Highland Park City Council
Highland Park City Council
Politics
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Meghan Rutigliano
Public commenters support Mama Shu, founder and CEO of Avalon Village, in a property dispute with an out-of-state investor.
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05:50 PM Aug 21, 2023 CDT
The public is invited to join the meeting in-person or remotely via Zoom or Youtube. Here is a link to the agenda, with the address and instructions for how to join. highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/…
highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/…
In-person City Council Chambers 2nd Floor 12050 Woodward Ave. Highland Park, MI
The Highland Park City Council meeting does allow space for public comment. For instructions, please refer to the Highland Park website: . highlandparkmi.gov
highlandparkmi.gov
IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
Items on today’s agenda include reading of an ordinance to prohibit all sales of marijuana in the City of Highland Park, the selling of a vacant lot to an adjacent property owner. The agenda also lists that Mayor McDonald may speak to Council.
Item 4. Approval of the minutes. There is conversation ensuing about the auction company surrounding a property that was mentioned at the last meeting. Motion to rescind the item in question and move to not approve the notes.
Roll Call on minutes approved 5-2. The participants today: 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, District 3
Mayor McDonald is addressing the room. Thanks Mr. Johnson from Avalon Village for hosting a weekend event, thanks the residents for coming out to celebrate over the weekend.
Mayor is expressing support for the City Council to pass Item IX to accept the $300,000 grant supporting Senior Citizens in Highland Park. Also: McDonald supports the upcoming property auction will go live soon (happens quarterly, properties will be listed on auction website).
"In order for this city to go forward, we have to stop these back room, back-stabbing dealings. That's the only way for the city to continue. We have to all be on the same page"--Mayor McDonald.
City is currently looking for more police officers. Encourages those qualified to apply. Part-time position is being advertised.
These are questions being directly at the Mayor by City Council. What happens when peoples' water is shut off? What do they do?
Answer: Mr Garrett has email and monitors it. Residents can send a note stating their water has been shut off. Mr. Garrett is now up front addressing the room. Council member Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1 is asking for shut offs to happen before Fridays.
Mr. Garrett is saying Water Department doesn't do shut offs on Friday for a specific reason or motive. That they do shut offs every weekday. To avoid shut offs, residents are encouraged to pay water bill at least one day before shut off date. Email will be avail on city website
Public attendees are raising their hands to speak about agenda items. 2 minute timer.
Resident speaking: Pertaining to Item 7, which is 55 Avalon auction... 51 Avalon's owner is out of state and irresponsible. Property should go to those who will improve the city.
Resident representing non-profit in support of previous speaker, Mama Shoe. She has shown respect to community. Property in item 7 should be turned over to her.
Hip Hop artist speaking, believes that Avalon Village property should be turned over to Mama Shoe. She mows the land, supplies public space. The boarded up house owner should not be allowed to purchase the property. Mama Shoe support.
New resident speaking out about same property in Avalon Village, supporting Mama Shoe.
Resident speaking out about 51 Avalon. Woman says she planted and maintained garden since 2021. She adopted the space. Mama Shu provided raised beds and woman has provided fresh fruits and veggies to the community. She was interviewed by CNN and Channel 4.
Woman says she teaches adults and children how to grow sustainable gardens.
More residents expressing support for Mama Shu's work in Avalon Village. The property in question and up for auction IS the site of the community garden. "This is an opportunistic attempt to take advantage of Highland Park"
Resident is demanding accountability for the $5k each (totaling 75k) to those applying for permits to sell marijuana within Highland Park.
Mayor responding: She will give the $5k refunds to applicants. She and team are currently working on it.
New resident is saying he wants to city to support Highland Park having areas to sell marijuana because it will generate over $1 million in revenue annually.
Public comment has been extended to 3 minutes. The City Council member managing it says 2 minutes is not enough. He hates cutting people off.
The public is ONLY allowed right now to speak out on behalf of/against items ON the agenda.
It's still public comment section.....more support for Mama Shu.
Woman was just taken off stage for commenting on football fields, but it was NOT on the agenda for today. She will be allowed to speak out later on.
Anne Zobel, the resident of Highland Park mentioned in Item #8, is speaking in support of herself. She grew up here. Was surprised she was not reappointed. Pleading with City Council to reconsider her and Jeffrey Harris. They want to be reappointed to Historic Commission.
