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[4:10] » Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting of your Westland City Council to

[4:13] order. We will begin tonight with the pledge of allegiance led by Councilwoman

[4:16] Antonet Martin. I aliance to the flag of the United

[4:23] States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under

[4:29] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[4:36] » Thank you, Councilwoman Martin, for leading us in the pledge. Madam clerk,

[4:40] roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Bowman,

[4:42] » present. >> Councilwoman Martin,

[4:45] » Councilwoman Rowski is absent, excused. Councilwoman Sampy

[4:48] » here. >> Councilman Sullivan

[4:50] » here. >> Prom Maxwell

[4:52] » here. >> President McDermott

[4:53] » here. >> A quorum is present.

[4:55] » Okay. Uh before we begin tonight, um you know, unfortunately we have to do

[5:00] something that I think is happened all too often um lately here in our city. Um

[5:05] I do want to take a minute to have a moment of silence to recognize our

[5:10] senior services director, Beth Welcome, who passed away the other week. Um Beth

[5:16] has only been with the city of Westland in her capacity as senior services

[5:20] director for a few years, but she's been very active and very engaged member of

[5:25] the broader Westland community along with her husband, the late incredibly

[5:30] great Craig Welcome back for a number of years. Beth obviously championed the

[5:34] cause of uh seniors, senior citizens in our Westland community with the work she

[5:39] did as senior services director and championed a number of other causes

[5:44] throughout her long involvement in the Westland community. And uh we lost

[5:49] Director Walenbach after a long battle of cancer. and uh my thoughts and the

[5:54] thoughts of my colleagues on the council certainly go out with her family uh her

[5:59] daughters and all of her friends many of whom uh are here and work for the city

[6:05] of Westland and to those out there. So if we could take a moment and please

[6:08] have a moment of silence for Beth Walenbach.

[6:20] » Thank you very much Beth. you will uh be greatly missed here in our city. Um,

[6:25] tonight we do have two special announcements and presentations. Uh,

[6:29] first up, we are going to hear from Councilwoman Emily Bowman as she

[6:33] presents to the St. John's Church. Councilman.

[6:50] Thank you. I want to welcome El Boenshoots up from um St. John's

[6:56] Lutheran Church. And um last meeting we actually approved a resol um a

[7:01] resolution or proclamation because St. John's just celebrated 150 years. Um I

[7:07] will part of that was in just over Michigan Avenue in Wayne, but most of it

[7:12] now has since how many years? 65 years has been in in Westland. And so 150

[7:18] years is a long time. Um so it was established in 1876 and I thought about

[7:23] the fact that that our nation was only 100 years old when this church was

[7:26] established. Um so we did this proclamation. We um and I wanted to

[7:31] present it to the church and actually get a picture with our council.

[7:35] » Yeah. Do you want to make any comments at all?

[7:38] » No, not me. [laughter]

[7:41] » I've been there for 150 years. >> Oh, yeah. [laughter]

[7:45] [applause] >> That was actually one thing that they

[7:46] said like no one here was here when this first church was established. So, that's

[7:50] kind of interesting. So, um, just so the proclamation, we're actually going to,

[7:54] um, we when we get our last signature, we actually will, um, get it very nicely

[7:57] framed for the church as well. Um, and I just I I do want to mention um, one of

[8:01] the things I thought that was interesting, they found, and I can't

[8:03] remember if I mentioned this last time, but they found a fresco, I believe, an

[8:07] art fresco that was in one of the original um, churches, the old stone

[8:11] church as they called it, right? And they found it and stored away. They had

[8:15] it restored and now it's in the altar at the church, which is really a neat

[8:20] thing. The old church too was in the altar. Used to be in the altar and we

[8:24] didn't have it in our altar because we had a modern church and it was kind of

[8:27] put away and I brought it out and we got it done.

[8:30] » Looks beautiful. >> Thank you. All right. If the council

[8:34] would like to come down the clerk for a quick Hold on.

[8:59] Stop. Yes.

[9:08] Thank you guys.

[9:20] » All right.

[9:32] Well, thank you very much, Councilwoman Bowman. Our next uh special announcement

[9:36] and presentation is going to come from Paul Ruthenberg at Priority Waste. Uh we

[9:40] wanted to bring Paul in today to talk to you, the residents here in Westland

[9:45] about the uh service issues, the pad service, poor service that you had

[9:49] experienced for a number of months from priority waste um to have some

[9:53] accountability to get some answers from priority. So, we certainly appreciate

[9:56] Paul being here. So, the way this is going to work is that Paul will give us

[10:00] an update to the council. And then I'm going to let each council member go down

[10:04] uh the line and ask a question to Paul. We're not here, you know, to have a

[10:08] 45minut back and forth, but I do want to make sure that council gets a chance to

[10:12] ask a question each and that we get to hear from Paul and most importantly all

[10:16] of you out there in the audience and those watching at home get to hear from

[10:19] Paul about the service issues, the delays, the mispickups that priority

[10:23] waste had. So without further ado, I will turn it over to Mr. Ruenberg and

[10:28] thank you for joining us, Paul. >> Thank you, Council President, Council.

[10:31] Good evening, Mayor Prom Gaba, good evening. And especially to the residents

[10:35] of Westland, good evening. Uh and I appreciate uh Councilman that you

[10:40] invited me to come here tonight. Uh it needs to be discussed as to where

[10:44] priority has been, where it is now, and [clears throat] where it's going going

[10:48] forward. Uh, quickly I'd just like to point out that one of my proudest

[10:53] features of being a Ruthenberg is that as Westland celebrates its 60th

[10:57] anniversary, there has been a Ruthenberg involved in

[11:00] the sanitation uh, business in Westland since Westland left township. I myself

[11:08] have been uh, involved both owning and representing Priority Waste uh, since

[11:14] 1992. Should repeat that. I do not own Priority Waste. I own my own company up

[11:18] until 2021. So that [clears throat] being said,

[11:23] the main purpose of a garbage company is to provide service to its residents and

[11:29] make the product go away in a timely manner. Where we have been is

[11:34] fundamentally priority waste. In February 28th,

[11:38] uh the board of directors removed our previous CEO.

[11:44] They then went between February and March and did a study in which um a new

[11:52] company came in and bought priority waste. The new company is TPG Equity.

[11:58] That is a $327 billion equity firm. In addition, we also brought in a new

[12:06] CEO, Aaron Johnson. Aaron Johnson is I'm going to use this. He's a garbage man

[12:13] like me. We both were raised and brought up in the garbage business, throwing

[12:17] garbage, loading, doing mechanical work. So, he's a lot younger than I am, but I

[12:23] can tell you we think very similarly as far as what needs to happen. But going

[12:28] back very quickly to February 28th, the time period between February and

[12:33] April is very very important in a garbage business because that is the

[12:37] time period where the volume is light enough to where you can get your hands

[12:40] on the equipment and ready it for a very very hectic spring. As we all know,

[12:45] spring is a lot of volume out there. People clean the garages, the lawn is

[12:48] green and heavy. Um, one thing that happened at Priority Waste because of

[12:53] the timing is between February and March it was found that they did not do what

[12:59] was necessary to especially the rear load packers. There's three different

[13:02] types of vehicles you'll see out there. There's curado trucks that have the can

[13:06] in the front. There's auto side loaders that have that pick it up from the side

[13:09] and a rear load packer where generally you'll see people on the back of the

[13:13] truck putting garbage away. The rear load packers is what's used to pick up

[13:17] yard waste and bulk. They did not put the necessary time and effort into the

[13:23] fleet. Aaron Johnson became CEO on June the

[13:28] 1st. His first order was 91 additional new trucks. And I did hear from some of

[13:33] the residents that they're actually seeing them in Westland. Um we are

[13:38] sitting at about 70 of those trucks are now in and running. It's an easy It's an

[13:42] easy job. I've done it my whole life. It takes people and equipment.

[13:49] That's it. If you don't have one or the other, you're in trouble in this

[13:52] business. The equipment was not ready simply for operations in April.

[13:58] Um, I'm happy to report that between April and about the second week in July,

[14:05] uh, Aaron was able to stabilize priority waste.

[14:10] Um, it took a village, but we are stable. We are collecting trash in a

[14:16] timely manner. trash, yard waste, bulk. There are still things, that being said,

[14:21] that I am not happy with on a personal level.

[14:25] Remember, I've been here my whole life. Simply put, the way that I think is how

[14:30] many complaints are too many? One. Okay. I'm never happy with my product.

[14:37] Um, matter of fact, I had a previous mayor call me in 2008 said that I came

[14:41] back as the highest rated service in the city of Westland. My comment was above

[14:45] what? sidewalk crack repair and because I'm I'm never happy with the

[14:50] product, folks. So, where [clears throat] we been? Where are we

[14:56] now? We're stable. We're collecting trash, yard waste, recycling bulk in a

[15:01] timely manner. There are still things within Westland that are annoying me,

[15:08] which is some uh the Joy Road border, Newberg, things that we still seem to be

[15:15] inconsistent with that I'm working very hard with operations to make sure that

[15:20] um that the residents can expect their trash and other goods gone each day. So,

[15:28] where are we going? Um my suggestion is is that Aaron

[15:33] Johnson spent 22 years of waste management. He likes the footprint that

[15:37] waste management left. Waste management is also known for providing very good

[15:41] service at an extremely expensive price. That's their that's their thing. But I

[15:47] do believe that through Aerin's leadership, we are going to get to a a

[15:52] much better product that we have that I have ever seen in Priority since 2021

[15:58] when I joined Priority. So, one of the features that I'm really kind of geeked

[16:04] about, if you will, is [clears throat] we're actually developing a program. If

[16:09] you if you ever looked at the Westland website for snow removal, you can see

[16:11] the snow plows and stuff like that. It's really cool.

[16:14] We're going to be launching a program to where any resident can pull up their

[16:19] home. There'll be a red dot once it's collected. They can push on that red dot

[16:24] and it will actually show them a 10-second clip of their garbage actually

[16:27] being serviced. So, what we're doing currently is we're

[16:33] taking the technology, but we're trying to make it user enough friendly for the

[16:38] residents to simply be able to see what's going on on a daily basis. They

[16:43] can know a lot of them had doorbells. We know that. But this is really a neat,

[16:48] you know, they can wherever they could be in Florida and still see the trash

[16:51] was picked up. So the technology part is is coming for residential use and I'm

[17:00] excited about that. Um we have taken the phone systems which

[17:05] were way behind. We now are experiencing less than a 4-minute wait for on the

[17:10] phones. Um, simply put, uh, you can have any phone system in the

[17:16] world, but if you have getting too many phone calls because you're doing a lousy

[17:18] job, what good [clears throat] is it? Okay, so

[17:24] I am very, very excited as to the ownership now and where this company is

[17:30] going. That's me personally speaking to you from spending my life in Westland. I

[17:36] have not been happy. Many of you have talked to me. This gentleman over here

[17:40] has talked to me plenty. Um, [clears throat]

[17:44] I've not been happy with the product that we delivered through April, really

[17:48] through the middle of July. It was just not an adequate product. Something that

[17:53] I was truly embarrassed for. So, for what the residents of the city of

[17:57] Westland went through during that time period, I am profoundly sorry. The

[18:02] company apologizes, but especially myself, because I feel it

[18:07] in here every day. Yeah, I'll rest because Jim Gabwa's

[18:12] looking at me and I talk too long. [clears throat]

[18:15] » Okay. Well, thank you for the update, Paul. I'm going to turn it over to the

[18:18] council for questions. Again, if we can, you know, keep it to a question uh

[18:21] because we do have a meeting to get on to, that would be greatly appreciated.

[18:24] But turn your light on and let me know if you've got a question,

[18:30] Councilman Samp. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I'll summarize this

[18:34] really quickly and then I'll ask my question. So I I put out a survey from

[18:39] June 16th through July 8th and I think that you know this but the issue that

[18:46] was found most often is that there was repeat issues.

[18:51] » So you know it went four plus days as unresolved and 50% of the time they were

[18:57] never resolved at all. So knowing that, you know, and I'll I'm going to what I'm

[19:02] going to do is because obviously we don't want to take up most of the

[19:04] meeting is I'll send you the survey. That way you can kind of dive in and

[19:08] look a little bit deeper on what people were saying. But a main issue which you

[19:13] and I have talked about obviously we talk often because I respect you a lot

[19:18] is that the issues with certain things regarding special pickup. I mean, I

[19:25] haven't heard as many um unresolved issues with trash lately, but the

[19:31] special pickup is still a mess. Um, and I see it. I see it in neighborhoods. So,

[19:35] is it something that city needs to do better to educate those on the special

[19:41] pickup days? Is it something that you guys need to do or have a plan in place

[19:45] of what you've done with other municipalities? But from what I'm seeing

[19:49] and noticing, special pickup is not necessarily going as smooth. And and uh

[19:54] Councilwoman, thank you. We do talk often and I appreciate it. Um I'm I'm

[19:58] When you're talking about special pickup, we're talking about bulk

[20:00] collection. >> Bulk. Yes. Bulk collection.

