[0:00] When we say the pledge, the flag is
behind you.
[0:05] So, we need um we need the first we need
the first girl who's gonna
[0:13] come on up here.
Let's see.
[0:18] Okay, let's see. So, you're gonna um
um bang this
[0:29] So you just start the meeting. Ready?
Good job.
[0:36] » This meeting of the Oak Park City
Council will come to order
[0:42] and I need the next Girl Scout.
[0:58] Please stand for the pledge of
allegiance right here.
[1:02] » Please stand for the pledge of
allegiance.
[1:06] » Then we all
[1:11] start
[1:16] to flag the United States of America and
to the republic for it stands. One
[1:23] nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
[1:38] » Please be seated,
[1:45] » madame mayor. They're coming for your
job.
[1:48] » [laughter]
[1:56] » the city clerk please call the role.
>> Would the city clerk please call the
[2:01] role?
>> Great job.
[2:04] » Mayor
>> here.
[2:06] » Mayor
>> here. Council member
[2:10] » here
>> council member
[2:14] » here.
We have a quorum.
[2:21] Is there a motion to approve the agenda?
>> So moved.
[2:26] » Second.
>> All those in favor say I.
[2:29] » I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carried. Consent
[2:33] agenda. The following routine items are
presented for approval without
[2:37] discussion as a single agenda item.
Should any member wish to discuss or
[2:42] disapprove any item, it must be dropped
from the blanket motion and considered
[2:46] separately. A regular council meeting
minutes for March 4th, 2026. B. Payment
[2:54] request from Newman Smith Architecture
for architectural services on the Aventh
[2:59] Hub project for the total amount of
$3,000. C payment request from Newman
[3:05] Smith Architecture for architectural
services on the community center project
[3:10] for the total amount of $26,93920.
[3:16] D approval of pay application number one
to DVM Utilities of Sterling Heights,
[3:22] Michigan for the 2026 sewer lining
project M791
[3:27] in the amount of $9,270.
E request to approve pay application
[3:34] number two to Taplan Group LLC of
Calamazoo, Michigan for the 2025 sewer
[3:41] and catch basin cleaning and TV
inspection project M783
[3:46] in the amount of 63,8824.
[3:52] F payment request from MDOT for the 2025
9mm construction project from Cloverlon
[4:00] to Greenfield Road M7771
for the total amount of $7,559.80.
[4:09] G request to approve the 2026 27 liquor
license renewals. H. New and renewal
[4:17] licenses for March 16th, 2026.
I payment request from landscape forms
[4:24] for outdoor furniture at the 11mi road
alleys and parking lot reconfiguration
[4:30] project for the total amount of $17,335.
[4:38] J maintenance agreement with the road
commission for Oakland County for street
[4:42] sweeping, litter picking, lawnmowing
services on Greenfield Road from 8 to 10
[4:48] mile roads and on 10 mile road from
Greenfield to Maplefield. K. Request to
[4:53] approve payment application number five
for the 2025 black pruning project to
[4:58] Lim Walkers Tree and Snow LLC of Kenny,
Michigan in the amount of $4,125.
[5:07] All those um is there a motion to
approve the agenda the the this agenda?
[5:14] » So move second.
>> Thank you.
[5:17] » Um all those in favor please say I.
>> I.
[5:20] » Any opposed? Motion carry.
>> Item number six on our agenda is
[5:25] recognition of visiting elected
officials. Do we have any elected
[5:29] officials?
>> Seeing none. Item seven,
[5:33] » special recognition.
>> Mayor board. Say it again.
[5:37] » School board me. School board
membership.
[5:38] » School board member.
>> Hi.
[5:43] » So glad to have you here. Did you have
something you want to say?
[5:48] Coming to visit. We're so delighted to
have you. Thank you.
[5:53] Um item seven,
youth assistance presentation. Sandra
[5:59] Clark,
would you come up? Make sure that is on
[6:04] and shining green.
There you go.
[6:09] » Good evening.
>> And holler real loud.
[6:13] Can you hear me? Okay, good. Good
evening. Uh to our board, city manager,
[6:20] and members of city council. My name is
Alexandra Clark, and I am currently
[6:25] serving as the chair of the youth
recognition committee with the Oak Park
[6:29] Youth Assistance. I am here this evening
to share some exciting news and to
[6:33] extend an invitation to you. On April
29th, 2026, Oak Park Youth Assistance
[6:40] will host the youth recognition ceremony
at the Oak Park High School cafeteria.
[6:45] This ceremony is being conducted with
the goal of celebrating youth who may
[6:49] not otherwise be recognized. The
students participating in the
[6:53] celebration are nominated by teachers
and school staff for qualities such as
[6:58] kindness, helpfulness, and perseverance,
improvement, and other positive
[7:02] characteristics that deserve
encouragement and recognition. This
[7:06] year's theme is planting seeds of
success, celebrating growth. It reflects
[7:11] our belief that when we acknowledge the
small but meaningful ways our young
[7:15] people contribute to our schools and
community, we are helping nurture
[7:19] confidence, character, and future
success. This event is especially
[7:23] meaningful because it will be the first
youth recognition ceremony held since
[7:27] 2017.
When I joined Oak Park Youth Assistance
[7:31] about a year ago and was asked to select
a committee to chair, this was the one
[7:36] that stood out to me the most. Not every
child will be an honor student or a star
[7:41] athlete, but every child has the
capacity to make a positive impact. And
[7:46] those contributions deserve to be seen
and celebrated. This year, 27 students
[7:51] have been selected and we are truly
honored to recognize them and the growth
[7:56] that they have shown. Invitations have
been emailed to you by our OPYA chair,
[8:01] but I wanted to come personally tonight
and formally invite you to attend the
[8:05] special event and to help us celebrate
the young people in our community
[8:09] because when we take time to recognize
the good in our youth today, we help
[8:13] cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. Thank
you.
[8:16] » One question. April 29th is the time
>> time is 5:30.
[8:20] » 5:30. April 29th, 5:30 Oak Park High
School cafeteria.
[8:27] Mark your calendar.
>> Thank you so much.
[8:30] » Thank you.
[8:34] » Communication.
We have um the city clerk has
[8:39] foreclosure prevention letter from the
Oakland County Treasurer, Robert
[8:43] Whittenberg.
>> Madame Mayor, I'm going to ask Oh, okay.
[8:47] I'm going to read this. This is a letter
from Oakland County Treasur's Office
[8:52] regarding foreclosure prevention. and
the Oakland County Treasurer's Office is
[8:55] in the final stretch of our foreclosure
prevention efforts. The tax foreclosure
[8:59] deadline for the 2023 andor prior tax
prior year taxes is on March 31st, 2026.
[9:05] That means if these taxes aren't paid
off by March 31st or or any interested
[9:10] party hasn't entered into a repayment
schedule with the treasur's office by
[9:14] then, the property will be foreclosed.
Since December of 2025, the treasur's
[9:19] office has conducted over a thousand
taxpayer assistance meetings to assist
[9:24] taxpayers with keeping their properties
by working with them to get on a
[9:27] repayment schedule and/or by identifying
resources that may be beneficial to them
[9:32] in their situation. We are here to help
and strongly encourage taxpayers to
[9:36] contact us before the tax foreclosure
deadline if they have delinquent taxes
[9:40] for 2023 and/or prior tax years.
Taxpayers interested in scheduling a
[9:44] taxpayer assistance meeting may call us
at 2488580611
[9:50] or they may visit www.okev.comtreasurer.
[9:56] Thank you. Robertw Whittenberg, Oakland
County Treasurer.
[10:01] » Thank you.
Item nine, special licenses. Request for
[10:07] special event license submitted by Train
Station Sports LLC,
[10:12] 14661 West 11m Road, Sweet 700, for the
Cub Day family social event to be held
[10:19] on April 11th from 4:00 to 7 o'clock. Is
there a motion to grant this?
[10:30] » Second.
>> Thank you.
[10:32] Um uh because it is uh not a nonprofit,
they do pay a fee for this um special
[10:41] license. Any discussion or questions?
All those in favor, please say I.
[10:47] » I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carried.
[10:52] » Accounting reports. Approval for payment
of an invoice submitted by Schiffman
[10:55] Fornier for legal services retainer for
April 1st, 2026 to June 30th in the
[11:01] total amount of $20,000. Is there a
motion to approve?
[11:05] » So moved.
>> Second.
[11:08] » And and uh Council Member Rner, why?
>> Well, let's not pay our lawyers and see
[11:14] what happens.
>> Okay. [laughter]
[11:16] Um roll call, please.
[11:21] Council member Crawford,
>> yes.
[11:24] » Mayor Prom Edgar,
>> yes.
