2026-09-22 - City Council

00:06All right. I call to order this

00:07scheduled meeting of the 35th uh city

00:09council for September 22nd,

00:122026, 7 p.m. Just a kind reminder to

00:16everyone in attendance to please silence

00:17your uh cell phones or communication

00:19devices as to not disturb the meeting.

00:21Uh Mr. Clerk, can we have the role?

00:23>> Council member O'Reilly

00:24>> here. Council member Enos

00:25>> here. Council member Paris

00:27>> here.

00:27>> Council member Abraham

00:28>> here. Council member Famode

00:30>> here.

00:31>> Council President Prom El Melafi

00:33>> here.

00:33>> Council President Serini

00:35>> here.

00:35>> We have a quorum.

00:36>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. At this

00:38time, I'd like to turn the meeting over

00:40to Council Member Enos.

00:41>> Thank you. It is my honor to introduce

00:43Pastor Marvin Miles of International

00:45Gospel Center, who will deliver

00:47tonight's invitation. I invite all who

00:50are able to please stand for the

00:51invocation to remain standing for the

00:53Pledge of Allegiance.

00:59Heavenly Father,

01:02I lift up the city of Dearbornne

01:05to you today.

01:07You know his history, his heartbeat

01:11and also his hearts.

01:14You see every street corner, every

01:16classroom, every business and every

01:19home.

01:20I ask for your peace to rest upon the

01:24city of Dearbornne and Wayne County like

01:28the morning dew.

01:30Hear the wounds of division.

01:33Bring justice where there has been pain.

01:38And let your love be the loudest voice

01:41in every neighborhood.

01:44Lord, strengthen the leaders who serve.

01:47Mayor Hmood, council members, clerics,

01:51priests, pastors, police officers,

01:55teachers, and city officials. Give them

01:58wisdom and compassion to lead with

02:01integrity.

02:03Stir the hearts of believers here to

02:05pray, serve, and love their neighbors as

02:10themselves.

02:12Let revival start in quiet moments of

02:15repentance and ripple out to every part

02:19of this community.

02:21I pray your spirit would move powerfully

02:24in the city of Dearbornne and that

02:26families will be restored. mosque and

02:30churches would re uh will re unite

02:35against hate and bigotry

02:38and that hope will rise like a shining

02:42star. May this city shine with your

02:45glory and not be known by its struggles

02:52but by your transforming grace. Let the

02:57city of Dearbornne be the gateway for

03:00renewal, love, and peace. In the Lord's

03:04name we pray.

03:06>> Amen.

03:09>> I aliance to the flag of the United

03:12States of America and to the republic

03:14for which it stands, one nation under

03:17God, indivisible, with liberty and

03:20justice for all.

03:22>> Thank you, pastor.

03:24>> That was great.

03:26All right. Um

03:29for our viewing and uh audience here

03:31today, just a quick um attire what's

03:34going on here up here at the council is

03:36uh we just wanted to celebrate and

03:38recognize beginning of the school year,

03:40the the football and the homecomings and

03:42all that's going on at the schools. So

03:44each one of us were uh given one of

03:46these to wear with our school. And what

03:49we're gonna do real quickly, we'll just

03:50start with uh Councilman O'Reilly, just

03:52a year of graduation and something real

03:55small and we'll move over.

03:56>> It's public. It's public information,

03:58guys. So, just keep it up.

04:00>> Anyone anyone who watches uh like some

04:01of the Monday Night Saturday Night

04:02Football, sometimes they don't say their

04:03colleges, they say like the high school

04:04they went to, where the great school

04:05they went to. So, that's what I'm doing.

04:07I went to Henry Ford Academy for high

04:08school. They didn't have a football

04:09team. So, since we're doing kind of

04:11football spirit, I am wearing St.

04:12Alonsus Arrows, which is where I went

04:14for nine years of my life from

04:17kindergarten through 8th grade. Um, the

04:19now defunct Alphonsus, but I wanted to

04:21give them a shout out, which is also

04:22where my parent my father and my

04:24grandfather went to school.

04:25>> Excellent. Excellent. Councilman Paris.

04:28>> Oh, boy.

04:31You'reorn High School, class of 1974.

04:34And that's all I'm going to say. Thank

04:36you.

04:37>> Councilman Hammood.

04:40uh Ford High School uh class of 2012

04:442012 and I did actually play football at

04:47Zel uh I was a right guard.

04:50>> Excellent. All right. Myself, uh Council

04:53President Mike Seridi, graduated for uh

04:56class of 1990, the late Charles Justice

04:58Hall of Fame coach his last season. Uh

05:01that was before cell phones. I did we

05:03did have pagers. Our last year there was

05:04pagers and coin uh telephones on the

05:07street corners.

05:09>> Council Al Sawy.

05:10>> Thank you. Council President Prom Kamala

05:12Sawi

05:14>> attended uh Dearborn High School. Proud

05:16pioneer and yes I do love eating cake.

05:20>> What year graduation?

05:21>> Oh 07 at the

05:22>> 2007. Councilman Abraham.

05:24>> Thank you uh council president. uh class

05:27of 1985

05:29uh as my colleague would say from the

05:31University of Fortune. Uh didn't get the

05:35opportunity to play football, but I did

05:37have a long running career uh on the

05:41track team and cross country.

05:43>> Councilmanos.

05:44>> Yep. Class of 1984, Zel Ford. Played

05:47football and baseball there. Um go

05:50T-Irds.

05:51>> You got it. Mayor, now I know uh you're

05:54Fortson High School, but you want to

05:55give us your graduation. And then we

05:56have an adopted uh person in our uh team

05:58here.

05:59>> Uh Forson High School, class of 07. Uh

06:03we had a saying in Forest, and it was

06:05boys play football, real men wrestle. Uh

06:08and obviously Forson also had one heck

06:10of a game this last weekend.

06:12>> Bouncing on the school to the west.

06:14>> Yes. Yes. And then Mr. Carter Fischer

06:19>> actually uh UFD Jesuit class of 2009 but

06:22for tonight I've been adopted by Tractor

06:23Nation. So

06:24>> you got it.

06:28>> All right. Excellent. So uh good luck to

06:30all the schools and uh all the

06:32festivities and the marching bands and

06:35all that comes along with uh the high

06:37school and fall uh time. It's a sad time

06:40for the summer gone, but great time. Uh

06:42kids are back in school. Everything's

06:43running at full board. A lot of

06:44activities going on. So, uh, we'll

06:46mention some towards the end. Uh, Mr.

06:48Clerk, uh, can we go ahead with our

06:51next item was public comment?

06:53>> Yes, public comment.

06:54>> All right. So, public comment, we will,

06:56um, begin the time at 7:10. Uh, council

07:00uh, rules were enacted to allow 30

07:02minutes prior to our public meeting to

07:04uh, to hear uh, to better serve our

07:06residents. We just kindly remind you

07:08that fill out a comment card and then we

07:10will call you up as the time as your

07:12time is allowed. Kind reminder, if you

07:14are speaking regarding a agenda item, we

07:16kindly recommend that you wait until

07:18that agenda item to be addressed at that

07:20time. And you also have a three-minute

07:22limitation and our clerk will allow you,

07:24we'll let you know when there's 30

07:26seconds left. Um, so first we have Mr.

07:29Hussein Barry.

07:33>> Hussein Barry 4759 Matty Lane.

07:36Dearbornne, I spoke to this council at

07:39the last meeting. I addressed the clerk.

07:41Now I know better to just address you,

07:44Mr. Council President. See, I learn when

07:47I addressed the clerk, the point I was

07:50trying to make is that we need to find a

07:52different early voting location in order

07:54to respect the members and the visitors

07:57who actually pay to use the facility.

08:00Regarding the rest of my message, there

08:02were those who said it was cryptic,

08:05and it was, and that was intentional. I

08:08honestly thought that someone from the

08:10council would reach out to me and follow

08:12up. Nobody did.

08:14Uh I have seen at least three council

08:17members since then. No one said

08:18anything. I assume that you handle the

08:21constituents remarks like the school

08:22board docks. I was wrong. I did not know

08:24any better. Uh back to the polling

08:27location. It's not about the location.

08:29It's about the people working the polls

08:32and their mob mentality.

08:35To follow the mob mentality, it is

08:37simple. Just imitate it. To recognize

08:40the mob mentality, you have to study it

08:43to understand it so you can deal with

08:45it. We in Dearbornne deserve better. We

08:49in Dearbornne demand better. Even though

08:52I was crystal clear that I was bullied

08:54in person and on social media by people

08:57that do business with the city, that is

09:00this is no longer about me. I'm a big

09:03man and I can handle myself. I have

09:06heard from business owners that are also

09:08being harassed and bullied by city

09:10workers and other thugs to answer to

09:12that guy. The reason I'm standing here,

09:14not on the other side, because last time

09:16I said that guy, people thought I

09:17pointed at Councilman uh Paris.

09:22I have reached out to some of the

09:24council members regarding some of these

09:25situation with the business owners. I

09:27have a question for you, Mr. Council

09:29President. If you're not the oversight

09:32committee, who is? Who do I reach out

09:34to?