[20:02] » Um you're correct. It wasn't up to par. What bulk collection the way that we

[20:08] were doing bulk collection requires that truck, the trucks that are out there

[20:15] » to go down each and every street, not glance down the street and say, "Oh,

[20:18] gee, it looks like nothing's out there." But we we're changing the way that we do

[20:21] that. The drivers are actually going to have an active button on their tablet in

[20:27] their in their truck. Each each driver has an iPad fundamentally.

[20:30] » Yeah. >> That they can push to mark bulk. So

[20:35] remember when I said those red dots that the residents can click on, that's what

[20:39] we're going to be using as well to route bulk trucks.

[20:42] » Okay. >> So that especially down backends,

[20:45] culdeacs and whatnot. >> Sure. Um, the other educational aspect

[20:49] of it is we do still get calls where we have the recycling, the bulk out on a

[20:54] week that isn't recycling. But, um, I don't think that that's the main issue.

[20:58] I think we should get our act together on bulk before we uh start talking to

[21:02] our residents. >> Okay. Thank you. I I appreciate that. I

[21:06] appreciate you coming because I've been an advocate for getting something out to

[21:11] our residents because ultimately we waited way too long to [clears throat]

[21:14] get you in here to speak to the residents and explain what you're, you

[21:18] know, what you internally were dealing with, you know, and it comes down to

[21:22] communication to let people know. It's not like Westland residents are going to

[21:25] say it's okay, but they needed to know something. So, I appreciate you owning

[21:30] up and coming this evening to take the heat or to at least share a story.

[21:36] » It's my job. >> I just So, one other quick thing if you

[21:40] wouldn't mind. >> Um, we have also changed under Erin's uh

[21:44] um new leadership. We had a LDC program which was a logistic driver coordinator

[21:49] which they were all housed in Clinton Township in a room that looked like

[21:53] Nassau, okay? And they would watch trucks and what have you. We have

[21:57] changed that way. Um I'm old school. I like foremen in pickup trucks.

[22:03] » Yeah. >> So we now are staffing um logistic

[22:08] managers which they're not in Clinton Township.

[22:11] They're in Wayne where Westland uh off of Vanour. They're in Wayne where

[22:15] Westland rolls out of. His name is Anthony Barl.

[22:19] » Okay. >> He's a career garbage truck driver. He

[22:21] is a garbage man. So now you have the combined

[22:26] logistic and electronic package with an actual person that can drive out and see

[22:31] if people are doing the job properly. So I'm excited about that as well.

[22:36] » Okay, great. Um, do you mind if I ask one more? You want me to let the

[22:39] council? >> Yeah, we got to Yeah, we got to let her

[22:41] go and then maybe we can get back to you. But

[22:42] » yeah, I just have one more from a resident that commented on my page. I

[22:45] can >> We're gonna I'm gonna get to the rest of

[22:47] the council first. >> That's fine. If Paul stays after, I can

[22:49] always talk to you then. >> Maybe somewhere, but you can call. I

[22:52] I'll call you and ask you. >> Yep.

[22:53] » Uh Council Martin, did you have a question?

[22:55] » Hi, I'm sorry. Um did you tell us when the technology was going to be rolled

[22:59] out? >> Um they're going to be rolling that out.

[23:02] They're testing it, I believe, in a couple cities within about six weeks as

[23:07] long as testing goes back a month after. So, I'm going to say that we should

[23:10] expect to see that before Christmas. How's that?

[23:14] And is this technology in phases where it'll be first the trucks for pickup and

[23:20] then the second where where I can see when my uh trash has been picked up and

[23:25] then um the trucks will be able to mark the bulk at the same time.

[23:30] » Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all.

[23:32] » Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman. >> Counciloman Bowman.

[23:34] » Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, I know one of the um

[23:37] concerns and I and you may have addressed it and I apologize if I missed

[23:39] this, but with this new technology because one of the concerns has been how

[23:42] do I communicate when my stuff is not picked up or people saying that they're

[23:46] not getting response even if they do notify. So, does this technology allow

[23:50] them to also quickly say I didn't get picked up also just like the drivers are

[23:55] saying there's bulk. >> Yes, it allows them to very easily

[23:59] communicate. It goes right to our logistic manager Anthony. Okay. And he

[24:06] can take care of that. It allows them to directly and they can actually sign up

[24:09] for a text message once it's done. >> Okay.

[24:14] » Is that okay? Uh, Councilman, any >> Thank you, Council President and Paul.

[24:20] Thank you for for coming and uh facing the music and answering our questions.

[24:25] » Um, so I've been hearing as how things were going to get better

[24:29] was the 91 trucks as you mentioned. Um, you said 70 of them at this point have

[24:35] been purchased. >> Probably. Yeah, it might be 68, might be

[24:37] 71. I haven't checked over the weekend. >> Okay. So, we've made a lot of progress

[24:41] with the trucks. Part two of that that I didn't hear um you explain is we need

[24:46] people to drive those trucks and to load the garbage. So, how many more people

[24:50] have been hired over the say the past six months?

[24:53] » The the estimate is right around 100 new employees since June.

[24:59] » Since June. >> Yes. Now, what we should what I wanted

[25:02] to say is we've always been fully staffed. That's not been the issue. The

[25:06] drivers are not the issue. The trucks getting to the routes was the issue.

[25:09] Okay? So, out of those hundred that and I I own my own business, so I can say

[25:14] that say this, but out of the hundred that you hire, it's generally because 70

[25:18] of them don't need jobs. 70 of the previous people that are working for

[25:22] you. >> Okay. So, we the company's always had

[25:27] enough drivers. Okay.

[25:30] It just doesn't mean you've always had the right drivers.

[25:33] » All right. So, if you're getting 91 new trucks, you're you're saying you don't

[25:37] think you need more employees for those trucks?

[25:39] » No, no, no. Those are replacing old trucks.

[25:42] » Okay. Okay. So, those aren't >> I'm sorry for the confusion.

[25:44] » All right. That's where I was confused, too, then.

[25:46] » No, it's not 91 additional trucks on top of it. It It's to replace trucks that

[25:50] really should not be performing on a full-time basis now.

[25:55] » Okay. So then is that what was causing the service to fall behind was the

[26:01] trucks weren't working were needing to be repaired?

[26:05] » I described them at one time as yo-yos. They'd leave and go back to the yard. Go

[26:10] back to the yard and they they were having great difficulty keeping the uh

[26:14] trucks on the road, especially the yardways trucks.

[26:16] » Okay. And so we anticipate then well with 91 new trucks and 100 new employees

[26:22] that we will be on top of the schedules and not falling behind moving forward.

[26:27] » Yes. >> Thank you. That's all I have.

[26:30] » Protend next. >> It's good. Okay. Uh I think my colleague

[26:36] some of you answered. I just want to just I think the basic question that

[26:39] everyone wants to know is when will Westland will be at 100% before the

[26:42] changes with the CEO old CEO when when can we expect 100% trash bulk everything

[26:47] back to >> that's that's a really great question

[26:50] because it's two parts 100% we are collecting everything 100% per day 100%

[26:56] in my mind I'll let you know because I'm I'm a completely different

[27:01] animal when it comes to doing my job when you councilwoman Sampi can put out

[27:08] a a survey and I come back great. Then I'll consider that we're where we need

[27:14] to be. I'm very picky that way. And I've been through a tough time and just

[27:18] feeling so horrible for the residents of this community. So

[27:24] » whenever he can is where it needs to be, where every garbage uh when any mess is

[27:28] picked up, okay? when we're timely every day where people can get used to it and

[27:34] especially when we can earn the trust back from this body and your residents.

[27:39] » You you mentioned like Joy Road, New Bird, you know that there's still is

[27:42] that's that's why I was asking when do you think that we'll we'll be at 100?

[27:46] Well, you know, there is no people that's still not having their trash

[27:49] picked up and things those issues. >> There is no good reason right now why

[27:53] people should not be having their trash picked up on a on a daily basis. if if

[27:58] if they're missed, it's missed, but it's not because of manpower or equipment.

[28:04] So, we are 100% fully staffed and we have 100% of equipment. Um, understand

[28:09] that even new equipment breaks down. It we put equipment through through a

[28:13] pretty tough day, but um we are able to stay current and we I do see us staying

[28:21] current 100% going forward. There will be some areas and as I indicated earlier

[28:25] a couple of them that are really aggravating me because they they keep on

[28:29] repeating themselves. That's not acceptable.

[28:32] » Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[28:35] » Thank you prom. Um so I've been on the council since

[28:40] 2019 and we had this issue back in 20 uh 22 with priority and you know we brought

[28:47] you in had a similar uh situation. We even brought some of the leadership in

[28:52] and we were promised some of the new technology we're investing at the time.

[28:55] The route monitoring systems, the route mapping, the tablets in every truck, the

[28:59] cameras that have the 360 view so you can see that the trash was actually

[29:03] dumped into the truck and not all over the street. And we were promised back

[29:06] then, we're going on four years now, that things are going to get better.

[29:09] » And here we sit four years later and we feel like we're back in the same

[29:14] situation as we were in 2022. And you've talked about some of the upgrades that

[29:18] you're making here. I'm not asking you to repeat all of that, but what

[29:22] assurances can we get that we're not going to sit here in 2, three, four

[29:25] years and be in the same boat that we were back in 2022?

[29:30] » And again, and thank you, Council President. Um, and I remember 22 very

[29:34] well. Um, so does Councilwoman Sammy. The difference is we are under new

[29:41] ownership and we have a new CEO that I feel comfortable with.

[29:46] I don't want to go too far into

[29:51] anything else that happened in the past, but you're absolutely correct. It's

[29:56] unacceptable to be here in 2022 and it's unacceptable to be back here in 2026.

[30:02] So the asurances that I am portraying are asurances that I've been given

[30:12] and discovered to be true. Now, to your point, the technology is there, okay? We

[30:18] can track trucks. We can pull up video off of trucks. We can do all that.

[30:23] But if you have elite uh LDC doing that in Clinton

[30:27] Township, it's not the same as having a street wise foreman. And that's really

[30:32] what we're counting on is that you actually have a human being

[30:37] out there studying, looking at streets, seeing the

[30:42] type of pro uh uh progress that we're making,

[30:46] but I do realize it is not the first time I've been here.

[30:51] I'm hoping it's the last over this type of thing.

[30:54] » We all hope so, too. Uh last thing, go ahead and ask your resident question

[30:57] real quick and then we're going to move on.

[30:59] » Okay. So, I just have a logistic question. Hopefully this is quick. So

[31:03] resident had put something on my page asked why when you pick up you put the

[31:08] blue and the black containers in the same truck. Should they be separate

[31:11] trucks? >> They should never be in the same truck.

[31:14] » Okay. So they said they saw it happen and they're taking a video of it

[31:16] tomorrow. It happens all the time. I'll let them know. They can send it to me

[31:20] and I'll send >> the employee will be discharged.

[31:22] » Okay, perfect. I will let them know. Thank you so much.

[31:26] » Okay. Well, Paul, thank you for joining us. Thank you for taking questions here.

[31:30] um from the council to the residents in the audience. I know Paul stuck around

[31:35] and talked to some of you before uh the meeting here and then we can always put

[31:39] you in touch with Paul if you do have a question for him. He's got his card. So

[31:42] if you do have a question for him, I'm sure he's willing to sounds like hand

[31:46] out your cards. >> Sure.

[31:47] » Question directly. >> We can't we can't

[31:51] » we Yep. Paul talked to you right here about it, sir. But thank you for joining

[31:55] us, Paul. And we are now going to move on to citizens comments on the agenda.

[32:03] [clears throat] So we'll now move on to questions or

[32:06] input on the agenda from members of the public. This section will allow members

[32:10] of the public at the beginning of the meeting to address the council regarding

[32:13] items that are on tonight's business agenda. Questions asked may be responded

[32:17] to during the agenda item following a motion and support from your city

[32:21] council. Is there anyone on my right comments on the agenda? Yes, sir.

[32:28] Evening. Couple questions. Consent calendar item H. Approval for

[32:33] bid for South Marman sidewalk gap program. Which part of Marman are we

[32:38] talking about here? And then

[32:43] the other item, item I, approval of bid for Cherry Hill sidewalk gap program.

[32:48] Which part of Cherry Hill? >> Thank you.