[11:26] » Mayor Mlen,
>> yes.
[11:27] » Council member Radner,
>> yes.
[11:29] » Council member Whitehead,
>> yes.
[11:30] » Motion carried. Thank you.
>> Item 10B, approval for payment of
[11:35] invoices submitted by Garen Luk Miller,
PC for legal services in the amount of
[11:39] $15,874.76.
[11:44] » So moved
>> with enthusiasm. Did you see?
[11:49] » Second. Got to get the lawyers.
>> Any discussion? Roll call, please.
[11:55] » Mayor Prom Edgar,
>> yes.
[11:58] » Mayor Mlullen,
>> yes.
[11:59] » Council member Radner, yes.
>> Council member Whitehead,
[12:02] » yes.
>> Council member Crawford,
[12:03] » yes.
>> Motion carry. Thank you. Item 11, bids.
[12:08] request to award the bid for the 2026
water mane replacement project M785
[12:15] to Eminent Excavating Local LLC of
Dearborn, Michigan for the total amount
[12:20] of 1,876,760.
[12:26] » Is there a motion to award the bid?
>> So moved.
[12:32] » Is there a second?
[12:36] Motion dies. for lack of a second.
Hello.
[12:38] » Second.
>> Thank you.
[12:41] » Okay. Um uh please.
>> They're not they're not lawyers, but we
[12:45] should probably still pay them.
>> Yes.
[12:47] » Thank you, mayor, council members, city
manager. This item before you this
[12:52] evening is a request to award the bid
for the 2026 water mane replacement
[12:57] project M785
to Eminent Excavating Local LLC of
[13:03] Dearbornne, Michigan for the total
amount of 1,876,760
[13:13] at the January 20th, 2026 regular
meeting of of Oak Park City Council. The
[13:19] request to bid the 2026 water main
replacement project was approved. The
[13:25] project was advertised and
129 contractors viewed the documents.
[13:32] On February 23rd, 2026,
12 bids were received and opened. The
[13:38] low bidder eminent excavating local LLC
of Dearborn, Michigan submitted the bid
[13:45] of 1,876,760
[13:50] for the the water main project. This
project will take place and in areas
[13:57] shown on the attached map.
Uh we have recently worked with Eminent
[14:03] Excavating and have no issues with their
work.
[14:07] And this bid actually came uh below or
came under the engineers estimate.
[14:14] And with that, it is recommended that
city council award the bid for the 2026
[14:19] water main replacement project M785
to Eminent Excavate Excavating Local LLC
[14:29] of Dearborn, Michigan for the total
amount of 1,876,760.
[14:38] Funding is available in the water and
sewer fund.
[14:41] » Water and sewer fund. Uh, we have a
motion and a second. Are there
[14:44] questions?
[14:49] » Roll call vote then.
[14:54] » Mayor Mlen,
>> yes.
[14:55] » Council member Radner,
>> yes.
[14:57] » Council member Whitehead,
>> yes.
[14:59] » Council member Crawford,
>> yes.
[15:00] » Mayor Prom Edgar,
>> yes.
[15:02] » Motion carries. Thank you. Item 12, City
Attorney.
[15:09] » Good evening, Madame Mayor and members
of council. The item before you tonight
[15:12] is the Metro Access Transmission Service
Corporation doing business as Verizon
[15:17] Access Transmission Services request for
Metro Act rightway permit extension. On
[15:23] February 9th, 2026, the city received a
request from Verizon Transmission
[15:28] Services
which to extend a permit which currently
[15:32] expires on April 4th, 2026. The
requested extension is for a 5-year term
[15:37] which will end on April 4th, 2031. The
permit grants MCI Metro the right to
[15:43] build, operate, and maintain fiber optic
cable in public easements within the
[15:47] city of Oak Park. I have undertaken a
review of the proposed permit extension,
[15:51] and the city is now in receipt of an
updated route map of facilities and an
[15:56] insurance certificate that names the
city as an additional insured as
[15:59] required by state law and local
ordinance. The M municipal services
[16:03] department has also reviewed the permit
and has confirmed that there are no
[16:06] technical issues with approving the
requested extension. The city attorney's
[16:10] office recommends approval of the
requested extension
[16:14] through uh April 4th of 2026 and the
information is also contained within
[16:20] your agenda packets.
>> Okay. Is there a motion to that effect?
[16:25] » So moved.
>> Second.
[16:26] » Thank you. Uh discussion or questions?
>> Roll call, please.
[16:35] » Council member Radner.
>> Yes. Council member Whitehead,
[16:39] » yes.
>> Council member Crawford,
[16:41] » yes.
>> Mayor Prom Edgar,
[16:43] » yes.
>> Mayor Mlen,
[16:44] » yes. Motion carried. Thank you,
>> Madame Mayor. Item number 12B, also
[16:51] presented by the city attorney's office,
is an appeal of an excessive fee
[16:55] assessed for processing freedom of
information record request from Joshua
[16:59] Hunter of Berkeley, M. Michigan. As set
forth in your agenda packets, Mr. Hunter
[17:05] appealed the fee assessed by the clerk's
office for processing a February 22nd,
[17:10] 2026 Freedom of Information Act for
public records seeking email
[17:15] communications, including attachments
that were sent or received since January
[17:19] 22nd between city staff, city officers,
or the city's contracted law firm that
[17:24] concern the city attorney's oath of
office, the oath requirements under the
[17:28] Michigan Constitution, as well as the
city attorney's appointed officer status
[17:33] and information that Mr. Hunter
previously requested in his requests on
[17:38] January 22nd and January 28th. The basis
for the appeal is set forth in your
[17:45] agenda packets. A total fee of $29
was assessed by the city clerk's office
[17:53] to search for and identify the requested
records. the city did not charge for any
[17:59] redaction or providing any type of
additional um elimination of documents
[18:05] that were not subject to FOYA. So, the
appeal is before you tonight to
[18:09] determine if the fee assessed by the
city clerk's office is valid or if you
[18:15] would like to reverse the fee. The copy
of the invoice included with the
[18:20] submission to Mr. Hunter by the clerk's
office is also included in your agenda
[18:24] packets. The total labor cost to locate
the records as detailed in the rec in
[18:29] the invoice is $29.50
per hour
[18:35] and that is the total balance due.
[18:40] » Okay. Um what is the recommendation of
the city attorney's office?
[18:48] The recommendation is that the fee
assess be maintained because the fees
[18:52] were not assessed in violation of the
act and the city did not charge for
[18:58] items that are not permitted to be
charged under the act. And we've
[19:02] detailed all of the um basis for the fee
appeal in your agenda packets. It's
[19:09] rather lengthy, so I'm not going to read
it all into the record tonight.
[19:12] » Right. Um, if we want to deny this, we
vote no.
[19:19] » You would vote to uphold
the decision of the clerk's office to
[19:24] assess a fee.
>> I'm going to make a mot. Is there a
[19:29] motion yet?
>> No.
[19:30] » I'm going to make a motion to uphold the
$29.50
[19:34] charge for uh for these foyer requests.
>> Thank you.
[19:39] » Is there a second?
>> I second.
[19:41] » Thank you. So if we vote yes, we're
upholding the foyer charge of 2950 based
[19:46] on this the invoice that's attached.
>> Okay.
[19:51] » Does everyone understand the vote?
>> Yep.
[19:54] » Okay. Roll call, please.
>> Council member Radner,
[19:56] » yes.
>> Council member Whitehead,
[19:58] » yes.
>> Council member Crawford,
[20:00] » yes.
>> Mayor Prom Edgar,
[20:01] » yes.
>> Mayor Mlen,
[20:03] » yes. Motion carried. Thank you,
>> Madame Mayor and members of council.
[20:08] Item number 12 C is before you tonight
on an appeal of a public record request
[20:12] determination for Joshua Hunter of
Berkeley, Michigan. On Sunday, February
[20:17] 22nd, Mr. Hunter submitted a request
under the Freedman of a Information Act
[20:21] seeking all existing email
communications sent or received since
[20:24] January 22nd between the city staff,
city officers, andor the city's
[20:28] contracted law firm that concern or
reference the items mentioned in your
[20:32] agenda packet, including the city
attorney's oath of office.
[20:38] The city did not provide a response as
detailed in the prior appeal. There was
[20:42] an invoice that was sent um advising Mr.
Hunter of the cost for the records and
[20:47] upon payment of that projected cost the
city will be providing the records.
[20:54] » Okay. So we are voting.
>> I I will uh make the motion to um uphold
[21:01] the appeal.
[21:05] » Is there a second?
