April 27, 2026 City Council Meeting

Introduction:

Links to the video recording and the council packet are at the bottom of this post. Please note any errors or omissions in the comments. Anything noted in brackets was inserted by Clarkston Sunshine.

Agenda Item #1, Call to Order (video time mark 0:00:01):

Sue Wylie said ladies and gentlemen, it’s 7:00. I’m calling the meeting to order since it’s 7:00.

Agenda Item #2, Pledge of Allegiance (video time mark 0:00:05):

Wylie said if everybody would please rise, we will say the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge said.)

Wylie said thank you.

Agenda Item #3, Roll Call (video time mark 0:00:30):

Wylie said that was the second item on our agenda. Item #3 is a roll call, and (to Angela Guillen, city clerk), Wylie said if you would please take the roll call.

Sue Wylie, Laura Rodgers, Al Avery, Gary Casey, Amanda Forte, Erica Jones, and Ted Quisenberry were present.

Wylie said thank you.

Agenda Item #4, Approval of Agenda – Motion (video time mark 0:00:44):

Wylie said Item #4 is approval of the agenda. I’ll need a motion and then a second to approve the agenda as it’s presented.

Motion by Forte; second Rodgers.

Wylie said any discussion or comments from council members?

No comments.

Wylie said from the public?

No comments.

Motion to approve the agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said the agenda is approved.

Agenda Item #5, Public Comments (video time mark 0:01:09):

[Though public comments can sometimes irritate the city council, there is value to both the council and the public in hearing them. While they can’t eliminate public comments entirely without violating the Open Meetings Act, your city council has occasionally decided not to acknowledge public comments during a city council meeting unless the person submitting the comments also appears at the meeting (in-person or electronically) to personally read them. In the past, members of the public have been cut off for exceeding the city council’s arbitrary three-minute time limit (it’s arbitrary because no time limits are required by the Open Meetings Act).

If your public comments were submitted to the council but not read, or if you tried to make public comments but your comments were cut short, please email them to clarkstonsunshine@gmail.com and I will include them in my informal meeting summaries either under public comments or under the specific agenda item that you want to speak to.]

Wylie said Item #5 is public comments.

(Wylie read the rules for public comments.)

Wylie said does anybody have a public comment?

(Wylie recognized an unidentified woman for a public comment).

The unidentified woman said yes, ma’am. It’s strictly mine. I was just wondering if we could do something about the cars racing up and down. Oh, thank you. Oh, maybe that’s an old subject. Wylie said you could go back to old subjects, new subjects, as long as it’s not on this agenda. The unidentified woman said OK, no. The raceway is just unbelievable, between Dixie Highway and Depot Park. The cars, they’re just, I don’t know, cars, motorcycles, what? But, gee, they just go so fast and they’re so loud. Wylie said which street are you talking about? Are you talking about Main Street? The unidentified woman said White Lake. Wylie said White Lake. The unidentified woman said and the policemen are really, really nice and they try really hard. But I think maybe if they were there, like, surprising them or something, it would be good. And that’s all I have to say. I’m sorry. Wylie said thank you.

Wylie said anybody else? Chet [Pardee], do you want to make something? I mean, I know you just passed out.

Pardee said I always want to make something. Wylie said I guess I didn’t word that quite right.

Pardee said good evening, identified himself, provided his address, and said glad to be back in Clarkston. A few financial-related comments. Normally, I’ll distribute my information in the middle of Monday afternoon to council so that they can see what I’m going to say. I didn’t get that all done for (unintelligible). So, what has happened to the $1 million charge to the village for the Macomb-Oakland County sewer repairs? Is the city planning for that cost? This was about three years ago. Our number was a million, and it was considerably higher. And then it’s gone silent, but it’s out there, because they are going to have to repair it.

Pardee said the current budget left $330,000 in the fund balance, about twice the required minimum. It turns out that there was really no need to use the citizen’s library millage for the current budget, because that amount of dollars was available in the fund balance. The current budget includes $140,000 to repair Church Street and West Miller, the budget that ends at the end of June. There is no plan for these repairs in this budget year, even though it was budgeted. My estimate is $400,000 cost for both streets, including the 38 sections of cracked sidewalk on Miller, which currently holds a lot of mud. For Church Street, I expect the cost to be $175,000, based on what F&V [Fleiss and Vandenbrink, contract engineering firm] said in May 2025. That’s their cost for engineering, plus the cost for going to the road, are half of the money that we were getting for the state. And then I put another $25,000 in to get to $200,000, because when I raised this question back in October, maybe online I raised the question, Jonathan [Smith, city manager] said we’re probably going to have some higher oil costs when they start to do the work. The last number I recall on West Miller Road, and this would have been four years ago, five years ago, was $178,000.

Pardee said the finance committee appears to feel the city has insufficient time for a November ballot issue. The city should understand the specific state of Michigan requirements. I recall Tom Ryan [former city attorney] saying that the 100-word ballot words need to be done in mid-August. And there are certainly steps for the state before that, but that was the last formal thing that needed to be done in mid-August. We should understand that things could be on the ballot rather than choose to kick the can down the road. Wylie thanked Pardee.

Wylie said anybody else have public comments?

No comments.

Wylie said OK, closing public comments.

Agenda Item #6 – FYI: (video time mark 0:05:49):

Wylie said Item #6 is FYI. We’ve got three items included in our packet.

Item #6a – May 2^nd M-15 Garage Sale (video time mark 0:05:56):

• • M-15 Garage Sale (page 3/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said the first one is, there’s an M-15 garage sale, and it goes from Bay City all the way to Clarkston. It’s May 2, 2026. It’s called the M-15 Pure Michigan Byway. Join us for a day of sales, smiles, and sun, and get out and explore the M-15 corridor. It’s a day of sales across the communities along M-15. May 2, 2026. Sales may occur throughout the week. Drive safe, shop hard, and have fun. I guess it’s traditionally been the first Saturday in May.

Item #6b – May 9^th Angels’ Place Race (video time mark 0:06:31):

• • 19^th Angels’ Place Race (page 4/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said our next FYI is May 9, the Angels Place Race. That’s Saturday, May 9. They have a 10K run, 5K run walk, a one-mile family fun walk, and it starts at St. Daniel’s Church, and I saw an email today that I think if you sign up by the end of April, you will get a shirt and maybe a discount. Is that right? Forte said yeah. Wylie said I think you still may be able to sign up for it after that.

Item #6c – May 26^th Public Hearing for the ‘26/’27 FY Budget Proposal (video time mark 0:06:57):

• • Public Notice, 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Budget (page 5/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said and the next FYI is May 26 public hearing for the 26-27 fiscal year budget proposal.

(Wylie read the notice.)

Wylie said anything else that I missed for FYI?

Pardee said I have a question about the M-15 garage sale. Wylie said OK. Pardee said does it, in fact, include the Village of Clarkston? Wylie said it goes all the way, yes. Smith said it starts at Clarkston Road, or I’m sorry, Dixie Highway, and goes all the way to Bay City. Wylie said and every year I’ve seen – Pardee said I live on Main Street. Can I participate in the sale aspect? Smith said sure. Pardee said OK. Because normally we don’t permit garage sales, I didn’t think. Smith said no, we allow garage sales in the city. Pardee said OK. Thank you. Wylie said OK.

