September 28, 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 0:00:00):

Sue Wylie said OK, it’s 7:00, I’m calling the meeting to order.

Agenda Item #2, Pledge of Allegiance (video time mark 0:00:03):

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

(Pledge said.)

Thank you.

Agenda Item #3, Roll Call (video time mark 0:00:25):

Wylie said and our third item, that takes us to our third item on the agenda is a roll call. And Angie [Guillen, clerk], why don’t you take the roll call, please.

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

Wylie said thank you. It looks like the city manager’s not here tonight.

Guillen said he’s on a much needed and deserved vacation. Wylie said OK.

Agenda Item #4, Approval of Agenda – Motion (video time mark 0:00:46):

Item #4 is approval of the agenda. I need a motion and a second to approve the agenda.

Motion by Jones; 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 0:01:08):

[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 would anybody like to make a public comment?

Wylie recognized Chet Pardee for a comment.

Pardee said good evening and provided his name and address.

Pardee said so, we don’t have enough deputies to help us with e-bikes and residents have complained about the police situation in our community, and how many deputies do we have? Wylie said according to the meeting, according to the meeting the other night, they said three per shift. Pardee said oh, three per shift, just three? So, I, what I was hearing was he didn’t have enough to fill out his compliment of eight people. Wylie said yeah. Quisenberry said for the city or for the township? Wylie said for the, this is for the whole township. Pardee said I don’t know what he was talking about, except that I took, we’ve got three deputies and we need more. And so, my question gets to be, are we going to ask the citizens of Clarkston to pay for exactly how many deputies? So that’s really what my question is. Because I’m not really sure that, I’d invite somebody, council people, Greg [Coté, treasurer], the city manager [Jonathan Smith], to go meet with Independence Township counterparts in order to figure out what exactly is the formula.

Wylie said well, I don’t know if you’ve been to recent meetings. That’s been discussed, and I believe, and I may have, my recollection may be incorrect, but I believe it’s based on our population, percentage of our population. Pardee said I know the 2.7, but what I don’t know is are they using the budget from the Oakland County, or are they, I mean, my concern is, I wonder if we’re really being, if we’re really paying for deputies that they haven’t been able to hire. Wylie said good question.

Quisenberry said so, if I can try to answer, at least provide some information on that. Pardee said great. Quisenberry said when we were discussing the sheriff’s contract, the formula that we used was different this time than it had previously used. The previous formula was an algorithm based on population and some percentage.

[Clarkston Sunshine comment: This is incorrect. The previous formula was based on applying the township’s police millage to the city’s taxable value for real property.]

Quisenberry said the algorithm this time was 2.7% of Independence budget, the Independence’s cost for their contract.

[Clarkston Sunshine comment: The current formula is not based on the township’s budget. It is based on the township’s actual cost, including additions for overtime (such as for parades and other events requiring a large police presence) and overtime for deputies to fill in for understaffing.]

Quisenberry said that’s what it is, 2.7%, and it listed nothing in there about this is, these many deputies will then come and be dedicated to Clarkston. The contract that the Independence Township has had a breakdown of what was included in that contract. One lieutenant, so many sergeants, so many deputy ones, so many deputy twos, clerks. All this was broken down to come up with a final number of what the contract for Independence was going to be, and it was the same formula used to provide a cost for all the other townships that contract with the sheriff, whether it’s Independence, Springfield, Royal Oak, Pontiac, whatever, not Royal Oak. So, there is a formula that they charge municipalities, and then Independence charges us 2.7% of their cost. Pardee said based on population? Quisenberry said no, not based on population. Population has nothing to do with it. It’s 2.7% of what the contract is, Independence pays the sheriff. So, if all of a sudden 100 more people move into our city or move out of our city, it doesn’t change.