[21:09] » Second. Thank you.
um discussion
[21:13] » very simply when you submit a foil you
get an invoice you pay the invoice you
[21:18] get your records I do this all the time
you don't pay the invoice you don't get
[21:21] your records it's as simple as that
whether they exist or not
[21:26] » okay thank you roll call please
>> uh council member Whitehead
[21:31] » yes
>> uh council member Crawford
[21:34] » yes
>> Mayor prom Edgar
[21:35] » yes
>> Mayor Mlen
[21:37] » yes
>> council member Rner
[21:38] » yes
>> motion carries thank Thank you,
[21:42] city manager Eric Tongate.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of
[21:46] council. For item 13A1, I am going to
turn it over to our city attorney. Um,
[21:51] this is regarding a public hearing to
consider whether to submit a
[21:54] recommendation to the Micker Michigan
liquor control commission for the
[21:58] non-renewal class liquor license issued
to Oak Park Social LLC at 14691 West 11
[22:05] Road.
Madam, city attorney.
[22:09] » Thank you, city manager. Under section
6.62 of the Oak Park code of ordinances,
[22:15] the city had provided notice to Oak Park
Social LLC that it's in violation of the
[22:20] ordinance by failing to timely pay all
amounts for personal personal property
[22:24] taxes, real property taxes, and
utilities due to the city of Oak Park.
[22:28] Under section 6-61 of the code of
ordinances requires the city to review
[22:33] each liquor license annually to
determine compliance with this
[22:36] provision, which it has done in this
case. All of the liquor licences were
[22:40] reviewed and a public hearing was
scheduled for purposes of the
[22:44] recommendation for Oak Park Social not
being in compliance with the ordinance.
[22:48] The public hearing is required as a
prerequisite to the city issuing a
[22:53] recommendation to the liquor control
commission on whether or not to renew
[22:56] the license. The deadline for the city
to submit its recommendation to the
[23:01] liquor control commission is March 31st,
2026.
[23:07] » I have a question about Is there a
motion? Do we need to make a motion? Is
[23:09] there a public hearing? How do we do
this?
[23:11] » The mayor needs to open the public
hearing for comment by anyone in the
[23:14] audience.
>> Public hearing is open. Is there anyone
[23:18] here who would like to speak about this
issue? There will be a regular
[23:24] um time at the end of the meeting to
speak about other issues.
[23:29] This is about the
>> Okay. Um
[23:33] » hello. So I spoke to Ed earlier
regarding this. We want till the end of
[23:37] the month on the 31st to do that.
>> Madam Mayor, could I
[23:41] » you got to identify yourself.
>> Yeah, Alex Social in regards to what you
[23:45] guys are discussing right now.
So, I spoke to Ed earlier regarding the
[23:50] property tax and all that stuff. Um, and
I also suggested that really the
[23:54] ordinance is not business first. It's
city first. So, and it's something that
[24:00] you guys chose to add. It's not required
on a state level. And the state's
[24:03] license supersedes the local. So, you
should just get rid of it and let
[24:08] businesses manage their money the way
they want.
[24:12] Absolutely no value.
Something to think about. We're going on
[24:17] two years dealing with this kind of
stuff, especially when we invested in a
[24:20] whole new restaurant for you guys in the
city and spent close to $350,000
[24:24] in your city.
>> So,
[24:28] between us and the county for property
taxes, not the city.
[24:33] » Before he goes, can I ask can I ask a
question, please?
[24:37] What is going on here? There's there's
delinquent property tax bills. There's
[24:41] delinquent water bills. He's talking
about something completely different.
[24:45] Unless I'm missing it.
>> No, it's the same thing.
[24:48] » So,
>> your ordinance requires all property
[24:50] taxes and or water bills to be paid
prior to the renewal of the license for
[24:54] that year.
>> Yeah. So, what's wrong with that?
[24:56] » A lot.
>> Well,
[24:58] » especially when you're investing and
you're choosing to delay paying property
[25:01] taxes to manage cash flow.
>> Have you spoken to the city about this?
[25:05] » Many times over the last two years I've
been discussing this. This is an
[25:09] ordinance you created and I understand
that in the beginning when you had
[25:12] uncertainty regarding liquor licensing
laws because it was something that was
[25:15] new to you, but now you've seen it.
You've been through it. We're going on
[25:20] almost six years of liquor licensing in
your city with no issues. We've even
[25:24] gotten a letter from the MLCC
congratulating us for being so good as
[25:28] operators and managing no underage
drinking or anything. We've never had
[25:33] any issues. You can talk to anyone in
public service.
[25:36] Those are facts. So, just get rid of
this ordinance that you decided to add
[25:40] as an additional city layer that's not
required on a state level.
[25:43] » Well, that's not that's not helpful
right now. Right now,
[25:45] » it can work. If you guys were to vote,
you could eliminate it. Okay?
[25:48] » Because it's not businessfriendly.
City first.
[25:51] » I know. I know.
>> So, either you're city first or you're
[25:54] business first. It's one of the two. You
can't be both.
[25:56] » It's between us and the taxes
>> and for the taxes with the county when
[26:00] we choose to pay them. The county then
pays you the difference of what goes to
[26:04] your schools and your public safety.
After that, we also pay interest on
[26:08] delaying paying property taxes. So, I
don't know if cities benefit from that
[26:12] interest or the county does only. But
regardless, it's our choice to manage
[26:16] our cash flow the way we want, which is
best for our business.
[26:23] » How much time is left?
>> These are facts. These are facts. And
[26:26] you know what? Check it out. Here's
another reason. the interest. If you
[26:30] divide the interest over 12 months, if I
pay an extra $600, $700 on taxes, divide
[26:34] that by 12, that's only $60 a month for
me to carry cost for something that cost
[26:39] me thousands of dollars. So, to me, I'm
allowed to do that and I'm paying the
[26:42] penalty for it. So, it's none of the
city's business when I choose to pay my
[26:45] taxes to the county. After three years,
a property would go delinquent. Would we
[26:49] ever let that happen? That would be
foolish. The answer is no.
[26:54] So, this is something to think about.
You've been doing this for years and I
[26:57] understand that you needed this layer in
the beginning, but the state's license
[27:01] supersedes the local. So, just get rid
of it completely and make it more of a
[27:07] businessfriendly city. Still charge your
250 ft to renew. And just so you know,
[27:12] across the street on 11 mile, they don't
even have this. Berkeley doesn't even
[27:16] have a liquor license. They go off of
the state. The state is the one that
[27:20] does the background check, criminal
check, all those things managed.
[27:25] So getting involved on a local level is
is honestly it's you don't have time for
[27:29] that. Focus on other things. Get rid of
it.
[27:34] I mentioned it to Eric many times. Eric
and Ed and many people have been on the
[27:39] emails before. It has no value.
Your hands are busy with other things.
[27:45] Get out of this sector.
I want till the end of the month to
[27:50] close them out even though I don't want
to.
[27:53] Your time is up. Thank you.
>> We're good.
[28:05] » Now, let's see.
Uh, if there's no one else to speak,
[28:11] we will close the public hearing.
>> Madame Mayor, may I ask question?
[28:18] » Uh, council member Sean Whitehead.
Well, I was I was actually going to ask
[28:25] um the question. If I don't pay my
property taxes, what happens to me? I
[28:30] mean, it's
you have to pay your property taxes.
[28:34] That's what keeps us going. So, I'm not
quite sure I understand the argument.
[28:39] Maybe maybe you guys understand.
[28:47] » He just wants to cash
it.
[28:52] And if you pay it a few months later,
[29:03] » um Sean Whiteheads,
[29:11] » yeah, there's uh $4,6610
in outstanding uh delinquent utility
[29:18] bills.
>> It's gone up.
[29:19] » Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. It's gone up. It's
gone up to $4,795
[29:25] outstanding utility bills.
>> I think he took I don't think he
[29:32] » city manager, can you explain
why? I'm not sure I understand all of
[29:38] this. So, what was his argument?
>> Well, so I don't [clears throat] know to
[29:45] be honest. Um, so our our our position
when I say our the administration's
[29:50] position is to follow the law. So the
law is that you cannot be delinquent on
[29:56] any of your outstanding bills to the
city, whether it be utility bills,
[30:00] property taxes, whatever. So that we are
following the direction that's laid out
[30:06] in the ordinance allowing for liquor
licenses in the city of Oak Park. I
[30:10] think, and I'm only speculating because
I don't know. Um, and I believe he's now
[30:16] two years in a rears at least on his
property taxes. Correct. It's not. Yeah.
[30:22] So, [clears throat] it's not just the
one year. It's now two years, but after
[30:24] three years, of course, it could
possibly go into to the county for
[30:28] foreclosure.
Um, but what he's saying, and again, I'm
[30:32] speculating, but I think what he's
saying is that other cities who have a
[30:35] longer history of allowing liquor
licenses don't have these strict
[30:40] requirements in order for a a liquor
license to be applied for from the
[30:45] Liquor Control Commission.
