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/Reference/Agendas-and-Minutes/City-Council/2024.aspx
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Jen David
Councilmembers approved the final settlement agreement resolving Highland Park's outstanding water debt. Council also appointed Lisa Stolarski temporarily to the position of city treasurer, and scheduled a special primary election for Aug. 6 for the position.
Live reporting by
Amy Senese
Councilmembers approved the final settlement agreement resolving Highland Park's outstanding water debt. Council also appointed Lisa Stolarski temporarily to the position of city treasurer, and scheduled a special primary election for Aug. 6 for the position.
amy k senese 🍉
@amysenese
At 7pm tonight I'll be live-tweeting the Highland Park City Council meeting for @DetDocumenters
#DetroitDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @michigan_public @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
#DetroitDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @michigan_public @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
04:41 PM Mar 18, 2024 CDT
The agenda for tonight's meeting in Highland Park is pictured here and can be found at this link:
highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/…
The Highland Park City Council meeting takes place in person at 12050 Woodward Avenue | Highland Park, Michigan.
Click on this link from the HP city website to join the virtual meeting link:
highlandparkmi.gov/Government/Cit…
Click on this link from the HP city website to join the virtual meeting link:
The city's Facebook page lists upcoming events like the upcoming Hustle Night series of lessons every Tuesday starting March 19th at the Highland Park Rec Center.
facebook.com/TheCityofHighl…
Tonight there's a resolution on the agenda to approve a Primary and Special election to replace City Treasurer as required by the City Charter, because former Treasurer Janice Taylor-Bibbs was ousted due to a housing scandal.
metrotimes.com/news/judge-boo…
During the last council meeting, the Highland Park City Council approved the water & sewer agreement with GLWA (Great Lakes Water Authority) with a condition that a 3rd party trust agreement is set up to handle future payments.
detroitnews.com/story/news/loc…
Highland Park's Council members for the 2023 - 2026 term are:
Jamal K. Thomas, Council President
Sharmaine Robinson, Council President Pro Tem
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1
Kallela Martin, Council Member, District 2
Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3
Jamal K. Thomas, Council President
Sharmaine Robinson, Council President Pro Tem
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1
Kallela Martin, Council Member, District 2
Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3
That's all for now, I'll be back at 7pm!
For all past coverage of Highland Park's City Council, go to the #Detdocumenters website:
detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
For all past coverage of Highland Park's City Council, go to the #Detdocumenters website:
The meeting came to order at 7pm sharp, and all members are present. We are on the agenda now, but they are moving things around.
The resolution to approve the Special Election to replace the City Treasurer has been moved up to B.
The resolution to approve the Special Election to replace the City Treasurer has been moved up to B.
Mayor Glenda McDonald addressed the meeting. A few brief announcements, thanked everyone that worked on the GLWA agreement, said she is looking forward to the future.
Now they will take public comment on agenda items only.
question on community development and selling vacant lots, asking if documents submitted when people apply to buy lots are available to the public.
President Thomas will address that later in the meeting.
question on community development and selling vacant lots, asking if documents submitted when people apply to buy lots are available to the public.
President Thomas will address that later in the meeting.
On Davidson right before Oakland, there's not enough signage for people coming off the highway, to be aware of people on the service drive.
Asking about the property 400 Highland, which is on the agenda as a resolution to sell.
Asking about the property 400 Highland, which is on the agenda as a resolution to sell.
They didn't answer these questions, I'm assuming they will address them when the agenda items come up.
Now we will hear a GLWA update.
more than just an agreement, it's a settlement.
The city administrator Cathy Square faced the audience of residents and read the entire agreement.
more than just an agreement, it's a settlement.
The city administrator Cathy Square faced the audience of residents and read the entire agreement.
Now someone named Ron is going over points of the agreement, speaking directly to the council at the front.
He's speaking to withdrawals and deposits, specifics of the trust agreement that dictate how the water bills will be paid, there will be rate studies, and forecasts.
He's speaking to withdrawals and deposits, specifics of the trust agreement that dictate how the water bills will be paid, there will be rate studies, and forecasts.