Agenda Item #7 – City Manager’s Report (video time mark 0:09:32):

• • April 27, 2026, City Manager Report (Page 6/62 of the council packet)
  • 2026-2028 Oakland County Economic Outlook (page 7/62 of the council packet)
  • E-Bike Laws and Regulations (page 31/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #7 is the City Manager’s Report. (To Smith), Wylie said I’ll let you talk about that. Smith said OK.

Smith said a few items to talk about. One, as you already know, I applied for Mike Harris legislative directed spending items for $834,000. I applied for that. On very short notice, Thursday afternoon, a week or so ago, I was told that Friday morning there would be a hearing, and it would be best if I attended in person. They do have a Teams link, but they said if you can, attend in person. So I did drive to Lansing on that Friday, and I testified in front of the Michigan House of Representatives Committee on Economic Opportunities, and it went very well. I was very happy with the outcome of it. So, things are moving along well. We’ve got some good news, but I don’t want to share that just yet. We’ll see how the second shoe falls here. So, but it’s moving along well. I’ll keep you posted on the final decision here.

Smith said this past week, I attended the Oakland County Economic Outlook seminar. It was very good. If you haven’t had a chance, I included the full report here in the agenda. It’s a lot of numbers, a lot of reading, but really gives you some good insight on kind of the financial status of the county. Things are clearly slowing down, but overall, the feeling was very optimistic that we should continue to see moderate economic growth over the next three years.

Smith said 130 North Main Street, just to let you know that I am in communication with the owner of that property. It is not vacant or being torn down. I want to dispel those rumors. I am working with the owner, and we’re going to try to get his building permit process started here so he can start that renovation work.

Smith said next week or the week after, it’s coming up soon, starting with Clarkston School’s second grade walk where they tour the whole city, and they also stop in here for a city council meeting. So, I’ve done this for years in the past, and it’s always very much appreciated, so I’ll be doing that again this year. We’ll have a total of 465 students coming through the city office over 25 different sessions.

Smith said and then lastly, but certainly not least, I wanted to talk about the e-bike crisis, I’ll call it, in the city. There are a lot of e-bikes, drivers driving very quickly around the city streets and sidewalks and in the park here. And as you know, those bikes can get going 20 to 25 miles an hour, depending on the type of class they fall into. So, they can be going rather fast, and if you’re just walking along at a slow walking pace, it can be very alarming. They’re very quiet, and they can come up behind you, and it’s been some near accidents. I am currently investigating what other cities are doing and see if we can get some ordinance wording, but I think council should consider the possibility of an ordinance regulating e-bikes usage in the city. We already have a bike ordinance that says, on the downtown sidewalks, you must get off your bike and walk your bike. We’re going to re-stencil those on the sidewalk. Maybe we’ll even need some signs where that starts and stops. But this goes beyond that. This is in the park, the speeds, and there’s, it’s not just one, there’s usually five, six, seven, eight bikers all going together in a group. So, it’s become quite an issue, a safety issue.

Jones said I know that we have the signs about walking your bike. Do we have a current bike riding policy, like a, like a larger written policy for the city somewhere? Smith said there is one, but that’s primarily at downtown, you have to walk your bike. Jones said yeah, and do we have anything with regard to, like, scooters or things that aren’t quite motorcycles, but are, you know – Smith said no. Jones said OK. All right. Smith said not that I’ve seen.

Smith said so, I’ll continue to investigate this, I’ll bring it to a future council meeting, because I think it is something we need to look into.

Rodgers said I’ve had a couple people ask me if we had an ordinance about them, and I think it’s just because it’s getting nice out. Smith said yup. Rodgers said and there’s been a couple, you know, groups of teenagers. Smith said yup. Rodgers said I don’t think they’re purposefully harming anybody, but they could. And you’re right, they’re very quiet. Smith said yup. Rodgers said they come flying by you and you don’t even know that they’re behind you. Smith said yup.

Forte said maybe it should be all motorized anything. Smith said it really should be generalized into some kind of motorized vehicle, sort of a car. But they’re, they almost complete the full spectrum between a bicycle and a motorcycle. They’re filling that gap in between, and they can go very quickly and very quietly. And I think we need some ordinance, at least on the city’s sidewalks and in the park here. Forte said yeah, maybe at least at the park entrances. Because I’ve seen people, what are they called, like, golf carts come into the park. Smith said we do have an ordinance that there’s no motorized vehicles of any type in the park. And so even the golf carts are not to be used in the park. But there are a number of residents that have them and use them to get into town. And I guess if they’re street legal, that’s their choice. But to use them on the pathways is not following our ordinance.

Jones said and based off of just experience with other motorized forms of transportation, it’s gonna, a lot of it’s going to break down to engine size, engine class, that sort of thing, and how things are licensed. So, I think that getting stuff that we already have on the books, comparing that to this, that’ll probably help us figure out what the right course of action should be.

(To Smith), Quisenberry said according to state law, does the state law cover prohibiting these types of bikes already? Smith said no, no it doesn’t. It does have some guidelines for safety. You know, that you should be wearing a helmet and things. But they really don’t get into the details of what you might find in an urban setting. They talk more about them being used in, you know, a rural area where you’re on dirt roads and whatnot, but I don’t see anything really relative to an urban setting. Quisenberry said OK. Smith said so certainly, if the state had something, we could default to their regulations, but I think we need to go a step beyond what they have put in place. Quisenberry said then why are we planning on doing that now? Why don’t we ask the city attorney to research the ordinances that other cities have, because I just noticed that they’re allowed wherever bikes are permitted, or unless it’s prohibited by local ordinance. So clearly, we’re going to need a local ordinance to be able to enforce what we want to have done, because the state law doesn’t cover it, correct? Smith said correct. Quisenberry said then why don’t we start on that now? Smith said yeah, that’s what I was going to do. Quisenberry said I thought you said you were going to do something and get back with us. Smith said I was going to look at what other cities have done, so we could clone their ordinances, but we can ask the city attorney for his assistance too.

Avery said OK. Well, I guess my thought is that would be great. We could have a great ordinance and put signs up saying these are the fines, but we don’t have anybody to enforce them, right? Quisenberry said the sheriff’s department? Avery said yeah. Did you just hear the public comment where cars are racing up and down the roads? And we live on Holcomb, you know (unintelligible because Jones interrupted and talked over Avery) – Jones said because that would be a totally different patrol, it would be like a bike patrol. Quisenberry said no, it would be the sheriff’s office, and they’d be in power to enforce our ordinance. Avery said I think if we put a high fine on the sign, that might deter some younger people from, you know, going as fast as they possibly could. But the reality is, I don’t know how we’re going to, we don’t have the manpower to enforce it. Quisenberry said no, it would be like what we’ve had to do the last year and a half with the sheriff’s department, especially with the construction and stuff, where they have to come out and do some special, dedicated patrol area for these. Avery said yeah, I agree. Wylie said but at least if you have a sign up saying, this is – Avery said yeah, I’m all for that – (continuing), Wylie said and there are some people who go, oh, there’s a sign, I won’t do that. Some people’s parents might say, you know, there’s signs now, you guys can’t do what you were doing. Avery said yeah. Wylie said so, I think it would cut back somewhat, even if we have difficulty enforcing it. But, you know, I see what you’re saying. Forte said and let’s save the money on legal fees and just buy a sign. (Laughter.) Jones said well, I mean, no, I mean, like, honestly, I was going to say, like, if Smith can research the ordinances before, you know, just save some money.