[30:53] » I hear what you're saying, too.
>> I'm not advocating. I'm just stating
[30:58] what I think.
here.
[31:04] Um, my next question is this. He said
that he would do it by the end of the
[31:07] month. Obviously, we're not going to
have a meeting before the end of the
[31:09] month. What if the motion is Thank you.
What if the motion is that we sign this
[31:15] on April 2nd if he has not come current
on his on these delinquent bills? So I I
[31:20] would I want to defer a little bit to
the city attorney, but I will just say
[31:23] from my perspective, if regardless of
whether the letter has gone to the state
[31:30] from us, which you know, in order to
make it by the end of the month, it has
[31:33] to go out pretty soon. Uh if these are
if and he did send an email right prior
[31:39] to the meeting at 6:55 and he says he'll
have them all paid by April 1st, right?
[31:44] So, if that's the case, then we would,
of course, the letter will have been
[31:48] sent because we want to make sure it
arrives on time, but we will contact
[31:52] liquor control commission and let them
know he has paid those bills in full.
[31:58] » So, I don't see any reason why you
couldn't do that. In other words, but
[32:01] again, I'll defer to the city attorney.
>> Under the statute, our recommendation is
[32:06] due to liquor control by March 31st.
That is statutory, so we cannot extend
[32:12] that. And as I mentioned, our ordinance
requires us to review all licenses every
[32:17] year under the same criteria. And all of
our licenses with the exception of Oak
[32:22] Park Social have complied with the
ordinance.
[32:26] So, as city manager stated, you can um
submit an updated recommendation to
[32:33] liquor control if the payment is made
April 1st, but by April 1, it would be
[32:37] too late to make a recommendation
otherwise. And again, liquor control is
[32:41] the ultimate final decision maker on
whether to issue licenses. So, the city
[32:46] is only making a recommendation. The
liquor control commission does not have
[32:50] to accept it, but it's just a
recommendation that we sent in.
[32:53] » So, Madam City, Madam Mayor, could I um
Madam City attorney, just just for
[32:57] clarification, so he would have to have
all outstanding bills paid by March on
[33:05] March 31st or before. And to me, that's
a provision we would extend to any
[33:12] business in the city. It's not a unique
provision, right?
[33:16] » I sure hope so.
>> I mean, why wouldn't we?
[33:19] » It would be at council's discretion, but
again, all of our licenses are held to
[33:23] the same standard as set forth in the
ordinance, and all of the licences are
[33:27] re renew reviewed every year to see if
they're in compliance.
[33:32] » I I have another question. How do we
submit the recommendation? Is it
[33:36] electronic? Is it mail?
>> Council's resolution is uh
[33:40] electronically submitted to the liquor
control commission.
[33:43] » So if so by so if it has to be done by
March 31st, it could be done on March
[33:49] 31st, right?
[33:53] » We can't guarantee it would make the
deadline if we waited that long is what
[33:57] I'm saying.
>> Could we compromise and have them pay by
[34:01] » maybe March 30th?
>> March 29th.
[34:03] » 29th. That's where I was going with
this. Let's see how much I I look, I get
[34:09] his point. I also hear what you guys are
saying loud and clear. I really do. I'm
[34:12] just trying to come up with something
that's fair.
[34:15] » Madame Mayor, could I
>> if we if he loses his liquor license,
[34:20] » we're all in Washington.
>> And I think Can I just speak to that?
[34:24] So, you know, and I've we've you know,
again, our job is to enforce the laws
[34:27] that are in front of us. So, just to
clarify that we're not taking a position
[34:31] either way. So, we don't want to take
anyone's license away. We I don't think
[34:35] you are.
>> We're absolutely pro business. I mean,
[34:38] we we're the ones that authorize liquor
licenses. So, of course, we want as many
[34:43] restaurants in our city as possible. So,
we're not about any of that. I don't
[34:47] know why it would be an issue though if
everything was paid by the 31st to for
[34:53] us to make a phone call to liquor
control to to have him to have this
[34:59] removed.
>> I'm trying to I don't know. I don't know
[35:03] how it's viewed once that happens. I'm
trying to figure out a way for us to not
[35:06] have this on his record, whatever that
means.
[35:09] » Can I So, Mr. City Clerk, is it is it an
issue because your office administrates
[35:13] this, but is it an issue for us to
communicate with liquor control if and
[35:18] when that happens
in a timely basis? So, let's say it's on
[35:22] the 31st.
>> It that doesn't seem to be a problem as
[35:28] far as um what we can get done.
>> No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm
[35:32] saying is I'm not saying put it there
and then take it away. I'm saying it's
[35:37] kind of like, you know, I have clients
that sometimes have have a conviction
[35:39] and then they get it expuned. It's
better not to have the conviction. So
[35:43] this to me, if I if I were a Lency, I
would not want this letter to exist. I'm
[35:48] trying to figure out a way for it to not
exist. If we give them until March 29th
[35:52] and we say if you don't pay by March
29th, we're going to submit this to
[35:55] liquor control March 30th.
>> Can't would that work?
[36:01] That way everybody gets what they want.
>> If it wouldn't work, tell me why it
[36:05] wouldn't work. I'm I'm I'm gonna defer.
>> Okay.
[36:10] » Liquor control has to have our
recommendation by March 31st.
[36:15] So, it has to be in hand by the close of
business on March 31st. So, however,
[36:19] council decides to move forward
>> once we we don't have any ability to
[36:24] extend that deadline. That's statutory.
>> Right. That's what what I'm asking is if
[36:29] right now let's say I make the motion to
I'm not making it yet so start writing
[36:34] stuff down. If let's say the motion is
we're going to give him until March 29th
[36:37] and if he does not come current by March
29th then on March 30th we sign this
[36:42] letter and submit it to liquor control
and that way they get it by the 31st he
[36:46] gets almost all the way till the end of
the month and we're still within the
[36:51] statutory requirement of March 31st. I
mean that would work, wouldn't it?
[36:56] It's within your discretion as council
to handle it in that way if you choose
[37:00] to do so.
>> Okay. All right. I'd get ready to write
[37:02] because I'm gonna I'm gonna make a
motion.
[37:03] » And it would be a resolution, not a
letter. So the resolution that's in your
[37:07] agenda packets would need to be
submitted to liquor control in order to
[37:11] make the recommendation.
>> Right. Okay. Okay. So I'm I'm ready to
[37:14] make the motion and this is what it's
going to be. And I don't know I I
[37:17] haven't pulled the audience yet so I
don't know if this if we even have the
[37:20] votes for this. Uh my motion is to give
uh Oak Park Social until March 29th to
[37:26] come current on these delinquent bills.
If at that point in time he has not come
[37:30] current by close of business March 29,
then on March 30 we sign this resolution
[37:35] and submit it to liquor control. If he
comes current after that, then obviously
[37:39] we can reach out and withdraw it or
however it is that we fix it. But I'm
[37:45] saying he has until March 29th to pay,
close the business. If he doesn't, then
[37:49] we on March 30th, we sign this
resolution and submit it to liquor
[37:52] control. And that's my motion.
>> Question.
[37:56] » Is there a second to the motion first?
>> I had a question, but uh
[38:03] do we have a second to the motion?
>> I'll second.
[38:06] » Okay. A question. Council member
Crawford.
[38:11] » So, two questions. The business owner
asked for the 31st to make payment.
[38:17] Correct. And this motion will be giving
him till the 29th which will be raising
[38:23] it.
>> Right.
[38:27] » Okay. I just wanted clarity.
>> What was the question?
[38:30] » He asked he said that he would bring all
utilities and taxes
[38:35] » current by the 31st. But with the motion
that you just put in,
[38:39] » right,
>> we're requesting them to be come current
[38:42] by the 29th
>> because I'm also trying to be cognizant
[38:45] of the city administration's needs to be
able to sign the resolution and get it
[38:50] into liquor control by the 31st, which
is the statutory date it has to be in
[38:54] by. So, we can't give them all the way
until the 31st. We could do until the
[38:58] 30th, but then our our city only has one
day to get it done. This way, it gives
[39:02] them two. And if we if we vote no on
this because I don't I don't think he's
[39:07] going to let his business
>> He's not. No, there's no way he will.
[39:10] » So if we vote no on this, how long
additional is that additional year?
[39:14] » It gets signed. It gets signed right
now. The resolution gets signed and
[39:18] submitted.
>> We would have to approve the the the
[39:21] resolution,
>> right? If somebody makes the motion that
[39:23] it passes, right?
>> Madam Mayor, may I ask a question?
