Highland Park City Council
Highland Park City Council
Politics
Remote
Join meeting on Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/361243988
Agendas may be found at: https://highlandparkmi.gov/government/city-council/agendas-minutes/2024/
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Eric Walton
Police chief addresses criticism, complaints and misinformation regarding cars being towed at a recent food festival in Avalon Village.
Live reporting by
Colleen Cirocco
Police chief addresses criticism, complaints and misinformation regarding cars being towed at a recent food festival in Avalon Village.
Colleen Cirocco
@colleencirocco
Hey Detroit! Tonight at 7:00 PM I’ll be live-tweeting the Highland Park City Council meeting for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
11:31 AM Aug 19, 2024 CDT
sooooo here's the thing - normally these meetings start at 7 but it looks like it started at 6 tonight?
@DetDocumenters -heads up on the time change for this meeting - it says it changed from 5:30 to 6, but I've only ever known them to start at 7. Here's a copy of tonight's agenda which is in a new format as well. highlandparkmi.gov/media/ppgdhm14…
highlandparkmi.gov/media/ppgdhm14…
@DetDocumenters Right now city administrator Cathy Square is going back and forth questioning someone with a proposal over the phone. She wants more information on specifics how how funds will be handled. Not sure what the specifics are, I joined right in the middle of the call.
@DetDocumenters In 2021 they were awarded a grant for research to be done to see how solar energy could benefit Highland Park. There were 4 recommendations to come out of this research, they are looking for a resolution to implement these recommendations.
@DetDocumenters If someone wants to put up a solar panel anywhere but a rooftop there are no specifications on how tall it can be, how far away from the building, etc. A developer would have to come on a special case, but an ordinance would create rules to make it a faster process.
@DetDocumenters Representative from the city (planning dept?) - this is now open for discussion since this is the first time council is hearing about this, not asking for adoption tonight.
@DetDocumenters President Thomas - "I don't know a time when we've addressed ordinances" - wants an electronic version, wants this to be available to curious residents who care about the city. He said on the surface it sounds pretty good.
@DetDocumenters Not sure what can be done at this meeting tonight - council members Martin and Ash-Shaafi are not present, only 2/4 council members are here.
@DetDocumenters Anyone who would want to add solar panels on the ground on their lot, not on their roof would need to go through the planning department to get special land use permission.
@DetDocumenters Okay - it sounds like that was all a workshop meeting, not a formal meeting. Switching over to that stream now.
Well, you all got a little extra coverage because I read the agenda wrong haha
@DetDocumenters THIS is the agenda for the council meeting for 8/19/24 highlandparkmi.gov/media/v4lbjmng…
highlandparkmi.gov/media/v4lbjmng…
@DetDocumenters Thomas notes they haven't met for six weeks and a lot has happening in the community.
@DetDocumenters Recommendation from legal to remove these items from the agenda - an to move VI C to the next meeting.
The first four items in the agenda have been completed and approved - not sure why but Pro Tem Robinson was voting no on approving the agendas.
President Thomas introduces the next section saying that it's important that the mayor has a chance to address the public - asks that the citizens don't take over the meeting. Mayor McDonald is in person tonight as opposed to on the phone.
The mayor isn't speaking into the mic so it's hard to hear her- she's going over different events around the city. She said there will be information coming out about ordinances that will affect Highland Park residents' homes. All vendoring ordinances need to be adhered to
Mayor can't address a pending litigation regarding a food truck vendor situation.
1. Wants to address item V - Bid Opening, water main and service line replacement project. Will there be money available to address properties that aren't currently occupied. Has spent about $50k fixing a property. I'm here for the long term, I'm committed to improving the city.
2. Addressing item VII Areas of improvement in the city council - be ready for meetings, display appropriate decorum, show common courtesy and respect, prioritize the city's best interest. Respectfully ask that you comply. Letter comes from 50 residents.
➡️ Item V - Bid Opening Motion to open the bid - passes. 1st bid Bidigare - Plymouth MI. $6,945,430, phase 1. $6,440,643, phase 2. $13,386,000 total project price.
2nd bid - LGC Global, Detroit. Phase 1 - $4,771,288.38; Phase 2 - $4,012,261.02 - Total project price, $8,783,560.01
3rd bid - Bricco, Oak Park. Phase 1 - $5,752,377; Phase 2 - $6,813,055; Total Project Price- $12,565,432
4th Bid (out of 4)- Major Contractor Group Inc, Detroit. Phase 1 - $6,790,295; Phase 2 - $8,399,462; Total Project Price - $15,189,757
➡️VI A - Community Development Motion carries, no vote from Pro Tem Robinson
Before going to the next section, the council needs to vote that the water bids can be passed over to the water department. Motion carries, no vote from Pro Tem Robinson
➡️ IX - Outside Communication Motion to receive and file, motion carries.
President Thomas notes that they have attended to all city business in 45 minutes, and we can do it again - "and that is worth applauding." It did seem like a strangely efficient meeting, no discussion on any items, which is completely unheard of from my perspective.
Coming up is the second round of citizens participation, which can be about any topic (not necessary on the agenda). We are taking a quick break before that happens.
7:47 - moving into Citizens Participation 1. Lisa Stolarski, city treasurer - did research on tree farm property, she is reading parcel numbers that have been sold, do we need a referendum for that type of property.