Smith said all right, I’ll talk to Fisher. We’ll see what I can find on that. If I need more (unintelligible) wording. Wylie said Fisher’s like aaaaah (rattling a paper). That’s OK.

Quisenberry said last year, we saw how well people paid attention to signs with closing Holcomb and closing Bluegrass and stuff like that. They don’t. Avery said yes. Forte said and you don’t want to have a million signs for every ordinance in Clarkston.

Fisher said the question I have is, do you want this limited to e-bikes or all motorbikes? Motor-driven bikes? Wylie said I would say scooters and e-bikes. Jones said yeah, because you can get a 50cc, like, kid thing that will go up to 30 miles an hour. (Wylie talked over Jones’ comment and made an unintelligible comment of her own.) (Continuing), Jones said so, that’s why it’s going to be an engine-sized thing, too. Avery said right (unintelligible because Jones talked over Avery’s comment) – Jones said yeah, you’ve got to cover all of it, yeah. Avery said on the sidewalks – Jones said yeah – and paths, any motorized vehicle. Smith said and the state does classify the three types of motor sizes, basically.

(To Quisenberry), Wylie said do you want to talk about that? Quisenberry said no. (Smith made an unintelligible comment that was downed out by an unintelligible discussion between Wylie and Quisenberry.)

Wylie said anybody else? I’m sorry. Smith said no, that’s all right. Paul Angelini was very vocal about this. He said he would be here tonight. He wants to block, he wants to talk to council – Wylie said about the e-bikes? Smith said about the e-bikes and the danger of them. Wylie said OK.

Rodgers said he sits out on the sidewalk a lot – Smith said yeah – (continuing), Rodgers said so, yeah. Forte said I see it out on Church Street. Smith said yeah.

Wylie said anybody else on that? (Speaking to an unidentified woman who raised her hand), Wylie said we’ll do council, and then we’ll get you if you’ve got something on that topic. The unidentified woman said on this topic, on the e-bike topic. Wylie said yes, hang on, yeah. Hang on. The unidentified woman said I do. Wylie said oh, if you’re on e-bikes, go ahead. The unidentified woma said I am.

The unidentified woman said I’m just curious. I don’t have an e-bike or anything like that, but if, indeed, they can’t use the sidewalks, or where would they, if they want to go from point A to point B, then are they back on the road, or – Wylie said you walk them. Quisenberry said oh, they can use them. The unidentified woman said you can use them. You’re just not, you’re not driving. Avery said you can’t drive like an idiot. The unidentified woman said right. Avery said I mean, you’ve got to slow down. The unidentified woman said OK. Avery said you see people walking on the sidewalk, you can’t go over. The unidentified woman said good, so it’s not like they’re abolished. Wylie said we don’t know yet. We don’t know what we’re going into. The unidentified woman said oh, OK. I’m just curious how they were going to use these little buggers. Wylie said they can get off and walk them, just like people do with bikes in town. They’re supposed to do with bikes in downtown. The unidentified woman said OK. Avery said yeah, the downtown, I think that’s reasonable. Because there’s a lot of foot traffic in the downtown, so they don’t need to be riding their bikes. They can walk them.

(To Smith), Wylie said I wanted to say something to you today. I wanted to recognize you and thank you when I read this about you going to Lansing to get, working on getting us another grant, and I know Friday’s a day you don’t work, so it looks like kind of at the last minute you had to go to Lansing – Smith said yup – (continuing), Wylie said to try to get us another grant, and you’ve been putting time in. You got us a Church Street grant, and I know you’ve been working on the grants with Elissa Slotkin and her staff, and with Lisa McClain and her staff, and I just thank you that you’ve been doing this to help us financially. And sometimes these grants come through, and sometimes they don’t, but even if they don’t come through, you still put many hours into doing them, and I appreciate all the time you’ve dedicated to that. And thank you. Casey said hear, hear. (Other members of council said thank you followed by applause.)

Wylie said anybody else have a comment before we move on to the next item?

No comments.

Agenda Item #8 – Consent Agenda (video time mark 0:22:39):

• • 03-23-2026 Final Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 33/62 of the council packet)
  • 04-13-2026 Draft Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 36/62 of the council packet)
  • 04-27-2026 Treasurer’s Report (page 39/62 of the council packet)
  • Revenue and Expenditure Report for the Period Ending 03-31-2026 (page 40/62 of the council packet)
  • Rosati, Schultz. Joppich & Amtsbuechler, P.C. March 2026 bills (page 50/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said OK, next item, #8, is the consent agenda. This includes the final minutes of the March 23 regular meeting, the draft minutes of the April 13 regular meeting, the treasurer’s report from April 27, and I will need a motion and a second from a council member.

Motion by Quisenberry; second Rodgers.

Wylie said discussion or comments from council?

No comments.

Wylie said from the public?

No comments.

Motion to approve the consent agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said the consent agenda is approved.

Agenda Item #9, Unfinished Business (video time mark 0:23:17):

Wylie said Item #9 is unfinished business.

[Wylie made no additional comment. The printed agenda said there was no unfinished business.]

Agenda Item #10, New Business (video time mark 0:23:21):

Wylie said and #10 is new business.

Item #10a – Proclamation: National Day of Prayer, Thursday May 7^th (video time mark 23:24):

• • Proclamation for the National Day of Prayer (page 53/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said and #10a is a proclamation, National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, May 7th, and I was approached by a member of the Clarkston Area National Day of Prayer, which is nationwide. It’s always, they try to do it the first Thursday in May, and this year it’s Thursday, May 7, and it’s taking place, I’ve got to find my notes, it’s taking place 7:15 to I believe it is 9:30 at Clarkston Congregational Church. Oh, I’m sorry, First Congregational Church in Clarkston is where it’s taking place from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m., and people are invited, and I believe all the churches in the Clarkston area are invited to attend. They come together every year. They move into different locations. The First Congregational Church is at 5449 Clarkston Road. And I think it’s on the property. It’s not the one on the bend. It’s the one behind the Pine Knob property. And this day is set aside each year. People of the United States may pray and meditate at churches and groups and as individuals, and it started in 1974.

Wylie said and we’ve got a proclamation, which is included in our packet, and they put my name on it. And I told, well, it’s not for me just to proclaim it. But there we have it by the time I got it.

(Wylie read the proclamation.)

Wylie said and I can’t read that, so I don’t know. 1 Chronicles 16:24, I don’t know how to read those things.

Wylie said and now therefore I, I hate to say it as in my name, I, Susan Wylie, Mayor of the City of Clarkston, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2026, as a Day of Prayer throughout our city.

(Wylie continued reading the proclamation.)

Wylie said and I’ve already given, I already signed something for them, but I wanted to show everybody this because I do think it should come from council. And the person who put this together is, they’re in Grand Blanc, I think. So, I don’t know how much they knew about things in Clarkston.

Casey said is this something we vote on? Wylie said I’m sorry? Casey said is this something we vote on? Wylie said I don’t, no. It’s just a proclamation. We don’t vote on it. Because it was done in my name. Do you want to vote on it? Casey said I just don’t think that as a public body we should support it. Wylie said OK, I can understand that. Casey said I cannot. If we vote I would not vote for it. Wylie said OK, well there’s no vote for it. Casey said OK.