[39:28] » Please. Um, when he indicated he was
going to make payment, does he mean on
[39:31] the water bill, the storm water bill,
um, the utility bills too, not just the
[39:38] taxes, or does or was that up to
interpretation? How did he how did he
[39:42] say he was going to what did he say he
was going to pay?
[39:46] » He
>> I thought he said everything, but my
[39:47] motion
>> communication that I received at 655
[39:50] said all bills is the way he referenced
it.
[39:52] » So, almost like a little over 10 grand.
>> Um, yeah. 4 Not that much.
[39:59] » 17.
>> Yeah.
[40:00] » 11 or 12.
>> Oh, yeah. No, actually it's more than 10
[40:03] grand.
>> A little bit over 10 grand. 600.
[40:09] » But he did and he didn't pay
his property taxes last year.
[40:14] » Correct.
>> So that's why this $5,000 number is
[40:16] higher. Right. Okay.
[40:26] » Any further questions?
[40:29] Are we ready to vote on Councilman?
>> One further question, Madame Mayor.
[40:34] Sorry,
>> one further question. Did he indicate
[40:36] last year to us that he was going to
pay?
[40:42] » Okay. Well, I'm just going to say this.
Um, this has been an ongoing battle,
[40:47] I'll call it. Yeah. Every year we go
through this. There's two properties in
[40:53] question. one in front of you tonight,
but there's another property, too, where
[40:57] we have the same battle
>> every year.
[41:06] » I'm I'm seeking to give the guy two
weeks to pay.
[41:11] That's it. I think it's a fair I think
it's a fair uh splitting the baby.
[41:15] That's what I do. I'm Solomon. I split
the baby.
[41:19] » Further comments, questions?
I I'd like to come up. Mayor,
[41:24] » mayor prom Julie Edgar.
>> Um I I have patronized Oak Park Social
[41:32] um and have been looking forward to um
the Mexican restaurant next door to
[41:38] open. I don't like the idea of taking
away uh a license because I think that
[41:44] would spell the end of his businesses.
I'm not sure what else he would do. At
[41:50] the same time, as the city attorney
pointed out, um we renew these licenses
[41:54] every year and businesses pay the fee.
They pay what they're supposed to pay.
[42:00] We as residents, we also pay our
property taxes, our personal property
[42:05] taxes, and our
>> [clears throat]
[42:07] » utility bills. So, um, while I I feel
for him and I don't want to see Oak Park
[42:14] Social or Salude, uh, die, I also feel
that, um,
[42:22] you know, we we had a problem with him
last year. He didn't pay. And, um, I
[42:27] sort of feel like, should we really be
doing this? Um, should we give him a
[42:34] pass when we don't do it for anybody
else? Well, that's my concern.
[42:43] any responses or
>> it's a reasonable concern.
[42:46] » Yeah.
>> Yeah.
[42:49] » Every every point that's been made I
think has been valid. My my my approach
[42:53] is give them till the 29th to pay. If
not, turn it into the liquor control.
[42:59] That's it.
>> Council member Crawford, did you have a
[43:02] comment? I'm just on the fence with this
because as he stated,
[43:06] if he does not pay, he's going to be
responsible for the penalties and fees.
[43:11] He's not going to let his business go
into default.
[43:16] he may need additional time to
um manage his cash flow and by
[43:26] um and once again he has like he said if
you check with public public uh ser you
[43:31] know um our our public service he's not
never had any issues any problems under
[43:37] age so I'm kind of really on the fence
about sending this
[43:42] recommendation for non-renewal um I
think he made valid points about
[43:46] managing his cash flow. Even though I
know that we do have this ordinance in
[43:50] place,
I just know that if something happened
[43:54] by the 31st and he's unable to pay that,
he would we, you know, he could possibly
[43:59] lose his this business. So, I think it
just needs to be considered.
[44:05] » Madame Mayor, one more question. Council
member uh Sean Whitehead. So
[44:10] » we got his storm water water and sewer
bill at 4,6610.
[44:17] When's the last time he's paid a water
bill? Does anybody know?
[44:25] » I believe it was last April.
>> So around this time when he came in last
[44:29] time.
[44:37] it off.
[44:47] » Was it paid to zero at that time?
>> Yes.
[44:56] » We ready to vote?
[45:02] Madame Mayor, I uh I'm not so sure that
I got a second for for
[45:07] » There was Okay, thank you.
[45:17] » Okay, this is the vote to extend the
deadline for him
[45:22] till March 29th.
>> It wouldn't be an extension. Yeah, it's
[45:27] not released. It's it's we're giving him
till the 29th to pay all these bills. If
[45:31] he doesn't pay by the 29th, then on the
30th, then by the 30th, we um sign this
[45:37] resolution and submit it to liquor
control.
[45:42] » Yeah. Are we ready?
[45:51] » And we start with Council Member
Crawford.
[45:56] No.
>> Mayor Prom Edgar.
[45:59] » No.
>> Mayor Mlen.
[46:02] » No.
>> Council member Radner.
[46:04] » Does it matter if I vote yes?
>> Yes, sir.
[46:08] » And council member Whitehead?
>> No.
[46:11] » Okay. Now, we need um a recommendation
to send the recommendation to the
[46:19] Michigan Liquor Control Commission for
the non-renewal of the class C liquor
[46:24] license issued to Oak Park Social.
Is there a motion?
[46:31] » So moved.
>> Is there a second?
[46:36] » Second.
>> Second. Uh we've had discussion. Roll
[46:40] call, please.
[46:51] Mayor Prom Edgar,
>> yes.
[46:55] » Mayor Mlen,
>> yes.
[46:57] » Council member Radner,
>> no.
[47:00] » Council member Whitehead,
>> no.
[47:03] » Council member Crawford,
>> no.
[47:06] » No.
>> How can we not pass either one of them,
[47:09] folks?
What do you want to do?
[47:12] » Well,
>> democracy at work.
[47:17] » Uh,
>> he gets he gets a he gets till as long
[47:21] as he wants.
>> Well, next year he's going we're going
[47:24] to have a remedy through the county,
right?
[47:25] » Say it again.
>> Next year we would have a remedy through
[47:28] the county. Right.
>> What would be the remedy next year?
[47:33] » Misses for three years. Right.
>> Right.
[47:37] » Madam Mayor, if I could Yes. So if if
non-payment of property taxes, they
[47:42] would roll to the they would go into
foreclosure after the missing three
[47:46] years of payment. So that's what you're
referring to.
[47:51] Okay.
Council members 13B1 is a resolution
[47:55] authorizing the city assessor to prepare
special assessment rules assessing
[47:59] unpaid charges together with a 10%
penalty on private property for
[48:03] delinquent utilities in the amount of
$495,494.65.
[48:09] Bolts alarms for $550,
miscellaneous concrete replacement for
[48:13] $2,932.93
and property blight for $24,334.17.
[48:22] » So moved.
>> Second.
[48:28] » Any discussion, questions?
[48:35] » Uh, do we need a roll call? All those in
favor, please say I.
[48:39] » I.
>> I.
[48:40] » Any opposed? Motion carried.
>> Okay. And then 13B2 is a resolution
[48:46] receiving special assessment roles and
establishing April 8th, 2026 as the date
[48:51] for h public hearing on the roles for
unpaid charges for city expenses
[48:55] incurred on private premises for
delinquent utilities number 731. False
[49:00] alarms number 732. Miscellaneous
concrete replacement number 733. and
[49:05] property blight number 734.
>> So moved.
[49:09] » Oh, the date's April 6th. Council
members correction there. It's actually
[49:13] April 6th
>> instead of April 8th
[49:17] » because the meeting changed.
>> Oh god. Right.
[49:19] » All right. So moved.
[49:23] » Second.
>> Um
[49:27] all those in favor please say I.
>> Any opposed? Motion carried.
[49:32] » Elevate Oak Park. Finally, some good
news.
[49:35] » Yes. Okay. So, 13C1 council members is
our regular uh monthly Elevate Oak Park
[49:42] update tonight. I would like to bring
your attention to the screen and I'm
[49:47] going to turn it over to our esteemed
colleague, Mr. David Doster, to go
[49:51] through an update about the Oak Park
Event Hub and Banshell project, which
[49:55] I'm very excited to see is coming along
nicely.
