this. March. No, ma'am. I don't have an electronic copy anywhere. With with whom. You sent me an email saying
Unknown Speaker
01:38:30that I am interested
Unknown Speaker
01:38:32in getting the marijuana. Okay.
Speaker 1
01:38:35So so and I said I had none because I'm not an attorney to amend an ordinance, whatever it is. Just like the animal ordinance. They send a copy to the legal department. The legal department did their due diligence. They searched the entire state of Michigan, they look for legal references. I'm a certified mediator. I'm not an attorney. So when you asked me that I have input I said, I have none. Yes, ma'am. I wanted you to I wish you the best of luck. I had no input. Correct. I had no input because I'm not an attorney. So to amend an ordinance, we have to have a copy of that ordinance. We have to post it publicly for the citizens to see we have to refer to the legal team. We have to talk to the city administrator we have to go through a process of vetting that ordinance. I've never amended an ordinance before so I'm not going to pretend as if I have previous knowledge I don't which is why I said I have no input if I don't know something. I don't offer any input. If there's one thing I know was what I don't know so that's why I said I had no input.
Unknown Speaker
01:39:38I said no input. Okay, do we have any more discussions before we take a vote on this?
Speaker 1
01:39:47Madam Clerk if you would not mind, this is a motion to overturn the mayor's veto for the resolution for a special meeting and public hearing for the first reading of the proposed amendment to the Highland Park marijuana ordinance 2020 Dash three, you will my take in a row
Speaker 4
01:40:05because the President Thomas no Robeson, yes, Councilman Manica No. Councilwoman Martin. Yes. council men as shocked.
Speaker 1
01:40:20Yes. In order to overturn a mayoral veto. You need a supermajority that's 80% of city city council. That means you need four votes to overturn that the veto stands and we can move to the next item please.
Speaker 1
01:40:38Would you like me to so item B is the this is under vetoes. This is the resolution requesting the city clerk published a special meeting pursuant to the city charter. Do we have any action item b under vetoes?
Speaker 1
01:40:58Item B is on the floor. Do we have any action on Item B the resolution requesting the city park published a special meeting pursuant to the city charter.
Speaker 1
01:41:30Every no action item b dies on the floor for no support item C motion regarding the moratorium of acceptance of applications for medical marijuana facilities and adult use marijuana facilities. Do we have any action for members of city council on Item C?
Speaker 1
01:41:59We have any action from members of city council County. We have any action from members of city council regarding the motion regarding the moratorium of accepting of applications for medical marijuana facilities and adult use marijuana facilities. Item C dies on the floor for lack of support. Under vetoes Item D action adopting alleging a bonafide dispute between the city attorney and the city council This is Item D City Council Do we have any action on item D?
Speaker 1
01:42:45Under Item five vetoes, letter D action adopting, adopted alleging a bona fide dispute between the city attorney and city council dies on the floor due to lack of support. Madam Clerk, you will move on to the next items please.
Speaker 4
01:43:03Rate permit application for approval for gem 98 outreach Joy
Speaker 1
01:43:10do we have someone from June 10 outreach here in the audience? Is that Mr. Petit? Okay. Second, Mr. Payne this was tabled in the last meeting. Due to the fact that Mr. Petit had to leave to go to work. Members of city council This is related to the June the plan June 19 20 motion. Have a motion we have to get off the table first sir. Can we pull it off the table?
Unknown Speaker
01:43:37Move to bring it back from table
Speaker 1
01:43:38we have a motion on the floor from Councilman l Shafi to remove the table that item this relates to the parade permit application for the duties outreach Detroit. Do we have a second for that? Chair? Well, we have a second from Councilwoman pro tem. Can we get a quick row we have any discussion on this item before we take a roll? No discussion? Yes. Okay. Miss Monica. Hold on a second. Miss Monica. We got to get it off the table before we discuss it. Yeah, so can we could go ahead and call it a roll on removing the tabled item.
Speaker 4
01:44:08And that's the President Thomas Yes. To bring back to the table. Tim Robinson? Yes, Councilman Matt. Councilwoman Monica. Yes, Councilman Martin. Yeah. Yes,
Speaker 1
01:44:22this item has been removed from the table. It is open from disk for discussion. Mr. Shopper, you have made a motion to approve. Would you like to reinstate that motion?
Unknown Speaker
01:44:29Yes, I'll make a motion to approve.
Speaker 1
01:44:31We have a motion to approve the parade permit application for the June teeth outreach. Do we have a second? Second? Second, do we have a second discussion? From councilmanic? Ma'am if you would, Mr. Patty, would you please come forward?
Unknown Speaker
01:44:46He was pretty thorough the last time he was up here probably interesting.
Speaker 1
01:44:54Okay, Mr. Penny last time when you had to go to work and I understand the challenges sometimes with the length of our meetings. But there were some questions and Miss Manik was going to address you as it related to those questions. hispanica please.
Unknown Speaker
01:45:06Just wanted to know where I wanted to know. So
Unknown Speaker
01:45:09you got across.
Speaker 21
01:45:11No. Further investigation to that I've decided to back away from that will continue that fight for next year. Right now. We will be starting on the south side. We'll be on Manchester, going up the right side of the street all the way to Hamilton. Then we'll turn on Hamilton and go on to Oakland and the permit. I'll submit tomorrow it'll say north south east west and stuff but we're going to Manchester we're going to clean up all those apartment buildings along the way. And then we're going to you know, it should only take about an hour to get up the street. We're gonna stop a few times. We have a lot of dance teams and dance to perform. We're hoping that once it is approved that we'll get more support from you all. This logo is our general team Detroit logo and it's what you'll see as we come door to door over the next few weeks passing out flyers and garnering participation. We're going to bring with us all the people that entertainment we've had for the last 13 years, but every different community every year we're in a new community, and we involve that community right there are stars and graduating children amongst all of you and we want to celebrate them. Our parade is made up of the graduates of 20 23/5 grade, eighth grade grad college everything so we're looking to have a lot of participation. I recognize this is a very this is a second hearing a lot of serious conversations happen here. And I feel a little silly talking about a parade when everybody talks about the serious stuff. But in the same time we go through our struggles, babies are born. Weddings happen, graduations happen and while we go through the fights, we got to take our time and celebrate those who need to be celebrated. So that's what the Juneteenth parade is for.
Unknown Speaker
01:46:55Motion to approve.