Item #10b – Motion: Proposal for a “Flybrary” in Depot Park (Easton Stroud) (video time mark 0:27:11):

• • Motion – Installation of a “Flybrary” in Depot Park (page 54/62 of the council packet)
  • 04-11-2026 – Letter from Easton Stroud (page 55/62 of the council packet)
  • Project Description (page 56/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #10B, we’ve got a motion, a proposal for a Flybrary in Depot Park and this is under the name for Easton Stroud, and I believe he’s sitting here with us. (To Stroud), Wylie said and I’m going to read the motion and then if you’d like to come up, I assume you want to come up and talk about it.

(Wylie read the motion.)

Wylie said and we’ll do the motion once Stoud has talked to us. (To Stroud), Wylie said you can come up to the podium if you’d like.

Stroud said so, my name is Easton and I’m 12 and really just basically all that you said was right. And so, I set up a couple of pictures on the thing too. I didn’t know if you guys have any locations that you think would be better but I was planning on putting a fly box on like almost like a podium thing, like a plaque and then mounting the plaque onto a pole or something in town to where like, you could just open it and put a fly in and take a fly out. But if you’d rather have it, like if you’d rather put it somewhere else, I’m fine with that too.

Forte said where do you often fish? Or where are the good spots? Stroud said so, I have like, I’m lucky enough that (gesturing to Smith) he lets me fish. Quisenberry said he’s not going to give that away. (Laughter.) Jones said without giving away your secrets. Stroud said and there is like a really good spot too but it’s probably the best spot.

Stroud’s mother said but you were talking like by the end, in the river, is that where you come down if you meet your friends, is that where you go to? Forte said OK. Because I’ve seen people on the Mill Pond. That’s popular too.

Wylie said do you have good luck with flies? Rather than bait? Stroud said yes. Wylie said and you make your own flies? Stroud said oh yes. Jones said I dig it.

Wylie said I looked them up today and I was like impressed about all the different organizations who are promoting these Flybraries and I had never heard of such a thing. Jones said the fact that you can fly a fish is impressive enough. (Laughter.)

Fisher said who taught you how to do flies? Stroud said me and mom. My mom kind of helped me but it took a long time. We kind of just taught ourselves. Fisher said that’s great. Forte said that is great. Stroud said thank you. Wylie thanked Stroud.

Wylie said so, we’ll need a motion in support to approve Easton Stroud’s proposal to install a Flybrary in Depot Park. And then it says here, Stroud will be responsible for maintaining and restocking the Flybrary.

Motion by Jones; second Rodgers.

Wylie said any discussion or comments from council members?

Avery said yeah, I’d be, I think because this is an area that there’s a lot of little kids, babies, little toddlers, and what you’re going to put up are lures with hooks, barbed hooks and those kind of things. I’m a little nervous about putting it anywhere near the playground. Forte said agreed. Avery said so somewhere to the back a little bit. I mean you can put a little sign up saying Flybrary this way and then put it somewhere that – Forte said I was going to say the same thing. Jones said make sure we also set it up tall too. Forte said that’s what I was going to say too. Avery said yeah, taller so that little kids can’t get to it. Forte said that’s my only note. And if this is successful or if you’re open to it, I like the idea of putting it down by the Mill Pond because I see so many kids fishing there. But I don’t fish, so whatever you think is going to be the most useful.

Pardee said is it now a no trespassing? Jones said I was going to say that. Forte said well, not on private property. (Unintelligible crosstalk.) Jones said yeah, they just put a sign up. I noticed that this week. Avery said yeah, it’s been up there for a while.

(To Stroud), Wylie said how long have you been fishing for? Stroud said oh, I’ve been fishing for like probably since I was about five. Wylie said since you were about five. Do you mind if I ask you how old you are now? Stroud said twelve. Wylie said you’re twelve. OK.

Avery said I’m good with maybe giving it a six-month trial run. (Unintelligible crosstalk among council members.) (Continuing), Avery said see how it works. You know, if you see like there’s a lot of people using it and we don’t see a lot of hooks and flies throughout the park and the playground, we’re all good with that, then I’m all for it.

An unidentified woman said so on the, where the sign just went up, the no trespassing, so now the kids can’t use that little jetty that comes out? Is that to fish? Smith said it is private property. The unidentified woman said it is? Oh, it is. Smith said so, it’s their right. The unidentified woman said yeah. Smith said but I still see people going out there to fish, but you can also stand on the shore as Stroud usually at our pond. The unidentified woman said ah, I see what you’re saying, just not on the jetty. Smith said not on the jetty. Avery said the little pier. The unidentified woman said gotcha.

Wylie said any other questions or comments from council or the public?

Wylie recognized city clerk Angela Guillen for a comment.

Guillen said I just thought maybe a suggestion, Deer Lake, because people are launching their boats over there, maybe they could, if the lure was there in the parking lot or the little box, that might be an option as well. Avery said that’s not really a fly-fishing area though, is it? Casey said no. Avery said fly-fishing on Deer Lake. Casey said no.

Wylie said you can fly fish on my lake. Forte said really. Avery said you’ve got a quieter lake. Wylie said pardon me. Avery said you’ve got a quieter lake. Wylie said oh, because, is that why? Fisher said maybe down at the other end of the lake. Avery said yeah, maybe, yeah, because it would, it could, yeah.

(To Stroud), Smith said I guess a question I had, this picture shows, it looks like a plastic cover, it snaps closed, do you envision having a cover like that? That would help, I think, address your concern that somebody’s just going to grab a lure and get jabbed, so if it had some kind of cover that would be closed and keep things dry. Stroud said it’s not. It’s basically the exact same thing as that. Stroud’s mother said it’s like a box with like the foam stuff in it, but it snaps shut. Yeah, a little, it snaps shut. Smith said OK, so that should keep the smallest children out. The unidentified woman said and like you said, the distance – Forte said the height – (continuing), The unidentified woman said the height, will certainly take (unintelligible).

Smith said yeah, we’ll find a good location and find a post that you can install this on, and we have to set a post, we can do that. Stroud’s mother said aw, thank you.

Wylie said how did you hear about it? Did you see them someplace? Stroud said yes, I saw them online and I thought that it was a very good idea. Wylie said OK. Stroud said it also gave me something to do to kind of, like if I ever just wanted to make flies, I know some that I have, but like instead of just adding another one that I already have, I could like put them in there and maybe I could trade up for another one. Wylie said yeah, maybe someone else will have a different type.

Wylie said any other discussion before we hold the, OK, it’s a motion. We can do a roll call. (To Guillen). Wylie said so, if you could do a roll call, please.

Jones, Quisenberry, Rodgers, Wylie, Avery, Casey, and Forte voted yes.

Wylie said the motion is adopted. Thank you very much for bringing it to us. The unidentified woman said thank you all for listening. Forte said of course.

Item #10c – Discussion: Main Street Clarkston Lamppost Banner Proposal (Cara Catallo) (video time mark 0:34:44):

• • Banner Proposal (page 58/62 of the council packet)
  • Banner examples (page 59/62 of the council packet)
  • Lamppost Banner Application and Guidelines (page 60/62 of the council packet)
  • Banner Guidelines and Requirements (page 62/62 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #[10]c on our agenda is, we’ve got a discussion, Main Street Clarkston Lamppost, Banner Proposal, and Cara Catello, I believe, is making the presentation. And Christine Rogers, Chris Rogers [teacher, Clarkston Community Schools].

