Category: Church Street

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.

[Note: only Ted Quisenberry, Sue Wylie, and Amanda Forte were present at the start of the meeting. This is not a quorum and no business can be conducted.]

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

Wylie said and we will rise to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Oh, actually, what do we do?

Angela Guillen (city clerk) said we approve the minutes, maybe, and then just (unintelligible).

Wylie said we’ll go ahead and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I want to see if Gary (Casey) will really come.

(Pledge said.)

Wylie said thank you.

Agenda Item #3, Roll Call (video time mark 0:09:38):

Jonathan Smith (city manager) said yeah, I mean, technically, we can’t even approve it.

Wylie said let’s give it a couple of minutes and see if somebody shows up. We’re waiting to get one more person for a quorum.

Forte said you want to text Al (Avery)? I don’t know if Casey’s here. Wylie said well, I think it was Avery (interrupting Wylie), Smith said Avery was traveling. And he knew he was questionable whether he’d be able to make it back in time. Forte said all right. (Gesturing), Wylie said these two said they were not coming. Smith said Erica Jones and Laura Rodgers both told me in advance. I haven’t heard from Casey.

(Council members discussed the weather, Wylie’s golf carts, current television programming.)

Smith said Casey says he’ll be here in ten minutes. Wylie said OK.

(Council members continued to discuss current television programming.)

Wylie I don’t remember this ever happening before. Maybe we wait two minutes for somebody to show up. Smith said yeah. Wylie said I don’t remember cancelling a meeting. Smith said to actually cancel (unintelligible) (Unintelligible discussion.) Wylie said well, if he’s on the road, he’s on the road. You can only do so much when traveling.

(Council members discussed plants.)

Wylie said here comes Casey.

(Council members continued to discuss plants.)

(Casey entered the room.)

Casey said my apologies. Wylie said we’re happy to have you. We didn’t want to have to postpone.

Wylie said OK, so we’re already on – we’ve gone through Item #1, call to order, Item #2, Pledge of Allegiance. (To Guillen), Wylie said so, we’re on Item #3. We need a roll call, please.

Sue Wylie, Gary Casey, Amanda Forte, and Ted Quisenberry were present.

Al Avery, Erica Jones, and Laura Rodgers were absent.

Wylie said great. Thank you. So, we have a quorum.

Agenda Item #4, Approval of Agenda – Motion (video time mark 0:09:51):

Wylie said Item #4 is approval of the agenda. I need somebody on the council to make a motion to approve of the agenda as it’s published or as it’s included.

Motion by Forte; second Quisenberry.

Wylie said discussion or questions from council?

No comments.

Wylie said comments 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 0:10:16):

[Though public comments can sometimes irritate the city council, there is value to both the council and the public in hearing them. While it 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 the Open Meetings Act imposes no time limits).

If you submitted public comments to the council and they were 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.)

Would anybody like to make a public comment?

Wylie recognized Paul Angelini for a comment.

Paul Angelini:

Hi, everybody. Paul Angelini. So many of you who live here in the village are probably aware of the sudden surge in e-bikes and motorized scooters and these kind of things. To say that it’s a problem is an understatement. You know, I sit outside a lot at night outside Brunch House on my computer enjoying a cigar. Kids just come rushing down. They go, like, zero to twenty. No regards for any of the patrons coming out of the restaurants. Actually, when I was just sitting out there earlier, there was a group of kids that were just hauling on by down there. And without really any warning, two ladies were coming towards them. They barely had time to get out of the way. It’s a growing concern. You know, these kids don’t really seem to have any regard for anybody else’s safety. They’re having fun, you know, but it’s like the parents aren’t giving the oversight they need for the kids to be, you know, governed and disciplined. And this, it’s a big problem. It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. Something, some great tragedy is going to happen. It’s going to take some kid to swerve out of the way from somebody and go into the traffic. And then we’ve got a big problem on our hands here.

I talked to Smith about this before and I sent him some information from some previous cases in other townships where they had to remedy this. And maybe the immediate thing we need right now, this is just like, needed this last week kind of thing, is we need some brightly colored signs that say no riding your bikes, you know, scooters, these kind of things in town. As long as it should be, you know, practical stuff. If you’re in a wheelchair, if you’ve got kids in a stroller, things like that. Have it posted on both sides of the poles all through town, brightly colored like a neon code sign, things you just can’t claim ignorance to it. Because I’m just concerned it’s going to become a huge issue. And I try to document this stuff too, but this is stuff that’s happening all the time and I have to be the old crank in the neighborhood now and talk to these kids and say, listen man, you probably think I’m the biggest jerk because I’m telling you about this, but like, you can’t ride your bike in the town area. Some of the kids take it well, but usually they just kind of scoff at me.

Quisenberry said where do you live? Angelini said I live above Essence on Main. So, I see it non-stop. And then later at night, the kids are out there doing wheelies, like 10:00, 11:00 on the main roads, you know, taking it on the streets, you know. But it’s all over the place. Even in the parking area, there’s kids all over there, giving no regards to anybody there. So, it’s a concern we gotta nip at the bud, and I think the immediate solution is just get some signs up there, you know, just to make it clear that you can’t ride your bike in town at all.

Secondarily, an issue that’s been longstanding is the problem of speeders in town. I find around, it’s around like 8:00, 9:00 on weeknights, we’re starting to get more of that. I mean, it happens in the daytime too, but weeknights, you tend to get more of that action, especially later in the evening. You know, I can see right outside my window there. And on the weekends, it’s the worst. You got people pretty much treated almost like they’re on, you know, 75. People in their sports cars and stuff like that. That’s a big concern, you know. And there’s the noise issue too. You get cars that have modified exhausts, they literally sound like gunshots going off. I can’t imagine, with any of the war veterans around there, that’s of any comfort to them. I think a practical solution would be to work with the sheriffs. That’s probably some kind of budgetary requirements. I think they would earn all their money in a weekend if they were to post up there, you know, and just write tickets all night long. They could have a huge stack of tickets and make well their money’s worth for that kind of time there.