Speaker 5
01:47:03Okay. The other thing is wonder. Michigan, we'll want to take anything. But is it something that you can add to operate, that's coming up and then call there is some people in the audience that you could talk to regards to how you present yourself without taking from your brain? But being part of ours our mission
Speaker 21
01:47:30may 20 Okay. All right. Well, let's get up to be let's get to be a part of that. So we can do the next thing you know, I'm saying but that will bring whatever volunteers and help and attention to that that we can
Speaker 1
01:47:42Penny before you before you leave the podium. I want you to understand too, that this motion, the motion to have this approved is contingent upon you bringing back an updated document. And the updated document will go into the record and that way we will have the actual route that we have. It's going to be key to make sure that we include all the appropriate information in the document. So if you could get that to us ASAP. Yes. Okay. I certainly appreciate it. So what do we have? Thank you very much. Sorry. Appreciate. So we have a motion on the floor made by councilman. I'm sorry, I'm Hispanic.
Unknown Speaker
01:48:10Okay. Oh, man. That
Unknown Speaker
01:48:13way cool. That he will
Unknown Speaker
01:48:18provide the updates. Mr. Shafi?
Speaker 2
01:48:21I can do that, you know, saying Oh, no, I seriously doubt that he's not going to do it. But yeah, okay. Sure. Thanks. I'd like to amend my motion for approval, or providing an update of the route in which they're going to take
Speaker 1
01:48:35thank you so much. Sir. And we have a second for that. Second. You have a set we had a second from Miss Monica. We have we got a third. So you halfway there already? Yeah. So at this point, Madam Clerk, if you wouldn't mind taking the roll on this. On this item. I would greatly appreciate it.
Speaker 4
01:48:50President Thomas Yes. As opposed to ravizza Yes. Councilwoman Monica. Yes, Councilwoman Martin.
Unknown Speaker
01:48:57Yes. Yes,
Speaker 1
01:48:59you got that? Unanimous tonight. So congratulations. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
01:49:07Thank you for adding to
Speaker 1
01:49:08Highland Park. Yeah. So President Yes, sir. Man speaker. To whom am I speaking? This is stupid man. Yeah, how you doing? She of course. Good.
Speaker 22
01:49:21If you could forward my number to Mr. Patty, and let him know that the police department be more than happy to assist them with any traffic concerns during this parade.
Speaker 1
01:49:30I absolutely will be delighted to do so. And I'll do it tonight. Well, somebody's doing it now. Thank you so much for the support sir.
Unknown Speaker
01:49:50Okay, we can go on to the next item item six.
Speaker 4
01:49:54So it's a resolute resolution to explain street sweeping contract Alright, for progressive sweeping contract. One additional year.
Speaker 1
01:50:03Mr. Reese. We are up to your item sir. This is for resolution to extend the street sweeping contract for progressive sweeping contractors. for an additional year City Council. How do we deal with this issue?
Unknown Speaker
01:50:22Motion to approve with questions.
Speaker 1
01:50:24We have a motion to approve item A under Department of Public Works second bike. This motion was made by Councilman shopee seconded by Councilwoman Monica. Mr. Shafi has questions the floor is yours
Speaker 2
01:50:37quick question. What are we looking at?
Unknown Speaker
01:50:44know offhand that was handled by Mr. Burgess. Take a quick look. Yeah.
Speaker 1
01:50:52It's item is item six, six ages Yes. So
Unknown Speaker
01:51:00we're only extending this contract for a year. Yes. Okay. $83,277
Unknown Speaker
01:51:13Spring sweeping close. Extensive scraping
Speaker 2
01:51:20$163,970. Okay, so are we going with the scraping or with the no scraping?
Unknown Speaker
01:51:32I believe with the scraping Okay. Okay.
Speaker 2
01:51:35So price tag is going to be $163 Yes, I mean, 163,979 I wish it was $163. Sweet.
Unknown Speaker
01:51:49Okay.
Speaker 2
01:51:55And do we know what their um, their contract was? Before this one? No seven included in here.
Speaker 23
01:52:05I do not know for sure. So that was that was also done by Mr. Burgess. Okay.
Unknown Speaker
01:52:11It is attached.
Unknown Speaker
01:52:15Isn't a match.
Speaker 23
01:52:17The prior contract is attached. It shouldn't be the same as last year. I'm guessing. Yes. Because the same company that can Okay, yeah, as
Speaker 2
01:52:25last year 20th 2019. Okay.
Speaker 23
01:52:29Right. It's been the same sense. 2019
Unknown Speaker
01:52:34activity one. Okay. 51 right.
Unknown Speaker
01:52:44I believe so. Yes, sir.
Unknown Speaker
01:52:50Burgess.
Unknown Speaker
01:52:57Mr. Burgess. He's all right. All right.
Unknown Speaker
01:53:06I'm good council president.
Speaker 1
01:53:08Okay, so we have an additional unless we have any additional questions on Item six A we'll go ahead and move for a vote on a Madam Clerk if you will be so well I'm sorry. Do you have additional questions was Manik Go ahead?
Speaker 5
01:53:26What is the time by learning to sometimes we have all our situations and we don't have time to do outside reading that's already upon us. What time is that we need to have
Speaker 1
01:53:41well the way that I read the information here is that at the at the end of the contract, let's say the contract ended on May 1. That will be an extension of one year pending the end of the contract and in most cases these extensions have to come before the termination of the contract. So let's say the contract ends at the end of the fiscal year which is June 30. So this resolution is to extend the contract one additional year at the end of the contract that is in place right now, if that answers the question
Speaker 5
01:54:13that I'm asking. So it has been in in May. We have to put out bids. When When Should that happen? So we won't come into situation that is kind of in the last hour to put me in power, and we just need to re establish who we're using.
Unknown Speaker
01:54:30That's a great question.
Speaker 24
01:54:30I don't think I'm qualified to answer with a minimum of 60 days this particular approval or contract ends June the sixth I believe
Speaker 1
01:54:41so I think that's why we probably front loading it now with with it being May of two ends on June the sixth would be a good idea to have it in place by
Unknown Speaker
01:54:47Yeah. At least 60 days but you know,
Speaker 1
01:54:51I think I think that's something Mr. Burgess if it's medical wanted to get further information on that we should be able to email you in the mayor and get additional information on the term of when the contracts and it seems like a very simple thing to we just want to be aware because people may ask us, Hey, when did they decide to extend a contract and we want to be able to answer I can't answer correctly at this point.
Speaker 23
01:55:11No. Correct. That should be that should be an issue with Mr. Burgess. Okay, well, that that is that's a phishing email. And, you know, you'd probably get that back to you ASAP. Okay.
Speaker 1
01:55:24Any further questions before we call the vote? Okay, hearing none, Madam Clerk would you take the roll on item? A under Department of Public Works. It's a resolution to extended suite. Streets. We
Speaker 4
01:55:36have the President Thomas Yes. Radisson Yes. Councilwoman Monica. Yes, Councilwoman Martin? No. Councilman Shafi
Unknown Speaker
01:55:47Yes.