Ron is saying it's almost exactly the same document they saw 2 weeks ago.
All the customer payments go to a Comerica lock box, and the City will be able to track them to make sure payments are being made. Comerica will pick up all these checks.
All the customer payments go to a Comerica lock box, and the City will be able to track them to make sure payments are being made. Comerica will pick up all these checks.
Payments were being made to the City, now it will be a different address. A lot of people pay by cash and that will still be taken by the treasurer. The checks will go to the P.O. Box.
The Council approved the GLWA agreement, with all members voting yes.
We are now on to item 6, which was moved at the beginning of the meeting, the special election to replace the City Treasurer.
Q: why do we need a special election?
A: It's needed because it's not a scheduled election.
Q: What is the cost of the election?
A: I believe I heard, $25,000. The clerk is answering.
A: It's needed because it's not a scheduled election.
Q: What is the cost of the election?
A: I believe I heard, $25,000. The clerk is answering.
What date is proposed?
First Tuesday of August, the 6th. November 5th is the general. The dates are listed on the resolution. As far as I know, we don't have a copy of the resolution.
First Tuesday of August, the 6th. November 5th is the general. The dates are listed on the resolution. As far as I know, we don't have a copy of the resolution.
If the public is interested, the deadline to file to run for the City Treasurer is April 20th.
Resolution approved. All members voted yes.
Resolution approved. All members voted yes.
Now, President Thomas is referring to item 6B, a resolution to appoint a City Treasurer.
Council member Ash-Shafii is concerned about the timeline. The treasurer was removed. Her last day was February 22nd. They have to appoint someone 30 days after the vacancy occurs, according to the charter.
They don't have a name yet for the temporary appointment.
They don't have a name yet for the temporary appointment.
Council member Ash-Shafii wants to approve and appoint at the same time.
President Thomas is saying that's why it's under council affairs. However, it was moved at the beginning of the agenda, it's now off the agenda, and was put under council affairs.
President Thomas is saying that's why it's under council affairs. However, it was moved at the beginning of the agenda, it's now off the agenda, and was put under council affairs.
They have to first vote on the resolution during the agenda, then they can appoint a person during the council affairs section.
Council member Ash-Shafii is the member who suggested they move the item at the beginning of the meeting.
Council member Ash-Shafii is the member who suggested they move the item at the beginning of the meeting.
The city attorney is saying Council member Ash-Shafii should make a motion to approve the resolution and suggest a person to appoint at the same time.
Even if someone was appointed tonight, they would still have to pass a bond and a background check.
Councilmember Manica is asking if this will delay things even further.
It could, the city attorney is saying.
Councilmember Manica is asking if this will delay things even further.
It could, the city attorney is saying.
Councilmember Manica is asking if there's a benefit in waiting. Cathy Square said there is a whole process and a company they work with on the bonds.
The bond will likely be the same amount as the outgoing treasurer's bond.
The bond will likely be the same amount as the outgoing treasurer's bond.
Member Ash-Shafii said it's a $2 million bond. There's a candidate here who went through the interview, she's the only one who went through the process. He's saying she's qualified and they shouldn't stall.
Member Ash-Shafii is making a motion to approve the resolution to appoint the City Treasurer, he wants to motion that they appoint Lisa Stanlansky (not sure on the spelling). Also includes the bond amount of $2 million.
Member Martin is saying these two actions, the resolution to appoint, and then naming the appointee should be separate.
City attorney said he's already made the motion. They can discuss and then vote.
City attorney said he's already made the motion. They can discuss and then vote.
President Thomas said they never said they would vote today. Nine people applied, but everyone else was not qualified, as none of them were residents of Highland Park.
Member Martin is still asking that the two items be separated. It's causing confusion.
President Thomas is saying now they have to vote on the motion.
The motion is on the floor.
President Thomas is saying now they have to vote on the motion.
The motion is on the floor.
Item 6b, motion to approve resolution, bond and appoint Lisa Stalarskey.
The motion carried. Manika and Thomas were no.
The motion carried. Manika and Thomas were no.
