Highland Park City Council
Highland Park City Council
Politics
Remote
Join meeting on Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/361243988
Agendas may be found at: https://highlandparkmi.gov/Reference/Agendas-and-Minutes/City-Council/2024.aspx
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Tamia Davis
After much discussion and failed motions to move into closed session, Highland Park City Council tabled a vote on the negotiated agreement with GLWA and the state to allow more time for review.
Live reporting by
Sherrie Smith
After much discussion and failed motions to move into closed session, Highland Park City Council tabled a vote on the negotiated agreement with GLWA and the state to allow more time for review.
Sherrie So Ultra
@SherrieSoUltra
This Evening I’ll be live-tweeting the Highland Park City Council Meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 20th at 7:00pm for #DETdocumenters
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Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET
@freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public
@media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet
@wxyzdetroit
@DetDocumenters
Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET
@freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public
@media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet
@wxyzdetroit
05:52 PM Feb 20, 2024 CST
Here is the agenda for today’s meeting. It’s also available online at:
highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/…
You can learn more about the Highland Park City Council at their website:
highlandparkmi.gov/Government/Cit…
All Council members present and a walk on open was mentioned but all members do not have copies so they are taking a 5 minute recess while copies are made
Here’s a link to the live-tweets from the previous Highland Park City Council meeting on 2/5/24:
If you feel there are errors or corrections needed to these tweets or you have questions, please contact documenters@outliermedia.org
Tonight’s meeting is held in person and being recorded and details on how to view are available on the website:
highlandparkmi.gov/Government/Cit…
Motion to add special meeting minutes from 2/9/24 to the meeting agenda and to have GLWA discussion in open session instead of closed session. Vocal support from attendees and clapping
Council Member Martin moved to table discussion on settlement with Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) to another day, Item V. a & b
The water issue, being a pending legal matter, and the need for closed session was reiterated.
There is a lot of information about the ongoing dispute between GLWA and Highland Park, here’s a link to more information on GLWA’s website:
glwater.org/highland-park-…
Legal counsel for the Highland Park City Council stated that the council received over 200 pages of documentation last week and have not been given enough time to prepare a resolution and need to inform council first then discuss with citizens
All motions rescinded. Council woman Martin moved to approved the agenda adding the special meeting minutes from 2/9/24. The Motion was APPROVED
The Council is having some confusion on making motions and amendments to the agenda
A Resolution to approve posting for City Treasurer as the position will be vacant as of 2/22/24 due to current treasurer being ineligible. See article for more info on why:
deadlinedetroit.com/articles/31681…
Councilmembers Ash-Shafii and Council President Thomas disagreed on the date to submit applications/resumes. The Council discussed various options
Councilmember Ash-Shafii motioned that the council post the position 2/23/24; application deadline 3/4/24; meeting for interviews 3/11/24; and appointment to the seat 3/18/24. Motion APPROVED
The Council approved the previous meeting minutes from 2/5/24 with two NO Votes after discussion on whether a sale could be approved with 3 or 4 votes
The Council approved the special meeting minutes from 2/9/24 with 1 NO Vote
MAYOR OF HIGHLAND PARK ADDRESS. Brief wait due to Mayor having to take a call outside. Mayor thanked everyone for their support in a very brief comment
School Board Member thanked Council for posting the Treasurer position and hoped Council will approve Juneteenth Festival
54-year resident stated that Council was emailed to accept the settlement but now the settlement is changing so the letter is not applicable and rescinded
Resident asked how much Highland Park pays GLWA or the Water Dept each month? Also wanted to know if properties next to the recreation center belong to the recreation center and if they can be sold.
Motion to go into Closed Session to discuss the settlement with Great Lakes Water Authority was REJECTED
Item V.b. Resolution to approve contract and settlement with GLWA, but there is no resolution as the legal department hasn’t had an opportunity to prepare a resolution yet after receiving the new documentation
Council President Jamal K. Thomas stated that the council members have to be on the hook for the decision not the residents
Councilmember Ash-Shafii stated that GLWA dropped off 250 pages 4 days ago and assumed they wouldn’t read it. It cites at least 60 MCA rules that they need to look up and in the Trust Agreement Section E he is offended by GLWA and the state
GLWA representatives don’t appear to be present, none stood when Council President asked
Councilmember Ash-Shafii stated that the amount of time given was unacceptable and the service fees and penalties are not included
Council President reminded everyone that members can address any topic twice for up to 10 minutes
Council President Pro Tem Robinson stated that in the document it stated that Highland Park has not been in compliance and she has been trying to talk to GLWA and was told they were not ready and they need to come and talk to Council
Council President Thomas stated the audience and council is being rude while he speaks and was quiet while other members spoke. Many negative responses from the audience. He stated that he is in support of what other members are saying but Council should have heard from lawyers
Councilmember Ash-Shafii rescinded his approval of the resolution.
Councilmember Manica made a motion to reconsider going into closed session. The motion was APPROVED with 3 votes. There is dispute over whether they need 3 or 4 votes to go into closed session. It’s being stated they may still need to vote to go into closed session
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge stood to offer suggestion not to lose sight of the benefits in the GLWA settlement. The Council is voting to go into closed session and it was REJECTED with only 3 supporting votes.
There is a lot of disagreement between Council President and Councilmember Ash-Shafii on what to do with item V.b. Clerk was asked to go back and re-read minutes, and clerk stated she doesn’t have that in the notes
Councilmember Ash-Shafii motioned to approve but Council President vocally expressed “it doesn’t make does” and “you can’t approve a contract we didn’t read!”. No Council Member supported the motion. The motion does on the floor
Councilmember Martin motioned to Table Item V.b. The motion APPROVED unanimously
Item VI to approve Option to Purchase 12024 Woodward Ave building and lot to JAKM Holding LLC was APPROVED
Item VII.a. to receive and file the Monthly Financial Statement January 2024 was REJECTED
Item VII.b. to receive and file Financial Statements June 30, 2023 was REJECTED
Item VIII. To approve the HP Fire Department to apply for FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a new fire truck was APPROVED unanimously
Item IX. To transfer parcels to Parks & Rec was APPROVED unanimously
Item X.a. Communication from League of Women Voters was received and filed
Item X.b. Request from Demond Petty to host Juneteenth Festival on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 was APPROVED unanimously
Item XI. Resolution to amend the Treasurer posting to have resumes come to the clerk, the clerk clarified that process. Motion was APPROVED
Resident stated that GLWA was supposed to turn in document January 15th not February 14th and taking the item was the most responsible thing Council could do
Council members discussed the GLWA agreement, here’s an article about water bills from outlier media:
outliermedia.org/highland-park-…
Councilmembers were not identified on-screen so here’s a helpful pic with Council Member names
Councilmember Manica warned residents that people will start being escorted out for unruly behavior going forward
Council President stated that he was not supposed to be in the seat if the election was not tampered with. He warned residents that highland park’s charter can be lost and they can become a neighborhood of Detroit.
President warns “play stupid games win stupid prizes” . Stated “on the water, I read 10 pages of that document and knew that we were being screwed”
This concludes the Highland Park City Council Meeting for 2/20/24. For more meeting coverage, check out:
detroit.documenters.org
Attachments
Agency Information
Highland Park City Council
Pursuant to the Highland Park Charter, Chapters 5 and 6, the City Council of Highland Park is comprised of 5 members; 2 at-large and one from each council district. The council exercises all of the legislative powers of the city, except as otherwise stated by law, and provides for the public’s peace and health, and for the safety of persons and property.
The council meets in regular session in the established Council Chamber on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
Documents
No documents available