Jones said but the other thing is that the contract explicitly states that sheriff’s deputies are assigned to us after they have been filled for Independence Township. Quisenberry said I don’t think so. Jones said it is written in that contract that we are not guaranteed a deputy patrol. That was, I’ve been bringing that – (interrupting Jones), Quisenberry said that’s different than what you just said. And a month or so ago, when the sheriff’s deputy was here, the sergeant, he said that when we are, there’s a certain number of deputies that need to be assigned on a daily basis. And when they’re short, which they run often, they fill it with overtime. So that number, it always stays what it is. You just might have two of those people making time and a half as opposed to straight time. But they said that number will always be reached, deputies will be assigned overtime to make sure that the number that they set is met. But there’s no breakdown to say so many of them have to be inside Clarkston, or Clarkston, you’re not getting any because we don’t have enough to provide the township. Jones said then go back and read that contract.

[Clarkston Sunshine comment: The deputies are assigned to the township and city combined on a daily basis.]

Pardee said so, I raised the question, and I leave it to council to be sure that we aren’t asking the citizens to pay for people on the budget as opposed to deputies on the road. So good evening, Megan Kelly [Clarkston News].

Jones said where’s Megan Kelly? Wylie said she’s not here. Jones said yeah. Wylie said I assume she watches the video later. That’s what she writes her articles from.

Wylie said anybody else have public comments?

No comments.

Agenda Item #6 – FYI: (video time mark 0:07:55):

Item #6a – Veteran’s Banner Program

• • Veterans’ Banners on Main Street Clarkston (page 3/37 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #6 is FYI, we’ve got a Veterans Banner Program. Joette [Kunse], is that what you’re talking about? Thank you.

Joette Kunse:

Well, Smith suggested that I come and tell you where we are. And so I was here in June, kind of gave you a little bit of a business plan. We, um, you know, we had some quotes, we have our banners. Graphic Wizard, which is a local printing business, did them for us. And we charged $100. $25 goes to the city for putting the banners up, and $75 for the banners. We put in the paper in August, and we had people come to the library, first come, first served. So, we had about, well, we had the 12, 13 that came to the library, and then we got more and more and more because people read the paper on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and we were on kind of a tight ship there. So, the Clarkston Independence District Library helped us with pictures because we hadn’t really foreseen that we would have pictures that are 80 years old. You know, and, I mean, we have a 95-year-old veteran that’s, you know, he’s alive and coming. But his is, you know, probably 75 years old. Wylie said probably 18 years old or something.

Kunse said but we have a couple of, we have a couple of World War II veterans, and the 95-year-old is a Korean War veteran, and a lot of Vietnam War veterans, and some others from the war. We actually have a West Point graduate that’s a captain, Olivia Bennett. Her parents live on, somewhere on Andersonville Road. She’s still in the military until December, and I think she’s 27 years old, 28 years old. But she’s a ranger, one of only 132 women that are rangers. They jump out of helicopters. I know, I know. Quisenberry said perfectly good. Kunse said perfectly good helicopters. Wylie said yeah. But anyway, so that’s kind of where we are. I brought you a couple of, oh. I’m not sure whether Smith did this or not.

My, it’s an invite to you at 1:00 on Thursday. The banners are going up tomorrow. Whenever, well, whenever Jimi [Turner, Department of Public Works supervisor] decides to put them up. But at 1:00, we’re bringing the veterans together. Now, unfortunately, it says 80% chance of rain on Thursday. But what I planned is we would go up in front of the [Union] Woodshop for about 20 minutes, and then we’d come down here. So, I invited, I’m inviting you to come, if you can. Invited township to come, Mike Harris [state representative], Karen Joliat [Oakland County Commissioner] from the county, and a few other people, just to have conversations with the veterans. And so, if you can, we would love to have you.

I think, so that’s kind of how we’re doing it. Next, well, after we get them up and everybody’s happy, then our thing is to go out and find more. There’s a lot of poles, but there’s not a lot of poles that have, I don’t think there’s any poles that have the equipment to put banners up. So, we’re looking in the township as well as the city. And we, you know, I talked to Brandon [Township], and I talked to Orion and Oxford. So, you know, they, you know, I think it was, I’m not sure who, said, look at the municipal, I think it was Brandon, and they got the old ones from Saginaw, you know, so they were rather cheap. So, we, you know, we’ll be looking for that. I also, somebody told me that they might consider, well, Mike Harris today said he might consider from his foundation some money, so, you know.