Kind of similar issues there, because it’s not a matter of if and when it’s going to become a bigger issue. If somebody loses control, somebody gets hit, we had not too long ago people at the crosswalks there. And I know it’s not helping, but we have all this construction going on all around us here. Yeah, but that’s my piece here for tonight. Wylie said thank you.

Quisenberry said I have a comment on that. Thanks for bringing it up, because I know a meeting or so ago, we were talking about that, and we’re looking into an ordinance. And two thoughts I have. Don’t we have an ordinance in town that you have to walk your bike? Wylie said yes. Quisenberry said then it, to me, seems down the sidewalk – (Casey made an unintelligible comment) – (continuing), Quisenberry said in front of Rudy’s, in front of Essence, that they have to walk their bikes. Based on that, I don’t see why anybody on an e-bike doesn’t have to do the same. It seems like we’re being penny-wise and pound-foolish by telling a guy on a bicycle to get off and walk it, but these other guys were able to zip down it in a motorized vehicle. That seems inherently wrong. It reminds me when I was out in Colorado riding a motorcycle. Colorado does not have a helmet law. I always ride with one anyway. They say, we don’t have a helmet law for the motorcycles. However, if you’re riding a bicycle, down your subdivision street, you have to have a helmet. It just didn’t make any sense to me. So I think, one, it doesn’t make any sense at all that they’re allowed to ride where other people have to walk their bike.

Quisenberry said the other point on that I saw was just before coming here, having dinner, watching the news, just for information for you, Smith, the city of Rochester was enacting an ordinance on e-bikes in their town. They drafted it, they put it out, it’s now in the review stage, and in a couple weeks, they’re going to bring it back up and vote on it and stuff. So, they have an ordinance that’s already done and put out, and they’ve, they’ve created it. There is a good place to go to get a like-minded answer to what we need. They would have it. So, the city of Rochester may have done a lot of work for us, and if they’ve got this in front of them, I think that it’s going to move our process along a lot further. It was so funny, because the very second, the second article after that was a similar article from an emergency room doctor about the rise in injuries that they’re seeing because of e-bike accidents and stuff. So, something that really does need to be addressed. Seems like we’ve got a great answer in front of us that we can use to accommodate us and certainly get them off the sidewalks if bicycles can’t even be riding down that zone.

Forte said to go off what you’re saying, I’m looking at the ordinance and it’s –(interrupting Forte), Quisenberry said in Rochester? Forte said no, in Clarkston. And it’s 73.01. So, no person or persons shall ride any motorized bicycle, tricycle, skateboard, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle upon any of the sidewalks or safety paths within the corporate limits of the city.

Chet Pardee said that’s current or proposed. Forte said it’s current. Pardee said it’s current. Quisenberry said no electronic – (interrupting Forte), Quisenberry said no motorized bikes are already on the books. Forte aid ordinance 139, passed 11-13-2007.

[Clarkston Sunshine note: Notwithstanding the discussion that followed suggesting that there is no enforcement mechanism, there is a penalty provision for violation. It is in section 73.99 and section 73.01 refers to 73.99. Section 73.99 provides for a civil fine payable to the City Municipal Parking Bureau on issuance of a “notice of violation.” The amount is prescribed in the “city parking violation regulations.” There is also a schedule of costs to be paid, the amount depending on the age of the violator. If the payment is not made within 30 days, the city can issue a civil infraction citation with fines and costs up to $500. This is apparently unenforceable now because there are no City Municipal Parking Bureau or city parking violation regulations. Despite the complaints about lack of enforcement, the city hasn’t set up the mechanism for enforcement. And, even if it did, the ordinance as it stands now is a cumbersome way of enforcement. A revised ordinance authorizing a civil infraction citation would be preferable. All the looking at other ordinances seems superfluous. All they need is something to clearly enforce the present ordinance.]

Smith said so, just a quick update on this. So, first of all, I agree with Angelini. We have had a noticeable increase of e-bikes in town, and it’s not usually just one e-bike. It’s often groups of four, five, six people, mostly teenage boys, riding through town, through the park at really high speeds. And to me, it comes down to enforcement. We, even downtown. You’re right, absolutely. The ordinance as it stands right now prohibits bikes as well as motorized vehicles in the downtown area, motorized vehicles citywide. So, we could just go based on that. I talked with Sergeant Bowie, which I’ll get to in a few minutes, why he’s not here tonight. I talked with Sergeant Bowie. It all comes down to enforcement and whether they have the officers to do this. I think that they can at least write a few tickets. The word will get out. But right now, we haven’t done any enforcement at all. Now, we can up the, I’ve talked with Jimi [Turner, DPW (Department of Public Works) supervisor] about doing the stenciling on the sidewalks. That’s been there. It’s been years. But we need to get that updated as you enter the downtown two blocks. We can get that updated as well as signage, as Angelini was indicating. We can do that downtown.

Smith said but I think we need to look at other cities. I’ve given the planning commission already four other municipal ordinances for e-bikes, specifically for e-bikes. And all of these are less than six months old. We’re not the only ones going through this. There’s a lot of other municipalities that have just adopted one or are in, like Rochester, are in the process of adopting one. And they’re all more than happy to share what they have, and we can copy and paste shamelessly. So, we’ve talked about doing that.

Smith said I’ve talked to Gerry Fisher [city attorney] about that as well, as what would it take. And he said, you know what, Smith, let me take a look. So, I sent him the same four ordinance examples that he could draw from. He says, let me take a shot at it. It may be something more specific than just saying no electric motors, motorized vehicles of any kind on the city sidewalk. So, he was going to do that. Unfortunately, I did not reach him today to get an update on his work. But he is working on getting something pulled together and then I would review it with the planning commission. Forte, I’m looking at Forte because she’s on the planning commission. So, that is the next step. We are trying to get something going and then it’s got to be a partner with the Oakland County Sheriff to actually do some enforcement. Once we do pass something.

(To Forte), Smith said we have something in place now, as you pointed out. We could start enforcing that. I’m curious to see what Fisher has in mind of something a little bit more customized for our city. We are working on this, I assure you, and (to Angelini), Smith said we totally recognize what you’re saying, and we’ve had numerous complaints. It’s almost a daily complaint that we receive either phone calls or emails. It’s 99 to 1 in favor of doing something to address this growing issue. And there have been also many, many cases arising of accidents, even deaths on some of these e-bike riders that don’t have driver’s training. They don’t have that skill.