09:36>> Well, in regards, we do have oversight

09:39authority, but the the clerk is an

09:40elected body in the city of Dearborn

09:42that has a separate autonomy. He reports

09:43to the state. We actually had to pass a

09:46resolution so that if something happens

09:48at the clerk, he had to notify the

09:49council because it wasn't it's not uh

09:52clearly defined that he has to. Regards

09:55to allegations, I can tell you Mr. very

09:57and you know me uh general allegations

10:00of uh people being uh not treated

10:02properly and so on can never go

10:04anywhere. I'll just be honest with you.

10:05They have to have specifics. They have

10:07to be put in writing course. In order to

10:09do an investigation, you have to

10:11articulate the problem, the location,

10:14the people, and then we could then uh

10:16talk to the police and see what happened

10:17at that point. But for general

10:19allegations of saying that you know you

10:21you there was bullyiness. Social media

10:23is another issue too. Uh

10:25>> we're past that. I'm talking about

10:26>> No, but you indicate but just a minute

10:27ago, right? But just a minute ago, you

10:29mentioned social media.

10:30>> I said I was and it's no longer about

10:31me.

10:32>> Okay. I apologize. So you you were just

10:35>> adding that in. But the issue was at the

10:37polls. I can tell you that I frequent

10:39the polls as you indicated last time. Um

10:42we we are very dead um certain on the

10:46council trying to make sure that we give

10:47the right resources to the clerk. So for

10:49example, in the previous elections, we

10:51had people with batteries that didn't

10:52have plugs to charge them. We had

10:53batteries uh uh people turned away from

10:56polls because and this body called for a

10:58meeting in which we had the clerk here.

11:00We sent them questions weeks before the

11:03meeting and had a public meeting

11:04regarding what happened during the

11:06previous next election, not this one

11:07that that you're talking about, the one

11:09before. So, we try to do as much

11:11oversight as we can, but we also try to

11:13support our clerk. He is elected by the

11:14people and make sure he has the tools

11:16that he needs. But if you have a

11:18specific event at a that happened, if

11:21there's a police report, what I would

11:22recommend is you send a uh send it

11:24through to the council and then we can

11:25then forward it and look into it.

11:27>> Okay, great. Thank you very much.

11:28Appreciate it, M. Appreciate you.

11:30>> Absolutely. Okay, next we have Randolph

11:34Rodriguez.

11:36>> Yes, sir.

11:44>> Good evening, council. My name is

11:45Rodriguez. uh 1229 Bird Street. Um I

11:48live here in Dearborn. Um I just wanted

11:50to ask for some help with uh just making

11:53Rotunda Drive a little bit safer for

11:55pedestrians. Um I regularly bike to

11:57work. Um and love love that part of my

11:59day, but uh usually crossing Southfield

12:02and Rotunda is pretty unsafe for me. And

12:05mainly because the little bit of

12:07sidewalk that they have there is just

12:08blocked off by construction equipment,

12:10so I can't actually like use it. I'm

12:12usually on the road um and people don't

12:14expect me to be there. So, um, a lot of

12:17times I'm looking all directions to make

12:19sure no one's going to, you know, do a

12:21left turn when, uh, they don't expect me

12:24to be crossing there, even though I have

12:25the the right away from the crossing

12:27sign. Uh, same thing happens in Oakwood

12:29and Rotunda. There are um, no, uh, like

12:33protected uh, pedestrian crossing uh,

12:36timings there. Um, even if you get the

12:39light, people are still allowed to make

12:40a left. So, you're looking in front of

12:42you for the cars that are making a

12:43right. you're looking behind you for the

12:45cars that are trying to make a left is

12:47generally I've I've been in a lot of

12:48close calls or a lot of situations where

12:50I'm in the middle of the road waiting to

12:52see what people are going to do so I can

12:55just get across the street when I should

12:58be, you know, safe to cross um during

13:00that signal timing. Um, and just the

13:03other day I uh saw someone that was in a

13:05wheelchair trying to uh get through uh

13:08Rotunda Drive, I guess just a little bit

13:10east of uh the Southfield Crossing. And

13:14around that area, a lot of the sidewalk

13:15is there's some sections of the sidewalk

13:17where the actual like slab is just gone.

13:20So, it's just a a dirt uh you know, hole

13:23there. So, they were trying to just get

13:25around that section. And you can see

13:27that like it's been there that way for

13:29quite a long time cuz there's a quite a

13:32big section now just made around those

13:34places where the sidewalk hasn't been

13:36really maintained. So um so I'm just

13:39asking for some support. Uh I know it's

13:40a council uh well sorry a county road so

13:43it's a little bit different in the way

13:44that's um you know maintained and stuff

13:46like that. Um, but I just wanted to make

13:48the awareness of these issues because

13:49even though it doesn't seem like it's

13:51used, um, people do use it. Um, and it

13:54makes a big difference, you know, to

13:55make that feel safe and and, you know, a

13:58good place to to be.

13:59>> Well, Mr. Thank you for coming for it.

14:00And you're correct. It's it is a county

14:02road, but the sidewalks are under the

14:04jurisdiction of the city. So, we could

14:06look into that and there are some areas

14:07where there is no sidewalks, right,

14:09purposefully. Um, so we'll definitely

14:10look into I know the construction right

14:12now is a we get a lot of emails about

14:14Telegraph Michigan Avenue. There's a lot

14:16of construction going on, good or bad. I

14:18mean, it's a sign of progress, but uh we

14:20can definitely look into it regarding

14:21the use. Um and I appreciate that, but I

14:24I mean, I'm on your side that pre the

14:26use is immaterial. You can't measure the

14:28use if you can't use it, right? So, we

14:30have to make sure it's available

14:31regardless of if it's high traffic or

14:33not, but uh there is some areas where

14:35there's absolutely no sidewalk in that

14:37area. So, we will uh uh have our and

14:39Jackie just calendar that for the

14:40director. Um we'll we'll send it through

14:43to our director, see if there's spots

14:44that are broken. Do you have an idea

14:45where the broken spots are at?

14:47>> Yes. And I have pictures of it so you

14:48can see what

14:49>> Do you have the location? Like

14:51>> uh

14:53yeah, I know where I know where it is. I

14:54guess I can I think you're speaking to

14:56>> I know you know where it is. We I want

14:57to know where it is.

14:58>> I think you're saying the sidewalk

14:59blocks are removed and they're uh

15:01preparing for repour.

15:03>> No, it's just been it's just over time

15:05it's just worn out or just never

15:08replaced. So

15:08>> understood. Okay. I know Nicole's here

15:10taking notes in the back.

15:11>> Yeah. So certain do you do you know like

15:14on Rotunda is it west of Southfield east

15:16of Southfield?

15:18>> Um there's there's one that's across uh

15:22on the sidewalk that's like in front of

15:24the I think Corwell Hospital

15:26>> there there's a hole there. Um there's

15:28also I think three or four just I guess

15:32east of the Southfield and Rotunda

15:34intersection.

15:35>> Okay. So we'll log that and we'll we'll

15:37send someone out there to make sure we

15:38get on it. But we do appreciate you let

15:40us know.

15:40>> Okay. Appreciate it. Thank you very

15:41much.

15:43>> All right. Aman Alante.

15:48>> Good evening. A man auntie, lifelong

15:50Dearborn resident. There's a story a lot

15:53of us grew up with. A lion comes across

15:55three bulls, one white, one black, one

15:57red. As long as they stand together, he

16:00can't touch them. So, he doesn't fight

16:02them. He goes to two of them and says,

16:04"That white one stands out. Hand them to

16:06me and you'll be safe." They agree. Then

16:08he comes back for the second. And when

16:10he finally comes for the last bowl, the

16:12bull says the line we still repeat.

16:17I was eaten the day the white bowl was

16:19eaten. This city is Lebanese, Yemeni,

16:22Iraqi, Falstini, Syrian, Muslim, and

16:25Christian, Sunni, and Shia. Everyone

16:28else who calls it home. What's happening

16:30overseas right now is painful for almost

16:32every family in this room. It is putting

16:35a lot on us. Online has gotten ugly, and

16:38I'll own that. I haven't always helped,

16:40but the moment we start writing each

16:42other writing each other off by the sect

16:46or by the country, the moment one

16:48community decides another is expendable,

16:51we've done the lines work for him.

16:53Dearborn is strong because we've refused

16:55to do that. This Saturday is September

16:5826th, Yemen Revolution Day. For

17:01thousands of Yemen families in the city,

17:04it's the day their country chose to

17:05govern itself. I'd ask the city to

17:08market with us the same way we show up

17:10for each other's days. So, I'm asking

17:12all of us to hold that line, disagree

17:15about the world as hard as we want, but

17:16not at each other's expense and not

17:18here. Thank you.

17:20>> Thank you. Next, we have Mr. Arnold.

17:29>> Good evening, Mayor Council. Um,

17:34so I gather my thoughts here a little

17:36bit. Um,

17:39I kind of changed what I wanted to talk

17:41about. First of all, I don't see any

17:43Divine Child shirts up there cuz no one

17:46told me about it. I'm a proud parent of

17:49a divine child student

17:51>> and a Dearborn Pioneer.

17:54>> All right. And I I paid more tuition

17:56than any of you guys.

17:59Uh,

17:59>> you should get the give you the dental

18:01bill

18:03from U of D.