[49:57] » Good evening, Mayor, Council, City Man
Tongate. Uh like the city manager said,
[50:02] we made we've been making making
tremendous progress. Um we've
[50:05] [clears throat] hit some of our
milestones. You can see from the outside
[50:08] the building uh how much progress has
been made. For the most part at this
[50:12] point, the crews are inside the
building. So you can see in the picture
[50:16] here, some of the windows on the
outside, the very top translucent panels
[50:19] are installed. Um you can't see it from
this picture, but the garage doors have
[50:25] been installed. We still have some
plastic on the outside, so you can't
[50:28] quite see it. Um, but the overhead door
motors, chains, and safety assemblies
[50:32] are all installed. The linear metal
ceiling, as you can see here by the uh
[50:38] steel framing, is currently being
installed. Interior painting, epoxy
[50:43] floors, ceilings are all being
installed, and electrical is finishing
[50:47] up. So, we've been making uh a lot of
good progress. We're really waiting for
[50:52] the weather to break at this point.
We've scheduled crews to finish the
[50:56] underground, finish the grass, finish
the painting, all the work that happens
[50:59] in the outside. Um, we're really just
waiting for the weather to break. So, as
[51:05] you know, we have some events scheduled
uh late this fiscal year and we are
[51:09] doing our best to make sure we meet
those dates. So, happy to answer any
[51:14] questions you may have. Um Dave, I want
to take this opportunity um just to
[51:19] announce and we're going to have much
more information coming on this, but on
[51:21] June 30th, we are going to have our
state of the city address along with our
[51:25] ribbon cutting for the event hub. And
we're hoping to have all of this in
[51:29] place at that time. And we're currently,
council members, working on some of the
[51:32] audiovisisual
elements, which are much more expensive
[51:36] than I wanted them to be, but we'll be
back to talk to you about that
[51:41] » on April 6.
Thank you for the good news. Coming
[51:45] soon.
>> There there's another I wanted to point
[51:50] out there's another rendering of the
garage doors from the inside looking out
[51:54] there.
>> Oh,
[51:55] » and then Dave, that ceiling will have
the ceiling right there will have a wood
[51:59] veneer attached to it. Correct.
>> So, they're currently working on the
[52:02] band shell right now with Yeah, it
similar. It's very close to the the
[52:07] metal ceiling inside. little bit
different because it's more for
[52:09] acoustics. But the outside right now,
you'll see where that plywood is. It's
[52:13] starting to be wrapped in the um I
forget the I think it's an oak wood
[52:19] finish on the outside of the bandell. So
you can see that tomorrow if you look
[52:22] out there.
>> Okay. And then Dave, if you could So a
[52:26] lot of progress has been made, council
members, for those of you who were able
[52:29] to attend the tours last week um out in
we we visited a couple of community
[52:35] centers out in the metro area. one in
the city of Troy and then the other in
[52:39] Mcome Township. I thought those were
very helpful uh in terms of giving us
[52:43] ideas for our community center, but
Dave, could you give us an update where
[52:47] we're at in the construction progress?
>> Sure.
[52:49] » Everything else going into that?
>> Sure.
[52:51] » And demolition, too.
>> Yep. So, we are currently meeting weekly
[52:55] with our design team to work on what we
call schematic design. Um to the city
[53:00] manager's point, we did meet and tour
two much larger facilities last week.
[53:05] However, we knew that going in. We were
really looking at some of the amenities
[53:08] that they provide to their residents and
really the size of their pool facility
[53:12] and the size of the gymnasiums uh
closely mimic what we're looking for our
[53:16] community center. So, we're actively in
the design phase. We are looking to
[53:21] schedule a public engagement session
with our residents to update them uh on
[53:25] the progress and we'll be making a
presentation to city council as well in
[53:28] the next um I'd say four to six weeks.
So, that is moving along very quick. um
[53:34] and staying on schedule with that. Uh
the demolition,
[53:38] last meeting we did award the demolition
to a contractor. Currently, we're just
[53:43] waiting on some frost laws and things
and the weather to change. Uh Dan
[53:46] Fairless is working with them on getting
sewer caps taken care of, getting uh
[53:50] electrical services decommissioned, gas
services retired and things. So, I would
[53:55] say early April, we're thinking that we
should start seeing some progress on the
[54:00] demolitions on this site.
>> Fantastic. Council members, are there
[54:04] any questions?
[54:07] » We're amazed.
>> A lot going on. Lot going on.
[54:10] » All of this wonderful new stuff is
coming to Oak Park.
[54:13] » Dave, thank you so much. Um before I I
turn it back over, council members, I do
[54:18] want to just um extend uh deep uh
gratitude for our public safety
[54:23] department who assisted in the uh West
Bloomfield um terror attack. Uh,
[54:29] Director Cooper and your team um really
were on site doing a phenomenal job as
[54:35] always. Um, not easy circumstances and
you guys as always handled it with grace
[54:40] and I very much appreciate it.
>> Um, with that that finishes the city
[54:46] manager report. Council members,
>> thank you.
[54:49] » Um, next we have call to the audience.
Okay, for call to the audience.
[54:57] [clears throat] Each speaker's remarks
are a matter of public record. The
[55:01] speaker is responsible for his or her
comments, and the city of Oak Park does
[55:04] not support, endorse, or accept the
content as being true or accurate.
[55:10] Any person while being heard at a city
council meeting may be called to order
[55:14] by the chair or any council member for
failure to be gerine to the business of
[55:18] the city, vulgarity, or personal attacks
on persons or institutions. And there's
[55:24] a threem minute time limit for speaking
13.
[55:31] » None of you want to speak. Mayor
>> no [clears throat] talk. Um Gregory Gun.
[55:39] Um please come up. He is our city
historian.
[55:45] You have a few words for us.
[55:52] Good evening everyone.
>> Oh, if you come to um so the people at
[55:56] home can hear you too.
[56:01] » Sometimes I feel like I don't need a
microphone.
[56:05] Um like to say good evening to everyone
is here. Uh I'd like to acknowledge the
[56:10] mayor, the mayor pro 10, uh the city
clerk, and the city manager, city
[56:15] council as a whole. It's uh wonderful to
be here tonight and I appreciate uh the
[56:21] mayor for calling me. I was at an out
outing out in Clinton Township and
[56:25] looked at my phone and there was the
mayor's name. So, she uh invited me to
[56:30] be here tonight and I found out from
talking to her on the uh telephone that
[56:35] uh she said, "Well, are you willing to
accept a second term as being a
[56:40] historian?" And I was so amazed and I
said, "Yes." So, I appreciate her giving
[56:44] me the opportunity of uh uh serving
another two-year term as uh the
[56:49] historian of the city of Oak Park. I'm
very proud and the uh the office has
[56:54] really been uh been a joy to me. A lot
of research has been going on. Um uh the
[57:00] library has been so kind to let me use a
lot of the uh historical um events that
[57:06] have taken place in Oak Park. I think I
went back as far as the maybe the late
[57:11] 1950s, you know, just looking through
things and um it's amazing that um
[57:17] sometimes I reminisce, you know, cuz I
found out history is not history only of
[57:22] the past, but it's also the present and
the future. And uh especially when I was
[57:29] looking through a lot of the artifacts,
uh for some reason or another, I was
[57:33] just like sitting there and I was just
looking through all this. And for some
[57:37] some reason or another, I felt like I
was going back in time because I know as
[57:41] a as a youth, I remember some of those
times, you know, but it was just it's
[57:47] it's like I put myself in that time. And
I do that sometime. And I even tell some
[57:53] of my friends, I said, uh, I remember
watching, uh, what was that TV show, um,
[57:58] with Steve Burkel? He had a pressure
chamber,
[58:01] » Family Matters.
>> There you go. Right. And, um, he he once
[58:05] he went inside the chamber, he'd come
out as somebody else, you know,
[58:09] » Stefan Rale, right? [laughter]
But I said to myself, I said, if I had
[58:15] the opportunity, if I could, I I wish
that I had a time machine, and I would
[58:20] love to go in that time machine and go
back to a certain time and see how
[58:24] things were, whether it was in the
1930s,
[58:27] uh 40s, 50s, 60s, what have you. And uh
and also it was just a joy that uh Oak
[58:34] Park celebrated its 80th uh anniversary
as a city 1945 last year. And it was a
[58:40] joy. And um I think um I don't know if
Bernie's here or not, but uh he said uh
[58:47] are you going to do the presidents
again? And I think one of the city
[58:51] council people asked me what I do the
presidential all the presidents in order
[58:56] again. And I said, well, they probably
heard me do that already, you know. So I
[59:00] just said, maybe I'll just do the uh I
can do the governors from 19, you know,
[59:05] since it's been 80 years, I can go back
80 years and do the governors. So I can
[59:09] just start off with uh um Murray Van
Wagner uh that was 1941 to 1943. Then
[59:17] you had Harry F. Kelly who was 1943 to
1947. Goodness gracious.
[59:22] » Then you had um Kim Sigler. He was 1947
to 1949. And at this time uh the
[59:30] governors only served a two-year term.
That changed uh down the line. And then
[59:35] you had uh the gentleman that they used
to call Sophie Williams, G. Mini
[59:39] Williams. He was governor uh from 1949
to 1961.
