City Commission Meeting - February 17, 2026

The February 17, 2026, Lapeer City Commission meeting focused heavily on fiscal management and infrastructure maintenance. The Commission approved a budget amendment to transfer $600,000 from the capital permit fund to the General Fund to offset declining income tax revenues and maintain the established fund balance. Additionally, the Commission moved forward with several capital improvement projects, including the replacement of tennis/pickleball courts at Crampton Park, bathroom partitions at the Community Center, and a UV system for the Community Center pool.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussions regarding the "Phase One" nature of the Crampton Park project. While the commission approved the asphalt and engineering bids, Commissioners expressed strong concerns regarding the omission of lighting and practice walls from the current contract. City Manager Mike Womack and staff assured the Commission that they would investigate more cost-effective lighting solutions, such as solar options, for a future "Phase Two."

The meeting also addressed administrative matters, including the reappointment of members to the Park and Cemetery boards and the acceptance of a resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The session concluded with a public comment period where residents raised significant concerns regarding infrastructure neglect and the long-term impacts of the Brookwood North development on existing neighborhoods.

• Budget Amendments: Transferring funds to maintain the General Fund balance amid declining tax revenue.
• Crampton Park Improvements: Approval of tennis/pickleable court resurfacing and debates over lighting and practice walls.
• Community Center Maintenance: Upgrades to bathroom partitions and pool UV filtration systems.
• Zoning and Development: Rezoning of 888 Baldwin Road and resident concerns regarding the Brookwood North housing development.
• America 250 Commemoration: Discussion of purchasing flagpoles to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor (Presiding)
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Francis: City Attorney
• Commissioner Joshua C. Atwood: City Commissioner
• Commissioner Stefan Brady: City Commissioner
• Commissioner Linda Glisman: City Commissioner
• Commissioner Melissa Petrie: Mayor Pro-Tem / Commissioner
• Commissioner Lynne McCarthy: City Commissioner
• Mr. Church: City Staff/Engineering representative
• Marjorie Alexander: Reappointed member of the Park Board
• Dana Jensen: Reappointed member of the Cemetery Board
• Jeff Hogan: Zoning Board of Appeals (appointment postponed)
• Lynn McCarthy: Resigning member of the Zoning Board of Appeals
• Public Speakers: Anne Schenck, Peggy Brodsky, Andy Schango (SDRK Group), Tyler Doherty, and Christy Decker (Brookwood HOA President).

• Budget Amendment (G1): Approval to transfer $600,000 from the capital permit fund to the general fund and merge the housing resource fund into the general fund to streamline accounting.
• Ordinance 2026-01 (G2): Rezoning of 888 Baldwin Road (parcel L20-94-801-040-00) from R2 (Single Family Residential) to B2 (General Business).
• Crampton Park Project (G3): Approval of a bid with Asphalt Specialists Inc. ($267,357) and MLR Engineering ($7,900) for court replacement, not to exceed $290,000.
• Community Center Partitions (G4): Approval of a quote from Ray Haven Group (not to exceed $29,145) for bathroom and locker room partitions.
• Pool UV System (G5): Approval of a proposal with Baruzini Aquatics (not to exceed $42,000) for UV system replacement.
• SDRK Group, LLC Appeal (H1): Rescheduling of the appeal hearing to March 16, 2026.

• Meeting Date: February 17, 2026
• Lapeer Community Expo: April 26, 2026
• Next Scheduled Hearing (SDRK Appeal): March 16, 2026
• America 250 Dedications: Planned for June and August 2026

• Budget Amendment: To maintain the city's fund balance as projected income tax revenue is lower than originally budgeted.
• Park Improvements: To replace aging infrastructure at Crampton Park; staff chose a "Phase One" approach to avoid the high cost of electrical lighting installation in the current budget.
• Flagpole Initiative: To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States and promote local patriotism.

• Budget Amendment (G1):
  • Motion: Commissioner Glissman; Second: Commissioner McCarthy.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• Ordinance 2026-01 (G2):
  • Motion: Commissioner Glissman; Second: Commissioner Atwood.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• Crampton Park Bid (G3):
  • Motion: Commissioner Brady; Second: Commissioner Glissman.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy. No: Petrie. Motion Carries.
• Community Center Partitions (G4):
  • Motion: Commissioner Brady; Second: Commissioner McCarthy.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• Pool UV System (G5):
  • Motion: Commissioner Brady.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissable, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• SDRK Appeal Rescheduling (H1):
  • Motion: Commissioner Brady; Second: Commissioner McCarthy.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• Park Board Reappointment (J1A1):
  • Motion: Commissioner Petrie; Second: Commissioner Glissman.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Brady, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. Motion Carries.
• ZBA Appointment Postponement (J1A3):
  • Motion: Commissioner Petrie; Second: Commissioner McCarthy.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. No: Atwood, Brady. Motion Carries.
• ZBA Resignation Acceptance (J1B2):
  • Motion: Commissioner Petrie; Second: Commissioner Atwood.
  • Roll Call: Yes: Atwood, Glissman, McCarthy, Petrie. No: Brady. Motion Carries.

• Park Lighting and Infrastructure: Intense debate between Commissioners Petrie and Brady and City Staff regarding the decision to exclude lighting and practice walls from the Crampton Park contract. The Commission requested that staff investigate "Phase Two" options.
• Bidding Integrity: Discussion regarding the validity of the two bids received for the park project and the practice of holding prices from previous months.
• Brookwood North Development: Residents voiced significant concerns regarding the lack of road maintenance, drainage issues, and the potential economic/social impact of large-scale rental/income-restricted housing on existing neighborhoods.
• Flagpole Project: The Commission reached unanimous consent for the City Manager to pursue the purchase of two flagpoles for the America 250 commemoration.

• Staff Investigation (Park): City Manager to investigate lighting options (including solar) and practice wall integration for a future park budget amendment.
• Flagpole Project: City Manager to pursue the purchase and installation of flagpoles for the America 250 project.
• ZBA Vacancies: Staff to seek candidates for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The overall community sentiment was divided. While there was support for the library updates and the America 250 festivities, there was palpable tension regarding infrastructure neglect in the Brookwood area. Residents expressed a sense of being "left behind" by city development priorities.

• Commissioner Petrie (on Park Lighting): "Putting this up without lights would be like buying a car that didn't have lights and say, 'just drive it during the day.'"
• Commissioner Brady (on ZBA Appointment): "I don't like it... It just kind of comes across to me that it is really dilatory."
• Christy Decker (on Brookwood Development): "We are leaving behind our neighborhood... how do you intend to find buyers for these proposed houses, which will be priced about four times their annual income?"

• Commissioner McCarthy: Asked how housing grants would be tracked if moved into the General Fund.
• Commissioner Petrie: Questioned the validity of the Asphalt Specialists bid, noting the date on the letter appeared to be from the previous year.
• Commissioner Petrie: Inquired if the new bathroom partitions would include necessary accessories like toilet paper dispensers.
• Resident Tyler Doherty: Raised questions regarding the implementation of infrastructure improvements (roads, lights, drainage) in existing neighborhoods compared to new developments.