18:05So, I just want to talk there's some

18:06talk about the highways um the traffic

18:09on outer. Um

18:12I was meeting with some people at the

18:14Michigan State Police today on a

18:16personal kind of item and I'm working

18:19through something. They didn't quite

18:20understand where I was coming from, but

18:22we're we're working through it. But the

18:25the driving here is out of control. It

18:27it's just out of control. And a couple

18:28things I'll start off. Um, we decided to

18:31fix the dang roads all uh four months be

18:34or three months before the election.

18:36I've never seen where every single road

18:38is being worked at at the same time. You

18:39typically do one, start on another one,

18:43you study the traffic flow before you do

18:44it. This is just telegraph. How long

18:46have they been working on telegraph?

18:48>> Yeah,

18:48>> that uh Telegraph Michigan. How long has

18:50that been worked on?

18:51>> Yeah.

18:52>> And it's everywhere. It's just

18:53impossible. You all the parents going to

18:54school in the morning and folks coming

18:56back at at night understand what's going

18:58on here. it it's a disaster. Uh so uh

19:02that has to be taken care of there.

19:03There's also some driving concerns. Uh

19:05there's people talking on cell phones.

19:08There's people that use the center lane.

19:11The center lane, my dad called it a

19:12suicide lane. They overtake and they

19:16overtook me. One time I'm traveling from

19:19east to west

19:21right in front of the old city hall.

19:23Someone overtook in the turn lane. Now,

19:27if one person would have come and

19:28decided to turn in that lane, guess

19:30what? That is a suicide lane. Okay? So,

19:32we've got I know you guys it's hard. I

19:34know the city the speed bumps are great.

19:36The stop signs are great. I don't know

19:38what else we can do. I just don't know

19:39what else. But, uh something has to be

19:42done. It's d it's dangerous out there. I

19:44know several people have been in

19:45accidents. One of them serious and I I I

19:48I'm all over and I'm getting older now

19:49and I'm like I'm I'm not comfortable

19:51driving on the roads. I drive early and

19:53um try to try to stay out of the way.

19:55So, um, that's it. I had some other

19:58things to talk about, but I think I'm

19:59running out of time. But, um, again,

20:01guys, keep up the good work and

20:02appreciate all the efforts. And thank

20:04you,

20:04>> Arnold. Thank you. Just to give you a

20:06little bit of feedback. Um, last year,

20:07the administration, the mayor under the

20:09mayor, we did, uh, the mayor did send um

20:12the state regarding driving schools. We

20:15went that far. They did shut two down.

20:16Is that correct, mayor?

20:17>> Correct.

20:18>> So, uh, we're not saying that there's

20:20not nothing we can do. The police

20:21department is extremely focused on

20:24driving. We're doing if you go to the

20:26court. Yeah, it is. It is the education

20:28part. I had a gentleman ask me today,

20:30"How what can you give my son advice?

20:31He's turning 16." I told him, "Go to the

20:33driving school that's going to teach you

20:35and listen to them." So there, you know,

20:37we're doing a multiacet. There's no,

20:39>> you know, magic bullet for anything,

20:42>> right? But if you go to our courts, Mr.

20:44Arnold, you will see that it's almost

20:45two and three times the amount of

20:47tickets have been den. So we are

20:49>> we are taking it very seriously and we

20:51do appreciate you. And I still hear cars

20:53at 2 3 4 in the morning cuz I'm up early

20:55>> on miss on Telegraph on Ford Road

20:58Racing. Y Okay. So, um again I know good

21:02job and we need to work harder.

21:04>> Thank you.

21:04>> Thank you. Appreciate it.

21:05>> All right.

21:05>> I like your shirt.

21:07>> Um Mr. Jason's

21:12>> Gonzalez.

21:15>> I don't know if we captain. No.

21:17>> Commander,

21:18>> get your retiree.

21:19>> Lieutenant.

21:20>> Lieutenant Lieutenant. I don't want to

21:21get the wrong one. You didn't put it on

21:22here.

21:24>> Jason Scazales. I'm the president of the

21:25Dearborn Police Lieutenants and

21:27Sergeants Association. So, I'm a St.

21:30Alonsus Arrow. So, that's I love it.

21:33>> Uh, I just want to thank the mayor, his

21:36administration, our police chief, and

21:38the council for the recent TA that we

21:40received. It's a great TA. It points out

21:43the hard work of the men and women of

21:45the Dearborn Police Department,

21:46especially the lieutenants of Sergeant

21:47Association. So, so thanks again. It's

21:49It was passed unan unanimously. First

21:51time ever since I've been working at the

21:53police department that's passed

21:54unanimously. So, thank you very much,

21:56Mr. Mayor and your staff.

21:58>> Before you before you go, just for the

21:59residents, the TA is what?

22:01>> A tenative agreement

22:02>> for a contract.

22:03>> And you're talking about a contract?

22:05>> A contract for our union and the city of

22:07Dearbornne.

22:08>> All right. And you've been how long with

22:11us now?

22:12>> Uh,

22:13I can retire January 11th of 2026.

22:16>> I know. I know. I know you can retire,

22:18but how long you've been with us?

22:19>> Over 20 years.

22:20>> 20 years. And this is the first time

22:21that you had your membership ratified.

22:24Is that correct?

22:25>> Ratified unanimously. Still no votes.

22:28>> So I I can tell you for me, I know the

22:30mayor had talked to me about this and I

22:31know my colleagues have heard it from

22:32the from the people.

22:35>> We believe 100% our police department

22:38and we do believe in rewarding

22:41uh our our our um members that are

22:44putting their lives on line and serving.

22:46And I I do I know we talked and I I'm

22:49very I did not know it was unanimous. I

22:50know it's really hard to get we can't

22:52get all seven of us up time to agree,

22:54but that's a great uh a great thing and

22:56it shows you that the city's committed

22:58to making sure that you guys are

22:59compensated at at the highest levels

23:01that that are competitively levels out

23:03there. So we we appreciate it and uh I'm

23:06glad that it uh is going to pass

23:08tonight. It's on the consent agenda.

23:10>> Thank you.

23:10>> Appreciate it.

23:11>> Thank you.

23:12>> You're not retiring.

23:16All right, Miss Heric.

23:24>> Good evening, Mayor, council members,

23:26city clerk, and uh council staff. Good

23:30to see all of you, my friends. Um I'm

23:32here this evening because I want to

23:34extend a personal invitation to each of

23:35you and to the public to a an event

23:38that's meant to unify our community. We

23:40have a number of those things that

23:41happen here in Dearbornne and they're

23:43very important. Um and uh this coming

23:46Monday is National Good Neighbor Day.

23:48And in the spirit of being good

23:50neighbors, the Intercultural Community

23:52Center in Dearbornne, a nonprofit

23:54organization, is hosting a communitywide

23:57um Good Neighbor Day event. We're having

23:59a concert and a family openhouse. Uh we

24:02have live entertainment. Um, we're

24:04partnering with some of our um, beloved

24:06community partners including the fire

24:09department and the Dearborn Historical

24:11Museum, the Dearborn Public Library, um,

24:14LHC Access, um, the League of Women

24:19Voters, um, A AW, and others who will

24:22have information and activities for

24:24families and for kids. And, um, we'll

24:27have a food truck there. Uh so we're

24:29hoping that you can come out and

24:30celebrate Good Neighbor Day with all of

24:32your good neighbors from across the city

24:33of Dearbornne on Monday. That's uh

24:36September 28th from 5:30 to 8 to 8:00

24:40p.m. at the corner of Cherry Hill and

24:42Military in West Dearborn at Christ

24:44Episcopal Church on the grounds there.

24:46In the event that there's um not good

24:48weather, we will move everything indoors

24:50except for the trucks that will be still

24:52outside. So please join us on Monday

24:555:30 till 8:00 p.m. Thank you. All

24:57right. Thank you. Uh, lastly, we have

25:01Mr. Robert Hass.

25:07Couple words. I'm sorry I don't have any

25:09local problems to bring up, but this is

25:11more of national concern that may affect

25:13our local problems that we're having.

25:15And I write uh confront those uh local

25:18problems. Obviously, everybody's

25:20watching the national news so they see

25:22what's going on. We've seen uh the

25:24president uh stop three three news

25:27agencies, MS Now, CNN, and Politico,

25:30from uh having a right to go into the

25:33White House. and he denies them their

25:35what and I know everybody's not familiar

25:37with the constitutional amendments but

25:39certainly their due process rights under

25:41the fifth amendment of the US

25:43constitution and also the first

25:45amendment of the constitution which uh

25:47gives us freedom of press for uh right

25:50to freedom of the uh speech for freedom

25:52of press and a few other categories. So

25:55that's why I think voting this year is

25:58is very important, very important. If

26:01what he could do on January 6 uh doesn't

26:04bring it to people's minds as to the

26:05possibility of what could happen in this

26:08country, if you want to retain those

26:09rights, if you're against what this

26:12present administration is doing, and

26:15there have been a number of things and I

26:18don't know if people shy away from this,

26:19but I can't shy away from this. I don't

26:21want to look back and say that I did

26:23turn my cheek and look the other way or

26:26turn my head and look the other way.

26:27It's that important for everyone's kids

26:30and grandkids and so forth. Uh the other

26:33concern obviously that I'm going to have

26:35is whether I'm going to have any outside

26:38people coming in, whether it be at ICE

26:40or whoever uh coming in and trying to

26:42disrupt our elections, trying to seize

26:45ballots and so forth or or create all

26:49kind of catastrophe.