Speaker 1
01:55:48Okay, passes. 41 next item on the Department of Public Works is the resolution to amend the contract with GFL environmental USA for waste disposal services who we got to get our trash picked out. Does anyone have? Well let me turn this over. As council members. How do we handle this
Unknown Speaker
01:56:09per item be
Unknown Speaker
01:56:16one second council
Unknown Speaker
01:56:17president.
Unknown Speaker
01:56:31can realize stereo instructions when I was looking at it
Speaker 1
01:56:40it really didn't make that much sense. So I will refer you attention to the second page. Okay. The modifications I wanted to
Unknown Speaker
01:57:00share with you street sweepers. environmental waste all right. So
Unknown Speaker
01:57:14you say what page
Speaker 1
01:57:15on the very second page and then when we start for Item six be for the resolution to amend the contract with GFL. On the page after the vote tally is where they have the amendment. The Addendum to the contract with the modifications I have modification item one and modification item two. I'll read them for the people in the audience who don't see this modification item one is to add one year to the contract expiration, making the new termination date June 30 2024. So we'll be extending our current contract one year to June 30 2024. The second modification item is there will be a one time contract addendum addendum commencing as soon as practicable after the contract signing. So that is they are stating that this will only happen once so they extending the contract and they're saying this amendment will only happen once after this time. I'm making an assumption and you can correct me Madam Attorney if you would, at that point, we would have to put this out for full bids. So we have a modification extending the contract for a year and they're saying that this modification item will be a one time contract addendum. Okay.
Unknown Speaker
01:58:33I didn't see a price tag when we hit council president.
Unknown Speaker
01:58:48So if you go to page six
Speaker 1
01:58:58second paragraph. It is agreed by the contractor to provide roll off service at DPW as required costs will be $425 per per pool plus $32 per ton over four times. Okay.
Speaker 2
01:59:13Okay. I saw that council president. My question is, is for the next year. What is this going to cost us Okay? Anybody can tell me what it's going to cost per ton. What is the total price tag?
Speaker 1
01:59:26I don't know if that number unless we took a calculator. Now what they're saying is they want to extend the current, whatever the current contract price is. They're going to keep us at that rate without increasing it for the next year. At which time we probably going to bid it out. To see who can give us the best rate
Speaker 23
01:59:44that that price of $425 per roll off as for the roll offs at the yard is not our house.
Unknown Speaker
01:59:54So how many roll offs at the yard do they normally do
Unknown Speaker
02:00:02we assume what the
Speaker 23
02:00:03price is going to be nobody know but that's that's roll off from when I let the public bring garbage to the ER that's not powerhouse pickup for GFS.
Unknown Speaker
02:00:18I stand corrected.
Speaker 1
02:00:20I'm still digging here. Yeah. So we're assuming that nothing is going to change? Correct? Right? Correct. Okay.
Unknown Speaker
02:00:26Did that price is that? Is that the same as it was last year?
Speaker 1
02:00:30Okay. Mayor Pro Tem. Yes. Okay.
Speaker 25
02:00:33I'm in the part where the actual contract is. Page three, as far as the witnesses. Do we have to do all of that? No. Because witnesses are on here now. are no longer with the city.
Speaker 1
02:00:52So we're we're voting on a resolution to a man the contract
Unknown Speaker
02:00:57will be extended for a year.
Speaker 1
02:00:59Correct. The current contract is sitting well, we have in front of us. As a city council. We're deciding do do we want to keep what we have in place for one additional year at no additional cost at no changes to what we're currently paying right now. And the service that we get out to Kirk? Would that be accurate, Mr. Reese? Nothing's supposed to change.
Speaker 23
02:01:18I believe Mr. Burgess told me in May may be still at $3 per house.
Speaker 1
02:01:23Still at that's the three hours. Okay. Thank you for that information.
Speaker 25
02:01:28We're gonna still honor all these signatures, the witnesses and Marriott
Speaker 1
02:01:33signature. So now we're doing is we're amending this. We have a separate section.
Unknown Speaker
02:01:37All right. Look at page three on the agenda. Third page.
Unknown Speaker
02:01:44Page three, okay, this is the agenda. Okay.
Speaker 3
02:01:47Can you currently tell me what we're paying yearly already?
Speaker 23
02:01:51No. I don't have that. I don't have that information I can find out for you. And I can
Unknown Speaker
02:01:58manage your hand.
Unknown Speaker
02:02:02So I just want to make sure we're kind of off. I'm sorry. Yeah,
Speaker 2
02:02:10I say I'm not awful nice and honest question. I want to know what would be I
Speaker 5
02:02:14wasn't speaking. Okay. Okay. I would say the resolution right here says to me so I'm thinking that we're only supposed to be amending this time.
Unknown Speaker
02:02:26We're just extending the amendment is adding a year
Speaker 5
02:02:34contract and so again, is it possible because we have a lot of questions here saying like to take lead to the meeting that is April.
Unknown Speaker
02:02:43It's amended at the current rate,
Unknown Speaker
02:02:45okay. Okay, how much are we paying per year
Speaker 9
02:02:54at the same rate, or don't quote me on that. That's just me thinking off the top of my head because you know, whenever I do that, you swear
Unknown Speaker
02:03:06I do that.
Speaker 9
02:03:08But we can maybe Eleanor's on. Okay, if Eleanor's on but it's the we just continue at this year's right? Until we have an opportunity to go out to bid. We talked about it. The prices have gone up for everything.
Unknown Speaker
02:03:22Okay, so the prices are going up. The
Speaker 9
02:03:25inflation is killing us with everything so we know that this is gonna go up. So we're gonna hold this until we can get it bid it out next year. And get ready for an increase next year.
Unknown Speaker
02:03:38All right. All right. All right. Okay.
Unknown Speaker
02:03:40Thank you. Miss square has.
Speaker 1
02:03:42Counsel. Do we have additional questions on the item so we have a motion Miss Miss Monica
Unknown Speaker
02:03:46please
Unknown Speaker
02:03:57so we say extended
Unknown Speaker
02:04:08Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry miss Monica please. Floor still yours.
Speaker 5
02:04:16GFL environmental waste that we are making contract just for this meeting the time.