[59:45] Then you had uh the only lieutenant
governor that we've ever had that I know
[59:49] of in modern times that actually made it
to the governorship and that was John
[59:54] Swainson and he served from 1961 to
1963.
[59:59] Then we had that automobile executive
George Romney
[1:00:03] 1963 to 1969.
And uh we had uh the the I think he was
[1:00:09] the first governor that I finally met
and I thought he was a splendid governor
[1:00:13] uh William Milikin and he served from
1969 to 1983. Then we had Jim Blanchard
[1:00:20] from 1983 to 1991. Then we had John
Ingler 1991 to 2003. That was a long
[1:00:28] time.
>> And then we had our first female
[1:00:31] governor. That was Jennifer Granholm.
And she served from uh 200
[1:00:39] 3 to 2011. Then we had Rick Snder
2011 to 2019. And then who do we have
[1:00:48] right now that's getting ready to leave?
>> That's right. Let's say it.
[1:00:53] » Gresian Whitney.
So those are the governors over the past
[1:00:57] 80 years and I thank you for this time
and I look forward to [applause]
[1:01:08] I look forward to uh being with you all
again and doing whatever I can doing
[1:01:12] research hanging around the neighborhood
uh talking to seniors talking to young
[1:01:17] people and uh it's just been a blessing.
So again thank you
[1:01:27] Are we doing pictures?
>> Yes.
[1:02:16] Everybody smile.
[1:02:44] One more
[1:02:59] boyfriend.
[1:03:10] I invited to come up and take
my pastor
[1:03:28] and his wife.
would like to be part of picture.
[1:03:52] I would love for them to come up. Tony
and Karen come up
[1:03:58] here.
[1:04:04] [laughter]
[1:04:15] Come on.
Come on.
[1:04:38] ready.
[1:04:57] » Smile.
[1:05:08] Great job.
[1:05:37] All righty.
>> We ever going to get home tonight? I
[1:05:40] could use a drink.
>> Go get myself a mocktail.
[1:05:43] » Madam, [clears throat]
>> did you just say mock?
[1:05:47] » Mocktail. Mocktail.
There was somebody who came up here
[1:05:51] once.
>> There are um Yep. City clerk Norris,
[1:05:56] would you call?
>> Um yeah, we we have some more speakers.
[1:06:00] Uh Michael uh Disc.
[1:06:05] » This guy used to be my neighbor.
[1:06:11] » I just I just want to say after my time,
I am also available for any photo ops
[1:06:15] that anybody would [laughter]
>> like. He's he's also a rapper.
[1:06:18] » Uh yes, uh Jupac Jupac for the record. I
just like that on the record. Um
[1:06:26] » honorable members, I would love to
mention everybody in particular, but
[1:06:29] respect and honor to all up there. Thank
you very much for all you do for our
[1:06:35] city. Um I actually kind of wanted to
before I get to my list, um I don't
[1:06:41] really fully I didn't fully follow
exactly what the situation with Oak Park
[1:06:44] Social was. Uh, I trust you guys to do
what's right for us. I would like to
[1:06:49] point out, uh, I think this is a
teachable moment. I see these wonderful
[1:06:52] young ladies here. Um, I don't want to
disparrage anybody, but I think there's
[1:06:58] a way to act and to present ourselves.
And I don't believe that the gentleman
[1:07:04] from Oak Park Social did a good job of
setting a good example of that. I know
[1:07:10] he's worried about his business and I
can respect that. But
[1:07:15] again, there's a way to carry yourself,
especially if you are asking something
[1:07:20] of someone. It's generally not a good
idea to be aggressive with them and
[1:07:25] confrontational with them. So, you might
not all be fully understanding what
[1:07:30] we're talking about at the moment, but
it'll sink in at some point. So, just
[1:07:35] please pay attention that to everybody
here and how everybody acted. Uh again
[1:07:40] my name is Michael Diskin 15075 Lincoln
Street apartment 406 Oak Park Michigan
[1:07:47] 48237. So unfortunately I'm well
familiar with Oak Park public safety as
[1:07:52] we see them all the time at the towers.
Um and thank you for what you guys did
[1:07:56] and your part in uh helping with Temple
Israel. I actually do teach at Temple
[1:08:01] Israel. I was not there. Thank God on
that day. I teach on Excuse
[1:08:05] [clears throat] me.
[1:08:12] I [clears throat] sorry I I do I I do
teach on Sundays. Um
[1:08:20] sorry let me just collect myself for a
second. Um just one more thing sorry
[1:08:24] about the behavior. Uh yesterday I
believe was the birthday of Supreme
[1:08:30] Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who is
no longer with us. I don't know if young
[1:08:35] ladies know who Ruth Bader Ginsburg is,
but at some point I would really
[1:08:41] recommend finding out who she was. She
was
[1:08:46] I can't even explain her greatness. She
was the second female Supreme Court
[1:08:51] justice ever. And she not only was wise,
but she carried herself with such grace.
[1:09:00] And I've never heard one single person
ever say anything bad about her. When
[1:09:07] someone asked her a question, even
though 99% of the time she was smarter
[1:09:12] than anybody she was talking to. Oh,
shoot. Three.
[1:09:16] » Three. It's okay.
>> Finish your sentence.
[1:09:19] » Okay. Um,
she took a moment to compose herself, to
[1:09:22] think about what she was going to say,
and then, you know, she proceeded. So,
[1:09:28] thank you to the council for for those
watching. City council listens. [cough]
[1:09:33] I contacted most of the members up here
about my feelings on the car wash. Some
[1:09:38] responded. I felt validated and listened
to. Thank you for that. Uh I just want
[1:09:44] to talk quickly about um about
community, right? Oak Park is the family
[1:09:51] city. I'll be 52 years old, God willing,
in August. Uh, aside from some time at
[1:09:56] Michigan State and a few other cities, I
was born in well technically Royal Oak,
[1:10:01] but I born and raised in Oak Park and
this is such a wonderful city. And what
[1:10:07] happened at Temple Israel on Thursday
was obviously evil, but immediately with
[1:10:14] all of the first responders and
everybody who came to help the
[1:10:20] Calaldian-American community who opened
up literally opened up their doors and
[1:10:24] every all the neighbors who opened up
their doors. Uh we really are in this
[1:10:29] thing together on a city level, on a
state level. So um yeah, there's that.
[1:10:35] And then one more thing because I know
I'm already over time. I just uh I know
[1:10:38] I contacted you guys about the safety
issue and about presenting certain
[1:10:41] things to El Carwash, but on this past
Sabbath, I was crossing Greenfield in
[1:10:47] the crosswalk in the light and there was
a car that was literally blocking the
[1:10:54] crosswalk.
They'd pulled up so much that they were
[1:10:57] literally blocking the crosswalk. And
when we went by, the person rolled down
[1:11:01] their window and they were on their
phone, which ladies, it's illegal to be
[1:11:05] using your phone in your hand, but they
they just weren't paying attention. So,
[1:11:09] I just wanted to make a public plea, and
this is it, I promise, to public safety
[1:11:13] and our council, whatever way we can.
It is tough to be a pedestrian on the
[1:11:18] stretch specifically of Greenfield or
along 10 mile. If there's something we
[1:11:22] can do, a public public awareness
campaign or something, it's it's really
[1:11:27] a problem. I know two people who have
been hit trying to cross that street. As
[1:11:30] someone who walks it, I'm scared, you
know, to do that. So, if there's
[1:11:35] something that we can do, I would I
would appreciate it if we could do that.
[1:11:39] Thank you.
>> Thank you for your kind words and
[1:11:41] suggestions.
>> Crystal Bailey
[1:11:59] Good evening. Thank you. Welcome. Um,
good evening. I'm Crystal Bailey. Good
[1:12:04] evening, audience. And you, uh, Girl
Scouts look amazing. You all look great.
[1:12:11] You're welcome. You're welcome. Uh, I
just want to say our taxes are too high.
[1:12:19] Our taxes are too high. As a business
owner and a homeowner,
[1:12:26] I understand what this homeowner, this
business owner was talking about. Our
[1:12:30] the storm water runoff
is more than our usage when we were
[1:12:36] talking about our water bills. We are
driving people out of our community
[1:12:41] because of our taxes. My taxes has
increased nearly $400. I have an escrow
[1:12:49] shortage of nearly $4,000.
My mortgage next month is increasing.
[1:12:57] April one, I'm going to have a new
mortgage amount to pay.
[1:13:02] I've been here since 1998. I graduated
from Oak Park High School.