Smith said so, I can read you what Sergeant Bowie, maybe now is as good a time as he’s on the agenda here tonight. But some of this is regarding e-bikes. I got this at 3.30 this afternoon.

Email from Sergeant Bowie to Smith:

I apologize, but I cannot make the meeting tonight. I have a family emergency and have to leave.

I was able to pull some stats for you. To date, 55 violations have been written in the village.

Smith said he’s just talking about overall violations, not e-bikes specifically.

(Continuing with the email), Sergeant Bowie said I don’t know how many motor carrier violations have been written. There were two criminal complaints, one domestic assault arrest and one harassing communications arrest.

I know speeding is an issue.

Smith said he’s kind of jumping around here.

(Continuing with the email), Sergeant Bowie said I know speeding is an issue. It is a problem everywhere on every road.

I did some research on e-bikes and as discussed, the only state requirement is an age 14 to 18 must wear a helmet. There are currently 10 cities that have enacted ordinances on e-bikes. None of their ordinances are very restrictive that I can see.

Also, I know we have taken several accident reports in the village. I know Main and Washington is one of the main intersections.

Smith said not sure what that’s in reference to.

(Continuing with the email), Sergeant Bowie said I can try and get an exact number from our traffic unit if you need it. I should be back tomorrow. I’m not sure I’ll reach out to you when I’m back. I apologize to you and the board.

Smith said he was on the agenda tonight to come talk to you about anything from speeding to e-bikes. He’s a little frustrated, I think, with regard to e-bikes. He thinks the ordinances that he has seen don’t have enough teeth. He and I talked about this. He says, I’m not really sure if you pass what, I can’t remember what other city we were talking about, but he says if you pass what they did, it’s not going to give me any authority to write tickets.

Smith said so, that’s why I think we need to get Fisher and maybe Sergeant Bowie together in the same room and start talking about what does it take to get the sheriff the authority needed to write tickets. I think that’s a key next step.

(To Smith), Quisenberry said I have to take a second to that. One, the totals on tickets for end of May, through May of 19, he said 55 so far? He said 55. On our monthlies, it was throughout the end of May, it was 19. And this is the sheet they gave us June 8th at our meeting. So, that’s wrong. Or put it this way, we’ve got different information on here that we’re making assumptions on and decisions, and if there’s something different than what he’s, we’re seeing here, we need to know that if it’s 55. I still think that’s light, but it’s still, you know, better, it’s more than double what he’s telling us that we are. Two, this whole thing about, we need to get, the ordinance doesn’t have teeth. We have to draft an ordinance where we can enforce it. That’s common sense. Of course it is. I don’t understand what his problem is in saying that there’s an issue out there because a lot of ordinances can’t be enforced. If that’s it, those are poor ordinances. Why would we ever have a planning ordinance that we can’t enforce or any other ordinance that we can’t enforce? You write the ordinance so that it is enforceable. So, if he’s saying we can’t enforce them, then something was done wrong in the process, and I just can’t buy that being an excuse. We should be able to enforce what we have. So, I guess I don’t understand – (Wylie interrupted with an unintelligible comment) – (continuing), Quisenberry said what he’s saying in his letter to you. It just isn’t making sense to me and with the facts that we’ve been given here.

Smith said OK, so I’ll try to get him to come to the next meeting and we’ll talk to him in person. But, in the meantime, hopefully by the next meeting I’ll have some proposal from Fisher that I can start with the planning commission. (To Forte), Smith said you have a planning commission coming up July 6th, I believe. So, we hope to get some draft ordinances started here and with Fisher’s help.

Quisenberry said the other item I was going to bring up was I think that this needs to be acted on soon. Very, very soon. I think that next meeting we have to have something in front of us, a proposed ordinance. Because if we don’t, and it delays, this is going to solve itself because it’s going to be September and October and it isn’t going to be an issue anymore. Smith said yeah. Quisenberry said we’ve got the whole summer in front of us and we should have the majority of the summer where we can actually enforce this and not wait and say, well, OK, now it’s August and September and October, it isn’t a problem anymore. Wylie said right, we need to have something. Quisenberry said I think that I would like to have, and God bless Fisher, but there’s a lot of time we’ve wasted on Fisher reviewing specific projects we’ve asked him and we haven’t moved on any of them. We’re sitting still waiting, Fisher’s reviewing, Fisher’s reviewing. How long are we going to wait before we get them? And I think that’s a problem we have to address.

Wylie recognized Casey for a comment.

(To Smith), Casey said in that note you read, there was an age, 14, to 14 is – (interrupting Casey), Smith said 14 to 18 – (continuing), Casey said 14-18 must wear a helmet. Smith said that’s in the state law. Wylie said so that means under 14 they don’t have to – (interrupting Wylie), Casey said under 14 can they not ride? Smith said well, that’s a good question. That’s the way it sounds, like the way he worded this, I wasn’t aware of that.

Quisenberry said but that’s a state law. If our ordinance is different, and we specify something different. Smith said yeah, our ordinance would go above and beyond whatever the state has, but – (interrupting Smith), Casey said well, I’ve, I’ve seen the same thing. I live at the end of Washington Street, and there was a kid right across the street that, he doesn’t have an e-bike yet, but he’s got a lot of friends who do. And they’re always ripping up and down the street. Just today. Wylie said same on my street. Casey said and only one of them was wearing a helmet. Wylie said it’s a circle. They go round and round.

Wylie recognized Forte for a comment.

Forte said yeah, I think in the meantime we just enforce what we have. Ask them to up enforcement on the existing ordinance. I don’t see why we can’t enforce the existing ordinance as it is. You know, I mean – Casey said that assumes we’re going to get the manpower from the sheriff’s department. Forte said yeah, but that can start tomorrow, you know what I mean?

Angelini said what about signage? Just having signage up that states the ordinance is going to have it on both sides of the poles, every pole in town. So, it’s plain as day, and no one can claim ignorance to it. It’s there, you know. We can cite that. It’s like, hey, you can’t ride your bike there. You have to be walking this thing, you know. Wylie said but really to make it stop. Some kids have to be – (interrupting Wylie), Angelini said we just have something in place now. So at least we have some article to refer to. Smith said it is called out in the ordinance. Pardee said it is called out.