Unknown Speaker
02:04:40So this is something that we
Speaker 13
02:04:42have for a year for six months and
Speaker 5
02:04:48it's because there has been several guards. Also about asking they do the cycling, we can get funding cycle. How does that help us if we don't and try and go so we have to do when we enter or that best suggestion and then just go
Speaker 9
02:05:11start putting out for people. It's a year we we would want to guarantee garbage collection for a year. We don't want to fool with garbage collection at all. We want to extend the contract for one year, hold the last price. Now we cycling and all that stuff costs more, cost a lot, you know the containers and all of that so and we're anticipating that the price is going to go up substantially because everything has gone up. And so this over the course of the next year, you know by purchases back and so we'll put it out to bid. If the city remembers you had waste management forever. In fact, you were the last contract in the system for waste management. They got out of the business and then all of a sudden they reappeared in Detroit now they're picking up the west side of Detroit. But you know they're out there but they're not many other providers out there. So, but we could go out we will go out for a bit over the course of the next year.
Speaker 5
02:06:22contract was included in here to make sure everything
Speaker 9
02:06:28people should be calling in complaints and complaining constantly, constantly called call the city and complain that they they probably put out a flyer if they haven't put out a new one they need to put out another one, but calling it and that's my former life. You know that was my job. And you suppose I complain constantly, they better not miss one thing at my house. And I'm calling down city of Detroit. So
Unknown Speaker
02:06:58I kind of asked him the same questions marks because he didn't
Speaker 9
02:07:03sign it. No, because you're just extending that contract.
Speaker 1
02:07:07Like at the council members of council to the resolution on the front page here it says whereas on April 13 2018 Highland Park have contract with GFL environmental USA for the waste disposal services which expires on June 30 2023. And whereas the city of the city and GFL mutually agreed to extend the contract for one calendar year to expire on June 30 2024. Now therefore be it resolved that the city of Highland Park approves an addendum to the GFL environmental USA a contract to extend a contract to June 30 2024. That's the resolution that we're voting on right now. So it has the language spelled out right there. It's two they mutually agreed to extend it which is price locking basically and I like the idea of price locking because you never know what tomorrow is gonna bring.
Speaker 9
02:07:53Yeah, it's gonna be an increase. Everything's gone up you'll have that you'll have that price for the for the amended extension for one year. And then when we bid it out, we'll get some new prices. You'll get bids from companies and they'll give you new bid prices. And then you you know, make a determination. You know, you'll pick one from now sometimes you pick the lowest bidder sometimes you pick the next level the next highest depends on the services
Unknown Speaker
02:08:29alright, I missed we don't have our own trucks no more.
Speaker 9
02:08:32Well, we don't have a garage or mechanics or anything service.
Unknown Speaker
02:08:36No, I just saying I miss it. Yes.
Speaker 9
02:08:39Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's to their to it a garbage truck now cost 300,000 now.
Unknown Speaker
02:08:48Motion to approve
Speaker 1
02:08:51that motion. We got a second for that for under Department of Public Works. Item six, four B resolution to amend the contract with GFL environmental USA for waste disposal services. We have a motion to approve and a second. Would you be kind enough to take the roll.
Speaker 4
02:09:06So President time this Yes. Tim Robeson Yes, Councilwoman Councilwoman Martin. Yes, Councilman eshakti.
Speaker 1
02:09:19Yes. Thank you, ma'am. Item approve. So we're on to item seven. And this is an outside communication from attorney Kyle. It's just a retraction demand for his client. There's no action as City Council can take on this file and receive other than to file and receive so we have a motion to file and receive we can go ahead and proceed with that and move on to something better.
Unknown Speaker
02:09:46All right. Are
Speaker 1
02:09:49we receiving a filing so we can get that motion to receive and file the floor is open.
Unknown Speaker
02:09:55I moved to receive a file council president we have
Speaker 1
02:09:57a motion from Councilman sharpie to receive and filed his correspondence. Do we have a second? Chair off for a second Madam Deputy. Do we have any discussion on this item? Yeah,
Speaker 25
02:10:09because earlier we voted to remove it.
Speaker 3
02:10:13We didn't approve. We didn't approve, you know to amend the agenda. So we have to receive a short stays the same. Council.
Unknown Speaker
02:10:20Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?
Speaker 4
02:10:23Council President Thomas yes to receive and file Robinson. Yes. To receive a file. Councilwoman Manica? Yes. Martin? Yes. Yes.
Speaker 1
02:10:36Okay. We're at Citizens participation. We are at 912. I'm going to set aside two minutes and 30 seconds, because two minutes is simply not enough. And I would like to open up the floor to members of the audience who would like to speak Ma'am, please come and join us on your mind stating your name and your city of residence? Everybody know you weren't you know, procedure
Speaker 17
02:11:07everybody my name is Renee poor to the auto body to our guests in the audience. I have a question because man, you are you make a statement every meeting that you don't want to be here till 11 o'clock. Who
Unknown Speaker
02:11:20do you work for?
Speaker 1
02:11:21I work for my wife and my kids. Know? Yes, ma'am. They live in Highland Park. Right. As a
Speaker 17
02:11:29council person. Do you not work for the citizens of Highland Park? Absolutely. So I find it very disrespectful for you to say you will not be here past 11 o'clock. If there's 1000 people in here that want to ask the question, my opinion, then you should be available to us. Am I correct? Yes, ma'am. You and I do understand we all want to go home the meeting. But you guys can talk 2030 minutes on the subject that's on the agenda. And we do understand it and we appreciate it. But when it comes to the citizens, you don't have time for us. You don't have time for me. That's what I wanted to say. My next question is I found it very disrespectful that my district three person got up in the middle of a meeting, put his coat on his back to almost say with this meeting, and us. I don't normally get up and say anything. I tried to come to every meeting. I have a senior that I do take care of but for you to to disrespect this council, these citizens.
Unknown Speaker
02:12:42You too you may wish to
Speaker 17
02:12:43when you always say Oh, I don't want to be here till 11 o'clock. I want to go home. We don't want to be here till 11 o'clock either. But we want our questions answered. District Three council person I'm not going to say your name because I don't want to get it wrong. But the hooping and hollering is very disrespectful. I'm 62 years old and I don't talk to my mother like that. But you to disrespect these when us women or the gentleman or anybody I am appalled. Thank you
Speaker 1
02:13:24Miss for you should know when I get home my mama gonna be waiting on me at the phone. I'm pretty sure when I get this you're gonna be she she went she went she graduated from Highland Park nursing school so I'm sure she watching right now I'm gonna get an earful. She goes, Oh, give me an earful.
Unknown Speaker
02:13:45But if I have a question I have to wait
Speaker 1
02:13:48yes ma'am. And I'm here. I've never walked out of a meeting. And I nor will I have never walked out of a meeting. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Please. Yes, ma'am. behind the podium please.
