Month: February 2025

Introduction:

Links to the video recording and the council packet are at the bottom of this post. Please note any errors or omissions in the comments. Anything noted in brackets was inserted by Clarkston Sunshine.

Agenda Item #1, Call to Order (video time mark 0:00:01):

Sue Wylie said ladies and gentlemen, it’s seven o’clock. If you would all, I’m calling the meeting to order.

Agenda Item #2, Pledge of Allegiance (video time mark 0:00:05):

Wylie said if you’d all please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge said.)

Wylie said thank you.

Agenda Item #3, Roll Call (video time mark 0:00:30):

Wylie said the third item on our agenda is a roll call. And Jonathan [Smith, city manager and acting clerk], if you would do the roll call, please.

Sue Wylie, Laura Rodgers, Gary Casey, Erica Jones, and Ted Quisenberry were present.

Al Avery and Amanda Forte were absent.

Wylie said okay, thank you.

Agenda Item #4, Approval of Agenda – Motion (video time mark 0:00:55):

Wylie said Item #4 is approval of the agenda, and we need a motion and then a second to approve of the agenda as it’s presented.

Motion by Jones; second Rodgers.

Wylie said and is there any discussion from council.

No discussion.

Wylie said discussion from the public.

No discussion.

Motion to approve the agenda as presented passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said we have the agenda as approved.

Agenda Item #5, Public Comments (video time mark 0:01:24):

[Though public comments can sometimes irritate the city council, there is value to both the council and the public in hearing them. While they can’t eliminate public comments entirely without violating the Open Meetings Act, your city council has occasionally decided not to acknowledge public comments during a city council meeting unless the person submitting the comments also appears at the meeting (in-person or electronically) to personally read them. In the past, members of the public have been cut off for exceeding the city council’s arbitrary three-minute time limit (it’s arbitrary because no time limits are required by the Open Meetings Act).

If your public comments were submitted to the council but not read, or if you tried to make public comments but your comments were cut short, please email them to clarkstonsunshine@gmail.com and I will include them in my informal meeting summaries either under public comments or under the specific agenda item that you want to speak to.]

Wylie said Item #5 is public comments.

(Wylie read the rules for public comments.)

Wylie said would anybody like to make a public comment.

No comments.

Wylie said okay, then I will close the public comments.

Agenda Item #6 – FYI: (video time mark 0:01:55):

• • Flyer – State of the Community Address, March 6, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (page 3/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said moving on to FYI, it says none, but this was a later minute. Smith said yeah, so it was, and I should have said this during the approval of the agenda. We did – Wylie said oh, that’s true – (continuing), Smith said add an FYI to the community address, and then I also made a change. We’ll get there when we talk about the CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] vote. It’s for 2024 funds, not 2025.

Wylie said oh, okay. Is that FYI in here? Smith said it’s – Wylie said I know there’s – Smith said it’s up here on the screen. Wylie said oh, you got it up there on the screen.

Wylie said so, the FYI is regarding the State of the Community presentation, which is the state of the city, township, and schools. And it’s going to take place Thursday, March 6th. Six o’clock, it supposed be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center. I’ll be presenting for the city. Chuck Phyle is presenting for the township, and Sean Ryan is presenting for the school district. And I believe there’s supposed to be light refreshments afterwards. And the public is invited. So, it’s in the auditorium, so they can sit and be comfortable. That’s it. Yes.

Wylie said okay, any other FYI that anybody has.

No comments.

Agenda Item #7 – City Manager’s Report (Video time mark 0:03:18):

• • City Manager’s Report, February 24, 2025 (page 4/33 of the council packet)
  • Chapter 96, Tree Ordinance, page 6/33 of the council packet

Wylie said Item #7, city manager’s report.

Smith said okay, a few things to update you on. First of all, the April 22 deadline for election petitions. We were kind of talking about that before the meeting got started. It does seem early, but that’s the date we’ve been given from the state. So, you can get your forms and your petitions from the clerk or from Angela [Guillen, contract clerk]. And if you have any questions about the forms, on how to fill it out, by all means, let’s ask Guillen how to fill it out. Once the forms have been, just like last year, once the forms, however, have been notarized, we really shouldn’t be answering any questions. You can’t be making any changes to the forms, so plan on that.

Smith said sidewalk shoveling. With today’s warm weather, this is kind of a moot point, but we were having some, a handful, actually a dozen homeowners who were not shoveling their sidewalks. We were starting to escalate that. The next step, for your information, would be Jimi [Turner, Department of Public Works (DPW)] would go out and shovel those dozen sidewalks, and then we would send a bill to the homeowner to pay their bill. If they didn’t pay their bill, it would go on to their taxes. But we’re gonna look in on that, came to fruition.

Smith said MML [Michigan Municipal League] conference, as I say here, I’m going to the CapCon Conference in March, mid-March. So, I’ll be doing that, as I’ve done in the past. Get my mouse to work here, I’ll scroll down. So, that’s the MML Conference.

Smith said tree cutting ordinance. I guess I’m just looking for some guidance from council here. The council, sorry, the current tree trimming ordinance is attached. Tom [Ryan, city attorney] and I have talked about this. It’s specifically section 9603. They seem to cancel each other out here, A and B. A says no person shall cut down any tree inside the city limits. And then, section B says this section is not to be construed to prevent the owner from cutting any trees down. So, it seems to, section B kind of wipes out section A.

Smith said this is, what’s the cause of this is a homeowner on Middle Lake Road topped off some pretty significant trees on Middle Lake Road, on his property. Presumably, I don’t know the details behind it, but it’s sad. These were major trees that were just topped off. I’m not sure what the impetus behind that was, but it looks a little silly. So, rather than me, though, pursuing this, or having the planning commission pursue this ordinance change, I was just looking for some guidance from city council. Is this something you think, I’m not gonna vote on this, just looking for feedback. Is this something we should pursue?

Jones said well, if I’m reading this, it looks like A pertains to shade or ornamental trees, specifically. And then, B says that it’s about tree, or trees, growing wholly within or upon private premises. So, would that not be the differentiation there? Smith said well, I still think B would, whether it was a shade tree, B would wipe out their ability to, I mean, just kind of make section A irrelevant, but – Casey said seems to me we should eliminate B. Smith said that would be my thought, but what we could do to start is do a little survey, as we have in other cases, survey what other cities have done, look at the wording in their ordinances. Other mature cities, like maybe Huntington Woods or another city that has some beautiful mature trees to see what they have done.

(To Smith), Rodgers said so, does this mean that you would have, if you had like dead trees on your property, you would have to get somebody that would have to – Smith said no, we would have to modify and allow that kind of thing. A dead tree could be taken down, but these trees, to my knowledge, were all thriving. When I talked to a couple of the neighbors that have complained to me that how did this happen, they said these were all thriving trees. They weren’t dead, so.

Wylie said I’m actually opposed to having A at all. I don’t think we should be telling people whether they can cut their trees down or not. I don’t care if they’re a shade tree or an ornamental tree. I think it’s none of our business. Smith said that’s a fair point, but it’s – Casey said that would destroy the character of the town. Wylie said okay, but it’s also somebody’s property. They’re very unlikely to cut down. I mean, who knows? Well, whether there’s a law or not. Casey said it’s very unlikely it doesn’t cut it, I don’t think.