26:51And then you worry about even if we get

26:53these people elected that you want to

26:55vote for whether your speaker of the

26:57house is going to seat them and create a

27:00constitutional crisis for all of us.

27:03It's that critical. It's that important.

27:05And don't wait till it happens. You're

27:08going to have to get out. And I

27:09encourage everybody. It's that important

27:12and that's and that critical. Right now,

27:15this administration instead of talking

27:17peace and so forth, he just uh I think

27:20approved the sale of 1.5 billion in

27:22bombs to the state of Israel and so

27:25forth. And these bombs are some of them

27:2720,000 pounders that uh uh that bomb the

27:31surface and their and they'll bomb

27:34underneath the ground and so forth. I

27:36don't know how many more people they

27:37want to kill over there until we really

27:39get to something that makes sense. And

27:41if you're going to have agreements over

27:42there, bring the people in that are

27:44going to have a say in this today. I

27:47think the Palestinian Authority Abbas uh

27:53had to speak, but he had to speak from

27:55overseas because we would bring somebody

27:57in like Netanyahu to address the United

27:59Nations, but we want to bring someone in

28:01from the Palestinian Authority to

28:04address the United Nations. It really

28:06doesn't make sense. Um

28:08>> I'm sorry, your time has expired.

28:10>> Okay. Uh last thing uh I'll say is uh

28:14again tomorrow morning there will be a

28:16judge in New York uh that'll be hearing

28:18this case with respect to the free

28:20speech, Judge Kelly. And he ruled uh in

28:23favor of Jim Costa back in 2018 and

28:26restored his credentials. And I hope

28:28that uh happens. But again, I'm going to

28:30come back again. I'm going to urge

28:32people to vote.

28:32>> Thank you, Mr. Hatis. All right. Um at

28:35this point, there's any more cards?

28:38Okay. Okay, we're going to close this

28:39public comment period and uh now move on

28:43to before we move on to our consent

28:45agenda, is there any items that any

28:48member wishes to remove from the consent

28:49agenda and discuss individually?

28:54>> All right, Mr. Clerk, you may proceed.

28:57>> Uh we have a resolution in need of an

28:59offer in support.

29:01>> Okay. Offered by Councilman Enos,

29:03supported by Councilman Hammud.

29:06Mr. Clerk, can I have a roll call vote?

29:08>> Council member O'Reilly,

29:10>> yes.

29:10>> Council member Enos,

29:11>> yes.

29:11>> Council member Paris,

29:12>> yes.

29:13>> Council member Abraham,

29:14>> yes.

29:14>> Council member Hammud,

29:15>> yes.

29:16>> Council member Alawi,

29:17>> yes.

29:18>> Council President Sereni,

29:19>> yes.

29:20>> We have seven yays. The resolution

29:22passes.

29:23>> Right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Can we

29:25proceed to the next item of business?

29:26>> Next item of business is up number 19.

29:29Resolution by council members Abraham

29:30and Enos approving the minutes of the

29:32previous regular meeting of September

29:348th, 2026.

29:36>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Are

29:37there any addition, deletions, or

29:38modification to these minutes?

29:42Okay. Any objection to unanimous role?

29:44Unanimous ro should be attached. Next

29:45item.

29:46>> Item 20 is an ordinance on the table.

29:48Ordinance number 261872,

29:51an ordinance to amend section 9.02 02 of

29:53ordinance number 06-1111

29:56of the city of Dearbornne by reszoning

29:58the property located at 7100 Freda

30:00Street from an RE and VP to an RE which

30:05is a multifamily residential district

30:07classification resolution by council

30:09members Enos and Hammud to take from the

30:11table for its final reading.

30:13>> All right, Mr. Clerk, thank you so much.

30:14Unassed take from the table for its

30:16final reading. The applicant is

30:17requesting a reszoning of the north

30:19portion of the property at 7100 Freda

30:22Street from V vehicular parking VP to

30:25multifamily residence RE. The less than

30:28half acre property contains 24 uh unit

30:31multif family apartment building and an

30:33associated parking lot. The resoning is

30:35requested to allow the applicant to

30:37expand reconfigur reconfigure the

30:40apartment's complex existing parking lot

30:42and would change the change would extend

30:45the reszoning of the RE uh located in

30:48this other portion of the property,

30:50consolidate the entire parcel into a

30:51single zone classification and allow the

30:54parking lot to be redesigned in

30:56compliance with the requirements of an

30:58RE district. Uh the following the public

31:02Yeah, thanks. The public uh hearing was

31:04conducted on August 10th, 2026 and the

31:06planning commission unanimously

31:08recommended approval of this request.

31:10This is the second and final reading of

31:12this ordinance. Is there any questions

31:13or comments?

31:17>> All right. Hearing a number, Mrs. Clerk,

31:18can we have the final reading?

31:19>> This is the final reading of ordinance

31:21number 26-1872,

31:23an ordinance to amend section 9.02 02 of

31:26ordinance number 06-1111

31:29of the city of Dearbornne by reszoning

31:30the property located at 7100 Freeda

31:33Street from an RE and DP to an RE

31:36classification

31:40clerk. Can we have the role?

31:41>> Council member Abraham.

31:43>> Yes.

31:44>> Council member Hammud.

31:45>> Yes.

31:46>> Council member Elsawi.

31:48>> Yes.

31:48>> Council President Sereni.

31:50>> Yes.

31:50>> Council member O'Reilly.

31:52>> Yes.

31:52>> Council member Enos.

31:53>> Yes. Council President, I'm sorry.

31:55Council member Paris.

31:57>> Yes.

31:58>> Seven yay, zero nays. The ordinance

32:01passes.

32:01>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Next item.

32:04>> Next item is item number 21, ordinance

32:06on the table. Ordinance number 26-1873,

32:09an ordinance to amend the zoning

32:11ordinance of the city of Dearbornne by

32:12amending article 1.00 entitled short

32:16title, rules of construction and

32:18definitions, and article 2.00 entitled

32:21general provisions. resolution by

32:23council members and O'Reilly to take

32:26from the table for its final reading.

32:28>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Cler. Unanous

32:29roles will be attended to take from the

32:30table for its final reading. Um, prior

32:33to this adopting zoning amendment, data

32:35processing was permitted at in the

32:37technology and research district which

32:39is TR and all industrial districts.

32:42Although the city removed data

32:43processing as a spec as a specified

32:47listed in the zoning ordinance, these uh

32:49uses may still be permitted in general

32:52industrial district without site

32:54specific site development standards. The

32:56planning and zoning uh division is

32:58proposing an amendment to the zoning

33:00ordinance that would establish a

33:01definition of data centers and imposes a

33:04temporarily six-month moratorium on the

33:06data center uses as c per council's

33:08request. The moratorum will provide the

33:10staff with the necessary timeline to

33:13research and develop appropriate

33:14regulations for these facilities. The

33:16goal is to ensure that the data uh

33:18centers are consistent with the city's

33:20land use objectives and are subject to

33:22specific development standards

33:24addressing modern environmental health

33:26and safety concerns as well as potential

33:28nuisances or negative impacts on

33:31surrounding properties. As part of the

33:33amendment of the definition of data

33:35centers uh will be added to section

33:371.03. 03 definitions for the duration of

33:39the moratorum. Providing a clear

33:41definition will establish uh which

33:45facilities are subject to the mor uh

33:47temporary restriction why the city

33:49develops the permanent regulations.

33:51Also, the council has requested that

33:52language be added that the applications

33:55shall be accepted during the mortorium

33:57period and be uh sent to the legal

33:59department which the department shall in

34:01writing send a communication to the

34:03applicant acknowledging the receipt

34:05clarifying the moratorium timeline and

34:07placing the duty upon the applicant to

34:08re to reapply accordingly and a copy of

34:11the comm communication shall be sent to

34:13the council. Uh once the approval of the

34:16moratorum is expected to take effect

34:18October of 2026 and expire March of 2027

34:21following a public hearing on August

34:2310th, 2026. The planning commission

34:26unanimously recommended approval of this

34:28ordinance. This is the second and final

34:30reading of this ordinance. Any questions

34:32or comments on

34:33>> Can I Can I speak to it?

34:34>> Of course, Mayor Council. Oh, thank you

34:36so much, Council President. Uh so what's

34:38before uh just to you know simplify this

34:41um over the last several months the city

34:42of Dearbornne has eliminated some uh

34:46zoning areas where data centers could

34:48potentially have popped up. And more

34:50importantly we are now passing a

34:52six-month moratorum allowing the city

34:54the time it needs to put together a very

34:58strong ordinance to ensure that we're

34:59protecting our residents uh to the best

35:01of our abilities. So, that's what's up

35:03now for the second reading and hopefully

35:04will go into effect upon the vote of the

35:06council.

35:07>> Appreciate it. Thank you, mayor. And and

35:09Mr. um Fischer, you do have that

35:11information so we make sure that's

35:12added. I think that was added Jeene,

35:14right? To the final one. Okay. Um any

35:17other questions or comments? Councilman

35:18Hammud

35:19>> want to give uh council president a

35:21compliment because I think the uh the

35:24notification requirement was a proactive

35:26move because typically when it comes to

35:28these types of things uh we don't get

35:30notified if uh somebody tries to we'll

35:33call it break our moratorum. So I think

35:35it's nice to know uh how effective the

35:38legislation we're passing is. Uh and I

35:40think that was a that was a good move.