Speaker 26
02:14:08My name is Jamil Edwards. I live in the city of Highland Park. I'm a little confused at the beginning of the meeting. When it was approval of agenda if the agenda fail, how do we have a meeting?
Unknown Speaker
02:14:37Can you hear me? Yes, ma'am. So my understanding we were not moving the agenda we were proving we were trying to approve the amendments to the agenda. Correct.
Speaker 5
02:14:51Then we went back. Okay. So I get what you're saying though. I get what you're saying. You know because I've been an
Speaker 26
02:15:00elected official, we're 20 years. I keep notes. I can tell you who voted yes. I can tell you who voted. No. I can tell you who passed and I can tell you who second. So that's why I asked that question because Thomas said yes. Yes. Robertson said no. Because she said no. And and Robertson said no. So straight nose to two. So I thought just Martin I'm sorry, Martin Robertson shot and Shafi said No, Monica and Thomas said yes. And I'm going along what you gave me as an agenda. Then it says for Item three, approval of agenda. So that's what you were voting on. And it failed. So I was just sitting there trying to figure out how do we have a meeting, and we didn't even approve the agenda. So for an official record, how do you put that, as in history, that you had a meeting that you didn't approve? I just didn't understand that. And then on the next meeting, you're going to say I approve the minutes to this meeting, when you didn't even approve to have it. I was just asked because you know, it's gonna go down and history was on
Speaker 1
02:16:24TV and I'm Hispanic that you know, this is this is the time for the citizen. This is not our time. Yeah, no.
Speaker 26
02:16:31TV, and everybody in the world seen us act on a meeting that the council that we voted for, failed
Speaker 1
02:16:45any more citizens we have anybody online Mr. Lackey. Yes, sir. Exam.
Speaker 27
02:16:57Council residents Hi, my name is ino littles and I am a Highland Park resident. I'm just came up here to speak for a quick second on an incident that happened to me and I hope the Chief of Police is still available to here. Couple about a week ago, I received the knock on my door and my wife said, Hey, there's someone not going to do it. Who is it? She says you don't know. So of course I want to go into the door. I go to answer the door and as a gentleman standing at my door, he said he's homeless and he's hungry. He said he doesn't want to ask for money. He said he'll work and earn his keep. He said I'll cut your lawn, pick up branches, do your grass, blah, blah. He said there are things that he would do to earn so he can get some food and possibly make it to the shelter. So I said, Okay, fine. Go upstairs, grab my Holy Bible. Go put my coat on my time I get downstairs The gentleman is halfway across the field because I said we're just gonna go meet at the either to Coney Island. Now. I thought about bringing my firearm because I do not know this gentleman. But the Lord told me Hey, leave that alone because you're going to do my work. left it alone. I'm glad I did. By the time I got from my porch to step my foot on the other side of the street car came flying down the street I didn't know there was coming too fast. I don't know if they're gonna hit me. Should I run to that dodged I flipped so I do something. The lights came on. And first thing take your hands out of your pockets. I was like, No, I know. I just came from my house and as fast as they're going, I'm pretty sure they should have seen me come from my house. I'm scared at this point. And again, for what? Again, take hands out of your pockets. Okay, now you know slowly raise my hands and then at that point he says I said for what what am I taking my as my pocket for they said you meet the description of somebody who's been knocking on doors and I I mean description of every black man in the city, so I'm pretty sure they would have stopped like six or seven people before they got to me with that. Being said, I was afraid and me and the officer got into a word of exchange. I just came out of my house. are you banging on people's doors and what made me kind of upset was there was another officer there that had seen me before because there was a call to my house they got the wrong address showed up in my house. I came to the door and he saw me no wrong address. Oh yeah. We got the right address now. So they left and then another time ago, there was a smell coming from a house. I thought it was someone but it was a raccoon or something. So I called them again they smell something and again, that same officer did show up and he did see me so at this time when I'm you know, hands up scared. He saw me but he didn't say hey, you know what, that guy did walk cross street. So he's looking at talking to me and I look into the field that the guy that's coming back across because I motioned them and they said is that and he was like, Is that him? I don't know. He's knocked on my door. I don't know if he knocked on any other doors. So and with that being said me and that officer got into a back and forth. Okay, I am a citizen. You don't have to. It'd be different to me. If you would have got a call for anything. It was not someone's knocking on the door. Someone could have been asking the neighbor to borrow a cup of sugar. But the way he came at me I was very upset. And it could have been more of a court Excuse me, sir. You are by I am a taxpayer so I think I do you know, kind of sort of pay salaries for people. But um, excuse me, sir, you kind of meet the description of someone that we're looking for. Would you mind taking your hands out of your pockets? That's a whole different situation. whole different way to talk to wanting to city a sense that you are policing nonviolent crime it'd been different Oh, someone murdered someone gunshots blah, blah, this and blah, blah, whatever could have went on someone kicking the door, kicked my door and that would have been a totally different situation. If you pull it up on me like that. I would understand but I know where I just came from. I just walked I walked not even 100 feet from my house. So I don't know what their chief is just a thing of cordial. If we want to build a relationship with the police officers, I understand that you guys are under a lot of stress. You don't know who you pull it up on are you walking up on so I understand that. But it was something for nonviolent someone's knocking on someone's door and I'm afraid to take my hands out of my pocket. And like I said earlier, I'm walking with a stranger to go talk to him about the Lord and I was going to carry my firearm because I didn't know walking with. I am glad the Lord told me leave that thing at home. Me two totally different situations. And my wife and kids was at the window watching this happen.
Speaker 1
02:21:23Yes, this is what I want to do. I've been to one of the chiefs meet the Chiefs meeting over on Hamilton. And you know every near tragedy is a teachable moment. And so I look just like YouTube. When I had a suit on I'm just a dude and some jeans and a shirt with a hand for the dreadlocks and so and half the people in my family are police officers so I get it. I think what we need to do people like yourself, and we've been building before on other things is that we need to have these conversations because this this is the weirdest thing in the world. The safest I feel is when I'm in Highland Park, as bizarre people hear me say that because when I go outside in the larger community, most of the places I go I'm the only brothers so I get what you're saying. So if this is our home, I think we need to work with the law enforcement professionals that are here and have a conversation about how we get to where we're talking about going to where they can see us. At the same time they're seeing us if you don't I'm saying I want them to you want them to you a father and a husband. You know, I see your family. I see you with your wife and your kids. So I want you to have an opportunity to have a conversation with some of these people because the world this is this is a teachable moment. You know most tragedies turn into a teachable moment. So I have the non emergency number and also had a chiefs kind of wait
Speaker 27
02:22:39can I continue? Just one more second. Go ahead. Now when I went to call it and again teachable moment, I call it the desk. Hey, this is what nitriding hung up. Oh, maybe my phone dropped the call. Try it again. Same thing hung up. Oh, okay. So I reached out to someone said when's the next meeting? It could have been handled easy talk to me on the phone. But I think this is a better form in order for me to voice this because it might happen to some one else and they might not be as lucky as I am.
