1
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,700
Thank you so much for joining us.

2
00:07:30,110 --> 00:07:38,890
All right, good evening everyone. Thank you for being here tonight. I'm going to call the order, the Monday, August 24th, where I look city commission meeting the order.

3
00:07:40,190 --> 00:07:47,550
We're going to begin with an invocation given by Commissioner Dr. Rebecca Cheeseam, followed by the pledge of allegiance. I ask that you stand if you can, please.

4
00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:02,920
Here we are in another election season. Each election season, the rhetoric and advertising and talking points often makes us seem hopelessly divided.

5
00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:07,240
While there will always be differences, and I have come to know that every decision that we

6
00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,620
make up here will make some people on our community unhappy.

7
00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,920
I don't believe that the division is as deep as we are made to believe.

8
00:08:13,980 --> 00:08:16,920
At our core, we are community linked by our common humanity.

9
00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:23,400
We have all seen glimpses where this common humanity overpowers any ideological difference.

10
00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,340
For me, one of the most profound such moments happened when my family was just about to start

11
00:08:28,340 --> 00:08:30,860
camping at a Michigan State Park about four years ago.

12
00:08:30,860 --> 00:08:35,120
It was a beautiful sunny day with a gentle breeze who were camping with another royal

13
00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,720
family who had already arrived and started setting up.

14
00:08:38,020 --> 00:08:42,460
As my husband was backing her pop-up camera under a sight and I was waving him into the spot

15
00:08:42,460 --> 00:08:43,580
we heard a loud crack.

16
00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,760
We looked up and saw a large, healthy looking tree begin to fall.

17
00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:52,720
It's amazing how slowly a tree falls until it tips just enough for gravity to do its work.

18
00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,780
As it was falling I ran to get me and my daughter out of the way.

19
00:08:55,780 --> 00:09:00,840
This huge tree landed with a gigantic thud right alongside the car, the camper, and my husband.

20
00:09:01,540 --> 00:09:06,620
While it was impossible to know right away, my husband was miraculously unheard, and there wasn't even a scratch on the car or camper.

21
00:09:07,140 --> 00:09:09,500
But here's where a common humanity comes to play.

22
00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:16,200
As soon as that tree hit the ground, there was an absolute tsunami of people running towards our campsite to help.

23
00:09:16,780 --> 00:09:21,260
There were dozens of men and women different ages just running to the scene from their own campsites.

24
00:09:21,260 --> 00:09:32,480
I heard someone yell, they've got kids, again, in these first few moments it was a bit difficult to figure out the damage and while the ending was thankfully a happy one, there was the potential for it to have been catastrophic.

25
00:09:33,420 --> 00:09:36,040
All these strangers were ready to face that in assist.

26
00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:49,460
Now this didn't take place during some idyllic time where everyone always helped everyone. This was in 2022. Political division was prominent, but it did not matter in that moment when a family of campers needed help, the campers ran to the sea.

27
00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:57,020
So, as we work together to enhance what is good and to solve problems in our city, how do we tap into our shared humanity?

28
00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:01,660
We remember that as we live together in a society, we make a commitment to each other.

29
00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:04,500
If our neighbors' houses on fire, we call the fire department.

30
00:10:04,740 --> 00:10:06,320
We support our kids fundraisers.

31
00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:11,320
We bring the garbage and recycling cans back for elderly neighbors and check on them during a power outage.

32
00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:15,400
We don't think the worst of each other nor do we put some people on a pedestal.

33
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,800
The truth is likely summer in the middle. All of us are neither perfect nor evil.

34
00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:26,420
Some may say that this is too idealistic, but if we aren't at least a little bit idealistic, why are we sitting at the stairs?

35
00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,520
Why are we in city government? Why are you watching this meeting?

36
00:10:30,260 --> 00:10:39,280
So tonight as we roll up our sleeves to get to work for the city, let us keep in mind our shared humanity. Let's listen, be caring, and committed to the common good of our shared oil.

37
00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,060
Kevin with us yet tonight.

38
00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:13,540
Okay

39
00:11:14,580 --> 00:11:19,840
So, we are going to push to later tonight's agenda, the report on enforcement of

40
00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:29,940
noxious weeds, if had a few urgent changes to schedule, I'll just say, and so we're

41
00:11:29,940 --> 00:11:35,240
going to have to push that one out until our DPS director gets here to discuss that item.

42
00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:39,680
Which brings us to a few proclamations that we have this evening.

43
00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:43,500
So,

44
00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,780
this is my microphone down there,

45
00:11:59,290 --> 00:12:01,430
not that I need one of these, I'm sure, but here

46
00:12:01,430 --> 00:12:02,750
me quite fine.

47
00:12:05,940 --> 00:12:06,760
I promise no comedy.

48
00:12:09,340 --> 00:12:12,720
All right, we have three proclodations this evening.

49
00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:22,020
The first we're going to do is a proclodation celebrating Constitution week in the city of

50
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:24,040
So,

51
00:12:26,370 --> 00:12:29,450
Sharlon Douglas, are you here to accept this along with Diane?

52
00:12:30,850 --> 00:12:31,670
Okay, so you're here?

53
00:12:32,150 --> 00:12:32,250
Yes.

54
00:12:32,250 --> 00:12:33,370
All right, we'll come on up.

55
00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:39,470
For those of you who don't know, Sharlon Douglas was a former commissioner.

56
00:12:39,630 --> 00:12:44,210
She serves on our planning commission, and she's also a daughter of the American Revolution.

57
00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:50,300
All right, this is a proclamation, designating September 17th through the 23rd,

58
00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:54,500
2026 Constitution Week in Royal Oak.

59
00:12:54,500 --> 00:13:00,740
Whereas United States of America is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration

60
00:13:00,740 --> 00:13:07,860
of Independence in 2026, celebrating the founding principles of liberty, equality, representative

61
00:13:07,860 --> 00:13:10,800
government, and the inherent rights of all people.

62
00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:16,020
And whereas those principles were later secured and strengthened through the drafting and

63
00:13:16,020 --> 00:13:20,920
ratification of the Constitution of the United States, establishing a durable framework

64
00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,480
for self-government in the rule of law.

65
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:31,080
Whereas September 17, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution

66
00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:37,060
of the United States by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

67
00:13:38,220 --> 00:13:43,260
And whereas the Constitution remains a supreme law of the land, defining the powers and responsibilities

68
00:13:43,260 --> 00:13:49,160
of government while protecting the rights and freedoms of the American people, whereas the Constitution

69
00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,980
has provided stability, opportunity, and democratic governance for generations of Americans and

70
00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:58,660
continues to serve as a model for constitutional government throughout the world.

71
00:13:59,580 --> 00:14:04,360
And whereas the preservation of constitutional government depends upon and informed and

72
00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:10,020
engaged citizenry that understands both rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the

73
00:14:10,020 --> 00:14:11,960
responsibilities of citizenship.

74
00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:17,280
And whereas Constitution Week was established to emphasize the responsibilities and privileges

75
00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:23,760
of American citizenship, encourage the study of the Constitution, and foster informed civic participation.

76
00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,700
Now, whereas Constitution Week provides an opportunity for all Americans to reflect upon the wisdom

77
00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:35,080
of the framers, study the Constitution, and renew their commitment to the principles of freedom,

78
00:14:35,620 --> 00:14:47,260
justice, and representative government. Now, whereas Public Law 84-915, an act of

79
00:14:47,260 --> 00:14:51,200
September 17th through the 23rd of each year as constitution week.

80
00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,220
Now therefore, be it resolved.

81
00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:57,420
I am Mayor Forney and the members of the Royal Oak City Commission on behalf of the

82
00:14:57,420 --> 00:14:59,520
entire royal community.

83
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:20,700
Hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week in Royal Oak, and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals held by our framers of the Constitution in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.

84
00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:22,020
Mr. Davis?

85
00:15:25,470 --> 00:15:28,050
Oh, you don't picture it.

86
00:15:28,050 --> 00:15:29,210
Do you?

87
00:15:29,210 --> 00:15:29,570
Do you?

88
00:15:29,970 --> 00:15:30,030
Do you?

89
00:15:30,030 --> 00:15:30,370
Do you?

90
00:15:30,370 --> 00:15:30,410
Yes.

91
00:15:30,910 --> 00:15:31,490
Thank you.

92
00:15:33,270 --> 00:15:36,610
Good evening, and thank you, Mayor Fornier, and City Commission members.

93
00:15:37,350 --> 00:15:38,170
I'm Sharland Douglas.

94
00:15:38,290 --> 00:15:41,690
I'm a member of the Ezra Parker chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

95
00:15:42,610 --> 00:15:46,050
On behalf of the chapter, we thank the City for bringing attention to Constitution

96
00:15:46,050 --> 00:15:46,530
Week.

97
00:15:47,510 --> 00:15:54,590
On September 17th, our chapter will join Bells across America to celebrate the beginning of

98
00:15:54,590 --> 00:16:00,130
institution week. We invite everyone to join us in Royal Oak Centennial Commons where we will

99
00:16:00,130 --> 00:16:02,610
ring bells beginning at 4 p.m.

100
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,680
We will ring, we'll be cowbells, a nod to one of Royal Oak's founding businesses.

101
00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:21,980
So you don't want yours, you don't want yours, you don't want yours, you don't want yours.

102
00:16:23,580 --> 00:16:27,860
More than a million women have joined the D.A.R. since it's founding in 1890.

103
00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:35,620
Today, nearly 200,000 members advance our missions of education, historic preservation, and patriotism.

104
00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:42,220
Last year, members around the world gave 7 million volunteer hours in service to our communities.

105
00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:50,660
Right now, there may be a woman watching this meeting who knows that her ancestors supported the cause of independence.

106
00:16:51,180 --> 00:16:55,500
We encourage her to visit DAR.org to learn how she might join us.

107
00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:56,300
Thank you.

108
00:17:02,220 --> 00:17:03,760
Oh, you were serious.

109
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,220
Thank you.

110
00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:16,540
Anytime any one thinks Commissioner Colos

111
00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:18,880
not making appropriate point, you can ring on the bell.

112
00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:20,420
Well, I'm thinking if you make a loop.

113
00:17:21,120 --> 00:17:22,420
I'm not.

114
00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:30,580
I promise to use it.

115
00:17:30,980 --> 00:17:35,370
I promise to use it.

116
00:17:35,370 --> 00:17:38,210
We have another proclamation this evening.

117
00:17:39,370 --> 00:17:45,110
Regarding Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, I'll see if I'll

118
00:17:45,110 --> 00:17:45,950
serve as a Supreme.

119
00:17:46,350 --> 00:17:46,930
Hi, Helen.

120
00:17:51,030 --> 00:17:52,710
So, I'm going to read this important proclamation.

121
00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:05,840
This is a proclamation, designating the month of September, 2026, as Suicide Prevention

122
00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:10,980
Month, where a September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

123
00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:16,160
The time when millions of people around the world join their voices to promote Suicide

124
00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:17,160
prevention awareness.

125
00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:22,900
And whereas understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way

126
00:18:22,900 --> 00:18:28,180
to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation

127
00:18:28,180 --> 00:18:28,960
around suicide.

128
00:18:30,060 --> 00:18:32,940
And whereas suicide is not inevitable for anyone.

129
00:18:33,620 --> 00:18:38,580
By starting the conversation, providing support and directing help to those who need it,

130
00:18:38,860 --> 00:18:41,180
we can prevent suicides and save lives.

131
00:18:41,180 --> 00:18:57,060
And whereas the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline offers free and confidential 247 call text and chat access to train crisis counselors who can help people in suicidal crisis or any kind of emotional distress.

132
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:10,640
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis help is available call or text 988 or chat 988 lifeline.org to reach the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

133
00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:13,140
And we're as everyone in our community,

134
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:14,980
can play a role in preventing suicide.

135
00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:17,340
We all need the occasional reminder

136
00:19:17,340 --> 00:19:20,340
that we are all silently fighting our own battles.

137
00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:23,380
A simple phone call, message, or hug,

138
00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,720
can go a long way towards helping someone realize

139
00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,400
suicide is not the answer.

140
00:19:28,740 --> 00:19:30,180
Now, therefore, be it resolved.

141
00:19:30,980 --> 00:19:31,320
I'm AirFornier,

142
00:19:32,020 --> 00:19:33,720
and the Mayors of the Royal Oak City Commission

143
00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,080
on behalf of the entire Royal Oak community

144
00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:41,680
Do hereby proclaim September 2026 as suicide prevention month.

145
00:19:47,590 --> 00:19:49,310
I'm just going to talk loud into this.

146
00:19:49,450 --> 00:19:54,630
Excuse the little frog and my voice I have right now. It's okay. Don't you worry about it.

147
00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:57,450
Okay, we're good. Don't you worry about it. I'm used to it. You'd be surprised.

148
00:19:58,510 --> 00:20:02,710
Hi, everybody. My name's bring the following. I'm one of Royal Police Department's co-responders.

149
00:20:03,550 --> 00:20:06,570
I'd like to say it all by saying thank you for this recognition.

150
00:20:06,570 --> 00:20:12,650
The partnership between us as clinicians and Royal Oak PD has been incredibly meaningful.

151
00:20:13,050 --> 00:20:17,150
Every day we have the opportunity to meet people and some of the most difficult moments

152
00:20:17,150 --> 00:20:18,170
of their lives.

153
00:20:18,930 --> 00:20:21,730
And hopefully we can help them see that there is another way forward.

154
00:20:22,370 --> 00:20:26,170
Suicide prevention month is an important reminder that prevention starts with connection,

155
00:20:26,710 --> 00:20:31,510
with being willing to notice that someone is struggling, to ask difficult questions, and to

156
00:20:31,510 --> 00:20:33,350
make sure that people know that they're not alone.

157
00:20:33,350 --> 00:20:41,570
We are incredibly grateful to the City and our police partners for believing in this work and for allowing us to continue making a difference together.

158
00:20:42,170 --> 00:20:48,150
We are proud of what we've built here and we are even more proud of the lives that we have the opportunity to impact.

159
00:20:48,730 --> 00:20:49,190
Thank you everybody.

160
00:20:50,390 --> 00:20:50,550
Thank you.

161
00:20:54,970 --> 00:20:57,310
Sabrina and her team do amazing things.

162
00:20:57,510 --> 00:21:02,170
They're on the front line just as every Royal Oak Police officer is.

163
00:21:02,170 --> 00:21:06,510
And like she said, sometimes you meet people in their worst times, it's a very difficult job

164
00:21:06,510 --> 00:21:11,410
and we're so very lucky and blessed to have great people helping the rest of us out in this community.

165
00:21:11,710 --> 00:21:12,330
Thank you, Sabrina.

166
00:21:25,460 --> 00:21:31,620
Well, something really cool happened, not in our community, but affected our community, not too long ago.

167
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,920
I'll ask the Royal Oak Leopard Cons to come on up here.

168
00:21:35,620 --> 00:21:40,860
We have a proclamation honoring the Royal Oak Leopard Cons 26 Northwood League's championship.

169
00:21:40,860 --> 00:21:41,440
But we

170
00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:45,320
get that trophy.

171
00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:46,520
That's a real trophy.

172
00:21:47,380 --> 00:21:48,900
I mean, that's that's serious hardware.

173
00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:51,220
All right.

174
00:21:54,260 --> 00:21:59,320
So for those of you who don't know, the Roya Look leprechauns have been a staple in our community

175
00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:00,760
playing out of Memorial Park.

176
00:22:01,140 --> 00:22:05,700
It's a collegiate league that brings in a number of players from Michigan and all over the

177
00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:06,160
country.

178
00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:08,120
It's a really exciting venue.

179
00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:13,140
It's a place where you can watch great baseball, take the kids out and not break the

180
00:22:13,140 --> 00:22:13,420
bank.

181
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:21,860
So, this is really a privilege to read this proclamation because I know how hard you guys worked and how hard the teamwork this year.

182
00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:29,240
So, we're as the Royal Oak leprechauns made history in 2026 by capturing the Northwoods League Championship.

183
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:51,040
First Championship in franchise history, defeating St. Cloud Rocks 3-1. And whereas the leprechaun's demonstrated determination and resilience throughout the season, finishing the first half of the Great Lakes East play with a 1917 record before surging to the top of the standings in the second half with an outstanding 24-12 record.

184
00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:56,460
And we're as every member of the Royal Oak Lepercons contributed to this historic championship,

185
00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:04,360
season, demonstrating outstanding teamwork, determination, sportsmanship, and commitment both on and off the field.

186
00:23:05,140 --> 00:23:10,360
And we're as a Lepercons, we're led during the 2026 season by Field Manager DJ Lamehu,

187
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:18,300
who brought the preparation, consistency, and teamwork that defined his distinguished major league baseball career to the Royal Oak dugout.

188
00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:23,380
Now, whereas the Royal Oak Leopard Conte, proudly called the Lucky Corner at Memorial Park

189
00:23:23,380 --> 00:23:28,800
their home, playing in the historic park established in 1939, and bringing high-level

190
00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,420
collegiate baseball family-friendly entertainment and memorable summer nights to the heart

191
00:23:33,420 --> 00:23:34,180
of Royal Oak.

192
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:39,540
And whereas the Royal Oak Leopard Conte are a nonprofit organization committed to being more

193
00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:44,660
than a baseball team, strengthening the Royal Oak community through player outreach, school

194
00:23:44,660 --> 00:23:49,900
community appearances, the Little Eppercons Kids Club, Volunteer Service, Community Events and

195
00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:54,880
Commitment to Diversity Inclusion. And whereas the Eppercons compete in the Northwoods League,

196
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,740
a premier summer collegiate baseball league that provides elite college players and opportunity

197
00:23:59,740 --> 00:24:04,640
to develop their skills and has helped more than 340 alumni advance to major league baseball.

198
00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:10,400
And whereas the players, coaches, staff, board members, volunteers, host family sponsors and fans

199
00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,980
of the Royal Oak LepreCons have given our community a championship season to celebrate.

200
00:24:15,660 --> 00:24:17,040
Now, therefore, be it resolved.

201
00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:18,440
I'm here for a day.

202
00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,560
In the members of the Royal Oak City Commission, on behalf of the entire Royal Oak community,

203
00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:28,980
to hereby congratulate and honor the Royal Oak LepreCons as the 2026 Northwoods League champions

204
00:24:28,980 --> 00:24:35,140
and recognize their historic first franchise championship, their outstanding performance on the field

205
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:37,540
and their continued commitment to the Royal Oak community.

206
00:24:37,540 --> 00:24:41,040
And be it further resolved, the City of Royal Oak extends its

207
00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,140
congratulations to the players, coaches, staff, and entire

208
00:24:44,140 --> 00:24:47,940
leprechauns organizations, and thanks the fans who filled the

209
00:24:47,940 --> 00:24:50,660
Lucky Corner with Royal Oak Pride throughout this unforgettable

210
00:24:50,660 --> 00:24:52,220
championship season.

211
00:24:52,780 --> 00:24:55,500
Congratulations, Champs Royal Oak is proud of you.

212
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:03,500
A few words?

213
00:25:04,420 --> 00:25:08,680
Well, I'll just say it was about a year ago today and a meeting

214
00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:13,440
like this, I stood right about there, and I guarantee that the

215
00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:20,540
local leprechauns who would make the playoffs and the amount of you know what I caught for that was quite a bit,

216
00:25:21,460 --> 00:25:26,560
but turns out I set the bar too low because thanks to coach Faust and Coach Lamay when the entire

217
00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:31,540
coaching staff and all the players, they had an incredible one around and ended up winning it all.

218
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,680
So there's a lot of thank yous to make throughout the entire city of Royal Oak, but I want to give

219
00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,660
special shout out to Judy Davis.

220
00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,600
The wonderful Judy Davis, who's been a day once supporter, a host

221
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,420
family for us, and just when we call you and have an ambitious

222
00:25:47,420 --> 00:25:50,680
ideal, let's say, you're at least open to hearing us out for it.

223
00:25:51,020 --> 00:25:55,160
So we love you in a free-shake and a special shout out to Mayor

224
00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,100
for Nayswell for making himself well to me.

225
00:25:57,180 --> 00:26:00,500
First year as a young, that meant a lot to me and Commissioner Colau as

226
00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:02,060
well for making yourself available to me.

227
00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,800
So thank you all, and we're looking forward to another great season in

228
00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:07,060
Thank you.

229
00:26:20,220 --> 00:26:22,460
You guys were really hard for this.

230
00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:22,880
Thank you.

231
00:26:22,980 --> 00:26:23,440
Thank you.

232
00:26:23,980 --> 00:26:25,420
Thank you.

233
00:26:25,420 --> 00:26:31,020
I mean, a second half of the season going 24 and 12, that's what you got to love about

234
00:26:31,020 --> 00:26:31,340
baseball.

235
00:26:31,540 --> 00:26:32,620
You're never out.

236
00:26:32,820 --> 00:26:34,260
And life, you're never out.

237
00:26:34,260 --> 00:26:37,260
You can turn it around no matter how bleak things look.

238
00:26:37,340 --> 00:26:39,980
What an incredible story, a lot of hard work.

239
00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:43,220
Great to see you guys come through and bring some good news to the city of Roy

240
00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:43,780
Loat.

241
00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,400
Let's do a little reverse now from the Juno point of view.

242
00:27:00,780 --> 00:27:03,060
I think now that Kevin Yee is here,

243
00:27:05,350 --> 00:27:06,750
are you going to move it to after consent?

244
00:27:06,770 --> 00:27:07,050
Great.

245
00:27:08,770 --> 00:27:10,390
Did I miss that when I was doing the proclamations?

246
00:27:11,830 --> 00:27:11,870
All right.

247
00:27:13,050 --> 00:27:17,250
So I guess we will, after the consent agenda,

248
00:27:17,470 --> 00:27:19,230
we will talk about the noxious weeds

249
00:27:19,230 --> 00:27:20,770
if you guys are here for that.

250
00:27:21,510 --> 00:27:25,930
So what we'll do first is the approval of tonight's agenda.

251
00:27:26,290 --> 00:27:27,470
Does anyone wish to make a motion

252
00:27:27,470 --> 00:27:28,610
to approve tonight's agenda.

253
00:27:28,870 --> 00:27:30,310
We have a motion by Commissioner Chiesum.

254
00:27:30,670 --> 00:27:31,290
I'm going to move approval.

255
00:27:32,390 --> 00:27:34,410
Second by Commissioner Bashton.

256
00:27:34,990 --> 00:27:38,090
The discussion on the agenda tonight with none.

257
00:27:38,170 --> 00:27:38,930
I'll call for the vote.

258
00:27:39,090 --> 00:27:40,350
All's in fair say aye.

259
00:27:40,470 --> 00:27:40,630
Aye.

260
00:27:40,630 --> 00:27:41,310
Those opposed.

261
00:27:41,410 --> 00:27:41,990
Both should pass.

262
00:27:42,970 --> 00:27:43,510
All right.

263
00:27:43,730 --> 00:27:46,510
This brings us to public comment.

264
00:27:47,450 --> 00:27:49,770
So a few ground rules before we commence public comment.

265
00:27:50,550 --> 00:27:55,770
The city commission values and relies on the input of our fellow citizens to help make decisions.

266
00:27:55,770 --> 00:28:03,170
Now's the time set aside for you to address the city commission on any city related topic whether or not it's on the agenda

267
00:28:03,170 --> 00:28:08,270
I do ask that comments be directed to the commission as a whole and not to individual commissioners

268
00:28:09,230 --> 00:28:14,330
We've also made it easier for you to request follow-up on any issue that you bring to public comment

269
00:28:14,330 --> 00:28:17,330
Simply by scanning the QR code you see displayed

270
00:28:17,330 --> 00:28:23,830
Please make sure to double check your information for accuracy as staff will utilize it for post meeting responses

271
00:28:23,830 --> 00:28:29,090
In addition to public comment, there will also be a hearing this evening on the request from

272
00:28:30,270 --> 00:28:38,550
Royloak, Royal Eats Royal Oak LLC to approve a new plan of operation for the Royal Eats

273
00:28:38,550 --> 00:28:42,250
Brunch and Diner to be located at 617 South Washington.

274
00:28:42,950 --> 00:28:47,870
So you can speak at both, speak at one, but we will have another opportunity for that public

275
00:28:47,870 --> 00:28:48,150
hearing.

276
00:28:48,870 --> 00:28:53,450
If you wish to speak tonight at public comment or at the public hearing, please wait until

277
00:28:53,450 --> 00:28:56,770
recognized by me, the mayor, and then come up to the podium.

278
00:28:57,210 --> 00:29:01,550
For the record, we do ask that you state your name and address, and please be mindful we

279
00:29:01,550 --> 00:29:03,790
want to hear from anyone who wishes to speak tonight.

280
00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:08,530
So comments are limited to three minutes per person and not per topic, and we do have a

281
00:29:08,530 --> 00:29:11,150
time right at the podium to help you keep track of your time.

282
00:29:12,410 --> 00:29:17,410
Please note, we typically don't respond directly to questions during public comment.

283
00:29:17,590 --> 00:29:19,530
However, we are writing those questions down.

284
00:29:20,110 --> 00:29:22,830
And when the topic comes up, we'll ask that question on your behalf.

285
00:29:22,830 --> 00:29:27,110
If your question is nothing to do with anything on tonight's agenda, that's okay.

286
00:29:28,150 --> 00:29:33,530
Our city manager, I look over here, I peek at his notes, he is taking notes and it's

287
00:29:33,530 --> 00:29:38,570
always helpful that if you're not leaving your contact information through the QR code, that

288
00:29:38,570 --> 00:29:40,590
you find a way that we can get the answer back to you.

289
00:29:40,690 --> 00:29:43,790
We'll go to the effort to get the answer, but we've got to give it back to somebody.

290
00:29:44,390 --> 00:29:49,910
And if you don't feel comfortable using the QR code, we do have our most amazing community

291
00:29:49,910 --> 00:29:57,690
engagement specialist Judy Davids sitting right there. She is so kind and joyful and

292
00:29:57,690 --> 00:29:59,970
approachable. I promise you if you have a question or one answer.

293
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:11,820
Thank

294
00:30:15,470 --> 00:30:24,650
you, Mayor. Good evening, commissioner. My name is Belan Morales, and my address is 2722 North Vermont Roy Oak, Michigan.

295
00:30:26,950 --> 00:30:39,670
Good evening and thank you for your time. I'm here tonight as a residence, a parent and a proud member of our community to urge this commission to find funding for critical repairs for our ice rink.

296
00:30:41,110 --> 00:30:53,310
My perspective on this rink comes from a unique place. I am a first generation Mexican-American. I grew up in El Paso, Texas surrounded by sun, desert and hot sand. Ice skating was not part of my childhood

297
00:30:53,970 --> 00:30:59,290
But when I moved to Michigan, I had my two sons, I wanted a different experience for them.

298
00:30:59,750 --> 00:31:02,090
I wanted them to learn a real tangible skill.

299
00:31:02,550 --> 00:31:06,830
More than that, I wanted them to be woven into the fabric of a larger community.

300
00:31:07,290 --> 00:31:12,430
I wanted my little Mexican boys to be a part of a local hockey culture and the ice skating family.

301
00:31:14,030 --> 00:31:18,470
Today, my boys are five and eight, and I will be completely honest with you,

302
00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:22,470
putting them on the eyes is sometimes like trying to take cats to the pool.

303
00:31:24,350 --> 00:31:28,130
It takes a lot of effort, but every single moment has been worth it.

304
00:31:28,250 --> 00:31:32,250
This facility, these incredible coaches and communities surrounding the ring,

305
00:31:32,510 --> 00:31:34,470
have given my family something irreplaceable.

306
00:31:35,550 --> 00:31:38,190
Three times per week, my boys get to witness others,

307
00:31:38,590 --> 00:31:41,570
constantly learning and pushing themselves to be better.

308
00:31:42,310 --> 00:31:44,590
They are surrounded by dedication and resilience,

309
00:31:44,590 --> 00:31:48,270
And in a modern world that's dominated by screens,

310
00:31:48,610 --> 00:31:52,830
YouTubers and Roblox, the ice ring provides real grounding space

311
00:31:52,830 --> 00:31:55,610
that has brought nothing but good things to my family.

312
00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:01,760
The most important lessons my sons have learned on the ice

313
00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:05,160
doesn't just apply to sports, it applies to life.

314
00:32:05,860 --> 00:32:09,300
They have learned that when you fall down, you get back up and you try again.

315
00:32:09,780 --> 00:32:12,240
Right now, our ring has fallen down a bit,

316
00:32:12,540 --> 00:32:14,480
and it needs your help to get it back up.

317
00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:21,140
This facility is a vital anchor for our children's physical health, mental resilience and social growth.

318
00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,260
Please approve the funding for these repairs and please fix our ring.

319
00:32:25,780 --> 00:32:26,620
Thank you for your time.

320
00:32:27,140 --> 00:32:27,580
Thanks, Miles.

321
00:32:31,620 --> 00:32:33,320
Just want to think about it.

322
00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:37,660
And I know a lot of you are here tonight and probably are here now that I understand

323
00:32:37,660 --> 00:32:38,540
I'm probably talking about the answer.

324
00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:43,160
This is more like a courtroom and less like a hockey game.

325
00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:52,140
We do ask that applause and comments and things like that just we hold off on that and the reason is is because not that I see anybody tonight

326
00:32:52,140 --> 00:33:00,040
In general coming up and opposing what anyone might be saying, but in general, we don't want to dissuade anybody that might have an opposite opinion

327
00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:06,300
About whatever topic someone comes to the podium with so we do ask that if you can hold your applause

328
00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:09,020
We greatly appreciate it

329
00:33:09,020 --> 00:33:10,580
Okay, who's next? Yes, ma

330
00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:17,640
'am

331
00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:24,460
good evening commission. My name is Casey Green. I reside at 3531 Arbor. And I've spoken in

332
00:33:24,460 --> 00:33:29,460
prior meetings both for the City Commission as well as the Park Advisory Board about Lindell,

333
00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:35,400
Icerina. And I wanted to speak up this evening in support of the agenda item for emergency repairs

334
00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:41,620
that are needed to get the arena reopened. Right now the Rink has been closed during a very busy

335
00:33:41,620 --> 00:33:47,360
time for skating and hockey due to failure of critical systems needed to operate. That has caused

336
00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:52,060
programs, teams, and leagues that were supposed to start their seasons to scramble and buy

337
00:33:52,060 --> 00:33:58,640
ice time elsewhere, a loss in revenue to the rank. In addition, the rank is a source of employment

338
00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:03,600
for people like instructors and pro-shop employees who have been hurt by this shutdown.

339
00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:10,660
It is very important that these emergency repairs be completed as soon as possible so that it can

340
00:34:10,660 --> 00:34:16,860
be reopened and I hope the commission will approve that agenda item. It needs to be set however,

341
00:34:16,860 --> 00:34:20,000
that this closure was predictable and preventable.

342
00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:25,580
The failure of the lines below the concrete and West Rink has been a reoccurring problem.

343
00:34:27,220 --> 00:34:33,780
119,000 dollars in emergency repairs were previously approved for the Rink.

344
00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:42,780
And the dehumidifier has been limping along and causing issues for some time, creating condensation and poor conditions at the Rink.

345
00:34:42,780 --> 00:34:56,340
The emergency work is being done at the lowest price point possible, and while I appreciate the need to be cost conscious, it questions whether that repair is going to be enough.

346
00:34:57,900 --> 00:35:04,280
The approach to maintenance and investment at the rank over the last several years seems to be one of patch and then kick the cam.

347
00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:10,680
It's not working anymore. The rank needs investment or this type of closure will continue.