2. Born and raised in Highland Park. Remembers when city services started declining. Asks council to find workable solutions to work together. "Tonight's meeting was kind of okay, but we can pull up videos of when it was not." This speaker went over the 2 minutes, to 3.5 mins
3. Wants to know why her water bill is wrong. Thinks solar is good but there could be issues. For Avalon Village, does anyone own that big lot on Woodward, are they receiving money for parking cars. When is the plumbing going to be fixed in some houses, basements get flooded
4. Executive director of Solidarity, a nonprofit organization. Is hoping there isn't as much resistance as previous administrations in getting the solar ordinance passed.
5. Concerned with sink holes, water is coming into their building.
6. Online caller - founder and CEO of Avalon Village. Sat Aug 10, annual Hungry Black Man Food Festival. No parking signs were put up on the eve of the event, many cars were towed. No notice of the 'no parking' signs in advance. Optics were bad, not a partnership.
7. Born and raised in Highland Park, now retired. Filing a complaint, lives at Bishopmore Apartments, property near her 'looks like a wilderness,' a lot from Woodward and Manchester to Woodward and Second, orange and black building.
8. From Wayne County Treasurer's office - has starting foreclosing on tax year 2022, right now until oct your down payment is 10% if you want to get on a payment plan, is willing to help anyone after if they have questions.
9. Came back to Highland Park after having moved away - a master gardener, can help anyone who needs it. We have to work together to get Highland Park to look better and be better, not just have one nice block.
10. - Was thrilled to hear about the solar ordinance - we need street lights on Hamilton. - Publish the names of the residents on the citizens district councils. - Remind people that the legislation for the statewide water affordability plan is still on the table.
11. Question for DPW - has a lot that is still owned by the Land Bank, wonders if it the lawn can be cut by the city. For a block party, she can only block her street off for 4 hours, but others can get way more, why is this?
12. Long time Highland Park resident, shared a story about someone buying land who did something positive to take care of it.
13. Grew up in HP, no longer a resident, but family lives here. Concerned about a strip club - there was a fire and it closed, but someone is interested in reopening. Thinks it's a problem for there to be complete nudity available for anyone 18 and older.
14. Chief McMann - thanks to everyone who came to National Night Out. 9/21 at the Hamilton Building they are having a mental health training class, need to register with records office. Wants to make sure we're all property trained with people in crisis.
14. cont - elephant in the room, the event at Avalon Village. Thinks it's a positive thing overall. Was disappointed to hear words like entrapment, targeting, and harassment. There was a statement, "the only thing HP has going from it are Mama Shu and Avalon Village"
14. cont - all of the people in Highland Park make it great. They were charging $20 a car, some people parked on the streets. Needed to tow vehicles that restricted emergency vehicles, blocking alleyways. Towed 24 vehicles. They boasted they had 10,000 people.
14. cont - Several had improper plates, one parked on the sidewalk, one was blocking the alley, were blocking the way for potential emergency vehicles. 20 tickets were written, 8 were ticketed and towed. 12 were just ticketed, if they wanted money, they could have towed everyone
14. cont - private businesses were towing, not connected to police. Says some of the signs on 2nd had been there for years. Numerous citizens complained about last years event, so they prepared and put up new signs. Personally called Mama Shu - made announcements during event
14. cont - some people say the mayor was leading the charge of towing vehicles. Says the mayor doesn't tell him how to do his job. Wants a better solution for next year - personal opinion is that this is not the venue for large events. Would like to sit down with organizers.
14. cont - Mayor was getting a lot of online harassment over this, threats of violence. Very disappointing. With administrative fees they made about $2k from the tows, not $10k which people online were saying.
Applause after the chief finishes speaking. President Thomas asked him to come and bring hard numbers to combat the misinformation online.
➡️ Council Affairs Ash-Shaafi - stands with the chief and the mayor. Council had nothing to do with this event, but we were blamed on social media. I don't understand the sense of entitlement of people coming into this city and doing whatever they want.
Martin - disagrees with the words being word online. There's a certain control that needs to happen with large events, there needs to be a better place for large events like that. Words separate us as citizens and don't form community.
Manica - agrees with the mayor, police, council, we have rules. "We're not trying to keep things from happening, we're trying to start where we haven't been."
Manica suggests forming committees to work on ordinances and other efforts.
President Thomas - major events have happened in the city in the last few years, private property owner made space for the public. A major news network highlighted the city in the last month because of the work done in Avalon Village.
Thomas - let people speak for longer than three minutes during citizens participation, since they got through the meeting so quickly they had the time.
Ash-Shaafi asks Thomas to call a motion to adjourn the meeting instead of just ending it like he's done in the past, since that is a violation of Robert's Rules - Thomas says it's not a violation but agrees to humor him.
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
Meeting adjourned at 9:02pm. This concludes the Highland Park City Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 9/3/2024. For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org
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Attachments
Agency Information
Highland Park City Council
Pursuant to the Highland Park Charter, Chapters 5 and 6, the City Council of Highland Park is comprised of 5 members; 2 at-large and one from each council district. The council exercises all of the legislative powers of the city, except as otherwise stated by law, and provides for the public’s peace and health, and for the safety of persons and property.
The council meets in regular session in the established Council Chamber on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
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