[32:51] » I'll comment on that for you here in just a second. So, not a problem.

[32:56] » What? >> Yeah.

[33:01] » Paul. Paul, could you maybe go in the hallway? Sorry.

[33:05] » All right. Is there anyone on my left?

[33:11] Anyone on my right? Yes, sir. >> Just speak, right?

[33:15] » Yep. And this is on the agenda. This is the speak spot to speak on agenda items.

[33:20] » I'm sorry. There is a public comment time at the end where you can get three

[33:22] minutes to talk anything you want. Not a problem, sir. Yes, Ray.

[33:31] » I saw something on here. Of course, I uh support the police

[33:36] department and I know the social works $10,000 a month or something like that,

[33:42] but I know they do a lot of good work out there in mental health. So, I just

[33:47] had a question about that because I know it looks like it's being renewed and

[33:51] stuff here. So, here it is. It says police department an agreement

[33:57] committing to uh October 1st, 20 2026 ending September 30th, 2028. Amount

[34:06] 10,000 per month. I don't know how that but um I do see them. I mean uh I do

[34:13] support mental health. they need it. So hopefully continue with

[34:18] that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ray.

[34:21] Comments on the agenda. Anyone on my left? Mr. Warren.

[34:32] Uh this is under vouchers under [snorts] sanitation.

[34:36] Um [clears throat] presented a bill for $352,000.

[34:41] $388.

[34:44] » [clears throat] >> And here we're still talking about new

[34:47] technology on a garbage truck. The old technology where the garbage for

[34:54] the sanitation people came down the street in the back of the truck, they

[34:57] dropped something, they would sweep it up. Old technology, new technology, we

[35:01] got cameras watching them.

[35:06] And we still had the same results and the city pays the bill.

[35:11] And uh like I say for the last 10 or 15 years since

[35:16] the city stopped doing it um there's been problems but there going to be more

[35:21] problems because as I said before the [clears throat]

[35:26] multinational mega corporations and individuals are buying up all of these

[35:31] smaller companies and you're going have to deal with them just like you deal

[35:35] with DTE. you're not going to get the results you're looking for because

[35:39] they're pretty much in position where they're gonna be untouchable and they're

[35:43] going to pick up the trash like they want to pick it up and and Paul will be

[35:48] back here again trying to explain away the problems. Thank you.

[35:51] » Thank you, Mr. Warren. Is there anyone else in the audience? Anyone on my right

[35:56] comments on the agenda? Anyone on my left?

[36:01] Okay, seeing and hearing none, we will move on to the consent calendar. Is

[36:05] there a motion? >> Motion by Councilwoman Martin, supported

[36:10] by Councilwoman Sampi. Are there any changes to the consent calendar?

[36:13] » Yes, Counciloman Bonn. >> Yes. I would like to move item L to new

[36:18] business. >> There's a motion on the floor to move

[36:21] item L to new business. Is there support?

[36:25] » Supported by Councilwoman Sampi.

[36:30] » Madame Clerk. Roll call, please. That's just

[36:34] Councilwoman Bowman. >> Yes.

[36:39] » Sorry. Councilwoman Martin, >> yes.

[36:41] » Councilwoman Rakowski is absent, excused. Councilwoman Sampi,

[36:45] » yes. >> Counciloman Sullivan,

[36:47] » yes. >> Prom Maxwell,

[36:49] » yes. >> President McDermott,

[36:51] » yes. >> Motion passes.

[36:53] » Now, back to the consent calendar as amended. Are there any other changes to

[36:57] the consent calendar? >> Yes. Counciloman Sampi. I would like to

[37:00] move item F um on the consent calendar to new business for discussion.

[37:09] » There's a motion on the floor to move item F to new business. Is there

[37:12] support? >> Supported by Councilwoman Bowman.

[37:16] Madam Clerk, roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Bowman,

[37:20] » yes. >> Councilwoman Martin,

[37:21] » yes. >> Councilwoman Rowski is absent, excused.

[37:25] Councilwoman Sampy, >> yes.

[37:27] » Councilwoman Sullivan, >> yes. Prom Maxwell,

[37:30] » yes. >> President McDermott,

[37:32] » yes. >> Motion passes.

[37:35] » Back to the consent calendar as amended. Any other changes to the consent

[37:38] calendar? >> Do you have another change, Councilman?

[37:41] » Yes. Um, my understanding is I can ask you a question about a consent calendar

[37:44] item. Yes. We don't have to move it. >> Yes. Correct.

[37:47] » So, through the chair, I would like to have um just some clarification on item

[37:52] J. um one of the and I I did ask these questions before and I did let um uh the

[37:58] director know and chief that I just wanted to have things publicly answered

[38:02] um and me not be a messenger but I did ask questions because one of the roads

[38:07] that will have the mobile way station part of the project which I think I I

[38:12] support that project by the way um is a road that um it's a Henry Ruff a road

[38:18] that actually we just approved signage to say that commercial vehicles were not

[38:22] allowed so I just wanted to speak to that because I think I want the

[38:25] residents to hear why that would be um you know why that is and what and what

[38:29] this what this project is going to do for our city as well.

[38:32] » So uh director comfort you want to take that

[38:35] » um through the chair. So Henry Ruff that mobile way station is only going to be

[38:40] used or only have commercial trucks on it when they are under investigation

[38:44] from our way master. Um they'll be escorted there and only be there for an

[38:49] hour or two while he's performing his investigation.

[38:53] Okay. Do you have a follow? >> Thank you.

[38:57] » That's it. Okay. Any other discussion? Any descent? Any descent? Consent

[39:05] calendar passes as amended. >> Council has approved the following

[39:09] consent calendar items. Minutes of regular meeting held August 17th, 2026.

[39:14] request from the local impact alliance to host their 17th annual veteran summit

[39:18] on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Westland

[39:23] City Hall. The nonprofit fee of $325 is the requested fee to be waved. requests

[39:28] from develop a dance project in partnership with the Westland Parks and

[39:31] Recreation Advisory Council to wave the administrative city hall rental fee to

[39:34] host an enchanted pumpkin family ball on fe on Friday, October 2nd, 2026 from 6

[39:40] p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Nonprofit fee of 375 is the request fee to be waved. Request

[39:46] from the Alliance of Rouge Communities to wave the administrative fees to

[39:49] utilize the city hall grand ballrooms for a public event to be held Wednesday,

[39:53] October 14th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Total cost of this fee waiver

[39:58] shall not exceed $65. Request from the Develop a Dance Project to wave the

[40:03] administrative city hall rental fee to host a daddyaughter dance on Friday,

[40:07] February 5th, 2027 and Saturday, February 6, 2027 from 6:00 p.m. until

[40:13] 8:00 p.m. at the Westland City Hall. nonprofit fee of $750 is the requested

[40:18] fee to be waved. Request for additional funding regarding

[40:21] the purchase of three 2026 Ford F-250s, including vehicle outfitting outfitting,

[40:27] excuse me, for the Department of Public Service. Total amount of $14,13610

[40:33] for increased supplier costs. bid for South Marramman sidewalk gap

[40:38] program administration recommends low bidder varientos contracting total not

[40:43] to exceed $51,191

[40:48] bid for the Cherry Hill sidewalk gap program administration recommends low

[40:52] bidder berentos contracting total amount not to exceed $134

[40:57] $134,000

[41:00] excuse me $134,698

[41:04] request for the mobile weigh stations project project involves installation of

[41:08] three mobile way stations. Administration recommends awarding

[41:11] property awarding project to Hartwell Cement Company.

[41:16] And the last item on the consent calendar tonight is a request of

[41:19] replacement animal care and rescue vehicle including outfitting for the

[41:23] police department. Total amount not to exceed $110,000.

[41:27] Now moving to payment of voucher. >> Is there a motion? So motion by

[41:32] Councilman Martin. Is there support? Supported

[41:38] by Councilman Sullivan. Is there any discussion from the maker?

[41:41] » No. Thank you. >> Any discussion from supporter?

[41:44] » No. >> Okay. Councilman, do you have

[41:46] discussion? >> No.

[41:47] » Oh, treasure light on. Okay. Any discussion from the council? Any

[41:51] dissent? Any dissent? Hearing and seeing none. Motion passes.

[41:57] New business item number one, confirmation of reappointment of David

[42:01] Rapaort to the Westland Planning Commission for a three-year term

[42:03] effective upon council confirmation and expire in August 5th, 2029.

[42:08] » So, >> there's a motion by Councilwoman Martin,

[42:11] supported by Councilwoman Zampi. Uh, Director Aub, did you have anything you

[42:14] wanted to add to any of these uh nominees?

[42:16] » I do. I wrote a few short sentences about each commissioner so the public

[42:21] and yourselves uh are more familiar with our planning commissioners that are

[42:25] being re reappointed tonight. [snorts] Um I'm going to share both of them at

[42:29] the same time if that's okay with you. >> Please do. Yep.

[42:31] » Thank you. Uh so David has served our planning commission since 2013.

[42:37] Following the retirement and passing of our remarkable longtime chairman Ken

[42:42] Sharp, David was elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as chair. Uh he

[42:47] has done an excellent job leading the commission as an attorney. David also

[42:51] brings a legal perspective and serves as our unofficial ad hoc attorney during

[42:56] discussions. Uh David, we're very fortunate to have you and he truly makes

[43:01] my job easier. uh Daryl who could not be with us tonight uh he joined the

[43:06] planning commission in 2024 so this is his first reappoint in a relatively

[43:11] short time uh he has already become a valuable member of the planning

[43:14] commission uh Daryl brings an impressive professional and educational background

[43:19] he has a bachelor of science and engineering from MSU a [snorts] master

[43:24] of science and construction management from EMU

[43:27] and a doctor of business administration from U ofM Flint uh I really you

[43:32] sincerely appreciate David and Daryl's willingness to continue serving uh the

[43:37] city on the planning commission and also uh appreciate your support for both of

[43:41] their reappoints. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Is there any discussion from

[43:45] the maker? >> Hi. Um I'd like to thank David for Mr.

[43:50] Raport for serving again with all his experience as an attorney. He does

[43:55] handle planning commission um pretty good [laughter]

[43:59] anyway. But thank you again for bringing all all your services to us.

[44:05] » All set council >> and then anything from our supporter

[44:08] council. >> I would just I encourage the council to

[44:10] also support both um David and Daryl. Uh although we can't attend every meeting,

[44:16] I watch all the planning commission meetings and you do a great job uh with

[44:21] running the meeting and I think that it's the city's huge win to get you to

[44:26] come back and we appreciate your service for uh running the planning commission

[44:31] meeting so smoothly. So I obviously support both of you. Thank you again.

[44:37] » Any other discussion from the council? Any other discussion from the council? I

[44:43] will just say and echo the sentiments of director Aub and my colleagues. Mr.

[44:46] Rapour, David, we've had the chance to meet and sit down and talk and go over a

[44:50] number of city issues over the years. Your leadership, your institutional

[44:54] knowledge, I think most important, and your insight as an attorney are all

[44:57] greatly valued in different ways on the planning commission. You really do bring

[45:01] a lot beyond just your general experience of having served on there.

[45:05] bring a unique skill set to the planning commission that we're really lucky and

[45:08] fortunate to have on that planning commission that I think a lot of cities

[45:12] are missing on their planning commissions when you're dealing with

[45:15] some of the most complex issues in the city, zoning laws, ordinances, and

[45:19] requirements. And as you know, a lot of legal wrangling and legalities and that

[45:23] you have to look out for when you're making a decision on the planning

[45:26] commission. And your institutional knowledge is not only passed along to

[45:30] your fellow planning commissioners, who I know I've spoken with in the past,

[45:33] speak very highly of you, but it's passed along to all of us here on

[45:36] council when we're making decisions as well. So, thank you for all that you do

[45:41] on our planning commission, all that you do in our community more broadly. We're

[45:44] very fortunate, very lucky to have you, your institutional knowledge, your

[45:48] unique skill set. very appreciative of it. Uh and is there any disscent?

[45:55] Any descent? Seeing and hearing none, motion passes. Please stand and be

[45:59] recognized. [applause]

[46:08] New business 1A. This is formally consent calendar item L, introduction of

[46:14] ordinance 262, an ordinance to amend the Westland City Code of Ordinances. Um,

[46:19] chapter 27, article 4, sections 27 to 23 to change public hours for marijuana

[46:25] businesses. Amendment would allow marijuana businesses to be open to the

[46:29] public at 8 a.m.

[46:33] Is there a motion? >> Approve.

[46:38] » Motion by Councilman Svin. Is there support?

[46:41] » Yes. Supported by Councilwoman Martin. Is there any discussion from the maker?