Wylie said okay, it’s still my property. If I want to cut down a tree because I’m going to do something else or I don’t like the tree or it’s messy, I don’t think the city has the business, and I know the trees he’s talking about.

Rodgers said was it the homeowner that topped them off. Smith said don’t really know. Wylie said it was. He paid somebody to do it. And it is, unsightly, don’t know why he would do it. But I don’t think it’s my business or anybody’s business to say he can or cannot do that. He actually did it with, I won’t say anything else.

Quisenberry said using that analogy, then I should be able to say, if I want to put different windows in my house, I should be able to, but you can’t. Because there are certain – Wylie said I can. Quisenberry said if you’re saying I, as the property owner, have the right to do whatever I want on my property, whether it’s cutting trees or replacing windows, I should be able to. But we’ve decided as a city, and the type of city we want to be, that there are gonna be controls put in place for you to do certain things on your property.

Wylie said okay, I didn’t say anything you want, because I don’t think you should be able to do anything you want. But I do think you should be able to cut down trees and – Quisenberry said my question here, and looking at one, the very beginning of 9601, blah, blah, premises in the city, desiring to plant or transplant any shade or ornamental trees in the streets contiguous to the land. What does that mean? Casey said I think that means that he’s – Quisenberry said the right of way. Casey said the right of way. Ryan said those are public trees. Jones said oh, the trees that we’re trimming are public trees. Ryan said well, the ones that – these are private trees. Jones said oh, okay, all right, sorry. Quisenberry said we’re talking, so, between the sidewalk and the street? Casey said yes. Right. Quisenberry said got it. All right.

Ryan said and in fairness, when Smith brought this up, I think it was a month or two, I don’t remember, the other one, so, I mean, it’s a 1915 ordinance. Wylie said 1915, okay. Ryan said so, it’s 110 years old, so. Wylie said well, old doesn’t mean bad. Ryan said no, I know, but, I mean, it just, so it probably would be helpful to look at what’s going, I mean, because there are a lot of tree ordinances now where people can prescribe because people, you know, that’s a public resource and whatnot, even though it’s on private property, so it would be good to look at this before you make any quick decision about what goes or stays, but, I mean, it’s an ordinance that’s been on the books a long time, not that it’s a bad ordinance, but, I mean. Casey said you can tell it’s pretty old by 9602. Quisenberry said the horses. Casey said hitching of animals. Ryan said mm-hmm.

Jones said well, I would also say that if we’re looking at 9603, we would probably need to look at 9605 in conjunction, given that it’s about trimming trees, and we’re talking about cutting or destroying, and so I know that’s, you know, eye of the beholder and whatnot, but I feel like it should strike a balance between, you know, property owners’ rights, but is there a way for people to, like, readily know, like, what’s considered, like, a public tree versus, like, a private tree, I guess, would be, you know, like – Ryan said well, I mean, in the right-of-way, as I said, sidewalk to the street, those are public trees, and probably the invert of that is a private tree.

Smith said it’s a little fuzzy, and streets like Middle Lake, where there are no sidewalks, there is a right-of-way in the grass, even though there are no sidewalks there, to define that space, but there is generally, you know, 20, 25 feet, so, but I don’t know that the city has planted any trees out there, but – Wylie said yeah, in Middle Lake. Yes. Smith said they have, years ago. Wylie said actually, not that long ago. I think so, I’m pretty sure. I know they tried to plant one across the street, but I thought there was a few others that went in. Smith said okay. Wylie said maybe for the last five, six years.

Quisenberry said 9605B, it says, it should be the duty of the owners of these trees to keep them trimmed as required by this chapter. Once again, that, the owner is not responsible for trimming the trees in the easement, correct? Smith said right, the city is, technically. Quisenberry said okay. Wylie said yeah.

Rodgers said yeah, so that whole thing kind of looks like this. Wylie said that takes all of 9605. Rodgers said because really, that guy just trimmed his tree, and tells him that he has to trim his trees, so – Wylie said those trees are not in the easement. The trees we’re talking about. Rodgers said no, neither are these ones. Wylie said oh, you’re talking about, yeah. Rodgers said yeah, 9605B. Wylie said those are all in the easement. Rodgers said oh, those are all easement trees? Wylie said yeah, if they’re going over the street, or the sidewalk, that’d be an easement tree. Well, maybe not sidewalk. I mean, if it came from your front yard on the other side of the easement, well, it’d be sidewalk. Rodgers said but that’s the intent. It was at the easement. The easement. Gotcha.

Smith said well, the thought was just, is it something worthy of exploring further. Again, we could just bring some examples. I could have the Planning Commission investigate this and bring some examples of other municipalities. And then you can decide whether it’s something you want to act on or not. So, it’s just a request that I got from homeowners, mainly in Middle Lake, like, what happened here, and how could you let this happen?

Wylie said do they expect the city to do something about this? Smith said well, they were alarmed that it happened at all. Wylie said people freaked out about it. Smith said and they asked me, how did you let this happen. I said, I don’t have any control over this. And nobody ever came to me and said, hey, I’m thinking about topping off all my trees. What do you think about that? They never asked for permission. Wylie said no. Smith said they just did it. Wylie said you wouldn’t have. Smiths said so, that was it. Okay. It looks like we have to look at more.

Quisenberry said but somewhat connected issue. When the city takes a tree down, in the easement, I remember last year when this happened, I was told that they replace it. You can pick one of 10 different types of trees. You can indicate that you’d like to have it replaced. Is that still happening? Smith said it is still happening. The tree committee, Forte, unfortunately, Forte’s not here, because she’s on the tree committee. She could answer that question. They have budget. And they have, in 2024, they did not. But in 2023, they did plant some trees using their budget. So, it’s an option, for sure. Quisenberry said okay.

Smith said I talked about the stone pillar damage on Wompole. I’ve been talking with the DPW [Department of Public Works] about how we might repair that. So, it’s unfortunate that this happened, but we are gonna try. One way or another, we will get it fixed. But we hope, we might though, just lift this broken off section in one and put it on top, carefully. But more to come on that.

Smith said 130 North Main, get a lot of calls on this. Probably the single most, not probably, is definitely the single most home in the city I get calls about. And what’s going on there, it’s vacant. If you recall, we put a stop work order on that property back in May of last year. And the homeowner was somewhat surprised that a building permit was required. And I think he just kind of stormed out of here. So, we’re still in negotiations with him trying to get him to pull the proper permits.

Casey said is that the red house. Smith said green house. Right at the corner of Clarkston Road and – Casey said oh, yeah. Rodgers said across from Morgan’s. Casey said yes, south of Clarkston Road. Okay. Wylie said is he still working on it. Smith said no. Wylie said okay. Smith said absolutely nothing’s been done on it. We’ve got a stop work order on it. If anybody does any work on that house, it’s a violation and – Wylie said okay.

Quisenberry said what happens if nothing happens by this deadline. If they continue not working on it and you’ve given them this deadline, the deadline comes and goes, then what? Smith said that might be a question better answered by Ryan and myself. Ryan said so, a violation should be issued if they don’t comply. Even district court. Quisenberry said even if they’re not working on it. Ryan said yeah. Because they’re supposed to be. Quisenberry said okay. Ryan said so, it’ll be in district court then. Hopefully get an affirmative injunction from the judge to order them to do what they have to do to bring the home into compliance.