(To Pardee), Forte said what did you say? What was your question? Pardee said I was asking if walk, bike – Smith said downtown. (Forte made an unintelligible comment.) Pardee said the downtown really begins at 20 or 21. And then I’m not sure where it goes the other way. Wylie said it also says no motorized vehicles on sidewalks. That’s what I heard Forte say. So that protects everybody.

Forte said there’s multiple sections. Wylie said so, you’ve got sidewalks. Forte said but, I mean, there’s exemptions for like someone who’s in like a safety vehicle. Wylie said oh, yeah.

Pardee said so, my view is – (interrupting Pardee), Wylie said do you want to say something – (continuing), Pardee said it’s going to get much worse. Much worse than it is right now. And based on what’s going on in the business side of e-bikes. And I gave Wylie at the last council meeting what was in the Wall Street Journal, front page, second section, that talked about e-bikes at $4,000 per, up to 76 miles an hour. And the other thing that the article said was that the bikes are not equipped to be licensed or driven on roads. Don’t have turn signals, don’t have stoplights, don’t have headlights. So, part of the article talked about I’m going to get in that business of retrofitting these $4,000 bikes so that they can be used on the highway.

Smith said there’s different classes, one, two, and three. Pardee said right. Wylie said but most of these kids are riding two, three, four-hundred-dollar scooters and e-bikes. Pardee said (unintelligible) but I haven’t read anything about 76 until I read this Wall Street Journal article two weeks ago.

Wylie said anybody else in the audience have anything or on council?

No comments.

(To Angelini), Wylie said thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Wylie said anybody else have public comments?

Wylie recognized Cara Catallo for a comment.

Cara Catallo:

So, I reached out on Thursday not knowing that it was a vacation day or a holiday. And, by the way, the voicemail didn’t, the website didn’t say anything, the voicemail didn’t say anything. The voicemail actually said that the city offices are open five days a week, so it might be a good idea to spend some time on that to fix it.

But I was hoping to get on the agenda to see about, like, I looked up the idea of getting some banners and we could get them for $500 just to go with the banners that we’re already getting. And I didn’t know if there’s any way, like, if I should make this effort. But, but I have a picture I could show you if you’re at all interested, but it would be for the taller banners that are bigger than the smaller ones. Go figure. But, yeah, like I was curious if mentioning the 250th anniversary was important to anybody. I know it’s important to, like, the DAR [Daughters of the American Revolution] and in my mind frugality counts for a lot, and having banners that we can put up next year and whatever we want makes more sense because people know about the 250th, but I just wasn’t sure how to go through the process because I couldn’t get on the agenda due to the incredibly short work week.

I also have very strong opinions about that. As somebody who’s worked four-day work weeks pretty consistently, if there’s a Friday holiday it doesn’t mean that you get Thursday off. It means that you already have a holiday, so congratulations. And I think, again, in the name of frugality it’s a great idea for a community that seems to have a shortfall to not be adding holidays and having the taxpayers foot more four-day weekends. That shouldn’t happen. The township has a four-day work week and they didn’t take Thursday off.

But I just wasn’t sure how to approach, like, is there any way that I can make this happen, or if it’s just like, sorry, Fourth of July.

Wylie said well, it would have to be something beyond the agenda. Catallo said right.

Forte said can I just make a motion to add it to the agenda? Because we talked about last meeting having you come back and report on what was going on with the banners. Catallo said right, well, in my defense, there was nothing, there was no sign that there would be a Thursday vacation day for the office. So, like, I didn’t know that I had to hurry up and get something in, and I only got these because somebody’s designing them for me fairly late in the game. So, I just, I mean, it’s just a little bit more than $500, so I don’t know if the city offices are able to okay that on their own, because it’s not very much money. Wylie said how many are we talking about? Is it $500 for all of them, or $500 each? Catallo said no, no, for eight, because we have, people are paying for the other ones that we’re having made. So, this would just be for eight that are sort of patriotic banners. It seemed like something that people were remotely interested in at the last council meeting, so that was just why I thought I’d try to bring it forward. I had no idea it would be so hard, but, go figure. So, yeah.

Quisenberry said how big are they? Catallo said I should have brought one, but they’re, the big ones that are at the main intersections, they’re taller banners than the shorter ones, they’re the lamppost banners. (Gesturing), Pardee said like this? Catallo said so, um, 24 by 38 inches, roughly. Pardee said that’s much larger than I thought. Quisenberry said two feet by three feet. Catallo said yeah, the smaller ones are pretty small, but the bigger ones are pretty big. Quisenberry said two feet by three feet. Catallo said it’s just an idea, because it would be a patriotic design that would say Clarkston, basically. It could also say 250 if everybody wanted it, but I just, I don’t, like, I guess we know.

Wylie said what kind of timeline are they? Catallos aid oh, I mean, I could get them done this week. So that it, like, I talked to Turner to see what his schedule is, if he could get them up, but it’s just a concept that I thought I’d at least mention in case anybody is interested.

Forte said can we see? (Approaching council table with a document), Catallo said yeah, so, I put a really pretty, very professional arrow over the one that I was leaning towards, and then the other one, they added the other one just in case we wanted something that was more like 250, but that can also be changed as well. For some reason, I thought it would be neat to have a vertical one. I’m less inclined on that, but they’re very, they’re working with me. They’re very nice people, so. Wylie said I will say the one on the left is more readable than the little one. Those letters are really hard. Catallo said I resisted crossing it off with (unintelligible), but yeah.

Quisenberry said without saying yea or nay, because we’ll talk about that later on, but I will make a general comment about driving down Main Street in Clarkston. There’s no doubt that this is a patriotic city. Catallo said oh yeah. Quisenberry said if you look at flags everywhere out in front of you, the banners, the bunting that people have on all the houses, there’s no question that there’s patriotism throughout the town. Catallo said oh yeah, I agree. It’s the empty, the empty light post banners just sort of are almost an eyesore in a way, because it just seems like a missed opportunity to crow proudly about our community.