[46:46] » No. Any discussion from the support? >> Yes. Um I believe what I've read about

[46:51] this um change is necessary for the people um not not necessarily those

[46:56] people that need it for recreation because they can figure that out the

[46:59] night before but people who use it for pain management because originally in

[47:03] the state of Michigan that's how it started if you needed uh another option

[47:08] for pain management. That's how the marijuana ordinances um came to our

[47:12] state and I I'm for it. Thank you. All set, Councilwoman? Yes.

[47:17] » Okay. Thank you. And Councilwoman Bowman.

[47:20] » Um I I did move this off because one of the things with consent calendar is that

[47:23] if uh if you want to say no to something, I am going to be a no vote on

[47:26] this. Um one of the things I talk about is that, you know, I I hear a lot of

[47:30] people say that well in 2018, the majority of Westland voted to approve

[47:34] recreational marijuana. I understand the medical part of it, but the medical part

[47:38] was there before that. So the hours of business, we already had that ordinance.

[47:41] It wasn't being it wasn't necessarily changed at that time. But the fact is

[47:44] that 36% of the voters of Westland actually voted no to approve to to have

[47:49] recreational marijuana. So we always talk about the minority needs a voice.

[47:53] Um so that's one of the one of the things um I you know I I personally you

[47:57] know I am a little concerned because we already have a no left turn on you know

[48:01] we we've got you know traffic issues so on Ford. So I don't know if I have no

[48:05] idea if this will increase traffic at all but I will be a no vote on this. So

[48:09] thanks. >> Thank you Councilwoman Bowman. Is there

[48:12] any other discussion? >> Yes, Council Zavi.

[48:15] » Um, thank you for I guess bringing this forward. Um, Mo, I know that in issues

[48:22] like this, you open up a can of worms where now others are going to come to

[48:26] us. Just to give a little background, this actually came to us from a business

[48:32] asking us to adjust the hours. So now if we're adjusting the hours for one um

[48:40] it's going to allow for others to be open as well. It's not just the one

[48:43] that's currently open. So I guess through the chair to Mo looking at the

[48:48] change of public hours, is it possible that we can have a study session to kind

[48:53] of go through um the difference of the change uh before we approve this or

[49:00] um can you maybe weigh in on on the reason why it came forward to us or

[49:05] » Yes. Um this item is from the attorney's office and the and the planning office.

[49:11] We also have Liv in the room who drove about an hour to get here. So perhaps

[49:15] you may have a question or two for them, but from the administration's point of

[49:18] view, the marijuana business ordinance allows marijuana retailers to be open to

[49:24] the public between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 900 p.m. Uh, Live Cannabis, who

[49:30] was the only retailer operating within city limits for almost 2 years without

[49:35] any um violations or uh any issues or concerns from any of the the internal

[49:41] departments. uh recently requested via email to you

[49:46] uh to reconsider the uh uh hours of operation, specifically the open opening

[49:51] hours to extend that timeline 2 hours and allow them to open at 8:00 p.m.

[49:56] They've indicated that this is for customers primarily who are older

[50:01] adults, uh have early working hours or on their way home from uh night shifts

[50:07] to allow them to uh stop at the store to pick up their product on their way home

[50:11] or to wherever they're they're going. So that's what the intent of bringing this

[50:16] forward is. We have one other retailer uh in town, Thanos, on Inkster Road, who

[50:23] you may recall. So, those are the only two retailers operating within city

[50:28] limits. As you know, the council has great authority on uh approving um or or

[50:36] allowing any new licenses to be issued. So, that's your control mechanism there.

[50:40] If you don't feel comfortable issuing it to live, I think you can avoid any

[50:45] further issues in that regard. But, um

[50:51] that's what we have tonight. Thank you. Thank you. I guess no problem with Liv.

[50:57] I mean, I understand they've been operating, but Thanos is right by a

[51:02] school, which is very close, so it's open at early morning hours. What is the

[51:06] control that they're not going to have kids trying to sneak in or or whatnot.

[51:12] I'm just I I guess I'm just concerned. I understand Liv has a very busy Ford Road

[51:18] entrance, but again, if you open to one, you open to all and then that allows for

[51:23] the other um marijuana facility to be open even earlier. I'm not against it.

[51:28] I'm just trying to really kind of understand

[51:31] » we can't How do we control that? How do we manage that?

[51:34] » So, I I can speak on the school issue and

[51:38] and I'm I'm not trying to put live on the spot. The only reason I'm asking

[51:41] them to do this is because I know they are well equipped to answer these

[51:44] questions. But I would like to, if the chair is okay with this, invite them up

[51:48] to the podium and and talk about >> additionally anything that I've missed,

[51:52] but also measures of control and policing

[51:58] these questions. Mike knows I'm not putting him on the

[52:02] spot, I hope. >> First,

[52:04] » welcome, gentlemen. Floor is yours. >> Thank you. Um, I'm Mike Beck. I'm the um

[52:10] director of uh community and government affairs for Live Cannabis Common

[52:14] Citizen. And um you know, this came we we appreciate you even considering this,

[52:20] but this came from through our staff. Sean Green is here. He's a he's the

[52:24] manager of the retail store here. Um they were looking at cameras, right?

[52:30] Because there's cameras everywhere. That is one control that we have that, you

[52:34] know, it's like a casino inside and outside. the the state mandates lots of

[52:38] cameras in these facilities. So, and and public is under 21 is not supposed to be

[52:43] in the facility or on the facility um parking lot. So, that is one part of it.

[52:48] And they started looking at the cameras in the morning, what went on through the

[52:51] nights before and the days. And they started seeing cars coming in at about 8

[52:56] 8:30 9:00 turning around, trying the door, turning around, going back. And so

[53:01] they did a little bit of a um just a kind of a very informal survey of how

[53:06] many there were over the course of time. And I they sent that out and it was um

[53:12] um roughly six to eight guests a day come

[53:17] in between the hours of 8 and 10. And that number factors out to 210 guests

[53:22] missed a month. Now again, that's just a number by the cameras whether they came

[53:27] back later, whether be came back at a busier time or all those things. I can't

[53:31] speak to that, but that's the number of cars that would normally on average come

[53:35] through from 8 to 10 in the morning. And they [clears throat] would get um two to

[53:40] three unanswered calls a day in that time period because there's nobody

[53:43] answering the phone. So all in, all done. If those folks that came through

[53:47] at that time didn't come back at another time or didn't go to one of the other

[53:51] facilities in the area right outside of Wesland, um they' say roughly 300 guests

[53:57] missed a month. Now again, that's just a number that says here's the number based

[54:00] on the the vehicles and the phone calls. They could go to Garden City, they could

[54:05] go to Ingster, they could go to Wayne. Um, and then if I looked at, if I'm

[54:09] correct on the other allowances, I believe, um, Wayne allows 8:00 a.m.

[54:15] opening. Um, Garden City is 9:00 a.m. U, and of course, um, Inkingster is, I

[54:21] believe, 9:00 a.m. as well. So, [clears throat] they just did that

[54:24] process and then they started trying to interpolate and we can get better depth

[54:29] in the data if you'd like where those folks might come from. and we just kind

[54:33] of anticipated that it is that morning consumer on their way to work or on

[54:38] their way home from work. Um, and again, I can't say you for a fact that they

[54:42] would don't go anywhere else and get their product or they don't come back

[54:46] later in the day. But it was just doing that analysis, thinking about it as a

[54:51] business. Um, and if it if it was to open in those hours, you know, business

[54:56] decisions need to be made as well. So maybe it doesn't work and we don't open

[54:59] those hours. But the protections from our side, and I can only speak to our

[55:03] stores, is we have cameras um inside and out. The parking lots covered all the

[55:08] time, and um young young folks aren't allowed. So,

[55:16] I don't know if that gets any of the questions or answers some of the

[55:18] questions or helps at all. I'm just trying to bring from the impetus of

[55:21] where this came from. And we've um we we've appreciated our partnership with

[55:25] the with the municipality for the years now. on. Um it we again we greatly

[55:31] appreciate just even your ability to entertain this for us.

[55:35] » Thank you. Anything else? >> Uh no, I thank you for that explanation.

[55:40] Um and I again I don't have an issue with the live opening because I think

[55:44] you're more in a business district. My concern is that the other place around

[55:49] town is near school. You know, I kind of struggle with the placement anyways,

[55:53] which that was on the record. So, you know, my concern more or less is will

[55:58] they have the same protect and they're probably not here. The same liberties as

[56:03] you to have protection um cameras. It's just you Yeah, I'm just

[56:10] » by state law they have to have those same things. Every square inch of the

[56:14] parking lot and every square inch of the inside is supposed to be covered with

[56:18] highde cameras. So, um, again, I can't speak for it. I can just

[56:24] say that's what the cannabis regulatory agency says they're supposed to

[56:27] » and they would be jeopardizing their license. Correct. If they were caught,

[56:31] » like, we know there are tobacco shops that are caught selling to underage kids

[56:34] in these stings. They would be outright jeopardizing their license and their

[56:37] ability to even operate as a business. Unlike a tobacco store that probably

[56:40] gets hit with a fine by a city or county that does a sting operation in your case

[56:44] with marijuana. If a child was caught purchasing there, that company would be

[56:49] jeopardized losing their license. >> You'd be summarily suspended. I mean,

[56:51] there wasn't the CRA doesn't really tolerate a lot of that stuff. And they

[56:55] do they do random inspections. So like they'll come at least every 3 to six

[57:00] months on their as a random inspection. You have yearly inspections and you have

[57:04] to renew your licenses and submit all this information and show the cameras

[57:08] and everything. But when they come in on their random inspections, they'll just

[57:11] come back and they'll just they'll basically say, "Oh, by the way, I want

[57:14] to see um the camera on that piece in the parking lot on this day two weeks

[57:19] ago at this time." And if you can't go clickity click and pull it up for them,

[57:24] um you're in trouble. So, the protections are there, you know,

[57:28] regulatory and they're supposed to be internally,

[57:31] » but again, I can only speak to us. >> Anything further, Councilwoman? Okay.

[57:36] Any other questions from the council? Council Bowman,

[57:38] » I I just want to make um just clarify because as I understand this um

[57:43] currently the business is open 11 hours a day, right? 10 to 10 to 9 is 11 hours,

[57:48] right? >> Yes, that'd be correct.

[57:49] » Um every day, seven days a week. Okay, >> that's correct.

[57:52] » And um just so people I I know um so the public knows, I know there's there's

[57:56] always the Okay, the benefit to the city by having marijuana stores in our

[58:00] community is um from the state is somewhere roughly in between 56,000 or

[58:06] something like that. that doesn't change regardless of how long the business is

[58:09] open. So, this is it is interesting that this is a single business requesting an

[58:13] ordinance change to our um that that we're making an ordinance change to our

[58:17] entire thing. So, then I know this is just the introduction, but I and so I'm

[58:20] not trying to, you know, belabor this because if we have more conversation, um

[58:24] I think I do want to kind of back up on to uh Councilman Stampy's um uh question

[58:30] at the So, after the introduction and just so public knows through the chair,

[58:34] what is the next step? We introduce this today. What is the next step in this

[58:38] process? >> The next step would be at the next

[58:40] meeting, we would have the formal adoption. So, should the council choose

[58:44] to vote in the affirmative on this today?

[58:47] So, at the next at the next council meeting in September, this would likely

[58:50] be presented as the adoption. Today's the introduction of the ordinance and

[58:53] the next meeting, similar to what we do with all ordinances, we have the

[58:55] introduction and the adoption. >> Is there a study session or any other

[58:58] opportunities? >> Director, do you want to comment on

[59:01] that? >> I I'm not sure what the point of of a

[59:03] study session would be. I I'm happy to if the if the administration wants one

[59:08] we study session. >> I agree with that.

[59:12] » That's fine. I I just want to make sure I'm asking the questions for people to

[59:14] know how because you know we don't ordinance of changes aren't every day

[59:18] either. >> Right. Yep. Nope. Thank you for asking.

[59:20] All set. >> Yep.

[59:21] » Okay. I just want to say thank you for your continued business and support uh

[59:25] here in the city. We appreciate it. You know, you guys have run an outstanding

[59:28] business. I've had relatives from outside of West End who come in and

[59:32] shopped at your store and are like, "This is like the Apple store of, you

[59:36] know, marijuana shops. It's so nice in here. It's like

[59:39] » I mean, back in the beginning, early days, it's like some one of our first

[59:43] stores that was open um somebody came in and said, "This is like an Apple store

[59:47] and a weed store had a baby." >> That's right. They're looking for the

[59:50] genius. >> That's what we like. We want to keep it

[59:52] professional like that. But that's us across the state. So, we appreciate the

[59:56] partnership. >> Yeah. and you guys run a great business

[59:58] here. So, thank you very much and appreciate your continued support. Any

[1:00:01] other uh discussion from the council and any disscent?