Wylie said but like Quisenberry said, if they’re not doing anything on it, I realize something may have happened in the past and they don’t get the permits, I’m not sure I understand why, but are they in violation of. Ryan said well, the house as it currently exists is in violation of city ordinance. Property maintenance, I assume. Smith said right. Ryan said which is a blight and is a violation under this ordinance. So, if they’re not gonna do anything, then we can ask the judge to order them to do something. Wylie said okay, so, a little different. Ryan said yeah. Wylie said not just a stop work order. Ryan said oh, right, right. Well, now we’re hoping for compliance. And by getting them to come, they gotta know it’s a violation, correct? Which gives them until X date to either pull the permits or not. If they don’t pull the permits. Wylie said okay. I understand now. Thank you.

(To Smith), Wylie said is there anything else.

Smith said the last item is pertaining to our shred day. Oh, yeah. Thursday, March 6. What? People may bring up to four boxes to the city hall that day between 11:00 and 1:00 and have their documents ready. No charge.

(To Quisenberry), Wylie said on the city manager, okay. Quiseberry has a question for you.

(To Smith), Quisenberry said I’d like to know if anything, what the status is of the parking situation that was presented to us by Real Estate One last, end of fall, early winter or something about some sort of relief they can have regarding the dilemma they have with the parking and their employees. Smith said relative to some kind of permit. Quisenberry said yes. That’s what they were saying. Well, that was one of the options and stuff. Or extending the hours so that they were able to operate through their business hours or anything. There was a couple of different ways that we talked about that it could be addressed, but I don’t know if anything has been. Are they still in the same limbo they were back last November, December? Smith said yes, they are in the same status. Nothing’s really changed there. I actually implemented and subsequently had some problems with it and had to remove it, but we can reinstate it.

Smith said a permit system of $60 a month per vehicle. And they would have to pay the fee. We showed them how it works on the kiosk. I sat there, showed her how it worked, walked her through it, and this is how you’d have to do it. You have to do it for each license plate. And I think while I was talking to her, I could almost see her doing the math in her head and thinking, this isn’t gonna fly. Quisenberry said that’s exactly what she said. And what you’re explaining now was in place when she came here saying, I have a problem. And that method to allow her employees to park when they needed to, that you just explained was explained to her, and she was saying it’s not feasibly, financially available for them to do. And then we considered moving the hours of enforcement that would allow her staff to stay there. Or there was another option that we were looking at, but we left it with the understanding there was going to be a dialogue as to can we do this? Can we just go ahead and resolve this issue? And of course, it wouldn’t just be for her. It’d be for the other businesses, you know, that have the same problem that weren’t here. But I think she presented an extremely thorough and a good presentation and a need for some sort of relief. And I think that we owe that to her and the others.

Smith said so, I did talk to her at length about this. And I know she expressed her frustration again. And I said, well, then this is not something that I as the city manager can just unilaterally decide. You will have to come back, and I would have to get a ruling from council that they wanna physically change the hours as one thing. Or making the monthly permit less than $60. Those I think were the two main options we looked at. Both of them would have financial implications on the city. And I didn’t get the impression that I was authorized to proceed with that.

Wylie said well, can I interrupt just one moment? My recollection is we did talk about, as a council, changing the hours. And there was no feeling at all about doing that. Actually, the majority of council was strongly opposed to changing the hours. Smith said okay. Wylie said and I don’t believe she was here for that. Because I brought it up and I think I made a motion to do it. To give her some relief. And maybe it was something you weren’t here for. Quisenberry said no, I was here. I was here and I remember the discussion. And I thought we were, I don’t recall it that we were, as a body, against changing the hours. My recollection is that was a solution that we certainly could look at and possibly go to. (To Smith), and now that you mention what you said, I remember. I even suggested that we give you some sort of unilateral okay to go ahead and try to work this out with her. But you didn’t really want to have that burden knowing what would follow. And I understood totally why you didn’t want to just have that thrown on your table. So that’s why we said we’ll look at these other, explore these other options. And then we, as a body, can decide, do we want to adjust the hours? Give them a better rate on a permit? Or some other solution? But it was going to be brought back to us with options to see, do we want to do anything? Maybe not. Or do we want to do A, B, or C? And I think that that should happen.

(To Quisenberry), Casey said how many parking places does she need. Quisenberry said I don’t remember right now, but it was, it wasn’t very many at all. It wasn’t very many. Casey said was more than two. Quisenberry said with – (interrupting Quisenberry), Smith said I think it was four or five of the regular daily employees. But then she said if all my real estate agents all come in and they’re there from, after 4:00, it would be, what did she say? It was a pretty large number. I don’t remember the exact number, but it was significant. And she’s doing the math thinking, if I have to pay for all my agents, on the what if that they might come in that day at 4:30, and I have to pay for them. I think that’s when she really got upset that this was just going to be cost prohibitive.

Quisenberry said yes and look for us for some sort of relief options. Rodgers said they work like late evening hours. Jones said no, I’m sorry, can I, I was at that meeting where she presented. I wasn’t on council, but I was attending. And she was explaining that occasionally they might have a closing where there’s paperwork that they’re waiting on, or there’s a question about something, and they might go over the 4:30 and they forget to pay the meter, or they’d only paid through, your know, or the parking switch is on and they wouldn’t have gone out to hit the meter. So, she was asking for an exception, or for an overall cut on a parking rate for a what-if situation, I would say is what it can boil down to. And I feel that that’s not a strong enough reason for us to consider slashing our entire parking fee structure for this permit. But I think that that brings back into question the larger issue of the parking, but I don’t wanna relitigate that. I just think that in terms of slashing our entire parking permit structure for someone’s what-if, I mean, then we’re gonna get into all kinds of what-ifs, and that just opens a floodgate. And I respect, as a business owner, that the cost that that can associate with trying to pay for everyone, but I also understand that everyone else that’s down here has that same kind of situation, and they’re tied to whatever parking, and so it’s just kind of, you know, an unfortunate circumstance.

Casey said is the parking $1 an hour? Smith said $1 an hour. So, and you can pay from your phone. You don’t even need to go out to the kiosk. And that’s what I had said to her. If you have a closing, suddenly you’re made aware of a closing at four o’clock or five o’clock, and you’re gonna have to be there, then, okay, on that one day, your agent and you and your office manager, whoever attends the closing, would have to go to the app and pay for that one hour. It’s $1. I don’t think that’s excessive, but I could tell she was upset with me, and I was just not gonna make any progress. Jones said it’s not excessive.

Quisenberry said if we had, maybe this might be something to put on the next agenda, because that presentation had so much information that we would want to know, we’re talking about right now, before we kind of take anything further. So maybe it should be another, an item on the next agenda, and in between now and then, that presentation that we were given can be included, and we’ll have better information as to what the cost would be, and what the options would be. But I do think we need to do something, and as I said, not just for Real Estate One, but for other businesses. Casey said why do we need to do something? Jones said pain for her.