348
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:26,580
The city recently indicated that important investments noted in the capital improvement plan including the roof and HVAC system would be put on hold with the director of Parks and Recreation expressing concern over the lack of funds for existing infrastructure like Lindell.

349
00:35:27,260 --> 00:35:29,420
What will happen when these systems fail?

350
00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:35,540
If the city does not come up with a better plan for this facility than patch and kick the can,

351
00:35:36,020 --> 00:35:39,740
Closers and shutdowns will happen, and the rink will not be operational.

352
00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:45,760
I respectfully ask you to both approve the emergency repairs that are on the agenda this evening,

353
00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:50,800
while also considering a more comprehensive approach to the rink going forward, so it can

354
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:54,660
be maintained as the important community recreation asset going forward.

355
00:35:55,060 --> 00:35:55,900
Thank you for your time.

356
00:35:56,140 --> 00:35:57,060
Thank you, Ms. B.

357
00:35:57,380 --> 00:35:58,420
All right, who's next?

358
00:35:58,660 --> 00:35:59,120
Yes, sir.

359
00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:04,360
Good.

360
00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:05,100
Thank you, Mayor.

361
00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,020
My name is Joshua Morales.

362
00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:08,660
I live at 1926.

363
00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:13,860
I'm actually here to talk about the city website.

364
00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:17,920
I did see that there was an RFP that was recently

365
00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:21,460
recently concluded and work has started five days ago

366
00:36:21,460 --> 00:36:22,620
on the city website.

367
00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:25,900
I'm actually here to talk about open standards with guarding

368
00:36:25,900 --> 00:36:29,560
net though and I hope not too late as the

369
00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:32,120
requirements have been drafted or not.

370
00:36:33,660 --> 00:36:37,860
But mostly I did appreciate that the current city website

371
00:36:37,860 --> 00:36:43,080
has ICAL access so we can subscribe to any calendars.

372
00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:44,440
Those work great.

373
00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:47,980
However, the RSS feeds on the current city website.

374
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,380
There are over 75 RSS feeds on the current city website.

375
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:57,160
Only of maybe a two or three work and those are the ones that are labeled all.

376
00:36:58,060 --> 00:37:03,660
So we're not able to properly filter these are, you know, when we're taking in on, when

377
00:37:03,660 --> 00:37:07,380
we subscribe to these RSS feeds, we're not able to really filter down what we're looking

378
00:37:07,380 --> 00:37:12,760
for let's say I want to police alerts. I can't really filter that out through all because the

379
00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:18,220
all just gives me even school bus routes and it gives me, you know, hey, holiday is coming up.

380
00:37:18,620 --> 00:37:24,220
It's very, it's a lot of noise for what, just a sit through to get to what you want.

381
00:37:25,260 --> 00:37:29,880
So when I'm hoping for with this new website that you guys are developing and again, happy that,

382
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:36,440
Anywhat site is being developed. I know it's a huge undertaking considering the structure of organizations

383
00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:45,560
of the city managers. I'm hoping that the RSS fees are better organized, and I hope that I just hope

384
00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:50,860
this becomes an important part of the requirements. RSS is very important as an open standard,

385
00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:57,560
so that we can developers like me can build applications on top of it for better civic engagement,

386
00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:03,260
And even if you don't have an application developer,

387
00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:09,740
you also just have free RSS tools that allow people to focus their attention on city matters.

388
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:13,680
And if RSS fees are structured well, people can do that more effectively.

389
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:15,220
That's really all I have.

390
00:38:15,260 --> 00:38:16,980
It's just about to say what's like so.

391
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:18,000
Thank you.

392
00:38:18,100 --> 00:38:18,980
Thank you, Mr. Ross.

393
00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:22,060
Yes, ma'am here on the end.

394
00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:26,820
Good evening.

395
00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:28,060
My name is Nicole Corbaki.

396
00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,580
I am, I reside at 24th or 13 in class in Avenue.

397
00:38:32,260 --> 00:38:36,320
I'd like to repeat some of the sentiment that Ms. Greene was discussing regarding the

398
00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:41,220
Lindell Rink. I believe you guys also all received an email from my husband late last

399
00:38:41,220 --> 00:38:46,960
night. We have been members of the railroad community since 2010 and less hours at the

400
00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:51,880
Rink. He's been coaching, I've been managing. We had four banners that we have raised in

401
00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:59,580
the Rink and the trophies in the trophy case. The Rink is a source of community. It's a source

402
00:38:59,580 --> 00:39:01,840
of fun, it's a source of exercise,

403
00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:04,940
and a source of growth for all of our kids.

404
00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:09,160
At this point, the ranked conditions have failed.

405
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:13,860
It is at a point where it seems like across rail oak,

406
00:39:14,020 --> 00:39:16,320
we have wonderful things without a plan

407
00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,260
of how we're going to maintain those.

408
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,540
I've been at other meetings where there's been discussions

409
00:39:21,220 --> 00:39:24,280
of bathrooms going in and other upkeep on parks.

410
00:39:24,860 --> 00:39:27,680
Again, all of this requires maintenance and long-term

411
00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:33,480
maintenance for things that we seem to have like John Lindbell, continue to be neglected and continue to fail.

412
00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:41,600
At this point we have two teams that I personally am responsible for that cannot start their season.

413
00:39:42,260 --> 00:39:51,120
There are 13 youth programs in the Hockey alone, including three high schools, countless figure skaters, countless co-ed teams,

414
00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:59,200
Plus, just leader pursuits of sticks and pox that are being held because of the poor maintenance and poor oversight on the ring.

415
00:39:59,720 --> 00:40:05,260
So I would urge you guys to consider what path forward we can do to get the ring back up.

416
00:40:05,340 --> 00:40:07,700
Maybe some long-term plans for the ring.

417
00:40:08,220 --> 00:40:13,080
I would also encourage maybe reaching out to those of us that are at the ring.

418
00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,280
We have also spoken up before at different times over the last five years.

419
00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:22,460
in regards to maybe a friends of Lindell, some type of fundraiser, there's been discussion

420
00:40:23,500 --> 00:40:28,980
of the Zamboni meeting funding, which had that been something discussed with members of the

421
00:40:28,980 --> 00:40:33,520
community. We could have had a booth at Artspeets and Eats where maybe teams from both

422
00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:38,280
figure skating and Hockey could have been there trying to raise some money for the Zamboni.

423
00:40:38,940 --> 00:40:43,780
I feel like there's plenty of collaborative effort that could be done to assist with the ring.

424
00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:47,860
But right now, we can't do anything until the drink is back up in operational.

425
00:40:49,100 --> 00:40:54,020
So I'm hoping that tonight you guys can continue to fund the repairs and then we can look forward

426
00:40:54,020 --> 00:40:56,300
to what we can do in the future to keep the rink going.

427
00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:57,680
It's a vital part of our community.

428
00:40:58,300 --> 00:41:04,240
Again, myself, we have members from Flint, Waterford, Romeo, as well as Royale Oak Park

429
00:41:04,240 --> 00:41:08,460
and all surrounding areas, including Verkland Oak Park, who recently lost both of their rinks.

430
00:41:09,020 --> 00:41:09,640
Thank you.

431
00:41:09,860 --> 00:41:10,460
Thank you.

432
00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:12,480
All right, right here.

433
00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:24,640
Hello, my name is Lumine Zeland, and I'd like to reiterate some of what the others have

434
00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:29,640
been saying, but from a skater's point of view, I'm 16, I've been skating at this

435
00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:34,200
rank for years, and it's truly become a source of community for me.

436
00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:39,520
I've been involved in sports my whole life, but nothing has truly quite been as special

437
00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:41,280
to me as figure skating has.

438
00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:55,000
Um, I started it around when I started middle school coming from, coming from dance and I almost instantly clicked with it, but now I feel like our rank is not up to par.

439
00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,160
Even before the closure, our rank has had major problems.

440
00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:07,720
I skate on the west side and we have had holes on the ice that are being covered by buckets, multiple multiple holes that we've had to skate around.

441
00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:17,600
We, it's very foggy in there. Our ice is frosting over and our Zamboni isn't quite working as well as it probably should and now our makeup is closed.

442
00:42:18,900 --> 00:42:26,980
I don't, I don't think this is good enough for us. I think we need us skaters deserve better than this.

443
00:42:27,240 --> 00:42:34,700
We deserve to have a rank that works and I understand how, how, sorry, I didn't plan to speak.

444
00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:50,700
I understand how budgeting issues can occur and I understand, but I think that we need help and I think that you guys should help us.

445
00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:58,300
Um, just, please consider that and just don't, there's so many people that rank so many

446
00:42:58,300 --> 00:43:02,920
skaters, so many of my friends who rely on this rank, it's right next to the high school,

447
00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:10,140
it's just, it's so convenient and I'd hate to have, um, some of us not be able to go back to that

448
00:43:10,140 --> 00:43:19,680
rank that we love so much. Um, it's been there for years and it's been having problems and I just,

449
00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:21,700
I would love to see that, as a skater.

450
00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:22,980
Thank you.

451
00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:24,000
Thank you.

452
00:43:25,240 --> 00:43:27,980
All right, right here in the front, wait for it.

453
00:43:35,120 --> 00:43:35,560
Good evening.

454
00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:40,800
My name is Kelly Rickley, and I reside at 726 South Laurel Street in Royal Oak.

455
00:43:41,580 --> 00:43:49,140
I have the privilege of serving as the President of the United States of the New Edge

456
00:43:49,140 --> 00:43:53,420
Figure Skating Club, base here in Royal Oak, and operating primarily out of the Johnland

457
00:43:53,420 --> 00:43:54,100
Owl, Icerina.

458
00:43:54,100 --> 00:43:57,820
Our club is called John Lendell Home for more than 50 years.

459
00:43:58,240 --> 00:44:04,680
Today we have 266 members including youth skaters, their parents, adult skaters, and coaches

460
00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:06,740
whose livelihoods depend on this facility.

461
00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:12,200
We host skate fest, our annual figure skating competition at John Lendell, and bring in

462
00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:15,880
more than 200 skaters and their families to royal oak.

463
00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:21,540
participation increased 25% from 2025 to 2026.

464
00:44:22,660 --> 00:44:27,960
Our club also loves to participate in the Royal Oak Ice Show, an annual city

465
00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:31,780
supported event that gives our skaters an opportunity to celebrate their

466
00:44:31,780 --> 00:44:34,440
hard work with their family, friends, and the Royal Oak community.

467
00:44:35,580 --> 00:44:39,780
I'm also speaking tonight as a skater and a parent, both of my children and I

468
00:44:39,780 --> 00:44:44,180
skated John Lendale. And for my daughter especially, figure skating is her passion.

469
00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:48,000
We depend immensely on this facility.

470
00:44:50,460 --> 00:44:53,300
John LaDal cannot simply be replaced by ice somewhere else.

471
00:44:53,640 --> 00:44:56,880
Ice availability in our area is already extremely limited.

472
00:44:57,320 --> 00:44:59,840
We have lost other rinks in the area in recent years.

473
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:08,360
And while demand for figure skating and hockey remains very high, there simply isn't enough ice available elsewhere to absorb these programs.

474
00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:19,340
That's why we appreciate the city considering the funding necessary to make these emergency repairs to keep John Lendale operational is incredibly important to our community.

475
00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:26,340
But I would also respectfully ask the commission to consider how we reached this point where these repairs became an emergency.

476
00:45:26,340 --> 00:45:31,800
To those of us who use Jalmondau regularly, we have been aware of these facility and maintenance

477
00:45:31,800 --> 00:45:35,940
concerns for years. The dehumidification issues did not begin this summer.

478
00:45:37,060 --> 00:45:42,940
If major systems have been deteriorating over time, is it reasonable to ask, what did the facility

479
00:45:42,940 --> 00:45:48,260
management know? Was it communicated to the city? Were anticipated maintenance and replacement

480
00:45:48,260 --> 00:45:56,320
costs identified? And could these issues have been addressed before they resulted in an

481
00:45:56,320 --> 00:46:00,320
Those questions are especially important with the city's management agreement with suburban

482
00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:02,840
ice of approaching expiration in 2027.

483
00:46:03,940 --> 00:46:07,580
I'm not here tonight to advocate for what that future management arrangement should be,

484
00:46:07,940 --> 00:46:11,260
but if Royal Oak makes a significant investment in this facility today,

485
00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:15,800
I respectfully ask for a commission to examine how the facility has been managed and maintained

486
00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:19,380
and what oversight would be necessary to protect that investment going forward.

487
00:46:20,100 --> 00:46:25,760
For our members, the hockey community, our coaches and everyone who relies on increasingly scarce ice,

488
00:46:25,760 --> 00:46:36,740
Johnlandell matters. Please bunk these repairs necessary to keep this ring operating, but also ask the questions necessary to make sure we don't bind ourselves back here again.

489
00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:38,560
Thank you

490
00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:39,920
All right

491
00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:45,380
Anybody on this side. Okay. We'll go in the far back corner.

492
00:46:58,860 --> 00:46:58,880
Yes.

493
00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:04,420
Good evening. My name is Kimberly Polito Garth and I live at 1721 with Sporo Drive and Railoke.

494
00:47:05,700 --> 00:47:10,200
I'm a royal president and taxpayer, and I'm the parent of my 10 year old daughter Paloma,

495
00:47:10,620 --> 00:47:13,660
who has been skating at John Lindell, Icerina, since 2020.

496
00:47:14,500 --> 00:47:16,800
She currently skates their five days a week.

497
00:47:17,700 --> 00:47:21,080
For our family, John Lindell is much more than just an ice rink.

498
00:47:21,940 --> 00:47:25,500
It is a place where Paloma has grown up since she was five years old.

499
00:47:25,720 --> 00:47:32,480
She has spent countless hours there, learning, training, making friends, and developing a passion for skating.

500
00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:37,740
It has become a very important part of her life and her family's life.

501
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:46,080
The current closure has significant impact on us and like many other families, skaters, coaches, teams, and programs that depend on this facility.

502
00:47:47,040 --> 00:47:50,300
Ice time is already incredibly difficult to find in this area.

503
00:47:50,940 --> 00:47:56,520
When John Lindell is unavailable, there's simply aren't enough alternatives for everyone who needs access to the ice.

504
00:47:56,520 --> 00:48:00,280
As royal taxpayers, we understand that maintaining a facility like this requires investment,

505
00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:02,960
but we also believe that that investment is important.

506
00:48:03,740 --> 00:48:07,120
John Lundell serves not only at royal residence, but in much larger skating community,

507
00:48:07,360 --> 00:48:11,360
and it provides an opportunity for children like Ploma to learn grow and pursue something that they love.

508
00:48:12,220 --> 00:48:16,460
I respectfully ask the Commission to support the repairs necessary to reopen John Lundell

509
00:48:16,460 --> 00:48:19,320
and return it to being a safe and reliable facility for our community.

510
00:48:19,940 --> 00:48:23,400
I also ask the city to take a serious look at how these maintenance issues developed,

511
00:48:23,820 --> 00:48:26,140
and what can be done to prevent a similar situation in the future?

512
00:48:26,140 --> 00:48:30,780
future. We need a long-term plan to probably maintain the facility and protect the city's

513
00:48:30,780 --> 00:48:36,020
investment in it. Ploma has been gaining a John Wendell multiple days a week for years, and for

514
00:48:36,020 --> 00:48:40,940
a 10-year-old, that rank is the significant part of her world. I hope the city will recognize

515
00:48:40,940 --> 00:48:45,200
how important John Wendell is to children like her and to the families who invested so much time,

516
00:48:45,440 --> 00:48:50,280
so much energy and passion into this community. We want to see John Wendell not just reopen,

517
00:48:50,660 --> 00:48:55,680
but remain a safe and well maintained home for the skating community for many years to come.

518
00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:58,000
Thank you for your time.

519
00:48:58,560 --> 00:48:59,580
All right, yes, here in the front.

520
00:49:04,710 --> 00:49:07,050
I'm Emily Dumas, 825, West 2, Sonia.

521
00:49:07,950 --> 00:49:09,310
Good evening, Mayor and commissioners.

522
00:49:09,570 --> 00:49:12,250
I'm here tonight to speak and support of approving the necessary

523
00:49:12,250 --> 00:49:14,050
repairs to the Johnland Delay Serena.

524
00:49:14,990 --> 00:49:17,310
My daughter begins skating for fun two and a half years ago

525
00:49:17,310 --> 00:49:19,790
at the outdoor ring great here in Centennial Commons.

526
00:49:20,570 --> 00:49:21,570
She quickly took to it.

527
00:49:21,670 --> 00:49:24,250
We decided to get her a coach and look close to home first

528
00:49:24,250 --> 00:49:25,370
at Johnland Delarena.

529
00:49:26,030 --> 00:49:28,270
Fast forward to today, where she is thriving and accelerating

530
00:49:28,270 --> 00:49:33,130
quickly at a very special rank where she's made lifelong friendships. I feel so fortunate

531
00:49:33,130 --> 00:49:37,610
to live in a city that has such a phenomenal amenity with such talented skaters and coaching

532
00:49:37,610 --> 00:49:43,030
staff, and it's been beautiful to watch my child's progress. She along with many of our figure

533
00:49:43,030 --> 00:49:47,130
skaters are currently competing in the National Qualifying Series against some of the very best skaters

534
00:49:47,130 --> 00:49:52,590
in the country. However, they have not been able to practice in their home bring for weeks now. Prior

535
00:49:52,590 --> 00:49:58,250
to that, they were dodging buckets on the ice that recovering holes caused by the drips from the

536
00:49:58,250 --> 00:50:02,750
these conditions are embarrassing and do not allow our skaters to be competitive when they

537
00:50:02,750 --> 00:50:07,750
cannot safely practice or even practice at all at their home rank. It's very special that

538
00:50:07,750 --> 00:50:12,810
Royal Oak has a city run-ice arena that allows for the discipline, the fun, and the sense of camaraderie

539
00:50:12,810 --> 00:50:17,450
that comes from playing organized sports in your local community. Our skaters and hockey players

540
00:50:17,450 --> 00:50:22,090
deserve a facility that will support their continued growth as athletes and we need to invest in them.

541
00:50:22,710 --> 00:50:26,230
I respectfully ask that the commission approve the emergency repair to the ice arena and help

542
00:50:26,230 --> 00:50:29,350
to succeed. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

543
00:50:29,870 --> 00:50:30,690
Thank you.

544
00:50:31,350 --> 00:50:32,430
All right, you're on the end.

545
00:50:39,020 --> 00:50:40,560
Hello, my name is Candice Cuckler.

546
00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:43,960
My address is 53431 Shelby Township.

547
00:50:44,660 --> 00:50:45,860
I've been teaching figure skating.

548
00:50:45,940 --> 00:50:48,700
Learn to skate at John Lundell for over 30 years.

549
00:50:48,920 --> 00:50:52,180
I might be one of the longest serving employees at the ring.

550
00:50:52,700 --> 00:50:56,580
In my 30 years, I've never seen the ring in this bat of shape.

551
00:50:57,040 --> 00:50:59,640
It's very hard to see something you love

552
00:50:59,640 --> 00:51:06,460
continue to fall apart. One rank is heaving again and they had to take down the ice for repairs

553
00:51:06,460 --> 00:51:12,320
after just fixing this a few years ago. Now the dehumanifier issue means we have

554
00:51:12,320 --> 00:51:20,680
skated this rank with only one rank and every day we skate in the rank with six buckets on the ice

555
00:51:20,680 --> 00:51:27,420
to catch the dripping water and fox so sick that you can't see across the ice. It is a safety issue

556
00:51:27,420 --> 00:51:28,980
for the skaters and the coaches.

557
00:51:29,220 --> 00:51:31,540
And I understand why the ring head to close.

558
00:51:32,220 --> 00:51:35,740
What I don't understand is how it got to this.

559
00:51:36,080 --> 00:51:37,440
We need your help.

560
00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:39,120
Every day, the ring kids' clothes

561
00:51:39,120 --> 00:51:41,560
or skaters are losing valuable training time

562
00:51:41,560 --> 00:51:43,760
getting ready for testing and competitions.

563
00:51:44,460 --> 00:51:46,200
Just last week, we had a competition.

564
00:51:46,500 --> 00:51:49,920
So I had a discramble around trying to find ice cream

565
00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:52,960
and other rings, so my skaters could be ready.

566
00:51:54,500 --> 00:51:57,400
Like the rest of the coaching staff, I'm self-employed

567
00:51:57,400 --> 00:52:00,580
And every day the rinkist clothes were losing money.

568
00:52:01,140 --> 00:52:04,000
This is a place of our employment, this is our office.

569
00:52:04,500 --> 00:52:09,740
When the office is closed, there is no vacation time or a PTO, we just don't get paid.

570
00:52:10,260 --> 00:52:15,180
I feel like the city doesn't care about the rink anymore, because you haven't put money

571
00:52:15,180 --> 00:52:16,080
towards the budget.

572
00:52:16,720 --> 00:52:21,540
I'm asking you to show the residents of Roya Locke, actually, that was I used the rink

573
00:52:21,540 --> 00:52:28,800
on the regular basis that the city is in position to properly maintain

574
00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:29,960
the facility for the city.

575
00:52:50,340 --> 00:53:08,000
Good evening. My name is Samantha Wilson Keith, and I am a resident figure skating coach at John Lendell, Icerina. I'm asking my commission tonight to support their parents necessary to keep John Lendell, Icerina, operational and continuing to serve our community.

576
00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:12,500
This is an incredible moment for ice sports and a year when American athletes brought home

577
00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:16,600
Olympic gold medals across figures skating in hockey and a year where we've been granted

578
00:53:16,600 --> 00:53:20,940
a women's professional hockey team in Detroit interested in our sports are gaining extraordinary

579
00:53:20,940 --> 00:53:26,660
momentum. This is the time to invest in our facilities and in to our programs. To build on that momentum

580
00:53:26,660 --> 00:53:31,480
and ensure the continued growth and vitality of ice sports in our community and that begins

581
00:53:31,480 --> 00:53:36,440
at community rings like John Lendell. And the value of that community ring goes far beyond

582
00:53:36,440 --> 00:53:38,220
interest in sport and developing athletes.

583
00:53:38,760 --> 00:53:40,340
For so many skaters and players,

584
00:53:40,640 --> 00:53:41,940
the Rink has become a second home.

585
00:53:42,100 --> 00:53:44,060
It gives them a safe place to go, a community

586
00:53:44,060 --> 00:53:46,280
where they belong, trusted adults and coaches

587
00:53:46,280 --> 00:53:49,080
who invest in them, and something meaningful to work towards.

588
00:53:49,240 --> 00:53:50,940
They grow up in these buildings.

589
00:53:51,520 --> 00:53:53,140
They learn life skills and lessons,

590
00:53:53,240 --> 00:53:56,120
such as resilience, discipline, confidence, responsibility,

591
00:53:56,680 --> 00:53:58,160
and how to get back up after they fall,

592
00:53:58,400 --> 00:53:59,640
both literally and figuratively.

593
00:54:00,300 --> 00:54:04,180
As coaches, we get the privilege of being part of that journey.

594
00:54:04,340 --> 00:54:06,020
We don't just teach skating in games.

595
00:54:06,020 --> 00:54:11,220
we fostered growth of skaters and players to find confidence, friendships, independence, and

596
00:54:11,220 --> 00:54:11,980
a sense of belonging.

597
00:54:12,660 --> 00:54:15,020
Those are the things they carry with them when they leave the ice.

598
00:54:16,340 --> 00:54:19,340
And for many of us, this ring is also our livelihood.

599
00:54:20,280 --> 00:54:25,360
Coaches and the ring staff depend on reliable ice to support ourselves and to serve our students.

600
00:54:25,900 --> 00:54:30,100
When a facility closes or is affected by maintenance issues, the impact reaches far beyond

601
00:54:30,100 --> 00:54:35,140
recreation and affects families, it affects kids, it affects programs, jobs, and food

602
00:54:35,140 --> 00:54:35,960
on our table.

603
00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:39,220
Ice time is a scarce commodity to find.

604
00:54:39,760 --> 00:54:41,960
There simply isn't an abundance of available ice,

605
00:54:42,460 --> 00:54:44,380
waiting to absorb our skaters, hockey players,

606
00:54:44,640 --> 00:54:46,160
teams and coaches and programs

607
00:54:46,160 --> 00:54:48,580
displaced when the facility goes down.

608
00:54:49,040 --> 00:54:50,560
That makes community rings like John Lundall

609
00:54:50,560 --> 00:54:52,420
not just valuable, but indispensable.

610
00:54:53,900 --> 00:54:56,080
We cannot sustain the sports and programs

611
00:54:56,080 --> 00:54:59,200
that we currently have let alone grow with the current momentum

612
00:54:59,200 --> 00:55:02,820
without reliable places for people to participate in them.

613
00:55:02,820 --> 00:55:07,020
John Lendol isn't just a nice drink. It's a place for members of our community

614
00:55:07,020 --> 00:55:10,620
grow, find other people, find a place to belong and make a living.

615
00:55:11,920 --> 00:55:16,360
Suitable, safe, and reliable facilities are crucial to keeping this community alive.

616
00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:20,900
I respectfully ask that the Commission support the repairs necessary to reopen our

617
00:55:20,900 --> 00:55:23,940
rank and to sustain it going forward. Thank you.

618
00:55:25,120 --> 00:55:28,160
Yes, the one that was first to raise our hand.

619
00:55:28,160 --> 00:55:28,660
Well,

620
00:55:35,540 --> 00:55:40,240
my name is Isabel Trusscott, and I love that one, two, three, five Chesterfield app, Birmingham.

621
00:55:41,140 --> 00:55:44,760
This will be my seventh year being a figure skater at the John Lundell, Icerina.

622
00:55:45,400 --> 00:55:48,460
For as long as I can remember, the rank has been my home away from home.

623
00:55:49,000 --> 00:55:53,940
I built so many wonderful connections and friendships that were only possible because of skating.

624
00:55:54,740 --> 00:55:59,920
Since I am a Birmingham resident, I could be training at a closer rank, but I choose to skate at John Lundell.

625
00:55:59,920 --> 00:56:05,560
Because of the recent conditions at the rink, other skaters and I have battled poor visibility

626
00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:10,460
in hazardous conditions, such as buckets placed all throughout the middle of the ice

627
00:56:10,460 --> 00:56:12,780
to catch drifts from the broken dehumanifier.

628
00:56:14,120 --> 00:56:17,840
All of this has had a very big impact on my family and I.

629
00:56:18,320 --> 00:56:22,420
We come to the rink almost every day, but since it's been shut down, we've had to compensate

630
00:56:22,420 --> 00:56:23,560
by skating at other rinks.

631
00:56:24,400 --> 00:56:29,400
Therefore I respectfully ask the commission to support the repairs needed to keep Johnlandell

632
00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:32,940
a safe, functional, and enjoyable facility for our community.

633
00:56:33,620 --> 00:56:38,680
I also hope the commission can see how these maintenance issues have gotten worse over

634
00:56:38,680 --> 00:56:39,140
time.

635
00:56:39,500 --> 00:56:43,960
And look at what can be done to ensure the rent can stay a functioning and safe facility

636
00:56:43,960 --> 00:56:44,640
in the future.

637
00:56:45,300 --> 00:56:45,600
Thank you.

638
00:56:46,300 --> 00:56:47,440
Thank you.

639
00:56:47,500 --> 00:56:47,740
Yes.

640
00:56:57,780 --> 00:56:58,040
Thank you.

641
00:56:59,220 --> 00:57:00,340
Thank you.

642
00:57:06,640 --> 00:57:07,760
Thank you.

643
00:57:08,100 --> 00:57:08,240
Thank you.

644
00:57:08,240 --> 00:57:08,640
Thank you.

645
00:57:08,700 --> 00:57:08,860
Yes.

646
00:57:08,860 --> 00:57:11,480
I now skate with my coaches four to five times a week.

647
00:57:12,220 --> 00:57:14,100
I'm surrounded by some of my fellow skaters.

648
00:57:14,700 --> 00:57:17,280
We come from Roylook, Birmingham, and Huntington Woods.

649
00:57:17,820 --> 00:57:20,100
And our club includes skaters from over 30 cities

650
00:57:20,100 --> 00:57:21,200
around Metro Detroit.

651
00:57:22,220 --> 00:57:24,880
Though I get in allowance and have to budget and save for the things

652
00:57:24,880 --> 00:57:27,960
I want to get, I cannot imagine how hard it is for all of you

653
00:57:27,960 --> 00:57:31,400
to balance the needs and wants of the residents of the city of Roylook.

654
00:57:31,960 --> 00:57:34,420
What I do know is how important the rank is to me.

655
00:57:34,820 --> 00:57:37,820
I love the skills and discipline I learn from figure skating.

656
00:57:37,820 --> 00:57:40,520
I love the community of fellow skaters.

657
00:57:41,080 --> 00:57:43,360
These skaters around me are some of my best friends.

658
00:57:44,140 --> 00:57:48,280
We skated the outdoor rink in downtown where I look and participate in the annual where

659
00:57:48,280 --> 00:57:49,200
I look, I show.

660
00:57:49,740 --> 00:57:54,460
And though the hockey players make the locker room really smelling, we also recognize how important

661
00:57:54,460 --> 00:57:55,700
it is to all of them.

662
00:57:59,880 --> 00:58:01,680
I live on the northwest side of Detroit.

663
00:58:02,420 --> 00:58:05,420
John Mundell is the closest rank with the skating program to my house.

664
00:58:05,960 --> 00:58:10,560
Two weeks ago I had the unique opportunity to take a lesson with Olympic gold medalist Charlie

665
00:58:10,560 --> 00:58:16,040
way. The conditions of the rank were really bad. The broken dehumidifier made it impossible

666
00:58:16,040 --> 00:58:19,820
from my mom to see through the boards, and there were times when I could not see my coach

667
00:58:19,820 --> 00:58:24,640
just a few feet away from me. And the bucket's collecting condensation made the ice very dangerous.

668
00:58:25,440 --> 00:58:30,000
John Lendell is a second home to all of us. We ask that the commission invests this money to

669
00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:40,340
adequately repair the rank so that we can continue to skate without interruption and

670
00:58:48,110 --> 00:58:48,110
under

671
00:58:48,110 --> 00:58:54,690
My name is Terence Keith. I live at 431-6, West 13-mile road in Royal Oak. I am Samantha Wilson

672
00:58:54,690 --> 00:59:01,350
Keith Susbin, who is a coach at John Lundalais Arena. I'm here speaking on support of the emergency

673
00:59:01,350 --> 00:59:10,570
funding for these repairs. I grew up born and raised in Detroit growing up in the city.

674
00:59:10,570 --> 00:59:17,630
constantly the recreation facilities were underfunded, they were being closed, they were being

675
00:59:17,630 --> 00:59:24,770
sold off to other parties. At the time, leaders did not think that these were big issues.

676
00:59:25,550 --> 00:59:31,550
Over time, they ended up being very catastrophic problems and having a catastrophic impact

677
00:59:31,550 --> 00:59:39,370
on the morale of the community. Young people remember how adults prioritize the places

678
00:59:39,370 --> 00:59:45,270
that they frequent. And as they get older, they start to question if that's the place they

679
00:59:45,270 --> 00:59:51,410
want to stay and raise a family over time. Detroit spent the past 10 years trying to make

680
00:59:51,410 --> 00:59:58,270
up for the damage of those short-sided decisions, three years ago. I work in construction management.

681
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,840
municipal partners, maintenance is one of the top things that we constantly discuss. When you have

682
01:00:06,840 --> 01:00:13,600
equipment that is 30 years old, you know the maintenance schedules need to pick up. You cannot wait

683
01:00:13,600 --> 01:00:20,840
until a critical failure to step in and address the issue. You're going to cost more money, trying to

684
01:00:20,840 --> 01:00:28,060
find that emergency repair, you're having social consequences, and from a city standpoint, more financial

685
01:00:28,060 --> 01:00:35,700
consequences as well. So please support that emergency funding and also a comprehensive plan for

686
01:00:35,700 --> 01:00:41,040
maintenance for John Lendell but also all the critical facilities throughout the city Royaleoke.