Catallo said I don’t really have a presentation, so to speak, but it’s just before we get far on anything, I just wanted to see if we would be allowed to. And also, I guess, with Main Street Clarkston, for a long time, and Forte can attest to this, that we’ve been talking about sort of trying to come up with the programs to manage the banner or the lamppost, really, just because they maybe don’t, they’re not utilized as well as they could be, and maybe it’s an opportunity for them to sort of shine a little bit more. And with America 250 this year, it seemed like an opportunity to try to come together and have something up there that sort of, you know, shows civic pride for our community and our nation.

Catallo said and when I went into Essence and I saw the cards that Rogers (unintelligible) had done that I handed out last time (holding up a card), it just sort of gave me an idea that it might be a way to springboard and sort of make these significantly bigger, alter them somewhat, because you need them to be readable. And also, the idea of trying to make the America 250 something that could hang underneath so that it could be removed and reused in future years. And Rogers and I were talking about, you know, next year’s group possibly doing six more, or, you know, I don’t know how many more. I think I came up with six randomly. But anyway, that’s the whole point. I had a nice talk with Jimi [Turner, Department of Public Works supervisor] to see how we could do this where it works best for him, and an idea of how much it costs them to change out banners and the cadence. And I feel like we have a pretty good sort of sense of everything now. So, it’s just coming here to see if we can move forward to try to get some of those and maybe some plain Clarkston sort of banners to sort of fill in the gaps where we don’t have other banners planned. (To Rogers), Catallo said you can explain your program better.

Rogers said so, I don’t know if you guys know who I am. I represent Clarkston Community Schools, and I am the Academic Service Learning Coordinator. So, in Clarkston, this is our 23rd year where we combine learning in the classroom with community service, community action, community advocacy. And the program started in 2002, and this year I’m very proud to say that we have 71 projects across the district. So, of our 7,000 kids, about 6,000 of them are engaged in some sort of civic activity. And it’s tough on teachers to find time to create something else. So the beauty of ASL, Academic Service Learning, is that it’s, they’re teaching the curriculum and weaving in community action. So, in my class, I teach world history and we hit the Enlightenment era and then the Enlightenment dips into the revolutions and the American Revolution of course being one of them. And I also sit on the committee, the Township Committee, the Independence Township American 250 Committee.

Rogers said and so, I was pulling in all these different things. Henry Woloson donated some money so I was able to print these up with Woloson’s money and we picked ten. We started with ten local heroes that embodied what the Declaration of Independence had in it. Liberty, economic opportunity, all of those things, and then gave the kids these names. And then they created these cards, these training cards. Dan Dickerson is the only living one. But we have some women, we have some Revolutionary War heroes, we have some people who are the founders of Clarkston. So it was kind of a wide gamut and it was me going on the internet and I’m not a native Clarkston person finding these names and (gesturing to Catallo) it was kind of kismet when she was like, oh, I got one (unintelligible) for next year, which takes a load off of me because we don’t want to do the same ones because they’re already out there.

Rogers said so, Catallo has decided that some of them are more appropriate for the downtown Clarkston area and we actually have a $500 grant to help pay for these from the Clark family. So, descendants, Mr. Woloson reached out to the donor advised fund and was able to secure $500 in funding to kind of kick this off if we were to print that.

Avery said so, explain to me, because I’m, I think, my understanding is you’re talking about banners. Catallo said right. Avery said OK. I like that idea. Since we had the chamber in the last meeting and I’ve seen what they put up and it’s everything we thought it would be. But, so we have these banners on the poles. So, what’s the deal with the cards? Rogers said so the cards would be, this is the template for it’s going to get blown up into a piece of be this. Avery said (unintelligible) OK, I gotcha. Rogers said and then taking off the created by temporary students and that kind of stuff because it’s legible, readable, at this level, but if it’s up there you’re not going to get it. (Jones made an unintelligible comment.) Avery said yeah, no, I like that. Rogers said there’s some really cool ones. Avery said it’s more worthy of our posts downtown. I think it would beautify the downtown instead of clutter. So, I’m all for it.

Wylie recognized Forte for a comment.

Forte said yeah, I agree. Moving forward, there’s a lot of things in this motion, but is there a motion? Jones said it’s a discussion. Wylie said this is a discussion. Forte said OK, well, I definitely like this banner application guidelines. I think this is a really good model moving forward. I’d like to like even pull that forward and get that going and get that moving forward if we can. So, going forward, we have a basis for what, how people apply to use our public spaces or blah, blah, blah. I can’t find the right words. And then, yes, to this as well, obviously, but how do we move forward? What is like the next step? Smith said well, I think we didn’t put this, a motion in this place here, but we can amend the agenda right now to add a motion. Forte said yeah. Smith said we just wanted to discuss it first, but it sounds like it’s all good. Let’s go ahead.

Wylie said let’s have a few before we get into that.

Rodgers said so, just so I know, I think it’s fabulous. I really like it. But are we talking like these big ones like this? Like, are they big? Are they little? Catallo said yeah, so it’s a little bit of both. There are 35 lamppost banners total, and 12 of them, I think, are the large ones. Rodgers said OK. Jones said are those some examples? Catallo said yeah. Yeah, this is the large one. An old large one. (Rogers moved toward council table and showed council members a banner.) Rogders said OK. Catallo said that’s a large one. Forte said I like that. Wylie said that’s a large one. Jones said the other ones are more like legal-sized paper.

Rodgers said are they all like color-coordinated as far as like for the 250? Are they all going to be red or blue? Catallo said that was one of the ideas, was trying to make it so that as banners go up and down, that they don’t clash with each other so much. I didn’t get that far with like a color palette. But yeah, ultimately, I think that would be a great idea and looking at, I’d hope to get by today to see, to one of the ones that we have still. So we have the live, shop, love Clarkston ones that Main Street Clarkston had made a few years ago and then the Clarkston community farmers market and the Clarkston schools soon that, I don’t think we have in the building but I’m sure they’ll be calling any day for graduation. So just sort of trying to make sure that it’s not too starkly arguing. A lot of times there will be different banners up at the same time because I know the farmers market likes to be up like the entire time the farmers market is happening. So, trying to coordinate it so it doesn’t look like a free for all basically. But yeah, that’s a goal that hasn’t gotten very far at this point.

Catallo said and then ultimately the huge goal that Brandon [Still, Clarkston business owner] and I talked about for a long time was trying to do something for Veterans Day, a hometown heroes banner in the fall that can possibly be used in the spring too. It doesn’t necessarily be the fall, but we really want to try to get that together by this fall. And it can be Veterans from Clarkston, you know, the sky’s the limit.

Rodgers said well, I’m just thinking, I’m sorry, for the 4th of July, if we could be all red, white, and blue because I think we could say there might be something else going on at the same time, but it would just be nice. Catallo said right. Rodgers said to color coordinate those, that would look really nice and so many people come to our city and probably more this year.

(To Jones), Rodgers said I’m sorry. Jones said no worries.