Wylie said hey, guys, let’s make an agenda item for another meeting, because we’re now, we’re – Jones said yeah – Wylie said so now there’s other people who are interested in talking about parking. So how about, I’m not sure exactly what you want to, you said some kind of presentation. You mean her presentation? Quisenberry said no, she doesn’t have to come again. Wylie said okay, so which presentation are you speaking of? Quisenberry said I’m talking about the presentation she gave, but she gave it all to us. We all have it, it was in our packets. If we have this item to talk about, we can come better prepared to talk about it than we are right now. Wylie said okay, let’s make it another agenda for another meeting. Smith said I’ll put it on the next agenda, and I’ll get the information that she had shared with us.

Wylie said is there anybody else on council who has something quick to say about this topic. Wylie recognized someone named Eric for a comment.

Eric said obviously, I don’t want my meter to go over everything with parking and all that, but in this particular situation, don’t they have free parking in front of their building? On the street? Quisenberry said I don’t know. Wylie said they do. Jones said yeah, they do. Eric said so, they have options. Wylie said thank you.

Wylie said anybody and recognized Evelyn Bihl [administrative assistant/deputy clerk] for a comment.

Bihl said since that presentation was brought up, I don’t believe we’ve had any tickets from those people out there and/or the dental office that we used to get a lot of. So, either they’ve used the app, or they’ve excused themselves to put it on their app or go out and get the meter. Wylie said okay. Bihl said so, I haven’t had any since that presentation. Wylie said okay, thank you.

Quisenberry said and that would be very good information, you know, when we talk about it, because maybe the problem has resolved itself. Wylie said I did talk to her before because I put a motion on at the next meeting about doing something, and I talked to her, gave her a call. Actually, I think we did a little phone tag back and forth, and I got the impression she was done with it all. She’d wasn’t, she’d gotten what she wanted to get, and she wasn’t going to come back again. She was busy.

Wylie said can we move on. We’re done with the city manager’s report? Smith said yes.

Agenda Item #8 – Consent Agenda (Video time mark 0:29:52):

• • 01-27-2025 – Final City Council Minutes (page 8/33 of the council packet)
  • 02-10-2025 – Draft City Council Minutes (page10/33 of the council packet)
  • 02-24-2025 – Treasurer’s Report (page 12/33 of the council packet)
  • 02-19-2025 – Revenue and Expenditure Report for the Period Ending 01-31-2025 (page 13/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said okay, we’re on Item #8, consent agenda. This includes the final minutes of the January 27, 2025, regular meeting, the draft minutes of the February 10, 2025, regular meeting, and the treasurer’s report, February 24, 2025. And is that it? Yes, that’s it. That’s in this consent agenda. So, I need a motion to approve the consent agenda

Motion by Jones; second Casey.

Wylie said and any discussion from council.

No discussion.

Wylie said any questions or discussion from the public.

No discussion.

Motion to accept the consent agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said and the consent agenda is approved.

Agenda Item #9, Unfinished Business (video time mark 0:30:39):

Wylie said moving on to Item #9, unfinished business. We have none.

Agenda Item #10, New Business (video time mark 0: 30:44):

Wyle said Item #10 is new business.

Item #10a – Public Hearing on the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) (video time mark 30:45)

• • Notice of Public Hearing, Community Development Grant Funds (page 23/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said we have a public hearing on the 2020, you said it’s supposed to be 2025. Smith said 2024. Wylie said okay, okay, where’s, okay, there was some change. Okay, the 2024 Community Development Block Grant, CDBG program. And first thing we have is an open hearing. Then we’ll receive public comments, and we will adjourn the meeting and let me get to this page.

Wylie said okay. Casey said excuse me. So, the 2024 funds have not been distributed, is that right? Wylie said that’s – Smith said it seems anti-intuitive, but it is correct. The 2024 funds have not been issued yet. So, we need to vote on those tonight.

Wylie said so, did you say earlier there’s some correction where it says – Smith said well, the, not the public hearing, but the grant, I’m sorry, the – Wylie said the resolution. Smith said resolution for 2025. Your packets, I was, or maybe they’ve been corrected already. Wylie said mine says 2024. Okay, that’s, all right – Smith said that is correct.

Wylie said okay, all right. City of the Village of Clarkston, notice of public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant funds. Notice is hereby given, should I read all this as we’ve gone through all this? Do I need to read this notice? Ryan said I think it’d be (unintelligible).

Wylie said okay.

(Wylie read the public notice.)

Open Public Hearing (video time mark 0:32:58):

Wylie said so, I’d like to open up the public hearing. So just say that, public. Ryan said say what time. Wylie said yeah, so the public hearing is opened up now at 7:33 p.m., February 24.

Receive Public Comments (video time mark 0:33:21):

Wylie said and is there anybody who would like to speak? I’m looking.

(Jennifer Angus walked up to the podium.) Wylie said thank you.

Jennifer Angus:

Hi, I’m Jennifer Angus. I’m with the Independence Township Senior Community Center. I’m the supervisor there. And I’m here this evening on behalf of the township to request CDBG funding, planning and allocation for program 2024.

The city and the Senior Community Center have a longstanding historical agreement of CDBG public service contracting, providing transportation services. We have done that for many, many years in conjunction with the city. As you may or may not know, in 2024, as a result of the transportation millage that was passed with Oakland County, the township went into a pilot program and evaluated having NOTA, North Oakland Transportation Authority, as a service provider and have entered an agreement with our community partners. And now, as a result of that knowledge, we have evaluated and entered a service agreement with NOTA to be our transit provider. So, we are getting the most of our tax dollars for our service that we are paying into for the transportation millage.

So, in light of that, we are looking to find ways to continue to partner with the village or with the city. And so, for this year, we are requesting, if approved, the use of access fees to cover the Senior Community Center. So that would be senior center fees that you would be taking your CDBG funding to. I do understand that you have a request from CAYA [Clarkston Area Youth Assistance] as well. So, we would ask that the minimum public service contract agreement of $3,500 be allocated to public access fees.

So, the Senior Community Center offers about 35 to 40 programs per week. We include drop-in activities, presentations, exercise and fitness classes, day trips, and travel opportunities, weekly site classes. We offer tech classes, movies, creative and enrichment programs.

And then we additionally provide numerous resources that I’d like to go over and let you know a little bit about. We have a licensed social worker on staff. She is a certified Michigan Medicare and Medicaid program counselor. We also run a variety of essential services. Some of these are income qualified, such as our minor home repair program, which is a CDBG project that we administer through the senior center. And residents of the village, or the city of the village, can take advantage of those. We have a chore program that provides snow removal and yard assistance services for low-income folks as well. And then we have services, we do an AARP [American Association of Retired Persons] tax preparation. We have a medical loan equipment program, and we host a variety of monthly support groups, such as dementia and Parkinson’s support groups that are led by certified facilitators. We have monthly hearing screenings, (unintelligible) podiatrist services, and legal services. And that’s just a few of the things that we offer that residents can come in and have access to our Senior Community Center.

We also, part of the senior center access fees, would provide the opportunity for village residents to have that same resident rate as township residents. And that’s a discount on our programs because our programs are resident/non-resident based. There are small fees, fees vary program to program depending on what it is.

So, you know, so that would be what our request would be. We’ve appreciated your past support and thank you very much for that. And I thank you for your consideration regarding this proposal on behalf of Independence Township. Thank you.

Wylie thanked Angus and said you may have questions. Does anybody have any questions? Angus said I’m sorry.