687
01:00:41,700 --> 01:00:41,700
Thanks.

688
01:00:44,340 --> 01:00:45,980
In the back in the yellow shirt?

689
01:00:58,410 --> 01:01:05,310
My name is Calvin Carson. I live at 215-00 Winchester Street, Southfield, Michigan.

690
01:01:05,650 --> 01:01:10,950
I am the proud and probably the oldest member of the New Age figure skating club.

691
01:01:11,590 --> 01:01:17,770
I come to you because it's very important that we do maintain the Serena for two reasons.

692
01:01:18,670 --> 01:01:26,830
Number one, I believe that this Serena is strategically placed in a good position within the

693
01:01:26,830 --> 01:01:33,070
majority trade area so that any time that hockey wants to bring in a tournament or figure skating

694
01:01:33,070 --> 01:01:39,030
wants to do a major competition which there are many that they could actually bid on, but can't get

695
01:01:39,030 --> 01:01:45,350
because the facility is not at full operational status. That would be a very enhancing for

696
01:01:45,350 --> 01:01:51,370
the business community here in Royal Oak. I also believe number two, the one of the most

697
01:01:51,370 --> 01:01:58,750
important things about this arena is that it gives kids a place to go to build and become not only

698
01:01:58,750 --> 01:02:05,290
great athletes but great individuals in society, especially the young women here. I have watched

699
01:02:05,290 --> 01:02:11,850
figure skating for over 40 years, and I've seen these girls develop into wonderful young

700
01:02:11,850 --> 01:02:20,010
women because of the sport, teaching them discipline, strength, and just good values that

701
01:02:20,010 --> 01:02:21,490
be able to take care of them.

702
01:02:21,690 --> 01:02:28,210
I think that you are definitely going to miss a good investment if you don't put the money

703
01:02:28,210 --> 01:02:33,710
into the ring because it's going to pay off more than just in fees that you would collect

704
01:02:33,710 --> 01:02:34,110
there.

705
01:02:34,110 --> 01:02:38,990
Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Yeah, over there, right now.

706
01:02:51,600 --> 01:03:05,660
After and part, I live at 318 Eslicell Avenue, and I go to John Mundell twice a week since I've...

707
01:03:05,660 --> 01:03:10,060
Well, I just started going there twice a week, but I've been going there.

708
01:03:10,060 --> 01:03:13,780
for a sense that I was in second grade and now I'm all the way in six.

709
01:03:14,900 --> 01:03:26,240
So, since it's like a big part of everyone here and it's a lot of people's home and community

710
01:03:27,360 --> 01:03:36,420
and so many people have made so many friends and that's why I think you should come and help us

711
01:03:36,420 --> 01:03:40,260
and it's helped with our emergency repairs.

712
01:03:40,540 --> 01:03:41,320
Thank you.

713
01:03:44,650 --> 01:03:45,210
Mr. Mayor.

714
01:03:45,550 --> 01:03:46,070
Quick point more.

715
01:03:46,530 --> 01:03:49,350
Yeah. I think it's part maybe if we could say that any other maybe school

716
01:03:49,350 --> 01:03:51,530
to each children, clubs, and I don't need to tell us our address.

717
01:03:51,830 --> 01:03:54,530
Yeah, if you're coming up here and you're under 18,

718
01:03:54,690 --> 01:03:57,990
you don't feel required to state your address if you don't want to.

719
01:03:58,050 --> 01:03:59,250
That's a good point. Commissioner Cole.

720
01:04:00,510 --> 01:04:00,690
Yes.

721
01:04:01,390 --> 01:04:01,930
Mr. Potsky.

722
01:04:02,350 --> 01:04:02,430
Yep.

723
01:04:20,980 --> 01:04:21,780
Good evening.

724
01:04:22,100 --> 01:04:24,020
Nancy Potsky Royal Oak.

725
01:04:24,520 --> 01:04:27,240
Have you attended a hockey game or ice shell at Lendale?

726
01:04:27,240 --> 01:04:33,000
very exciting professional and inspiring. This year's I Shawalamo, the Swedish Shawan

727
01:04:33,000 --> 01:04:36,700
Nice, had fun classic performances like to little Richard's duty

728
01:04:36,700 --> 01:04:41,880
fruity and today's K-Pop song, Soda-Pap. A labyrinth costumes with excited

729
01:04:41,880 --> 01:04:47,240
kids and adults inspired to do solos, some day, like in a lendale senior

730
01:04:47,240 --> 01:04:51,840
skater who is now heading off to college, along with several peers that are

731
01:04:51,840 --> 01:04:59,200
successful senior Lendale skaters. This Lendale skater is a U.S. figure skating gold medalist

732
01:04:59,200 --> 01:05:05,420
two times Sincrose sectional champ and fourth place on the national stage. The senior skaters

733
01:05:05,420 --> 01:05:12,120
have excellent backgrounds in goals with amazing support from parents, staff, and peer skaters.

734
01:05:12,620 --> 01:05:21,820
Their experience in Lendale is priceless. Unfortunately, over the years Lendale has been

735
01:05:21,820 --> 01:05:27,860
with many eye-system shutdowns and other issues like during the eye show when several women

736
01:05:27,860 --> 01:05:33,860
complained how bad the conditions were in the restrooms. Not dirty, but very run-down,

737
01:05:34,340 --> 01:05:40,580
how embarrassing for the staff, what an amazing staff who through this shutdown found

738
01:05:40,580 --> 01:05:47,440
ice-times for skaters and other rinks. How commendable. Loyal coaches help make a goal

739
01:05:47,440 --> 01:05:54,060
Federalist, when Dow needed money years ago, please make maintaining infrastructure like

740
01:05:54,060 --> 01:05:59,500
Wendell a priority before spending money on optional, lavish projects.

741
01:05:59,900 --> 01:06:03,480
I hope the city sees what a treasurelandell and staff are.

742
01:06:03,900 --> 01:06:10,300
Please stay away from for privatization for the building which could result in higher fees

743
01:06:10,300 --> 01:06:11,040
for skaters.

744
01:06:11,600 --> 01:06:15,540
A few grants are given a year, but not everyone can get them.

745
01:06:15,540 --> 01:06:24,060
Just like we prioritize our library, senior center, parks, et cetera, we should include and take care of Lindell.

746
01:06:24,600 --> 01:06:27,120
None of these should be for profit and not affordable.

747
01:06:27,960 --> 01:06:38,460
Please have the city spend $city dollars and may change city property on a regular basis, so it doesn't become an emergency and skaters have no ring.

748
01:06:38,460 --> 01:06:41,880
Please remember the most important thing, thing.

749
01:06:42,560 --> 01:06:45,100
Children walking through the door of Lendale

750
01:06:45,100 --> 01:06:50,480
skate out inspired, talented, goal oriented adults

751
01:06:50,480 --> 01:06:55,320
supported by parents, peers, and an amazing staff.

752
01:06:55,860 --> 01:06:57,760
And some even have goal medals.

753
01:06:58,180 --> 01:06:58,960
That's priceless.

754
01:06:59,620 --> 01:07:00,200
Thank you.

755
01:07:00,500 --> 01:07:01,040
Thank you.

756
01:07:01,620 --> 01:07:02,820
All right, who's next?

757
01:07:03,440 --> 01:07:03,960
Yes, ma'am.

758
01:07:11,290 --> 01:07:13,150
My name is Christopher Greenwood.

759
01:07:13,170 --> 01:07:15,470
I live at 512 West Lincoln Avenue

760
01:07:15,470 --> 01:07:21,250
in Royal Oak and I'm just here as a new learn to skate parent so my five-year-old just

761
01:07:21,250 --> 01:07:26,710
started skating this summer and they'll learn to skate program at Lindell. I just wanted to say

762
01:07:26,710 --> 01:07:29,970
that we're thoroughly enjoying the rink and we were really disappointed.

763
01:07:30,000 --> 01:07:56,400
I'd like to point into learn about this recent shutdown. And after learning some more about the ongoing maintenance issues, I just wanted to say it would really be a travesty. If maintenance was continued to be deferred, and that we lost use of this facility for our city. I think everyone else is contextualizing it a lot better. But as I'm just kind of new to the group, I just wanted to say, yeah, we're really enjoying the rink and we hope to have it maintained for future. Thank you.

764
01:07:56,400 --> 01:07:57,700
Thank you.

765
01:07:58,240 --> 01:07:59,220
Yes, right there.

766
01:08:09,270 --> 01:08:13,430
Oh, my name is Mary Bartman, and I live at 26369, York,

767
01:08:13,630 --> 01:08:14,530
and Hyden to Woods.

768
01:08:15,990 --> 01:08:19,170
I am also similarly here to ask you to consider the emergency

769
01:08:19,170 --> 01:08:21,110
funding for the lid-down ring.

770
01:08:21,930 --> 01:08:24,970
And I want to just quickly share our last week, I had the opportunity

771
01:08:25,450 --> 01:08:28,830
to take my hockey player who's feeling a little shy right now.

772
01:08:29,090 --> 01:08:31,950
To an event at Farmington, suburban to me,

773
01:08:31,970 --> 01:08:33,890
U.S. won't pick one of my less magic color.

774
01:08:33,890 --> 01:08:39,490
And while it was really exciting to see her and meet her and, you know, to see a

775
01:08:39,490 --> 01:08:44,530
good, not a good person, the most amazing thing was hearing about how she grew up in

776
01:08:44,530 --> 01:08:49,830
this community of ranks surrounded by families, much like ours, and she made it on the

777
01:08:49,830 --> 01:08:50,730
biggest world stage.

778
01:08:51,210 --> 01:08:56,930
So, I found that to be very inspiring and, you know, one of the things, actually, of two

779
01:08:56,930 --> 01:08:58,330
hockey players in a figure skater.

780
01:08:59,150 --> 01:09:03,250
And one of the things someone told me when we first started the journey is that if you keep

781
01:09:03,250 --> 01:09:09,210
kids on ice, you'll keep them out of hot water and that's very true. You've heard a lot of people

782
01:09:09,210 --> 01:09:15,490
talk about how these kids just grow up to be amazing adults and obviously the people here in

783
01:09:15,490 --> 01:09:20,170
the room today are the ones that actually at the exception I'm who just spoke before me who are

784
01:09:20,170 --> 01:09:26,790
extremely involved in the ring but taking away a safe third space for kids who are just showing up

785
01:09:26,790 --> 01:09:31,970
for public skates and six and hogs throughout the whole year will be a huge detriment to the whole

786
01:09:31,970 --> 01:09:35,030
community and in addition to our really dedicated competitive

787
01:09:35,030 --> 01:09:37,470
hockey leaders and senior skaters. Thank you.

788
01:09:37,730 --> 01:09:38,550
Thank you.

789
01:09:40,770 --> 01:09:41,310
Yes, sir.

790
01:09:46,810 --> 01:09:49,810
Hi, my name is John Lund. I live at 350 North Main Street.

791
01:09:50,590 --> 01:09:53,570
And I have a daughter who skates at John Lundel. She got up in

792
01:09:53,570 --> 01:09:57,170
spoke earlier. And I just want to say it's pretty clear that

793
01:09:58,270 --> 01:10:01,610
this means a lot to a lot of people. And you can see from the

794
01:10:01,610 --> 01:10:03,910
confidence that some of these young ladies coming up here

795
01:10:03,910 --> 01:10:06,850
speaking to you guys. I'm intimidated to do it.

796
01:10:07,890 --> 01:10:12,130
So I just wanted to say that you know it's pretty clear and I think that moving forward we should

797
01:10:12,130 --> 01:10:18,390
if we could approve these emergency repairs as well as come up with a plan moving forward

798
01:10:18,390 --> 01:10:26,950
to for how to keep the repairs going so that we don't run into this repair like this again

799
01:10:26,950 --> 01:10:30,630
and that would be much appreciated. Thank you guys very much and have a good evening.

800
01:10:30,990 --> 01:10:31,790
Thank you.

801
01:10:34,440 --> 01:10:36,680
Anybody else tonight? Yes on the end here.

802
01:10:42,120 --> 01:10:46,700
Thank you so much. Good evening. My name is Jessica Hallmark. I am a candidate for Oakland County

803
01:10:46,700 --> 01:10:52,000
Probate Court Judge. I'm a resident of Lake Orient. I want to thank the Commission for giving

804
01:10:52,000 --> 01:10:56,880
me a few minutes of your time this evening to address you and to address the royal community.

805
01:10:57,540 --> 01:11:02,540
And tell you a little bit about myself and my campaign. I know there are a lot of really important

806
01:11:02,540 --> 01:11:07,700
issues that are going to be on our ballots this November. And the Oakland County Probate Court

807
01:11:07,700 --> 01:11:16,440
is probably not top of mind for most people, but this is a court that is of all of the

808
01:11:16,440 --> 01:11:21,060
the offices that we are going to get to vote on in November. This is a court that has perhaps

809
01:11:21,060 --> 01:11:27,680
the greatest potential to touch the lives of ordinary people. My mother served on the Open

810
01:11:27,680 --> 01:11:33,780
County Probate Court bench for 26 years. I had the opportunity through her service to learn about

811
01:11:33,780 --> 01:11:41,160
to learn why it was so important to our community and to see what it looked like for the job to be done well.

812
01:11:41,800 --> 01:11:46,200
And I'll tell you a little story to quickly illustrate that.

813
01:11:46,340 --> 01:11:50,940
My son was about five years old, and I went to pick him up one day at Lachke,

814
01:11:51,180 --> 01:11:53,760
and one of the teachers came up to me and she said to me,

815
01:11:53,820 --> 01:11:55,320
are you related to Judge Hallmark?

816
01:11:56,040 --> 01:11:59,980
And I admit that I sort of froze for a minute and I thought,

817
01:11:59,980 --> 01:12:04,740
Oh boy, what is this lady going to tell me what sort of experience might she have had?

818
01:12:06,740 --> 01:12:11,860
You know, is this going to be a bad thing? But I said yes, you know, Judge Homework is my mother.

819
01:12:12,500 --> 01:12:19,980
And she looked at me and she said, well, she saved my steps on his lives. That is the sort of

820
01:12:21,180 --> 01:12:27,620
impact that this court has on our community. This is a court that is designed to help people who need help.

821
01:12:29,540 --> 01:12:31,980
It's people who have lost a loved one.

822
01:12:32,260 --> 01:12:35,600
It is people who have a disability or a mental health issue

823
01:12:35,600 --> 01:12:38,100
or kids who need care.

824
01:12:38,720 --> 01:12:41,400
Those are the populations that this court serves.

825
01:12:41,880 --> 01:12:45,700
I have been in attorney for 18 years in the state of Michigan.

826
01:12:46,200 --> 01:12:50,420
I represent individuals, families, and mom and pop businesses

827
01:12:50,420 --> 01:12:52,720
in business and real estate matters.

828
01:12:53,040 --> 01:12:56,080
I actually worked with Kelly Allen, who I know is known to many of you.

829
01:12:57,440 --> 01:13:04,520
I, before that, I worked for the Oakland County, the Chief Judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court, as a law clerk.

830
01:13:05,080 --> 01:13:14,520
I have been endorsed by 37 Michigan judges. These are people who have diverse backgrounds, diverse experience and perspectives,

831
01:13:15,060 --> 01:13:19,040
but they have done the job. They understand what it means to do the job well,

832
01:13:19,260 --> 01:13:24,160
and they trust my experience and they trust the temperament that I would bring to the bench.

833
01:13:24,740 --> 01:13:30,760
I'm here this evening to ask for the support of the Royal Oak Community for my race and this

834
01:13:30,760 --> 01:13:36,240
port of all of you. You can learn more about me on my website and you can contact me

835
01:13:36,240 --> 01:13:40,680
hallmarkforjudge.com. Jessica Hallmark, running for Oakland County Probate Court Judge.

836
01:13:40,940 --> 01:13:42,660
Thank you so much for your time. Good evening.

837
01:13:43,440 --> 01:13:45,510
Thank you.

838
01:13:45,730 --> 01:13:45,850
Wanda.

839
01:13:51,220 --> 01:13:54,780
A little scared, but I'll retain my fear.

840
01:13:54,780 --> 01:13:59,920
I know I'm scared, Christina Wandaff, 2906 Woodland Court.

841
01:14:00,540 --> 01:14:01,960
I'm here on behalf of the ring.

842
01:14:03,160 --> 01:14:06,540
When we first bought our house in Royaleau,

843
01:14:07,280 --> 01:14:11,020
before we even finished selling our other house

844
01:14:11,460 --> 01:14:15,700
from a different county, we were looking for this ring.

845
01:14:15,880 --> 01:14:17,800
We were welcomed with open arms.

846
01:14:18,040 --> 01:14:19,380
I have two daughters.

847
01:14:19,960 --> 01:14:23,640
My 16 year old is on the high school figure skating team,

848
01:14:23,640 --> 01:14:25,700
which they're amazing group of kids.

849
01:14:25,800 --> 01:14:27,400
They went to the States, they took third.

850
01:14:29,700 --> 01:14:31,300
This is her second home.

851
01:14:31,520 --> 01:14:33,400
And I've watched over the last nine years

852
01:14:33,400 --> 01:14:36,920
that we've been in this rank that it's deteriorated.

853
01:14:37,140 --> 01:14:41,040
It really needs a lot of repairs outside of the emergency stuff.

854
01:14:41,060 --> 01:14:43,940
Yes, we need the emergency stuff taking care of right now

855
01:14:45,560 --> 01:14:49,320
because these kids spend, you know,

856
01:14:49,320 --> 01:14:56,020
The Lydia skates three, four days a week, typically during the high school season in the

857
01:14:56,020 --> 01:14:59,580
regular season and it's also her outlet.

858
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:02,720
In 2020, in the shutdown came,

859
01:15:04,920 --> 01:15:15,700
she has, she didn't have that outlet. We lost that outlet for those months that, you know, all of the shutdown. So then the ring opened back up. It was like, okay, or we were going to other rings because they were open.

860
01:15:17,420 --> 01:15:27,700
We haven't been able to skate. We've had a cancel a lot of our lessons, which, you know, is tough for our coaches and it's also tough for my kid who's supposed to be practicing.

861
01:15:27,700 --> 01:15:32,500
you know, she has a goal in mind that of what she wants to get done before she

862
01:15:32,500 --> 01:15:38,620
graduates from rural high school. And if we can't get this ring back up to

863
01:15:38,620 --> 01:15:43,480
par where it needs to be, she's not going to be able to reach those goals. I don't

864
01:15:43,480 --> 01:15:48,560
want to go anywhere else. She doesn't want to go anywhere else. We just want to

865
01:15:48,560 --> 01:15:53,920
stay where we are in our community. And it's also like, she skates after school.

866
01:15:53,920 --> 01:15:57,140
So she's able to go straight to the brink after school.

867
01:15:57,200 --> 01:15:58,780
I don't have to worry about driving here.

868
01:15:59,340 --> 01:16:01,980
So that's also a convenience for us, even though we live close

869
01:16:01,980 --> 01:16:03,820
and off to the rink that she can walk.

870
01:16:04,680 --> 01:16:06,160
But this is her outlet.

871
01:16:06,500 --> 01:16:10,440
These are, I've watched a lot of these kids,

872
01:16:10,720 --> 01:16:13,900
because I've been a huge part of the community in the ice rink

873
01:16:13,900 --> 01:16:15,680
with the figure skating group.

874
01:16:16,080 --> 01:16:17,820
I've watched these kids grow up.

875
01:16:19,620 --> 01:16:21,360
I've seen, let me need to grow up.

876
01:16:21,360 --> 01:16:25,260
I've seen my daughter, she has other high school friends.

877
01:16:26,220 --> 01:16:30,680
I remember when Judy first came to the rank and I was doing, you know, the ice show.

878
01:16:32,360 --> 01:16:37,760
These kids are amazing and they just, they need their safe space where they can practice

879
01:16:38,860 --> 01:16:44,460
and, you know, have their friendships and everything else to move on with their lives.

880
01:16:44,880 --> 01:16:48,480
And then, you know, a lot of these kids are going off to college and skating in college.

881
01:16:48,480 --> 01:16:50,160
So, they're continuing.

882
01:16:51,700 --> 01:16:52,820
That's it.

883
01:16:53,000 --> 01:16:53,560
Thank

884
01:16:57,050 --> 01:16:59,910
you,

885
01:17:11,130 --> 01:17:11,750
Mr. Mayor.

886
01:17:12,610 --> 01:17:13,610
My name is Jennifer Kerney.

887
01:17:13,750 --> 01:17:16,950
I live at 602 North Wilson in Royal Oak.

888
01:17:17,210 --> 01:17:20,050
I am not here to talk about the ice arena.

889
01:17:21,230 --> 01:17:24,070
During the August 10th City Commission meeting,

890
01:17:24,170 --> 01:17:26,510
the Commission approved an item on the consent agenda

891
01:17:26,510 --> 01:17:28,690
to award a contract for rain garden

892
01:17:28,690 --> 01:17:32,210
and roadway median maintenance to worry free outdoor services.

893
01:17:32,210 --> 01:17:38,990
Attachment one to the agenda item vendor contract exhibit be vendor pricing describe two line items

894
01:17:38,990 --> 01:17:46,350
$800 each for two areas on four street between Connecticut and Vermont and between Vermont and Blair for

895
01:17:46,350 --> 01:17:53,130
quote spring to kill off all invasive weeds and plants prep bed for new landscaping on in

896
01:17:53,130 --> 01:17:56,350
Twenty twenty seven on fourth a

897
01:17:56,350 --> 01:18:02,090
While I look forward to this evening's report on enforcement of noxious weeds and property maintenance regulation as applied to

898
01:18:02,090 --> 01:18:08,530
invasive plant-series and despite the confluence of timing and description provided in the August

899
01:18:08,530 --> 01:18:15,990
10th consent agenda item, the area on 4th does not contain noxious or invasive weeds. It

900
01:18:15,990 --> 01:18:24,110
is a certified rain garden with beautiful native plants. We're a free, proposed, a solution without

901
01:18:24,110 --> 01:18:31,410
a problem. As a result, what this $1,600 bought us was the wholesale destruction of a gorgeous

902
01:18:31,410 --> 01:18:38,010
mature rain garden with mature natives like Prairie Ironweed, Blue Indigo, Fox Glove,

903
01:18:38,250 --> 01:18:44,850
Bird Tongue, notting wild onion and New England ice aster. It put the gorgeous native oaks and

904
01:18:44,850 --> 01:18:54,090
other native trees in the area at risk. Worried freeze actions also directly contradicted the

905
01:18:54,090 --> 01:19:01,270
and goal five, which is to protect and enhance its abundant green spaces by intentionally supported

906
01:19:01,270 --> 01:19:06,630
supporting native and biodiversity, plantings and ensure accessibility to all residents,

907
01:19:07,230 --> 01:19:15,230
and at goal 5.2.1 to quote integrative plantings and sustainability into municipal landscaping

908
01:19:15,230 --> 01:19:15,950
practices.

909
01:19:16,870 --> 01:19:26,410
The City of Royal Oak Ordnance Chapter 556-4 defines native plants as those identified by MSU's native plants and ecosystem services.

910
01:19:27,670 --> 01:19:31,290
Those native plants are located in a public database.

911
01:19:31,890 --> 01:19:35,830
These plants are all listed in that database.

912
01:19:36,430 --> 01:19:41,030
And I have some pictures that I took this afternoon that I will send all of you by email.

913
01:19:41,310 --> 01:19:42,250
Thank you very much.

914
01:19:57,650 --> 01:20:00,290
I am Jen Brown at 602 North Wilson.

915
01:20:01,170 --> 01:20:03,650
You just got a lot of information and facts.

916
01:20:04,070 --> 01:20:05,390
I'm the touchy feeling one.

917
01:20:05,990 --> 01:20:10,950
I drive down those two blocks of forth several times a day back and forth

918
01:20:10,950 --> 01:20:13,250
my home office to my downtown location.

919
01:20:14,090 --> 01:20:16,450
And those two blocks have given me so much joy.

920
01:20:16,590 --> 01:20:18,590
I have some of these plants tattooed on my arms.

921
01:20:18,750 --> 01:20:19,630
I love them so much.

922
01:20:20,050 --> 01:20:24,450
And when I saw them turning black and dying off,

923
01:20:24,450 --> 01:20:27,690
I was angry, I'm still angry about it.

924
01:20:27,770 --> 01:20:30,010
I'm sad, I don't even drive there anymore

925
01:20:30,010 --> 01:20:32,450
because I react so strongly to it.

926
01:20:32,770 --> 01:20:36,770
And I hope that the end result of whatever this effort

927
01:20:36,770 --> 01:20:39,070
is to restore those rain gardens

928
01:20:39,690 --> 01:20:42,710
and bring that beautiful two blocks of forth street

929
01:20:42,710 --> 01:20:43,830
back to our residents.

930
01:20:44,510 --> 01:20:45,470
Thank you for this problem.

931
01:20:53,790 --> 01:20:54,230
Good evening.

932
01:20:54,230 --> 01:20:56,310
My name is Marcia Little, and I reside

933
01:20:56,310 --> 01:20:59,170
at 1620 Midland Boulevard here in Royal Oak.

934
01:20:59,250 --> 01:21:01,030
You got a little break from the Icerina,

935
01:21:01,030 --> 01:21:06,930
but we're back. I am a former skating director, John Lundell, and the current I show director.

936
01:21:07,410 --> 01:21:13,350
I've been connected to John Lundell since at 20, 2004, since I moved here initially,

937
01:21:14,450 --> 01:21:18,090
and I have maintained those ties even being away for a few years.

938
01:21:18,990 --> 01:21:24,150
When I, one of the first things I did when I was back in 2021 was go to the rank and get involved.

939
01:21:24,770 --> 01:21:29,630
Because that's what you do when you're part of a community. You find the torch that needs to be picked

940
01:21:29,630 --> 01:21:33,930
up and you help carry it forward, which is what everybody is doing here today.

941
01:21:34,910 --> 01:21:39,350
One of my peers got emotional up here today, and it's because this is where we spent

942
01:21:39,350 --> 01:21:40,130
our lives.

943
01:21:40,810 --> 01:21:44,310
I have coached kids for 10 to 15 years.

944
01:21:44,750 --> 01:21:48,110
They see us more than they see anybody else sometimes.

945
01:21:48,550 --> 01:21:54,950
We're not a school teacher, they're very important, but they see us 2, 3, 4, 5 times a day

946
01:21:54,950 --> 01:21:56,490
for 10 to 15 years.

947
01:21:56,490 --> 01:22:04,750
This is integral to their livelihood, to our livelihood, and to them as children, and as somebody else spoke previously,

948
01:22:06,650 --> 01:22:11,670
these young children turn into these beautiful adults with the structure and everything else provided for them.

949
01:22:13,980 --> 01:22:21,560
We did produce a lovely show, it was the 46th annual I show last year, and we're already planning for the 47th and hopefully far beyond that.

950
01:22:22,800 --> 01:22:28,020
We have a skating coach that grew up skating up the rink that currently coaches there and I say she grew up

951
01:22:28,020 --> 01:22:29,980
skating at the rink but she actually just grew up.

952
01:22:30,000 --> 01:22:34,140
It's five minutes at the rank, because she is a extolar royal resident and now her kids play hockey.

953
01:22:35,180 --> 01:22:42,240
And if you pop in on Sunday, you'll run into her dad playing requiquiki. That's three generations, still at that rank.

954
01:22:43,740 --> 01:22:49,980
The thoughtful conversation with her, the thought of her kids having to go play hockey, she was crying about it because this is a home.

955
01:22:51,040 --> 01:22:58,180
So, I would just like you to really consider the support of the required, it's emergency

956
01:22:58,180 --> 01:22:59,280
sounds, but they're required.

957
01:22:59,560 --> 01:23:05,000
It's a requirement for this building to move forward in this community to move forward in a

958
01:23:05,000 --> 01:23:05,680
positive manner.

959
01:23:06,420 --> 01:23:06,700
Thank you.

960
01:23:06,820 --> 01:23:07,560
Thank you.

961
01:23:09,730 --> 01:23:10,310
This, sir.

962
01:23:18,740 --> 01:23:19,100
Hi there.

963
01:23:19,100 --> 01:23:20,020
My name is Andrew Hammond.

964
01:23:20,020 --> 01:23:22,860
I'm at 3-5-7-1, Arbor Avenue Royal Oak.

965
01:23:23,360 --> 01:23:27,440
I have three children that use all of the ice skating in hockey at the Lendale Arena.

966
01:23:28,260 --> 01:23:32,260
I also myself played 10 years professional hockey for four different NHL teams.

967
01:23:32,900 --> 01:23:36,500
The reason I say that is because when I was a child I had people who believed in me and supported

968
01:23:36,500 --> 01:23:39,300
be in facilities that were functional to work at.

969
01:23:39,980 --> 01:23:45,160
My goal now, as a coach of the Royal Oak 2016 Eagles, to provide all the kids at Royal Oak,

970
01:23:45,340 --> 01:23:49,480
whether they're figure skaters or hockey players, the same opportunities I had when I was a child.

971
01:23:50,540 --> 01:23:54,700
While these repairs are necessary, I want to reiterate we need to plan going forward to keep

972
01:23:54,700 --> 01:23:58,320
giving future generations the same opportunities I had when I was a kid.

973
01:23:58,720 --> 01:24:00,060
Thank you. Thank you.

974
01:24:01,440 --> 01:24:03,280
Anybody else in I, yes, ma'am?

975
01:24:14,080 --> 01:24:17,860
Hi, good evening. My name is Charlie Lee, and I live on three eight night eight.

976
01:24:17,920 --> 01:24:19,640
Don't have any job in Toy Michigan.

977
01:24:20,280 --> 01:24:22,760
So I'm the parent of two young figure skaters.

978
01:24:22,820 --> 01:24:26,900
This is Flaura, she has been skating in Germany for about like eight years.

979
01:24:27,380 --> 01:24:30,740
And her younger sister has been skating here for like five past years.

980
01:24:31,640 --> 01:24:35,680
So she now Flaura, she's skater about six days away

981
01:24:35,680 --> 01:24:41,100
and last week she just competed at the National Qualification Series like figure skating competition,

982
01:24:41,840 --> 01:24:46,460
but it was really challenging for us because on obvious the ring has been closed and then

983
01:24:46,460 --> 01:24:51,300
we had to spend about two hours every day just to find out how it's time for practice to appear here

984
01:24:51,300 --> 01:24:58,840
for the competition. And for over the years on waist on the countless hours at the ring before school

985
01:24:58,840 --> 01:25:05,020
after school's weekends and I've watched her fall become very frustrated and walks through difficult

986
01:25:05,020 --> 01:25:11,980
skills and now she becomes very stronger and confident skater. But as a parent who is at the

987
01:25:11,980 --> 01:25:16,940
ring or the time, I noticed the facility and ice condition at the jungle in there. It was

988
01:25:16,940 --> 01:25:23,800
unsafe for all the skaters and coaches. Now the ring is closed and we are saying just how difficult

989
01:25:23,800 --> 01:25:30,200
is to replace jungle in there. And this is not just about our family, it's about all the skaters,

990
01:25:30,200 --> 01:25:36,340
high-key players, coaches, families and programs, for example, like unlearned to skate and

991
01:25:36,340 --> 01:25:42,380
or sell the great programs like Ice Show and also on skate-fest, commutation every year.