Meeting called back to order at 8:14. Item 5 will require a closed session. Motion made into move to closed session, seconded, roll being called (passed unanimously). Closed session is starting now. They will discuss DuPuis II vs. Highland Park AND Dupuis vs Highland Park.
Closed session ended at 8:44. Motion by Council Member Kallela Martin, 4-1 in favor, the settlement recommended by Legal Council is approved.
Next item for consideration: Agenda Item VI concerning ordinance to prohibit all recreational sale of marijuana in Highland Park. Q: Does city have option to call in the state of MI to assist in removal of individuals going against ordinance? A: Highland Park can enforce.
Recommendation on table is to carve a new path with out a cloud of legal action hanging over their head. Motion by Maneka, supported by Ash-Shafii. Motion carries. A next workshop will be held at next council meeting until they can address the concerns of council and citizens.
Thread continues here. I broke thread twice. ttps://twitter.com/MotorCityMegs8/status/1693786653335114198
Stitching together: They are discussing item 7. Floor is open for questions. Folks asking for before/after pictures. Not avail right now.
Council Member Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1 is saying this is the messiest lot sale ever. Mama Shu AND the other party has rights. Both parties have been messy. If anyone gets hurt, Highland Park bears the burden because they are the owners.
Manica: says Highland Park is to blame for a vacant property. Land should have been fixed. He's asking "where is the middle ground!?" He doesn't want to enrage Mama Shu.
Correction: speaker is Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3
Council Member Martin motions to RESCIND her motion to approve. Ash-Shafii is pleading for the public to weigh in.
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1 is resummarizing the points being made. If Mama Shu is penalized. Everyone is coming before council in a rush. Feels put in a situation in which council cannot reasonably resolve the issue.
Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3 says there will be lawsuits on both sides if there is NOT a middle ground. MOTION to move this item to the next meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Manica. Discussion is ensuing about whether to split it down middle.
Next item: Anne Zobel and Jeffrey Harris's reappointment to Historic Commission. Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3 is talking now. Says Zobel applied for grant for library and he asked that a copy of adjusted language would be reflective of the city's recs.
He says that Zobel and Harris did not come back to City Council asked for them to come back with a rewording. They didn't do it.
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1 is saying that the library does NOT fall under Historical Commission. There is a grant application in action. The library is NOT under Zobel's purview, according to Manica.
Manica says they (Zobel and Harris) need the Historical Commission to work on model T area.
Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, District 3 rescinds his support for their reappointment. Manica can move to reconsider the appointment. Manica moves to reconsider the reconsideration of Zobel and Harris. Support by chair. Motion fails 3-2.
Motion IX. Motioned by Ash-Shafii, seconded by Martin. Put to a vote. Motion carries 5-0.
Item X: Robinson moves to approve. Seconded by Ash-Shafii. Public rep from engineering being asked to speak about it. Engineer says grant is set up to be a performance study on transit within the city and liability for injuries. Can receive grants in future for redevelopment.
Engineer says he will be submitting in 2025. City Council will have to approve before it is submitted. Another question coming up by member of public. Discussion about rerouting public through transit.
Engineer says the study is to STUDY traffic patterns and to make recommendations. Need signage, need feedback from traffic department, will put all findings in the packet. Can then qualify for public fundings.
They are discussing cul-de-sacs, residential and non residential roads, incoming and outgoing traffic. Input has been collected. Item X: 5-0 motion carries.
Item XI: Motion to receive and file Financial statement from July 2023. Carried 5-0.
Public comment (again!). Q from public comment: Can you fix the football fields? The games start in 2 weeks.
Comment: 2 buses will go October 12th to a rally in Lansing. MI. They will speak to state reps and senators. I'm not sure what it is concerning. Might be water-related.
Woman pleading for neighbors to take care of their own property and the city's property. There are 2 mechanical boxes. It's a mess. Needs addressing.
More comments about marijuana conversation. More comments about Avalon properties.
Mama Shu says she can live with either decision. Properties on Avalon get tossed on with litter. She is speaking out against interlopers coming in and jacking up prices on local lots.
Mr Lopez is being given an opportunity to address the group. He is apparently the PMP group representative (also vying for 55 Avalon). He says he is not selling out Highland Park. He and his son flip houses and rent back at fair rates. Says he puts money into community.