Casey said yeah, I do. Wylie told Casey to go ahead.

Casey said your bottom line is $3,500? Angus said yeah, I know that that CAYA had also put in a request. And so with you, you are a threshold community, so you get a capped amount each year for CDBG funding, which means you get a set rate. And so that would allow you to split those fundings to two project areas because there’s a minimum of $3,500 per project. So that would allow you to split your funding between, if you take into consideration that, you could split your funding between two project areas or you may choose to just dedicate those funds to your total amount of funding of $7,000 per project. Casey said I understand that. Angus said okay.

Casey said didn’t we split it last year? Quisenberry said $5,000 and $2,000. Casey said $5,000. Quisenberry said $5,000 and $2,000. Casey said $2,000. Quisenberry said mm-hmm. Yeah. Casey said that’s what I thought, yeah. Angus said okay, that I’m not familiar with. So, you may have had a different agreement with Oakland County. Quisenberry said I think it’s exactly what you said, is we were allowed to split it and we had, during the public hearing, we had two, both you and the Clarkson Area Youth Assistance here speaking and we decided to split it. Angus said okay. Jones said she was just saying that there’s a $3,500 minimum threshold and so did we get an exception for that? Angus said that I don’t know. I can’t answer that. I know on behalf of the township that we are at a, our project cap is $3,500. So, we have to split our allocations that way. So perhaps you folks had another agreement with the county. I’m not sure. I wasn’t here last year for the public hearing, so I apologize for that. But I can’t, I apologize, but I can’t answer to that.

Wylie said I just want to clarify something. It doesn’t really have anything to do with these grants. You were mentioning access fees. Is that what this $3,500 is? Angus said yeah, that’s correct. That’s the project area that it would fall in under the CDBG categories. So, they have project categories. And so senior center would be the project category that the $3,500 would go towards, which would mean we call it access fees to the senior center, but really it offsets the resident and non-resident rate that we charge for members. And then some of the services and programs, mainly that also helps support our social services programs in the administration of the CDBG funding, because we would do that on your behalf.

Wylie said okay, so I guess that’s kind of where I was heading, this resident and non-resident fees. So, people, residents of the City of the Village of Clarkston are considered to be non-residents as far as using the senior center? Angus said well, that’s been a gray area in the past. Wylie said okay. Angus said and so currently we do a lot, you know, allow or we have allowed the village residents that resident rate. And so, there’s that piece of it that we’ve allowed in the past. So, we do that currently, but this gives you access to, you know, just more of, you know, yes, you get just what I’m saying. It helps offset the costs of the senior center. Wylie said I understand that. Angus said so, yeah.

Wylie said and this is just general knowledge. There, I don’t, this is nothing I know from being involved with the city, but I was always under the impression that things with parks and recs and senior center, we were included in that being able to, we were paying, individuals were paying for it as Independence Township residents pay for it because of Independence Township has use of Deer Lake Beach. That’s, I always thought it was under the impression that was a trade-off. Quisenberry said and Depot Park. Wylie said well, no, because Independence Township doesn’t have, it’s just, it’s your, and Smith’s looking puzzled. So maybe – Angus said that would be something that’s prior knowledge to me. Smith said sorry, I don’t remember that. Wylie said because township, city residents do, we do pay park, at least when my kids were little, paid parks and rec fees as township residents do. And I was always under the impression, maybe I don’t want to open this whole thing up. Maybe just let it all be as it is.

Angus said we were just looking, our ask was look at it. Wylie said like I said, this has nothing to do with the grant request. When you said that, that’s where I was kind of in wait a minute. Angus said just because we are not, we are not providing transportation services any longer. Wylie said I understand. Angus said we were looking to reallocate those funds to a different project. Wylie said I got it. Okay, thank you.

Wylie said anybody else on council, questions or comments.

No comments.

Wylie said anybody in the public have questions or comments?

Casey said I got one. Wylie said yes, go ahead.

(To Smith), Casey said has the youth assistance made a dollar amount request? Smith said well, they just have asked for support. They didn’t specify a dollar amount.

Smith said so, back to your question about splitting it. When I told the county last year about the $5,000/$2,000 that was voted on, their response was, we’ll have to see if we can do that. Historically, they’ve said, you either put all your monies towards one or you have the ability to split once. And it’s 50-50. Casey said 50-50. Smith said so, that is the assumption that if we do split into two different organizations, it has to be $3,500/$3,500. Casey said I see.

Wyle said okay. Anybody else on council?

No comments.

Wylie said anybody in the public have questions. I think I already said that.

Wylie said okay and thanked Angus. (Unintelligible crosstalk.)

Ryan said to close the public hearing. Wylie said yes.

Wylie said is anyone else here. Kunse is kind of a – Kunse said next. Wylie said what’s that. Kunse said maybe next. Wylie said oh, you wanna come up and speak. Kunse said no, no, no, I’m on the agenda. Wylie said oh, you’re still on the agenda. Oh, I thought you were like her wingman and kind of support. Kunse said we’re friends. Wylie said okay.

Adjourn Public Hearing (video time mark 0:45:03):

Wylie said all right, I’m gonna close the public hearing at 7:45 p.m.

Item #10b – Resolution: Allocation of the 2024 CDBG Funds (video time mark 0:45:10):

• • Resolution – 2024 Community Development Block Grant Funding Allocation (page 24/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said okay, we have a resolution on Item #10B, Resolution, Allocation of the 2024 CDBG Funds. And I’ll read this.

(Wylie read the resolution.)

Wylie said so, I need somebody to resolve how we’re going to do this funding. Quisenberry said before we do that. Wylie said yes, sir. Quisenberry said third whereas is incorrect. Wylie said yes, you’re right. That’s why I got confused. Because it says in all recent years, it’s all gone to the – Casey said what’s incorrect? Wylie said it says it all has gone to the township. Quisenberry said third whereas says that 100% went to it. Last year, it didn’t. Smith said last year, it didn’t, you’re right. Casey said it didn’t, sorry. Smith said prior to 2023 – Casey said that’s what threw me off. Smith said for many years, we did CDBG every year. So, this was a carryover fund of the previous. Quisenberry said and should that be made accurate.

Wylie said how would you like to change it? Ryan said as you said, prior to 2023. Wylie said yeah. Ryan said is that what you’re saying. Wylie said yes. Just say it’s in recent years, making prior to 2023. Quisenberry said or to say it’s directed the grants to the Independence Township Senior Center and or the Clarkston Area Youth. Wylie said well, if you make a resolution, you can make the change.

Wylie said anybody want to make a resolution? Quisenberry said all right. Wylie said you got pushed to it, sorry. Quisenberry said you did. That’s okay. I’ll make the resolution to, for this with the amended, to amend the third, whereas to change the language, the city has directed the CDBG grant allocations to the Independence Township Senior Center and/or the Clarkston Area Youth, what is it? Wylie said assistance. Assistance, yeah. Quisenberry said assistance program. Wylie said okay, and do you want to continue with naming some amounts and some groups? Quisenberry said okay, it appears that we’re going to have to split it if we do choose to, so we would – Wylie said it’s a resolution. Quisenberry said pardon. Wylie said it’s your resolution, you can make it any way you want. Ryan said well, it’s a 50-50. Casey said yeah, it’s got to be 50-50. Wylie said well, you do the 50-50 or you can make it all for somebody, grants. Quisenberry said I’ll resolve it to 50-50 between those two organizations.