992
01:25:44,340 --> 01:25:50,140
So, the aura of that depends on this ring. So, for many coaches and I know the ring is also

993
01:25:50,140 --> 01:25:55,800
your livelihood. So, for many kids, it's just where they train, they make friends, they build their

994
01:25:55,800 --> 01:25:58,220
and also pursue something in the life.

995
01:25:58,660 --> 01:26:00,020
It's not about the social media,

996
01:26:00,200 --> 01:26:02,920
but about making people in real-life.

997
01:26:04,040 --> 01:26:06,840
So, on the community service safe,

998
01:26:06,840 --> 01:26:09,180
reliable ring that we can count on,

999
01:26:09,460 --> 01:26:11,600
jangling them in so much to our family.

1000
01:26:12,000 --> 01:26:14,460
But it means so much to many people in the community.

1001
01:26:15,040 --> 01:26:17,300
Please help us keep jangling their open,

1002
01:26:17,440 --> 01:26:20,220
not just for our kids, but for all the kids.

1003
01:26:20,640 --> 01:26:24,220
Families, skaters, and coaches who call it home.

1004
01:26:24,520 --> 01:26:24,920
Thank you.

1005
01:26:25,940 --> 01:26:29,120
Thank you. Yes, sir.

1006
01:26:41,700 --> 01:26:44,820
Hi, my name is Eva Rankin's fire. I live on two floors your full talk,

1007
01:26:44,940 --> 01:26:52,920
Shive in Troy, and I want to talk about John Lundell, Icerina, and how much this rank

1008
01:26:52,920 --> 01:26:58,940
greens me. This rank is more than just a building with Icerin. It's a place where I've been spending

1009
01:26:58,940 --> 01:27:04,580
many hours practicing, learning, making friends, and doing something that I really love.

1010
01:27:04,580 --> 01:27:08,160
Some of my favorite memories have happened here.

1011
01:27:08,580 --> 01:27:10,340
When you spend so much time at the rink,

1012
01:27:10,540 --> 01:27:12,300
it starts to feel like a second home.

1013
01:27:12,940 --> 01:27:15,820
That's why I really hope our ice arena can be fixed

1014
01:27:15,820 --> 01:27:17,840
and improved instead of losing a place

1015
01:27:17,840 --> 01:27:20,020
that means so much to many people.

1016
01:27:23,760 --> 01:27:26,280
Fixing the arena wouldn't be fixing a building.

1017
01:27:26,640 --> 01:27:29,820
It would be protecting a place where kids can learn,

1018
01:27:30,400 --> 01:27:32,740
hard work and making friendships

1019
01:27:32,740 --> 01:27:36,000
in creating memories that they'll remember the rest of their lives.

1020
01:27:36,760 --> 01:27:40,840
I really hope you'll consider how important this arena is to all of us who skate here.

1021
01:27:41,480 --> 01:27:45,680
I would really love to have this ring fixed and be able to skate here again.

1022
01:27:46,220 --> 01:27:46,480
Thank you.

1023
01:27:46,720 --> 01:27:50,600
And I'd like to add as well that so we have one daughter, another daughter that also skates

1024
01:27:50,600 --> 01:27:54,500
at John Lindell, and our son actually, we do sticks and box together.

1025
01:27:54,980 --> 01:27:56,700
The ring is really important to us.

1026
01:27:56,900 --> 01:28:01,360
It's really important for the community aspect, but really important from a competitive aspect

1027
01:28:01,360 --> 01:28:01,780
as well.

1028
01:28:01,780 --> 01:28:04,640
So our daughter is very competitive with figure skating.

1029
01:28:04,800 --> 01:28:07,800
She's had the opportunity to represent different rinks in the area.

1030
01:28:08,120 --> 01:28:11,960
And she has chosen John Lindell because of the community specifically.

1031
01:28:12,660 --> 01:28:15,060
She's been on the U.S. development team for two years,

1032
01:28:15,540 --> 01:28:18,260
and she was placed meddled at nationals.

1033
01:28:18,620 --> 01:28:19,440
That's John Lindell.

1034
01:28:19,620 --> 01:28:21,960
That's royal oak being recognized on a national level

1035
01:28:21,960 --> 01:28:23,380
when she goes and competes.

1036
01:28:23,660 --> 01:28:25,040
She could have done that for different arenas.

1037
01:28:25,200 --> 01:28:27,500
She chose John Lindell because of the community.

1038
01:28:27,960 --> 01:28:31,500
And it would be a shame to see that not get the service that needs

1039
01:28:31,500 --> 01:28:33,240
and the maintenance it needs and requires.

1040
01:28:34,040 --> 01:28:35,160
So, when she's trying to go out there

1041
01:28:35,160 --> 01:28:37,800
and now we have Charlie White, a gold medalist

1042
01:28:37,800 --> 01:28:39,900
that has come to John Lindell to train.

1043
01:28:40,240 --> 01:28:43,180
And as the opportunity to work with a lot of figure skaters

1044
01:28:43,180 --> 01:28:45,960
to help them improve and they're skating around buckets

1045
01:28:45,960 --> 01:28:49,200
in the middle of the ice, it's just saddened to see.

1046
01:28:49,380 --> 01:28:52,080
There's so much heritage in history with John Lindell,

1047
01:28:52,300 --> 01:28:55,200
Isurina, and we would love to see that support

1048
01:28:55,200 --> 01:28:56,460
it deserves and requires.

1049
01:28:57,000 --> 01:28:59,740
And certainly, as a dad, you see it on the figure skating side,

1050
01:28:59,740 --> 01:29:04,180
But still in the hockey side is all because I love the sticks and ox, with my son as well.

1051
01:29:04,640 --> 01:29:05,940
So, thank you for this consideration.

1052
01:29:06,400 --> 01:29:07,680
Can we get your name for the record team, sir?

1053
01:29:07,940 --> 01:29:11,140
Yeah, blame Rick and Smyr. Thank you, same address, yeah. Thank you.

1054
01:29:11,480 --> 01:29:11,940
Thank you.

1055
01:29:14,100 --> 01:29:14,100
Thank you.

1056
01:29:14,260 --> 01:29:16,000
All right, anybody else?

1057
01:29:16,660 --> 01:29:18,560
Well, once. Yes, ma'am.

1058
01:29:24,050 --> 01:29:29,430
Hi, my name is Jeanette Mates. I leave a 33-551 Elgin Court in Sterling Heights.

1059
01:29:30,190 --> 01:29:33,130
I'm a coach. I have the unique opportunity of not just coaching,

1060
01:29:33,130 --> 01:29:34,770
figure skating but also hockey.

1061
01:29:37,350 --> 01:29:43,030
This facility, this emergency money that they need is

1062
01:29:44,030 --> 01:29:50,750
unfortunately needed. It's required for the print to continue to operate. It's a band-aid.

1063
01:29:51,850 --> 01:29:58,830
It's temporary fix. I've been teaching at that facility for five years. I've traveled around the world.

1064
01:29:59,330 --> 01:29:59,970
I have a national...

1065
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:23,300
Title, I competed at the world in 2010. I have never seen a facility being neglected as much as I have in this one. Unfortunately, the issues with the dehumidifier have been ongoing for years. Every summer we have problems with humidity. This summer, unfortunately, has been the worst.

1066
01:30:24,420 --> 01:30:36,160
To expect that your community and your clients pay a hundred percent for something of not good quality is unacceptable.

1067
01:30:39,130 --> 01:30:48,230
You have people like myself, you have people like Charlie White, who are Olympic gold medalists that teach that people come to learn from.

1068
01:30:48,230 --> 01:30:55,090
and their dodging buckets. You have one facility, the west drink that has been down most of the summer,

1069
01:30:55,550 --> 01:31:01,310
you can't even get it back up and running. Two years ago you took it out for the summer

1070
01:31:01,310 --> 01:31:07,170
because the heat was so bad that the walls pieces of the wall wouldn't even touch.

1071
01:31:09,130 --> 01:31:15,610
You could get kids fingers stuck in them. I understand that this is a lot of money that we're

1072
01:31:15,610 --> 01:31:23,190
I think for you to put into this ring, I understand that it is very expensive to run facilities.

1073
01:31:24,850 --> 01:31:27,270
You need to leverage the people that you have.

1074
01:31:27,610 --> 01:31:34,170
You have employees here that are very qualified in helping you guys learn how to run an ice ring.

1075
01:31:36,090 --> 01:31:42,390
I deplore the conditions that we have to skate in right now, and I know that we can do better.

1076
01:31:45,040 --> 01:31:47,420
We are not asking you to do it on your own.

1077
01:31:48,140 --> 01:31:54,060
We as a community, if you see, most of these people have come here just for this rank.

1078
01:31:54,920 --> 01:31:57,720
They come here because they work there.

1079
01:31:58,080 --> 01:32:02,300
They come here because that is the place that is their outlet.

1080
01:32:02,740 --> 01:32:06,300
They learn life lessons, not just skating and hockey.

1081
01:32:08,580 --> 01:32:15,880
I am really requesting that you think about this, not just as a simple fix now,

1082
01:32:15,880 --> 01:32:21,500
but to continue to put the money into this city and the facility.

1083
01:32:23,240 --> 01:32:24,040
Thank you.

1084
01:32:24,040 --> 01:32:24,760
Thank you.

1085
01:32:25,060 --> 01:32:26,940
All right, anybody else?

1086
01:32:27,880 --> 01:32:28,620
Come on, once.

1087
01:32:29,200 --> 01:32:29,820
Come twice.

1088
01:32:31,540 --> 01:32:32,120
All right.

1089
01:32:32,260 --> 01:32:33,600
We're going to close public comment.

1090
01:32:33,660 --> 01:32:35,580
Bring the meeting back to the side at the table.

1091
01:32:36,060 --> 01:32:38,840
Thank you for everyone participated in public comment.

1092
01:32:39,080 --> 01:32:40,960
Really appreciate it.

1093
01:32:41,780 --> 01:32:44,700
That brings us to the consent agenda number 10.

1094
01:32:44,700 --> 01:32:48,720
I understand Commissioner Herzog, you wanted to pull item I off the consent agenda.

1095
01:32:49,120 --> 01:32:49,720
Yes, please.

1096
01:32:50,460 --> 01:32:50,900
Okay.

1097
01:32:51,420 --> 01:32:53,940
Does anyone wish to pull anything else off the consent agenda?

1098
01:32:56,320 --> 01:32:56,500
All right.

1099
01:32:56,620 --> 01:33:02,980
Does anyone wish to make a motion on the consent agenda with the exception of I?

1100
01:33:03,280 --> 01:33:03,820
Commissioner Gantina?

1101
01:33:05,260 --> 01:33:05,800
Commissioner Gantina?

1102
01:33:05,860 --> 01:33:06,460
Commissioner Gantina, is there a second?

1103
01:33:06,560 --> 01:33:07,860
Second by Commissioner Cheeseam?

1104
01:33:08,880 --> 01:33:09,320
Discussion?

1105
01:33:10,020 --> 01:33:10,200
All right.

1106
01:33:10,340 --> 01:33:11,440
With not all call for the vote.

1107
01:33:11,620 --> 01:33:12,680
All's in favor say aye.

1108
01:33:13,160 --> 01:33:13,340
Aye.

1109
01:33:13,340 --> 01:33:14,300
Those opposed?

1110
01:33:14,980 --> 01:33:15,580
Motion passes.

1111
01:33:15,580 --> 01:33:17,140
It's all right, Commissioner Herzac.

1112
01:33:17,580 --> 01:33:18,340
I'd like to.

1113
01:33:18,340 --> 01:33:18,980
Thank you.

1114
01:33:19,240 --> 01:33:23,020
I just wanted to uplift the, oh sorry.

1115
01:33:24,620 --> 01:33:25,400
Still learning.

1116
01:33:26,660 --> 01:33:30,060
I just uplift this piece of art.

1117
01:33:30,420 --> 01:33:34,880
Miss Parkman, do you mind talking a little bit about this item?

1118
01:33:35,100 --> 01:33:35,360
Sure.

1119
01:33:35,580 --> 01:33:39,300
And I know that you're here for this evening too.

1120
01:33:39,980 --> 01:33:42,660
So the applicant is here if there's any questions.

1121
01:33:42,660 --> 01:33:47,860
So, this item is a public art application for a mural on a business.

1122
01:33:48,080 --> 01:33:50,420
You may recall that it's a part of our process.

1123
01:33:51,140 --> 01:33:55,840
We are proving that this is a mural and not a sign that may or may not be in the

1124
01:33:55,840 --> 01:33:57,140
place where there's no code.

1125
01:33:58,040 --> 01:34:00,880
So, that's kind of a little bit about what you're voting at.

1126
01:34:00,980 --> 01:34:06,520
There are no public funds or anything that are used as a part of this program for murals

1127
01:34:06,520 --> 01:34:07,380
on businesses.

1128
01:34:07,720 --> 01:34:11,220
This is not a grant funded or anything like that for this area.

1129
01:34:11,220 --> 01:34:15,320
But this particular mural spans two businesses that are

1130
01:34:15,320 --> 01:34:19,240
all long woodward and I'll invite the applicant up if you

1131
01:34:19,240 --> 01:34:23,380
do have any questions or want any additional information.

1132
01:34:26,990 --> 01:34:28,570
Well, thank you for being here.

1133
01:34:28,750 --> 01:34:29,050
Thank you.

1134
01:34:29,850 --> 01:34:32,910
Why did you want to have art on your building?

1135
01:34:33,490 --> 01:34:36,050
Basically, Aaron Ballon, who's the owner of A&B investment.

1136
01:34:36,170 --> 01:34:37,910
I'm his property manager, Brad Schibel.

1137
01:34:37,950 --> 01:34:39,690
I work for him.

1138
01:34:40,190 --> 01:34:43,450
In the past, he's owned an operating the Moray Royal Oak and if you all

1139
01:34:43,450 --> 01:34:48,470
the mural that he put on there, which was just to basically improve the side of a bland building.

1140
01:34:49,230 --> 01:34:54,710
Same things applying here. He just wants something that the community can look at. He can look at.

1141
01:34:54,910 --> 01:35:00,410
This is just not a big white wall. I mean currently the wall is 16 by 60 of blank whiteness.

1142
01:35:01,090 --> 01:35:03,890
So that's really the only reason he wants to put it on there.

1143
01:35:04,290 --> 01:35:07,230
Is there any significance to the piece?

1144
01:35:07,530 --> 01:35:13,190
It's mainly going to portray a kind of a projection of woodward from probably 11 mile up until

1145
01:35:13,190 --> 01:35:17,570
14 that's just going to have, you know, the landmarks probably, the Schrandenville flower,

1146
01:35:18,050 --> 01:35:24,450
and basically just kind of a semi, if you've seen them one in the Mori, it's kind of a

1147
01:35:24,450 --> 01:35:30,550
graffiti style done. Kobe Solomon has done many murals around the city, around the state, around

1148
01:35:30,550 --> 01:35:38,370
the world, and he and Aaron have a relationship, so Aaron has his art and just wants to kind of

1149
01:35:38,370 --> 01:35:39,470
to prove this out of the building.

1150
01:35:39,790 --> 01:35:40,170
Wonderful.

1151
01:35:40,690 --> 01:35:43,010
And there is so many.

1152
01:35:43,450 --> 01:35:44,150
Yeah, it's sideways.

1153
01:35:46,890 --> 01:35:51,830
And then Susan, the process, any business owner

1154
01:35:51,830 --> 01:35:55,890
could come forward if they wanted to, yes.

1155
01:35:56,610 --> 01:35:59,390
So any business owner within the state of Roelow

1156
01:35:59,390 --> 01:36:02,170
who wants to put a mural on their building

1157
01:36:02,810 --> 01:36:03,630
can do so.

1158
01:36:03,630 --> 01:36:05,570
In the past, you may recall that the DDA

1159
01:36:05,570 --> 01:36:07,190
has provided some great funds.

1160
01:36:07,190 --> 01:36:16,910
And I don't believe that's something they're doing at this time, but basically if you want to put a building on, you just fill out the application, you email it to me and take it to the Commission for the Arts.

1161
01:36:17,490 --> 01:36:22,870
They're reviewing it and again, their decision is a recommendation to you all about any action.

1162
01:36:23,470 --> 01:36:28,730
And they're recommending in this particular case that you consider this a mural and not a sign.

1163
01:36:28,730 --> 01:36:41,650
So we are stipulated in the kind of the traditional boundaries that they've drawn is it can't include things like the business name or their logo or a portion of their logo or anything like that in the mirror.

1164
01:36:42,930 --> 01:36:43,230
Thank you.

1165
01:36:43,570 --> 01:36:57,710
I think these murals bring vibrancy to our community and what word is such a special and historical place and so I'm looking forward to seeing this when I drive by.

1166
01:36:59,070 --> 01:37:00,770
That's it for me.

1167
01:37:01,710 --> 01:37:03,730
Anyone else has some questions?

1168
01:37:04,310 --> 01:37:05,030
Doesn't look like it.

1169
01:37:05,090 --> 01:37:06,110
I think it's pretty cool.

1170
01:37:06,190 --> 01:37:08,470
Then I will move to a proof.

1171
01:37:08,650 --> 01:37:09,610
Yeah, motion by.

1172
01:37:09,770 --> 01:37:11,170
Michelle's on.

1173
01:37:11,770 --> 01:37:13,170
Seconded by Commissioner Gantina.

1174
01:37:13,910 --> 01:37:14,350
Discussion?

1175
01:37:15,910 --> 01:37:17,250
Yeah, I just think it's really good.

1176
01:37:17,390 --> 01:37:19,230
I know Mr. Beal and did a great job.

1177
01:37:19,470 --> 01:37:21,510
We've called you on the Mori project.

1178
01:37:22,190 --> 01:37:22,970
Really cool.

1179
01:37:23,610 --> 01:37:23,830
Really interesting.

1180
01:37:24,710 --> 01:37:27,290
This one looks, I'm not a big judge of art.

1181
01:37:27,810 --> 01:37:29,970
But it looks really cool and to take a walk.

1182
01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:39,760
All in turn into a canvas, I think, is a really good idea. I had a lot of interest, especially in one woodwork. Thank you. Thank you for bringing the application here.

1183
01:37:41,700 --> 01:37:48,200
All right. No further discussion on call for the vote. I was embarrassed. Aye. Those opposed. Motion passes. All right. Good luck. Thanks.

1184
01:37:54,410 --> 01:38:03,670
So, after consent, we're going to reposition the noxious weeds and our ordinance pertaining

1185
01:38:03,670 --> 01:38:04,230
to it.

1186
01:38:04,230 --> 01:38:05,850
And I see Mr. Yis here.

1187
01:38:07,920 --> 01:38:09,340
We're going to get to the weeds, Mr. Yis.

1188
01:38:13,310 --> 01:38:14,010
Good evening.

1189
01:38:18,000 --> 01:38:24,180
I attached as a report, which responds to residents complaints regarding Japanese knotweed

1190
01:38:24,180 --> 01:38:28,440
and tree of heaven, both state-designated invasive species.

1191
01:38:28,440 --> 01:38:37,620
It clarifies that the city's existing ordinances, chapter 757, weeds and chapter 556 property maintenance,

1192
01:38:37,660 --> 01:38:41,060
already authorized the city to treat these plants as a nuisance.

1193
01:38:41,960 --> 01:38:44,380
No ordinance amendment is needed to establish that.

1194
01:38:44,780 --> 01:38:48,080
The limiting factor is the enforcement mechanism, not classification.

1195
01:38:49,200 --> 01:38:57,510
Both ordinances are built around the state and are enforced by cutting rather than

1196
01:38:57,510 --> 01:39:01,030
mandate to physically remove or eradicate a specific species.

1197
01:39:01,990 --> 01:39:07,430
Extending enforcement to compile eradication would require substantially different regulation

1198
01:39:07,430 --> 01:39:13,430
of regulatory structure, which would be difficult to enforce and is without precedent

1199
01:39:13,430 --> 01:39:19,010
among comparable machine communities reviewed as part of this analysis, which was in

1200
01:39:19,010 --> 01:39:23,150
this case Birmingham Clause in Berkeley, Madison Heights, Troy, and Rochester Hills.

1201
01:39:24,130 --> 01:39:31,230
The memorandum also outlines the city's current enforcement practice under which code enforcement issues of violation notice.

1202
01:39:31,730 --> 01:39:38,390
When vegetation exceeds eight inches and if uncorrected, the Department of Public Works cuts a vegetation and builds a property owner.

1203
01:39:39,670 --> 01:39:49,210
To help residents understand the extent of the city's regulatory authority, staff developed, staff developed, and published a new invasive species resource page on the city's website.

1204
01:39:49,210 --> 01:39:55,530
Directing residents to state guidance on identification and licensed treatment options.

1205
01:39:56,910 --> 01:40:02,050
In April of 2026, the Royal Community Engagement Advisory Board also hosted an invasive

1206
01:40:02,050 --> 01:40:06,810
species informational session with representatives from the Department of Public Works and

1207
01:40:06,810 --> 01:40:08,050
Open County Parks.

1208
01:40:09,790 --> 01:40:13,790
Staff recommends no ordinance amendment at this time will continue educating residents

1209
01:40:13,790 --> 01:40:18,770
to treatment demonstrations, social media, and community events in coordination with boards

1210
01:40:18,770 --> 01:40:23,790
such as the Environmental Advisory Board and Community Engagement Advisory Board.

1211
01:40:24,190 --> 01:40:28,550
And continue to seek funding opportunities to support invasive species eradication efforts

1212
01:40:28,550 --> 01:40:32,130
while monitoring state guidelines for any future regulatory pathway.

1213
01:40:35,760 --> 01:40:39,180
So that is the report based on the attached memo.

1214
01:40:39,180 --> 01:40:45,200
Um, uh, maggot, magg, um, true ahead prepared this, and she's not able to attend tonight's meeting.

1215
01:40:45,560 --> 01:40:49,560
So I'm here to answer any questions and present this report.

1216
01:40:51,450 --> 01:40:52,850
I think there's going to be a few questions.

1217
01:40:53,110 --> 01:40:53,830
Commissioner Herzag.

1218
01:40:55,410 --> 01:40:55,510
Great.

1219
01:40:55,610 --> 01:40:56,790
Thank you so much.

1220
01:40:57,550 --> 01:41:04,610
Um, so the ordinance, um, what the problem that we're trying to solve is heights, right?

1221
01:41:04,750 --> 01:41:08,630
Or what, what's, what's, what is the problem we're trying to solve with the ordinance?

1222
01:41:08,630 --> 01:41:12,450
And the ordinance, as I believe it, is written is to eradicate

1223
01:41:12,450 --> 01:41:15,030
height and like, meetness of a property.

1224
01:41:15,610 --> 01:41:19,410
So if there's overgrown, overgrown of any plantings,

1225
01:41:19,630 --> 01:41:22,570
it's there to kind of eradicate that and keep things

1226
01:41:22,570 --> 01:41:23,890
in more neat northerly.

1227
01:41:24,430 --> 01:41:27,370
And then, at our last meeting, a resident came and said,

1228
01:41:28,570 --> 01:41:30,070
that we did that.

1229
01:41:30,270 --> 01:41:32,070
We came with a row, we've tracked it down.

1230
01:41:32,510 --> 01:41:35,310
But in doing that, by trying to solve that problem,

1231
01:41:36,010 --> 01:41:42,310
We created a new problem because it like spreads and it's through trapping because the way

1232
01:41:42,310 --> 01:41:51,070
to take care of that issue, there's other best practices and so the city did they ever reach

1233
01:41:51,070 --> 01:41:58,290
out to Oakland County, Sisma or Lake St. Clair Sisma to get an idea of what the best practices

1234
01:41:58,290 --> 01:42:03,210
are or maybe even ordinances that might be in place for these invasive species.

1235
01:42:03,210 --> 01:42:32,630
So, I'm not sure who Maggie talked to, to create the port report, I do know we have looked at one other community that did have an ordinance for invasive species or not just weeds and they actually weren't enforcing it so they had some nice language on the books I guess but they weren't enforcing it and they recognized that the cost of enforcement and the amount of invasive species or not just weeds.

1236
01:42:34,230 --> 01:42:40,630
around everywhere throughout Southeast Michigan or probably the state of Michigan would be really

1237
01:42:42,670 --> 01:42:48,210
great burden for everyone to handle both property owners and the city to be honest with you.

1238
01:42:48,210 --> 01:42:56,910
We would have to go through our parks and look at all the mattress weeds, which there I was reviewing the list in there.

1239
01:42:56,910 --> 01:43:05,550
I don't know, probably over 50, not just weak species, and to require us to review that even

1240
01:43:05,550 --> 01:43:14,290
for an overgrown property, for our own property, for a non-overgrown property, would be much too

1241
01:43:14,290 --> 01:43:18,230
much too large of a burden for us to take on with our current staffing and funding levels.

1242
01:43:18,990 --> 01:43:25,670
Okay, so for those that don't know, CISMA is the cooperative invasive species management area,

1243
01:43:25,670 --> 01:43:30,910
and for Oakland County, Oakland County Park says that for us.

1244
01:43:31,610 --> 01:43:36,870
And I would really like to see that some of the research that goes into our ordinance or

1245
01:43:36,870 --> 01:43:43,010
to come back to us would be to include what they would suggest because it is a government funded

1246
01:43:43,010 --> 01:43:51,130
program to help manage invasive species and their helping governments and residents may manage them.

1247
01:43:51,130 --> 01:43:58,190
And then this would be closing that loop of government where we're also helping with that management of invasive species.

1248
01:43:59,230 --> 01:44:07,270
So I think though while it says in here that there's no action to be made, I just feel that there is a little bit more research that we should be doing.

1249
01:44:08,230 --> 01:44:09,430
Seeing what communities,

1250
01:44:11,910 --> 01:44:18,350
if there's any ordinances on the box, what is that cost, what does it actually look like for maintenance?

1251
01:44:18,350 --> 01:44:24,190
I think there's just a little bit more learning that we need to know before we can say that there's no action here.

1252
01:44:24,870 --> 01:44:33,150
And I really really like to have our partners tell us what those best practices are and see if we can actually manage them.

1253
01:44:33,370 --> 01:44:43,150
Now I understand that staff capacity might be limited and so this could be kicked to the environmental advisory board as something that they could look into a little bit more and bring back to us.

1254
01:44:43,790 --> 01:44:53,890
But I think that, you know, we're trying to solve one problem, but we're impacting neighbors, we're causing more harm to our environment.

1255
01:44:55,170 --> 01:44:59,970
While there are a few communities here that are listed that don't have anything, I think we can still...

1256
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:01,840
Read in environmental spaces.

1257
01:45:04,220 --> 01:45:10,320
So, you know, that's not helping me sway me. But I also want to, like, if we're

1258
01:45:10,320 --> 01:45:16,940
telling residents to do one behavior, but we're not doing the behavior, I think we need to review

1259
01:45:16,940 --> 01:45:18,140
that a little bit closer.

1260
01:45:20,180 --> 01:45:24,140
So, I would probably add that it's a great opportunity to discuss

1261
01:45:24,140 --> 01:45:29,540
It's a huge planning session to talk about where our resources go and how we manage them.

1262
01:45:30,260 --> 01:45:36,740
Mr. Yuma, maybe I'll make a comment as well. I feel that you have two separate issues

1263
01:45:36,740 --> 01:45:45,000
here. One is really, like you said, a challenge to enforce and take care of, but we probably

1264
01:45:45,000 --> 01:45:51,240
should brainstorm how, you know, at least we support and manage some of that. The other is

1265
01:45:51,240 --> 01:45:59,260
when we're the ones that, by our ordinance, are charged with mowing, you know, either a abandoned

1266
01:45:59,260 --> 01:46:02,560
or non-compliant property when grass goes over eight inches.

1267
01:46:03,600 --> 01:46:07,540
And so in some cases what we've seen, we've heard it on a couple of occasions and I'm sure

1268
01:46:08,460 --> 01:46:16,340
it's far more prevalent than just those two, where we actually cause, we don't necessarily

1269
01:46:16,340 --> 01:46:20,320
take care of the issue of the noxious weeds, but we actually, in some cases, depending on

1270
01:46:20,320 --> 01:46:24,560
weed create a worse problem.

1271
01:46:25,680 --> 01:46:31,160
So, when I think about this as a matter of policy, not necessarily a matter of ordinance,

1272
01:46:31,780 --> 01:46:38,880
is it unreasonable for us to do a quick check to see on the property that we're charged with

1273
01:46:38,880 --> 01:46:42,680
mowing, to see if these notchious weeds are present.

1274
01:46:43,520 --> 01:46:50,300
And if they are, we hire a contractor to remediate those weeds as guidance from the county

1275
01:46:50,300 --> 01:46:56,000
would suggest on how to do that or even inform how to do that, and then we add that to the

1276
01:46:56,000 --> 01:47:01,960
bill, the cost of mowing, you know, that we would normally do, that would be part of the

1277
01:47:01,960 --> 01:47:08,960
arena of the property. So while that sounds great and theory, I think the problem that you have

1278
01:47:08,960 --> 01:47:14,840
is having the expertise to know what you're looking at when you're looking at, not just weeds.

1279
01:47:15,520 --> 01:47:18,940
As I mentioned, there's a huge list. There are a number of them.

1280
01:47:19,660 --> 01:47:23,560
So we would almost need to pay professional to go through each property.

1281
01:47:24,140 --> 01:47:26,860
Identify whether or not there are not just weeks there.

1282
01:47:27,220 --> 01:47:28,000
Invasive species.

1283
01:47:28,640 --> 01:47:31,060
And then determine the method for eradicating them,

1284
01:47:31,100 --> 01:47:32,780
which in a lot of cases is chemical,

1285
01:47:33,580 --> 01:47:35,740
chemical sprays and things like that.

1286
01:47:36,300 --> 01:47:41,500
And there's also time of the year that some of them can be removed and eradicated.

1287
01:47:42,000 --> 01:47:44,420
There are all kinds of things that go into this.

1288
01:47:44,420 --> 01:47:51,040
It is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It's not like you can go in a yard and say, oh, yeah, there's a there's a weeds. That's just, you know

1289
01:47:53,140 --> 01:47:58,820
Find some method to badg them or harvest them. There are a lot of different methods and it means a methods to

1290
01:47:59,700 --> 01:48:03,460
Radicate these not just weeds and there are many different varieties of them

1291
01:48:04,460 --> 01:48:07,480
So while I you know I would

1292
01:48:07,480 --> 01:48:11,060
Love to be able to just go in and find an easy solution to that

1293
01:48:11,060 --> 01:48:14,120
It's a lot more complicated than I think it seems like on the surface.

1294
01:48:14,720 --> 01:48:19,420
And I would be willing to say that there are probably so many residents that have these

1295
01:48:19,420 --> 01:48:23,140
matches, weeds that don't even know it, that are also doing the same activities

1296
01:48:23,140 --> 01:48:26,960
that we would be doing, maybe they're not letting it overgrown,

1297
01:48:27,340 --> 01:48:31,180
but there are a lot of these not just weeds throughout the city and different areas,

1298
01:48:31,720 --> 01:48:33,740
and people are probably mishandling it without even knowing it.

1299
01:48:34,080 --> 01:48:34,980
Sure. Sure.