Jones said I love this because I actually had mentioned to Greg [Coté, treasurer] earlier in the year that like we should look into a banner program in terms of like, you know, financial opportunities, but I think it’s a great thing for like local businesses and sponsors and all that. I do think what you were going out, like OK, making sure there’s not a free-for-all, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to go ahead and establish some sort of overarching brand guidelines for like all the banners and then maybe like while we’re doing that just be like, oh, maybe we could refresh. You know, so like maybe bring the farmer’s market banner into like whatever the new scheme is and that way going forward there wouldn’t be a question of, oh, well, does this fit, does that fit? So, and a brand guidebook is super easy to pull together and like, you know, and yeah. So that would be, and that way everyone would have something to point to and say, no, this is what the standard is. We wouldn’t have to have the debates back and forth. Catallo said in a way that’s not too complicated. What (unintelligible) and I were talking about was making sure we had the right size. We tried really hard to see if we can get, you know, maybe, the printer that I was talking to, has some scraps that we can use as sample because it really changes how Turner puts them on. So, that’s one thing that we ran into (unintelligible) and it was back to the drawing board where we weren’t so tight. And material wise too.

Avery said would this be something that Main Street Clarkston would supervise or run? Catallo said either that or the city office because as you can tell not a lot of people seem to be knocking on the door to put up banners but maybe they can. But I did sort of come up with the idea of three different pricing ideas for the council to consider right now. The price has been, (to Smith), what’s the price now? Smith said for a banner? Catallo said well like for somebody to put up banners there’s no cost right? Smith said right. That’s the assumption that everybody makes. There is a cost to it. Right so, like Turner, there’s a price that would be sort of almost a break even or the city you know doesn’t have to take all of them. Jones said yeah, yeah, so there’s a break even. Catallo said and then there’s like a slightly higher one if you wanted to go with that to sort of make it more worth your while.

Catallo said but one thing that he did discuss that I meant to run by Smith to see and I guess the city attorney, the lower ones in like theoretically, regular folks could do with permission and a ladder. So that would be one thing I think Turner would love that idea because then he doesn’t have to and of course he’d have to do all the lift ones but that’s one way to sort of keep the costs down and not overuse Turner and then it would just almost be a seasonal thing to change them and sometimes not even that.

Jones said I mean like if you drive through like Goodrich and stuff like that they have just like you know just the city kind of stylized like their high school mascot just through downtown and they keep that up basically almost all year round and so it’s just a, and it all looks nice, they’re kept you know well maintained and yeah. Wylie said where were you talking about? Jones said Goodrich because I would drive up that way for a, to take my dog to the vet, so yeah.

Rodgers said what would the cost of the actual banner be to the city? Smith said well, it varies depending on what kind of fabric you use and all that but I don’t know. (To Catallo), Smith said do you have any numbers on the cost of the banners (unintelligible)? Catallo said yeah, so I mean they were, it was less expensive than I thought. I just priced it out with the people that we used before, not this one, this was an expensive one because it was Sunbrella. I would not suggest going that route but I mean it was lovely. It sure did hold the dirt well. Rogers said I got three by three outdoor grommet ones for an academic service learning project that they’re going to take to a farm and talk about the animals and they were $42 each for a three-by-three outdoor extra stitching with four grommets. Catallo said it’s $40 for the smaller ones and $63 for the bigger ones and then it would be, she thought it would be about $14 if we wanted to do something underneath that sort of you know praises the anniversary more than anything like just so that we can take it off for future years. Although I did talk to the DAR [Daughters of the American Revolution] recently and they’re looking at the 250 as going through all the years that the war – Rogers said that’s up for debate. Catallo said I know. Rogers said just this year or if it’s the eight years of the war.

Wylie said I honestly don’t have a problem, I mean the bicentennial stuck around forever. Catallo said right, exactly. Wylie said for those who are old enough to remember. Catallo said I mean, I don’t understand. What? Wylie said thanks a lot. Well, I mean you know it’s 250, it’s 251, it’s 252, it’s 260. The banners aren’t going to last 10 years. Catallo said right. People will be getting mad.

Jones said could you all use some more help on like the research of this stuff like with this. Wylie said I think the research is done. Jones said or I mean like the, like the further taking the ideas and getting it into like a full kind of or are you guys set for what you’re – Catallo said this one’s going pretty well but I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to chime in about options for the Veterans Day ones because I’m really like, I’m really excited about these two but I don’t want to miss another year for that. And then with this like I don’t, you know there are certain decisions that we have to make like should we do like two batches. So, there are repeats since we have you know some space for that. So, there’s some decision making and looking at obviously at the cost but I think it’s a fun idea. I’m excited with that notion that it could keep going so.

Rogers said especially with the brand books because then that would give the kids a target so that we don’t end up with forged ones. Jones said yeah well and I mean you also like if you think too like if you’re doing your history stuff and you’re bringing in like local things like you can tie things in like you know like February with a black history month. Like and just if you’re focusing on local heroes and local like and if you wanted to get out of like Clarkson or do like Michigan stuff. So, like there’s other ways to tie it in beyond just like the Veterans Day, the Americans 250 and still have that local angle. And I just think it’s a really great opportunity to do local history and do some beautification and yeah.

Wylie said so, you two both talked about money being donated from Henry Woloson and I thought that Clarkston – Rogers said Diane Clark yeah. Wylie said OK that’s not covering the banners though am I – Rogers said no (unintelligible crosstalk). Rogers said so, the connection was because it’s connected to America 250 money and it’s tied to Mr. Woloson gave Clarkston close to $2,000 to do ASL plus American 250 projects. So, I was able to spend that and I spent every penny of it. I needed more so I asked and he said that there’s $500 to turn these (gesturing). Wylie said OK. That’s OK, $500. Rogers said so that would cover my banners. Wylie said your banners. Rogers said yeah. Wylie said and okay.

Avery said yeah and nothing prevents us from going to the service organizations and asking for a donation for veterans or the (unintelligible) you know what I mean. Jones said or if the local businesses wanted to support it yeah. Avery said as long as we don’t have to put their, I would hope that they would donate without the expectation that they’d have to put their logo on it. Catallo said yeah I asked a few people over the weekend I was with a large group of Clarksonites and I just was curious. Like alright so if you, hey do you have a photo of your loved one like when he served and you know would this be something you would want to spend like you know money on for that banner. And like nobody has said no. Like they all. Avery said because we’ve got enough benches for them all in the park so they can save money and do the banners instead so that would be awesome. I think Ortonville, Brandon has a veterans banner program that is pretty robust. I know the America 250 committee has been talking about the veterans banners as kind of a sidebar to our other conversations so it’s something we absolutely could steal. Smith said they’ve created a waiting list actually in Ortonville for families to get their banner up with their family member. Wylie said really. Wow. Forte said that’s great. Avery said yeah so it could potentially self-fund itself. Rogers said yeah. Catallo said (unintelligible) standard like if we wanted and I think we should like have some like you know this is Clarkston or just sort of Clarkston banners. Although I mean I guess we have the ones that Main Street did a few years ago. Like that would be a nice addition sort of to fill the void so to speak because when I walked around, I was like wow there’s not a lot up right now. And nothing against (unintelligible) Clarkston but I feel like it’s probably not a place where we should be having advertising so much. Unless it’s like you know like a veterans one saying sponsored by you know a local business. It just seems especially in this era we need money (unintelligible).

Wylie said so, what do you need from us? Catallo said just, to, they’re your lampposts so just to know (unintelligible). Wylie said permission to do it. Catallo said moving forward.