Wylie said well, the only way we could do it is if somebody makes a motion. It probably should have happened when we were approving the agenda, but somebody would have to make a motion to put it on the agenda, add it to the agenda.

Forte said I’ll do it under new business, and we can just talk about this more largely.

Wylie said so Forte is making a motion to put a discussion on banners on the agenda. Are you making a discussion? Casey said motion to amend. Wylie said motion to amend. Thank you. Motion to amend the agenda. And I’ll need a second.

Forte said new business? Or? Wylie said well, first we’re going to amend the agenda. So, I mean, you’re making a motion to amend the agenda to add the, are you making a discussion, or are you going to make a resolution to perhaps purchase something? Forte said I think resolution.

Wylie said OK. Motion to amend the agenda. Resolution. And we need a second. Second Quisenberry.

Wylie said so, any discussion from council members?

No discussion.

Wylie said from the public?

No discussion.

All in favor, to, all we’re doing is voting on amending the agenda. All in favor of amending the agenda to add a resolution to purchase banners, say aye.

Casey said how many? Wylie said eight. Catallo said eight. Wylie said but we’re not voting yet on these things. Eight.

Motion to amend the agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said I can’t talk tonight. Amending the agenda. So now, what do you want to, how do you want to amend the agenda? It would have to be under new business. Forte said yeah, new business, banner discussion. Wylie said resolution. Forte said resolution. Wylie said banner resolution to purchase eight. Yeah, and install, thank you. Catallo said (unintelligible) does the installation but – (continuing), Wylie said and install eight banners on lampposts for, how much did you say? So, we’ll give it a – Catallo said $504. Wylie said so, we’ll make it $504. I know Smith a lot of times likes to add, what do you do, add 10%? We’ll make it $554. $554. Just in case. Forte said contingency. Wylie said yes. OK. (To Forte), Wylie said so, you have to make the motion. I need a second on that. Quisenberry said oh, we did. Wylie said no, that was to amend the agenda. So now we’re making a motion to add that resolution to the agenda. Quisenberry said OK. Wylie said you want to second it? Second Quisenberry.

Wylie said any discussion or comments from council?

No comments.

Motion to add the resolution to purchase banners to the agenda passed by unanimous voice vote. Wylie said OK.

Smith said I wanted to add that there is a practice for requesting an agenda item. Wylie said OK. Smith said it’s on our website. There is a form you fill out. And that will come to me and then I’ll know that somebody wants something on the agenda. Catallo said I’m sorry. I thought that at the last meeting I said that I would come back. (Angrily), Smith said you didn’t give me anything. You never confirmed that. Catallo said I’m sorry.

Wylie said anybody else have public comments?

(Catallo made an unintelligible comment.)

Wylie said anybody else have public comments?

No comments.

Agenda Item #6 – FYI: (video time mark 0:40:52):

Wylie said moving on to Item #6, which is FYI, I don’t have anything. (To Smith), Wylie said I assume you did not get anything. Anybody else have any FYIs? Smith said no.

Agenda Item #7 – City Manager’s Report (video time mark 0:41:00):

• • 06-22-2026 City Manager Report (page 3/68 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #7 is a city manager’s report, which is included in the packet. (To Smith), Wylie said will you need to elaborate in any way.

Smith said regarding the parking lot maintenance, they did do the work out here in the Depot road. Looks very nice. They did a very nice job. I’m happy with that. Tomorrow morning they’re going to be doing the same in the Washington and Main parking lot. So, that will be closed all day tomorrow. They’ll be doing that patching and seal coating. And then on Wednesday morning, weather permitting, they’ll do the angle parking down here on Depot Road. Wylie said OK. So, this was a new paving company? Is that right? Smith said the new seal coating company. So far everything looks good for the first – Smith said so far everything looks good.

Wylie said anything else you need to go over?

Smith said real quick, the pothole patching, the same contractor was given the opportunity to pothole patch Overlook. It’s kind of a test. That went very well. They did a nice job on Overlook. So, that is something we’re going to look in more detail about the possibility of using them rather than buying a hot patch machine. In other words, outsourcing that.

Smith said we did get our local road improvement grant, so I’m glad about that. It’s $3,200.

Smith said and then I just wanted to add one other thing. We’re struggling with our server. We closed our door. It’s rather loud. Wylie said oh, was that what that noise was. I thought it was the fan from the bathroom. Smith said no, that’s our server. It’s in hyper-overdrive. So, it’s, something is wrong with it. We got a quote from VC3, our IT support company, $32,000, which I think is well beyond excessive. So, we are looking at other opportunities to replace that, or do we go to cloud-based storage rather than a server? We’re looking at that, and we’ll have some costs together for that in a future meeting.

Wylie said I thought that was going to be less than half that cost to get a server. Smith said oh, yeah, we thought it was going to be like $3,000 or $4,000. Wylie said OK. Smtih said $32,000 is just way out of the ballpark. Wylie said yeah, way out. Smith said so that’s all I have.

Wylie said OK, anybody have questions or comments on council for Smith on city manager’s report?

Wylie recognized Pardee for a comment.

(To Smith), Pardee said where will the sewer cut-through Depot? You had in your, that there’s a sewer problem on somebody’s property adjacent to Depot Road? And it was, I’m just kind of curious. Smith said yeah, right here on 380, the green house right across from the park. So, they had to completely replace all their sewer lines and had to cut open Depot Road, which I really hated doing because that’s a fairly newly paved road. Pardee said so, it’s done? Smith said it’s done. I suspect we’re going to be maintaining that patch for years to come. So, we’re talking to the contractor. Pardee said OK, thank you.

Wylie said and the fact that Overlook got patched, that explains why. There were scooters going around and around my street today, they were going nuts. I’d never heard of them before. Not like that. They got a nice smooth road.

Wylie said anybody else? Any other questions or comments on city manager’s report?

No comments.