1300
01:48:34,980 --> 01:48:42,260
But of the 50, I imagine there's a handful that are, you know, the magnification of mowing them

1301
01:48:43,020 --> 01:48:47,260
is more problematic than the others. I would imagine. So it wouldn't be necessarily

1302
01:48:47,260 --> 01:48:51,700
having to identify 50, but maybe there's five that are really problematic when you

1303
01:48:52,280 --> 01:48:57,140
wholesale mo a yard if they're present. I just think it developed, that makes it difficult to

1304
01:48:57,140 --> 01:49:02,080
develop in women's. And that's your specifically calling out specific species and how you handle

1305
01:49:02,080 --> 01:49:06,800
most species, I think. So I just want to warn it, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution,

1306
01:49:07,640 --> 01:49:11,500
and I would welcome looking at people who've done a lot more research and know a lot more

1307
01:49:11,500 --> 01:49:16,020
about these things, but I just want it to warn that it's not a one-size-fits-all. There are a lot

1308
01:49:16,020 --> 01:49:21,660
of, there's a lot that goes into it, and I've learned a lot over the last day or so just looking

1309
01:49:21,660 --> 01:49:31,820
at it and talking to Megan, kind of going through it. I know of a lot of them, but there's a lot

1310
01:49:31,820 --> 01:49:41,320
But I think we can all agree, you know, for if you have a derelict property next door to you and the grass is growing and we come out and

1311
01:49:42,060 --> 01:49:48,520
Observe or not observe that there's certain types of noxious weeds there and we mow it now all those seedlings go into your yard

1312
01:49:48,520 --> 01:49:54,240
And now what was a problem that was relatively contained is now been exasperated a thousandfold

1313
01:49:54,240 --> 01:50:00,280
We can imagine that's something that, you know, if we have it in our ability to prevent we're not going to be able to stop

1314
01:50:00,280 --> 01:50:03,540
We have 25,000 parcels in the city of Royaleau.

1315
01:50:03,540 --> 01:50:07,520
You're not going to be able to enforce this at a mass level.

1316
01:50:07,620 --> 01:50:12,260
But I think if there are small things we can do to at least not add another hole in the bucket.

1317
01:50:12,660 --> 01:50:16,660
I think that would be a wise policy thing to look at.

1318
01:50:17,920 --> 01:50:20,900
We'll go Commissioner Gantina, Commissioner Bastion, the Commissioner Colo.

1319
01:50:21,060 --> 01:50:21,840
Thank you, Commissioner.

1320
01:50:22,400 --> 01:50:23,160
Thank you, Commissioner.

1321
01:50:23,440 --> 01:50:23,900
Thank you.

1322
01:50:25,120 --> 01:50:30,160
I just wanted to, I guess, reiterate what Commissioner Herzogs stated in a

1323
01:50:30,160 --> 01:50:33,360
sense that we need a model behavior that we want to see from our residents.

1324
01:50:34,000 --> 01:50:35,500
I think we do that in many ways.

1325
01:50:35,660 --> 01:50:37,960
We did that with the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan,

1326
01:50:38,200 --> 01:50:41,640
inputting the other strategy of how we're going to move this city forward,

1327
01:50:41,880 --> 01:50:45,920
sort of outlines the types of behaviors that we all need to embrace.

1328
01:50:46,580 --> 01:50:48,340
And so it's not lost on me.

1329
01:50:48,380 --> 01:50:50,940
This is a more complicated issue than I may see in the surface.

1330
01:50:51,340 --> 01:50:55,480
But I do think there's probably many more resources that we could touch on

1331
01:50:55,480 --> 01:50:58,260
to try to come up with a solution that

1332
01:50:59,160 --> 01:51:01,840
better models the behavior that we want to see.

1333
01:51:02,380 --> 01:51:07,680
They're probably our municipalities that do have ordinances that deal with this more

1334
01:51:07,680 --> 01:51:11,300
directly and achieve the result we're trying to achieve here.

1335
01:51:11,900 --> 01:51:17,740
But I also think that timing is very important in the sense that we're in the process

1336
01:51:17,740 --> 01:51:19,340
of going through a zoning ordinance update.

1337
01:51:20,200 --> 01:51:24,380
And I think oftentimes when that conversation comes up, we think about development standards

1338
01:51:24,380 --> 01:51:26,220
almost exclusively in that conversation.

1339
01:51:26,220 --> 01:51:31,720
But the reality is, I think this conversation is highlighting that there may be some other areas of our

1340
01:51:31,720 --> 01:51:37,640
ordinance that have a little bit of a gap in areas that are important to us that we can just spend a little bit of time researching and

1341
01:51:37,640 --> 01:51:44,460
talking about to see if we can do a little bit better, because to Commissioner Herzlach's point, we may think that our ordinance is

1342
01:51:45,140 --> 01:51:49,880
solving the problem that we're trying to solve, but in doing that we are creating other problems,

1343
01:51:51,560 --> 01:51:55,700
which to me begs the question of maybe this is just a little bit deeper and see if we can do a little bit better.

1344
01:51:59,950 --> 01:52:03,890
Mr. Y, thank you for making this presentation. I really appreciate your pinch hitting.

1345
01:52:05,450 --> 01:52:14,150
And speaking directly with you and about you, I really appreciate your willingness to jump in and your willingness to learn.

1346
01:52:15,070 --> 01:52:21,970
And your willingness to say on certain occasions that this may not be my specialty, but boy, I'm going to step in.

1347
01:52:21,970 --> 01:52:26,930
And I'm going to learn everything that I can as quickly as I can that speaks to your character and appreciate it.

1348
01:52:26,930 --> 01:52:29,970
as far as other communities around us.

1349
01:52:30,000 --> 01:52:47,980
May not be engaging in a certain practice. That doesn't necessarily mean that royal option. You know, we are often looked to as a leader to other communities, and I certainly think that this may be an opportunity for us to take the lead in this.

1350
01:52:48,540 --> 01:52:56,180
And Mr. Mayor, I appreciate your creative thinking as to, you know, perhaps we're not looking at 50. Perhaps we're looking at 5.

1351
01:52:56,180 --> 01:53:00,580
And obviously there's been some community engagement around this.

1352
01:53:00,740 --> 01:53:05,900
There's some people that are interested, something that I really love about Royal Oak in general

1353
01:53:05,900 --> 01:53:10,620
is that we have such a diverse population with such expertise.

1354
01:53:11,140 --> 01:53:12,820
We have the environmental advisory board.

1355
01:53:12,980 --> 01:53:15,600
We have people that are interested in things like this.

1356
01:53:15,740 --> 01:53:21,120
Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to engage the community even further as to how we solve these issues.

1357
01:53:27,710 --> 01:53:30,030
I'll see because there's a long line behind myself.

1358
01:53:30,510 --> 01:53:35,810
Look, I appreciate that this isn't your thing, and I appreciate that Dr. Truby has an issue

1359
01:53:35,810 --> 01:53:40,570
that she can't be here tonight. I think what we're kind of hearing up here right now is maybe

1360
01:53:40,570 --> 01:53:46,150
there's some more to look at. I think that's being my over arching theme here. There's maybe

1361
01:53:46,150 --> 01:53:52,850
more to look at. I know Seth's hearing it tonight. Let's see what we can maybe come up with

1362
01:53:52,850 --> 01:53:59,010
find a way to potentially do some sort of enforcement. I'll add a handful of years ago, someone

1363
01:53:59,010 --> 01:54:03,390
I had an issue with Golden Bamboo that their neighbor had planted, and it sprouted up in

1364
01:54:03,390 --> 01:54:07,370
her yard, and it just completely took over, and she could not get her out of it.

1365
01:54:07,530 --> 01:54:09,550
She spent your Shanker out of it.

1366
01:54:10,450 --> 01:54:14,930
I do think we need to find a way to have some sort of enforcement, that enforcement needs

1367
01:54:14,930 --> 01:54:18,070
to be the burden on the property order in some way.

1368
01:54:18,590 --> 01:54:20,130
I think there's different levels of severity.

1369
01:54:20,970 --> 01:54:26,990
Once you have that Golden Bamboo, when it moved over to the neighbor's yard, these little spikes

1370
01:54:26,990 --> 01:54:32,210
Bamboo shoots would come up week after week after week because if you just cut it, Bamboo

1371
01:54:32,210 --> 01:54:33,790
natures like it was back very quickly.

1372
01:54:34,910 --> 01:54:39,950
So I'm aiming here, I would like to see Golden Bamboo add it to our mission species list.

1373
01:54:40,110 --> 01:54:40,970
It's not on it currently.

1374
01:54:41,750 --> 01:54:44,470
Something that through different administrations has been talked about, so I'd like to see

1375
01:54:44,470 --> 01:54:45,750
that change in our ordinance.

1376
01:54:46,350 --> 01:54:51,530
Something happens then, just as safe to look at ways to, you know, to the mayor's point,

1377
01:54:51,790 --> 01:54:55,350
maybe harness the technology I understand you can't have a specialist on board.

1378
01:54:55,350 --> 01:55:00,610
maybe there is a photo graphs of the properties that could be taken, technology that might identify

1379
01:55:00,610 --> 01:55:06,130
right flags, right away, that could be an easy application there, so there's price, something

1380
01:55:06,130 --> 01:55:10,930
out there, and I ask you to give us any answers right now, but keep on with that.

1381
01:55:11,330 --> 01:55:11,430
I'm Michelle.

1382
01:55:13,460 --> 01:55:18,700
I echo my colleagues sentiment is released to the ordinance in the additional education that I think

1383
01:55:18,700 --> 01:55:24,240
staff in this and this board may need for purposes of moving in that direction, but I kind of

1384
01:55:24,240 --> 01:55:28,820
kind of moved to the other side of this and this is, you know, education for the residents.

1385
01:55:29,360 --> 01:55:34,400
I'm the liaison for the community engagement board and in this past spring we held a very

1386
01:55:34,400 --> 01:55:41,520
small but mighty workshop on evasive species as a release of plants and it was very educational.

1387
01:55:41,800 --> 01:55:46,640
And I think from that exposed that there's more than we were just looking at trees of heaven at that point,

1388
01:55:47,080 --> 01:55:50,040
but exposed that there are way more of these species in, you know,

1389
01:55:50,040 --> 01:55:57,320
that made us start looking at the Japanese not wood and others, and that is going to be continued this fall.

1390
01:55:57,760 --> 01:56:03,280
So for residents that are interested in learning how to curb this in their own backyard.

1391
01:56:03,520 --> 01:56:08,780
I didn't realize I had Japanese not wood in my yard, and I'm just cutting it down and it keeps coming back.

1392
01:56:08,920 --> 01:56:18,200
And now I know how to properly eradicate it, safely eradicate it, and that's something that's going to be highlighted at this fall workshop.

1393
01:56:18,200 --> 01:56:24,480
So, I would just encourage the residents to keep their eyes open for that and possibly staff as well

1394
01:56:24,480 --> 01:56:27,300
if they're interested in learning how to properly get rid of these species.

1395
01:56:28,120 --> 01:56:32,340
So, but thank you, Mr. Yee, for coming in and pitching for May again,

1396
01:56:32,560 --> 01:56:34,980
bringing this forward to us. I appreciate it.

1397
01:56:38,670 --> 01:56:42,650
We have a long agenda tonight and I feel like most of my points were hit on by my colleagues here

1398
01:56:42,650 --> 01:56:45,890
and I've had conversations with staff this week, so I will let it go at that for tonight.

1399
01:56:48,230 --> 01:56:49,590
Okay, anybody else?

1400
01:56:52,180 --> 01:56:57,240
All right, this was a report, but I think what I heard tonight, notwithstanding the fact

1401
01:56:57,240 --> 01:56:59,720
that I don't think we need to make any motion tonight.

1402
01:56:59,720 --> 01:57:03,500
I think what we need to do is bring this into strategic planning.

1403
01:57:03,600 --> 01:57:05,320
I think there's a little bit of a bigger picture here.

1404
01:57:05,420 --> 01:57:10,260
We heard from public comments tonight from Ms. Carney about, you know, the opposite.

1405
01:57:11,200 --> 01:57:12,640
That occurred potentially.

1406
01:57:13,720 --> 01:57:19,140
So I think that, you know, we talk about native species and we talk about not just weeds

1407
01:57:19,140 --> 01:57:23,460
and we talk about, you know, keeping yards maintained.

1408
01:57:23,920 --> 01:57:28,880
I think we took a stab at it with a not just weed ordinance back in the day, but like

1409
01:57:28,880 --> 01:57:29,580
everything we do.

1410
01:57:29,720 --> 01:57:34,040
It's a work in process and I think we can probably make some improvements, but also we have

1411
01:57:34,040 --> 01:57:38,300
to set some expectations as Mr. E. Mr. Bob had pointed out.

1412
01:57:39,540 --> 01:57:43,500
So let's keep our thinking caps on, bring it into strategic planning and put it on the checklist

1413
01:57:43,500 --> 01:57:44,920
there of something we need to address.

1414
01:57:46,340 --> 01:57:46,580
All right.

1415
01:57:46,840 --> 01:57:47,340
Thank you.

1416
01:57:54,320 --> 01:57:59,320
All right, let's see where we at in the agenda now, we've moved some stuff around.

1417
01:57:59,820 --> 01:58:05,580
I think that brings us to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, License Establishment.

1418
01:58:05,980 --> 01:58:10,620
Public hearing on the request for Royal Oak, I keep Royal Eats Royal Oak.

1419
01:58:10,800 --> 01:58:13,860
I'm just so used to reading Royal Oak all the time.

1420
01:58:15,740 --> 01:58:16,160
All right.

1421
01:58:18,000 --> 01:58:19,620
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and commissioners.

1422
01:58:19,620 --> 01:58:26,920
The Royal Oak Police Department received a request from Royal Eats, Royal Oak LLC, doing business as Royal Eats, French and Dinner.

1423
01:58:27,480 --> 01:58:34,760
To review a plan of operation for a new DDA, redevelopment, class C, liquor license, to be located at 617 South Washington.

1424
01:58:35,800 --> 01:58:40,960
Yep, it's also requesting a Sunday, AM and PM sales permit, and asked the environment.

1425
01:58:42,040 --> 01:58:45,960
They're seeking approval while in the application process with the Michigan-Liter Control Commission.

1426
01:58:47,120 --> 01:58:51,620
Royaleece, French and dinner has been operating as a restaurant in Royaleece since December

1427
01:58:51,620 --> 01:58:57,620
of 2025. The addition of the slicker license will allow the operator to service adult

1428
01:58:57,620 --> 01:59:03,660
cocky drinks, mommoses, lottie marries, and other brunch centric adult beverages, and allow

1429
01:59:03,660 --> 01:59:06,980
them to serve beer wine cocktails for their dinner service.

1430
01:59:07,720 --> 01:59:14,680
Their anticipated food alcohol ratio is 75% food, 25% alcohol. If approved, Royaleece

1431
01:59:14,680 --> 01:59:16,940
French and dinner while I pray as a full service,

1432
01:59:17,360 --> 01:59:19,840
be sure of concept restaurant, table service,

1433
01:59:19,960 --> 01:59:21,140
and a full service bar.

1434
01:59:22,120 --> 01:59:23,600
Aside from the alcohol sales,

1435
01:59:23,760 --> 01:59:26,440
the only changes to the business are a new floor plan

1436
01:59:26,440 --> 01:59:29,360
and barrier around their outdoor service area.

1437
01:59:30,500 --> 01:59:33,360
The interior seating area is approximately 1500 square feet,

1438
01:59:33,480 --> 01:59:36,800
we'll have seating for 75 patrons, including eight power seats,

1439
01:59:37,780 --> 01:59:40,180
the outdoor service area is located on private property

1440
01:59:40,180 --> 01:59:42,320
and we'll have seating for 24 patrons.

1441
01:59:42,320 --> 01:59:46,420
You're not requesting an entertainment or dance permit.

1442
01:59:46,900 --> 01:59:52,300
The Royal Police Department looked at this closely and it's not opposed to this request.

1443
01:59:53,120 --> 01:59:54,640
I'm going to have to take any questions from you.

1444
01:59:55,120 --> 01:59:58,340
And the owner's attorney is present for her questions as well.

1445
01:59:59,040 --> 01:59:59,960
All right. Thank you. It's end of course.

1446
02:00:00,600 --> 02:00:01,720
Any questions?

1447
02:00:06,360 --> 02:00:11,040
All right. Does the petitioner want to make a few remarks?

1448
02:00:13,140 --> 02:00:14,620
You're not obligated to?

1449
02:00:16,280 --> 02:00:22,200
I always joke, there's dozens of people watching at home, so it's a way to get the new concept out there.

1450
02:00:23,040 --> 02:00:29,940
I wanted to just thank the lieutenant for working with me. He's been excellent to work with.

1451
02:00:29,940 --> 02:00:38,420
I think that the packet that I provided and that my client provided is pretty self-explanatory.

1452
02:00:39,220 --> 02:00:43,240
Victor and his family have already built this restaurant out.

1453
02:00:43,300 --> 02:00:50,120
They have made a commitment to the city and he's told me that the issue that they've been

1454
02:00:50,120 --> 02:00:55,980
having is, you know, right now they're only open for dinner on Thursday Friday and Saturday night,

1455
02:00:55,980 --> 02:01:00,360
But they have a hard time because people come in and they ask,

1456
02:01:00,520 --> 02:01:04,060
can I get a bottle of wine, can I get a cocktail, and no.

1457
02:01:04,660 --> 02:01:08,720
And so even if one or two people out of a party of six or seven or eight come,

1458
02:01:08,900 --> 02:01:10,700
they'll walk on to another location.

1459
02:01:11,040 --> 02:01:14,620
So what they're trying to do is, they're just trying to expand them in you a little bit.

1460
02:01:14,820 --> 02:01:17,060
They're trying to be open for dinner.

1461
02:01:18,000 --> 02:01:22,300
This is actually the fifth, or I do a lot of liquor licensing work all over the state.

1462
02:01:22,440 --> 02:01:25,500
This is like the fifth or sixth brunch restaurant that I'm not only for licensed

1463
02:01:25,500 --> 02:01:32,620
application for in the past year, people like Mamosas with the Scramble Deggs, Belinis,

1464
02:01:32,940 --> 02:01:40,800
whatever. So that's all. This is a great license. I like that the city works with business

1465
02:01:40,800 --> 02:01:47,500
owners and allowing them to apply for these licenses. I think that they're a great tool that

1466
02:01:48,700 --> 02:01:53,140
the state of Michigan has and the liquor control commission has to work with communities and

1467
02:01:53,140 --> 02:02:02,820
to improve their DDAs. I would like to just point out that they are. My client is committed

1468
02:02:02,820 --> 02:02:06,820
to, they're actually reducing the number of seats at the Hammond side because the maximum

1469
02:02:06,820 --> 02:02:11,520
you can have with the city is 75 so they're actually reducing the number of seats to comply

1470
02:02:11,520 --> 02:02:16,960
with that as well as their outdoor seating and it's, they'll be able to expand the bar area

1471
02:02:16,960 --> 02:02:23,120
a little bit because of that but they're committed to this and please and thank you.

1472
02:02:23,120 --> 02:02:27,000
if you have any questions that can answer them,

1473
02:02:27,020 --> 02:02:27,540
or at least try.

1474
02:02:31,680 --> 02:02:32,440
Commissioner Colo.

1475
02:02:33,360 --> 02:02:34,040
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1476
02:02:34,580 --> 02:02:35,460
Just a handful of questions.

1477
02:02:35,780 --> 02:02:37,860
Can you tell us about the experience of background

1478
02:02:37,860 --> 02:02:39,320
of the hardship for the restaurant?

1479
02:02:40,060 --> 02:02:40,200
Sure.

1480
02:02:41,860 --> 02:02:44,260
Well, Victor is a full-time engineer,

1481
02:02:44,820 --> 02:02:47,880
but his family has been in the restaurant business for a while.

1482
02:02:48,480 --> 02:02:54,620
So his father and brother operate this during the week,

1483
02:02:54,620 --> 02:02:56,340
And then Victor shows up on Friday nights.

1484
02:02:56,340 --> 02:02:58,380
It's been Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is there.

1485
02:03:00,660 --> 02:03:03,400
So I do work with lots of different communities.

1486
02:03:04,300 --> 02:03:06,020
And this is one of the communities

1487
02:03:06,020 --> 02:03:10,940
where I got referred to them because other people in the community

1488
02:03:10,940 --> 02:03:11,900
are own restaurants.

1489
02:03:12,260 --> 02:03:14,540
And this is one of the families that owns restaurants also.

1490
02:03:15,080 --> 02:03:16,900
So they've been in the restaurant business.

1491
02:03:17,820 --> 02:03:19,440
But the victim is only on this restaurant

1492
02:03:19,440 --> 02:03:21,580
for less than a year at this point.

1493
02:03:23,140 --> 02:03:27,460
It seems to be a great addition to it down town, it's a very frightening pass by at two.

1494
02:03:27,600 --> 02:03:29,880
You can't miss the very lights inside.

1495
02:03:31,240 --> 02:03:37,420
And just looking at the plan of our person too, typically when we come to alcohol compliance,

1496
02:03:37,960 --> 02:03:40,620
it mentions that staff will be tips and tamps certified.

1497
02:03:41,140 --> 02:03:42,580
I don't see that in this.

1498
02:03:42,680 --> 02:03:50,140
No, there is actually a submitted separate alcohol policy and training is all in that.

1499
02:03:51,460 --> 02:03:53,260
Lieutenant, that was included with me.

1500
02:03:53,400 --> 02:03:54,940
I do see a supplement on it.

1501
02:03:54,980 --> 02:03:56,420
Yes, that was of course I would have for the Lieutenant.

1502
02:03:56,720 --> 02:03:59,780
Is that included in part as part of the plan of operation?

1503
02:04:00,480 --> 02:04:08,820
In section 11, number 13, refers to tips and tab certification.

1504
02:04:08,860 --> 02:04:09,800
Oh, there it is, okay.

1505
02:04:10,400 --> 02:04:14,560
Yeah, but there was a separate, like alcohol policy that all of the employees are going

1506
02:04:14,560 --> 02:04:19,780
to have to go over inside because I work with most of my clients.

1507
02:04:20,560 --> 02:04:25,260
We put something together so that they can make it part of their policies and procedures.

1508
02:04:26,380 --> 02:04:27,700
Training is a big part of it.

1509
02:04:28,100 --> 02:04:30,580
Outdoor service policies, a big part of it.

1510
02:04:31,660 --> 02:04:35,120
So, I mean, if you don't have that permission, I can report you to top the other.

1511
02:04:35,460 --> 02:04:37,200
But yes, it was in the packet.

1512
02:04:37,580 --> 02:04:37,840
Part of it.

1513
02:04:37,900 --> 02:04:38,460
It will be covered.

1514
02:04:39,200 --> 02:04:40,320
Thank you so much for the problem.

1515
02:04:43,020 --> 02:04:43,700
Any other questions?

1516
02:04:46,320 --> 02:04:46,480
Okay.

1517
02:04:46,580 --> 02:04:46,900
Thank you.

1518
02:04:47,100 --> 02:04:48,120
Thank you very much.

1519
02:04:48,300 --> 02:04:48,900
Appreciate you all.

1520
02:04:49,620 --> 02:04:50,100
Thank you.

1521
02:04:52,990 --> 02:04:53,430
Alright.

1522
02:04:53,430 --> 02:04:54,970
So we have a

1523
02:04:57,910 --> 02:05:00,710
recommendation in front of us.

1524
02:05:00,950 --> 02:05:03,150
Oh, we got to do the public hearing for this one, don't we?

1525
02:05:03,550 --> 02:05:05,470
Yeah. All right. So we're going to open up the public hearing.

1526
02:05:05,990 --> 02:05:08,610
Same rules applies, hit a commission public comment.

1527
02:05:09,090 --> 02:05:12,050
Does anyone wish to come up and speak on this matter?

1528
02:05:13,490 --> 02:05:15,070
Okay. We're going to close the public hearing,

1529
02:05:15,350 --> 02:05:17,170
bring the meeting back to the side of the table.

1530
02:05:17,690 --> 02:05:21,130
We have proposed motion commissioner Colo.

1531
02:05:21,750 --> 02:05:24,590
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think these places are great.

1532
02:05:24,590 --> 02:05:30,030
kind of tool in our downtown, that I hope people take advantage of, very frankly, and I'm

1533
02:05:30,030 --> 02:05:31,250
able to prove it as presented.

1534
02:05:31,590 --> 02:05:35,930
We have motion by Commissioner Coulos, or second, second by Commissioner Gantina, all right,

1535
02:05:38,350 --> 02:05:44,770
I want to say, Commissioner Bastion, I had breakfast there just recently, and I think maybe

1536
02:05:44,770 --> 02:05:50,130
a Mamosa would have helped Commissioner Bastion take down most pancakes that were stacked

1537
02:05:50,130 --> 02:05:51,090
so high.

1538
02:05:51,090 --> 02:05:53,930
I might have done the track, okay.

1539
02:05:53,950 --> 02:05:55,350
Thanks for the insight, Dad.

1540
02:05:56,730 --> 02:05:59,170
Well, we talked about it and we said no way.

1541
02:06:02,350 --> 02:06:03,510
Don't take it personally.

1542
02:06:03,810 --> 02:06:04,570
It was you.

1543
02:06:07,570 --> 02:06:08,130
All right.

1544
02:06:08,430 --> 02:06:09,210
No other discussion?

1545
02:06:10,630 --> 02:06:10,750
All right.

1546
02:06:10,870 --> 02:06:11,590
We'll call for the vote.

1547
02:06:11,710 --> 02:06:12,530
I'll say aye.

1548
02:06:12,790 --> 02:06:13,090
Aye.

1549
02:06:13,230 --> 02:06:13,870
Those posed.

1550
02:06:14,030 --> 02:06:14,670
Motion passes.

1551
02:06:14,910 --> 02:06:15,350
Congratulations.

1552
02:06:15,990 --> 02:06:17,270
Look forward to seeing you at brunch.

1553
02:06:18,490 --> 02:06:19,790
So Victor, we said hello.

1554
02:06:23,120 --> 02:06:23,380
All right.

1555
02:06:23,600 --> 02:06:26,960
So this brings us to social district approval

1556
02:06:26,960 --> 02:06:29,880
for Harry Hospitality LLC doing business

1557
02:06:29,880 --> 02:06:31,500
as the least seafood.

1558
02:06:31,820 --> 02:06:33,400
Do you know it?

1559
02:06:33,460 --> 02:06:36,140
Or is this coming from Isaac?

1560
02:06:38,120 --> 02:06:39,160
Doesn't yet.

1561
02:06:39,400 --> 02:06:40,480
Good evening, Mr. Mayor.

1562
02:06:40,840 --> 02:06:41,320
I am by evening.

1563
02:06:42,040 --> 02:06:44,720
But certainly we'll defer if there's anything to add.

1564
02:06:45,160 --> 02:06:47,080
Just five quick facts for you to set it up

1565
02:06:47,080 --> 02:06:48,980
and then hopefully a quick action tonight.

1566
02:06:48,980 --> 02:06:53,640
The Social District was established in April 12, 2021.

1567
02:06:54,700 --> 02:06:59,460
All participating businesses have to sign a social district agreement with the city.

1568
02:07:00,520 --> 02:07:06,040
And additionally, potential participating liquor license holders within the social district.

1569
02:07:07,440 --> 02:07:10,960
They also need to be liquor license holders that is within the social district.

1570
02:07:11,880 --> 02:07:16,840
And also the designated common areas, all streets and sidewalks within the social district

1571
02:07:16,840 --> 02:07:23,360
and designated parks or gathering spaces, and lastly, a map and a listing with all updated

1572
02:07:23,360 --> 02:07:29,840
and revisions to the social district participants was provided to MLCC.

1573
02:07:30,000 --> 02:07:36,140
On August 20th, and I know that because I went through the listings and submitted the map, so the

1574
02:07:36,140 --> 02:07:42,100
work fully up to date, and this would be simply because the transfer of ownership that we would

1575
02:07:42,100 --> 02:07:49,180
be extending the social district to the new entity with Harry Hospitality. So urging approval.

1576
02:07:49,600 --> 02:07:55,820
And in the future, and speaking with the chief that we will bundle together any kind of transfer

1577
02:07:55,820 --> 02:07:59,120
of liquor licenses with social district approvals at the same meeting.

1578
02:07:59,340 --> 02:08:01,680
We apologize for being off cadence with this one.

1579
02:08:01,900 --> 02:08:02,980
No worries.

1580
02:08:03,100 --> 02:08:04,000
Questions from Mr. Kremlin?

1581
02:08:07,740 --> 02:08:08,100
Mr. Kolo.

1582
02:08:08,340 --> 02:08:09,060
I'm a group of all.

1583
02:08:09,140 --> 02:08:10,180
I motion by Commissioner Cole,

1584
02:08:10,320 --> 02:08:11,560
second by Commissioner Herzog.

1585
02:08:11,900 --> 02:08:12,180
Discussion?

1586
02:08:13,840 --> 02:08:14,900
I think it's pretty straightforward.

1587
02:08:15,020 --> 02:08:15,760
It's a good addition.

1588
02:08:15,940 --> 02:08:20,380
We got new ownership at the same familiar faces running it.

1589
02:08:21,020 --> 02:08:22,940
So I think all's good here.

1590
02:08:23,140 --> 02:08:23,760
Call for the vote.

1591
02:08:23,980 --> 02:08:24,840
All those papers say aye.

1592
02:08:24,960 --> 02:08:25,400
Aye.

1593
02:08:25,400 --> 02:08:26,660
Those posed motion passes.

1594
02:08:27,180 --> 02:08:27,460
All right.

1595
02:08:27,460 --> 02:08:38,560
This brings us to item 13, which is Municipal Parking Service, Infrastructure, Removal and Restoration, Contract Modification, is Daniel.

1596
02:08:39,720 --> 02:08:51,380
The previous MPS parking system equipment has been removed from the city, but several infrastructure components remain in our downtown area that are presenting hazardous conditions.

1597
02:08:51,380 --> 02:08:54,140
These include items like exposed foundations,

1598
02:08:54,680 --> 02:08:57,440
pasteation bases, detection pucks in our pavement,

1599
02:08:58,200 --> 02:09:00,420
and surface defects or irregularities.

1600
02:09:01,040 --> 02:09:03,980
The attorney's office sends MPS a letter previously

1601
02:09:03,980 --> 02:09:06,460
regarding all of these issues and their cost,

1602
02:09:06,980 --> 02:09:09,980
but we recommend that the city takes some action now

1603
02:09:09,980 --> 02:09:12,660
with our own funds while we wait for this issue

1604
02:09:12,660 --> 02:09:14,720
with MPS to work itself out.

1605
02:09:15,360 --> 02:09:17,260
So staff from engineering in the parking division

1606
02:09:17,260 --> 02:09:18,540
walked the downtown area,

1607
02:09:18,540 --> 02:09:24,360
identified all the defect locations, and categorize them into three different levels of priority.

1608
02:09:24,660 --> 02:09:27,980
So priority one being the most important two and three.

1609
02:09:28,340 --> 02:09:34,060
So priority one are true hazards or areas that cars could easily run into something that they didn't see

1610
02:09:34,060 --> 02:09:38,280
that may result in some sort of vacation or claim against the city.

1611
02:09:38,820 --> 02:09:44,800
Priority two are a little bit less hazardous but still a concern there in green belt areas where people might be getting out of cars

1612
02:09:44,800 --> 02:09:48,420
and stepping into these things, and also the detection

1613
02:09:48,420 --> 02:09:53,140
pucks that are within our pavement area, or priority three,

1614
02:09:53,480 --> 02:09:55,680
are sidewalks that eventually we want to replace.

1615
02:09:55,980 --> 02:09:57,980
They've been cracked, or they've been saw cut.

1616
02:09:58,260 --> 02:10:01,820
There's old posts that cut flush, but they don't look very good.

1617
02:10:01,840 --> 02:10:03,920
So those are things we want to also fix,

1618
02:10:04,040 --> 02:10:06,600
but that can be done over a much longer period of time.

1619
02:10:06,740 --> 02:10:09,580
They're not really hazardous, just aesthetically not pleasing.