[1:00:06] Yeah. Yeah. Roll call, please. >> Thank you.

[1:00:10] » Councilwoman Bowman, >> no.

[1:00:12] » Councilwoman Martin, >> yes.

[1:00:14] » Councilwoman Rowski is absent, excused. Councilman or excuse me, Councilwoman

[1:00:19] Sampy, >> yes.

[1:00:20] » Councilman Sullivan, >> yes.

[1:00:22] » Prom Maxwell, >> yes.

[1:00:24] » President McDermott, >> yes. Motion passes.

[1:00:29] Now we move on to new business 1B. This is formally consent calendar item F,

[1:00:36] approval of professional services agreement renewal with Hagera Health

[1:00:40] Service to perform social work services for the Westland Police Department. Term

[1:00:44] of agreement commencing on October 1, 2026 and ending on September 30th, 2028

[1:00:49] in the amount of 10,000 per month year 1.

[1:00:53] » Is there a motion? So >> motion by Councilwoman Martin. Is there

[1:00:56] support? >> Supported by Councilwoman Sampi. Is

[1:01:00] there discussion from the mayor? >> Um Higer has been around for a while in

[1:01:05] the city. Um they're asking for an increase. The increase is pretty much in

[1:01:10] line with the rate of inflation and I think I've been told they do a great job

[1:01:15] and the person at the police department, Jess, is uh goes above and beyond. So

[1:01:21] I'm voting for this. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Martin. Counciloman

[1:01:25] Sampy, >> thank you. Um, I think this is needed

[1:01:28] now more than ever. Uh, we just had a domestic violence situation that had

[1:01:32] happened here in Westland that left uh a young woman um killed, which is is

[1:01:39] pretty devastating. So, Hyera has has given us on page 22 of that large packet

[1:01:44] their salaries and fringe benefits. It says that we have one FTE mobile crisis

[1:01:50] co-respondent uh clinician and then one program

[1:01:53] manager. Are we matching um does the city and Higura match those salaries?

[1:01:59] Because $86,000 for two people seem to be quite low.

[1:02:04] » Uh no, it's just for one person, behavioral health clinician Jennifer

[1:02:07] Gersola. >> Oh, so she's doing two jobs.

[1:02:11] » I'll have to get look into the manager piece of it because she's okay. She's

[1:02:14] the contract person we have from Heggera. I can follow up with you on

[1:02:18] that. >> So, yeah, I was I was kind of confused

[1:02:19] because it says we have two FTEEs. So, we have one that is a mobile crisis

[1:02:25] and one that's a program manager. >> I'll have to look into the wording on

[1:02:29] that and meet with Hyera. But, >> okay.

[1:02:32] » We've had Jennifer for a few years now. She does great. It's one employee. Uh

[1:02:36] she there is a 3% raise for her in this negotiated contract as well. which is

[1:02:40] which is obviously well needed, but I was just confused because I thought

[1:02:45] we're getting an additional person. Just the way that it's written, it's on page

[1:02:49] 22, chief. It says we have one FTE mobile crisis, one FTE program manager.

[1:02:55] » I could I'll follow up with the city attorney as well. The contract stuff is

[1:03:00] more >> sure

[1:03:00] » his speed. So, I'll go with that and then we'll follow up with Hya and get

[1:03:03] you a solid answer. >> Okay. Awesome. Yeah, it kind of threw me

[1:03:06] off when I saw that. I'm like, that seems quite low for two people. Um, so I

[1:03:10] guess if we can have some followup. >> Yeah, that's a good note on that.

[1:03:14] » Thank you. I appreciate that. Just so we are I mean it it probably is meant to

[1:03:18] say one FTE, mobile crisis co-respondent and program manager, but the way that

[1:03:24] it's written in the description says there's two FTEEs.

[1:03:29] So, um, and Jennifer does Jennifer does a great job. She's she's been there for

[1:03:33] a while. So, um, you know, I appreciate the partnership with Hyera, and Carol is

[1:03:38] phenomenal. She supports the city, the CEO. So, um, you know, I'm in support of

[1:03:43] this this evening. I just wanted clarification. So, thank you.

[1:03:47] » Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other discussion from the council? Councilman

[1:03:50] Sullivan. >> Um, Chief, I don't I don't know if you

[1:03:53] can answer this or not, but I believe this position has been grant funded in

[1:03:57] the past, but the current grant period has not opened yet. Is that correct?

[1:04:01] » Correct. >> All right. So is the if for some reason

[1:04:04] we were not able to get the grant this year is the department able to cover the

[1:04:08] cost? >> Yes. So in the budget presentation that

[1:04:10] was a concern I had. So it was built in the professional standards. Um it was a

[1:04:14] reimbursement grant previously. Uh so we're we have uh that grant hasn't

[1:04:18] opened up yet. We checked that daily and I in contact with director towns also.

[1:04:22] Uh we have another application for a separate grant for that'll cover this

[1:04:25] program and that's in the process. >> Okay. Thank you.

[1:04:31] Thank you, Councilman Sullivan. Any other discussion from the council? Um, I

[1:04:35] just want to say this is a program that, you know, I've been an advocate for for

[1:04:38] a long time. I want to thank the Westland Police Department and Chief

[1:04:41] Dolly for his leadership. Uh, when this program first started, I think back in

[1:04:44] 2021, um, when he was a deputy chief at the

[1:04:48] time, he was someone who had championed this program. And we were one of the

[1:04:51] first communities in Metro Detroit to add a social worker and a substance

[1:04:56] abuse professional. Not only does um Jennifer Grismala do you know social

[1:05:00] work with folks in the community who are experiencing uh homelessness or

[1:05:04] transient population experiencing brain health issues, mental health crisises.

[1:05:08] She also works with individuals who are experiencing a substance use disorder so

[1:05:11] that we can keep those individuals out of the prison pipeline and get them the

[1:05:17] help and the treatment they need because just simply sending someone uh to jail

[1:05:20] does not uh work and does not make them better. So I want to thank West Police

[1:05:25] Department. I want to thank Chief Dolly for his leadership continuing u this

[1:05:28] program and I'll be in full support of this and is there any other discussion?

[1:05:34] Any dissent? Any descent? Hearing and seeing none motion passes.

[1:05:39] » New business item number two confirmation of reappointment of Daryl

[1:05:43] Rounds to the Westland Planning Commission for a three-year term

[1:05:46] effective upon council confirmation and expired on August 20th, 2029.

[1:05:50] » Is there a motion? >> Motion by Councilwoman Bowman. Is there

[1:05:53] support? supported by Councilman Sullivan. Any discussion from the maker?

[1:05:58] » No, I think we agree about Geraldine and we're excited that he's also continuing

[1:06:02] on with us. >> Anything from supporter?

[1:06:06] » Same thing. >> Okay. Any other discussion from the

[1:06:08] council? Any other discussion? I will just say I

[1:06:11] know he's not in the audience today, but Mr. Rounds, thank you for continuing to

[1:06:15] serve here on the planning commission. I know this is your first reappoint, so uh

[1:06:20] welcome back to the planning commission. you I have the chance to watch the

[1:06:23] planning commission meetings as well. I can't attend them in person because I am

[1:06:26] at work during the day when they're going on, but do appreciate uh all the

[1:06:31] work that uh you do and your input and insight on the planning commission. So,

[1:06:35] thank you for stepping back up to continue to serve on the planning

[1:06:38] commission. And is there any descent? Any descent? Hearing seeing none, motion

[1:06:43] passes. Mr. Rounds, if you're going to watch us at home, congratulations.

[1:06:49] » [applause]

[1:06:52] » New bis new business item number three nominations of delegate to the annual

[1:06:56] Michigan Municipal League convention to be held October 7th through October 9th,

[1:07:00] 2026 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City.

[1:07:04] » We will now open the floor to nominations.

[1:07:07] » Um I nominate Councilwoman Emily Bowman. >> There is a nomination for Councilwoman

[1:07:13] Bowman by Councilwoman Martin. Are there any other nominations?

[1:07:17] » Nomination. Motion to close nominations by Councilman Sullivan. Is there

[1:07:20] support? >> Support.

[1:07:22] » All right. Any dissent? Any descent? Hearing and seeing none. Nominations are

[1:07:27] closed. >> New business. Item number four,

[1:07:30] designation of Emily Bowman as a delegate to the annual Michigan

[1:07:33] Municipal League Convention to be held October 7th through October 9th, 2026.

[1:07:38] » Is there a motion? >> So moved.

[1:07:40] » Motion by Councilwoman Martin. And is there support?

[1:07:42] » Support. >> Supported by Councilwoman Sampy. Any

[1:07:46] discussion? Nope.

[1:07:48] » Any discussion? Counciloman, do you have anything you wanted to add on your

[1:07:52] behalf? >> Yeah, since you've been nominated.

[1:07:55] » Um, just um I I appreciate the support of my uh council to go to do this as a

[1:07:59] delegate. It is a delegate to the annual meeting that is held once a year at the

[1:08:02] convention and um and it's it is a representation of the city. So, if

[1:08:06] there's any any votes there, I you know, I would be the one to take them. So, um

[1:08:10] and I' I've actually really enjoyed being part of um getting really active

[1:08:13] with Michigan Municipal League on behalf of the city. um so I can be a better

[1:08:17] council woman. So that's good job. >> Okay. Um I'll just add real quick before

[1:08:22] we see if there's any descent, which I highly doubt there will be, but um

[1:08:26] Councilwoman Balman has gone to MML since she's been on council. She's been

[1:08:29] to as many events as she can. So she's really stepped up and taken a role, you

[1:08:33] know, leading on behalf of the city, going to uh these events each and every

[1:08:37] year. So, um, you know, she's moving her way up their MML leadership academy

[1:08:41] course and she's bringing a lot back to the city, a lot of, uh, information and

[1:08:45] knowledge for our residents. So, I appreciate her stepping up and her

[1:08:48] willingness to serve. Is there any descent? Any descent? Hearing seeing

[1:08:52] none, motion passes. Congratulations. New business item number five,

[1:08:58] nomination of alternate in case the of the inability of the delegate to attend

[1:09:02] to the annual Michigan Municipal League convention to be held October 7th

[1:09:05] through October 9th, 2026. >> Is there a nomination?

[1:09:13] » Yes, >> I would like to nominate Melissa Sampi.

[1:09:15] » Okay, there's a nomination for Councilwoman Sampy. Are there any other

[1:09:18] nominations?

[1:09:22] » Close nominations. There motion to close nominations by Councilman Svin. Is there

[1:09:25] support? >> Support.

[1:09:26] » There is support from Councilman Martin. Is there any dissent?

[1:09:30] Any dissent? Hearing and seeing none. Nominations are closed.

[1:09:34] » New business item number six, designation of Melissa Sampi of the

[1:09:38] alternate in the case of the inability of the delegate to attend to the annual

[1:09:43] Michigan Municipal League Convention to be held October 7th through October 9th,

[1:09:47] 2026. >> Is there a motion?

[1:09:50] » So moved. >> Motion by Counciloman Martin. Is there

[1:09:52] support? >> Supported by Councilwoman Bowman. Any

[1:09:55] discussion from the maker? >> No.

[1:09:58] » Any discussion from the supporter? >> Okay. Uh, Councilwoman, did anything?

[1:10:02] » Yeah. No. Thank you so much, colleagues, for supporting. Um, this this is

[1:10:06] something I went to the past few years and I told Councilwoman uh Bowman, she's

[1:10:10] been so active with MML. She's very close to a a a very prestigious um

[1:10:17] certification. So, I am going to plan to attend um as an alternate, but I really

[1:10:23] think that she deserves to be our delegate this year because she's doing a

[1:10:26] great job with um rising up the ladders and I'm excited to attend the conference

[1:10:31] uh as well, but I think it's it's welld deserved to be the delegate and I I had

[1:10:36] a great opportunity going for the past few years as a delegate. So, um so I'm

[1:10:41] really excited. So, thank you colleagues.

[1:10:43] » Absolutely. Any other discussion? Um, I will just add thank you Councilwoman

[1:10:47] Santley for stepping up to be the alternate. I know you've gone uh to this

[1:10:50] before and thank you for passing the baton on. Uh, you've gained a lot of

[1:10:53] good information and insight going to these MML events and I know this isn't

[1:10:58] the only time you've participated. We've gone to MML events together for some of

[1:11:01] the uh leadership training courses that they do. So, thank you for uh continuing

[1:11:05] to serve with MML and stepping up for this. Very much appreciated. Is there

[1:11:09] any descent? Any descent? Hearing and seeing none. Motion passes.