Wylie said what is it specifically you’re looking for? Kunse said well, the equipment that goes on the pole. Wylie said oh, OK. Kunse said you know, that hangs the banners. Wylie said OK. Kunse said yeah, two pieces, so. So, I do want to, the two people I brought, I think you know, otherwise known as your – Wylie said (unintelligible, followed by unintelligible crosstalk). Kunse said and you have to ask him where he served. I mean, he served in Newton, Massachusetts, but what he did, because he brought us a picture in a – Wylie said I think he was an MP [Military Police]. Kunse said no, that’s what he trained for. Wylie said oh, OK. Kunse said that’s not what he did, but he brought us a picture in a space suit. Forte said wow. Kunse said he was, in Newton, Massachusetts, there’s some kind of a port where they, they test things for the military. Wylie said OK. Kunse said and he was a guinea pig. Wylie said wow. Kunse said so, on the back of his – Wyle said was it a son? Kunse said yes. Wylie said oh. Kunse said and you know the story for sure, so. But anyway, so we’re really proud to have both of them.

And then I think you probably know this gentleman, Martin Clark, from, you know, he’s been gone probably 10 years. I mean, it’s kind of, but he was a captain on a submarine. So, in the Navy. And somebody else, maybe a woman. Wylie said hold those to the TV so Janie [Independence Television] can get them. An unidentified woman said can I change? Jones said Wylie’s coming up to Vanna White for you. Wylie said those are nice. Those are really nice. So there’s Mike Cascone, and then – Kunse said his son. Wylie said his son. Got it. Kunse said OK, yeah. Thanks.

Kunse said Steve Percival. Wylie said he’s the other side? Kunse said no, he’s another. I’ve got 12, but I just brought two, you know. Wylie said who’s on the other side from Bart Clark? Is there someone – Oh, Bart’s on the other side. Most of them have, they’re on both sides. Wylie said oh, oh, OK. Kunse said because they own the banners. Wylie said I gotcha, OK. Kunse said and you know, it’d be hard to have John Smith and Jerry Jones, and that’s the banner.

Kunse said so, is there any questions?

Wylie said thank you for – It’s a great program. Jones said yeah, this is really exciting. Kunse said I think it will, I wish it was up before A Taste of Clarkston, but it didn’t get up. So, you know, we are who we are. Wylie said it’s the first year. Jones said hey, it’s going up. Kunse said yeah, it is going up. Jones said it’s going up, that’s what’s important. Kunse said so, yes, you don’t know how pleased I am.

Wylie said so 1:00 p.m. on – Kunse said Thursday. Wylie said Thursday, which starts October 1st. Jones said we’ve got it in our packet. Wylie said oh, OK. Jones said no, you’re good. I just, yeah. Kunse said thank you. Wylie thanked Kunse.

Wylie said anybody, does anybody have any questions for Kunse, or comments?

No comments.

Agenda Item #7 – City Manager’s Report (video time mark 0:15:14):

• • September 28, 2026 City Manager Report (page 4/37 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #7 on the agenda is city manager’s report. And does anybody have any questions or comments on the city manager’s report? I mean, Smith’s not here to answer them, but.

Guillen said I can go over it if you want me to, though. Wylie said sure, if you’ve got something.

Guillen said so, the status of the brick wall, again, the contractor has kind of not, we have lost correspondence with him. He’s not responding to Smith when he’s reaching out to him. No monies from the city have been paid to him, and then he’s seeking out new contractors for quotes.

Guillen said also, Depot Park, the bench and tree program, the park is really full, and there’s not really a lot of spaces to put additional trees or benches. So, with that, he wants to put on hold indefinitely until we figure out if that’s something we want to do in the future.