35:42So thank you for adding that.

35:43>> Appreciate it. Any other questions or

35:45comments?

35:46All right, Mr. Clerk. Can we have the

35:48roll call vote?

35:49>> Uh, this is the final reading of

35:51>> final reading. I'm sorry.

35:52>> This is the final reading of ordinance

35:53number 26-1873,

35:55an ordinance to amend the zoning

35:56ordinance of the city of Dearbornne by

35:58amending article 1.00 entitled short

36:01title rules of construction and

36:03definitions and article 2.00 entitled

36:06general provisions. Mr.

36:08>> Clerk, thank you. Can we have the roll

36:09call vote?

36:10>> Council member Hammud,

36:12>> yes.

36:12>> Council member Elawasi,

36:13>> yes.

36:14>> Council President Sereni,

36:15>> yes. Council member O'Reilly,

36:17>> yes.

36:17>> Council member Enos,

36:18>> yes.

36:19>> Council member Paris,

36:20>> yes.

36:20>> Council member Abraham,

36:22>> yes.

36:22>> Seven yay, zero nays. The ordinance

36:24passes, clerk, thank you. Can we have

36:26the next item? Item 22 is a resolution

36:28by council members and El Salafi

36:30approving the state of Michigan hazard

36:32mitigation assistance grant agreement

36:35for phase two of the flood control

36:37project Dearborn job number 2024-020

36:41in the amount of 8,174,92.50

36:47for the local match in the estimated

36:49amount of $98,232.50

36:53subject to legal review. also

36:55authorizing the mayor to sign the

36:57agreement and all required documents on

36:59behalf of the city and authorizing the

37:01chief financial officer to recognize and

37:03appropriate the grant reimbursements and

37:05requesting immediate effect. Thank you,

37:08Mr. Clerk. During the June 25, 2021

37:11storm event, basement flooding occurred

37:12in several neighborhoods including Gold

37:15East of Payne, Arthur west of Orchard,

37:17Donn west of Orchard as well, and the

37:19alley north of Michigan Avenue west of

37:21Schloff. Uh phase one of this project uh

37:24funded engineering designing, surveying

37:25and permitting uh permitting. Um also

37:29hydraulic uh study was done and versions

37:31of the project uh supplicate was

37:34submitted. The city has now been awarded

37:36a hazard mitigation grant program

37:38funding for phase two to modify and

37:41improve the sewer uh collection system

37:43and better protect these neighborhoods

37:45from high wastewater levels with the

37:47with combined sewer systems. Phase two

37:50will include construction of two grade

37:52protection uh structures, four flap uh

37:55gate structures, new storm sewers and

37:58associated drainage and ex uh

38:00structures. Replacement of manhole

38:03covers and uh in the affected

38:04neighborhoods with solid ones and

38:06installation of hydraulic uh dewatering

38:08gate with an existing junction chamber.

38:12The total cost of this project is

38:14$9,82,325

38:18with uh 8,174,92.50

38:23provided by the hazard mitigation grant

38:25program and the city contribution of

38:2898,232.50.

38:31Upon completion, the project is intended

38:33to mitigate flooding risk for

38:35approximately 3,200 residential homes

38:38and the project completion deadline is

38:40January 11th of 2028.

38:43Uh this is something folks we were

38:45talking about for the last years. Um it

38:47is not one single thing to fix uh the

38:50flooding, but it is a multiacet. We have

38:53done a tremendous amount of uh from our

38:55DPW um regarding

38:58basic maintenance. We've had some things

39:01that were 80% clogged. We've been

39:02working around the clock. And I want to

39:05thank our grants department, of course,

39:06the mayor and his administration on

39:08getting the funding back to the

39:10residents of Dearbornne to to make our

39:12um our city flood-free. Uh that is the

39:15goal. There is a way to fix this and we

39:17are trying um as you see throughout the

39:19council um and administration trying to

39:22make sure that we get uh as much money

39:24as we can to get these things done and

39:25get it done properly. Um, and it's not,

39:28you know, just half hazard. We are doing

39:30studies and making sure we bring in the

39:31best professionals to make sure that we,

39:33uh, get this under control for the

39:34future.

39:36>> Any other questions or comments?

39:37>> I'm going to speak just for a minute.

39:38Uh, obviously I want to thank our DPW

39:40and engineering. Um, this is the flap

39:44gate project that we have previously

39:45discussed over the years. We've

39:47completed the design phase and now, uh,

39:49beginning to commence the construction

39:51phase. What is a flapgate? If you

39:53imagine a backflow pretor for an

39:55individual home, this is essentially a

39:57backflow pretor for an entire

39:59neighborhood that'll help protect 3,200

40:01homes uh with at the underground

40:03infrastructure level. So, extremely

40:04thrilled and excited that this project's

40:06construction phase is about to commence

40:08and hopefully by, you know, beginning of

40:102028, end of 2027, this project should

40:12be wrapped up.

40:13>> Thank you, mayor. And just for our our

40:15residents, um, and mayor, correct me if

40:18I'm wrong or engineering, but, um, you

40:20might see some of the roads a little bit

40:22more flooding, but that's a good thing.

40:25It's not going into your basement. We're

40:27putting it out onto the road when we

40:28have to, but I I just want to make a

40:30commitment. I mean, um, from day one, I

40:32had um was the council member that

40:34called uh for uh the flooding study by a

40:37third party independent uh contractor,

40:39and I appreciate the mayor when he took

40:41over. We did go through that. And um

40:43like I said um you have a lot of old

40:46infrastructure and a lot of it needs

40:48love and care and some of it has to be

40:50redesigned but uh the point is we've

40:51been working towards it. Uh so if you do

40:54see some standing water in some of the

40:55streets uh that's purposely uh designed

40:58council.

41:00>> Yeah I think one um give another

41:03compliment today. So, for DPW and the

41:05mayor's office, I think the highlight

41:07with this one uh is one, it's

41:11essentially grant funded, which is uh

41:14very awesome for an $8 million spend. I

41:17think, you know, I can't really uh

41:19reiterate enough that a lot of the work

41:21we have to do is extremely expensive on

41:23our infrastructure and finding the

41:24grants. I mean, great job to the team

41:26for that. I think also uh to the

41:29engineering team and to the teams here

41:30and based on the studies that we did I

41:33think creative reuse of existing

41:35infrastructure which is why we were able

41:37to uh get it in kind of a lower number

41:40uh than what you're going to be seeing

41:41in the future on infrastructure. I think

41:43that's also uh great that the team was

41:46able to leverage uh pre-existing

41:48infrastructure and uh reactivate uh

41:51interceptor lines that had just been

41:53kind of sitting there doing nothing some

41:55of them. So, uh I think this is like a

41:58huge win that people should be very

41:59proud of our team for, uh actually

42:02executing. So, great job, guys.

42:04>> Absolutely.

42:06>> Any other questions or comments? All

42:08right. Any objection to unanimous role?

42:11Unanimous ro should be attached. Next

42:12item. Item 23 is a resolution by council

42:15members Hammud and O'Reilly awarding a

42:17cooperative contract to landscape

42:18structures through the source well

42:21cooperative program in the amount of

42:232,33,361

42:27for playground renovations at Levelgood

42:29Park and Oak Park and also authorizing

42:32the chief financial officer to

42:34appropriate general fund balance in the

42:36amount of 2,117,887

42:40as a transfer to the general capital

42:42improvement fund and to recognize and

42:44appropriate the transfer in the same

42:46amounts in projects I26527

42:50and I26528

42:52and requesting immediate effect.

42:54>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The

42:56parks and recreation department in

42:57conjunction with purchasing recommends a

42:58cooperative uh contract purchase for a

43:01renovation of playgrounds at the

43:02Levelville Good Park and Oak Park with

43:04the landscape structures. The Level Good

43:07Park. We should have a picture coming up

43:09here soon. Uh there you go. Exclusive

43:13play uh playground will uh feature a

43:15spacethemed design creating an engaging

43:18environment uh where children and all

43:20abilities can explore, imagine, develop

43:22physical, cognitive, sensory, and social

43:25skills. The playground will include uh

43:28custom uh climbers, interactive

43:30features, uh play elements designed to

43:32encourage and discover.

43:34>> Look at that.

43:35>> Even got a spaceman there. There you go.

43:37And Oak Park as well is also getting

43:39this as well. The theme of will be oak

43:42trees obviously right and uh so that

43:45they can have that uh that go as well.