1620
02:10:10,600 --> 02:10:13,900
So we're recommending that priority one and two items be addressed now.

1621
02:10:13,900 --> 02:10:17,300
We requested a quote from our city sidewalk contractor.

1622
02:10:18,220 --> 02:10:21,840
The total for that work is just under $158,000.

1623
02:10:23,220 --> 02:10:26,460
We have programs in annual DDA sidewalk program.

1624
02:10:26,920 --> 02:10:29,480
First, small amount each year in the coming years.

1625
02:10:29,840 --> 02:10:32,300
And that's how we plan to get through those priority three locations,

1626
02:10:32,320 --> 02:10:34,060
little by little each year.

1627
02:10:35,160 --> 02:10:36,500
At the time of writing the commission letter,

1628
02:10:36,800 --> 02:10:39,980
we were still waiting for the DDA to have their meeting this month

1629
02:10:39,980 --> 02:10:43,360
to vote on this issue to see what funding they would be willing to provide.

1630
02:10:44,060 --> 02:10:48,600
I kind of wrote the letter with the worst case scenario, assuming the DDA would fund priority

1631
02:10:48,600 --> 02:10:53,260
one, and we would need to come up with funds for priority two, which we were going to use

1632
02:10:53,260 --> 02:10:57,260
our general liability or the risk fund to cover that.

1633
02:10:57,420 --> 02:11:02,220
Thankfully, the DDA last week met, they graciously agreed to fund both priority one and two

1634
02:11:02,220 --> 02:11:06,720
work at their meeting, and they are asking to be reimbursed if we once we settle things with

1635
02:11:06,720 --> 02:11:11,640
MPS, if we have the funds to do so, that they get reimbursed for this cost. So with that in mind,

1636
02:11:11,640 --> 02:11:13,740
We have two resolutions before you tonight.

1637
02:11:14,040 --> 02:11:16,700
The first is simply to award the work to our contractor,

1638
02:11:16,920 --> 02:11:19,900
L. Anthony, that resolution can stay as is.

1639
02:11:20,360 --> 02:11:22,180
The second resolution is a budget environment

1640
02:11:22,640 --> 02:11:25,100
that shows where the funds are coming from for this work.

1641
02:11:25,540 --> 02:11:27,460
As I mentioned, it was split between two different funds.

1642
02:11:27,640 --> 02:11:29,880
We're just asking that instead we changed that.

1643
02:11:31,120 --> 02:11:35,800
So that $157, $700 is appropriated from the DDA fund,

1644
02:11:36,200 --> 02:11:38,520
and $0 from the general liability fund.

1645
02:11:38,520 --> 02:11:43,520
So, if this is a proof tonight, contractor is ready to begin shortly after art speaks and eats.

1646
02:11:44,140 --> 02:11:45,260
Questions from Ms. Donnie?

1647
02:11:47,580 --> 02:11:48,480
Commissioner Hutt, thank you, Mr. Chair.

1648
02:11:50,100 --> 02:11:51,140
Thank you, Ms. Donnie.

1649
02:11:51,420 --> 02:11:57,540
You know, I understand that in July, our council sent a letter to MPS requesting the reimbursement

1650
02:11:57,540 --> 02:11:59,100
or the payment for these repairs.

1651
02:11:59,520 --> 02:12:01,100
Was there any response from them?

1652
02:12:02,180 --> 02:12:03,980
And, what are we pursuing that?

1653
02:12:04,580 --> 02:12:06,320
Should we not receive a response from them?

1654
02:12:06,320 --> 02:12:08,840
so that's not necessarily coming out of our pockets

1655
02:12:08,840 --> 02:12:11,020
or the DDA's pockets, and then deferred

1656
02:12:11,020 --> 02:12:12,560
to that semester to talk to you.

1657
02:12:13,360 --> 02:12:16,760
If I may, Ms. Mayor, thank you.

1658
02:12:17,100 --> 02:12:20,220
So yeah, working with outside Council

1659
02:12:20,220 --> 02:12:21,960
the rapper decided us on litigation.

1660
02:12:22,280 --> 02:12:24,620
We sent a letter indicating that we were going

1661
02:12:24,620 --> 02:12:28,220
to withhold any future remaining funds

1662
02:12:28,220 --> 02:12:30,460
that would be reconciled with them

1663
02:12:30,460 --> 02:12:32,060
that were remaining under the agreement

1664
02:12:32,060 --> 02:12:40,520
because of these costs. Those funds, to answer your question directly, we have not received

1665
02:12:40,520 --> 02:12:47,360
a response yet. It's going to take some time, as you probably can recognize with DNPS to

1666
02:12:47,360 --> 02:12:54,180
figure out where the parties like could result in litigation. I don't know, but the idea was,

1667
02:12:54,560 --> 02:12:59,640
because of the damages, we're withholding funds that we would technically owe them at the end of

1668
02:12:59,640 --> 02:13:05,560
contract that we're not going to pay them, which don't come close to covering, they may

1669
02:13:05,560 --> 02:13:11,820
cover phase one and maybe two but not three. So there's a large difference there, so

1670
02:13:11,820 --> 02:13:18,740
eventually we'll have to make some other decisions. We'll have to talk about outside of public

1671
02:13:18,740 --> 02:13:19,060
meeting.

1672
02:13:19,060 --> 02:13:28,420
It was part of the exit from MPS, was there any stipulation that they would not remove

1673
02:13:28,420 --> 02:13:34,800
these disequipment and leave some trip hazard or hazard to the city?

1674
02:13:35,080 --> 02:13:42,140
So if I may miss mayor, when we drafted the settlement agreement from that litigation,

1675
02:13:42,320 --> 02:13:48,280
we specifically used language that indicated MPS was required to remove not only their

1676
02:13:48,280 --> 02:14:00,300
equipment, but all the foundations, and he basically restore the bases where their infrastructure

1677
02:14:00,300 --> 02:14:02,660
was located back to the original condition.

1678
02:14:03,380 --> 02:14:04,620
They did not do anything like that.

1679
02:14:04,640 --> 02:14:06,220
They just ripped their stuff out alive.

1680
02:14:08,360 --> 02:14:09,720
Thank you.

1681
02:14:09,720 --> 02:14:10,260
Thank you, Shantizo.

1682
02:14:11,520 --> 02:14:12,220
Thank you.

1683
02:14:12,240 --> 02:14:18,260
Yeah, my questions were also around NPS and their fiscal responsibility here.

1684
02:14:18,260 --> 02:14:24,720
for this. So building off of foundation that Commissioner Hans question is just gave us.

1685
02:14:25,300 --> 02:14:34,960
So if we approve this action and this funding source, and then we do end up with holding

1686
02:14:34,960 --> 02:14:39,980
money from MPS, would that, would those fund then be restored back into these accounts?

1687
02:14:40,740 --> 02:14:46,660
Or imagine that's a better legal pathway than just paying for these upfront, is that

1688
02:14:46,660 --> 02:14:59,780
correct assumption. That would be the assumption I would make at the end of the day. That's a budget and finance and city manager policy question, but at the end of the day, any funds that we retain.

1689
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:10,100
I think that would be otherwise due to them we can be used. What have been used or should be used towards the restoration that they should have done to begin with when they're moved to the equipment?

1690
02:15:10,760 --> 02:15:22,820
That's my question because I think you're talking about how the, I guess, the settlement agreement or further conversations with NPS, we communicated the expectation that they were turned.

1691
02:15:22,820 --> 02:15:27,300
our sidewalks and our infrastructure to the conditions in which they were found before they

1692
02:15:27,300 --> 02:15:31,680
quit and went in. I am wondering about what kind of conversations took place when we went

1693
02:15:31,680 --> 02:15:36,020
when we entered the agreement, those years ago, about they put the equipment in,

1694
02:15:36,780 --> 02:15:42,200
was there any conversation there at that point? You weren't here. I wasn't here. I would not have

1695
02:15:42,200 --> 02:15:49,640
recommend that, contrary to begin with, but nonetheless, bottom line is when we were in litigation fairly

1696
02:15:49,640 --> 02:15:57,260
recently, and when we exited that litigation, that settlement, we at that time added additional

1697
02:15:57,260 --> 02:16:03,400
language to make it abundantly clear, they were required as a part of removal to remove

1698
02:16:03,400 --> 02:16:04,140
and restore.

1699
02:16:05,920 --> 02:16:08,740
So whether or not it was in the original agreement, it doesn't matter.

1700
02:16:08,860 --> 02:16:13,820
We made sure it was in the settlement agreement to make sure we checked that box for us.

1701
02:16:13,820 --> 02:16:17,860
And so I think there's lots of lessons that I learned from MTS.

1702
02:16:18,300 --> 02:16:22,420
I think it's good to make, as we move through things,

1703
02:16:22,480 --> 02:16:24,560
to make decisions, and see consequences for them,

1704
02:16:24,900 --> 02:16:26,340
having some learning from that, that having

1705
02:16:26,340 --> 02:16:27,960
these conversations from the beginning to make sure

1706
02:16:27,960 --> 02:16:29,980
those expectations are very clear from the beginning.

1707
02:16:31,000 --> 02:16:32,580
So we know where those costs are coming from.

1708
02:16:32,760 --> 02:16:33,680
Could my green more?

1709
02:16:34,020 --> 02:16:35,320
Do I knit every day?

1710
02:16:39,450 --> 02:16:40,370
Anybody else?

1711
02:16:41,730 --> 02:16:42,470
Mr. Cole.

1712
02:16:44,170 --> 02:16:45,610
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1713
02:16:45,610 --> 02:16:51,010
The Commissioner of Cheeson's point as someone who's here when that contract was being

1714
02:16:51,010 --> 02:16:55,870
resetted, they were like, think of a little salesman, and they're saying, I'm sure they said

1715
02:16:55,870 --> 02:17:00,250
that they would repair and replace and did it for the contract, because that's everything I'm

1716
02:17:00,250 --> 02:17:05,170
saying they were a terrible partner from day one who did not fulfill any other obligations to make

1717
02:17:05,170 --> 02:17:10,430
our city better. I cannot say it more than practically how half I am that their family got.

1718
02:17:10,430 --> 02:17:16,030
They were terrible from day one and never gave us anything that we needed out of their system

1719
02:17:16,030 --> 02:17:21,910
And I'm in no way surprised that they've continued to not be a good partner when they came to the removal of their items

1720
02:17:22,610 --> 02:17:26,530
Because they have not lived up to one of their obligations from once again to day one

1721
02:17:27,310 --> 02:17:28,690
So with that being said though

1722
02:17:28,690 --> 02:17:30,970
I'm very happy for the DA and

1723
02:17:32,030 --> 02:17:32,430
their

1724
02:17:33,190 --> 02:17:37,690
Ability and willingness to step up right now and help fund part of one of two areas to make the city

1725
02:17:38,390 --> 02:17:43,930
safe and you'll start to purify it again from the junk, the MPS locked in the ground.

1726
02:17:44,890 --> 02:17:49,750
So I want to thank the D.A. for the help and we approve all the resolution to war the

1727
02:17:49,750 --> 02:17:54,950
work to the contractor and approve all the budget, the budget, and so I can't talk.

1728
02:17:55,350 --> 02:17:59,230
Budget amendment of reflecting all funds come from the D.A. font.

1729
02:17:59,590 --> 02:18:01,910
You've got a motion by Commissioner Culls or a second.

1730
02:18:02,250 --> 02:18:03,350
Thank you by Commissioner Teasum.

1731
02:18:03,350 --> 02:18:04,010
discussion?

1732
02:18:08,390 --> 02:18:12,110
Well, I think this will take a little time to play out. We're holding back some

1733
02:18:12,110 --> 02:18:16,710
funds that will take care of priority one priority two. We have a settlement agreement which does

1734
02:18:16,710 --> 02:18:21,990
say that they have to restore everything to normal. I imagine they hired a contractor to do this.

1735
02:18:22,330 --> 02:18:27,110
They probably have some clawback with their contractor and those things just take some time.

1736
02:18:27,910 --> 02:18:30,530
And, you know, if we have to go litigate, we litigate. We're not afraid of litigation.

1737
02:18:30,950 --> 02:18:36,610
We've been to the Supreme Court, baby. 1 and 0. So we have shown our propensity to fight battles

1738
02:18:36,610 --> 02:18:37,370
that we need to fight.

1739
02:18:38,230 --> 02:18:38,490
All right.

1740
02:18:39,650 --> 02:18:40,690
With that, I'll call for the vote.

1741
02:18:40,830 --> 02:18:41,810
All's in favor say aye.

1742
02:18:42,550 --> 02:18:42,570
Aye.

1743
02:18:42,570 --> 02:18:43,230
Those posed.

1744
02:18:43,710 --> 02:18:43,990
Motion passes.

1745
02:18:45,110 --> 02:18:45,770
All right.

1746
02:18:46,550 --> 02:18:47,830
Spring to start item 14.

1747
02:18:48,530 --> 02:18:53,330
Mr. DeCamp is here to walk us through approval of amendments to our fiscal year 2027 budget.

1748
02:18:59,810 --> 02:19:06,090
The general upon items which will then explain most of the others in terms of the point.

1749
02:19:06,090 --> 02:19:13,970
So starting with the first revenue item, interest revenue, so we're able to add an extra

1750
02:19:13,970 --> 02:19:22,990
million dollars to the budgeted revenues by instead of allocating interest to all the internal

1751
02:19:22,990 --> 02:19:24,430
service funds, which is optional.

1752
02:19:25,170 --> 02:19:31,530
We're going to no longer do that, and thereby that interest will stay in the general fund.

1753
02:19:31,530 --> 02:19:37,830
In addition to that, the interest revenue was benefits by kind of updated projections.

1754
02:19:38,650 --> 02:19:46,550
We, during budget development, it still looked like maybe budget interest rate cuts at

1755
02:19:46,550 --> 02:19:52,050
the level now, so we like likely increase at least one, maybe two this year.

1756
02:19:52,790 --> 02:20:01,010
So we're able to revise those projections upwards slightly and then going down to the miscellaneous

1757
02:20:01,010 --> 02:20:06,570
revenue, refund of OPEF contributions in 20, 25, they're okay.

1758
02:20:06,570 --> 02:20:08,050
Tony, can you turn your mic on?

1759
02:20:08,270 --> 02:20:08,790
I'll light the on.

1760
02:20:09,250 --> 02:20:09,670
I apologize.

1761
02:20:10,270 --> 02:20:11,370
All right, there we go.

1762
02:20:13,730 --> 02:20:24,690
So on the miscellaneous revenue, refund of OPEF contributions, there was $1 million, $90,000

1763
02:20:24,690 --> 02:20:26,050
that was contributed,

1764
02:20:28,190 --> 02:20:35,390
that was the general fund's portion to cover OPEB costs for 2025, but

1765
02:20:35,390 --> 02:20:40,430
then we received a revised OPEB actual, that said that we did not need to make those

1766
02:20:40,430 --> 02:20:47,270
contributions. There was not a claw back previously, so we're doing that now. This was

1767
02:20:47,270 --> 02:20:53,130
originally budgeted to go directly to the capital project fund in order to reflect that

1768
02:20:53,130 --> 02:20:57,710
It's actually general fund dollars in a general fund contribution.

1769
02:20:58,610 --> 02:21:05,010
I'm asking for the amendment to have the refund come to the general fund first and then

1770
02:21:05,010 --> 02:21:06,530
it will go to the capital project fund.

1771
02:21:07,150 --> 02:21:14,370
Similarly, in the motor pool fund, there's going to be a refund of contributions, basically

1772
02:21:14,370 --> 02:21:22,730
an excess net asset distribution, that the general fund's portion is the $2.3 million

1773
02:21:22,730 --> 02:21:32,270
There'll be equal, an equitable refund to each fund, but this represents, again, the general

1774
02:21:32,270 --> 02:21:32,830
fund portion.

1775
02:21:33,610 --> 02:21:39,290
So I just want it showing memorializing that it's the general fund's contribution to the

1776
02:21:39,290 --> 02:21:40,250
capital project fund.

1777
02:21:41,310 --> 02:21:48,390
So those two, the OPEB contribution and the motor pool refund were always intended to go to

1778
02:21:48,390 --> 02:21:51,850
capital project fund, this just shows that it's

1779
02:21:51,850 --> 02:21:54,850
general fund first, then over to the capital project fund.

1780
02:21:56,490 --> 02:22:00,510
The next item, which was part of the net of the transfers

1781
02:22:00,510 --> 02:22:05,050
in that changed, it's the $1.5 million transfer

1782
02:22:05,050 --> 02:22:06,590
from the auto parking fund.

1783
02:22:07,310 --> 02:22:11,370
After further analysis, it was determined that if this was made,

1784
02:22:11,950 --> 02:22:14,470
it would actually result in a deficit elimination plan

1785
02:22:14,470 --> 02:22:17,550
being needed to be filed with the state.

1786
02:22:17,550 --> 02:22:26,570
In order to avoid that, I wanted to reverse the transfer so that, you know, there's no question we will be able to avoid that.

1787
02:22:28,750 --> 02:22:29,970
So that's, so moving out.

1788
02:22:30,000 --> 02:22:38,500
Turn down to the expenditures. The next couple items, you'll see a theme throughout the amendment.

1789
02:22:39,160 --> 02:22:45,000
It's the IT service charge and the property and casualty insurance service charge.

1790
02:22:45,180 --> 02:22:56,180
So these are internal charges for those funds that we were able, I'm the IT, we were able to reduce the amount of expenditures that were budgeted.

1791
02:22:56,180 --> 02:23:01,760
In that fund, thereby reducing the internal charge from the general fund, from public safety

1792
02:23:01,760 --> 02:23:11,160
fund and all other funds, and then in property and casualty, we were able to factor in

1793
02:23:11,160 --> 02:23:18,200
the annual net asset distribution to reduce the amount of contributions from all similar

1794
02:23:18,200 --> 02:23:26,200
all funds. So those two combined resulted in a savings of just over 400,000 to the general fund.

1795
02:23:27,460 --> 02:23:34,860
Then on to the transfers to public safety, that was reduced by just over a million.

1796
02:23:35,140 --> 02:23:43,780
And that represented the reduction in the public safety's IT and property and casualty insurance

1797
02:23:43,780 --> 02:23:53,500
charge as well as originally we budgeted to have a contribution to the public safety fund

1798
02:23:53,500 --> 02:24:01,840
balance while using quite a large number for the general fund. So this revised downward

1799
02:24:01,840 --> 02:24:09,380
the contribution like it's now a small contribution of 25,000, 20,000 projected whereas

1800
02:24:09,380 --> 02:24:14,400
we're still going to be having planned use of fun balance in the general fund.

1801
02:24:14,720 --> 02:24:20,760
So it gets us a little closer to even ground there, but saves again quite a bit of the transfer

1802
02:24:20,760 --> 02:24:21,500
out.

1803
02:24:22,820 --> 02:24:29,200
Then the other transfers out, so there was the 3.3 million to capital projects fund, which

1804
02:24:29,200 --> 02:24:38,060
is the OPEB reimbursement and the motor pool distribution, so those two combined represent

1805
02:24:38,060 --> 02:24:49,820
That exact amount going right back up to the capital projects fund and then the recreation fund was budgeted to have transfers from both the general fund and the

1806
02:24:49,820 --> 02:24:53,380
ARPA enabled fund and

1807
02:24:54,680 --> 02:24:58,220
In order to avoid a deficit elimination plan

1808
02:24:59,060 --> 02:25:03,500
We were able to revise that number down instead of needing about

1809
02:25:03,500 --> 02:25:20,280
1.6 million. It really will only need about 540,000. So the general fund will still be the contributor to the recreation fund while the ARPA enabled funds will all be going into a capital project fund.

1810
02:25:21,690 --> 02:25:35,790
And so what we end up getting is a net change to the use of fund balance of a reduction in that use of fund balance of 1,165,000.

1811
02:25:36,590 --> 02:25:51,670
And then briefly on the other funds, so the capital project fund will actually get about 750 more than 750,000 more in that's largely representative of that reduced transfer from

1812
02:25:52,830 --> 02:25:57,950
instead of the ARPA fund giving it to recreation and we'll come into the couple projects.

1813
02:25:59,430 --> 02:26:04,410
Major streets, we had an error in the budget, it was showing that the fifth street improvement

1814
02:26:04,410 --> 02:26:09,750
was going to be funded by major streets that was never the intent, so that simply a revision

1815
02:26:09,750 --> 02:26:14,830
to get that out of there and reflect it in the DDA as was always planned.

1816
02:26:17,970 --> 02:26:22,610
And then I wanted to, there was one more that I wanted to touch on,

1817
02:26:25,620 --> 02:26:26,340
but I think it was

1818
02:26:26,340 --> 02:26:34,440
just that the recreation will now be getting the 500 and 72,000 instead of the original

1819
02:26:34,440 --> 02:26:35,700
1.6 million.

1820
02:26:37,120 --> 02:26:41,420
So, if there are any questions about any of that or any other part of the amendment, I'll

1821
02:26:41,420 --> 02:26:42,680
be happy to feel them.

1822
02:26:43,100 --> 02:26:44,200
Questions from Mr. DeKam?

1823
02:26:48,010 --> 02:27:04,010
I want to say thank you. I appreciate the reports as well. They're easy to look at, walk through and understand, you know, why and how some things change. Sometimes it's just better management. Sometimes it's real things happening. So thank you for walking us through it. Thank you.

1824
02:27:07,990 --> 02:27:10,710
I'll say that, you know, I appreciate you, Mr.

1825
02:27:10,850 --> 02:27:11,730
You can have in your team.

1826
02:27:11,850 --> 02:27:13,550
I know this is kind of a different budget year this year.

1827
02:27:14,650 --> 02:27:15,690
A little bit different process.

1828
02:27:15,990 --> 02:27:18,950
So I appreciate these members to kind of get us back to maybe

1829
02:27:20,370 --> 02:27:22,330
how we typically see things.

1830
02:27:22,690 --> 02:27:24,570
I look forward to our budget process again next year.

1831
02:27:26,250 --> 02:27:27,910
But with that being said, I'm going to approve all these moments.

1832
02:27:28,370 --> 02:27:28,410
Okay.

1833
02:27:28,630 --> 02:27:32,530
We have a motion by Commissioner Colo, a second by Commissioner Bastion.

1834
02:27:33,070 --> 02:27:39,230
discussion. All right, with not all call for the vote. All of them fair say aye. Aye. Those opposed motion passes.

1835
02:27:41,050 --> 02:27:47,310
All right, this brings us to item 15 tonight, which is approval of expenditures for emergency repairs at John Lindell,

1836
02:27:47,630 --> 02:27:49,210
Isirina and budget amendment.

1837
02:27:55,680 --> 02:27:58,500
When good evening again, mayor and city commission.

1838
02:28:02,080 --> 02:28:08,140
Two critical building systems at the John Lindell, Isirina, were found to be an immediate need of repair.

1839
02:28:08,140 --> 02:28:19,320
The West drink had a floor crack and heave that and the dehumidifier that services both the West and East drinks ice surfaces at the arena were not functioning properly

1840
02:28:20,140 --> 02:28:31,400
Both repairs are necessary for the ice arena to function properly and safely and are considered emergency repairs, neither were budgeted for the fiscal year 2627 capital improvement budget.

1841
02:28:32,600 --> 02:28:38,520
Repairing replacing these items has required a several week-long process, and the repairs were urgent due to timing.

1842
02:28:39,200 --> 02:28:44,320
As the facility usage is lower in the early summer before regular scheduled ice usage begins,

1843
02:28:44,900 --> 02:28:51,640
the remaining is busier, beginning, and August, and the timeliness of the repair reduces the impact and revenues from hacky leaves and other programming.

1844
02:28:52,380 --> 02:28:56,980
So I'll just clarify that as we had wanted to get these repairs done before the beginning of August.

1845
02:28:56,980 --> 02:29:01,860
The city city manager Marcus said said these are emergencies. We need to get them repaired

1846
02:29:02,500 --> 02:29:04,380
We it started this process some

1847
02:29:05,520 --> 02:29:09,460
5 or 6 weeks ago hoping to have it repaired by the beginning of August

1848
02:29:09,460 --> 02:29:12,960
Clearly that didn't work out the parts that were supposed to be here

1849
02:29:13,560 --> 02:29:16,580
Three or four weeks ago to not arrive. They still have not arrived

1850
02:29:16,580 --> 02:29:22,600
They did tell us that this week they're supposed to be here. They're overnighting them to us. So we expect that

1851
02:29:23,380 --> 02:29:26,960
You know, there's one part in particular that we need to finish to repair and we expect that to be

1852
02:29:26,980 --> 02:29:27,640
this week.

1853
02:29:30,800 --> 02:29:35,940
The details of the repairs include repairing the main refrigeration line that runs from

1854
02:29:35,940 --> 02:29:40,240
the compressor room along the west front to the header at the center ice arena where the

1855
02:29:40,240 --> 02:29:45,020
refrigerant then runs back and forth under the surface. That main line is covered with insulation

1856
02:29:45,020 --> 02:29:49,380
but over the years that if the insulation gets wet, it can cause heaving and damage.

1857
02:29:50,020 --> 02:29:53,820
In this instance, the ground around these lines had frozen and eventually forced concrete to

1858
02:29:53,820 --> 02:29:58,420
heaven crack. This repair was necessary and urgent as a heaving cracking would have continued to

1859
02:29:58,420 --> 02:29:59,540
and cost for their damage.

1860
02:30:00,210 --> 02:30:07,830
The dehumidifier for the ICE drinks acts to pull cold, moist air out of the rings, heat and dry it, and then pop it back into the system.

1861
02:30:08,170 --> 02:30:12,950
If the dehumidifier is not functioning properly, it creates condensation on the glass and on the ceiling.

1862
02:30:13,330 --> 02:30:27,230
This results in dripping condensation from the ceiling, causing dangerous ice knobs on the surface, which in turn will make dangerous ice conditions for all users of the facility, which was described by a lot of our residents and users of the facility tonight.

1863
02:30:28,050 --> 02:30:38,430
The facility maintenance division work with the arena manager to solicit quotes for these two projects and the table below the illustrates the responses.

1864
02:30:39,210 --> 02:30:56,390
The West floor crack and heave bid range from 30,256 up to 136,915 and for the dehumanification unit we had a bit of 119,430 and 16461.

1865
02:30:57,750 --> 02:31:04,950
We have used Surveys refrigeration to perform in the West for heave and crack repair, and Delta

1866
02:31:04,950 --> 02:31:10,990
Services' Tump is working on currently working on the dehumidification unit.

1867
02:31:13,970 --> 02:31:19,250
Delta Tump is the current agent contractor, and, again, they have ordered the parts

1868
02:31:19,250 --> 02:31:22,030
and are just waiting for them to come in.

1869
02:31:22,030 --> 02:31:26,990
the ice-free and operates to an enterprise fund contractually the city's responsible for

1870
02:31:26,990 --> 02:31:29,170
the maintenance cost and repairs of the facility.

1871
02:31:33,090 --> 02:31:35,330
The expenditure total expenditure requires

1872
02:31:35,330 --> 02:31:44,050
149,686 of which budget amendment for that amount is requested and

1873
02:31:49,430 --> 02:31:51,250
the revenue impact is that

1874
02:31:51,250 --> 02:32:00,490
the revenues from skating and other programming will be temporarily impacted while the repairs are being

1875
02:32:00,490 --> 02:32:09,270
the end of this week, and we are requesting that the emergency therapy therapy

1876
02:32:09,270 --> 02:32:18,470
therapy approved as presented, and that a budget amendment be approved from the

1877
02:32:18,470 --> 02:32:23,310
enterprise fund, from the ice ring enterprise fund balance to fund the project. A

1878
02:32:23,310 --> 02:32:27,850
couple of things I did want to just mention, because we heard a lot from residents and

1879
02:32:27,850 --> 02:32:35,210
of the facilities is that we did have a facility assessment done of the facility and so we do

1880
02:32:35,210 --> 02:32:41,210
and they're all city facilities and we have been budgeting for a lot of these items and the

1881
02:32:41,210 --> 02:32:47,270
dehumidifier in particular was budgeted for a couple years from now so it was not and it was listed

1882
02:32:47,270 --> 02:32:51,230
as a third condition in the assessment so it's bringing down what someone unexpected that it was

1883
02:32:51,230 --> 02:32:57,330
in a completely fail but obviously it did and we needed to get it repaired. This is not a bandage

1884
02:32:57,330 --> 02:33:02,310
It's a long-term fix and this dehumidifier last forever with proper maintenance.

1885
02:33:02,790 --> 02:33:07,190
I think one of the positives I do want to bring up is Connie Folk.

1886
02:33:07,350 --> 02:33:12,830
It's our facility's operator and she is incredible at this.

1887
02:33:13,010 --> 02:33:17,450
She has a history with ice reeds in particular and that's where she started in Birmingham.

1888
02:33:18,090 --> 02:33:21,030
So she's done ice-rank facilities for a long time.

1889
02:33:21,150 --> 02:33:23,510
She was very familiar with what the issues were.

1890
02:33:23,510 --> 02:33:28,950
She actually, where the ice rink was heaving, there was a repair, done adjacent to that.

1891
02:33:29,150 --> 02:33:34,030
And years past, she actually found where water was coming in and going under the floor,

1892
02:33:34,230 --> 02:33:37,550
which over time causes the initialation to get wet and causes the heaving.

1893
02:33:37,670 --> 02:33:41,850
She found, and we repaired a leak because she knew there had to be something,

1894
02:33:42,010 --> 02:33:44,510
and she was diligently tracing and finding it.

1895
02:33:45,890 --> 02:33:48,910
She's really been incredible to work with, and we're lucky to have her.

1896
02:33:49,050 --> 02:33:52,710
And as she, I am very confident, she's going to develop a long-term maintenance program

1897
02:33:52,710 --> 02:33:55,150
for not just fairly shrink but for office city facilities.

1898
02:33:56,470 --> 02:34:00,050
So again I think we're lucky to have that I want to point that out I think that's important

1899
02:34:00,050 --> 02:34:04,710
to know that we have someone who is looking out for the long-term, long-term maintenance

1900
02:34:04,710 --> 02:34:06,010
of all of our facilities.

1901
02:34:07,910 --> 02:34:13,310
So with that being said we do have also Mickey here from recreation to talk or to add anything

1902
02:34:13,310 --> 02:34:16,810
about the facility or the contract or any other questions that you may have.

1903
02:34:16,950 --> 02:34:18,310
Did you want to say anything to start?

1904
02:34:21,210 --> 02:34:24,630
I'll just real quick echo Kevin's comments about Connie.

1905
02:34:24,890 --> 02:34:25,870
Connie's been amazing.

1906
02:34:26,270 --> 02:34:31,690
Our facility is super-intended being the project manager for this alongside suburban.

1907
02:34:32,930 --> 02:34:37,330
In particular, you know, this part that we have been waiting on, you know, initially we

1908
02:34:37,330 --> 02:34:38,710
thought this would be a three week project.

1909
02:34:39,050 --> 02:34:40,810
It's now been over six weeks.

1910
02:34:41,290 --> 02:34:45,890
So initially, we, you know, didn't plan on having to close this facility at all.

1911
02:34:45,890 --> 02:34:52,790
we had, you know, the West Rink was down because of the four-heaver pair. That four-heaver pair is completed.

1912
02:34:53,190 --> 02:34:59,510
We're just waiting on this dehumidifier part. Connie has been calling daily to the supplier to

1913
02:34:59,510 --> 02:35:06,150
try to get this part here. She's even threatened to go fly over to New Hampshire to go pick it up herself.

1914
02:35:06,870 --> 02:35:14,370
So we expect it to be here this week so that we can get the ice properly up and running

1915
02:35:14,370 --> 02:35:19,710
And the East Rink, and then it will take a few days for the West Rink to get back up and running as well.