Agenda Item #8 – Consent Agenda (video time mark 0:44:30):

• • 05-26-2026 Final Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 4/68 of the council packet)

• • 06-08-2026 Draft Minutes, Regular City Council Meeting (page 6/68 of the council packet)

• • 06-22-2026 – Treasurer’s Report (page 8/68 of the council packet)

• • 06-26-2026 – Revenue and Expenditure Report for the Period Ending 05-31-2026 (page 9/68 of the council packet)

Wylie said Item #8 is consent agenda. We have the final minutes of the May 26, 2026, regular meeting; draft minutes of the June 8th regular meeting; Treasurer’s report from June 22nd. And I will need a motion and a second to accept the consent agenda as it’s presented from council.

Motion by Quisenberry; second Forte.

Wylie said any comments or questions from council members or changes?

No comments.

Wylie said from the public?

Wylie recognized Pardee for a comment.

Pardee said I think we’re about to break the state law related to budgets in that we’re. got, that document shows four departments negative and then it shows a bottom line negative of $40-some, or $40 to $60-some thousand dollars. So, and this is the last meeting of budget year. Normally, we’ll have done a whole lot of amendments so that we don’t end up with a budget negative because that’s against the budget law. Greg [Coté, treasurer] and I talked about this today. Coté, do you want to comment on that? Coté said yeah, we typically cure those deficits as of June 30th. What you’re looking at is May. Next month will be the June one and they’ll be cured. Smith said we still have bills coming in. Pardee said don’t you have to amend? Doesn’t the council have to approve amendment? Smith said well, we would do that. Coté’s point is that there are still bills coming in and still income coming in. So, we need to let all that come in and we’ll do that once we have the full picture, we’ll do that in our July meeting. Wylie said I think that’s typically what happens. Coté said we historically do have done that, yes. That is correct. Smith said sometimes we do it throughout the year and (to Pardee), yes, when we get to what you’re remembering, is when we get close to the end of the year, that’s when we do more. Pardee said OK. I’ll be patient.

Wylie said anything else from the public?

No comments.

The consent agenda was adopted by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said the consent agenda is approved.

Agenda Item #9, Unfinished Business (video time mark 0:46:41):

Wylie said we have Item #9, unfinished business

Item #9a – Discussion with Oakland County Sheriff Seargeant James Bowie (video time mark 0:46:46):

Wylie said #9A, is discussion with Oakwood County Sheriff Sergeant James Bowie. He’s not here. Smith had a statement from him.

Wylie said did anybody have any questions or, you know, any comments on the Sheriff’s report, which is non-existent?

No comments.

Item #9b – Resolution: City Planner Quote Comparison & Selection (video time mark 0:47:01):

• • Resolution – City Planning Services (page 19/68 of the council packet)

• • Bid Comparison (page 20/68 of the council packet)

• • Carlisle/Wortman, Agreement for Consulting Services (page 21/68 of the council packet)

• • OHM Quotation (page 26/68 of the council packet)

• • 06-03-2026, Email from Eric Dyer to Jonathan Smith

• • Response to Questions (page 28/68 of the council packet)

• • Giffels Webster Proposal (page 29/68 of the council packet)

Wylie said #9B is Resolution, City Planner Quote Comparison and Selection and we’ve got a big packet in here. A lot of it we saw in our last meeting and (to Smith), I guess you want to talk about it?

Smith said so, the packet for the, from the three companies that we were considering has not really changed. All the backup detail is the same. The only thing that’s changed is we obtained the, as Avery had requested, I think it was Avery, that for ‘27 and ‘28 we get the full quotes, which we did not have from Giffels Webster. They only gave us 2026 hourly figures. They have confirmed that those hourly figures will stay the same for the three-year horizon and then starting in 2029 they will go up an estimated 5%. Wylie said OK. Smith said but for the three-year horizon shown here they will remain the same. Wylie said thank you.

Wylie said let me read the resolution. No, it’s OK. I’m going to go ahead and read the resolution because we did have a big discussion on it at the last meeting.

(Wylie read the resolution.)

Wylie said which we would have to add one of those three if we’re going to do this resolution tonight and then somebody will resolve it and then support it.

(To Forte), Wylie said you want to say something and then maybe somebody will add this in here? No? Forte said I was just going to continue what you’re saying. Wylie said OK. You want to add somebody in here? Forte said yeah, I’ll add in Giffels Webster. Wylie said and I believe that was what was brought up last time. Giffels Webster and then if you’re adding them you need to, so you’re resolving to do that? OK. So, Forte resolves to authorize the City manager to initiate a planning services agreement with Giffels Webster and I need a second.

Second Quisenberry.

Wylie said any discussion, questions, comments from council members?

No comments.

Wylie said from the public?

Pardee said I just want to say I think that Forte is right on who it is and it appears to be the most professional and has the lowest cost as you look forward. Wylie said yes. Forte said I think they want our business too. Pardee said yeah. Pardee said we’re going to have a planner who’s been with the company for eight years. That was one of the things that I noted in terms of difference. They identify who the planner is, and it also appears that the woman who’s got the best resume would appear to be accessible based on, so I’m in support of Forte’s resolution.

Wylie said OK, we need a roll call.

Casey, Wylie, Forte, and Quisenberry voted yes.

Wylie said OK. Okay. The resolution is adopted. Thank you. Let me make this Jones, since we have Avery, Jones, and Rodgers are all absent. Great.

Agenda Item #10, New Business (video time mark 0:50:42):

Next on the agenda is Item #10 is new business.

Item #10a – Resolution: E. Church Paving Contractor Selection (video time mark 0:50:46):

• • Resolution – Contractor Approval for E. Church Repaving (page 60/68 of the council packet) 

• • Bid Comparison (page 61/68 of the council packet)

• • 06-16-2026 – Fleis & Vandenbrink, Recommendation of Award (page 62/68 of the council packet)

Wylie said #10A is Resolution, East Church Paving Contractor Selection.

Wylie said I’m going to read the resolution.

(Wylie read the resolution.)

Wylie said and we have the attached comparison of bids and we have a letter of recommendation of the award from F & V (Fleis & Vandenbrink), so I need a, somebody to resolve and then support.

Resolution by Quisenberry; second Forte.

Wylie said questions, comments from council and you know what if you guys are here you want to say anything? Tell us who you are.

