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

The meeting opened with a ceremonial badge pinning for the Lapeer Fire and Rescue Department to honor recent promotions and academy graduates 12:26. Following the ceremony, the Commission proceeded with routine business, including the approval of the August 18th agenda and the minutes from the August 4th meeting 18:42, 19:24.

A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by engineers regarding the proposed Genese Street road diet. The discussion centered on finding a balance between improving pedestrian safety and maintaining efficient traffic flow, specifically debating the use of bike lanes, sidewalks, traffic islands, and "hawk" signal systems 30:42, 36:25. The Commission ultimately voted to authorize staff to pursue the design work for this project 1:03:57.

The meeting concluded with various administrative reports from the City Manager and City Attorney, the appointment of new members to local authorities, and a public introduction from a mayoral candidate 1:04:40, 1:05:06, 1:07:56.

• Fire Department Honors: A badge pinning ceremony for promoted officers and new graduates 12:26.
• Genese Street Infrastructure: Detailed discussion on the proposed road diet, pedestrian crossings, and traffic safety improvements 29:18.
• Infrastructure & Facilities: Approvals for election storage construction 24:22, WWTP boiler replacement 26:48, and a new community center pavilion 27:55.
• Municipal Appointments: Appointments to the EDC TIFFA Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Local Development Finance Authority 1:05:06, 1:06:30.
• City Manager Updates: Updates on housing initiatives, grant acquisitions for the Master Plan, and ADA compliance efforts 1:17:13.

• Mike Womack: City Manager, providing departmental updates and presenting the Genese Street study 29:18, 1:17:13.
• Paul Mira & Haley Sabula: Traffic engineers presenting the Genese Street road diet study [2/30:00].
• Brian Clutter: An independent, nonpartisan candidate for Mayor 1:07:56.
• Brad Haggedone: Lapeer County Commissioner, providing updates on county business 20:07.
• Brody Campbell: Newly appointed to the EDC TIFFA Brownfield Redevelopment Authority 1:05:06.
• Andrew Harrington: Reappointed to the Local Development Finance Authority 1:06:30.
• City Commissioners: Including Commissioner Atwood, Brady, Glisman, Petrie, and Swendell [various].

• Fire Department Ceremony: Pinning of badges for approximately 10 individuals to symbolize the community's trust 12:26.
• Financial Approvals: Approval of the August 18th bill listing totaling approximately $4.9 million 23:21.
• Infrastructure Contracts:
  • Approval of a budget amendment for election storage room construction 24:22.
  • Approval of a contract for boiler replacement at the wastewater treatment plant 26:48.
  • Approval of a quote for a new 20ft x 30ft pavilion at the Lapeer Community Center 27:55.
• Genese Street Decision: Authorization for staff to pursue design work for the Genese Street road diet and pedestrian crossing 1:03:57.
• Legal Update: The Freshwater Garden deal has been finalized and closed 1:04:40.

• Meeting Date: August 18, 2025.
• School Start Date: Monday, following the meeting 1:14:22.
• Farmers Market Season: Ongoing through October 25th 1:19:44.
• DDA Car Cruise: Ongoing through September 15th 1:19:44.

• Safety Improvements: The road diet study was prompted by a need to reduce crashes (specifically rear-ends and sideswipes) and improve pedestrian access to downtown 56:56, 29:38.
• Regulatory Compliance: The election storage room and City Hall improvements are being driven by the need for secure files and ADA compliance 25:04, 1:17:57.
• Community Growth: The Genese Street project aims to connect the Crampton Park area to the downtown area more safely 29:38.

• Genese Street Road Diet:
  • The debate over whether to implement bike lanes, sidewalks, or a "traffic island" 30:42, 35:00.
  • The cost and complexity of installing a "hawk" signal system 36:25.
  • Concerns regarding potential traffic congestion and "backups" during peak hours or events 40:15, 42:15.
  • The impact of the new tunnel on future pedestrian and cyclist needs 49:10.
• Budgetary Oversight: Discussion regarding the high value of the monthly bill listing 23:41.

• Genese Street Design: Staff are authorized to pursue design work for the Geniente Street road diet and pedestrian crossing 1:03:57.
• Housing Workshop: The City Manager will set a workshop for the Commission to discuss various ways to increase housing in the community 1:19:01.
• Zoning Ordinance Review: City staff will look into incorporating proposed changes from the planning and zoning review into the city's ordinances 1:17:35.

• Brian Clutter (Mayoral Candidate): Emphasized his commitment to nonpartisanship, fiscal responsibility, and his extensive experience in governmental operations 1:07:56.
• Commissioner (Historical Note): Noted that August 18th is "Suffrage Day," marking the anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in 1920 1:11:07.