He says PMP has purchased Highland Park homes and has not sold any of them. He buys a house and usually asks for the adjacent lot. Allows him to plan out how best to remodel the houses.
Thread continues here: https://twitter.com/MotorCityMegs8/status/1693804445983810030
More public comment: What has Mr Lopez done to improve the property? If he hasn't improved it he doesn't deserve it.
Resident asking how to senior citizens can call to get support with their homes (this pertains to the MI-HOPE Round 3 grant which was Agenda item IX. Answer received from president is that Mayor will let her know.
Resident is telling PMP that they shouldn't have the lot. He says that this is not fair to Highland Park as they are not part of the community.
Another resident is applauding council for not arguing tonight. He is asking for Imminent Domain to be put on the agenda, he's asking for cultural funding for arts and music that bring in money. Hip Hop artist is being cut off. He spoke two times.
Woman from public is telling Ash-Shafii that she deserves a public apology for the way he beat his fist on the table two weeks ago.
Another subject: homicide on July 23rd. Highland Park policeman speaking out about being criticized publicly about their response time. He says he wants respect. Says they are doing their own work to improve operations. Says Ash-Shafii has never made it to a meeting.
Continued. Policeman feels VERY discouraged by Ash-Shafii for him saying publicly that he has no faith in the police department. Says it's unfair. Now he is playing back the way they responded.
Policeman standby VERY solidly up against Ash-Shafii. Shafii is being called out for speaking incorrectly about the police response to the public. Policeman says rapid response team did its job. Says let's work together and not badmouth one another.
Public comment ended at 10:20. Ash-Shafii being asked to speak for Council Affairs item. Says he is not picking on anyone per se but they have a bad police response record. Re: Marijuana:caregiver law does not apply to businesses. City is not receiving revenue and needs to.
Ash-Shafii is on a rampage. He's cursing, he's screaming. He's pounding the table. Says everyone is against the council. Says the council has to scrape and claw for information. Says nobody is helping them help the people.
"The worst piece of trash [house] here, if you put it in Chicago, it would be 90k and up. This city made me. I ask for nothing in return but an opportunity but to serve you how I want to, how you want to be served."-Ash-Shafii
Kallela Martin, Council Member, District 2 has the floor. Surprised that water and marijuana was brought up. Mama Shu and crew, I get your message, respects that they created something new at Avalon. It has blossomed. Mama Shu has donated to events that Martin has thrown.
Martin wants to see before/after photos of Avalon Village. Martin says cultural taste festival (hosted over weekend) was very nice. Says this was a great meeting. Thanks everyone for staying late.
Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1 is thanking everyone for coming out. Whether it be PMP or another company, we have to clean up. If you aren't cleaning up what you have, don't come before us and ask for more.
Manica: ordinances will be enforced. Sometimes the items are not really for City Council and understand that there will be ordinances that they CAN help with. Some they can't.
Manica is calling out PMP for insulting everyone in the room. PMP was given a Lot, says they didn't. Comment was made that every time PMP purchased a home, he bought a Lot. PMP guy lives in California. We should be harder on people for NOT improving the properties.
Manica to PMP: Are you willing to sell your property? At a reasonable rate? Same with Water, people are not looking at the whole situation. Lack of accountability.
Manica: We must create spaces for families and people who want to create families. Look at 208.10, 202.99, in the charter, she says. Feels like she needs a rest from the weekend, it was so fun. Thanks for the lemon festival.
Manica: This weekend is the Community Assistance Day at Newmont Mariah for folks that need assistance with water. Wayne Metro and Water department collaboration. They will help with shut off notices.
Sharmain Robinson, Council President Pro Tem now has the floor. Says she's trying to put some teeth into their blight ordinance to make "PMP-types" do their part.
Jamal K. Thomas, Council President encourages residents to winterize their homes now, while weather is still warm.. Actively caulk their windows. -Be mindful of young kids going back to school. -Stare down the cars that are blazing down the streets.
Thomas invites residents to write to him and ask for workshops. He will match energy. "If you give 100%, you'll get more than that from me"
Ash-Shafii apologizes for pounding his fist at Mrs Ford. Motion to end moved and passed.
This concludes my coverage of the Highland Park City Council Meeting. For information about the next meeting, visit . highlandparkmi.gov
highlandparkmi.gov
Attachments
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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.