[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.

3/16/2026 Oak Park City Council Meeting (LIVE)

Transcript