43:48The total request is $2,33,361

43:51consisting of 1,516

43:54uh $516288

43:57I'm sorry for level good and the balance

43:59of 787073

44:01for Oak Park. It is requested that the

44:03CFO be authorized to appropriate

44:062,117,887

44:08in the general fund uh balance as a

44:11transfer of general fund capital uh fund

44:14recognize and appropriate the transfer

44:15within the two projects. Uh listed the

44:17city council is the city also I'm sorry

44:21applied for a $500,000 land and water

44:23conservation grant. If awarded the

44:25500,000 will be returned to the general

44:27fund and immediate effect is being

44:29requested. I just want to thank the

44:31administration and um the de uh parks

44:34and recreation. The amount of work we've

44:36done in the parks and you know some of

44:40those playground stuff that I grew up

44:41with, they're they are like very

44:43dangerous today. Uh this the stuff that

44:45we have, I'm telling you, you you would

44:47cons if you could survive that thing

44:48spinning around with your brother on the

44:50other side or he hits one side, you fly,

44:54it's a it's a real right, Mr. Hadis, you

44:56know what I'm talking about. the amount

44:58of the amount of improvements and safety

45:03and quality of this stuff. I tell you

45:05folks, we say it all the time. We

45:06allocate the money. If we pick the wrong

45:08vendor, boy, it's a disaster. Uh the the

45:11the vendors on these parks have been uh

45:14cutting edge. It's tremendous. They've

45:15been on time, on budget, delivered

45:18everything that they said and then some.

45:19So, I really appreciate. Thank you uh

45:21mayor for and administration in

45:23purchasing finding the right team. You

45:25know, it's you can't just take the lower

45:26bid. you know how we feel about that.

45:28The lowest bid is not the best bid. Uh

45:30this is uh you know we want to make sure

45:32we get the best product for the money.

45:33So I wanted to thank

45:34>> Thank you guys all. Any other questions

45:36or comments?

45:36>> I'm just going to make one comment.

45:37Mayor, so uh you currently have Ford

45:39Field Park and Hamlock Park under

45:41construction.

45:42>> Uh those will be completed in October,

45:44November of this year.

45:45>> This year. Levagood is the last large

45:48park uh to hopefully get an inclusive

45:51playscape and then uh and obviously Oak

45:53Park is being added next year and then

45:55we'll be turning our sites towards

45:57somewhere in southwest uh probably

45:59between Shamansky Tanike um one of those

46:02parks Panvasser somewhere in that area

46:04to get the next inclusive playscape. So

46:06just to give people a direction on where

46:08we're going after these.

46:09>> Thank you mayor. No that's a that's

46:10important. Sh you can speak on this

46:12item. Yeah, you could you could step

46:14forward if you're speaking on a Yeah, if

46:15you're speaking on an item, you can

46:16speak on items. Item 23.

46:18>> Okay. No, I'm just curious. What's the

46:20life expectancy on these? And does this

46:22involve more than just one park? I think

46:24>> these are two parks.

46:25>> So, there's two land two playcapes.

46:28>> Correct.

46:29>> Two playscapes.

46:30>> Yeah, two playcapes. Two parks.

46:31>> And they warranty these things for

46:33>> they warranty these things. We should

46:34get uh a few decades out of them.

46:36>> Life expectancy on these?

46:38>> About 20 25 years.

46:39>> Okay.

46:40>> And they don't require much maintenance.

46:42Uh typically our park managers have leaf

46:43blowers and they kind of blow any debris

46:46that comes onto the uh plain pore

46:48material. What's beautiful is we're

46:49replacing basically the wood chip and

46:51gravel which has a lot of maintenance on

46:52it.

46:53>> Um and all the parts and such are

46:55warrantied by the installer.

46:57>> Yeah. So and also Mr. His mayor is the

47:01the it's not just the wood chips. The

47:03wood chips are very expensive to

47:04replace, but it's also the material. It

47:05absorbs water. It's it's actually very

47:08friendly for fall on. So it's it's a

47:10>> and half dispenses the floor.

47:11>> So the base the so the this base is made

47:14to absorb almost like a catch basin and

47:17away

47:17>> it's permeable to an extent. Yes. Half I

47:20saw you whistle at the cost. Half the

47:22cost is actually the ground.

47:23>> Well that's why I want

47:24>> the plain poor material is half the

47:26expense.

47:28>> Um yeah we're making the investment.

47:30>> Any building needs a good foundation. I

47:32know.

47:32>> Exactly. Exactly. And I'm telling you

47:34that from experience with the carpenters

47:36and mill rights union because I was an

47:38industry poured wall steward at one time

47:40and there were various uh foundations

47:43and so forth that we put in.

47:44>> Thank you for having us.

47:45>> Council council Paris.

47:48>> Thank you council president. I' like to

47:50ask and maybe the administration would

47:52be able to answer this. Uh this is

47:54taking the place then we are removing

47:56the playground at Leood that's by the

47:58bridge that will be removed.

48:00>> You you could speak to it John.

48:01>> Is it correct?

48:02>> I'm not sure. Yeah. I'm sorry.

48:03>> Y,

48:06deputy director of parks and wreck. This

48:07is going to replace the um playground

48:09set and the swing set on the northwest

48:11side of the park, Silver Lane and

48:12Wilson,

48:15>> Divine Child parking lot.

48:16>> Uh and I'm thinking thinking down at uh

48:19Ford Field. What? What?

48:21>> Ford Field. That one's right off of

48:23Brady on the That would be the East Side

48:25Ball Diamond. Yep.

48:26>> Okay.

48:26>> Under construction currently.

48:27>> All right. I I just want to make one

48:29comment. I know that having these

48:32playscapes uh throughout the city and

48:34various parks, you know, I've been to a

48:37lot of the uh parks and especially the

48:39grand openings for or reopenings. Uh

48:43concern that I have down the road though

48:45is maintenance of all our parks whether

48:47it's the peace parks in particular uh

48:51and then now our parks uh and then are

48:54we going to turn around and start

48:57looking at other facets of these parks

49:00because a lot of the walking tracks in

49:02particular are in really poor condition

49:05and I'm just wondering if we're giving a

49:08lot of thought into what kind of a

49:09rotation based on damage and what needs

49:13to be done. You know that we're taking

49:15that in consideration. The tracks are

49:16horrendous in some of the parks.

49:18>> Thank you for bringing that up, uh,

49:20Councilman, and we are looking into

49:21that. We're teaming up with our

49:22engineering team to kind of do an

49:24assessment on all the tracks and we hope

49:25to bring something forward to you guys

49:26in the future.

49:27>> Okay.

49:28>> Thank you, Councilman Ferris. Thanks for

49:29bringing it up. We'll look forward for

49:30your support on that.

49:31>> Yep.

49:31>> On that voting positively for as well.

49:34Absolutely.

49:35>> Appreciate it.

49:36>> Thank you.

49:37>> Thank you. Any other questions or

49:38comments?

49:40>> Okay. No, Mr. Hades can only one time.

49:41That's it. One item. I apologize. Got to

49:44keep the meeting rolling.

49:47>> Uh, next uh any other any other uh

49:50comments by colleagues? All right. Any

49:52objection? Unan roast roll should be

49:55attached. Next item. Item 24, resolution

49:57by council members Enos and O'Reilly,

49:58awarding a two-year contract to My

50:01Bright Lights for holiday lighting

50:03installation and maintenance at the Ford

50:06Community and Performing Arts Center and

50:08Peace Parks East and West in the total

50:11amount of $119,52.33

50:15for fiscal year 2027 and in the total

50:19amount of 100,793

50:22thou 93.33

50:24for fiscal year 2028.

50:27>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The

50:28community relations department and parks

50:30and recreation departments in

50:31conjunction with purchasing is

50:32requesting an addition to the city's

50:35existing contract with uh MIT Lights to

50:38provide holiday lighting installation

50:39and maintenance at the Ford Community

50:41and Performing Arts Center, Peace Park

50:43East, and Peace Park West. The MI Bright

50:46Lights currently provides holiday

50:48lighting services at Camp Dearborn and

50:51the city has been uh pleased with the

50:52quality of the services provided. the

50:54purpose. The proposed addition would

50:56cover a 2-year period and expand the

50:58vendor services to these three

51:00additional locations. The annual cost

51:02includes $23,833.33

51:06for Peace Park East, $54,460

51:09for Peace Park West, and $18,000 for

51:13Ford Community and Performing Arts

51:14Center. In addition, uh the fiscal year

51:17includes a $23,29

51:20purchase of the tree lighting uh for

51:22Park Peak Peace Park West. Uh bring in

51:25the total requested amount uh for this

51:27fiscal year of $119,52.33.

51:32Um the fiscal cost for 2028 is

51:35approximately $100,793.33.

51:38After the two years of payment, the city

51:40will take ownership of all Peace Park

51:42lighting and the tree lighting purchased

51:44at the Peace Park uh West will also

51:47become city owned after the first year.

51:49We did talk about this at the community

51:51hall from the communic uh communications

51:52department. We appreciate this is

51:54forward thinking and uh let them get it

51:56to us for a couple years and then it'll

51:57be ours. Any uh question or comments on

51:59it?

52:00>> Just one comment. Yeah, this is the the

52:02119,000 is essentially for the Christmas

52:04light decorations that are happening at

52:06Peace Park East and Peace Park West. Um,

52:08obviously at Peace Park West will be our

52:10Wanderer Lights Christmas and holiday

52:12celebration that we launched last year

52:14and uh continuing to grow.

52:17>> Appreciate it. Any other questions or

52:18comments?

52:20Any objection to unanimous role? Unamous

52:23ro should be attached. Next item. Item

52:2525 is resolution by council members El

52:27Sawafi in Paris authorizing the finance

52:30director to recognize the Michigan

52:32Commission of Law Enforcement Standards,

52:34also known as M. Coolel's Public Safety

52:38Academy Assistance Program Grant awarded

52:40to the Dearborn Police Department in the

52:42amount of $40,000 in account number

52:45101-2410-330.04-90

52:4904-90 and appropriate the same in

52:52account number 1012410-511.10-10

52:57and requesting immediate effect.

