Highland Park City Council
Highland Park City CouncilLocation unavailable
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Agendas may be found at:
https://highlandparkmi.gov/Reference/Agendas-and-Minutes/City-Council/2023.aspx
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Council votes against retaining legal counsel to represent them in mediation with GLWA or their Chapter 9 request.
Tonight’s meeting is taking place in person and virtually at 7pm - to join virtually, follow instructions through this link. To join in person, head over to
City Council Chambers 2nd floor
12050 Woodward Ave
Highland Park, MI 48203
Take a look at tonight’s agenda as well:
https://highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/8b48691e-2ef0-44bc-88bc-156e5a7c8afa/230501.aspx
@williams_ashsue live tweeted the last Highland Park City Council meeting on 4/17/23 - check out her tweet thread to get caught up to speed!
https://twitter.com/williams_ashsue/status/1648051009216827406?s=20
And for even more context, visit this link to see ALL @DetDocumenters reporting on this agency
https://www.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=644
A big topic on the agenda tonight is the city’s potential bankruptcy, due to $24 million in unpaid services to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). A reporter from @freep examines why this might not be the best way forward: https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2023/04/30/highland-park-michigan-bankruptcy-water-debt-emergency-manager/70163858007/
Getting set up, council members are almost all here except for Council Member Temeko Manica. A couple TV cameras in the room, which I haven’t seen in the past. https://t.co/Uz3aaMYICP
Roll call: everybody is here. Here’s a list of the council members
Jamal K. Thomas, Council President
Sharmain Robinson, Council President Pro Tem
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1
Kallela Martin, Council Member, District 2
Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, D.3
On to approving agenda: some conversation not into the mics, hard to understand, but there was a motion to remove section V. of the agenda, “Outside Communication”, proposed by Ash-Shafii. Motion passes.
Another motion on the floor:
Walk on to retain lawyers. Adding the following to the agenda:
Legal representatives are here. Will be making a PowerPoint presentation and answering questions. No vote on the proposed resolution until after the presentation.
Waiting on Ash-Shafii’s vote on this motion right now, he is reviewing the information on his desk. He votes no until he has more time to read.
President Thomas pushes back, this motion was voted down 3 to 2. Councils have voted not to retain an attorney.
One of the lawyers proposes to hold off on this vote until after the presentation.
More discussion on where this fits into the agenda - lawyer recommends that this is part of the two existing items.
Another vote to approve the agenda:
Robinson, Manica: Yes
Robinson, Martin, Ash-Shafii: No
Motion to approve the agenda does not pass.
Motion for approving 4/10 meeting minutes:
Not approved
4/17 meeting:
Not approved
4/20 meeting:
Approved
Mayor McDonald addresses the council and the public.
Mentions a city event at the firehouse, this Saturday. https://t.co/YtE82rRako
Mayor may be declaring a state of emergency, does not want a water levy to be added to your taxes, the citizens will not be paying. She hopes the council will reconsider, and if not she will declare a state of emergency.
Next up: legal updates/discussion:
- Requesting determination of probably financial stress/preliminary review under MCL 141.1544 (1) (a) & (o) of PA 436 of 2012
- Recommending that Highland Park proceed under Chapter 9 pursuant to MCL 141.1565 (23) of Public Act 436 of 2012
Attachments
6 attachments
Agency Information
Highland Park City Council
Pursuant to the Highland Park Charter, Chapters 5 and 6, the City Council of Highland Park is comprised of 5 members; 2 at-large and one from each council district. The council exercises all of the legislative powers of the city, except as otherwise stated by law, and provides for the public’s peace and health, and for the safety of persons and property.
The council meets in regular session in the established Council Chamber on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.