1916
02:35:20,250 --> 02:35:28,010
So, we hear you, and we're hoping to get this arena open as soon as possible to prevent further disruption to programming.

1917
02:35:29,450 --> 02:35:35,770
And we're happy to answer any questions anyone has about, you know, suburban's contract or anything else with the ice arena.

1918
02:35:37,830 --> 02:35:43,010
So, if I understand it correctly, we did a facility assessment on the ice arena.

1919
02:35:43,890 --> 02:35:47,290
And the dehumidifier case, it came back as fair.

1920
02:35:48,910 --> 02:35:52,510
So we had it in the plan, but it didn't appear at the time

1921
02:35:52,510 --> 02:35:57,410
to be an immediate need based on other priorities.

1922
02:35:57,930 --> 02:35:59,250
But it's binary, right?

1923
02:35:59,350 --> 02:36:01,810
Zero or one, it breaks, either works or it doesn't.

1924
02:36:02,050 --> 02:36:03,650
So it's not half-working.

1925
02:36:04,150 --> 02:36:06,110
It's one of these things when it goes, it goes.

1926
02:36:07,870 --> 02:36:10,510
And so we immediately jumped on it.

1927
02:36:10,510 --> 02:36:16,670
And we tried to get this thing fixed as soon as possible that we have a supply chain issue with a key component.

1928
02:36:16,990 --> 02:36:18,010
Did I understand that correctly?

1929
02:36:18,830 --> 02:36:25,230
That's correct. The dehumidifier replacement full replacement is in the CIP for 2829.

1930
02:36:25,850 --> 02:36:34,710
The FCA results estimated we would get another, you know, two, two-ish years out of it with replacement recommended within two to five years.

1931
02:36:34,710 --> 02:36:38,470
So that was put into the CIP for 2829.

1932
02:36:39,090 --> 02:36:41,270
So with this repair, though, like Kevin mentioned,

1933
02:36:41,590 --> 02:36:43,990
Berks, victims of BIR cells a lot more time.

1934
02:36:44,610 --> 02:36:47,170
There were replacement costs of the dehumidifier

1935
02:36:47,170 --> 02:36:49,150
was going to be around $400,000.

1936
02:36:50,470 --> 02:36:54,390
So doing this repair for 119 is hopefully going to buy

1937
02:36:54,390 --> 02:36:57,270
us several more years of life out of that unit.

1938
02:36:58,190 --> 02:37:03,330
And we plan this based on the Icerine as an enterprise fund, correct?

1939
02:37:03,330 --> 02:37:13,570
So we take revenues in from all the skating activity and we put some away as we estimate for future repairs, maintenance, things of that nature.

1940
02:37:13,770 --> 02:37:18,770
Correct. So we have a fund balance and we plan based on facility assessments to say, oh, okay.

1941
02:37:19,070 --> 02:37:22,770
Well, we're going to replace this thing for 400 grand in so many years.

1942
02:37:23,950 --> 02:37:29,750
And if that happens before that, there's a change in what we spend in terms of the ice arena fund.

1943
02:37:30,620 --> 02:37:42,460
It is an enterprise fund. Now, the fund balance in the enterprise fund has been dwindling over the past 10 years, because every time we do a capital project, it comes out of that fund balance.

1944
02:37:43,180 --> 02:37:57,340
So, you can see the years in the history, which we did those projects, it cuts into that fund balance. So, all in all, it is an enterprise fund. So, it's expected to recuperate its expenses year to year.

1945
02:37:57,920 --> 02:38:20,080
It's not always able to do that given capital costs and with the FCA we have some really good data from a third party that has provided recommendations over up to 2045 with what those maintenance needs are going to be so that the city can better plan.

1946
02:38:20,360 --> 02:38:23,480
So that's a really good tool for us moving forward for all of our facilities.

1947
02:38:23,480 --> 02:38:27,680
And we have put, I mean, I know this was news to me.

1948
02:38:27,740 --> 02:38:32,260
I heard some things at public comment that we're concerning, but now getting your explanation

1949
02:38:32,260 --> 02:38:38,320
I feel a little bit better, but we have put investment and I remember we did a brand new

1950
02:38:38,320 --> 02:38:39,860
roof because the roof was leaking.

1951
02:38:40,580 --> 02:38:41,540
We did a paint job.

1952
02:38:41,680 --> 02:38:42,980
We've done some other repairs, right?

1953
02:38:43,360 --> 02:38:44,420
Am I?

1954
02:38:45,040 --> 02:38:51,460
I don't have a list of recent over the last several years of projects, but there has been

1955
02:38:51,460 --> 02:39:00,880
capital projects and within the Isorina, you know, most recently we had the of there was

1956
02:39:00,880 --> 02:39:05,200
of another floor hivis shoe that was mentioned earlier that seedening on the west

1957
02:39:05,200 --> 02:39:09,540
ring that was a major repair a couple years ago that was probably the most substantial

1958
02:39:09,540 --> 02:39:15,420
one. There's been others Kevin made be able to speak to like the locker room had a minor repair.

1959
02:39:15,420 --> 02:39:17,680
Yeah, I don't know.

1960
02:39:18,640 --> 02:39:18,680
Yeah.

1961
02:39:18,680 --> 02:39:22,120
Neither of us have been here for longer than a couple years.

1962
02:39:23,400 --> 02:39:25,820
We don't have much history on the repairs that were done previously.

1963
02:39:26,220 --> 02:39:27,680
I do have the assessment going forward.

1964
02:39:28,140 --> 02:39:28,580
Yeah, I know.

1965
02:39:28,580 --> 02:39:28,940
I know.

1966
02:39:28,940 --> 02:39:31,300
I know from a capital improvement planning every year.

1967
02:39:31,400 --> 02:39:32,780
We have to make decisions as a commission.

1968
02:39:32,900 --> 02:39:35,380
I know we've made approvals of sizable.

1969
02:39:35,960 --> 02:39:37,480
I just can't remember offhand either.

1970
02:39:37,640 --> 02:39:38,640
And I've been here 14 years.

1971
02:39:38,960 --> 02:39:39,700
But I thought we did.

1972
02:39:39,820 --> 02:39:41,120
We put a roof in just a few years ago.

1973
02:39:41,140 --> 02:39:42,800
We had a major leak in the roof.

1974
02:39:42,900 --> 02:39:44,720
We had some other things we had to do.

1975
02:39:44,720 --> 02:39:54,020
And do we rely a lot on suburban to alert us to conditions in the ranks so we have the ability to act or react?

1976
02:39:55,120 --> 02:39:59,740
So I've been here two years now and I meet regularly with suburban.

1977
02:40:00,060 --> 02:40:04,160
They also send us monthly reports as part of their agreement with the city.

1978
02:40:04,880 --> 02:40:13,840
Since I've been here, I've made a point to engage our facility operators within the capital improvement process and the budget process.

1979
02:40:13,840 --> 02:40:19,380
to make sure that they're advising us on what they're seeing day-to-day in the

1980
02:40:19,380 --> 02:40:24,680
facilities. This FCA, the Facilities Conditions Assessment is also going to be a

1981
02:40:24,680 --> 02:40:28,420
great tool. So I expect this fall when we gear up to do the cap-own

1982
02:40:28,420 --> 02:40:32,020
improvement planning again. It's going to be Connie Folk, our Facilities

1983
02:40:32,020 --> 02:40:37,320
Superintendent, myself and suburban all working together to update that CIP going

1984
02:40:37,320 --> 02:40:42,620
into next year. And it'll just be an ongoing tool. We use each year to update

1985
02:40:42,620 --> 02:40:44,660
that CIP before the budget process.

1986
02:40:44,900 --> 02:40:49,500
You all have the difficult decision of deciding where it goes after the CIP, of course, right?

1987
02:40:49,500 --> 02:40:51,500
It don't envy any of you with that.

1988
02:40:52,740 --> 02:40:56,860
But, you know, having Connie on board, especially, and with the FCA, I think we're going

1989
02:40:56,860 --> 02:40:59,080
to be in a really good place for planning going forward.

1990
02:40:59,600 --> 02:41:00,280
Okay, good.

1991
02:41:00,720 --> 02:41:03,280
And just, and I hate to put you on the spot with numbers.

1992
02:41:03,400 --> 02:41:10,560
Do you know how many folks individuals use the ice every night, like number of?

1993
02:41:12,440 --> 02:41:17,000
Figure skating, number of hockey players, both adult and youth, any idea?

1994
02:41:17,960 --> 02:41:20,920
If there's a different question, I can try to look that up for you.

1995
02:41:20,980 --> 02:41:21,380
Right, sure.

1996
02:41:21,900 --> 02:41:21,960
Sure.

1997
02:41:22,240 --> 02:41:23,060
If there's other questions.

1998
02:41:23,060 --> 02:41:25,360
Let me rethink my question and give you a minute.

1999
02:41:25,720 --> 02:41:27,680
This is where we're actually 9,000 hours.

2000
02:41:27,800 --> 02:41:31,320
9,000 hours of ice time.

2001
02:41:31,860 --> 02:41:33,380
9,000 hours of ice time.

2002
02:41:35,340 --> 02:41:36,420
I know that from an email.

2003
02:41:36,580 --> 02:41:38,260
I'll miss the McCuton Center to me.

2004
02:41:38,460 --> 02:41:40,740
Has part of the parks record earlier this year?

2005
02:41:41,240 --> 02:41:45,900
Well, she's getting that number to we have another question, Commissioner Colo.

2006
02:41:46,580 --> 02:41:47,340
Thank you.

2007
02:41:48,420 --> 02:41:50,060
So first I want to recognize everyone in the audience, right?

2008
02:41:50,300 --> 02:41:53,040
You know, I think there's a lot of passion to this clearly.

2009
02:41:53,140 --> 02:41:56,920
A lot of use of the ice in a lot of communities.

2010
02:41:57,260 --> 02:41:59,520
It's great, you know, we hear the term third place tonight.

2011
02:42:00,140 --> 02:42:02,240
If ice has been in really important, there are place for people.

2012
02:42:03,600 --> 02:42:05,140
So I just want to recognize that.

2013
02:42:05,260 --> 02:42:09,560
Thank you everyone for being a civil woman coming out and having a good conversation with us.

2014
02:42:10,460 --> 02:42:14,000
So I actually, I do want to highlight a couple things.

2015
02:42:14,280 --> 02:42:19,340
You know, I just look at the CIP and to machines and machines credit.

2016
02:42:20,100 --> 02:42:23,920
You know, in 21, the CIP identified 35,000 repairs.

2017
02:42:24,820 --> 02:42:27,940
22, 40, 45,000, 23, 10.

2018
02:42:28,480 --> 02:42:31,620
But then up to 25 and what to 1.4 million.

2019
02:42:31,780 --> 02:42:34,960
And then almost 1.6 million in 26, 27.

2020
02:42:35,840 --> 02:42:38,760
So clearly we brought on some staff who identified

2021
02:42:38,760 --> 02:42:42,580
who went in and found some issues with the facility.

2022
02:42:43,100 --> 02:42:46,160
Because for the long time, we had only been presented,

2023
02:42:46,360 --> 02:42:49,280
you know, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of

2024
02:42:49,280 --> 02:42:52,100
repairs, and now it looks like staff has started to

2025
02:42:52,100 --> 02:42:55,440
dig into it, and started to really identify some needs

2026
02:42:55,440 --> 02:42:56,640
that we have at the facility.

2027
02:42:56,860 --> 02:42:58,700
And I think that's real important to recognize.

2028
02:42:59,600 --> 02:43:02,880
The CIP, though, is a multi-year list of things

2029
02:43:02,880 --> 02:43:05,100
that are going to happen throughout,

2030
02:43:08,740 --> 02:43:08,740
you know,

2031
02:43:10,460 --> 02:43:16,400
And, you know, I think one thing, you know, to look at that CAPE also, you have to look back at the amount of money that we spend on that, you know?

2032
02:43:16,960 --> 02:43:20,060
So the Isle's thing went to the budgets from that same amount of time.

2033
02:43:21,240 --> 02:43:25,940
In 2021, beyond the revenue, we spent a million dollars in expenses.

2034
02:43:27,340 --> 02:43:32,920
21, 22 is only time the last six years that the price range of made money of 50,000.

2035
02:43:32,920 --> 02:43:36,480
But between 20 to now,

2036
02:43:37,820 --> 02:43:40,920
the C is subsidized to about 1.6 million.

2037
02:43:41,920 --> 02:43:45,520
So we have continued to invest out of our funds into that budget.

2038
02:43:45,820 --> 02:43:46,480
I think that's important.

2039
02:43:46,960 --> 02:43:48,500
This has been for us.

2040
02:43:48,740 --> 02:43:49,480
We've continued to invest.

2041
02:43:50,040 --> 02:43:53,460
But now we see we have some deficits coming up.

2042
02:43:53,640 --> 02:43:56,400
And I think some of the next steps we start talking about

2043
02:43:56,400 --> 02:43:58,560
are how do we fund those gaps?

2044
02:43:59,620 --> 02:44:02,040
Because looking at the silly study,

2045
02:44:02,040 --> 02:44:03,780
these gaps only going to grow.

2046
02:44:04,340 --> 02:44:08,360
Someone came up to public comments and I talked about facilities, and their professional

2047
02:44:08,360 --> 02:44:11,840
dealings with that, and if you don't maintain, it only gets worse.

2048
02:44:11,960 --> 02:44:13,840
But I mean, it's costs a lot of money up front also.

2049
02:44:15,060 --> 02:44:20,300
I think one question I'm going to have for staff is, do we have a plan on how we want to

2050
02:44:20,300 --> 02:44:25,340
fund the CIP and fund the projects of the CIP for the ice arena on moving forward?

2051
02:44:26,220 --> 02:44:29,860
Because just the current B structure will not cover it, right?

2052
02:44:32,700 --> 02:44:45,120
So historically, we can look at our performance within the ice arena fund and you're correct that the revenues can typically not cover the capital costs.

2053
02:44:47,080 --> 02:44:56,600
And, you know, long-term, the capital needs for the ice arena. I don't have the answer for that. You know, we can look at fees.

2054
02:44:56,600 --> 02:44:59,980
We can look at the Management Agreement with Suburb.

2055
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:28,200
It does expire in June. You know, it's an expensive facility to operate, but in general, like the facility conditions assessment is going to give us what that number will look like over time, you know, so we have a rough idea coming up with those millions of dollars over time is going to be a difficult amount to recuperate through fees alone.

2056
02:45:28,200 --> 02:45:56,320
So, you know, there's going to be potentially some some investment needed from the city at some point but how we get to that number I'm not sure that's going to be maybe another discussion for strategic planning with the commission in the future. I'm not sure what what setting we should have that discussion. I don't know that we'll solve it tonight, but it's important to look at that question for this facility but our others as well because there's other facilities that have needs to.

2057
02:45:57,340 --> 02:46:08,720
I appreciate that, but I do think, you know, we're definitely not going to come up with tonight, but I do think we need to have some answers on what that fee schedule would even look like to accomplish our goals in the CIP as this is an enterprise fund.

2058
02:46:09,200 --> 02:46:14,960
We are already, probably like I said, the last five years, we subsidized it to 1.6 or more point to 7 million.

2059
02:46:15,920 --> 02:46:20,560
So, it continued at that same sub-citation rate because I think we're okay at the Mount Wrestling.

2060
02:46:21,940 --> 02:46:31,700
Now look, look at the CIP, so I guess I would ask Mr. Marcos to, you know, over the next several months as to have to develop what's, you know, three different scenarios.

2061
02:46:31,740 --> 02:46:37,240
Let's look at what, you know, without building the capital fund, what does the fee schedule look like?

2062
02:46:37,620 --> 02:46:41,740
What does it look like if we have, say, extra 200,000 year reserves.

2063
02:46:42,260 --> 02:46:49,900
So if you continue because after we get through this five year cycle, there's going to be more stuff to do.

2064
02:46:49,900 --> 02:46:55,620
So, I think that's a free schedule that we need to start praying together and we need to start figuring out

2065
02:46:55,620 --> 02:47:02,000
revenue streams and it's not necessarily only a free schedule, but what revenue streams that we need to have to support that

2066
02:47:02,000 --> 02:47:03,280
because that's our job, right?

2067
02:47:03,460 --> 02:47:10,120
Like, we have to take in what's coming, you know, what funds we have available for that to decide how we're going to invest

2068
02:47:10,120 --> 02:47:16,600
and I think knowing we need to have to develop a plan for that, I think that's critical

2069
02:47:16,600 --> 02:47:20,080
as we continue to invest in this community asset.

2070
02:47:21,880 --> 02:47:25,000
I do have a couple more questions about the repairs itself,

2071
02:47:25,420 --> 02:47:27,560
they'll get into those for a second year.

2072
02:47:28,360 --> 02:47:29,240
Look at all these documents.

2073
02:47:29,860 --> 02:47:32,020
This looks like a problem that started back in April.

2074
02:47:32,720 --> 02:47:35,640
At least was identified as repairing needed back in April.

2075
02:47:41,350 --> 02:47:47,110
I would say I was made aware of the extent of the issues in May.

2076
02:47:47,110 --> 02:47:50,950
Um, so late spring, sure.

2077
02:47:51,850 --> 02:47:51,870
Yeah.

2078
02:47:52,690 --> 02:47:56,450
I guess my question is why, you know, here we are late August.

2079
02:47:57,270 --> 02:48:02,610
So it really fall, you know, the City Commission has a part about this at all.

2080
02:48:02,750 --> 02:48:06,670
So our emails surge to get flooded with concern residents.

2081
02:48:08,470 --> 02:48:13,690
And, you know, that's because, you know, we were policy makers, we're not data data operators.

2082
02:48:13,690 --> 02:48:21,570
But I guess I'm asking why it wasn't the city commission involved and at least approving some of these expenditures.

2083
02:48:22,730 --> 02:48:27,990
The charter is pretty clear that expenditures over 30,000 need to be approved by the commission.

2084
02:48:29,850 --> 02:48:38,410
And I understand, you know, emergency aspects of it, but it's, you know, it happened in May and it's being repaired and August.

2085
02:48:38,410 --> 02:48:43,790
It sounds like, you know, several meetings where we could have been brought into your repair.

2086
02:48:45,630 --> 02:48:57,330
So when I was first meet a weir of the biggest issues in May, you know, I have a memo from suburban dated May 29.

2087
02:48:58,410 --> 02:49:01,890
And at that time we were still collecting quotes from vendors.

2088
02:49:01,890 --> 02:49:05,750
There's not a lot of vendors out there that do this type of work in Metro Detroit.

2089
02:49:05,750 --> 02:49:20,790
So in June we were still collecting quotes and then the decision for delaying commission approval was we weren't sure what the final costs were going to be once they pulled open the floor he even particular

2090
02:49:20,790 --> 02:49:30,130
You know, we took the low bid on that one and we hoped for the best but often with construction projects things can come in much higher once construction's come in

2091
02:49:30,130 --> 02:49:33,090
So given the emergency nature of it,

2092
02:49:33,110 --> 02:49:38,030
because we wanted to limit any kind of potential closure,

2093
02:49:38,370 --> 02:49:40,010
we wanted to get this project started

2094
02:49:40,010 --> 02:49:41,890
as soon as we possibly could.

2095
02:49:43,370 --> 02:49:47,750
And so that was kind of the decision process

2096
02:49:47,750 --> 02:49:52,670
for the delay for taking it to commission, those two things.

2097
02:49:54,030 --> 02:49:56,870
Okay, well, I definitely appreciate trying to keep it moving forward,

2098
02:49:56,870 --> 02:50:00,570
but there's no emergency provision in our church.

2099
02:50:00,790 --> 02:50:01,810
So I just, I've heard about that,

2100
02:50:02,090 --> 02:50:03,710
like involve us with this stuff.

2101
02:50:04,630 --> 02:50:06,570
And then, you know, to that point also,

2102
02:50:07,330 --> 02:50:08,970
I think had, if it's brought to us,

2103
02:50:09,090 --> 02:50:11,750
I might have asked questions about the team, if I were.

2104
02:50:12,750 --> 02:50:15,470
The idea correctly, I identified that it's been replaced.

2105
02:50:15,590 --> 02:50:17,510
It was such a be replaced in two years.

2106
02:50:18,290 --> 02:50:20,270
What does this repair do?

2107
02:50:20,510 --> 02:50:22,990
And what was the cost benefit analysis I came on?

2108
02:50:23,430 --> 02:50:24,830
Because I think there could have been a discussion

2109
02:50:24,830 --> 02:50:31,230
about, instead of paying one 20-ish paying the 400 to replace it, let's go get us another

2110
02:50:31,230 --> 02:50:33,530
30 years as opposed to 5 or 10.

2111
02:50:34,610 --> 02:50:40,330
Yes, and I appreciate that because I asked the same question, and I was assured by County

2112
02:50:40,330 --> 02:50:46,170
Folk that if we properly maintain this dehumidifier and the repairs that are done to it,

2113
02:50:46,170 --> 02:50:47,050
it'll last rubber.

2114
02:50:47,590 --> 02:50:52,450
So it's a matter of being able to maintain it and not needing a replacement, but to do the repairs

2115
02:50:52,450 --> 02:51:00,410
it and then do the maintenance. So that is the goal of the repair is to just be able to do the

2116
02:51:00,410 --> 02:51:06,630
proper maintenance on it and be able to make it last for years. She had said in the Birmingham

2117
02:51:06,630 --> 02:51:12,390
Ice Arena where she had worked at, that I think the team had a fire in there was 50 or 60 years

2118
02:51:12,390 --> 02:51:22,430
old and they were just able to maintain it and keep it running. So I don't think there's anything

2119
02:51:23,350 --> 02:51:26,490
there's not anything that would have to be scrapped and

2120
02:51:26,490 --> 02:51:29,270
in its entirety as much as just being maintained properly.

2121
02:51:30,530 --> 02:51:32,490
Yeah, I think we could go best questions too about,

2122
02:51:32,510 --> 02:51:34,410
you know, there's also quite a cost by the trade-off

2123
02:51:34,410 --> 02:51:37,450
of the efficiency of an old university unit.

2124
02:51:38,610 --> 02:51:41,310
But I do appreciate that this would extend the lifetime

2125
02:51:42,190 --> 02:51:43,130
forever, apparently.

2126
02:51:44,510 --> 02:51:46,310
As I've been told, as you've been told,

2127
02:51:46,490 --> 02:51:48,310
you know, now it's on TV, so it must be true.

2128
02:51:50,090 --> 02:51:50,310
Okay.

2129
02:51:50,870 --> 02:51:56,930
So, yeah, you know, I appreciate the work, I've gained it done, so my service question is right now.

2130
02:51:57,410 --> 02:51:58,870
I wish her her job, I think, and Mr. Guantina.

2131
02:51:59,690 --> 02:52:00,950
Thank you, I have a few questions.

2132
02:52:02,190 --> 02:52:08,390
So, with these fixes, what we heard tonight and what's most concerning for me is the safety of the skaters.

2133
02:52:09,230 --> 02:52:15,250
So with these fixes, there will no longer be buckets that they have to scale around.

2134
02:52:16,130 --> 02:52:21,390
There will be, there will be safe for them to, with them to correct.

2135
02:52:21,910 --> 02:52:27,890
The issue with that is that there is no dehumanification, so moisture gets in the ice

2136
02:52:27,890 --> 02:52:29,970
rena, and attaches to the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,

2137
02:52:32,680 --> 02:52:38,860
And so that's the issue that they've had with it. It's not a roof leak, it's dehumidification, it's a humidification problem.

2138
02:52:39,380 --> 02:52:45,560
And that's causing moisture to drip on and causing, like, you know, cones of ice on the, on the ice surface.

2139
02:52:46,400 --> 02:52:53,980
There's suddenly a bucket to prevent the cones from forming and let you know where they're at, but it's not, it's not the proper way to do it.

2140
02:52:53,980 --> 02:52:59,980
We need to dehumidification system to stop dehumidification in its entirety and allow us to surf.

2141
02:52:59,980 --> 02:53:06,560
Okay. And then can you run through like who's responsible for what? Like we have suburban

2142
02:53:06,560 --> 02:53:12,380
is our management. Can you tell me what we are responsible for when they're responsible for?

2143
02:53:13,240 --> 02:53:21,420
Sure. So, uh, great question. So, since 2011 we've been with suburban within a management

2144
02:53:21,420 --> 02:53:28,940
agreement. So, for management agreements, we pay the operator to operate the facility. So, we

2145
02:53:28,940 --> 02:53:32,880
a suburban and 86,000 management fee,

2146
02:53:33,180 --> 02:53:34,840
plus we pay suburban payroll.

2147
02:53:35,340 --> 02:53:38,580
This comes to approximately $1.1 million per year

2148
02:53:38,580 --> 02:53:41,260
for them to operate the facility on the city's behalf,

2149
02:53:41,520 --> 02:53:42,560
including all their staffing.

2150
02:53:43,500 --> 02:53:45,320
So the entire expenses for the facility

2151
02:53:45,320 --> 02:53:47,960
are around 1.9 million per year.

2152
02:53:48,360 --> 02:53:53,420
So it's more than half is for suburban to operate it on our behalf.

2153
02:53:54,940 --> 02:53:57,460
There's also an incentive for suburban

2154
02:53:57,460 --> 02:54:05,420
And if the facility nets $150,000 in profit, they get an additional 8% of that net profit,

2155
02:54:05,460 --> 02:54:07,740
the last time this happened was 2017.

2156
02:54:10,240 --> 02:54:13,560
So all in all, it's an enterprise fund.

2157
02:54:13,940 --> 02:54:19,800
So all the expenses for the isorina, as well as all the revenues for the isorina, flow

2158
02:54:19,800 --> 02:54:23,080
through a city fund.

2159
02:54:23,080 --> 02:54:34,100
So, I sign off on every single invoice that goes through suburban is the one ordering the services like if we need if we need the

2160
02:54:35,100 --> 02:54:42,180
Zamboni's maintain or we need propane for the Zamboni's, you know, there are the ones actually ordering those services

2161
02:54:42,840 --> 02:54:47,820
Ordering this equipment and supplies paying their staff day-to-day, I'm signing off on

2162
02:54:47,820 --> 02:54:54,320
those invoices every single week, so I review those and, you know, I meet with the operator

2163
02:54:54,320 --> 02:54:59,100
regularly to communicate. They're ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations of

2164
02:54:59,100 --> 02:55:07,680
the facility, but it's all still city funds. So while they help us maintain it and making sure

2165
02:55:07,680 --> 02:55:11,520
that things are service properly throughout the year,

2166
02:55:12,000 --> 02:55:13,900
it's still ultimately coming out of a city budget

2167
02:55:13,900 --> 02:55:15,320
for day-to-day maintenance,

2168
02:55:15,780 --> 02:55:18,080
capital costs as well, or city responsibility.

2169
02:55:19,320 --> 02:55:22,880
Okay, and so did they flag the safety issues at the ice rink?

2170
02:55:23,300 --> 02:55:25,040
Yeah, and they've been continuing to do that.

2171
02:55:25,560 --> 02:55:27,800
Like, yeah, when did they start flagging safety issues

2172
02:55:27,800 --> 02:55:28,460
at the ice rink?

2173
02:55:28,980 --> 02:55:32,240
So the safety issues for the closure purposes,

2174
02:55:32,680 --> 02:55:34,320
or just like the fact that there's buckets

2175
02:55:34,320 --> 02:55:39,080
where people are skating it, like, actually makes me really concerned.

2176
02:55:39,960 --> 02:55:42,140
So when were those things flagged?

2177
02:55:43,440 --> 02:55:48,520
As far as making it a closure decision, that was flagged.

2178
02:55:48,800 --> 02:55:51,240
But before closure, because any cake would like skate,

2179
02:55:51,780 --> 02:55:54,220
buster me, either ankle, like how do I,

2180
02:55:54,300 --> 02:55:57,700
this isn't my, like, I'm not a skater, so I'm guessing here,

2181
02:55:57,800 --> 02:56:00,220
but there should be just before you get to the emergency

2182
02:56:00,220 --> 02:56:03,140
of closing down the facility, there is probably a level of safety

2183
02:56:03,140 --> 02:56:09,280
that we should, they all students should expect, or any user should expect, were they flagging

2184
02:56:09,280 --> 02:56:11,320
those things to us?

2185
02:56:12,740 --> 02:56:22,020
We were made aware of the issues of the dehumidifier in late May, but at that point, it wasn't

2186
02:56:22,020 --> 02:56:27,780
an issue where we were concerned with the safety being such an issue where we were going to

2187
02:56:27,780 --> 02:56:35,780
hacked programming. Okay, so, you know, there's a certain point where we became, you know,

2188
02:56:35,920 --> 02:56:41,240
hey, we cannot run program safely anymore. So that's when, you know, I had the conversation

2189
02:56:41,240 --> 02:56:48,220
with suburban and we made the decision, August 14th to go ahead and close. Before that, it wasn't

2190
02:56:48,220 --> 02:56:55,480
to a point where we felt it was unsafe for people. Okay, but they, or the ones that determined that,

2191
02:56:55,480 --> 02:56:57,220
or we, the ones that determine that.

2192
02:56:57,220 --> 02:56:58,200
Suburban would be.

2193
02:56:58,460 --> 02:56:59,020
Okay, yeah.

2194
02:56:59,020 --> 02:57:00,760
And then at public comment tonight,

2195
02:57:01,000 --> 02:57:03,360
someone talked about Farmington's Suburban.

2196
02:57:03,480 --> 02:57:05,100
There's other Suburban's.

2197
02:57:05,100 --> 02:57:08,680
Yeah, so Suburban operates their own reeks,

2198
02:57:08,900 --> 02:57:11,520
and then they also operate City of Novice Reak

2199
02:57:11,520 --> 02:57:12,780
for the City of Novice.

2200
02:57:12,920 --> 02:57:15,180
And so are they having the same issues

2201
02:57:15,180 --> 02:57:19,280
that we are as far as funding it, maintaining it,

2202
02:57:19,380 --> 02:57:20,820
being aware of alerts?

2203
02:57:20,820 --> 02:57:28,340
Like are we learning from these other ice rinks because they should be haul having the same problems that we are?

2204
02:57:28,560 --> 02:57:29,660
Like we're not, this isn't new to it.

2205
02:57:31,460 --> 02:57:32,060
It's

2206
02:57:34,080 --> 02:57:37,600
these facilities require a lot of ongoing maintenance.

2207
02:57:38,520 --> 02:57:47,640
And if the maintenance is not done every single year with these big capital projects, so I get what you're saying.

2208
02:57:49,160 --> 02:57:53,380
So yeah, so if we had tons of money, we could fix this problem very easily, but no

2209
02:57:53,380 --> 02:57:54,400
vise doing it.

2210
02:57:54,540 --> 02:57:57,240
So how is no vise doing it, but Royal Oak can't do it.

2211
02:57:57,400 --> 02:57:59,980
How is farming doing it, but Royal Oak can't do it?

2212
02:58:00,140 --> 02:58:03,060
How do we ensure safety and funding maintenance?

2213
02:58:03,680 --> 02:58:06,900
How are we not doing it, but everyone else is doing it?

2214
02:58:07,320 --> 02:58:12,760
So if there are regional conversation happening, I guess this leads into what Commissioner

2215
02:58:12,760 --> 02:58:18,820
Callow was talking about is like how do we think innovatively about funding because we know that

2216
02:58:18,820 --> 02:58:25,860
this is a community asset. We know that we want to have this, but for some reason we're failing,

2217
02:58:26,420 --> 02:58:29,320
where other communities may not be or maybe everyone is failing.