[1:11:19] Okay. So, we are now going to move on to public comment. Everyone speaking before

[1:11:24] the council should do so in a civil manner. Speakers should refrain from

[1:11:28] abusive or profane remarks, vulgar language, disruptive outbursts, threats,

[1:11:33] racial slurs, or other conduct that interferes with the orderly conduct of

[1:11:36] the business meeting. Personal attacks on council members, the administration,

[1:11:41] city staff, other speakers, or members of the public. Do not promote civil

[1:11:45] discourse. Excuse me. Comments shall be directed to the chair and not to people

[1:11:51] in the audience. The chair shall call to order any person who is being disorderly

[1:11:55] by speaking when not having been recognized by the chair or is being

[1:11:59] disrupted to the proceedings. If any person after being called to order

[1:12:03] continues to be disorderly, creating a public 13 disturbance, the chair may

[1:12:08] order that person be removed immediately. And I know we had someone

[1:12:12] up front here, sir. I'm going to get right to you first.

[1:12:17] » All right. I'm here to talk about uh trash just like Paul. Only my dump is

[1:12:23] next door. I work 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a

[1:12:28] week, and I come home to a mess. I've lived there seven years. Every

[1:12:34] year, I've called the ordinance officer at least two to three times a year. I

[1:12:39] cannot get a sat down meeting with the with the mayor. I cannot get a sat down

[1:12:44] meeting with the ordinance officer. When I went to the office to speak to the

[1:12:49] ordinance officer prior to the one that's there now, he said it's a me

[1:12:53] problem because I'm the only one in blocks that is making this this uh

[1:12:59] making an effort because everybody nobody wants to get involved. Nobody

[1:13:03] wants to make a phone call. Nobody wants to do anything other than dial the

[1:13:06] number and leave a message anonymously. Anonymous.

[1:13:11] I last Thanksgiving on Monday before Thanksgiving

[1:13:16] uh come home to uh there was a trailer full of trash piled up in front of the

[1:13:24] road. There was a trailer full of trash and there was a pickup full of trash all

[1:13:29] for the bulk pickup that was hauled in there by these people. The fence around

[1:13:35] the place was just falling down. They've had numerous complaints to get it fixed.

[1:13:41] Ordinance officer out there. They have a camping trailer beside the house plugged

[1:13:46] in. People living in it currently. The ordinance officer told them we're 9 to5.

[1:13:52] Don't be in there till after 5. That's what I'm dealing with. The dogs

[1:13:57] run loose. We're allowed what? Two pets. But you can have two pets. And your

[1:14:03] friend that's visiting can have two pets. and their friend that's visiting

[1:14:06] can have two pets and I've got six to eight dogs running unleashed

[1:14:12] crapping in my yard chasing other dogs down the street. Six to eight cars. It's

[1:14:18] a three bedroomedroom house. Three bedroomedroom house 1365 square

[1:14:25] ft. When I left to come to this meeting, there's seven vehicles parked over there

[1:14:31] plus the camper beside the house. There's a truck that's in the backyard

[1:14:36] that's been there for six months. I don't know if it has license plates or

[1:14:40] insurance or not. There's people living in the garage. There's people living in

[1:14:45] the crawl space in the attic. And I can't get nobody to do anything about

[1:14:49] it. I cannot get a meeting. This is my third time in four years coming before

[1:14:55] your council. When I call the ordinance officer, when

[1:15:00] I call the mayor's office, they'll send somebody out. the [clears throat] grass

[1:15:05] that is over the five foot high privacy fence. Just this week when I called on

[1:15:11] Tuesday last week, the ordinance officer showed up I think Friday and within

[1:15:17] three hours there was five people running lawnmowers.

[1:15:20] » Sir, your time is up, but hang tight. I'm going to come and talk to you

[1:15:23] afterwards because I want to get more information on this. I'm very sorry it's

[1:15:26] happening. >> Yep. And what's your name, sir?

[1:15:29] » Wayne Lewis. >> Mr. Lewis. All right. Thank you, Mr.

[1:15:31] » I'll give you my address and the other one if you No, hang tight. I'll come

[1:15:34] talk to you afterwards. Thank you.

[1:15:41] And is there anyone on my left? Yes, Miss Warren. That

[1:15:48] » don't want to sit by your husband.

[1:16:00] » Good evening. So, as many of you know, I've been

[1:16:05] requesting information about veterans that have passed that stayed in

[1:16:10] Westland. At this time, after speaking with Mr.

[1:16:16] Adams, we decided we want to make sure we're getting the information right and

[1:16:21] we want to do justice to all the veterans. So, we are moving the date

[1:16:27] back to Memorial Day of 2027, but I am still asking the public or

[1:16:34] anybody that has information about a veteran that passed during wartime that

[1:16:40] stayed in Westland to please let me know and they can contact me through Mr.

[1:16:46] Allen's office or the mayor's office. Thank you.

[1:16:50] » Thank you, Miss Warren. Is there anyone on my right? Yes, sir.

[1:16:57] Oh yeah, Andrew Rassic, Ridgewood Department's Westland. I know Mayor

[1:17:01] Coleman's not here tonight, but I just wanted to thank him for um that state of

[1:17:05] the city address last Wednesday. Couldn't be at the first part of it

[1:17:09] because I had to work, but I did come for the last 90 minutes. Had to watch it

[1:17:13] from out in the hall because um ballroom was full. But he did mention something

[1:17:18] about Wayne and Hunter. And I just wanted to ask him, does anybody know

[1:17:22] what is when work's going to continue there? Cuz before I came to Westland,

[1:17:29] there had been work going on and now nothing. So have to find out when work's

[1:17:36] going to continue there. And then dangerous intersections. As I

[1:17:41] stated a couple meetings back, I'm glad we're getting all the PE

[1:17:46] signals replaced, the outdated ones with the countdown timers. However, um

[1:17:52] there's a few intersections that need left turn signals. I already know Wayne

[1:17:56] and Hunter's getting one, but Middle Belt and Joy Road and Joy Road and

[1:18:01] Ingster Road, they both need left turn signals.

[1:18:07] Right now, they're without a left turn signal.

[1:18:11] Also, Cherry Hill and Vanoi needs one especially.

[1:18:16] There's been too many accidents. There was one accident that involved a

[1:18:20] pedestrian. That pedestrian's still recovering after a year. So, hopefully

[1:18:24] we can get a left turn signal at some of those dangerous intersections.

[1:18:30] And um that's all I have. Thank you guys for your time.

[1:18:34] » Thank you. And we're also going to answer your question from earlier during

[1:18:37] our council comments. >> Okay. Thanks. You're very welcome.

[1:18:41] Anyone on mouth? Yes, sir.

[1:18:46] » Hi, everybody. My name is Kandaras Coward. Uh I am a licensed roofer. Uh

[1:18:50] I've been doing it for about four and a half years. Um I just came up here

[1:18:54] because I'm interested in taking on projects in Wayne County. Uh I'm

[1:18:59] normally all over Michigan, but uh I have my own business. It's called KC

[1:19:03] Roofing. I'm a asshalt shingler. Uh, I have some business cards, so I can leave

[1:19:08] some business cards out on the table. >> Okay. We don't normally like business

[1:19:12] promotion like this up here, so just just to let you know.

[1:19:14] » Gotcha. Thank you. >> Not a problem. Thank you for coming out.

[1:19:18] » Uh, anyone on my right? Yes, M.

[1:19:23] » I wasn't going to do this tonight, but I was going to call out the mayor. He

[1:19:28] didn't show up to this meeting, and I let him know three weeks ago. I found

[1:19:33] out some information going doortodoor. I found out information from other

[1:19:39] people in different cities that know Mr. Coleman, God bout Martin, Emily Balman,

[1:19:47] Lisa, and Mike.

[1:19:51] And some of you were highly recognized and valued as the council meeting panel,

[1:20:00] but some of the other ones I was told and was shown that uh four council

[1:20:07] people on the panel had their campaigns paid for by Mayor Coleman

[1:20:16] and in return for votes. And I also >> ma'am that's getting towards a personal

[1:20:23] attack on individual. >> It's not personal. It's why I'm going

[1:20:26] public. >> Well, you're calling out accusing them

[1:20:30] of >> the mayor that went to a school to read

[1:20:34] a book and ended up talking politics to kindergartens.

[1:20:40] » Do you want to see it? >> Well, he's the mayor. I'm not here to

[1:20:42] get in back and forth, but he is the mayor and he's allowed to talk about his

[1:20:45] position. Somebody had bashed Melissa Sampy for buying food and taking food to

[1:20:51] a school to feed kids snacks, lunches, and the mayor's bashing on her for that,

[1:20:58] but he's not telling people what he's done using kids to get votes, and that's

[1:21:04] not right. So, I'm calling the mayor out. He's not responding. And I seen him

[1:21:10] in the parking lot today, and he put God bowed in his place. I've even talked to

[1:21:15] God belt which has also ignored me. So something needs to be done. I want it

[1:21:20] face to face with the mayor. I don't care who else is present. I want it

[1:21:25] public and I would like to see a public apology to Miss Sampy for the behavior

[1:21:32] of the mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Thomas.

[1:21:38] Anyone on my left? Yes, Miss Thomas.

[1:21:46] Good evening everyone. I thank you guys for allowing me to come

[1:21:52] up here and talk. And I since we were talking about garbage, it is a situation

[1:21:57] with I'm being told that some of the uh landlords are not doing their jobs

[1:22:04] and we already know that. But now because of the rodent rodent problem

[1:22:09] that we're having, uh it it's it's making it a lot worse.

[1:22:14] I'm finding out that uh in people's backyards because you can't see from the

[1:22:20] front, but mostly in the backyards. Now, how do we go about making sure that

[1:22:26] someone or the landlord is is getting rid of uh all of the debris, trash, uh

[1:22:35] dogs, animal poop. You'd be surprised the the stuff uh that goes on inside of

[1:22:41] those uh duplexes or town houses. And it's a and it makes it difficult for the

[1:22:47] rest of the neighborhood to try to keep up. I mean, like this gentleman was

[1:22:51] saying, it's like one situation after the other, and it's like everybody is is

[1:22:58] getting the brunt of what a few people are doing or not doing. And in this

[1:23:04] situation, uh like I said, I'm being told that there's uh some some the

[1:23:09] landlords at some of these places are just not doing their jobs. I've taken

[1:23:15] pictures of some p some of the places How do you I I'm not going to go in

[1:23:21] their backyard, but I just have to take the words of the people that are coming

[1:23:26] to me because I respect them and I believe them because I'm right there in

[1:23:30] the middle of it as well. So I I don't I I don't want to be when the moment I see

[1:23:35] a a rodent in my house, that's when I'm picking up and I'm moving because who

[1:23:40] wants to live in an area where there's constant debris and constant, you know,

[1:23:47] people it it seems like the the the people that are being rented to,

[1:23:53] they don't care because it's not their property. So when people don't own

[1:23:58] property, then that's they don't care because they don't have to pay for it.

[1:24:02] They don't have to keep it up if they don't want to. So for the most of the

[1:24:07] people that are doing what we're what we need to do in order to keep our homes

[1:24:11] good and our duplexes, our living areas clean, I mean, it's becoming a problem.

[1:24:19] And you guys know that. I'm sure you've heard about the rodents in in Westland

[1:24:23] period. Not only in Norway, but in Westland period. So, this is what's

[1:24:28] where it's coming from. Trash, debris, dogs, their poop not being picked up,

[1:24:34] and all this kind of stuff that makes it bad. Uh, this one lady, okay, I don't

[1:24:40] have time to do this, but trash is a major problem.

[1:24:44] » Yep. >> Thank you.

[1:24:45] » Thank you, Miss Thomas. If you have a specific address, we'll come get it from

[1:24:48] you, too. I do not, but I can get it for you.

[1:24:51] » Okay, I'll talk to you offline. Okay. >> Because I know we have each other's

[1:24:54] phone number. >> Anyone on my right? Yes, Ray.