52:59>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The Dearbone

53:00Police Department has been awarded

53:02$40,000 through Michigan uh Commission

53:04of Law Enforcement Standards or known as

53:06MC Cole's Public Safety Academy

53:08Assistance Program. The funding will be

53:10used to offset wages and other eligible

53:12costs associated with six newly hired

53:14Dearborn Police recruiters attending the

53:17Oakland Police Academy. No local match

53:19is required for this grant. Is requested

53:21that the CFO be authorized to recognize

53:23$40,000 in general fund police

53:25administration in their governmental

53:27revenue account and appropriate the same

53:29in the amount of the general police

53:31salary and wages account. This is

53:32requested immediate effect. Any

53:35questions or comments on this item?

53:37Any objection to unanimous role? The

53:40unanimous role should shall be attached.

53:41Next item. Item 26, resolution by

53:43council members Alawi and Enos,

53:45authorizing the mayor's office to renew

53:47the citywide membership with the

53:49conference of Western Wayne for fiscal

53:51year 2026 2027 in the amount of $12,185.

53:56>> Okay, Mr. Clerk, thank you. The mayor's

53:58requesting authorization of renewal of

53:59the city of Dearborn's membership to

54:01West and the conference of Western Wayne

54:02or CC CWWW for fiscal year 2627. The

54:06membership provides the city with a

54:08collective voice on federal policy

54:10advocacy uh matters affecting Dearborn

54:12and other municipalities in the

54:14surrounding area. It also provides

54:16elected and appointed officials with

54:18opportunities to collaborate with m

54:20municipal leaders and access have access

54:22to resources addressing shared regional

54:24and local priorities

54:27including veteran homeless workforce

54:29development, water infrastructure and

54:31transportation programs. The cost of the

54:33citywide membership for this fiscal year

54:35is $12,185

54:37which is unchanged from the previous

54:39year. Any questions or comments?

54:42Any objection to unanimous role?

54:44Unanimous role should be attached. Next

54:46item.

54:46>> Item 27 is a resolution by council

54:48members Abraham and Enos concurring in

54:51the appointment of Laya Kadage to the

54:54city beautiful commission with the term

54:55ending June 30th, 2029.

54:58>> Mr. Clerk, thank you so much. I just

54:59like to remind everyone that we uh want

55:02to thank all of our commissioners

55:03serving on volunteer bases on the

55:05boards. Um that will really helps u our

55:08uh city and is a great way to get

55:10involved. So we'd like to um for this

55:13appointment Laya Kadash for the city

55:16beautiful commission a three-year term.

55:17The term date will end June 30th, 2029.

55:20We'd like to thank her for her volunteer

55:23service and make sure she gets a pin

55:25sent out to her for the commission. Any

55:28other questions or comments?

55:30Any objection to the analous role?

55:33The unanimous role should be attached.

55:34Next item.

55:35>> No further items on tonight's agenda.

55:38>> All right. So, I have a couple of few

55:40items here. No walk-ons.

55:42>> No.

55:42>> All right. That's great. All right. Um

55:45the Dearborn, we got a couple things

55:46going on. I know the mayor might mention

55:48a few of these, but I'll just sneak in a

55:50few. The coffee week. I mean, we're

55:52becoming known as the, you know, board

55:54on wheels, now coffee over here. And uh

55:56and let me tell you folks, every one of

55:58them is busy. So coffee week is is this

56:00week. Mayor, I'm sure you're going to

56:02touch on it, but it's uh go check your

56:04local coffee shops out. Excellent. I

56:05know it's pricey. Some of you uh people

56:07don't want to pay that much for the

56:09coffee. I agree with you, but it is good

56:11stuff. It's a treat. It's a treat, but

56:14it's a great stuff and it keep you up

56:16for a couple days. Uh the Dearborn

56:18Police Department was successfully

56:20renewed their law enforcement

56:21accreditation.

56:23Everybody, the Darbone Police Department

56:25been credited

56:27>> since 2020. Achieving this uh status um

56:30is significant as far as participation

56:32uh research and teamwork of the

56:33department. Congratulation uh Chief Isa

56:36Shaheen for your tremendous work that we

56:37wanted to make sure you were uh

56:40recognized, but of course there's more

56:42coming. Uh Washington DC empowerment

56:44voices on November 9th. Uh Chief Shaheen

56:46will be featured at this event and his

56:48ability to protect the city and

56:50deescalate dangerous situations. Chief,

56:53I've seen it firsthand. I can't thank

56:54you enough. I'm glad that they're uh

56:56understanding that in Washington. We'd

56:57like to just send you off with a warm

57:00welcome. Wish you the best.

57:01>> Absolutely, Chief. Um I did see

57:04something. Some of that social media,

57:05folks, is is not bad if you look at

57:07something. Some are, you know, it's to

57:09be debated, but Whitmore Bulls, I did

57:11not know celebrating a 100red years

57:14October 1st. Tremendous. Congratulations

57:16on the centennial celebration. I did not

57:18know it was that old. Uh we appreciate

57:20that. I also wanted to recognize Lamese

57:23Swar. She is a uh the deputy

57:26superintendent uh heading the schools

57:28right now and she's being recognized by

57:30uh my alana University of Michigan

57:32Dearborn as alumni of the year for 2026.

57:36So, a lot of good things happening. I

57:37know that my colleagues might have some

57:38more uh that's going on as well.

57:40Anything from my colleagues? Councilman

57:42O'Reilly?

57:43>> Sure. Um so, I just want to again

57:45continue uh shouting out some of the

57:46great events we have coming up. Um, the

57:50Bruise and Booze event. I know I I

57:52talked to Jack today. I want to make

57:53sure I mention that. It's very uh a

57:55great event. Uh, Bruise and Booze.

57:57That's at the Detroit uh Dearborn

57:59Historical Museum. So, over at the

58:00Common Dance quarters. It's a two-day

58:02event now. Um, I have gone every year

58:05they've had this. And the Friday,

58:08October 9th, uh, from 6:00 to 11:00 is

58:11kind of the adult party um, with a

58:13couple of our great breweries. We've got

58:15a couple great breweries in Dearborn, uh

58:17Downey and Dearborn Brewing, as well as

58:19others. There'll be food, there'll be

58:20non-alcoholic, uh drinks, um all sorts

58:22of fun and games. I'll say this, uh you

58:25can even bring your kids as the adult

58:26party, but I brought my now

58:28four-year-old every year, and she

58:29enjoyed herself. So, I think there's

58:31something for all ages. And then the

58:33following day, um there's the family

58:35fest that's free, um but they'll have a

58:37donation box, right, Jack? Um for the

58:39Dearbornne, uh historical museum. Um so,

58:42that's great. Uh it's a great event.

58:43Like I said, two days, October 9th,

58:45October 10th, go both days, go one day.

58:48But, uh, it's it's really good and like

58:49I said, I've enjoyed it every year.

58:51>> Thank you, Mr. Councilman O'Reilly. Any

58:54other questions or comments from my

58:55colleagues?

58:56>> All right. Um, mayor, anything from

58:59yourself, administration?

59:01>> Uh, yeah, a few things. So, you kicked

59:02off we are the coffee capital. That's

59:04the phrase we like. Um, it's Friday,

59:06September 25th to October 2nd. The

59:08kickoff will be at Peace Park West.

59:10Excited to be there. Uh although I

59:12haven't I don't drink coffee yet. Um

59:14Dearborn in Detroit community block

59:16party was rescheduled from this weekend

59:18given the storms that we had. So it'll

59:19be Sunday, September 27th from 2:00 to

59:225:00 p.m. This is the block party. It's

59:24on year five now, I believe. Uh this is

59:27something we do in conjunction with the

59:28city of Detroit. Um and I think with

59:31recent events that unfolded in Detroit,

59:33all the more reason to be havinging it

59:35and hoping that everybody can

59:36participate and join. Uh so extremely uh

59:39excited and thrilled to participate in

59:40this uh year's block party. We have

59:43another park that's opening up the

59:44pocket park grand opening. This is the

59:46pocket park next to between Bromeburgger

59:48and Sheibba. It is a city park. We made

59:50an investment through the DDA. Um so

59:53this park grand opening is Wednesday,

59:55September 30th at 2 p.m. Uh so excited

59:58for that to come to life and it'll begin

1:00:00be uh it'll begin to be activated uh

1:00:03across the seasons. Uh one more event

1:00:05for the historical museum. So, you have

1:00:07a Friday event, a Saturday event, and a

1:00:09Sunday event. On Sunday, you do have the

1:00:11Dearborn Historical Museum, Lai by Gali,

1:00:14Haunted Hollow Market. Uh, this is at

1:00:1711:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the McFaten

1:00:19Ross House on Brady Street. Uh, so the

1:00:21historical museum is programming all

1:00:23weekend long, and I know this is one of

1:00:24the high turnout events that you have.

1:00:26Um, so we're thankful for all that Jack,

1:00:28Tate, Matt, and the whole team do. Uh,

1:00:30and lastly, uh, if you want to know

1:00:32where we're walking, we are still doing

1:00:34neighborhood walks. We had some uh last

1:00:36we yesterday, today,

1:00:38>> yesterday.