2218
02:58:31,600 --> 02:58:33,880
So are we talking about these assets

2219
02:58:33,880 --> 02:58:40,100
regionally in parts and wreck? Are we thinking about how to fund these things at a regional level?

2220
02:58:40,100 --> 02:58:46,060
So, ice arena is a very similar to pools and that they typically require heavy city subsidy

2221
02:58:46,060 --> 02:58:49,720
in terms of those ongoing maintenance costs.

2222
02:58:50,420 --> 02:58:57,300
I wouldn't say that there's another example of an ice arena that is performing much better than us.

2223
02:58:58,260 --> 02:59:05,500
There may be some, but typically there's a pretty sizable capital investment ongoing in these facilities.

2224
02:59:06,100 --> 02:59:09,340
Commissioner Herzog, I'll help answer that question as well. I had a conversation

2225
02:59:09,340 --> 02:59:15,040
well, an exchange with the, uh, with Justin, um, Shore Mayor of Novai, about their

2226
02:59:15,040 --> 02:59:21,000
rice arena. And, like, we've seen, um, around here, like, at public comment, like,

2227
02:59:21,020 --> 02:59:27,300
Berkeley, everybody had shut them down or sold them to private organizations because, uh,

2228
02:59:27,300 --> 02:59:33,200
of exactly what Ms. McEarshan is talking about. And they are having a similar discussion kind

2229
02:59:33,200 --> 02:59:39,020
in Novai right now. There's some additional complications, but they are trying to justify the amount

2230
02:59:39,020 --> 02:59:46,600
of subsidies that are going to the ice arena there, and can they afford it as a city for the

2231
02:59:46,600 --> 02:59:51,540
people that use it. So this is exactly what he's saying. But we were hearing at public comment,

2232
02:59:51,580 --> 02:59:56,160
people were coming from all over. It's not just royal oak residents that need this ice. We got

2233
02:59:56,160 --> 02:59:59,880
a strong high, soft field, and so.

2234
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:08,020
I'm wondering if there is a conversation that needs to happen regionally so that we can maintain these assets, but, you know, everyone's pitching in forum.

2235
03:00:08,900 --> 03:00:12,160
And I don't know if there is like a community or if someone doing that.

2236
03:00:12,200 --> 03:00:18,740
But I also think that we should be learning lessons between all of these things too, and then try to solve our problems.

2237
03:00:18,860 --> 03:00:29,500
And I don't know if that conversation is happening. And then my last point is that if there's a suburban management contract is in 2027,

2238
03:00:29,500 --> 03:00:31,700
and are we planning on going for an RFP?

2239
03:00:33,240 --> 03:00:35,380
It would be my recommendation to do one

2240
03:00:35,380 --> 03:00:37,480
simply because there hasn't been one in a while

2241
03:00:37,480 --> 03:00:39,620
and just, you know, it's good due diligence

2242
03:00:39,620 --> 03:00:41,480
to periodically do an RFP,

2243
03:00:41,520 --> 03:00:43,580
just to see what else might be out there.

2244
03:00:43,940 --> 03:00:46,900
And when do you think you'll plan on posting that?

2245
03:00:47,480 --> 03:00:50,380
Um, you know, I don't have it in front of me,

2246
03:00:50,420 --> 03:00:54,000
but you know, I've worked with our purchasing coordinator

2247
03:00:54,000 --> 03:00:57,200
and finance to sort of slate out some dates,

2248
03:00:57,300 --> 03:00:58,720
you know, we typically work backwards

2249
03:00:58,720 --> 03:01:03,440
from when a contract expires, so it would be sometime early in 2027.

2250
03:01:04,620 --> 03:01:05,780
Great, thank you.

2251
03:01:06,140 --> 03:01:06,540
I'm sure you're going to.

2252
03:01:08,440 --> 03:01:09,260
Thank you, Mayor.

2253
03:01:09,540 --> 03:01:14,420
I just want to start by echoing Commissioner Colo's sentiments and acknowledge everyone that came out to speak tonight.

2254
03:01:15,340 --> 03:01:19,760
It certainly helped enlighten me to understand how important the facility is, not only to our community,

2255
03:01:20,240 --> 03:01:24,820
but it was particularly compelling to me as the number of young members of our community that came out to speak tonight.

2256
03:01:24,820 --> 03:01:33,620
It's a late meeting now, but they chose to take one of their fleeting free summer evenings to come speak about this topic.

2257
03:01:35,180 --> 03:01:39,980
So I just want to commend you for sort of embodying what community is all about.

2258
03:01:40,280 --> 03:01:50,940
We have a great community in my view in my respects due to the fact that we have little communities like this that come out and advocate for the things that help us understand what makes our broader community so great.

2259
03:01:50,940 --> 03:01:55,740
But my question is around this third party operating agreement.

2260
03:01:56,540 --> 03:02:00,780
Commissioner Herzl actually asked quite a few that helped me understand it, but I'm still a little bit unclear

2261
03:02:00,780 --> 03:02:05,640
in terms of what internal check mechanisms that we have with these third party operators

2262
03:02:05,640 --> 03:02:12,520
in terms of their requirements of reporting or what accountability that they have to help inform us

2263
03:02:12,520 --> 03:02:15,420
of preventative maintenance items, safety items.

2264
03:02:15,420 --> 03:02:20,740
Obviously, this is somewhat of an emergent item in terms of this dehumidrifier going down.

2265
03:02:21,120 --> 03:02:27,840
But it's more of a broader question around, again, what sort of accountability these third-party operators have,

2266
03:02:28,160 --> 03:02:31,200
in eating the city to prevent things like this.

2267
03:02:31,320 --> 03:02:38,020
You mentioned a monthly report that they give, but what I just don't know in the minutia of the contract language,

2268
03:02:38,400 --> 03:02:42,880
is what they're sort of required, what information they're required to give to us to help prevent this,

2269
03:02:42,880 --> 03:02:50,500
What interaction do they have with the conversations around the CIP or do they have any?

2270
03:02:50,700 --> 03:02:55,100
Are they absolved of any accountability or responsibility and is it solely on us as a city?

2271
03:02:55,260 --> 03:02:56,880
I don't know if that question is for you.

2272
03:02:57,020 --> 03:02:58,880
Mr. Gachalski or who's going to?

2273
03:03:02,400 --> 03:03:05,500
I'll start and if anybody else wants to add anything, feel free.

2274
03:03:07,140 --> 03:03:11,860
But the, you know, they're responsible for the data data operations.

2275
03:03:11,860 --> 03:03:20,160
they do help with budget planning. So when we start the CIP process, I've included them in

2276
03:03:20,160 --> 03:03:27,180
in-net process, you know, alongside the FCA results and their recommendations, and then, of course,

2277
03:03:27,340 --> 03:03:32,600
this year with Connie Folk being on board, that's going to be really great asset for us planning this next

2278
03:03:32,600 --> 03:03:37,540
round. So they start there with the CIP, they're definitely involved in those recommendations,

2279
03:03:37,540 --> 03:03:43,860
As far as the budgeting for maintenance, there's maintenance lines within the isorina fund.

2280
03:03:44,320 --> 03:03:50,040
So they make recommendations on what goes in every single budget line within the isorina fund.

2281
03:03:50,300 --> 03:03:58,420
So I work directly with the suburban staff to determine what to put into the city budget request for the isorina fund every year.

2282
03:03:59,420 --> 03:04:05,360
Okay, but I guess my questions are around the, their operating agreement itself and is their

2283
03:04:05,360 --> 03:04:12,740
language in there that compels them to inform us, communicate with us and help us plan for

2284
03:04:12,740 --> 03:04:17,960
preventative maintenance or operational items long term to help avoid things like this.

2285
03:04:17,980 --> 03:04:24,070
I know that they give input in CIP, projects and things, but I guess my question is, are they

2286
03:04:24,070 --> 03:04:31,030
acquired to help identify these things as time goes on or does that language not really

2287
03:04:31,030 --> 03:04:35,790
exist in the agreement where they try to help, but they're really not compelled to help.

2288
03:04:37,010 --> 03:04:43,250
I would have to take a closer look to see what the language is.

2289
03:04:43,350 --> 03:04:54,050
I've got in front of me, but all in all, it benefits suburban for the city too.

2290
03:04:54,050 --> 03:05:02,390
maintain this facility properly. So they are very much incentivized to work with us to make

2291
03:05:02,390 --> 03:05:10,130
sure that things are maintained properly, right? So at the end of the day, they're the ones

2292
03:05:10,130 --> 03:05:18,130
that are customer facing, they're the ones in the facility every single day. So of course, they

2293
03:05:18,130 --> 03:05:22,210
you know, they would want the facility to be in the best condition that it can be.

2294
03:05:22,850 --> 03:05:28,090
Now, you know, if at the end of the day, the budget is just not available to do everything

2295
03:05:28,090 --> 03:05:33,330
in the CIP that we would like to do and ask to be deferred, you know, that's out of,

2296
03:05:33,330 --> 03:05:38,130
that's out of everybody's control right to an extent, including suburban.

2297
03:05:38,930 --> 03:05:44,130
So, so they advise the city on what to put in the CIP and they advise the city on what to put

2298
03:05:44,130 --> 03:05:52,870
budget request. But I'm not sure if there's specific language on them helping with the long-term

2299
03:05:52,870 --> 03:05:53,270
planning.

2300
03:05:55,970 --> 03:06:01,850
I don't recall any of the top of my head. I'm not sure our city attorney has any thoughts

2301
03:06:01,850 --> 03:06:09,170
on that specific question. I'm not familiar terribly of the thousands of different agreements

2302
03:06:09,170 --> 03:06:15,290
and countries we look over, but certainly make sense if it's not in there, I think we're

2303
03:06:15,290 --> 03:06:19,110
going to take the afternoon cleaning that up like we have been cleaning up a lot of our

2304
03:06:19,110 --> 03:06:25,830
contracts when they come up for renewal or rebid, and this just is one that we've maybe not

2305
03:06:25,830 --> 03:06:31,450
able to get to and my short tenure here, but we are working on it and makes complete not

2306
03:06:31,450 --> 03:06:37,950
a sense to make sure that's in there. If it's not already and it could be, but I don't know exactly,

2307
03:06:37,950 --> 03:06:52,710
that it will be. I appreciate that because that's actually more to the answer or more to the answer I was looking for in the sense that we have a lot of third party agreements and I think in all of those agreements there needs to be something along the lines of what we just discussed.

2308
03:06:53,710 --> 03:07:01,730
Because these are the operators that should be helping us make sure those facilities are operating at the top level.

2309
03:07:02,190 --> 03:07:03,330
All right. Thank you.

2310
03:07:05,150 --> 03:07:18,470
Thank you, Mayor, thank you for being here tonight and sharing some of the details of the suburban agreement and all those aspects of this issue.

2311
03:07:19,050 --> 03:07:26,190
I am feeling a little bit dissatisfied with the safety concerns that popped up in the timeline there.

2312
03:07:26,370 --> 03:07:29,970
So I kind of want to dig in a little bit more there because we've talked about it.

2313
03:07:30,000 --> 03:07:36,200
Talk about the buckets. What really worries me is the buckets in combination with fog, seem like a really bad combination.

2314
03:07:37,840 --> 03:07:40,320
And just really setting up unsafe circumstances.

2315
03:07:41,260 --> 03:07:54,080
And you mentioned that suburban is incentivized to have a condition as possible, but they're going to lose money when we close.

2316
03:07:54,080 --> 03:08:01,240
And so I'm a little bit concerned that those buckets and five were there for a while, perhaps before we found out about it.

2317
03:08:01,240 --> 03:08:10,820
Certainly before we found out about it. But perhaps before you found out about it, because if everyone wanted to stay open, to keep generating revenues.

2318
03:08:12,180 --> 03:08:18,800
So I'd like to, I'd like us to, if not tonight, I would like us to dig into when did buckets start going on to the ice.

2319
03:08:18,800 --> 03:08:32,020
When did you learn about them and how can that, how did that set up or not set us up to be able to replace the de-humanifier in time before?

2320
03:08:32,400 --> 03:08:36,760
I think it was said tonight that August was one of the busier times.

2321
03:08:38,160 --> 03:08:39,360
I might not be right on that.

2322
03:08:39,360 --> 03:08:47,080
But so we ordered these parts really close to perhaps a busy time, perhaps it's because

2323
03:08:47,080 --> 03:08:52,060
we had to because that's when the information came to us, but I'm concerned that suburban

2324
03:08:52,060 --> 03:08:55,740
may not have been forthright early enough to address these safety concerns.

2325
03:08:56,780 --> 03:08:59,200
That's probably my biggest concern walking out here tonight.

2326
03:09:02,720 --> 03:09:11,780
I can look back into the timeline of when Bucket started for sure, but you know, the time

2327
03:09:11,780 --> 03:09:18,660
frame of the July 13th start with a three-week, the hopeful, three-week plan.

2328
03:09:19,020 --> 03:09:24,980
That was specifically targeted as a kind of a low before our program started back up in

2329
03:09:24,980 --> 03:09:25,220
August.

2330
03:09:25,540 --> 03:09:30,860
Now, with the unexpected delay in the part, that unfortunately led to the closure, which impacted

2331
03:09:30,860 --> 03:09:32,220
the start of those programs.

2332
03:09:33,040 --> 03:09:39,000
So had there not been a delay in the part, we would have been in a really good lower programming

2333
03:09:39,000 --> 03:09:46,800
time of that July 13th to, you know, that first week or so of August was what if he had

2334
03:09:46,800 --> 03:09:47,760
originally hoped.

2335
03:09:50,770 --> 03:09:53,470
And I think you said that you'll do this, but again, I really like to know

2336
03:09:53,470 --> 03:09:58,710
how long the bucket's gone on the ice. I think that's really critical for us to understand that.

2337
03:10:02,350 --> 03:10:03,230
Mr. Bastion,

2338
03:10:05,900 --> 03:10:09,840
so many good points coming from everybody, so forgive me if I might be repeating

2339
03:10:09,840 --> 03:10:12,180
a question in different terms.

2340
03:10:12,980 --> 03:10:18,360
With the understanding that suburban manages day-to-day operations, Ms. McHeter and you said

2341
03:10:18,360 --> 03:10:20,560
that you sign off on invoices.

2342
03:10:21,580 --> 03:10:27,240
Do you view the original purchase orders before they are made?

2343
03:10:27,660 --> 03:10:32,920
Do you offer approval to those purchase orders before invoices come in?

2344
03:10:32,960 --> 03:10:33,340
Yes.

2345
03:10:34,180 --> 03:10:42,440
Just my concern is that echoing some of the sentiments by your seeing purchase orders, I would think that

2346
03:10:43,500 --> 03:10:45,720
that is a means by which suburban

2347
03:10:45,720 --> 03:10:52,980
if indirectly is indicating that services are required and maintenance is required.

2348
03:10:54,880 --> 03:10:56,060
Thank you.

2349
03:11:01,240 --> 03:11:02,280
All right, to summarize,

2350
03:11:04,160 --> 03:11:05,900
we have a CIP.

2351
03:11:05,900 --> 03:11:13,820
That CIP has been updated with new personnel that understand ice-a-rain as a little bit more

2352
03:11:13,820 --> 03:11:15,980
maybe than previous facility managers.

2353
03:11:16,940 --> 03:11:24,300
We expect that to get even better and more refined in the next cycle because of Connie's

2354
03:11:24,300 --> 03:11:28,160
participation in a little bit more coordination with suburban.

2355
03:11:29,380 --> 03:11:32,100
And this particular issue was unexpected.

2356
03:11:33,800 --> 03:11:38,820
Could have been predicted maybe, should we have been maintaining it possibly, but without

2357
03:11:38,820 --> 03:11:40,500
that expertise, it's a challenge.

2358
03:11:41,980 --> 03:11:42,540
It failed.

2359
03:11:43,320 --> 03:11:46,280
And we thought we could get some programming out of it for a while.

2360
03:11:46,460 --> 03:11:52,160
And then we started putting, whoever started putting buckets on ice and then it became unattainable,

2361
03:11:52,680 --> 03:11:53,200
not sustainable.

2362
03:11:53,200 --> 03:11:58,860
and the facility was shut down because primarily due to the fact that he

2363
03:11:58,860 --> 03:12:04,980
humidifier broke and the part to get in to fix it is somehow just not

2364
03:12:04,980 --> 03:12:10,720
coming in as expected. Do I have that right? Yeah. And we've Commissioner

2365
03:12:12,120 --> 03:12:16,440
Colowe's Math is correct. The Enterprise Fund through fees and revenues from

2366
03:12:16,440 --> 03:12:20,700
people playing to figure skate and paying to play hockey and drop in hockey and

2367
03:12:20,700 --> 03:12:26,200
that go into a pot, we pay suburban their contract to manage it, we pay all the other expenses

2368
03:12:26,200 --> 03:12:31,240
electricity, maintenance, all of these other things. And we have some money that goes into

2369
03:12:31,240 --> 03:12:35,580
a reserve into a fund that's supposed to address these type of repairs. But even though we put

2370
03:12:35,580 --> 03:12:42,020
money into that fund over a certain period of years, we subsidize probably out of the general

2371
03:12:42,020 --> 03:12:50,680
fund if this is accurate. Again, I'm not challenging to say you're wrong, but I haven't seen

2372
03:12:50,680 --> 03:12:55,780
if that's true, which meets the claim what you said about every other ice arena in the

2373
03:12:55,780 --> 03:13:01,820
area, which is cities, just like pools, heavily subsidized these facilities, because

2374
03:13:01,820 --> 03:13:04,480
they're very expensive to operate, they break all the time, it's very specialized,

2375
03:13:05,180 --> 03:13:06,000
Everything's specialized.

2376
03:13:06,820 --> 03:13:10,520
You don't go to Walmart and buy a dehumidifier and pop it to the top of the arena.

2377
03:13:11,080 --> 03:13:13,700
It's all very, you know, the Zamboni, very specialized.

2378
03:13:13,980 --> 03:13:14,820
Everything's very expensive.

2379
03:13:15,560 --> 03:13:24,940
So, you know, when I first came on board here, back in 2011, it wasn't Kevin Y. It was Greg

2380
03:13:24,940 --> 03:13:31,100
Rassel, sitting in that seat. And Greg Rassel was a Marine. And Greg Rassel had a saying that,

2381
03:13:31,380 --> 03:13:38,520
I probably repeat at least twice a day in my day job. And he said, I can do anything that you want.

2382
03:13:38,520 --> 03:13:41,320
just tell me what you don't want me to do.

2383
03:13:42,260 --> 03:13:45,640
And I think that's often the challenges that we're faced

2384
03:13:45,640 --> 03:13:48,600
you know more collectively as city government.

2385
03:13:49,560 --> 03:13:50,380
The ice arena is important.

2386
03:13:50,640 --> 03:13:53,360
I don't think there's any doubt the benefit it brings

2387
03:13:53,360 --> 03:13:55,700
to our community from a qualitative point of view.

2388
03:13:55,880 --> 03:13:58,380
The programming youth sports are critical

2389
03:13:58,380 --> 03:14:00,160
to quality of life here.

2390
03:14:00,540 --> 03:14:03,680
It's critical to the future of, you know,

2391
03:14:03,760 --> 03:14:05,520
our state, this country, this nation,

2392
03:14:05,520 --> 03:14:12,620
have well-rounded individuals that learn discipline, learn failure, find success.

2393
03:14:13,980 --> 03:14:20,040
We don't disagree with that at all. I think what it comes down to is, as we start to look at

2394
03:14:21,180 --> 03:14:27,880
the long-term needs of the arena, what is it going to take? What is that financial responsibility

2395
03:14:28,720 --> 03:14:32,900
of the users of the arena, and what is that financial responsibility of the taxpayers of

2396
03:14:32,900 --> 03:14:34,020
Roya Locke?

2397
03:14:35,460 --> 03:14:39,340
In almost every case with our enterprise funds and for those of you who do not know

2398
03:14:39,340 --> 03:14:41,780
enterprise funds either, they're basically funds like the water system.

2399
03:14:42,520 --> 03:14:45,360
We don't make any money off it, we charge you for your water bill, we take that money,

2400
03:14:45,540 --> 03:14:48,820
we pay for repairs, we do everything and we try to net zero, we put money away,

2401
03:14:49,440 --> 03:14:54,120
and do a million dollar water line repairs, and all of that stuff, that's an enterprise fund.

2402
03:14:54,540 --> 03:14:59,640
The library has its own village, so improvements you've seen in the library, they have their own village, they get grants.

2403
03:15:00,800 --> 03:15:22,760
A lot of our parks have seen investment over the years, but we've been very scrappy. Most of that has come from community block grant funding, which is from the federal government, so certain parks qualify, and most of those parks haven't seen a dime in 25 years. We have 52 parks, so we're spending money in neighborhoods, as we should be, but a lot of that's coming from other matched resources.

2404
03:15:22,760 --> 03:15:29,240
Our two big parks, this one out here, Centennial Commons, as a sponsorship to keep it's not going maintenance costs.

2405
03:15:29,640 --> 03:15:35,800
Henry Ford Health Systems sponsors that part, which allows us to maintain it.

2406
03:15:35,880 --> 03:15:40,240
Normandy Oaks, we sold out 10 acres of Normandy Oaks to pay for the improvements there.

2407
03:15:40,560 --> 03:15:43,260
And we partnered with the county to defer into freight costs.

2408
03:15:43,400 --> 03:15:47,800
The additional homes that were built there, actually that incremental tax revenue pays for the maintenance of the park.

2409
03:15:47,800 --> 03:15:59,800
So in every investment that we've made in the community, we've tried to be very clever about how we can, you know, not get, just get cool things, but also make sure we can sustain them.

2410
03:16:00,960 --> 03:16:05,160
I serene is tricky, it's old. It's got high demand, high use, which is a good thing.

2411
03:16:05,920 --> 03:16:12,800
But we have to leverage the expertise that we have right now and figure out what that goes strategy is.

2412
03:16:14,220 --> 03:16:21,060
You know, costs are outpacing revenue for cities, inflation is out of control.

2413
03:16:22,260 --> 03:16:27,220
We, you know, all these contractors that we have to pay to fix the ice arena to fix anything

2414
03:16:27,220 --> 03:16:30,700
the city do roads or whatever costs are going through the roof.

2415
03:16:31,140 --> 03:16:35,920
We as a community can only collect 5% more than what we collected the previous year, even though

2416
03:16:35,920 --> 03:16:37,800
inflation is outpacing that significantly.

2417
03:16:38,200 --> 03:16:38,460
Why?

2418
03:16:39,580 --> 03:16:46,860
So if you don't know how cities are financed in the state of Michigan, read up on it, you'll be absolutely shocked.

2419
03:16:47,360 --> 03:16:52,820
We have the worst, we just will financing system, I think, in the country.

2420
03:16:53,420 --> 03:16:59,720
And what that means is we've left not we, but because of some lawmakers in Lansing back in the day through the headley moment,

2421
03:16:59,880 --> 03:17:04,240
just this year, $44 million left on the table on headley rollbacks.

2422
03:17:05,280 --> 03:17:07,620
So everyone's like, oh, you build new houses, you do all this stuff, yeah.

2423
03:17:08,220 --> 03:17:11,720
And we're only allowed to collect 5% more, so we roll back the milledrate.

2424
03:17:12,120 --> 03:17:13,280
It doesn't make any sense, does it?

2425
03:17:13,640 --> 03:17:15,460
Well, that's the world we're operating in.

2426
03:17:15,740 --> 03:17:18,840
So we've had to be very clever and scrappy over the years

2427
03:17:18,840 --> 03:17:20,880
to do the work we've done in this city.

2428
03:17:21,380 --> 03:17:22,020
The golf course.

2429
03:17:22,220 --> 03:17:27,400
We were $80,000 in the rears on water bills,

2430
03:17:27,720 --> 03:17:29,340
and we just couldn't accept that.

2431
03:17:29,540 --> 03:17:31,360
We was at 600,000.

2432
03:17:31,420 --> 03:17:32,340
It was $80,000 a year.

2433
03:17:32,560 --> 03:17:33,020
That's what it was.

2434
03:17:33,600 --> 03:17:37,380
And so I mean, to subsidize the golf of a few hundred people,

2435
03:17:37,380 --> 03:17:43,220
just seemed like an irresponsible use of our funding of our taxpayer dollars. So we're able to work

2436
03:17:43,220 --> 03:17:47,400
and get clever and figure out a way with the golf course management to at least get back

2437
03:17:47,400 --> 03:17:52,080
on tracks. So, you know, was it six on?

2438
03:17:55,400 --> 03:17:58,340
Three in change. Okay. Well, I hope Commissioner

2439
03:17:58,340 --> 03:18:04,500
Cole is right on his numbers. But the point is valid is like, look, and everything that we do,

2440
03:18:04,920 --> 03:18:09,880
we don't have unlimited funds. So we have to make sure we have an honest conversation of what

2441
03:18:09,880 --> 03:18:14,600
needs to be done, what parts need to be taken care of and revenue, what other creative ideas

2442
03:18:14,600 --> 03:18:15,080
that we had.

2443
03:18:15,740 --> 03:18:22,480
I had someone pitch me to see if they could use the isorina for a semi-pro leak out of Ontario,

2444
03:18:23,480 --> 03:18:25,940
and they were willing to make a big investment in it.

2445
03:18:26,100 --> 03:18:27,540
What that meant was less ice time.

2446
03:18:27,920 --> 03:18:29,180
So there's trade-offs, right?

2447
03:18:29,660 --> 03:18:39,860
So we have to get very clever about how we approach this because I don't know that we're

2448
03:18:40,540 --> 03:18:43,280
if we're just going to subsidize it out of the general fund.

2449
03:18:43,840 --> 03:18:45,780
I'll tell you, I want to see the ice arena succeed.

2450
03:18:46,440 --> 03:18:50,300
I'm not going to take life saving equipment away

2451
03:18:50,300 --> 03:18:52,620
from our firefighters to, you know, fund it.

2452
03:18:52,660 --> 03:18:54,260
And I don't think any of you feel that way either.

2453
03:18:54,580 --> 03:18:57,120
So we have to get real clever, real creative quick,

2454
03:18:57,820 --> 03:19:00,480
and, you know, be open to all sorts of plans.

2455
03:19:00,480 --> 03:19:03,300
But the first thing we have to do is, you know,

2456
03:19:03,440 --> 03:19:05,920
at least feel very comfortable with that CIP plan is,

2457
03:19:05,940 --> 03:19:07,500
and what that maintenance plan is.

2458
03:19:09,340 --> 03:19:16,620
But right now, what's before us is an emergency repair that is a no-brainer, in my opinion,

2459
03:19:16,860 --> 03:19:21,060
we have to, I mean, from a business point of view you're losing revenue, I mean, it makes

2460
03:19:21,060 --> 03:19:21,460
no sense.

2461
03:19:21,620 --> 03:19:23,860
It's not to approve this and get this done right away.

2462
03:19:24,800 --> 03:19:31,240
And if you need any help from me to call the vendor, and I can be a big pain in the

2463
03:19:31,240 --> 03:19:35,280
ass, let me know, and I can get on the phone with them and make sure that park gets here

2464
03:19:35,280 --> 03:19:40,880
as well. So, Commissioner Cole, thank you, Mr.

2465
03:19:41,260 --> 03:19:45,540
I think probably a point where I can make a motion for the night, but before I do, I just

2466
03:19:45,540 --> 03:19:49,240
want to ask Mr. Marcus, I made a comment and then the Mary had made some comments.

2467
03:19:49,580 --> 03:19:56,460
Are you comfortable with asking staff to make a plan to fund the CIP and what different structures

2468
03:19:56,460 --> 03:19:58,900
like that look like, or would you like that in the form of motion?

2469
03:20:01,260 --> 03:20:27,380
Okay, so then I move the motion as presented and then add or across the staff to reduce the plan to pay for the CIP, but over the next five years and what that looks like in different fees and schedules and potential, any other opportunity that can

2470
03:20:27,380 --> 03:20:30,720
I mean, revenue source, I don't know why the revenue source is sponsorships, you name it.

2471
03:20:32,460 --> 03:20:35,280
You have a motion by Commissioner Kolo, is there a second second by Commissioner

2472
03:20:35,280 --> 03:20:35,940
Hursaud?

2473
03:20:36,360 --> 03:20:36,740
Discussion?

2474
03:20:40,730 --> 03:20:41,250
So close.

2475
03:20:41,430 --> 03:20:41,950
I can't say it.

2476
03:20:42,950 --> 03:20:48,510
I think what we heard tonight was, you know, sports community, it's something that we

2477
03:20:48,510 --> 03:20:49,290
value here.

2478
03:20:50,630 --> 03:20:55,070
I want to agree with the mayor, and that we have to come up with creative ways to

2479
03:20:55,070 --> 03:21:00,370
fund the things that we want to see in the community, and we gave a bunch of

2480
03:21:00,370 --> 03:21:02,790
of great examples of how we've done that.

2481
03:21:03,230 --> 03:21:05,430
So we look forward to discussing that more.

2482
03:21:06,210 --> 03:21:09,230
My biggest concern tonight is the safety of the users

2483
03:21:09,230 --> 03:21:12,970
of the rank and when things are flagged to us,

2484
03:21:13,470 --> 03:21:17,310
or to the staff, when things are flagged to the commission,

2485
03:21:18,330 --> 03:21:20,910
because tonight we heard from public comment

2486
03:21:20,910 --> 03:21:24,750
of the safety issues, we did not hear that from the city.

2487
03:21:25,770 --> 03:21:29,570
And then lastly, I just want to thank the parents and coaches,

2488
03:21:29,570 --> 03:21:31,930
All the students that came up here tonight

2489
03:21:31,930 --> 03:21:35,790
is very intimidating to come and advocate for what you care about

2490
03:21:35,790 --> 03:21:38,110
to us any adult, which feel that way.

2491
03:21:39,010 --> 03:21:42,010
And all these kids came, they were so respectful,

2492
03:21:42,310 --> 03:21:45,170
they clearly advocated for what they loved.

2493
03:21:45,610 --> 03:21:48,770
And that is a life skill that many adults do not have.

2494
03:21:48,870 --> 03:21:53,250
And so you should be very proud of how you're raising these students.

2495
03:21:57,340 --> 03:21:58,380
I'm going to agree more.

2496
03:21:59,460 --> 03:22:00,140
Anybody else?

2497
03:22:02,930 --> 03:22:03,330
All right.

2498
03:22:04,370 --> 03:22:05,030
I'll call for the vote.

2499
03:22:05,150 --> 03:22:06,110
I'll also pay for say aye.

2500
03:22:06,430 --> 03:22:08,670
Aye, those opposed motion passes.

2501
03:22:09,330 --> 03:22:09,410
All right.

2502
03:22:09,510 --> 03:22:10,590
We have some relief now.

2503
03:22:11,190 --> 03:22:12,790
Let's figure out what the long term plan is.

2504
03:22:16,830 --> 03:22:18,510
I guess technically you can clap now.

2505
03:22:18,750 --> 03:22:19,510
I'm just not going to call.

2506
03:22:21,250 --> 03:22:21,870
All right.

2507
03:22:23,170 --> 03:22:24,090
Oh, that is true.

2508
03:22:25,450 --> 03:22:25,930
All right.

2509
03:22:26,050 --> 03:22:28,750
This is brought us to the end of the agenda tonight.

2510
03:22:28,830 --> 03:22:29,970
Does anyone have anything else?

2511
03:22:30,000 --> 03:22:45,700
We want to discuss, they want to make a motion to adjourn. We have motion to adjourn by Commissioner Herzog, second by Commissioner Gantina. Discussion on this motion. All right, with none. I'll call for the vote. All's in favor say aye. Aye, those opposed motion passes. adjourned.