Smith said the other thing I want to add in is and maybe you don’t want to add it in but the thought was in the America 250 committee and I’m on that as well. We talked about just American flags going down Main Street. So, the banners point inward to the businesses. Catallo said OK. Smith said and on the outward though there was talk about, we talked a few times about the possibility of putting flags at an angle all the way down all the lampposts. So, this would entail putting on a new bracket that doesn’t exist there. It would be lower than the banners so that would be up higher. This would be a little lower. Certainly not so low it would be hitting vehicles or anything like that. But it would be clamped on to the lamppost with a traditional flagpole at an angle. And then we put a standard three by five flag on there. And as you look down I’ve seen this installation in other municipalities. As you look down the street and see all these flags just all at the exact same height. It’s really impressive to see. So that was something that we talked about strictly for America 250. But it could, in following years you could put flags up for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day or what have you. But the thought was to do that as well. I don’t want it to overcomplicate the look of the posts. But that was another thought. So, I was hoping tonight to get some guidance from council if that’s something you want to pursue as well. Because that’s something we’ve got to get on buying those flags here. Jones said how much, do we know how much the flags and the posts for the installation? Forte said could we use the flags, who puts up all the flags that like you would buy? Wylie and other council members said that’s the Optimists Club. Forte said can we talk to them before, like see if they would maybe sponsor doing that before we pay. Avery said that’s a money maker for them. It is a money maker. Smith said they charge for those. I doubt they do it for free. Rodgers said it’s $60. Forte said OK. Catallo said I know once the wreaths went up that I spoke with somebody who’s on the DAR who was very curious how the wreath thing happened and was concerned because that was one thing they wanted to do for the Fourth of July. So, I would suggest talking to the DAR because I think they had some ideas in mind. And I don’t know, for some reason, maybe because I’m old-fashioned, I was thinking it would be pretty to see ribbons going up the lampposts, like red, white, and blue or something like that. But I don’t know what they might be able to do. But it’s sort of their area.

Wylie said so is the DAR operating independently from the America 250 committee? Because I thought, I guess that’s why I thought they were one and the same. Catallo said so the DAR, there was somebody else. I don’t know if she was on the committee or not. But she was quick to point out that the DAR sort of operates separately too from America 250. Wylie said OK.

Jones said it just seems like we’ve got a lot of – Wylie said a lot of civic organizations. Jones said no, it seems like we’ve promised our lampposts to a whole lot of people. We’re overextending. Wylie said we haven’t. We’ve only done it for the chamber of commerce. Jones said OK, yeah, I was going to say, everyone’s talking about the chamber. They’re the lampposts. I didn’t realize that was such a hot commodity now. Catallo said I was curious too because I saw there was a Clarkston wreath. If you don’t know how much they charge for the wreaths? Smith said no, I don’t. I don’t know.

Wylie recognized Fisher for a comment.

Fisher said so, the subject came up on who should do the installation of these. And the thought was pretty strong in my mind that since this is close to the street – Catallo said right – (continuing), Fisher said and there is some technical aspect to it. I would suggest getting maybe some volunteers from these clubs, service clubs, and have them trained by Turner on what to do and how to do it. One other thought would be that the high school has a program to help builders. So, they might – (interrupting Fisher), Avery said yeah, they’ve got a whole bridge out there for us. Fisher said they get credit. They get credit at school for doing it. So, I think that there are ways to do it that we could accomplish it. Smith said on the lower posts. Fisher said yes. Smith said the upper posts, you need the manlift and that’s – (interrupting Smith), Fisher said oh, yeah. No, no. (Continuing), Smith said you have to be certified. Forte said a high schooler can get on the manlift. (Laughter and unintelligible crosstalk.)

Wylie recognized Rodgers for a comment.

Rodgers said so is there a way that like some, I’m not artistic or I would volunteer to do it. That we can like just, I love all of these ideas. But can we like come up with a picture of what it would look – Forte said a mock-up – Rodgers said thank you. That’s what I was looking for. A mock-up of what it would look like with the banner and the flag. And then maybe we don’t have room for the wreath this year because of it being America 250. Maybe we do. Maybe it needs to be smaller. Maybe it needs to be bigger. But I like just throwing all this stuff – Smith said the wreath goes away at the end of May. Rodgers said no, they have a 4th of July one coming. Smith said it’s not a wreath, but it is something else. Rodgers said oh, something else. (Jones began commenting at the same time Rodgers was commenting and her comments were unintelligible.) Rodgers said so maybe if we see what this looks like with the flag and with the banner, then we can better help them make something that works for us. Smith said yes. Or maybe it’s not this year because of all the activities for America 250. Rodgers said right. I’m trying. Like I can visualize it in my head, but I just want to make sure that it all fits on there without looking like – Avery said you could use AI [artificial intelligence]. Forte said I was just going to say that. Rodgers said absolutely. Avery said I don’t know how to use it. Smith said we will use AI. Forte said it’s super easy.

Wylie recognized Evelyn Bihl [assistant treasurer/assistant clerk/administrative assistant] for a comment.

Bihl said would it be easier just to wrap the whole, like Catallo said, with some red, white, and blue, something very simple, so that the flags, or even, but I know it’s a cost, they have the red, white, and blue lights with the ribbon. Jones said I was going to say, doesn’t the light go against the – Avery sai that’s fine, Christmas decorations (unintelligible). Bihl said maybe we just do the banner and the flag. (Unintelligible crosstalk between council members.) Rodgers said yeah, right. Bihl said we’re a simple city. Casey said keep it simple.

Avery said yeah, I like the flags. I like the banners. An unidentified woman said can somebody at the high school, one of the kids in one of those 3D classes or something, create a poll and what it’s going to look like for them? Rogers said I think at this point in the year, no. (Laughter.) Rogers said because the kids that have the technical skills are probably the seniors, and they are out. They’re checked out. They’ve got three weeks left, and they are (unintelligible).

(To Bihl), Wylie said anything? Did you say you have one more thing? Bihl said no. No, no.

Wylie said anything else from anybody?

Pardee said who is managing what is going on in the light poles now? Forte said us. Pardee said I’m looking at 20 North Main, and I can see about three in a row, and they’ve got in the center of what looks like a (unintelligible) on a four-by-six. Is it serendipity, somebody? Catallo said oh. Oh, you mean the reeds? That’s the chamber. Pardee said in the center is, I think, an advertisement of a business. (Unintelligible crosstalk on council.) Wylie said Serendipity is the person who’s advertising. Jones said that’s the chamber thing. Smith said and they came to council at the last meeting. Pardee said OK. Smith said to present that.

Forte said OK, so what do we need to pull this forward? Smith said well, I know, (to Catallo) do you need, in the interest of time, do you need a motion on this tonight? I mean, Rodgers suggested a mocked-up photo, which we could have in time for the next council meeting, but is that too late for you? Catallo said it would be cutting it close to try to get everything done and to Turner, but maybe. I mean, I could work in that direction and hope for the best. Wylie said you know, you’re here now. Rodgers said yeah. Wylie said I don’t see any reason to push it on. Rodgers said the banner is not what I want not to be there. So, like, I don’t know what to add to it, but I think the banner is a really good idea. Avery said and I trust Catallo has the city’s best interest at heart. If she wouldn’t put something up there, that would be – Forte said she’s going to Hobby Lobby.

Wylie said so, one thing we would need is if we’re going to have a, we need to have somebody make a motion to amend the agenda.

Motion by Forte.

Wylie said and then after that, once we’ve made a motion to amend the agenda, somebody can make a motion to do something about these banners. Forte said I’ll do both. Wylie said you’re going to do both.