[1:25:02] » Wow. Wow. Wow. Anyway, try to save the best, you know, try to [snorts] save the

[1:25:08] um I want to say to council, thank you for with this support with the social

[1:25:13] worker and I think the police department is a great leadership and I support

[1:25:18] mental health all the way. So, u matter of fact, let's talk about mental health

[1:25:23] for a second. 988 day is called making an awareness of it. Suicide prevention

[1:25:29] month. You might have a friend. You might have a loved one. Some people

[1:25:33] sometimes don't, you know, make they don't they deny it that they might need

[1:25:39] help. But there is help out there supports. So that's why I am big big

[1:25:45] about 988. We have a brand new sign out in that new park over here. I'm proud of

[1:25:50] it. 988. And I'm going to spread it to Dearborn Heights and to some other

[1:25:57] places yet. Bray is always making want to make changes and make the moves. And

[1:26:03] anyway, let's talk about the DQ for a second. I want to thank my friends for

[1:26:07] going and thanks Melissa and the group of the VIP friends and the police

[1:26:12] department and the fire. Um, it was great. It's good to be rec, you know,

[1:26:18] recognized in your own you into the community and all the great things I'm

[1:26:22] doing and stuff like that. So, I felt really good because it wasn't like that

[1:26:27] in my time in the 70s like it is now. Pray is making a difference out there

[1:26:31] and we're all making a difference out there and we need to be kind to one

[1:26:34] another too. So, and to the all the times and so I do have new goals. 14

[1:26:40] years for CLS. This my anniversary going to another

[1:26:44] year making it 15. I am ready for it. Training the new officers to the police

[1:26:50] department. the fire department already did this year. So, I'm gonna continue

[1:26:55] doing what I am doing and that's my calling. I want to say thank you.

[1:27:01] » Thank you, Ray. And happy birthday to you.

[1:27:04] » Thank you. >> Yes, sir.

[1:27:08] » Right.

[1:27:15] » Good evening, council. >> Good evening, council president. Um I

[1:27:19] have three items. Um the first one is uh in regards to the opening time of the

[1:27:27] dispensaries. Um I heard the um the uh uh director talk about elderly people

[1:27:37] needing to be there early, people getting home from work at late hours in

[1:27:41] the morning. Um and this is rush hour time. This is 8:00 in the morning. This

[1:27:48] is when traffic on Ford Road is quite busy. And to get people, especially

[1:27:54] elderly people or people that are groggy from working all night out on the road

[1:27:59] at 8:00 in the morning during rush hour traffic could be a bit of a safety

[1:28:04] issue. Just that was my opinion on that. Um, second thing is I did see two brand

[1:28:12] new garbage trucks in my culdeac today. So I am very grateful for that. Um and

[1:28:18] the third one is um at the uh Westland historical village on the 17th of

[1:28:26] September at 6:30 I will be doing a um lecture on the history of Westland

[1:28:32] churches where uh where it started where it came from the influence and the

[1:28:38] impact on the city of Westland. So if you are available that night, please

[1:28:44] come out and join us. Thank you. Thank you very much.

[1:28:53] » And is there anyone on my right? Anyone on my left?

[1:29:00] Mr. Warren already know.

[1:29:09] » Good evening again. [clears throat and cough]

[1:29:11] In regards to the state of the city address, the uh police chief and um

[1:29:17] through the chair to the police chief, you had mentioned um community

[1:29:21] engagement on some level. Um, so I'm particular particularly interested in

[1:29:28] that and see how that will form out because over the past 10 or 15 years um

[1:29:36] [clears throat] was recommendations that came from the citizens advisory

[1:29:40] committee to forward $110,000 over for community engagements and

[1:29:45] community police officers. So you had mentioned about a lieutenant and maybe a

[1:29:50] sergeant kind of taking that over. So what happens to the other officers who I

[1:29:56] have been dealing with uh in regards to some community issues. So I'd like to u

[1:30:01] see what that structure is and how you're going to lay that out and what

[1:30:05] the relationship with those officers be with uh particularly the Norway and the

[1:30:10] Carver subdivision communities. So, I'd like to see the plan

[1:30:15] and uh how these folks are going to be compensated because I'm pretty sure

[1:30:19] they're being compensated now in their current positions. And so, that's

[1:30:24] [clears throat] one thing I would uh uh really like to look at and it's

[1:30:30] hopefully that it will work for our two communities. Thank you.

[1:30:36] » Thank you, Mr. Warren. Is there anyone else in the audience?

[1:30:40] Okay, seeing hearing none, we will close public comment and move on to comments

[1:30:44] from the administration and Deputy Mayor God.

[1:30:48] » Thanks. And uh thank you council president for uh taking a moment of

[1:30:53] silence for Beth at the start of the meeting. Um, you know, even though Beth

[1:30:59] was only here with the city officially for uh a few years, uh, she's been very

[1:31:05] active throughout the community for decades and, uh, her loss is is missed

[1:31:12] by the people at the Friendship Center and throughout all of Westland. So,

[1:31:17] please keep her family and friends uh, in your thoughts and prayers during this

[1:31:23] uh, difficult time. Uh, I want to thank everyone who

[1:31:28] attended the annual Women of Westland event on August 27th. Uh, unfortunately

[1:31:34] I was unable to attend, but I've heard nothing but great feedback from the

[1:31:38] attendees.

[1:31:41] Um, and also I I'd like to thank all the residents that came out and the people

[1:31:47] that were involved with the Nankin Square and Amphitheater. Uh we wrapped

[1:31:53] up our live uh Friday night concert series uh this last week and uh this was

[1:32:00] a great inaugural year for the park. Uh and you know we're looking forward we're

[1:32:06] already starting plans for next year's concert series as well as other events

[1:32:11] that are going to take place at Nankin Square. I know they're working on a uh

[1:32:16] scarecrow walk uh going to happen in the in the fall here as well as the uh

[1:32:24] Christmas tree decoration event again at Nankin Square. So, we plan to utilize

[1:32:30] that facility year round. So uh but the this first season is was uh uh we were

[1:32:39] pleasantly surprised at the overwhelming success that it had and it's spread

[1:32:43] throughout the region. I go to events from uh Conference of Western Wayne and

[1:32:49] other uh SAMCOG and other groups and there's a lot of buzz about what

[1:32:55] Westland is doing and what we've done with Nan Square and Amphitheater. So,

[1:33:00] uh, just thanks for everyone that's been involved in that process.

[1:33:05] Uh, as well as, uh, you know, everyone that came to the, uh, annual state of

[1:33:10] the city address, uh, you know, the mayor was able to highlight some of the

[1:33:15] great things we've been working on this past year. And I'd like to also thank

[1:33:19] the Leavonia Westland Chamber of Commerce and, uh, Dan West for helping

[1:33:25] organize the event and host the business awards.

[1:33:30] This weekend, Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, is our

[1:33:36] communitywide garage sale. You can register your sale on the city website

[1:33:42] to drive shoppers to your location. If you're shopping, you can visit our

[1:33:47] website for an interactive sale locator of registered sites. Uh there will also

[1:33:53] be a helpful guide of items being sold so you can plan your shopping

[1:33:57] efficiently as possible and you can just contact city hall here if you still need

[1:34:03] to register I believe through the clerk's office is handling those uh

[1:34:07] registrations.

[1:34:11] Our uh parks and recck department is hosting a grandparents and me day this

[1:34:15] Saturday, September 12th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. here at city hall in the

[1:34:21] ballroom. Uh join us for lunch, crafts, games, and more. To register, please

[1:34:27] contact our parks parks department at 7347227620.

[1:34:36] That same day, uh, we're hosting the annual craft beer and wine festival at

[1:34:41] Central City Park. Uh, that's Saturday, September 12th, starting at 5:00 p.m.

[1:34:47] There'll be drinks, food, games, and live music. To purchase tickets, visit

[1:34:53] uh westlandbeer.com. And then our uh Westland Farmers and

[1:34:59] Artisans Market will be having their annual fall fest on Thursday, September

[1:35:04] 18th from 3 to 7 p.m. So stop by and check out all the fall themed items from

[1:35:11] the vendors with crafts and much more. And then I I did want to address the uh

[1:35:18] issue on uh Wayne and Hunter that you brought up. Um, so that's a

[1:35:24] modernization of all the the uh traffic lights there. What happened was they

[1:35:30] they got three of the four pylons or base structures in place and on the

[1:35:38] fourth one there was a utility uh uh problems where they couldn't put the a

[1:35:46] pylon in order to support the mast arm. So, we've been working with uh DTE and

[1:35:55] uh the company to come up with a an alternate to that which has taken some

[1:36:01] re-engineering which is why that intersection is still under

[1:36:05] construction. Uh they've they've come up with a solution now and are scheduled to

[1:36:10] be moving that forward here this in the next several weeks. So, just an update

[1:36:15] on that one for you. And that's all I have this evening. Thank you. Thank you,

[1:36:19] Deputy Mayor Godbbout. Anything from the city attorney's office?

[1:36:23] » Always good to be with you, council. Uh, nothing from me tonight. Thank you.

[1:36:26] » Thank you, Attorney Grisco. We will now begin council comments this evening and

[1:36:29] hear from Councilman John Sullivan. >> Well, as you know, Council President,

[1:36:33] I'm a fan of brevity. Nothing from me today.

[1:36:38] » That's nice and easy. All right, we will now hear from Councilwoman Emily Bman.

[1:36:45] » Thank you. Um, thank you again for everyone coming tonight. Um it's always

[1:36:48] good to have lots of um lots of our residents here are paying attention not

[1:36:52] just um obviously on the video but also in in person. So if you can come it's

[1:36:57] great. Um I do want to again thank my council for electing me as delegate to

[1:37:02] the um Mission Municipal League convention and annual meeting this year.

[1:37:06] Um I will hope I again I will represent well. Um and again another

[1:37:11] congratulations to St. John's Church. I know Mr. Rick I think he's still here.

[1:37:15] I'm hoping that I'm guessing that that will be one of the churches we have to

[1:37:18] look at when we talk about the churches in Westland and history and things like

[1:37:21] that. And they they actually just pulled out a bunch of history so we can um for

[1:37:25] their celebration. So, we'll we can definitely get you some of that. Um

[1:37:29] also, um I actually think the only other thing I want to say is um I hope

[1:37:34] everyone had a great Labor Day. Um I do. It's for me it's actually always a fun

[1:37:38] little um memory down uh walk down memory lane because um I've had two um

[1:37:45] real Labor Days. Um so I'm going to say happy birthday to my 18-year-old son uh

[1:37:50] Augustus and my daughter who um yesterday was my son's. Today is my

[1:37:54] daughter's birthday. And so um Blaine is uh you know she's also so I I now have

[1:38:00] two adult children and it's kind of tough to think about that. [laughter]

[1:38:05] Um but yes, happy birthday to both of them. And I also um just want to remind

[1:38:09] everybody to, you know, hopefully people have um some quiet time set aside for

[1:38:14] Friday since that is the um 25th anniversary of 911

[1:38:21] um this Friday. And I know I usually try to grab some time I and you know kind of

[1:38:26] even take a listen to the the names being called off from um ground zero in

[1:38:32] New York City. I know they always do that. they called them off one by one.

[1:38:35] So, um I just hope everyone takes a pause to remember that 25 years ago, um

[1:38:38] my daughter was celebrating her first birthday when that happened and so it

[1:38:42] kind of changed everything. So, anyway, that is all for me tonight. Thank you.

[1:38:46] » Thank you, Councilwoman. And happy birthday to both of your kids. We will

[1:38:51] now hear from Councilwoman Martin. >> Thank you. Um I also would like to um

[1:38:58] put out my condolences to the Wilinbach family. They've had a lot of sadness in

[1:39:03] the last couple years and both be Beth and Craig are wonderful people. I'd like

[1:39:08] to thank Casey, the roofer, who showed up and spoke under his First Amendment

[1:39:11] rights. We always welcome new businesses into Westland, even if they don't have a

[1:39:16] storefront yet. Um, Mr. Lewis, thanks for coming. You know, we're new to uh

[1:39:22] I'm new to council. That's the first I've heard of it, but I'm hoping the

[1:39:26] ordinance officer can do better by you than it what's been done in the past.

[1:39:31] Um, I'd like to thank Emily Bowman and all the women that participated in uh

[1:39:36] the sheer rocks dinner. I had an emergency last at the last minute and

[1:39:40] Emily filled in for my my spot. Thank you, my friend. Um, schoolboard election

[1:39:45] is this year for those people who aren't aware. So, you might want to do your due

[1:39:49] diligence um and make sure you vote um with some good information. And then

[1:39:55] lastly, um oh, congratulations to all the people who won awards um during the

[1:40:02] uh state of the city. And I want to um hold out Miriam Katy who won citizen of

[1:40:07] the year and it was welld deserved. And that's all for me. Thank you.

[1:40:11] » Thank you, Councilwoman Martin. We will now hear from Councilwoman Sampi.

[1:40:15] » Thank you so much. We're talking about birthdays and thanks and celebrations.