Sale of lot at 400 Highland: Member Ash-Shafii has a question. Asking if Bees R E LLC is here, but they are not, they are located in Florida. Ash-Shafii is concerned, he wants assurances that the lot "is not going to sit there for the next 10-15 years."
Council Manika made a motion to receive and file the February Monthly statement.
Martin-no
Manika-yes
Robinson-no
Thomas-yes
Ash-Shafii-no
They will not receive the statement.
Martin-no
Manika-yes
Robinson-no
Thomas-yes
Ash-Shafii-no
They will not receive the statement.
They approved agenda item 10.
Thomas said they have completed their agenda in record time.
Thomas said they have completed their agenda in record time.
Now onto general public comment.
Asking that the city has more than one ambulance to service the city.
Asking that the city has more than one ambulance to service the city.
There are a lot of seniors, one ambulance is not enough. she's concerned about the way that they make motions. She's asking if the City Treasurer does not qualify for the bond amount, or passes the background check she's concerned that they will be further behind.
Resident Gracie wants to remind people that there's a World Water Day celebration at Faith Tabernacle Church on Friday, March 22nd from 6-9pm. There's important legislation they will talk about at the event for water affordability. Senator Stephanie Chang will be there.
Q: Will the water coming from the state of MI for the GLWA agreement be going into the trust?
A: No, the trust will only be made up of the resident payments for water bills.
A: No, the trust will only be made up of the resident payments for water bills.
Was speaking to officials representing the city well in a recent meeting.
Came to thank council for passing the GLWA agreement.
Came to thank council for passing the GLWA agreement.
Talking about the disagreement about the sale of the lot at 400 Highland to Bees R E LLC. He thinks the LLC applying should have been here to represent.
Saturday, April 6th, the police department will host a "community safety day", to build a relationship between the city and the police department. Asking residents to bring children. No age limit.
At 1323 Hamilton.
At 1323 Hamilton.
Now virtual comment. We can't hear the audio in the audience. I'm here in person.
Another in person comment: he was watching on youtube and came down. He doesn't want members to fight over the agenda. He's speaking to the selling of lots. He thinks the process isn't modernized.
Another in person comment: he was watching on youtube and came down. He doesn't want members to fight over the agenda. He's speaking to the selling of lots. He thinks the process isn't modernized.
...he thinks that these applications should be checked thoroughly. He said he's in is 30s and he's the one who's going to have to deal with their decisions. He's asking for a better cycle and for them to be doing things legally.
Now onto Council Affairs.
Member Ash-Shafii is speaking about the GLWA agreement, saying this is the purpose of city government. Saying at least the residents will be alright.
No resident in Highland Park should ever take a loss. He's in a great mood and nothing bad to say.
Member Ash-Shafii is speaking about the GLWA agreement, saying this is the purpose of city government. Saying at least the residents will be alright.
No resident in Highland Park should ever take a loss. He's in a great mood and nothing bad to say.
Member Martin said she noticed President Thomas is cutting the time down on member comments. Martin is saying she thinks they could finish even earlier. She thinks they did a good job on the GLWA agreement, a weight has been lifted. Wants to attend World Water Day.
Member Manika is thanking everyone and wants to speak to Gracie about World Water day. Thinks they can not be desperate just to develop or put people in offices. Sometimes they have to deviate from what they want to do to do things correctly.
Council President Pro Tem Sharmaine Robinson thanked everyone, said I love you, good night.
President Thomas said that anything he's learned in his life, he should share. He is speaking to being a real estate developer, I believe. It's something he's learned on his own, and by spending his own money. He's going to share any knowledge he has.
This is why Thomas was speaking to the LLC applying for the lot at 400 Highland. He was saying they shouldn't be prejudiced just because the LLC is located in Florida, or simply because it's an LLC applying.
Thomas is talking about urban farming, what's happening in Detroit with the animal ordinances.
Asked, where does your food come from?
Asked, where does your food come from?
This concludes my coverage of the Highland Park City Council meeting for Monday, March 18th, 2024.
If you feel anything is inaccurate, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
For more coverage, visit
documenters.org
If you feel anything is inaccurate, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
For more coverage, visit
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.
Documents
No documents available