Unknown Speaker
02:23:07I appreciate that. I appreciate you. All right.
Unknown Speaker
02:23:10Council President Matt speak.
Unknown Speaker
02:23:13Chief is on the line. Oh, cool.
Speaker 22
02:23:16Okay, sir, personally apologize that you had a negative experience with the police department. I can assure you that's that's something that you know, we don't tolerate in the police department and, and typically that that would not be the experience you would have. I definitely want to look further. And if again, someone could Ford him my phone number. I will. I'll be in you can reach out to me or give me your contact number. I'd like to look into this further. And you know, I agree this is a teachable moment. This is something that I don't want to ever happen again. And, you know, we'll we'll work on that. Thank you. Appreciate
Speaker 1
02:24:01it. Thank you, sir. Yeah. Oh, no, no, I got your number in my phone. I get it. All right. We have any more citizens comments? Yes, ma'am. Citizens comments. I'm looking at for hands
Unknown Speaker
02:24:24on with water. The floor is yours. You guys are getting counsel.
Speaker 28
02:24:34You make an answer this you may not. Now. The citizens pay the water bill every month. My question is where does the money go?
Speaker 1
02:24:4860% of every dollar goes to Gleevec of every dollar the city takes in and 65 cents of every dollar goes to Glee what immediately
Unknown Speaker
02:24:5665 cents
Speaker 1
02:24:59of every dollar the rest goes to MCA to manage our water authority. So they when I tell you that we're not paying that's some BS, okay. has been like that for a long time. They would take 90 cents of every dollar if they could.
Speaker 28
02:25:11Okay. I just want to know because I'm like, you know, not just me. I'm sure everybody remember the bills are real high 1000s and 1000s. Trust me, I
Unknown Speaker
02:25:20remember. Yep,
Speaker 28
02:25:21I do. And I just wondered like, how come they the bill hasn't come down or anything such like that, but now I guess I get it because they can do what they want.
Unknown Speaker
02:25:32That's what Miss squares. Yeah, okay. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Yes, Mr. Gorsky, please. Now I'm not running a timer because the room was small. But I mean,
Speaker 29
02:25:49I'll be brief. I promise. I just want to invite everyone here. Tomorrow evening at non Disney village Cafe there will be a meeting, citizens meeting about water issue and we're having conversations, you know, we're not you know, some people say that somebody's going to do this or somebody's going to do that. That's not exactly what's happening right now. We're getting our legs and having conversations and then there's some protesting going on, which is led by a couple of people who will be there. Well, actually, maybe not but but there are people who are going to continue the protesting. So I just wanted to invite everyone to come out and Mandy's tomorrow night at seven o'clock. Now did you have have anything to add? to that?
Speaker 1
02:26:41All right, thank you anyone else? Mr Lemire?
Speaker 30
02:26:58That was fun. I just wanted to say something to the council. And to to the rest of us in the room here. We can make Oh, excuse me. We can make all the noise that we want in this city. Nobody at the state or the federal level seems to care. Our representative was sitting in the corner. snickering the whole time. It's really easy to just get a check for $19 million. And I just read in the local Highland Park paper the other day, that until 2021 for every gallon of Parker used two gallons or spilled. We're paying for the great lake water authorities spills in our city. So I just I just got a real job for the first time in a year and a half. Thank God. I'm working at a temple in Southfield and I'd like to make how you say the accommodations for a fundraiser. And for about, I did the math. It'd be about 20 buses. I would like every Highland Parker either in this city or an alum of Highland Park High School to get on a bus and go to the Mackinac policy conference and look these people in the face and ask them why. It's that simple. We can we can go out on Woodward and hold up our science. The news can come here. Nobody at the state or the federal level cares. Just let's go up to the Mackinac policy conference on May 30. And look them in the eyes and ask them why I live here. My mother lives here. And I will die in this city. And I don't want to see anybody thrown out of their houses because of some corporate entities mistake that has only been in existence for the last decade. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
02:28:59Thank you Mr. Lamere. Mr. Lackey, do we have anybody online?
Unknown Speaker
02:29:08Council President, I have no hands raised.
Speaker 1
02:29:11Okay, thank you people in the audience. We're going to move on to council Affairs Mr. Shafi, the floor is yours. Thank you.
Speaker 2
02:29:21I would love to address your first miss. Yes, yes. Forward. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Miss Edwards is absolutely correct. The reason I got up and put my coat on the moment that we did not approve that agenda. This meeting was finished. It was finished. I only set that down because I noticed that they were wanting to play and I did not want to leave Miss Martin and Miss Robinson sitting here by themselves. That's the only reason I sat back down. Okay. Well, once we did not approve the agenda, this meeting is done. So everything that was done here tonight is in quite every bit of it. Once the agenda was not approved, that's the end of the meeting. Okay, um, chose the residents of Highland Park. Again, I want to emphasize I know I have a tendency to be a little loud. I have a tendency to be a little brash, I have a tendency to be a little bit rude. But when somebody is spitting in your face, there is no penalty polite. Okay, we are in a fight for our lives in this city. They are trying to bleed us out of this city. They are trying to push us out of this city. And after I had a productive talk with people from the state and other people have important positions in this city I realized that maybe we were given a skirt to make us feel like we needed to do something this drastic. I no longer favor bankruptcy. I'm sorry. I don't. I see what's coming. I see what happened to Detroit. And I don't want to have to hear to us. So we need to stand up. We need to fight. We need to get alongside of everybody who is going to stand up and fight for this city and take it to them because they're sitting there as Mr Lemire said this thing they're laughing at us. They think it's funny. They don't see us as important as they should see us. But this is an election year, and we're going to make them see us. We're going to make them recognize us and recognize this city. You will not come here and bleed us and tell us oh, we're still your friends. So if I happen to be a little bit nasty and a little bit rude, I humbly apologize. And if I'm doing something that you disapprove of again, I work for you. The moment you're tired of me, as allows my witness, do your recall and get rid of me and I will gladly step down. I won't even fight that effort. If that's how you feel about me, let me go but while I'm sitting here, we're gonna fight like hell. until the wheels fall off. Thank you
Unknown Speaker
02:32:17Hello, hello, everybody. Great evening to you. I want to I want to start off saying that, yes.