[1:40:20] So that's that sounds like what we're doing today. Um yeah, so my mom

[1:40:24] celebrated her birthday. I told her I would give her a shout out on the 31st

[1:40:27] of August. Uh wanted to wish her happy belated birthday because we cannot

[1:40:32] forget our parents. Um so happy birthday to your kids too. Um I also wanted to

[1:40:38] share my condolences to Beth. Welcome back. I know that uh ladies and and

[1:40:43] gentlemen of the senior center are going to be meeting I think at 1:00. Her

[1:40:47] funeral is actually on Thursday. So they're going to be meeting at the

[1:40:50] senior center at 1 to go over to the funeral home. So as stated, she's had

[1:40:55] that family has had a lot of loss. Um so I'm sending them condolences and and

[1:40:59] prayers and I know she'll be deeply missed. She's done a lot of good things

[1:41:04] over there in such a very short period of time and she's adapted to try new

[1:41:08] things over there um new activities. So, it's it's definitely going to be rough

[1:41:12] and, you know, sending everyone uh big hugs. Um, thanks Ray for bringing up

[1:41:17] about the 988 signs. Uh, as Ray mentioned, he he wears his his uh

[1:41:23] button, which is the 988 crisis line. So, the lifeline. So, that's really

[1:41:29] important for those that are suffering. Um, you know, I always say operate that

[1:41:34] everyone is suffering in silence. You just don't know what they're dealing

[1:41:37] with. Um, you know, a few years back I had a friend who was my age, very young,

[1:41:43] committed suicide and we shared videos, positive videos all the time and it's

[1:41:47] just devastating. Um, you know, people present with a happy face and you just

[1:41:52] don't know what they're dealing with. So, you know, I always say just operate

[1:41:55] with kindness and operate with uh just trying to be kind and trying to smile.

[1:42:01] And again, I mean, life is hard as it is. We don't need to be grumpy all the

[1:42:04] time, right? Just smile. Um, I I wanted to also mention really quickly I stepped

[1:42:10] into the um the role of GoodFellows um as a co-president a few years back and

[1:42:15] we're starting to ramp up our season for the Westland Goodfellows, the No

[1:42:19] Children Without a Christmas. Applications this year will be actually

[1:42:23] digitized. Um, we're working to have those available online the first week of

[1:42:28] October. And we will have a very limited supply of them at Jefferson Barnes, but

[1:42:34] my gosh, Jefferson Barnes and and their team are absolutely amazing. They were

[1:42:38] getting last minute drop drop offs and people running in and trying to get

[1:42:43] paperwork and it just it got to be very overwhelming. So, our goal is to have

[1:42:47] this a little bit more easier for those that have access to online um

[1:42:52] applications and you can just, you know, basically put your documents there and

[1:42:57] submit it and we'll have it. So, I'm going to have more information at the

[1:43:00] next meeting, but just keep in mind if you have a business or you want to get

[1:43:03] involved with Goodfellows, whether you want to be a volunteer, we have hundreds

[1:43:06] of applications that we go through. Um we have a packing program that we do. Uh

[1:43:12] we're always open to new volunteers. I'm over there doing inventory to figure out

[1:43:16] what we got to buy. Um the season cost us about $65,000.

[1:43:21] So that's a lot of money, but we help out a lot of children. Um we provide

[1:43:26] every family with a food voucher in addition to um children being adopted

[1:43:31] out or we give them a gift card and then we give them a small bag of toys. So we

[1:43:36] really want to continue this. I have a feeling this year is going to be the

[1:43:40] need's going to be there. So, if you're interested, feel free to reach out to

[1:43:43] me. Um, I wanted to give a big shout out to the Westland Police officers. I know

[1:43:48] it's been really hard on you guys lately, um, following the news and these

[1:43:53] these domestic violence and suicides and shootings and so, um, I'm going to be

[1:43:59] doing a ride along actually on Sunday, uh, 12-hour shift. I'm really, really,

[1:44:03] really looking forward to kind of understand what you guys go through. Um,

[1:44:06] our community officers are kind of everywhere, but um, you know, our

[1:44:10] officers in general just work so hard and I think about you guys often about

[1:44:15] mentally too because I don't I don't know how you do it. I mean, every time I

[1:44:20] see something, I kind of break down and and tear up and I think about the

[1:44:23] families. So, um, you know, I I think in this month just try to be kind. You

[1:44:30] know, September's a hard month and back to school. So, we'll have our next

[1:44:34] meeting on Monday, September 21st at 7. Um, I want to thank everyone that came

[1:44:39] out today and spoke. I took a bunch of notes. Um, I've had a long, long day,

[1:44:44] but um, uh, I'll stay after. And one more thing,

[1:44:49] too, is if you could keep our colleague, Councilwoman Rowski, in your prayers.

[1:44:52] She's she's dealing with a very hard situation with her family right now. Um,

[1:44:57] emergency situation. So, please pray for her. Um, and if you see her, just you

[1:45:02] don't have to tell her anything, but just let her know that you're thinking

[1:45:04] of her. So, um, wanted to mention that as well. But until then, be safe and

[1:45:09] kind with one another, and we'll see you soon.

[1:45:12] » Thank you, Councilwoman Sampy. We'll now hear from Prom Maxwell.

[1:45:15] » Okay. Uh, thank you, residents, for coming out. We always appreciate your

[1:45:19] feedback. I will be staying with my colleague, uh, President McDermick, to

[1:45:24] talk to you, Mr. Lewis, about the situation. And um I want to say

[1:45:28] congratulations again to both Darl and David on your reappoint being

[1:45:31] reappointed on the commission and uh we will see you on September 21st. That's

[1:45:37] it. >> Okay. Thank you Prom.

[1:45:41] Um few things from me tonight. Uh number one, speaking of birthdays and

[1:45:45] celebrations, we just had a gentleman right down there on the end celebrate a

[1:45:48] birthday. Uh that would be you, Councilman Sullivan. So happy belated

[1:45:52] birthday to Councilman John Sullivan. Um, happy birthday to you. Um,

[1:46:00] it was brought up regarding the sidewalks that are getting done. So, the

[1:46:03] one that's going to be on Cherry Hill is between Wayne Road up to Wildwood Road.

[1:46:08] It's going to be on the opposite side of the street of the old Kmart. Um, so it's

[1:46:12] going to be done there as kids like walk to school to Wildwood Elementary to

[1:46:15] close the sidewalk gaps there. And the other one on Marman Road is going to be

[1:46:18] in front of the Mac Mayfield Municipal Golf Course. So, if you know where the

[1:46:22] golf course is at on Marman Road, there's a sidewalk gap there up to the

[1:46:26] old TCF Bank, which is um now the healthc care center. We're going to be

[1:46:30] filling in that sidewalk gap there as well. So, the one on Cherry Hills

[1:46:33] between Wayne and Wildwood and the other ones right in front of the golf course

[1:46:37] on Marman. I know Hugh uh asked that question.

[1:46:42] Um Ray, thank you for bringing up suicide awareness month in 988. Um,

[1:46:48] suicide prevention is something that's very personal to me. Um, I actually

[1:46:52] dealt with a a matter about a year and a half ago here with a close friend and

[1:46:56] the Westland Police Department was a huge help in that matter uh when I had

[1:46:59] to to go through that when more importantly my friend had to go through

[1:47:03] with that. So, I want to thank Westland PD for uh helping out in that situation.

[1:47:08] And uh you know, I'm glad things turned out the way they ultimately did. And

[1:47:12] that 988 number that Ray talks about and he's brought it up a number of times. We

[1:47:16] have it posted at parks here in Westland and it's something that you can save in

[1:47:20] your phone and it's something that you can share with a family member, a friend

[1:47:25] who's going through a tough situation or something that you can use if you too

[1:47:28] are going through a tough situation and if you have suicidal ideiations on your

[1:47:33] mind. So 988 uh it's different than a regular emergency number. It goes

[1:47:38] directly to the suiciderevention hotline and you can get help or you can call

[1:47:42] that number to get help for someone who you know, who you love, who you care

[1:47:46] about so that we can prevent and end suicide in our society. There is so much

[1:47:51] more that we need to do as a society, as a government to take action on mental

[1:47:56] health, especially here in the state of Michigan where for a number of years

[1:48:01] under multiple administrations under, you know, Governor England in the 90s in

[1:48:04] particular and but under multiple administrations, we really gutted and

[1:48:08] cut mental health here in the state of Michigan. We closed a lot of our state

[1:48:11] facilities and a lot of those facilities weren't that good uh to begin with. They

[1:48:16] institutionalized and warehoused people and they stripped a lot of people of

[1:48:19] their dignity and their integrity. And so we need to reform mental health. We

[1:48:23] need to put more funding into mental health. But in the meantime, until we

[1:48:26] really do more on that debate, 988 is a number that is available. Please spread

[1:48:32] it and share it with people that you know or if you're experiencing suicidal

[1:48:36] ideations, please call it yourself. As many of you are aware, we went

[1:48:41] through a round of severe storms and there was a lot of damage throughout

[1:48:45] Westland. So, I hope that most of you escaped with minimal to no damage. I

[1:48:49] know that some of you unfortunately did not with down trees and limbs. And we

[1:48:53] know, of course, that some of you didn't escape without losing your power. Now,

[1:48:57] you know, DTE has nothing to do with the storm itself. We can't blame them for

[1:49:03] that, but we can blame them for the response times and for people being out

[1:49:08] of power for four, five, six, seven days at a time. And I'll give credit where

[1:49:12] credit is due. DT has gone through the last two years here in West End and made

[1:49:15] a number of infrastructure improvements in our community, trimming more trees,

[1:49:20] um trying to upgrade some of the transformer boxes, but the turnaround

[1:49:24] time here in Westland and across Metro Detroit when people are out of power,

[1:49:28] when businesses are out of power is still woefully inadequate. and you know

[1:49:32] very unacceptable and that's why I've been a continued advocate for a public

[1:49:38] power initiative similar to what they're doing and looking into in Ann Arbor with

[1:49:42] Ann Arbor for public power and similar [snorts] to what other communities like

[1:49:45] we do down river lancing with the Lancing board of light and power in

[1:49:49] Traverse City already have a public power initiative where we the people

[1:49:53] collectively own our power and take it out of the hands of for-profit uh

[1:49:58] shareholder driven companies like DTE who are just as accountable to Wall

[1:50:02] Street shareholders and uh turning a profit and paying out uh dividends as

[1:50:08] they are to us as their paying [snorts] customers. So, um it's very unfortunate

[1:50:14] that people sit for days on end uh without power and have to throw out

[1:50:18] hundreds of dollars worth of groceries or medication in their refrigerator or

[1:50:21] have to go to a relative's house or pay money to stay at a hotel.

[1:50:26] Um, sounds like it was a great event as Deputy Mayor Godbaugh mentioned for the

[1:50:30] She Rocks uh women of Westland event. I too was unable to um be there because I

[1:50:36] was uh on a vacation at that time, but I'm glad to see that uh many of my

[1:50:40] colleagues uh on the city council were able to uh participate in the event and

[1:50:46] I hope to be able to go here in future years.

[1:50:50] Um, as I already mentioned earlier, thank you to the Westland Police

[1:50:53] Department and Chief Dolly for bringing forward the extension on the Hyera

[1:50:57] contract with uh Jennifer Guzala. She does a outstanding job as a social

[1:51:01] worker here in Westland and we're certainly very appreciative of

[1:51:04] Jennifer's work and to the PD for bringing that forward and to Chief

[1:51:08] Dolly's leadership. So, thank you very much uh for that and for our Westland

[1:51:13] Police Department and our unions for, you know, working with us on that very

[1:51:19] important issue. And then, uh, one thing I wanted to

[1:51:23] mention too, coming up on Saturday, September 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00

[1:51:29] p.m. is the Norway Community Citizens Council Rosie the Riveter Tea

[1:51:34] Fundraiser. If you are interested in supporting the Norway Community Citizens

[1:51:38] Council and supporting them financially, you can come to the Rosie T fundraiser.

[1:51:44] It's going to be over at the Jefferson Barnes Community Vitality Center. You

[1:51:48] can go to the Norway Community Citizens Council Facebook page, find the flyer,

[1:51:52] and find out how you can purchase a ticket to join us at the Rosie the

[1:51:56] Riveter T fundraiser on Saturday, September 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 2 pm.

[1:52:01] And all the proceeds do go back to the Norway Community Citizens Council and

[1:52:06] the work that we do not only in Norway community but in supporting people,

[1:52:11] kids, families all over the city of Westland and

[1:52:17] beyond. And with that, if you need anything from me, feel free to reach out

[1:52:21] to me at 73489-2146

[1:52:25] on my cell phone right here. Find me on Facebook at Councilman Mike McDermott or

[1:52:30] shoot me an email. And with that is our motion to adjourn.

[1:52:44] » [music]

Westland City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026

Transcript