City Commission Meeting - February 17, 2026

The meeting of the Lapeer City Commission addressed several critical administrative and budgetary matters. The session began with the approval of a budget amendment intended to transfer $600,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund to the General Fund to offset projected declines in income tax revenue 22:16, 26:03. The Commission also passed a zoning ordinance to rezone a parcel on Baldwin Road from single-family residential to general business 28:31, 29:29.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to capital improvement projects. This included approving bids for the replacement of tennis and pickleball courts at Crampton Park 30:59, replacing partitions in the Community Center 1:05:33, and updating the pool's UV system 1:09:56. The discussion surrounding the Crampton Park project was particularly spirited, as commissioners debated the decision to proceed without installing new lighting 34:08, 42:50.

The meeting concluded with public comments and administrative updates. Residents from the Brookwood neighborhood voiced significant concerns regarding infrastructure decay, drainage, and the impact of large-scale new housing developments on their existing community 1:39:01, 1:40:04. The Commission also discussed patriotic initiatives for the America 250 anniversary, including the installation of new flagpoles 1:19:38.

• Budgetary Management: Amending the General Fund and Housing Resource Fund to manage revenue declines 22:16.
• Zoning and Land Use: Rezoning 888 Baldwin Road for business use 28:31.
• Parks and Recreation Infrastructure: Renovating Crampton Park courts and managing the "Phase 1" approach to lighting 30:59.
• Community Center Maintenance: Upgrading partitions and pool UV technology 1:05:33, 1:09:56.
• America 250 Celebrations: Initiatives to install commemorative flagpoles in the city 1:19:38.
• Brookwood Development Concerns: Resident anxieties regarding infrastructure, drainage, and new residential density 1:39:01.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor [Context].
• Mike Womack: City Manager [Context].
• Commissioner Joshua C. Atwood: Commission member [Context].
• Commissioner Stefan Brady: Commission member [Context].
• Commissioner Linda Glisman: Commission member [Context].
• Commissioner Melissa Petrie: Mayor Pro-Tem [Context].
• Commissioner Lynne McCarthy: Commission member [Context].
• Mr. Francis: City Attorney 1:15:28.
• Mr. Church: Provided updates on park engineering and maintenance 38:36.
• Tyler Doherty & Christy Decker: Brookwood residents expressing concerns over local development 1:39:01, 1:40:04.

• Budget Amendment: Approved the transfer of funds to the General Fund to maintain the fund balance 22:16.
• Zoning Ordinance 2026-01: Approved the rezoning of 888 Baldwin Road from R2 to B2 28:31.
• Crampton Park Project: Approved a bid for asphalt replacement and engineering, totaling up to $290,000, notably excluding lighting for the current phase 30:59, 36:45.
• Community Center Upgrades: Approved the replacement of bathroom partitions 1:05:33 and the installation of a new pool UV system 1:09:56.
• Flagpole Initiative: Achieved unanimous consent to pursue the purchase and installation of two flagpoles for the America 250 anniversary 1:24:39.
• Appointments/Resignations: Reappointed Marjorie Alexander to the Park Board 1:29:02 and accepted the resignation of Lynn McCarthy from the Zoning Board of Appeals 1:34:24.

• Budgetary Rationale: The transfer of funds was necessary to maintain the fund balance as previously adopted by the Commission due to lower projected income tax revenue 26:03.
• Cost Savings: Staff opted to exclude lighting from the tennis court project because the $80,000 estimate was deemed too expensive and they wished to explore cheaper alternatives like solar lighting 37:05, 37:27.
• Development Concerns: Brookwood residents expressed a need for the city to address existing road and drainage issues before approving large-scale new residential projects like Brookwood North 1:39:01, 1:40:04.

• Tennis Court Lighting: Commissioners debated the "Phase 1" approach, with some arguing that proceeding without lights is an incomplete and potentially costly error 34:08, 44:19.
• Bidding Procedures: A debate occurred regarding the validity of proceeding with only two bids for the park project and whether a more robust bidding process should be implemented 38:11, 47:52.
• Brookwood Infrastructure: Residents highlighted the disparity between new developments and the lack of maintenance (paving, drainage, lighting) in existing Brookwood neighborhoods 1:39:01, 1:40:04.

• Resident Anxiety: There is palpable concern and frustration among residents of the Brookwood area regarding the impact of new developments on their neighborhood's infrastructure and quality of life 1:39:01, 1:40:04.
• General Support: The community reaction to library updates and the America 250 initiatives appeared positive and engaged 1:36:34, 1:43:53.

• Commissioner Petrie on Court Lighting: "Putting it up without lights would be like buying a car that didn't have lights and say, just drive it during the day. I just feel it's silly..." 52:12.
• Resident Christy Decker on Development: Raised concerns about how developers might use tax capture funds (TIF) and the potential for new rental units to impact established homeownership rates 1:40:46.

• Commissioner McCarthy: Asked how the city would track housing grants once they were moved from a separate fund into the General Fund 23:09.
• Commissioner Petrie: Questioned the lack of lighting in the court replacement project and the lack of a concrete mechanism to ensure a "Phase 2" would actually occur 34:08, 44:19.
• Commissioner Brady: Asked about the technical requirements and feasibility of adding lighting to the courts in the future 52:55.
• Resident Tyler Doherty: Questioned why the city is prioritizing new developments when existing neighborhoods like Brookwood have unaddressed road and drainage issues 1:39:01.