[1:13:09] I don't want to leave my community,
but it's getting harder and harder to
[1:13:14] afford to live here. Last time I was at
a city council meeting, I asked you all,
[1:13:21] "If we can't get this money to finish
this project,
[1:13:27] where is it going to come from? Are you
coming after the community members, the
[1:13:31] taxpayers again to cover this cost?"
city manager said that well you we may
[1:13:38] have to have a lawsuit to go after this
money but in the meantime of a lawsuit
[1:13:44] to get this money what who's going to
who pockets there are going to come out
[1:13:48] of we can't continue to drive our people
our comm our constituents our community
[1:13:54] members out of our community because of
property taxes
[1:13:58] I'm Crystal Bailey and I'm here as an
advocate for all the constituents in Oak
[1:14:03] park on our property taxes. Something
has to happen. Thank you,
[1:14:14] » Ken Sherman.
[1:14:26] » I don't know.
Good evening, Ken Sherman 23840 Jerome
[1:14:32] and Oak Park. Um, after listening to the
owner of Oak Park Social and the back
[1:14:38] and forth with city council, I just
wanted to give my two cents as a
[1:14:42] resident, um, as was mentioned, this
business has had an ongoing issue with
[1:14:49] paying their bills or whatever. I
remember when he came before the city
[1:14:54] council a couple years back and he was
having issues with refrigeration needing
[1:15:00] new coolers and and and whatnot. And as
was mentioned, if I as a private citizen
[1:15:07] cannot pay my water bills and other
bills, my water gets turned off. I don't
[1:15:14] get the luxury of having a ride for a
year or whatever without paying my
[1:15:20] utilities plus whatever other bills this
gentleman has incurred. And two weeks
[1:15:26] before he's up to pay, he's here
pleading his case. I don't know if it's
[1:15:32] a lack of financial mismanagement and he
has a second business in the uh 11 mile
[1:15:38] social district. I don't understand. But
for him to come before you and plead
[1:15:44] hardship and make you the hard guys and
it's your responsibility to bail him
[1:15:50] out, I just don't understand. I think he
needs to get a CPA or somebody that can
[1:15:56] help him manage his budget in order to
meet his business needs instead of
[1:16:02] crying on the shoulders of uh city
council. I just don't understand where
[1:16:07] he's coming from. Thank you.
[1:16:13] That's it.
Um, thank you. That's the end of the um
[1:16:19] call to the audience. Now we are on call
to the council.
[1:16:25] Um,
[1:16:28] first I'm I'm thrilled that our public
safety department was able to come to
[1:16:35] the aid of West Bloomfield Township when
um when they had that horrible event
[1:16:43] happen that we all pulled together and
that was heart heartwarming. Another sad
[1:16:50] thing, today we mourn together with
Huntington Woods, our sister city, with
[1:16:56] whom we share professional, personal,
and geographic ties.
[1:17:01] We extend condolences to the beautiful
family of Doug Jamal, to his friends,
[1:17:08] his co-workers, and to all the residents
who came to know him. For those who
[1:17:14] haven't heard, Doug was out during the
high winds. He he worked for DPW,
[1:17:21] Department of Public Works in Huntington
Woods, and he was doing his job clearing
[1:17:26] out a tree that had fallen across the
street.
[1:17:30] when when the wind came along and blew
another branch down that killed him
[1:17:36] while he was working.
All of our outside personnel, our public
[1:17:42] safety officers,
our DPW officers
[1:17:48] um are involved in risky jobs.
Police and fire get publicity, but our
[1:17:57] nonuniformed employees cheerfully
provide services that keep our city
[1:18:02] safe. We appreciate you all and pray
that you stay safe.
[1:18:09] Thank you, Mayor Prom Julie Edgar.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I also want to
[1:18:14] echo the mayor's sentiments and thank
our public safety department, Director
[1:18:19] Cooper, for coming to the aid of um the
other officers who were at the scene at
[1:18:24] Temple, Israel. I hope that they do the
same for us. Uh, should anything
[1:18:29] terrible like that happen. Let's hope it
does not. Um, so thank you. Um, also I
[1:18:35] wanted to [clears throat] let these Girl
Scouts know that I did buy cookies from
[1:18:40] you and I put on about 10 pounds. I'm
not happy.
[1:18:44] Okay. I'm not happy, but um but they
were delicious. And so, thank you. Um
[1:18:50] and thank you all for coming. Good
night.
[1:18:53] » That's cute. Uh Council Member Radner.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Thank you all
[1:18:58] for coming out. Thank you for your
interest in the process. And young
[1:19:01] ladies, I do have a very important
question for you that I really wish one
[1:19:04] of you would have addressed during call
to audience. It's a question that I
[1:19:09] have. I think this is a question a lot
of us have and frankly it's a question
[1:19:12] that we deserve the answer to. Why are
some of you wearing green vests and some
[1:19:17] of you wearing other color vests?
[laughter] I'm really curious about
[1:19:20] that. I don't know if we're allowed to
let them answer, but I'm really curious.
[1:19:25] » We will uh
[1:19:41] Very cool. Thank you for the
explanation.
[1:19:43] » Thank you for the courage to speak out.
>> And just one last thing that I want to
[1:19:47] say is last night I got a very special
gift from a very special person and I
[1:19:51] want to acknowledge and recognize her
and that's my little daughter Adena made
[1:19:55] me this little bracelet here
>> and I am very proud of it.
[1:19:59] » Lovely. Council member Whitehead,
[1:20:05] » something said um at this meeting that
was like we can either be a business
[1:20:09] city or a people city. I I I don't agree
with that. I think we could be both. I
[1:20:13] think that that's what a community is.
You got to have businesses to have a
[1:20:16] community. You got to have people that
want to go into those businesses. And so
[1:20:20] what we try to do here is just weigh all
the balances. I I didn't like the call
[1:20:24] we we made tonight. I'll be honest. It's
one that I just didn't like cuz
[1:20:28] everybody's right. you should pay your
bills and you should pay them on time.
[1:20:32] Um, but what what are we gonna do if
that if his business flops over 10
[1:20:36] grand? I mean, so
we just make the best decision we can up
[1:20:40] here, but we are doing this for the
community. We are doing this for the
[1:20:44] people. Um, and you got to have
businesses cuz there's places that you
[1:20:47] want to go out to eat. There's places
that you want to get your car washed at
[1:20:51] or, you know, maybe too early for that
one for after the last couple weeks.
[1:20:55] » That is way too early.
>> Have a good night everybody. [laughter]
[1:20:59] I got the laugh of the evening. Council
member uh Crawford,
[1:21:04] » um I just want to say that um our hearts
and prayers, I know I can speak for all
[1:21:10] of my colleagues up here and um they're
just with the congregation of Temple
[1:21:15] Israel because they're healing right
now. Um I just uh feel as we all that no
[1:21:22] one should have fear while they're
attending school or worship. They should
[1:21:26] not have to fear that. So, um, I just
wanted to say I I know that I stand with
[1:21:31] our Jewish community, condemn all acts
of violence, and my prayers are out for
[1:21:35] the congregation who is healing at this
time. Um, I want to thank the Girl
[1:21:41] Scouts for coming. I was a Girl Scout
>> and I loved being a Girl Scout. Um, so,
[1:21:47] thank you for coming. You, you ladies
are beautiful. Um, I also wanted to
[1:21:52] acknowledge once again um our elected
official Don Cochran. Thank is it Copin
[1:21:58] or Cochran?
>> Corpin. Um, that's a hard job and
[1:22:03] especially right now. So, thank you for
all you do. And finally, um, reminding
[1:22:09] everyone this Friday, Oak Park, they
have a charity vet. Anyone up here on
[1:22:13] that team?
>> Oh, don't embarrass us. City manager,
[1:22:18] » don't embarrass us. So, right there.
[laughter]
[1:22:21] » Um they're having a um a charity
basketball game uh at the high school.
[1:22:27] Is it Friday night? What time is that?
>> Six o'clock. I think
[1:22:30] » six o'clock. So um come on out, support
and thank everyone for coming and and
[1:22:36] once again, as I always like to leave
you with, be kind to one another. Good
[1:22:41] night.
>> Thank you. And
[1:22:47] » we need
>> basketball Friday six o'clock where
[1:22:52] » Oak Park High School. And before we
close, I would like to invite the Girl
[1:22:56] Scouts back up here to um uh adjourn the
meeting.
[1:23:04] » This is the best part.
[1:23:14] Are you gonna do it? Okay.
>> So, um
[1:23:20] um there is no further business to come
before this council.
[1:23:25] » This meeting is
>> this this meeting is a journ
[1:23:31] » and then hit this
[1:23:36] [applause]
[1:23:43] I was a Girl Scout, too, and I loved it.
And you guys have the best leaders
[1:23:50] anywhere.