Wylie said so, let’s start one at a time. So, you’re making a motion to amend the agenda to add a motion regarding these banners. Forte said yes. Wylie said we’re going to give Guillen a moment to get this done.

Second Rodgers.

Wylie said that’s a motion to amend the agenda to add a motion to, do I have to say what that motion is going to be? Avery said yeah. Wylie said to add a motion regarding putting banners on the lampposts in downtown Clarkston. Forte said and moving forward with the application and guidelines. Wylie said that should be separate. Forte said OK. Wylie said OK. Forte said but so two motions. Wylie said OK. So, two motions regarding, let’s say two motions regarding banners. Is that okay? OK. And so that was made by Forte, seconded by Rodgers.

Wylie said any discussion regarding amending the agenda.

No discussion.

Motion to amend the agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said we are amending the agenda.

Wylie said now Forte is going to make another motion. Forte said two. Wylie said two more options.

Forte said I’ll make the first motion to approve moving forward on the America 250 banners for downtown Clarkston, and then my second – Wylie said let’s do one at a time. Forte said OK. Wylie said just because. Forte said yeah, it’s cool. Wylie said so, do we do a roll call? Fisher said you need a second first.

Second Avery.

Wylie said and that’s a motion to allow the, to put the America 250 banners up on some of the lampposts.

Wylie said any discussion by council members?

No discussion.

Wylie said public?

No discussion.

The motion to put America 250 banners up passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said we have passed them. So that we have approved the motion to allow your committee of two. Fisher said can I just add on to that? You are now officially a committee. I’m sorry. Fisher said as later approved. In the form approval. Wylie said I’m sorry, what? Fisher said as approved. In other words, you’re going to allow them to put them up, but – Wylie said oh, as, OK. I got what you’re saying. As approved. Fisher said yes. Wylie said OK.

Forte said and then the second motion? Wylie said as soon as Guillen, because she’s still writing. Wylie said got it? OK.

Wylie said so that’s, so a second motion is – Forte said is to move forward with the application of guidelines for lamppost banners. Avery said proposed by. Wylie said by the banner committee. Wylie said I have a name. Rogers said now that we have a committee, we have to come up with a name. Jones said the Committee for Banner Beautification. Forte said no, well, Main Street Clarkston. Wylie said yeah, actually that’s probably appropriate. Catallo said yeah. Wylie said you’re not in Main, are you in Main Street Clarkston? Rogers said no. Wylie said you want to move to Clarkston? I know a house. Forte said you don’t have to be living in a house. Wylie said she doesn’t, I’m just.

Wylie said motion of application. Forte said right? I don’t know.

Second Avery.

(To Guillen), Wylie said let me know when you are ready. Guillen said I’m ready.

Wylie said so, this again, this is a motion for the City of Clarkston lamppost banner application and guidelines. Forte said just to adopt it. Wylie said adopt it? I like that word. Wylie and Forte said adopt. Wylie said as presented by Main Street Clarkston. Forte said yeah.

Wylie said any discussion or comments from council members?

Forte said yeah, I’d like this to go on the website after Smith, like, approves like, the fee structure. Smith said yeah, it has holes. Jones said yeah, I was going to say, like, it’s got a, yeah, that’s a, yeah, so, like, let’s, yeah, like, let’s, yeah. Forte said well, I don’t want this to stay on the agenda for a year. Let’s just, will you just look at what Ortonville is doing and then copy it? Smith said yeah.

Wylie said any comments or questions by council members, or by the public? (To Pardee), Wylie said did you have something? Pardee said no, I didn’t. Wylie said you told them.

Forte said and then the last thing that – Wylie said OK, but we got to vote on it first. Forte said sorry, sorry.

Motion to establish guidelines for lamppost banners passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said the motion is adopted to, for the application. The lamppost banner application and guidelines.

Forte said and then the last thing that we discussed that I don’t want to lose sight of is having the brand guidelines for downtown. So, even if it’s a one-page document of, like, what is allowed and isn’t allowed. Wylie said I think we need somebody to, is that what this last page is? Forte said it is. Sorry. Catallo said it’s OK. I mean, it also has some holes. Jones said yeah, and I’d be happy to help you out on that. Catallo said the one thing it doesn’t get into at this point is sort of a color palette. Jones said yeah, color palette and, like, yeah, all that sort of thing. Yeah. No Comic Sans. Just no Comic Sans. Catallo said so, only papyrus. Jones said yeah. (Laughter.) Forte said that’s our theme downtown.

(To Forte), Wylie said so, as you’re bringing it up, would it be appropriate to do it at another meeting? Forte said yeah, can we, like, table it? Wylie said we’ll let the banner committee work on this. Avery said they’ll draft their thing and bring it in front of us, and then we can give them a thumbs-up.

Wylie said OK. Anything else on banners? Forte said no, thank you. Wylie said for the banner committee. Wylie said thanks, guys.

Forte said and I had you as a teacher a million years ago. Rogers said yeah, hi. I’m retiring next year. Forte said oh, my gosh. Congrats.

Item #10d – Closed Session Meeting to Review Legal Issues Which Have Arisen in Connection With City and Township Intergovernmental Relations (video time mark 1:07:42):

Wylie said Item #10d is closed session meeting to review legal issues which have arisen in connection with the city and township intergovernmental relations as permitted by the open meetings MCL 15.268. I don’t know how to say these parentheses, L, parentheses, H. Is that how you say those? Fisher said yeah, correct. Wylie said which permits a public, well, some people listen. That’s why.

(Wylie continued to read the motion.)

Wylie said so, first thing we have is a motion to hold a closed session meeting for City Attorney Gerald Fisher. I need a motion.

Motion by Casey; second Forte.

Wylie said OK. Fisher said roll call. Wylie said I need a roll call on that.

Quisenberry, Jones, Forte, Casey, Avery, Rodgers, and Wylie voted yes.

Wylie said and so, we’re going to close the open meeting, and that means we’re going to stop recording the meeting. And once we come back at the end of the closed session, all we’re going to do, we’re not going to vote on anything. All we’re going to do is close the open meeting, because right now our open – Casey said no, we’re going to close the closed session. Wylie said we’re going to close the closed session, but close the meeting. The meeting will be closed at that time. So, there will be no discussion and no vote, so there’s no reason for televising. So, you don’t, this is going to be the end of the television show, and those of you who are in attendance, you have to leave.

Forte said can we take five minutes break? Wylie said yes. Five minutes break.

Wylie said thank you. Time is 8:09. Thank you.

Agenda Item #11, Adjourn Meeting

[Because Wylie dismissed the videographer and asserted there would be no further action taken beyond adjournment when the council reconvened, we have no way to verify that’s what happened. While the city council is entitled to meet in closed session to confer with its attorney regarding his written opinion, the open meetings act requires that all decisions be made in an open session.

The council should be voting in open session to allow the attorney to proceed as discussed in closed session without disclosing the confidential communications. Yet both Rodgers and Wylie have sent the videographer home and insisted that nothing occurs when the council returns to open session except to vote on adjournment, ensuring there are no witnesses to what occurs after the meeting is reconvened.

One would think that admitting fault to settle one open meetings act lawsuit and having access to an experienced municipal attorney would have cured this conduct, but that’s apparently not the case. It’s simply not reasonable to believe the council did not make and communicate a decision that the attorney should move forward in a particular direction during this and the other recent closed sessions.]

Resources:

• • Link to video recording here
  • 04-27-2026 – city council packet