Wylie said okay. All right, I need somebody else to second that resolution. Second Jones. Wylie said okay.

Wylie said and is there any discussion from, so whereas should be – (to Guillen), Wylie asked if she got all that. Guillen said oh, yes. Wylie said oh, you did, okay.

Wylie said so, what we’re voting on eventually is now therefore it be a result of the City Council of the City of the Village of Clarkston chooses to allocate its 2024 CDBG funding of $7,000 as follows: $3,500 to Clarkston Area Youth Assistance and $3,500 to the Independence Township Senior Center, I guess it’s senior center, just senior center. Angus said correct. Wylie said okay.

Wylie said and, okay, is there any council discussion.

No discussion.

Wylie said anything from the public.

No discussion.

Wylie said then we need a roll call.

Casey, Jones, Quisenberry, Rodgers, and Wylie voted yes.

Wylie said and the resolution is adopted.

Wylie thanked Angus. Angus thanked Wylie.

(To Smith), Quisenberry said when will we know if the split that we did last year is going to be accepted. Smith said I’ll find out this week what split they, I suspect they changed it to $3,500/$3,500. Quisenberry said they may have just administratively done that. Smith said I’ll find out.

(To Smith), Wylie said and did you say that last year, the money has not gone out yet for last year. Smith said I’ve heard that, that actually even 2022 funds were still kind of questionable whether they had actually gone out. Quisenberry said okay. Wylie said they don’t, they don’t ever, we don’t ever actually get our hands on the money at all. Smith said well, they come to us, and (unintelligible) cut a check to the county. Wylie said okay. Oh, okay. And then the county disburses it? Smith said yeah, so it’s very inefficient. Wylie said very.

Item #10c – Discussion: America’s 250^th Anniversary (July 4, 2026) (video time mark 0:51:38):

• • Flyer – America 250, Independence Township (page 25/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said okay. We are on Item #10C, Discussion America’s 250th Anniversary. Wow. July 4th, 2026. (To Smith), Wylie said and the letter’s addressed to you. Smith said correct.

Smith said Kunse is here. Kunse, you’re here. Wylie said okay, that makes sense. (To Kunse), Smith said do you want to kick it off with an introduction. Kunse said yes, sure. (Unintelligible crosstalk.) Wylie said I’m sorry.

Joette Kunse:

I’m Joette Kunse. I have lived in Independence Township for 58 years. So, I’m sort of, kind of, I know a lot of history just from living there, but I actually study the history of our township and our city. And over those years, we’ve been intertwined. It was called Clarkston, it’s called Independence, Independence Township, offices were on Main Street. So, we are together, even though we are governmental entities.

So, in talking with our supervisor, Chuck Phyle, he asked me, well, I asked him, we talked about America 250. 2026, 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. I was just reading about Ulysses Grant. That was the first centennial. I was here in Clarkston for the second centennial. I don’t know, there’s some people that might be here. I don’t know if anybody was, okay. And it was kind of a big birthday party, big parade that year. And so, this is the quincentennial, 250 years. And our kids and our young people, hopefully, will be here for the 300th birthday.

So, there is a national, America 250, and there is a state, Michigan America 250 organization, who just put out some grant options. What I would like is for Clarkston and Independence Township to work together.

I have to say, I’m gonna just give you some, there’s two different things, one page and a two page. Kind of just tells you we’ve had one meeting and the schools are involved, the library’s involved, the township parks and rec are involved, Depot Theater’s involved. And this meeting we’re going to have on Thursday is an invitation to all the organizations in the community.

And so, they’re, Clarkston residents and Independence residents, we’re just kind of in this together. And so, you’ll find a national America 250 website as well as America Michigan 250 website. We’ve talked, if you read through these, we’ve talked about a few possible things that we’re going to do.

If you think about it, 250 years in April was the shot heard around the world. Lexington and Concord. We’ve already gone over the 250 years for the Tea Party and the Boston Massacre. George Washington went to, last year 250 years ago, he went to Continental Congress, he’s going to Continental Congress again this year. So, we’re kind of, you know, right in the thing. But we’ve got a year and probably 15 months to plan and it’s not just a one-day thing.

Some of the things that we’ve talked about are, so Depot Theater, they’re going to do a play next year that has a theme of America. You know, the schools are really looking at things like that. The Friday night concerts, hopefully we might bring a military band in. You know, there’s things that we normally do, you don’t have to do necessarily extra things, but you theme it to America 250. So, you know, I would like, I guess I would like the council board to kind of think about, will you work with us? And would you send maybe two representatives?

We want to take, we want to make it very inclusive. And so, we got started and then it was like, oh, where’s Clarkston? And you know, and you do, because the township is bigger. And, but you, I always think of Clarkston as just part of the township. I know you don’t like that, but you know, we have to work together, concerts in the park, we work together on parades. You know, we work together.

So that’s, I would be happy to answer some questions about America 250. Kunse said can I ask you a question.

Wylie said so, what do you expect from the two people. If we can get two representatives, what do you expect from them? Kunse said to speak to the township, to speak to the village, city needs or what they might want to do. If you have things you want to do that are specific to you, or do you want to work together? However, I mean, everybody’s got a voice. I guess that’s what I want to say.

Rodgers said how, can I ask a question though. Kunse said sure. Rodgers said how many people have heard of America 250. Wylie said yeah. Kunse said that’s kind of what I’m getting everywhere. Now, I’m a D-A-R [Daughters of the American Revolution] member, and so we’ve been on America 250 for maybe two years, but people don’t know about it. The biggest thing is to market it, that, you know, this is coming up, you know, at the library, you know, we’ve talked about can we, can the summer program be themed American history? And so, you know, we’re looking at things that we can get people to understand what this 250th birthday really is. So that’s a big, I guess, a big part of it. You know, the band concerts at the high school, it doesn’t have to be everyone, but one of them maybe is a patriotic event. You know, there’s just a lot of different things. So, we’re trying to get voices, people who can share that, the idea and market it, as well as help people think through, oh, you’re going to do this. Well, what could you do that would be more a historical thing? Or maybe even the future, you know, 250 years, you know, it’s only 50 more years until the 300th birthday. I probably won’t be here, but the young people of our community will be here.

Wylie said so, we need to like, was it Lee Iacocca, run the bicentennial? Wasn’t it the national one? Kunse said yeah, I’m not sure. I don’t remember that, I mean, I don’t remember. Wylie said I’m thinking, I was thinking, we need somebody nationally too to kind of drum up (unintelligible). Kunse said yeah, well, there is, and I don’t have her name. I think she was the treasurer, our United States, not the treasury department, but the United States treasurer. Wylie said oh, that she may be in charge of. Kunse said yeah, but not a name that we all know. So, but you will find that Michigan History Center and the Michigan Historical Association are the two that are running Michigan’s, America 250 Michigan. So, I’d like to put Clarkston on there with Independence Township.

Wylie said did you say there’s a local website also, or – Kunse said not yet. Wylie said okay, I saw you were trying to do something. Kunse said I haven’t quite got there yet.

