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Live reporting by Colleen Cirocco
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Police chief addresses criticism, complaints and misinformation regarding cars being towed at a recent food festival in Avalon Village.

Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco
Hey Detroit! Tonight at 7:00 PM I’ll be live-tweeting the Highland Park City Council meeting for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters Media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

11:31 AM Aug 19, 2024 CDT

Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 2/68
sooooo here's the thing - normally these meetings start at 7 but it looks like it started at 6 tonight?
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 3/68
@DetDocumenters -heads up on the time change for this meeting - it says it changed from 5:30 to 6, but I've only ever known them to start at 7. Here's a copy of tonight's agenda which is in a new format as well. highlandparkmi.gov/media/ppgdhm14…
highlandparkmi.gov/media/ppgdhm14…
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 4/68
@DetDocumenters Right now city administrator Cathy Square is going back and forth questioning someone with a proposal over the phone. She wants more information on specifics how how funds will be handled. Not sure what the specifics are, I joined right in the middle of the call.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 5/68
@DetDocumenters Now they are moving on to discuss the second topic -
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 6/68
@DetDocumenters In 2021 they were awarded a grant for research to be done to see how solar energy could benefit Highland Park. There were 4 recommendations to come out of this research, they are looking for a resolution to implement these recommendations.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 7/68
@DetDocumenters If someone wants to put up a solar panel anywhere but a rooftop there are no specifications on how tall it can be, how far away from the building, etc. A developer would have to come on a special case, but an ordinance would create rules to make it a faster process.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 8/68
@DetDocumenters Representative from the city (planning dept?) - this is now open for discussion since this is the first time council is hearing about this, not asking for adoption tonight.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 9/68
@DetDocumenters President Thomas - "I don't know a time when we've addressed ordinances" - wants an electronic version, wants this to be available to curious residents who care about the city. He said on the surface it sounds pretty good.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 10/68
@DetDocumenters Not sure what can be done at this meeting tonight - council members Martin and Ash-Shaafi are not present, only 2/4 council members are here.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 11/68
@DetDocumenters Anyone who would want to add solar panels on the ground on their lot, not on their roof would need to go through the planning department to get special land use permission.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 12/68
@DetDocumenters Correction: Martin is in attendance
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 13/68
@DetDocumenters And now Ash-Shaafi is in attendance -
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 14/68
@DetDocumenters Okay - it sounds like that was all a workshop meeting, not a formal meeting. Switching over to that stream now.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 15/68
Well, you all got a little extra coverage because I read the agenda wrong haha
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 16/68
@DetDocumenters THIS is the agenda for the council meeting for 8/19/24 highlandparkmi.gov/media/v4lbjmng…
highlandparkmi.gov/media/v4lbjmng…
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 17/68
@DetDocumenters I'm viewing the meeting from their YouTube stream -
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 18/68
@DetDocumenters Thomas notes they haven't met for six weeks and a lot has happening in the community.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 19/68
@DetDocumenters Recommendation from legal to remove these items from the agenda - an to move VI C to the next meeting.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 20/68
The first four items in the agenda have been completed and approved - not sure why but Pro Tem Robinson was voting no on approving the agendas.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 21/68
President Thomas introduces the next section saying that it's important that the mayor has a chance to address the public - asks that the citizens don't take over the meeting. Mayor McDonald is in person tonight as opposed to on the phone.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 22/68
The mayor isn't speaking into the mic so it's hard to hear her- she's going over different events around the city. She said there will be information coming out about ordinances that will affect Highland Park residents' homes. All vendoring ordinances need to be adhered to
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 23/68
Mayor can't address a pending litigation regarding a food truck vendor situation.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 24/68
➡️ Citizens' Participation - related to agenda items.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 25/68
1. Wants to address item V - Bid Opening, water main and service line replacement project. Will there be money available to address properties that aren't currently occupied. Has spent about $50k fixing a property. I'm here for the long term, I'm committed to improving the city.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 26/68
2. Addressing item VII Areas of improvement in the city council - be ready for meetings, display appropriate decorum, show common courtesy and respect, prioritize the city's best interest. Respectfully ask that you comply. Letter comes from 50 residents.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 27/68
➡️ Item V - Bid Opening Motion to open the bid - passes. 1st bid Bidigare - Plymouth MI. $6,945,430, phase 1. $6,440,643, phase 2. $13,386,000 total project price.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 28/68
2nd bid - LGC Global, Detroit. Phase 1 - $4,771,288.38; Phase 2 - $4,012,261.02 - Total project price, $8,783,560.01
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 29/68
3rd bid - Bricco, Oak Park. Phase 1 - $5,752,377; Phase 2 - $6,813,055; Total Project Price- $12,565,432
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 30/68
4th Bid (out of 4)- Major Contractor Group Inc, Detroit. Phase 1 - $6,790,295; Phase 2 - $8,399,462; Total Project Price - $15,189,757
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 31/68
➡️VI A - Community Development Motion carries, no vote from Pro Tem Robinson
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 32/68
➡️VII b, c - Recreation B. Motion carries C. Motion carries
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 33/68
Before going to the next section, the council needs to vote that the water bids can be passed over to the water department. Motion carries, no vote from Pro Tem Robinson
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 34/68
➡️ VIII Senior Motion carries.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 35/68
➡️ IX - Outside Communication Motion to receive and file, motion carries.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 36/68
President Thomas notes that they have attended to all city business in 45 minutes, and we can do it again - "and that is worth applauding." It did seem like a strangely efficient meeting, no discussion on any items, which is completely unheard of from my perspective.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 37/68
Coming up is the second round of citizens participation, which can be about any topic (not necessary on the agenda). We are taking a quick break before that happens.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 38/68