Guillen said and then he’s out of the office on vacation for, to last through October 5th. OK.

Jones said is there a possibility with the memorial bench and tree program of those benches and trees being put in other places, like around, like in places that are like public, like, you know. Guillen said Main Street? Jones said Main Street or, yeah. Is there, like, to do something else if the park is getting full? I mean, because if people wanted to put up new trees or. Guillen said I guess that’s anoth-, that could be. We could talk to him about that, if that’s something that you want to do. I don’t know specifically, like, in the roadway or (unintelligible), like. Jones said no, no, no, no. Guillen said like where the plants are? Jones said yeah, like, yeah, like on the – (interrupting Jones), Guillen said we would probably just have to move that mulch and plants out of there. Jones said well, no, I just, I mean, just what, yeah. I was just saying, have we considered other areas that we have the right of our, yeah, so that could be something that, you know, we could still, I mean, we still put on hold, but just while we investigate that, because it could be, you know.

Avery said right, I assume that Smith has the authority to just say no, right? I mean, if someone comes and says, hey, I want to put a bench up, just say no. Guillen said there’s literally no other places to put them. Avery said I know. Guillen said and then the ones that have, were wooden and were kind of rotted out from the weather, we have replaced those. Avery said yeah.

Wylie recognized Quisenberry for a comment.

Quisenberry said yeah, I was going to bring this up with Smith, and I don’t want to wait, because I’d like to get it, have it get back to him so he can come up with an answer on it, but two times in the last couple of weeks, I’ve been, met with the owners of the 2 North Cafe and also – Guillen said 2 Brunch? – (continuing), Quisenberry said The Brunch House, yes. And the building just south of it, is it – Avery said the Masons or? Jones said yes, like the Masonic Lodge. Avery said Masonic Lodge, yeah. Casey said that’s North. Rodgers said that’s North. Avery said oh. Rodgers said like Essence on Main. Quisenberry said the one that’s connected to it. Rodgers said Essence on Main. Quisenberry said Essence, yeah, Essence on Main. Jones said oh yeah, yeah, sorry.

Quisenberry said about the smell behind their building. This morning, I was in the Brunch House, and I was told there, there’s a new owner there. I talked to him, and I talked to some of the other wait staff. They’d come up to me and tell me. They said, we’re losing business. People are coming in off that door on the north side by Washington, walking in, and before they even get in the restaurant, they smell that sewer smell, and they turn around and they leave. They’ve got an awful smell, and they’re not gonna stay, and they’re not gonna eat there. And they said, this has been going on for some time. And I know after we did the West Alley, there was some discussion about the East Alley needing some sort of repair as well, but it was unknown whose responsibility it was. I don’t know what the result of that was, but whatever it is, something needs to be done, because those two businesses are complaining that they’re directly losing businesses from people coming in, and then turning around and walking right out, because of the smell.

Forte said is it sewage, or what is the smell? Quisenberry said sewage, yes. So, there’s something wrong with the sewer line that runs back behind there, that is somehow seeping in, and they said it’s worse in the basement, but now it’s even worse, and it’s upstairs in the kitchen, and the dining room, and the bathroom area of the Brunch House there, so.

Avery said I believe it’s private. I know this situation has been going on for a number of years. I know Smith’s talked about it a number of times, and there’s a piece, maybe, but then again, don’t quote me on it, that could be city-related, but the majority of the issue back there is private.

Wylie said that’s exactly how I remember it, it’s one piece is the city, but I think a lot of it is owned by the people who own that building. Avery said correct. Wylie said I can’t, forget their names. Avery said they’re the ones that have the daughter that runs the clothing shop. Wylie said yeah. Well, they own the Society. Avery said Society, yes.

Quisenberry said so, it’s, these businesses are gonna have to get with their landlord to say, you need to do something? Avery said yeah, seems like it to me. It’s not something that we can necessarily, I don’t know, though. That might be a question for Jerry [Fisher, city attorney]. Rodgers said we should probably check with him, but.