Sophia Botkin identified herself and said hi, I’m from Fleis & Vandenbrink. I’m a project engineer here and I just wanted to reiterate it was included in our recommendation of the award but Hutch Paving is an MDOT [Michigan Department of Transportation] pre-qualified contractor that means that they’re pre-qualified to work on any MDOT contract and we recommend the acceptance of this bid as it is fair priced, fairly priced compared to our engineer’s estimate and all the other bids received.

Wylie said I really appreciate getting this letter because when I was reading through this I was like, I can’t remember what the engineer said and when I read the letter and saw how close you were, nice. Forte said thank you. (To an unidentified man in the audience), Wylie said are you David? David said yes. Wylie said I met you before. Do you want to add anything? David said no. No, I think Botkin covered it quite nicely. Wylie said thank you.

Wylie said anybody else, questions or comments from anybody on council?

No comments.

Wylie said questions or comments from the public?

Wylie recognized Pardee for a comment.

(To Wylie), Pardee said you were reading and it sounded like MDOT was going to supervise Hutch? Wylie said I don’t recall if I read that. In the letter it says pre-qualified contractor for MDOT. Pardee said right. It was a guidance. Smith said F & V will be managing the project. Pardee said got it. Smith said we’ll be making sure everything is – (interrupting Smith), Wylie said oh, I see what you’re saying, under the direction of MDOT. Smith said but it’s following the MDOT guidelines. Pardee said OK, right. For F & V.

Smith said and it did come in under our estimate so from a financial standpoint we’re in good shape. Wylie said that’s good.

(To Casey), Wylie said did you have something you wanted to ask? Casey said no.

Wylie said anybody else in the public or council?

No comments.

Wylie said, OK, so we had a resolved from Quisenberry supported by Forte and we will need a roll call.

Wylie, Quisenberry, Casey, and Forte voted yes.

Wylie said and the resolution is adopted. Thank you. Thanks for coming tonight. Appreciate it.

Item #10b – Resolution: Independence Television Intergovernmental Agreement (video time mark 0:54:39):

• • Resolution – Independence Television Intergovernmental Agreement (page 63/68 of the council packet)

• • Intergovernmental Agreement for PEG [Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Channel] Services

Wylie said Item #10B is a Resolution, Independence Television Intergovernmental Agreement which states:

(Wylie read the resolution.)

Wylie said and we will need somebody to resolve and then a support.

Resolution by Wylie; second Forte.

Wylie said and questions or comments from council members?

(To Smith), Wylie said did you want to add anything to this? Smith said I was just, you said that it’s been reviewed by the city manager, well it has been, but it’s also been reviewed by the city attorney. Wylie said oh, you know what, I read it wrong, yeah, it says city attorney, OK, I apologize.

Smith said but yes, we’ve gone back and forth with the township as you know we’ve been working on our contracts, a number of these contracts with the Independence Township, so this was a fairly simple one to do and I think it’s the right thing to do, so I’m encouraged by that.

Wylie said OK, Fisher approved it though, the language.

Forte said is there any changes from our previous? Smith said just last time it was a set amount per year and now it’s based on whatever PEG [Public, Educational, and Governmental] fees we receive. So, DirecTV calls out for example very specifically, these are the PEG fees that we are giving to the city and they send us that. So, whatever we receive in the way of PEG fees, we basically just turn it over to Independence Television. Forte said OK.

Wylie said so aren’t PEG fees going down? Decreasing? Smith said PEG fees are going down because – Wylie said because more streaming I was thinking – (continuing), Smith said more people are streaming and less people are using cable. So it is, they are going down.

Quisenberry said so, this is a no cost really to the city. All we’re doing is receiving and sending back out. Smith said yes.

Pardee said was that the case with the previous contract? Smith said the previous contract did not specify we get all your PEG fees. It was just – (interrupting Smith), Pardee said so, we got the PEG fees? Smith  said they just stayed in our bank account. Pardee said and did we pay $50 per meeting currently? Smith said that’s only for extra coverage. Yeah, we haven’t. I don’t think we’ve ever incurred one of those. Coté said no. Smith said I don’t think we’ve ever incurred one of those $50. Pardee said I was reading that we were going to pay $50 for each meeting that they attended. Forte said where? Smith said it’s in section 4, the bottom of section 4. (Reading), Wylie said “as stated above, Clarkston shall pay Independence an additional $50 per meeting to produce the recording of each additional and or special city council meeting.” So that would not be a regular meeting. Special, only additional or special city council meetings. That does not include regular meetings. That’s the way I would read it. Pardee said OK. Wylie said thank you.

Wylie said any other questions or comments?

Quisenberry said do you by chance know comparing turning over all the PEG fees as compared to the set amount we had before, is it going to be higher or lower than, did we gain any PEG money after we paid them whatever the contract was? Smith said I think it’s going to be higher. How much higher, I don’t know, but it’s probably, you know, in the neighborhood of $1,000 or $2,000 a year or more. So, I don’t have the exact number in front of me, but it will be a little bit higher. Quisenberry said they will get – Smith said more than they have been just under a flat fee, under the PEG fees, but as Wylie pointed out, PEG fees are going down. So, now there is, I just learned today, there is a potential bill to put PEG fees on streaming services. But that’s – Wylie said that’s like a nightmare. Smith said that would be a nightmare to enforce. So, I kind of doubt from what I’m hearing so far that that will ever pass, but it’s being considered. Wylie said OK.

Wylie said anybody else?

No comments.

Wylie said OK, let’s see. I resolved and Forte supported, so we need a roll call.

Forte, Casey, Quisenberry, and Wylie voted yes.

Wylie said and the resolution is adopted. Thank you very much.

Item #10c – Resolution: To Purchase and Install Eight Banners (video time mark 0:59:51) [Note: added to the agenda during public comments.]

Wylie said so, we have an additional #10C, which is a resolution for a purchase of eight banners for the lampposts for a total of, Catallo said $504. I did add roughly 10%, $554 for that. So, we need a resolution.

(To Guillen), Wylie said you can come up with a resolution, can’t you? When you write it all up? Guillen said yeah, we can put it together. Wylie said OK.