1:00:39>> Um we had just a neighborhood walk even

1:00:41yesterday. So, actually this weather is

1:00:42a little bit more comfortable walking

1:00:44in.

1:00:44>> Um but we still have a few left. Uh and

1:00:46lastly, I want to shout out the friends

1:00:48of Metro Detroit. Uh today, all the

1:00:50directors and deputy directors, uh

1:00:52myself included, went and we volunteered

1:00:54at the animal shelter for two hours. Um

1:00:57>> what happened there, Mayor?

1:00:58>> You know, uh what happened at the animal

1:01:00shelter, Carter? What I can tell you is

1:01:03uh Zo

1:01:03>> because the animals can tell who's from

1:01:05Dearborn. I think that's what happened.

1:01:06>> Walk into three parties. There was the

1:01:08parties that were uh that were tasked

1:01:11with walking dogs. I was a part of that

1:01:13party as well as Carter. I can tell you

1:01:15that uh Zanab and Nicole took their dog

1:01:17out, no issues. Myself and Michael

1:01:20Kennedy took our dogs out, no issues.

1:01:22But unfortunately, each time a dog

1:01:24walked up to the attorney, uh no dog

1:01:27wanted to be walked by the attorney. Uh,

1:01:30in fact, the last dog that tried took

1:01:32the attorney's pants and so did, you

1:01:35know, luckily we had to change out of

1:01:37the suit before he volunteered, but u we

1:01:39might have a bill for a brand new pair

1:01:40of pants. I can tell you that.

1:01:42>> Definitely submit that to the mayor's.

1:01:43>> But it was a great time, a great

1:01:45function with the uh with the friends.

1:01:48They're doing phenomenal work. Also gave

1:01:50an opportunity for all the directors to

1:01:51see the uh the complete construction of

1:01:54all the phases uh of that animal

1:01:57shelter. we have a great partner in

1:01:59them. Uh so I think that that's the

1:02:00final note that I have.

1:02:01>> Thank you, mayor. And then uh before I

1:02:03turn over to the clerk, I wanted to make

1:02:04sure I recognize uh Jacqueline for her

1:02:08birthday,

1:02:10our uh council executive staff. I I'll

1:02:12tell you folks, uh as many have seen a

1:02:14lot of things going around in

1:02:15Dearbornne. Uh Jackie Jackie as I like

1:02:18to call her and uh her the staff that

1:02:21she is uh um actually hired, right? Uh I

1:02:25know I approved it, but you hired them.

1:02:26So had did a tremendous job tremendous

1:02:29job of all the things that have been

1:02:30happening. We do appreciate it and uh

1:02:34you know uh we can't thank you enough. I

1:02:36think everybody I think everybody on the

1:02:37council knows how much you do and how

1:02:40well you work with all of us. It's

1:02:41really important. Seven different guys.

1:02:45All right. And then Mr. Clark, before we

1:02:47open up to you, I I I want to apologize

1:02:49because I don't know if we gave you the

1:02:50memo about the uh high school uh aspect,

1:02:53but I haven't seen you without a jacket,

1:02:54a coat jacket before, suit jacket, so I

1:02:57wasn't sure. Uh if you'd like to take a

1:02:58minute to say your school and and where

1:03:00you were.

1:03:00>> Well, the first thing I was going to say

1:03:02tonight is I was disappointed that I was

1:03:04invited to your little photo op this

1:03:07evening. I mean, I apologize. I

1:03:09apologize there except for me.

1:03:10>> I apologize, George. That was our

1:03:11oversight. We did we missed that.

1:03:13>> I'd like to talk a little bit about my

1:03:15high school. There you go. Go ahead.

1:03:16>> Which is at Fort High School.

1:03:18>> All right.

1:03:20>> I didn't even know that.

1:03:21>> What year, George? What year did you

1:03:22graduate, George?

1:03:22>> Um, the same as uh Mr. Paris. 74. Class

1:03:26of 74.

1:03:27>> So, we were rivals even back then.

1:03:30>> Great.

1:03:31>> Uh, so yeah, not not a football player.

1:03:35Was a a wrestler. Uh, senior class king.

1:03:39>> I was the class treasurer of our class.

1:03:42Uh,

1:03:42>> prom king.

1:03:44>> Prom king. That's right. Singer, class,

1:03:46prom king

1:03:47>> and treasurer.

1:03:48>> And I didn't I didn't count the votes

1:03:49there either.

1:03:50>> YEAH.

1:03:56>> I wonder if he did count the votes.

1:03:59>> So,

1:04:00just to make that clear, but

1:04:02>> I enjoyed playing enjoyed playing in the

1:04:05band, the marching band, the concert

1:04:06band, things like that. So, anyway,

1:04:08thank you for giving me

1:04:09>> of course and it was our oversight. It

1:04:11won't happen again.

1:04:11>> All right. Appreciate that. I'm going to

1:04:13and I got a couple other things here.

1:04:15First of all, I wanted to give my

1:04:16condolences to a family uh to the family

1:04:20of David S. Robinson.

1:04:22>> Uh at the time of his death in July, he

1:04:25was the oldest resident on our voting

1:04:28list and he died in July at the age of

1:04:30107 years old.

1:04:32>> Wow.

1:04:33>> So, uh condolences to the Robinson

1:04:35family and he I checked he was an active

1:04:38voter. uh we can go back as far as 20

1:04:41years and he was very active all through

1:04:43his last 20 years

1:04:45>> here in the city of Dearborn. So uh God

1:04:47bless and God speed to him at 107 years

1:04:50old to the David Robinson and his

1:04:52family.

1:04:53>> Uh lastly uh I want to talk as I'm going

1:04:56to probably from now until election day

1:04:59regarding election workers. Yes.

1:05:01>> Uh we're always needing election

1:05:03workers. This election we expect to be

1:05:05busier than the one in August, which is

1:05:07goo great, except we need more workers

1:05:09to accommodate that. You'll see on your

1:05:11screen there uh where people can uh come

1:05:14to the city of Dearbornne and sign up

1:05:16for it or they can scan that QR code to

1:05:19apply to be an election worker for

1:05:21election day. The pre the precinct

1:05:23chairs get paid 350, the co-chairs 320,

1:05:26and the inspectors get paid 270. We also

1:05:28need people at night for the receiving

1:05:30board. Uh there's also a mandatory

1:05:32training of $35, but we're getting the

1:05:35word out uh early and often that uh we

1:05:38could use your help. And so um we invite

1:05:41everybody uh you don't even have to be a

1:05:43Dearborn resident actually, but we

1:05:45invite everybody that wants to come and

1:05:46help us run our elections to be a part

1:05:49of democracy and see it firsthand that

1:05:52things always run smoothly and

1:05:53accurately and transparently.

1:05:55>> We appreciate that, George. And I know

1:05:56that the council per your request we

1:05:58increase the hourly wages as well uh to

1:06:01what's the hourly rate now that we're

1:06:03doing?

1:06:04>> $20 an hour.

1:06:05>> $20 an hour. So I know that we've been

1:06:06trying to give you as much as we can so

1:06:08that you could get uh get it done. I

1:06:10know it's challenging and from our

1:06:13conclusion many of the problems that

1:06:14that did happen um were because of uh

1:06:18staff shortages and people calling off.

1:06:19So we do appreciate it and then uh we'll

1:06:21make sure that we uh spread that around.

1:06:23>> All right.

1:06:24>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. At this

1:06:25point now we will go to our second uh

1:06:27and final public comment portion. Uh

1:06:31anyone here to address the council? Do

1:06:32we have any cards? Nope.

1:06:34>> Okay. Anyone would like to address the

1:06:35council? You may just be recognized. You

1:06:37may come up if you don't have a card.

1:06:39We'll give you three minutes. Yep. And

1:06:41you will uh be heard and uh the clerk

1:06:43will also let you know when there's 30

1:06:44seconds left.

1:06:47Joseph Bario Dearborn. I I missed the uh

1:06:50on the agenda for today, but I'd like to

1:06:52bring up a point that the flooding

1:06:55conditions in the city of Dearbornne,

1:06:57and this is something I teach at a

1:06:58pioneer history with the second graders

1:07:00at uh Dearborn Historical Museum. There

1:07:03are three large clay basins in the city.

1:07:06One is where the automotive hall of fame

1:07:08is. One is at Lampn, Michigan Avenue,

1:07:10and East Dearbornne. And the third one

1:07:12is in South Dearborn, just north of

1:07:14Eagle Pass. These places create a

1:07:18flooding problem. Like I teach the

1:07:20students, the second graders, when they

1:07:22use their play-doh, they can make cups

1:07:24out of them, bowls out of them. When

1:07:25they fill with water, that water rises

1:07:28out and floods. The same thing happens

1:07:30to the grass above it. And so those

1:07:32three areas need to be targeted with

1:07:33regard to flood mitigation. Absolutely.

1:07:37That's all I have to say. Thank you.

1:07:38>> Thank you. Appreciate that. Anyone else

1:07:41here would like to address the city

1:07:42council?

1:07:45All right. Hearing and see another. I

1:07:46have a motion to motion by council alafi

1:07:49to adjurnn. We are adjourned.