Wylie said so, mainly today you’re looking for representatives, or starting the idea. Kunse said only I’m looking for representatives, and it doesn’t have to be tonight to tell me, but unless one of you would like to be that, one of those people, or whatever, or two of them, but I would like to, I guess I would hope that you would join our project. It’ll just make it stronger and bigger. Wylie said I don’t see why we wouldn’t.

Wylie said I don’t know how other people on council feel, but I think it might be something we would want to let other residents of the city know, because we may have some people who have great talents and great interests in the 250th anniversary who would love to be part of this committee.

Kunse said well, as you know, there’s many things, many things will be coming up. I mean, the last, as a sort of mini historian, George Washington was sitting in Virginia, and wondering what those Bostonians were doing, because in Virginia, there wasn’t the rebel outcry. Samuel Adams, when you drink a beer, that’s the guy. Wylie said okay. Kunse said he took us, yes, he took us to the rebellion. But, you know, George Washington joined in, as well as Thomas Jefferson and many of those other people, because freedom was important to them (unintelligible).

Wylie thanked Kunse for coming.

Wylie said anybody have any questions before Kunse sits down. Or even if you do sit down? Anybody have any questions or comments?

Jones said no, I think clearly we’ll probably, I mean, we’ll do stuff, so it’s just a matter of figuring out what and (unintelligible). Rodgers said yeah, sure. Jones said yeah, no, that’s gonna be cool. Wylie said thank you.

(To Kunse), Smith said I’d say initially, why don’t you include me, so I can fan it out to whoever we identify as being our representatives. Kunse said okay. Smith said so, initially include me. I had no awareness of this whatsoever prior to tonight, so.

Wylie said are you the person getting this whole thing going? (Kunse nodded.) Wylie said okay, of course. Wylie said all right. Kunse said it’s near and dear to my heart. Wylie said is the DAR actively, I mean, are they involved. Kunse said the DAR’s really active, yes. They have somebody on the state committee and somebody on the national committee. But, you know, well, I think, I don’t, the DAR is the largest women’s service organization in the world. Wylie said really. Kunse said yes, and, but history is also a big part of our work. I mean, we are a service organization, but with the military, the veterans, whatever, but we also, we’re into genealogy, because you have to trace back to, you know, somebody that was in the fight, or somebody that, you know, gave the food to the soldiers, or whatever. So, yeah, we’re big, we’re big in it.

Wylie said okay, all right, thank you.

Item #10d – Discussion: SCAMP Parking Fee Donation Request (video time mark 1:03:10):

Wylie said we’ve got Item #10D, discussion of SCAMP parking fee, donation request. Emily Ford said that would be me. Wylie said oh, oh, there, that’s why you’re here.

Emily Ford:

All right. Thank you. I’m Emily Ford, here on behalf of the SCAMP board, and as you may know, we have our 50th anniversary home tour. It’s supposedly the last home tour. I say that, the last home tour. So, it will be taking place during the day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and we’re requesting if it would be possible to have half of the parking proceeds be donated to SCAMP from that time. The Roths are contributing half of their proceeds for our cause, and my only other request that you might consider is, I don’t know if the restrooms would be open. That was a question that came up.

Wylie said what’s the date. Ford said sorry, I probably didn’t say that. Sorry. It’s Saturday, May 31. Wylie said Saturday, May 31, and this is a daytime home, yeah. Ford said yes, it will be from 10:00 to 2:00. Wylie said oh, it’s really different. Ford said yes, and that’s why I have my phone with me to be sure I don’t mess it up. Wylie said okay.

Ford said so, it’s from 10:00 to 2:00, and then there will be a Patron’s Night event at the 90 North Main Building. So, there will obviously be people parking there for that evening event, but all the homes are going to be very much within, obviously, within town, but walking very close to one another from 10:00 to 2:00 during the day. Wylie said okay.

Wylie said all right, so we don’t have, I did not – Smith said I put this on here as a discussion item because it was a new topic. Wylie said oh, it’s a discussion. I do think it’s a discussion item. Smith said but if you want to change the agenda and create a motion on this (unintelligible), it’s your prerogative.

Wylie said so, you’re looking for half the proceeds of our parking fees, and that’s it. Quisenberry said for that day. Ford said for that day. Smith said for that four-hour window. Ford said yes, and that’s what the, like I said, the Roths are going to – Wylie said that’s an interesting way of doing it. Instead of just saying, could you give us free parking? So, when people pay for parking, they’re told that some of this is going towards SCAMP. Wylie said that’s very creative. Ford said I don’t know. I didn’t come up with it. I’m just here to – Wylie said you didn’t come up with it. Ford said so, I take no credit. Yeah, that’s our ask. To consider it. Wylie said okay.

Wylie said so, anybody have questions. Wylie recognized Smith for a comment.

Smith said I’m just going to give you the two options. One would be to vote on it right now, change the agenda, add a motion, to vote on it right now, or a resolution, or I can put it on the next council. Do you have a date that you have to have a decision? Ford said no, it’s no rush. I just, like, corresponded with Smith. I’m always, like, want to get things kind of checked off, but it’s literally no rush at all. So, whatever you need to decide is completely fine.

Wylie said my personal preference is to wait. Ford said that’s okay. Wylie said because I like to think things over. Ford said absolutely. And consider the implications. I mean, otherwise I’d say, let’s go ahead and do it. I mean, maybe others on council have different thoughts. Quisenberry said and two other members would be here, too. Wylie said that’s true (unintelligible). Wylie said but it’s a very creative way of – Rodgers said can you put it on next meeting’s agenda. Smith said we will.

Wylie recognized Casey for a comment.

Casey said will it be difficult to figure out the amount of money that’s generated within that four-hour time frame. Smith said well, I could tell you what an average Saturday would be for that four-hour time frame, but this is going to not be an average Saturday. This would be much higher, so. Rodgers said can you tell that from the kiosk, though, how much was from between 10:00 and 2:00? Smith said yes. Rodgers said oh, good.

Wylie said but also, I mean, we have fees and things like that. I don’t know if we’d want to cut the fees or how all that’s going to work. Because we do have, we pay fees to, you know. Ford said understood. And if there’s some other, like, way to go about it, I mean, obviously we’re open to whatever you might be willing to contribute for the event. So, we just appreciate you considering it. Wylie said but you don’t want to do it for the, through the evening event, too. Ford said I don’t think so, because it’s taking place at 90 North Main, and there’s going to be, like, the event will just be there. So, the home tour itself is just for the four hours. So, like you said, it’s unique in terms of what it’s been in the past, so. Wylie said yeah.

Wylie said you know, when you say it’s the last home tour, I feel like, and I know now, it seems like I feel like it’s the last Oktoberfest. Ford said that’s why I’m not saying that you’re the last Oktoberfest. But yeah, so. Wylie said it really is. Ford said it’s nice because it is our 50th anniversary, and obviously we’re doing the home tour in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of SCAMP. So, looking forward to it.

Wylie said anybody else on council.

No comments.

Wylie said so, we’re going to put it on the agenda.

Wylie said anybody in the public want to ask any questions or comments.

No comments.

Wylie thanked Ford. Ford said thank you so much, appreciate it.