Quisenberry said yeah, if it is a broken sewer line, how could that be the responsibility of the property owner? Don’t we maintain those? Avery said it’s their line. It’s their lead, so it’s similar to like, for us, how I compare it is like a water line. If you’re on the other, if the problem is on your side of the tap, then it’s your problem. If it’s on the other side, then it was the township.

Quisenberry said OK, well, if something could be done, because a new owner that just bought it and wants to invest quite a bit in it, he’s hesitant now because of that, and I would bet he doesn’t know about the history of it being looked at before, too. So, if we could just confirm that that’s what the outcome is, that’s where the responsibility lies, and let them know that here you have this. Avery said yeah, yeah. Wylie said we’ll have to wait till Smith gets back, if he can take part in all this.

Guillen said I’ll actually get the answer for you tomorrow, because I believe he had the Independence Township, Dave Moran, go over and check it out. Wylie said oh. Guillen said so, I’ll get the answer for you, and have that to you first thing in the morning. Quisenberry said all right, thank you. Not first thing, I don’t get up that early. Guillen said I’ll just send an email. Avery said yeah, there you go.

Wylie said anything else for city manager’s Report?

Forte said just to go off what Jones was saying with the Memorial Bench and Tree Program, somewhere where we could plant is, that I think people would still enjoy, would be on the backside of that parking lot, between where the parking lot ends and the pond. Guillen said yeah, we could definitely look into that. Forte said just even, like if people want to enjoy the trees, and like they don’t want to put them right on Main Street, that could be offered as a spot. Because I know it floods there sometimes. Guillen said it really does flood. So, I think a water-tolerant tree. Forte said yeah, so you could put a willow. Avery said we certainly could put a couple of benches over there. Forte said yeah, or benches. Avery said we could sit and look at the pond. Forte said so, I think there’s a few spots that we could talk about. Guillen said sure, we’ll definitely look into it. Forte said if people do want to donate, you know what I mean?

Wylie said anybody else?

No comments.

Wylie said OK.

Agenda Item #8 – Consent Agenda (video time mark 0:22:06):

• • 08-24-2026 – Final Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 5/37 of the council packet)
  • 09-14-2026 – Draft Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 7/37 of the council packet)
  • 09-28-2026 – Treasurer’s Report (page 9/37 of the council packet)
  • 09-22-2026 – Revenue & Expenditure Report for the Period Ending 08-31-2026 (page 10/37 of the council packet)
  • 09-10-2026 – Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, P.C. (page 18/37 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #8 is consent agenda. This includes the final minutes of the August 24th regular meeting, draft minutes of the September 14th regular meeting, and the treasurer’s report from September 28th. I need a motion and a second to accept the consent agenda.

Motion by Avery; second Jones.

Wylie said discussion or comments from council?

No comments.

Wylie said from the public?

No comments.

Motin to accept the consent agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said the consent agenda is approved.

Agenda Item #9, Unfinished Business (video time mark 0:22:38):

Wylie said Item #9 is unfinished business. There is none, unless somebody had something else.

No comments.

Agenda Item #10, New Business (video time mark 0:22:43):

Wylie said Item #10 is new business.

Item #10a – Discussion: Veterans Banner Program (Joette Kunse) (video time mark 0:22:44):

• • Veterans’ Banners on Main Street Clarkston (page 3/37 of the council packet)

Wylie said Veterans Banner, we talked about this already. Guillen said yeah, I think he did put that in two different spots. Wylie said OK. Guillen said I see this is in their twice as well, Wylie said OK.

Item #10b – Discussion: Rental Housing Inspection Program (Independence Township Example) (video time mark 0:22:53)

• • Independence Township Rental Housing Inspection Program (page 22/37 of the council packet)
  • Rental Housing – General Property Maintenance Checklist (page 23/37 of the council packet)
  • 01-02-2026 Rental Housing Certification Fee Schedule (page 24/37 of the council packet)
  • Independence Township Rental Housing Certification Ordinance (page 25/37 of the council packet)

Wylie said and Item #10b is Rental Housing Inspection Program, Independence Township Example. And we do have an example in our packet. I don’t know if anybody had a chance to look it over. (To Angela Guillen, clerk) Wylie said are you gonna talk about it?

