City of Lapeer City Commission Meeting - August 18, 2025 (recorded)

The meeting commenced with a ceremony by the Lapeer Fire and Rescue Department to honor recent promotions and fire academy graduates through a badge pinning ceremony 12:25. During this ceremony, personnel reaffirmed their commitment to the department's core values of integrity, purpose, and professionalism 14:55.

Following the ceremony, the Commission addressed several administrative and infrastructure matters. This included the approval of the August 18th agenda 18:40, the approval of minutes from the August 4th meeting 19:22, and the authorization of a significant bill listing totaling over $4.9 million 23:19. Key infrastructure approvals included funding for a new election storage room 24:21, boiler replacements at the wastewater treatment plant 26:46, and a new pavilion for the Lapeer Community Center 27:54.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the proposed Genese Street "road diet" and pedestrian crossing 29:17. City officials and engineers debated the merits of installing bike lanes, sidewalks, and various traffic control systems, such as a "hawk" signal or a traffic island, weighing the benefits of improved safety against potential traffic congestion and high installation costs 30:18, 36:39, 41:17. The commission ultimately authorized staff to proceed with design work to investigate these options 1:03:59.

The meeting concluded with various departmental reports, including updates on housing proposals, zoning ordinance changes, and upcoming community events such as the Farmers Market and the DDA car cruise 1:15:37, 1:17:49, 1:19:53.

• Fire Department promotions and core values affirmation 12:25, 14:55.
• Approval of city bills and administrative minutes 19:22, 23:19.
• Infrastructure projects: election storage room, wastewater treatment plant boilers, and the Community Center pavilion 24:21, 26:46, 27:54.
• Genese Street "road diet" and pedestrian safety study 29:17.
• Appointments to the EDC TIFFA Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the LDFA 1:05:02, 1:06:26.
• Community updates: Lapeer Days, school start, and local seasonal events 1:11:41, 1:14:33, 1:19:53.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor 11:40.
• Mike Womack: City Manager 12:25.
• Haley Sabola: Traffic Engineer 30:00.
• Brad Haggedone: Pierce County Commissioner (provided an update via proxy) 20:06.
• Brian Clutter: Mayoral candidate 1:07:48.
• Commissioner Atwood, Brady, Glisman, Petrie, and Swindell: Participating City Commissioners [various].

• Badge Pinning Ceremony: Honoring fire department promotions and graduates 13:31.
• Agenda Approval: Adoption of the August 18, 2025, agenda, including the addition of item G3 18:40.
• Infrastructure Contracts: Approval of DH Rentals and Rehabs LLC for election storage 24:21, Johnson and Wood Mechanical Contractor for boiler replacement 26:46, and Timberquest Construction Company for the community center pavilion 27:54.
• Genese Street Design Authorization: Motion to authorize staff to pursue design work for the Genese Street road diet and pedestrian crossings 1:03:59.
• Appointments: Appointment of Brody Campbell to the EDC TIFFA Brownfield Redevelopment Authority 1:05:23 and reappointment of Andrew Harrington to the Local Development Finance Authority 1:06:26.

• Meeting Date: August 18, 2025 [Title].
• Previous Meeting: August 4, 2025 19:22.
• County Commission Meeting: August 14, 2025 20:26.
• School Start Date: Monday following the meeting 1:14:33.
• Event Deadlines: Farmers Market through October 25th 1:19:53; DDA Car Cruise through September 15th 1:20:13.

• Safety and Security: The need for a locked election storage room due to office reorganization 25:03 and the desire to reduce vehicle crashes via the Genese Street road diet 56:54.
• Compliance: The need to ensure ADA compliance at City Hall 1:17:49.
• Community Service: To honor the dedication and professionalism of fire department personnel 13:07.

• Genese Street Road Diet: A detailed debate on the implementation of bike lanes, traffic islands, and "hawk" signals 30:18, 36:18. Commissioners expressed concerns regarding traffic congestion, particularly near the M24 intersection, and the potential for a traffic island to impede left-hand turns 34:56, 41:17, 43:06.
• Traffic Control Costs: The significant expense of a "hawk" system, estimated at roughly $300,000 36:39.
• Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety: Discussions on whether the presence of a sidewalk or bike lane would increase the usage of the crossing 47:43, 49:06.

• Engineering Design: Proceed with the design work for the Genese Street road diet and pedestrian crossing 1:03:59.
• Zoning Updates: Incorporate proposed changes from the planning and zoning review into city ordinances 1:17:49.
• Housing Workshop: Hold a workshop to discuss various ways to increase housing in the community 1:18:53.