Item #10e – Motion: Publication of City Council Meeting Minutes (video time mark 1:08:05):

• • Motion – Publication of City Council Meeting Minutes (page 26/33 of the council packet)
  • Excerpt from City Charter, Section 4.16, Publication of Council Proceedings (page 28/33 of the council packet)
  • Excerpt from the Open Meetings Act Handbook, Minutes (page 30/33 of the council packet)
  • 02-12-2025 – Clarkston News, page 19, Published City Council Meeting Minutes from 12-09-2024 (page 31/33 of the council packet)
  • Notice, Meeting Minutes (page 32/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said okay. Item #10E, motion, Publication of City Council Meeting Minutes. And we’ve got here, (to Smith), Wylie said do you want to talk about it first, or should I just go ahead and read this. Smith said you can go ahead and read it.

(Wylie read the motion.)

Wylie said and we will need a motion and a second to, two, effective immediately change the method of publishing the city council meeting minutes only posting in the Clarkston News a notice directing people to the city website and or the city clerk.

Wylie said we do have some, still have more charter and – Smith said I attached the section of the charter that references this, references minutes. It doesn’t speak to anything more specific than what you see there. Just within 20 days, a synopsis of the minutes shall be published. And the open meetings handbook, similarly does not, it just says when the minutes must be available and that they must be approved.

Smith said what we have seen in some other communities has done, first of all, there’s an example of, in the Clarkston News, is took up about a column and a quarter in the Clarkston News to publish our December 9th minutes as an example. Sorry. But what is shown here is what another community has done. Let me check around here. The notice that would be in the Clarkston News is just very simple, very generic. It directs people to the website and that’s where you’d have the details. So, we are notifying the public that we are directing them to the website. This was from another community. We just changed the names to Clarkston, but otherwise this is the text that’s being used by another community. And it’s not just the website. If people want us to email the minutes to them, we can do that. Or if they want to come in, we’ll give them a copy, a printed copy.

Smith said so, I guess I’ll ask Ryan, do you see any, are you aware of any violation of this, doing it this way. Ryan said as long as we publish it in the newspaper, the fact that the minutes are available in a timely manner. Makes a lot of sense. Saves money. Smith said pretty big savings every year.

Wylie said when I was first on council, I don’t remember if in formal meetings, but there was some discussion, but I don’t think there was any appetite then for it, but it probably is more now. Smith said right, certainly people are using websites more and newspapers less. I hate to see that era go past, but it’s not my choice. It’s happening. So, we might as well take advantage of it and save some money.

Motion by Jones.

Wylie said Jones make the motion that effective immediately change the method of publishing the city council meeting minutes. Only posting in the Clarkston News a notice directing people to the city website and or the city clerk.

Wylie said is there a second. Second, Rodgers.

Wylie said any discussion from council members.

Rodgers said right now the minutes are posted on the website, right? Smith said (unintelligible) are already. Rodgers said so, we don’t have to do anything additional. Smith said right. It’s just the detail on the Clarkston News can stop.

Quisenberry said based on the timeline, the charter says we have to have minutes out, that would also then apply to this, right? Smith said absolutely, yes. I’m not changing the timing at all. Wylie said okay.

Wylie said anybody else on council.

No comments.

Wylie said public.

No comments.

Wylie said okay, it says motion. You want to do a roll call anyway? Smith said okay.

Rodgers, Quisenberry, Wylie, Jones, and Casey voted yes.

Wylie said and the motion is adopted. Wylie said thank you.

Item #10f – Resolution: DPW [Department of Public Works] Asset Liquidation (video time mark 1:13:32):

• • Resolution – DPW Asset Liquidation (page 33/33 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #10F, resolution, DPW Asset Liquidation.

(Wylie read the resolution.)

Wylie said and we have a motion. I’m sorry, this needs to be resolved. A motion to resolve.

Resolution by Quisenberry; second Jones.

Wylie said any discussion from council.

(To Smith), Wylie said did you want to make any other comments about it. Smith said it’s all pretty straightforward. We’ve been watching actually these six pieces of equipment for probably two years. And just talking about possible use, and it’s just not, nothing has come up. The snow push box that Brandon never used, it was something that was purchased as part of a package deal with the skid steer. It’s for clearing large parking lots. If you had the Great Lakes Crossing, you know, they have several of these. Wylie said okay (unintelligible). Smith said but it’s just, for our two parking lots, it’s just not efficient for them to stop, get out of the truck, go get the skid steer or the push box, do that. It’s just more efficient just to do it all with the big truck. So, it’s just not efficient use. And the other, the John Deere tractor, we use it all the time, but the back blade or the snow blower, we don’t use for that. It’s a set width. It’s too wide to do sidewalks with. You might say, well, geez, why don’t we just do all the sidewalks in town with that snow blower? But it’s about 42 inches wide, which is wider than most of our sidewalks in town. So, it would tear up the grass considerably. It’s just not conducive for that. We can talk about other methods. If the council ever wants to pursue a possible snow, or sorry, sidewalk shoveling alternative, a brush would work wonderfully, but a snow thrower would just tear up the grass.

Wylie said anybody else on council, questions or comments.

(To Smith), Rodgers said how do you go about some of this stuff. I’m just curious. Smtih said there are auction houses that call me all the time, actually, looking for items to be auctioned. They’ll come and get them, they’ll auction them off, and then they take, I believe it’s 30%, and I have to verify that. So, it’s a big chunk, but Turner is thinking that some of these are gonna be hot items for certain contractors. The bed caps, the last two for the Ford truck and the international truck, he said a tree service, where you’re chipping the chips into the back. This is that kind of cap, which is sitting out, one of them’s sitting out here on the grass. They are massive things to store, and we just don’t do wood chipping here. It’s just not in our wheelhouse to do something like that, so we would probably list those on Facebook first. Turner thinks that we should try that first and see what we get, try to get a better price there, and then what we don’t sell, then we go to Plan B, which would be our auction.

Ryan said so, you could do MITN [Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network]. Smith said MITN is another option, yes, you could, yep. Ryan said and maybe, I mean, maybe like Independence Township may have, they wanna be, maybe they’re gonna wanna sell some stuff too. Smith said yeah. Ryan said put something together.

Wylie said am I misremembering, do we even talk about getting rid of one of the trucks or trading it for something smaller? Smith said we absolutely did, and we’ve kind of put that on the back burner because vehicle prices really took off there, especially on the pickup market. Wylie said OK. Smith said so, we put that on the back burner. The big truck, I guess the consensus is we’ll keep that for now. It’s only got 9,000 miles on it. It’ll last for 200,000 miles on it, so it’s not something we’d consider, but the Ford truck, I think we need to pursue that, but another day.

Wylie said okay, all right, anybody else on council.

No comments.

Wylie said anybody that’s in the public.

No comments.

Wylie said okay, we need a roll call.

Jones, Quisenberry, Rodgers, Wylie, and Casey voted yes.

Wylie said okay, resolution is adopted. Thank you.

Agenda Item #11, Adjourn Meeting (video time mark 1:19:14):

Wylie said and the last item on our agenda is I need a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion by Jones. Wylie said she’s going for the record tonight.

Wylie said is there a second. Second, Rodgers.

[No discussion.]

Motion to adjourn passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said did we hear from everybody? I guess so. So, the meeting is adjourned at 8:19. Thank you, everybody.

Resources:

• • Link to video recording here
  • 02-27-2023 – city council packet