General Summary #

The meeting, presided over by the Mayor, addressed several municipal administrative and financial matters. A major portion of the discussion centered on a proposal from City Manager Mike WHMAC to amend the Special Assessment District (SAD) policy. The proposed changes aim to ease the financial burden on residents by reducing assessment percentages for both local and major streets and capping annual special assessments at $365 19:32, 19:53, 20:14.

The Commission also deliberated on several modifications to the City Manager's contract. Proposed changes included aligning the contract term with the city charter to an "indefinite" period 53:53, 54:13 and establishing mortgage point purchases as an eligible moving expense 1:36:24, 1:39:31. Additionally, the Commission approved a Letter of Intent to apply for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support housing in the downtown area 10:31.

Key Topics #

  • Special Assessment District (SAD) Reform: Proposals to lower assessment rates and cap annual costs for residential and commercial properties 19:30.
  • City Manager Contract Amendments: Modifications regarding term length, severance, and relocation/moving expenses 53:53, 57:56, 1:36:24.
  • Federal Grant Opportunities: Approval of a Letter of Intent for the Michigan Neighborhood CDBG program 10:31.
  • Community Development: Announcements regarding the Michigan Main Street vibrancy grant and downtown beautification 6:38.

Who #

  • Mayor: Presiding officer of the meeting 1:39.
  • Mike Womack: City Manager 4:29.
  • Commissioner Atwood: Commissioner 9:06.
  • Commissioner Brady: Commissioner 2:23.
  • Commissioner Glistman: Commissioner 2:45.
  • Commissioner Swindell: Commissioner 3:27.
  • Commissioner Petrie: Commissioner (Absent) 2:23.
  • Dennis McCarthy: Official resigning from the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) 14:19.
  • Doug Schultz: Representative from Row Professional Services/Flint River Watershed Coalition 7:41.

What #

  • Bill Approval: Approval of the bill listing for June 2, 2025, totaling $257,557.29 8:45.
  • Budget Amendments: Approval of budget amendments for fiscal year 2024-25 9:49.
  • CDBG Letter of Intent: Approval for the City Manager to submit a Letter of Imtention to the Michigan Neighborhood CDBG program for potential housing funding 10:31.
  • Koopa Placement: Decision to place the remaining "Koopa" at the northern traffic island on Deville Boulevard (Option 2A) 17:21.
  • SAD Policy Changes: Proposed reduction of local street assessments from 30% to 15% and major street assessments from 15% to 7.5%, with a $365 annual cap 19:32, 19:53.
  • Contract Modifications: Approval to change the City Manager's contract to an indefinite term 13:35 and to include mortgage points as an eligible moving expense 1:39:10.
  • Resignation: Formal acceptance of Dennis McCarthy's resignation from the LDFA 14:19.

When #

  • Meeting Date: June 2, 2025 .
  • May 19, 2025: Date of the meeting minutes approved during the session 3:27.
  • June 12, 2025: Date of the Flint River Watershed Coalition open house 7:41.
  • June 7, 2025: Date of the 5K at Roden Park 1:55:12.

Why #

  • SAD Policy: The City Manager proposed changes to mitigate public "negative feelings" and financial strain on residents caused by high special assessments 23:01, 33:41.
  • Contract Term: The modification to an "indefinite" term was proposed to ensure the contract remains consistent with the City Charter 54:13, 55:25.
  • Moving Expenses: The inclusion of mortgage points was requested to assist with the high costs of transitioning to the community in a difficult real estate market 1:03:58, 1:14:32.

Votes/Decisions #

  • Motion to excuse Commissioner Petrie: Made by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glistman. Carried 2:45.
  • Motion to approve agenda: Made by Commissioner Glistman, supported by Commissioner Brady. Carried 3:06.
  • Motion to approve May 19, 2025 minutes: Made by Commissioner Swindell, supported by Commissioner Glistman. Carried 3:47.
  • Motion to approve bill listing: Made by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glistman. Roll call: All Yes 9:27.
  • Motion to approve budget amendments: Made by Commissioner Swendell, supported by Commissioner Atwood. Roll call: All Yes 10:11.
  • Motion to approve CDBG Letter of Intent: Made by Commissioner Glistman, supported by Commissioner Atwood. Carried 13:46.
  • Motion to accept Koopa location 2A: Made by Commissioner Glistman, supported by Commissioner Brady. Carried 18:29.
  • Motion to amend City Manager contract (Indefinite term): Made by Commissioner Glistman, supported by Commissioner Brady. Carried 13:56.
  • Motion to amend City Manager contract (Moving expenses/mortgage points): Made by Commissioner Brady, supported by Commissioner Glistman. Carried 1:40:34.
  • Motion to accept Dennis McCarthy's resignation: Made by Commissioner Swendell, supported by Commissioner Atwood. Carried 14:46.

Discussion Topics #

  • CDBG Grant Liability: Concerns were raised regarding the potential for increased workload for the housing department and the city's liability regarding the management of federal grant money 10:52, 11:33.
  • SAD Policy and Road Funding: Debate occurred regarding whether lower assessment rates would lead to fewer road projects being completed 27:58, 31:10 and the impact of using marijuana tax revenue to offset these costs 19:32, 31:10.
  • City Manager Compensation and Relocation: Discussion focused on the fairness of the city providing financial assistance for mortgage points and moving expenses to a highly compensated official 1:12:27, 1:13:09.

Action Items #

  • Contract Finalization: The City Attorney is authorized to finalize the language for the City Manager's contract amendments 13:15, 1:31:27.
  • SAD Policy Update: The City Manager will prepare an updated draft of the Special Assessment District policy including the discussed changes 52:28.
  • Cost Estimate: Staff will work on obtaining a cost estimate for the installation of a base for the "Koopa" at the selected location 17:00.

Questions Raised #

  • Staffing and Liability: Will the CDBG grant increase the workload of the housing department, and what is the city's liability regarding grant administration? 10:52, 11:33.
  • Financial Impact: How will using $100,000 from the marijuana tax for local streets affect other funds, such as the motor pool or fire truck purchases? 29:34, 30:25.
  • Mortgage Point Cap: Should there be a specific dollar cap on the amount the city provides for mortgage interest rate reduction? 1:11:03.