Guillen said so, I know that is there. We discussed that last council meeting in depth. And he was just had it kind of on here for discussion. I mean, this is something that you wanted to proceed with. It would take them maybe a couple of months, not even that. Independence Township should take over that for us.

Avery said yeah, if I remember right, we didn’t have an example of it. So, we were kind of like, well, it sounds good, but we need to see kind of a hard copy of what they have going. So, none of them have it.

Rodgers said I think we also, didn’t we ask him to get some information from Fisher as to, we had this discussion before, and there was a reason that we, like a liability reason that we didn’t go forward with it. And now they’re saying that it is a liability if we don’t. And so, we just wanted some clarification because I feel like, and I could be wrong again, I’m not a lawyer, but if you have something in place and it’s not followed to the T, then you’re liable. If you don’t, if you’re not paying somebody to do this, I think we made, the thought was that it was up to the landlord to be held liable for any mold problems, whatever. And I think that the last time we talked about this, Smith was going to talk to Fisher or have Fisher weigh in on that because I don’t think we could.

Guillen said I mean, this is like an Independence Township ordinance and I think we would mimic that. Rodgers said right. Avery said that was the idea, yeah. Rodgers said yeah. Avery said yeah, I am a lawyer. I don’t do much in the way of governmental immunity, but if it’s something that is inherent in government function, government is usually not allowed to be sued for those sorts of things. So, I’m not sure where Smith got that from, where somehow doing, right, if you understand it right, you’re right, I mean, we could get sued either way. We didn’t have an inspection program or we didn’t, we didn’t do it right. Rodgers said right. Avery said so that doesn’t seem quite right to me. I don’t feel like, that we have an obligation to have an inspection program. And I feel like if we do have an inspection program, I don’t think that requires or exposes us to liability. That’s my, Fisher would know more, he deals with municipal law, so.

Quisenberry said and you could, Fisher could also ask Independence, what’s your thought on this? What does your attorney say your liability is if you guys do this? And it’s probably a good idea to have it as, mirror their ordinance, because it will be them that will be enforcing it. Avery said right, that makes sense. Wylie said I think that’s what he said he was going to do, talk to their city attorney, or the township attorney. Avery said yeah, because he had talked to, I can’t remember the guy’s name. Wylie said Dan Kelly’s their attorney, is that it? Avery said Independence Township. Wylie said Dan Kelly. Dan Kelly. Rodgers said Chuck? Chuck? Dave? Avery said Dave. Dave told him that, but I don’t know that Dave was. Wylie said oh, oh, oh, yeah, I think you might be right. Avery said OK, so.

Forte said did Independence Township do this because they have so many more rentals, like the ones that are by the Meijer? Avery said I think so. Forte said is that what prompted them? Wylie said there’s a lot, they told us. Well, were you here at the last meeting, and they talked about, they have, I think that they’ve got somebody doing 20 inspections a day, and that takes a whole year. Rodgers said because it even covers like single home rentals. Wylie said right, any kind of home rentals. And I was surprised there was that many rentals, I don’t know how many.

Wylie said anybody, anything else on this? Well, I think we should put it back on the agenda again. Avery said let’s get Fisher here. Forte said will Fisher be here at the next meeting? Guillen said yes.

Agenda Item #11, Adjourn Meeting (video time mark 0:26:58):

Wylie said OK, before I adjourn the meeting, is there anything else anybody needs to bring up?

No comments.

Wylie said OK, I need a motion, Item #11 is adjourn the meeting, I need a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion by Jones; second Rodgers.

Wylie said discussion.

No discussion.

Motion to adjourn passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said and the meeting is adjourned at 7:27. Thank you, everybody. Avery said thank you

Resources:

• • Link to video recording here
  • 09-28-2026 – city council packet