City Commission - 09-15-2025

• Zoning & Development: Rezoning of the Old Opera House building to B1 (Neighborhood Business) and CDBG application for apartments.
• Infrastructure & Public Works: Parking lot renovations, pump/aerator purchases, sewage line repairs, and water tower demolition discussions.
• Financial Policy: Re-evaluating the Special Assessment District policy and the transparency of road funding.
• Public Safety & Blight: Discussion on code enforcement (grass/signage/junk) and the implementation of the Flock camera system.
• Community Planning: MEDC grant for the City Master Plan and Non-Motorized Plan updates.
• Marijuana Licensing: Legal transfer of processing licenses between entities.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner
• Melissa Pet/Petrie: Commissioner (Mayor Pro-Tem)
• Lynne McCarthy: Commissioner
• Greg Hagod: Lapeer County Commissioner
• Jeremy How: Police Chief
• Austin Franzel: Lapeer County Young Republican Chairman (Public Commenter)
• Shake Loy: Mayfield Township Resident (Public Commenter)
• Stephanie Hamilton: Lapeer Township Resident (Public Commenter)
• Kelly Nolan: Representative for "Fight for the First of the Pure" (Public Commenter)

• Greg Hagod (County Commissioner): Reported on the 2026-27 county budget, including road commission funds and MSU Extension agreements.
• Shake Loy: Reported a verbal altercation involving intoxicated individuals near the Golden Arrow Center, expressing concerns that the city's direction regarding low-income housing is inviting crime.
• Austin Franzel: Discussed recent incidents involving homelessness and expressed concerns about the increasing crime/instability in the city; also criticized the policing of a recent incident.
• Stephanie Hamilton: Expressed appreciation for the Police Department's presence during a recent candlelight vigil.
• Austin Franzel (Second Appearance): Criticized the handling of housing development plans and the lack of consideration for private development.
• Kelly Nolan: Advocated for parental rights regarding library collections and criticized the commission's response to previous comments regarding "Ask My Tax."
• General Discussion: Residents and commissioners discussed the necessity of code enforcement regarding lawn maintenance, signage, and property blight.

• Engineering/Infrastructure: Staff to engage an engineering firm to develop a 10-year road infrastructure plan.
• Policy Review: City Manager to review and revise the Special Assessment District policy.
• Site Visit: Commission to meet at the water tower on September 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
• ** Proposal: Staff to obtain a proposal for the replacement of the sewer line in parking lot #9.
• Policy Drafting: Staff to prepare a policy for the use of the Flock camera system for the October 6 meeting.

• October 6, 2025 (Regular Meeting)## TLDR The Lapeer City Commission meeting addressed several infrastructure, zoning, and financial policy issues, most notably the decision to pause special assessments for road projects while a new policy is developed. Key developments included the approval of a master plan update grant and the rezoning of the Old Opera House building for business use.

The September 15, 2025, meeting of the Lapeer City Commission involved extensive discussion on the city's long-term infrastructure and financial management. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a memorandum from City Manager Mike Womack regarding the Special Assessment District policy. Womack argued that the current policy is inconsistent and lacks transparency, recommending a pause on new assessments until 202int7 to allow for the development of a 10-year road infrastructure plan. This led to a heated debate among commissioners regarding the potential impact on budgeted road projects like First and Second Street.

The Commission also navigated various municipal updates, including the approval of a CDBG application for apartments in the Old Opera House, the approval of a grant from the MEDC to rewrite the City Master Plan and Non-Motorized Plan, and the legal transfer of marijuana processing licenses. Public comments were frequent and often contentious, covering topics ranging from concerns about homelessness and crime to parental rights in public libraries and the necessity of code enforcement for property blight.

• Special Assessment Policy: Reviewing the legality and transparency of using special assessments for road improvements.
• Urban Planning: Approving a grant for a full rewrite of the City Master Plan and Non-Motorized Plan.
• Zoning & Development: Rezoning the Old Opera House building to B1 (Neighborhood Business) and managing housing development options.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Discussions on wastewater pump purchases, parking lot renovations, and water tower demolition.
• Public Safety & Code Enforcement: Debating the level of enforcement required for property blight (tall grass, signage, and junk).

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner
• Melissa Petrie: Commissioner (Mayor Pro-Tem)
• Lynne McCarthy: Commissioner
• Greg Hagod: Lapeer County Commissioner
• Jeremy How: Police Chief
• Austin Franzel: Lapeer County Young Republican Chairman (Public Commenter)
• Shake Loy: Mayfield Township Resident (Public Commenter)
• Stephanie Hamilton: Lapeer Township Resident (Public Commenter)
• Kelly Nolan: Representative for "Fight for the First of the Pure" (Public Commenter)

• Zoning Amendment (G1): The Commission approved an ordinance amendment to change the zoning of the Old Opera House building from OS1 to B1 (Neighborhood Business) to allow for minimal retail use.
• CDBG Application: Approval of a resolution to authorize a Community Development Block Grant application for the creation of seven apartments in the Old Opera House.
• MEDC Grant (G7): Approval of an agreement to receive MEDC funding to update the City Master Plan and Non-Motorized Plan.
• Special Assessment Policy: Following a report by City Manager Womack, the Commission voted to direct staff to follow his recommendations, which include pausing special assessments until 2027 and developing a 10-year road plan.
• Marijuana License Transfer (G6): Approval of the transfer of medical and adult-use marijuana processing licenses from 4K Processing, Inc. to Cahoot Holdings, Inc.
• Infrastructure Purchases: Approved the purchase of a secondary affluent pump and a Triton Aerator for the wastewater treatment plant.
• Parking Lot Project (G5): Approved Phase 2 of the Parking Lot #5 project, involving paving and drainage work.

• September 15, 2025: Date of the meeting.
• September 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM: Scheduled site meeting at the water tower.
• October 6, 2025: Next scheduled meeting and date when the Flock Camera System policy will be reviewed.
• January 1, 2027: Proposed date for the resumption of the special assessment policy.

• Infrastructure Needs: The need for new pumps, aerators, and parking lot repairs were presented as essential for city utilities and public access.
• Financial Transparency: The City Manager's recommendation to pause assessments was motivated by a desire to ensure that road funding mechanisms are transparent and legally sound.
• Community Growth: The Master Plan update is intended to provide a modern guiding principle for the city's future development and mobility.

• Road Infrastructure Plan: Staff directed to engage an engineering firm to develop a 10-year road infrastructure plan.
• Policy Development: Staff to develop a new Special Assessment District policy and a policy for the use of the Flock camera system.
• Water Tower Investigation: Commission to meet on-site at the water tower to discuss demolition vs. refurbishment.
• Sewer Line Proposal: Staff to prepare a proposal for replacing the sewer line in parking lot #9.

The community sentiment expressed during the meeting was highly polarized. Some residents expressed significant concern regarding crime and the "direction" of the city due to low-income housing developments and homelessness. Others expressed frustration with the lack of code enforcement regarding blight. There were also visible tensions between certain public commenters and the commissioners regarding the handling of local political issues.

• Austin Franzel (Public Commenter): "I am now a homeless spit survivor as well... we are pushing for proper development there. We're not looking for low income."
• Commissioner Swendell: Regarding the lack of policy updates: "We've changed nothing. We've sat around, circle jerked for 2 years, but we've literally changed nothing."
• Kelly Nolan (Public Commenter): "Libraries protect all ideas and thoughts for all community members... It is not the library staff's duty... to restrict what your child can read."
• City Manager Womack: Regarding the Special Assessment Policy: "I just can't support it the way it is right now... it's not transparent to the public."