7:47 - moving into Citizens Participation 1. Lisa Stolarski, city treasurer - did research on tree farm property, she is reading parcel numbers that have been sold, do we need a referendum for that type of property.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 39/68
2. Born and raised in Highland Park. Remembers when city services started declining. Asks council to find workable solutions to work together. "Tonight's meeting was kind of okay, but we can pull up videos of when it was not." This speaker went over the 2 minutes, to 3.5 mins
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 40/68
3. Wants to know why her water bill is wrong. Thinks solar is good but there could be issues. For Avalon Village, does anyone own that big lot on Woodward, are they receiving money for parking cars. When is the plumbing going to be fixed in some houses, basements get flooded
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 41/68
4. Executive director of Solidarity, a nonprofit organization. Is hoping there isn't as much resistance as previous administrations in getting the solar ordinance passed.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 42/68
5. Concerned with sink holes, water is coming into their building.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 43/68
6. Online caller - founder and CEO of Avalon Village. Sat Aug 10, annual Hungry Black Man Food Festival. No parking signs were put up on the eve of the event, many cars were towed. No notice of the 'no parking' signs in advance. Optics were bad, not a partnership.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 44/68
7. Born and raised in Highland Park, now retired. Filing a complaint, lives at Bishopmore Apartments, property near her 'looks like a wilderness,' a lot from Woodward and Manchester to Woodward and Second, orange and black building.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 45/68
8. From Wayne County Treasurer's office - has starting foreclosing on tax year 2022, right now until oct your down payment is 10% if you want to get on a payment plan, is willing to help anyone after if they have questions.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 46/68
9. Came back to Highland Park after having moved away - a master gardener, can help anyone who needs it. We have to work together to get Highland Park to look better and be better, not just have one nice block.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 47/68
10. - Was thrilled to hear about the solar ordinance - we need street lights on Hamilton. - Publish the names of the residents on the citizens district councils. - Remind people that the legislation for the statewide water affordability plan is still on the table.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 48/68
11. Question for DPW - has a lot that is still owned by the Land Bank, wonders if it the lawn can be cut by the city. For a block party, she can only block her street off for 4 hours, but others can get way more, why is this?
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 49/68
12. Long time Highland Park resident, shared a story about someone buying land who did something positive to take care of it.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 50/68
13. Grew up in HP, no longer a resident, but family lives here. Concerned about a strip club - there was a fire and it closed, but someone is interested in reopening. Thinks it's a problem for there to be complete nudity available for anyone 18 and older.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 51/68
14. Chief McMann - thanks to everyone who came to National Night Out. 9/21 at the Hamilton Building they are having a mental health training class, need to register with records office. Wants to make sure we're all property trained with people in crisis.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 52/68
14. cont - elephant in the room, the event at Avalon Village. Thinks it's a positive thing overall. Was disappointed to hear words like entrapment, targeting, and harassment. There was a statement, "the only thing HP has going from it are Mama Shu and Avalon Village"
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 53/68
14. cont - all of the people in Highland Park make it great. They were charging $20 a car, some people parked on the streets. Needed to tow vehicles that restricted emergency vehicles, blocking alleyways. Towed 24 vehicles. They boasted they had 10,000 people.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 54/68
14. cont - Several had improper plates, one parked on the sidewalk, one was blocking the alley, were blocking the way for potential emergency vehicles. 20 tickets were written, 8 were ticketed and towed. 12 were just ticketed, if they wanted money, they could have towed everyone
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 55/68
14. cont - private businesses were towing, not connected to police. Says some of the signs on 2nd had been there for years. Numerous citizens complained about last years event, so they prepared and put up new signs. Personally called Mama Shu - made announcements during event
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 56/68
14. cont - some people say the mayor was leading the charge of towing vehicles. Says the mayor doesn't tell him how to do his job. Wants a better solution for next year - personal opinion is that this is not the venue for large events. Would like to sit down with organizers.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 57/68
14. cont - Mayor was getting a lot of online harassment over this, threats of violence. Very disappointing. With administrative fees they made about $2k from the tows, not $10k which people online were saying.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 58/68
Applause after the chief finishes speaking. President Thomas asked him to come and bring hard numbers to combat the misinformation online.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 59/68
➡️ Council Affairs Ash-Shaafi - stands with the chief and the mayor. Council had nothing to do with this event, but we were blamed on social media. I don't understand the sense of entitlement of people coming into this city and doing whatever they want.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 60/68
Martin - disagrees with the words being word online. There's a certain control that needs to happen with large events, there needs to be a better place for large events like that. Words separate us as citizens and don't form community.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 61/68
Manica - agrees with the mayor, police, council, we have rules. "We're not trying to keep things from happening, we're trying to start where we haven't been."
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 62/68
Manica suggests forming committees to work on ordinances and other efforts.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 63/68
Pro Tem Robinson - thanks everyone for coming out.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 64/68
President Thomas - major events have happened in the city in the last few years, private property owner made space for the public. A major news network highlighted the city in the last month because of the work done in Avalon Village.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 65/68
Thomas - let people speak for longer than three minutes during citizens participation, since they got through the meeting so quickly they had the time.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 66/68
Ash-Shaafi asks Thomas to call a motion to adjourn the meeting instead of just ending it like he's done in the past, since that is a violation of Robert's Rules - Thomas says it's not a violation but agrees to humor him.
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 67/68
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
Colleen Cirocco @colleencirocco 68/68
Meeting adjourned at 9:02pm. This concludes the Highland Park City Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 9/3/2024. For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org
documenters.org