Speaker 7
02:32:27The water is a big tragedy. And something's got to be done because we've been dealing with it for far too long. And Jamil, great, great point. I don't know about the agenda and not approving it. Great question. I don't know what just happened myself. So yeah, it definitely is questionable at this point. I hope that something is resolved for this water, and that we don't end up in this in another 10 years. That's something that we don't need. And we don't want that right. However, at the same time, we got to start thinking about strategies. I got a great ideas on testing. I don't know who's going to put things together but I would love to share some ideas. On a strategic type of protest that I have. And in saying that, I still stand on and committed to we have to think and have conversation about revenue coming in. Thank you and have a great night
Unknown Speaker
02:33:39man
Speaker 5
02:33:41Good evening, everyone. Can you hear me? My mic keeps going out as why I asked. I hear all the comments we take me in. We are here. Um, I hear all the debate. I hear all the things I hear a lot of claps. I hear all the pomp and circumstance but at the same time, I guess, are united. So all I'm asking or what I'm saying is when I spoke to miss ever okay, I get that and I'm here my counterpart is Martin you read this, she did not know. I'm sure she's not the only one. But now you've given us the opportunity to come back and act like I knew. But when we voted on the saying was an amendment that was being added to the agenda. No. Okay. Maybe we didn't go back. I don't have to look myself to say we didn't go back and actually approve the regular agenda. But I would have preferred to be told later and that all in the open state because they know let me tell you why. Because just like you're watching it. So is everybody else looks like and I'm not going to be rude to anyone more it looks like
Unknown Speaker
02:35:09it looks like I'm gonna show did you get I'm showing you that you don't know what is the way the teeth there's a way to help. But I'm not going to
Speaker 5
02:35:26get up here. And I'm not going to also pretend like I did something. Oh, and I did it for this reason. No. You did because you want it to. She just gave you a reason for why you didn't. So my question a lot of times when I asked him Is Why are you picking? Why are you saying no? Because there was some people in the audience just like you're saying the representative was laughing. He was also laughing and he had Holland partners with him. So understand that there was some holiday partnership with him. Why he was mad. Right? Right. So please understand that as well as there were people in the audience that were only here for marijuana. We got a you're gonna tell me what I'm doing wrong. Are we gonna keep it real? Let's keep it real. So when you stand up here and you talk about we talking about war, my own concern that or I should say my facade is at the top of the list. Just like everyone else, guess what I get to say I was born. I get to say I was born and still here and have grandchildren and he went to school here. We're still at work. So when you talk about being a hard worker, I don't think anyone know better than me about work under some of your mother's when your mother or your grandmother
Unknown Speaker
02:37:09looking at me.
Unknown Speaker
02:37:10Oh, I was looking.
Speaker 5
02:37:13Everybody on this house was born one time. So when you talk about apart and I see people get up and stand up and they have they don't live here. You have a purpose. When you're standing up here. So don't tell me that you don't then you leave convenient. Okay, we have to start recognizing when people are filling us and giving us what they want us to have because I have some questions. I can't ask because they lie here. How do you know what I didn't receive as a city council first? Somebody because I haven't talked to you. So tell me what I haven't received. You can't tell me what I haven't received as a city council person from administration. Unless you are working here somewhere I don't know. Or you ask somebody telling or you think that that was supposed to be the topic of conversation on top of a conversation was one and how we're gonna live here because guess what all you got to go home to where did I get one right? They're not gonna war I'm not saying don't go and protest because I think I said at the very first meeting, you can holler at us all day long.
Unknown Speaker
02:38:31What is it you have?
Speaker 5
02:38:34No one hears us. So coming in here, how the US doesn't do it. And I know that sometimes we don't do all the things we supposed to do. I'm not against anybody on this panel. And I accept all those conversations, all the comments that you get. But that also asked us sometimes I guess, why did you say why do you want a marijuana? Why aren't you talking about what? Why are we changing the conversation? Why we're talking about systematic thing. We also have to talk about the version. How do I get you off topic? How do I get you to think about something else when you shouldn't be thinking about how are we going to survive? How are we going to warm? I'm saying I can't grow marijuana if I'm having a war
Speaker 5
02:39:40okay, I can see my brand. Okay have brands like everybody else because a lot of things and I know I'm going but I don't say much because I listened and I hear I usually I try questions before eating and try to obtain them. Because again, no, we shouldn't be here this long, and he shouldn't have to say but sometimes it's just redundant. Some people just get up just to talk just the same thing. I really would like for this to change the situation. As you can see, we voted and agreed on something. We asked me that it was broken when he had some onion Okay, and we all go and protest we also got to feel failure to go there looking TV may be gone, but the internet is still on. So that's all I'm asking you. We do have some good things coming up in the city, so people might not want our citizens page. They do mention a lot of those things. I just want to have a report back about the cat we had last week. It was a Customer Appreciation Day and you might Mariah for water systems. It was one of the better ones we've had out of greed is here. And you don't know when you Mount Moriah Yes, that's why I'm pointing out you know this will work. They weren't able to service to my knowledge, at least one people. That doesn't sound like lack, but it is when you don't have people coming out. But we also had a great number of people come from everywhere else. So that had is what they call it or customer appreciation that will take place in a couple of other areas. In the city and see if we do any better. Because along with our protests in our fight, we also have to be financially sound. We also have to pay our bill, get some assistance that's coming that's out there. So you need to come and get that assistance. Also, you need to get some of the financial counseling. And I'm not saying that in a bad way. What I'm saying is that people are standing out here saying you will begin to understand why they whooping and hollering about what they need and they don't leave you okay guys love you. I know talk to him always. Say something I'm just gonna say amen.
Unknown Speaker
02:42:39Man protests.
Speaker 25
02:42:42As Miss Mallika So, proudly said thank my pastor for being here. Okay, I have really three concerns. One is Highland Park residents water have been getting turned off within the past. And I was wondering and wanted to know how we could make them more aware of the programs to prevent the worst shut offs. That's my first thing. The second concern is I've been getting phone calls. Complaining about our DPW Mr. Mike Reese, and his citizens dropping off the breeze. I don't know if he's still here. I guess he left but I've been getting a lot of phone calls about that him telling them that they can't drop this off. They can't do that. And then my last thing is about our workshops April the 17th I email my president to ask him, could we have a workshop in regards to bringing the Joe Louis brainwaves coming through Highland Park to let citizens know about it? And he said no. Correct. And we will not have any workshops until further notice. I just wanted to say that for the record. And thank you I love your
Unknown Speaker
02:44:16request
Unknown Speaker
02:44:18for resources.
Unknown Speaker
02:44:21There's still a lot of people that don't know about.