(To Forte), Wylie said does that cover? Yeah, you made the resolution. Would that cover it? Resolution to purchase and install eight banners. I guess we should say maybe patriotic banners or Clarkston patriotic banners. Clarkston patriotic banners, banners for the eight lampposts to be installed before January 4, or July 4th.

(Cara Catallo began talking.) Wylie said yes, why don’t you come on up because you’ve got the pictures on you. Catallo said we would be doing the installation, so it’s like the people making it or obviously I wouldn’t be installing it. Wylie said OK, so it should be written that separately, to purchase – Catallo said right – (continuing), Wylie said eight banners for the twelve lampposts at $554 with installation done by city DPW. Catallo said right. Wylie said OK. (To Catallo), Wylie said do you want to add anything more? To what you talked about?

Wylie said so, you’re in favor of the one on the left. Catallo said right. (Unintelligible comment from a council member.) Catallo said right, yeah. Forte said can I see that one again? (Catallo handed a piece of paper to Forte.) Catallo said but I’m also a bit like if somebody wants America 250 in there or anything, I’m not married to any of these designs. It just seemed like something to bring forward. I won’t be hurt if you say no. I’ll be glad that I didn’t move forward on it. But yeah, it was just something that I thought I would propose in case it was something that you thought was interesting or worth doing.

Wylie said remind me of the smaller banners. Do they say anything about America 250? Catallo said in sort of small print, it talks about, and I can’t remember specifically the word. Wylie said but there’s something. Catallo said but yeah. Like a, but very small because the goal was that they would be able to be reused and added on next year. Wylie said OK. I like the one on the left the best. Forte said me too. Sorry. Just a minute.

Wylie said so, I have to bring this up because somebody will. Catallo said right. Wylie said it doesn’t say City of the Village of Clarkston. It just says Clarkston. Catallo said right, but if you would prefer it to – Wylie said I don’t necessarily, but is there some reason or anything more community-wide? Catallo said yeah, it was just, well, I mean, I think it’s like it’s Clarkston like already, but, but yeah, it was more that they’re very high and it could be hard to read, and I don’t know that any of the other ones we’ve done have had the long name on it. Wylie said OK. I like, I mean, we call it Clarkston. Everybody calls it Clarkston. It’s going to be up high, and it refers to our, everybody’s mailing address, the school system, everybody calls it Clarkston. Catallos said right, but I mean, yeah, I could ask them if they could come up with something. Wylie said I’m just kind of curious because you know people are going to say, it’s a beautiful place. Catallo said they’ll say it no matter what. There’s, I can’t win. Wylie said if we do it, it’s us as a city, what we have done.

Forte said and we could reuse these again. Catallo said yeah, that was why I, I steered away from 250 because I thought that it could be used, like, next year. I feel like they’ve held up better than I would have guessed, like the latest renditions of banners, so it just seemed like that way. It wouldn’t be weird next year when it’s 251.

Wylie said so, I guess we have to talk about if we vote on this, where would we get the money? Do we have an account we could pull some money from? Parking? Coté is giving me that, no, we can’t, it can’t come from parking. Coté said we can find something. Yeah, I could find something. Quisenberry said city promotion? Wylie said I don’t think those are in our budget. Quisenberry said we don’t have anything? Wylie said not advertising our city.

Wylie said any other discussions from council members?

Pardee said are the stars in a corner or not? (Catallo collected paperwork from council table.) Pardee said I know there’s a formal format if in fact the American flag, the stars are long. Catallo said it’s more just a decoration. Pardee said got it.

Wylie said does anybody else in the audience want to see it? Can it be held up to the camera too? Catallo said (unintelligible) they can see it but it’s not for real.

Forte said do we have money?

Wylie said well, you know, people, hundreds of people watch the recordings. Quisenberry said tens of people. Tens of people.

Wylie said I do have, just in the last meeting, we voted not to purchase flags, so I do have that and we are trying to be frugal. So, this is something we don’t need and as somebody here tonight mentioned, the town, everything, the city looks patriotic. Especially when the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber, no, Optimist Club, when those flags are up, it looks fantastic. And the ribbons are, I asked somebody today, what do you think of those ribbons? Like, they’re nice. Actually, I’m still going through in my mind what to do. Forte said I feel the same way. (Unintelligible discussion among council members and within the audience.)

Wylie said any other discussion from anybody?

No comments.

Wylie said alright, we’re going to do a vote on this thing.

Quisenberry and Forte voted yes. Wylie voted no.

Guillen said Casey. Wylie said oh, sorry. Casey said well, at this point it doesn’t matter. Wylie said it doesn’t matter. Casey said no. Wylie said OK. Alright, thank you. Thank you for bringing it to us. Catallo said thank you for inviting me in. Wylie said to me, it’s financial, I feel like – Catallo said oh yeah. Wylie said we’re going to be saying no to a lot of stuff this year. Catallo said I hope so. As a resident, I hope that there’s more going. Wylie said and they’re lovely. Thank you for doing the work. I appreciate that. Catallo said no, it’s good.

Pardee said so, is there anything special that will be hung on those rods? Wylie said yes. I don’t know when they’re going to get in. The small ones will have something. I don’t know if you were here for the meeting when Chris Rogers was here. She presented those. I think Catallo may have the cards in her hand. They’re going to have different things about former Clarkston residents. Historical residents.

Forte I’m going to ask something that’s really dumb. Do we have just plain Clarkston banners that can just go up? Smith said not plain Clarkston. They’re all some kind of message. Forte said OK. Catallo said yeah, I’ll answer that. We do. We have great Clarkston ones that Main Street Clarkston had made several years ago. What I’ll do is just see if Jeannie (no last name provided) has the time just to put those up instead. They’re very summery and it would look great, so yeah.

Wylie said anybody have anything else?

No comments.

Agenda Item #12 [#11], Adjourn Meeting (video time mark 1:07:44):

Wylie said I need a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion by Forte. Wylie asked Quisenberry if he wanted to make a second. Quisenberry said Casey wants to. Second Casey.

(No discussion.)

Motion to adjourn passed by unanimous voice vote.

Wylie said we are adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Thank you everybody for attending

Resources:

• • Link to video recording here

• • 06-22-2026 city council packet