Speaker 5
02:44:24So I am pretty sure and you can just double check. I think the last deal in the bill should have been or may or will be like flyers to win those assistance days. They usually put the information in the video, so please make sure that you read all flyers or papers and signed up. The other thing is to reach out to Wayne Metro. And I think that's a water hazard in DHS. DHS does have money for water. So you just have to apply for NCR and let them know if you're calling places like Wayne Metro. You have to say what you want. Like you can't be afraid to say my water cut off and help me get it back on and sometimes that's what I've heard because I've said something is that when you get the information, the phone call, they're asking for the wrong thing. So that person on the other line is responding to that. You get what I'm saying? So again, I only personally or nonprofit that I know what water gets when a metro but also DHS or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services get this issue All right.
Speaker 1
02:45:46Thank you so much. So let me try and address some things real quick here. counselor program is correct. I have canceled the workshops. If they don't involve the water or a a serious city related issue. I have canceled the workshops. That's an additional two hours of time. That should be set aside to work on pressing city items and there's not a single department here that has come to me and say we need to do a workshop. Mr. Thomas, can we do one and I've said no to the Joe Louis Greenway project is a Detroit based initiative. And let's be honest, Fox Two is still on the internet right now. Our city council meetings have been widely viewed and they're very embarrassing. As as a president of city councilor, most of my work is outside of the city of Highland Park. I interact with Detroit city council people. I'm in regular communication with Ms. Chang. I'm interacting with people in the business community. And they're all looking at me asking questions about what's going on with me and my family, me and my cousins and kinfolk. And so at this point, we've only been at this for we're in our fifth month. If we can put our focus on what's important. Then there's no need to waste the citizens time with the workshop. The next workshop will be on the budget. It'd be an opportunity for council to really grit drill down on issues that are important related to city business. The workshop is a feature that is the purview of the city council president not to miss for every day they put another black man in a box. Every day, somebody's uncle, somebody's father, somebody's grandfather has been thrown in a box for a living. I'm a certified mediator. My job is what I get paid for is to jump in the middle of a fight between two entities and try to separate those people and get them to come to terms is very stressful. And I'm up at 5am every morning. Now I moved my wife here in the year 2000. And I told her my mother went to the nursing school I said we can build a life here. We can raise our children here. I met the people on my block and I said these are the type of people that I they remind me of me growing up, I want to be a part of this thing. And then 8900 people in this town and only 14 People at his whole city put their name on a piece of paper to say I want to stand up in front of the whole world and represent our community. And I was one of them and my family protested. They were like Daddy, no, you're always busy all you never have any time for us. And I said to my kids, this is our community. This is our village. How dare I have the skill and the capabilities to stand at the gate to stand at the end of the wall to look after and defend our community in that you got to understand based on what I do for a living to take care of my family. I have denied them my time. I have a 22 year old daughter who grew up barely seeing her father so I can't sit here in this chair and not be honest. The out of the 8900 people in this town is for people I really love being around and I only get to see them two or three hours a day. So I'm sorry if I let that out. I'm sorry if I love my wife and kids so much that that's all I think about sitting in these chairs getting home and being with them. And if they come out me saying I don't want to be here till 1011 o'clock because I go home and asleep. And I see him in the car so it's no disrespect to you. I'm talking to you about what's important to me what's on my heart. I can't hide what I love is not being disrespectful to you to say I don't want to be here till 10 Because I want to go home and help my kids with their homework. I want to sit. I know that's my point. My point is at 900 People here it's only five people sitting in these chairs all of us are given up something. All of us are given up something and all the people and all the people in this town, only 14 people out of the 8900 people that were here, let's say half of those are adults, these people that love this community, and I can't fault my peers here because they said they wanted to be here. But it was 24 meetings or however many special means that they're called they stick cameras in our faces. They follow us around they do protests outside our house. People call us a complaint. We all took that on because of our commitment to the community. It's not a disrespect, we regular people. I put my pants on one leg at a time. So I don't I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you. I want you to know that. That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm being honest. I'm just a regular guy sitting in his chair to Mrs. Edwards point. On January 2, my very first act as city council president was to invite the National Association of Parliamentarians into our meetings, and my three council members said no, the reason why I asked is because I don't know everything. And I'm not going to pretend that I know. I make mistakes all the time. That's how I learned stuff. You will never get me to say I don't I know everything I don't. What I don't know vastly outpaces the little stuff that I do know. So for us to make a mistake like that to honor what you said the meeting is not over. There's still an opportunity to make sure that all this work we do we don't have to repeat because if we don't make a motion to approve the agenda, we're coming back and we're gonna do this whole thing over again. Because you're not wrong with what you say. So the question stands is there a member of city council who's willing to make a motion to approve the agenda for all the work that we did these contracts we approved? If the answer is no, that's fine. But we're gonna come back and we're gonna do this all over again, because we're in a crisis. And as we was fighting over what we're going to talk about we neglected to do something that was important. So I've seen other meetings where things were neglected and things weren't done properly. It was I would never go to each line item and say you didn't do this properly. This was done wrong. The motions will carry Ron it's not gonna come out of my mouth, because I make mistakes too. The question is based on what we heard from an educated person who knows parliamentarian procedure, what are we gonna do
Unknown Speaker
02:51:29for
Unknown Speaker
02:51:31a first 2020
Speaker 1
02:51:34We have a second. Chair off was a second. Madam Clerk. The meeting is still proceeding under Council affairs. Would you mind taking the roll and we have a motion on the floor to approve the agenda. We just spent the last three hours on. Are we going to repeat it again next meeting. We have a motion from Council automatica seconded by the chair would you take the roll on that item?
Unknown Speaker
02:51:55Council President?
Unknown Speaker
02:51:56Yes to approve the agenda we just completed No.
Unknown Speaker
02:52:05Councilwoman Monica
Unknown Speaker
02:52:06Yes.
Unknown Speaker
02:52:08Councilwoman Martin
Unknown Speaker
02:52:13it's all up to you Mr. Shafi. We can do it again. So we're going to be doing this all over again.
Unknown Speaker
02:52:23So still having Stig
Unknown Speaker
02:52:26and I check just because I'm
Unknown Speaker
02:52:30not me that the
Speaker 1
02:52:31thought that I know elessar if we couldn't go by the book that mean we had to go by the book. Having completed all items related to city business and coming to the end of origin know
Unknown Speaker
02:52:58the items were
Speaker 1
02:53:13all these items were voted on Mr. They were voted on. All these items were voted on. So believe me there will stand. We had a motion to adjourn. We have a motion to adjourn on the floor. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those items were voted on ma'am. They'll stand. motion was made by Mr. shocky