[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6098263,"mediaKeyId","2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988","parentId",2824223,"title","Votes at a glance: Eastpointe City Council (March 18, 2025)","audioSeconds",3944,"startMs",1420000,"endMs",5364000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988&start=1420&end=5364","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988/thumbnail_1420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098263/Eastpointe-City/Macomb-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Eastpointe-City-Council-March-18-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098263-12bdc0d985037f311bd494d65dc77b96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194589&Signature=n3qGgrMs0eqx5n4~oxfsl-Vj9x2Bn1uGnT6bH6~O9-oEqIGSuRwyPjyU7wgFw5kBypA87AaEmBUTiGlurczyQkR4~sLuGL165arlAaqAwLvn40HOIJpN14flZGL1fxC8qUt7Xa~NvbKt5pY1od4ae-FCKxwpGUoyiVpbfkHRlnmuIp5QzqGa6jO0CjesiCegMSRQ6GANFXwyiRgV9AM4iE1mYhud2UybFgf-UG~SOuN6DKxmnh~elHlI29ztozuM2jQLkKgLvHFdX9Pn2E0J0OETKphEieCYKvcsv5mEvJESo~fWimRxyrptdGtXlkMAbtVz403Q8ckkkMFmceig5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CityofEastpointe","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","This is a concise compilation of the formal votes taken at the March 18, 2025 Eastpointe City Council meeting. The text below reports motions and outcomes as recorded during the meeting.

- Purchase of 2024 Chevrolet pickup (agenda item A): Motion to purchase a 2024 Chevrolet double-cab pickup (using MiDeals contract MA241191) — Approved (roll call recorded).

- Resolution 25-2000: Legislative approval for Lutheran Fraternities of America Society 57 Club liquor-license application, Sunday sales permit and dance/entertainment permit: Motion to approve — Approved (roll call recorded).

- Accept MDNR Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Kennedy Park (agenda item C): Motion to approve and authorize city manager to sign documents — Approved (roll call recorded).

- Accept MNRTF grant for Spindler Park and allocate required matching funds of $350,400 (agenda item D): Motion to approve acceptance and allocate required matching funds — Approved (roll call recorded; one councilmember recorded a no vote).

- Police and court building (agenda item E): Motion to table final action until the first May council meeting — Approved (motion carried).

- Special land use for 22100 Gratiot removing 10% public-parking requirement (agenda item F): Motion to remove the requirement — Motion failed on roll call.

- Ordinance directive to change parallel-parking stall width from 9 feet to 8 feet (agenda item G): Motion to direct administration to prepare ordinance language for a 9→8-foot change — Approved (staff to draft ordinance for first reading).

- Payroll and bills (payment of $2,621,879.89): Motion to approve payment — Approved (roll call recorded).

- Motion to enter closed session pursuant to MCL 15.268: Motion approved; council entered closed session at 9:06 p.m.

Notes: The meeting transcript records motions, seconds and roll calls; in several cases the recorded packet and planning-commission minutes contained inconsistencies the council directed staff to correct. Where the transcript did not identify a specific named mover or seconder, the entry above reports the motion text and the recorded outcome.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Eastpointe City Council Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and outcomes taken during the March 18, 2025 Eastpointe City Council meeting.","taxTitle","Eastpointe City, Macomb County, Michigan","taxId",51167,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098268,"Council rejects proposed special land-use change for 22100 Gratiot and moves to draft parking ordinance change",0,5370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988&start=5370&end=5370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988/thumbnail_5370000.jpg","/articles/6098268/Eastpointe-City/Macomb-County/Michigan/Council-rejects-proposed-special-land-use-change-for-22100-Gratiot-and-moves-to-draft-parking-ordinance-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098268-16d6b8fa0abf5249a310af12143cba69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194589&Signature=KTXl78t~J6Gn~L8mZTatWXTXshFeLdLn02ETR9kB~3S~b3MP070-mtQs1v8~akFsGlJ35j-MTI51jC5z7ODcJ4Sb4RQqr~q9bcmLm4mzPgPRiAGv2MT5jlCq2CFSzz6Eq2j70rXz77RWu3gK2tO2f0UIeR~tlgsX7-HkcguZVJD7mqQSWt2qIEePSAORtUMzZNXxHqcU6eSmRuzyULw9O4tVdnoOGKC3kuhoP~ZgsytAay6v~UW8mGFhCex39I2Ccuhs9HRguvQ7zWuQibfx73E0AZtmyQTl7SIPMdNDHHaQ6qJ5tOw8nOt9nAguHOMX53lwCX9Uy31IG8ZaCP9N0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eastpointe City Council declined to remove a public-parking requirement tied to a special land-use approval for 22100 Gratiot after members raised concerns about inconsistencies between Planning Commission minutes and the commission’s recorded motion.

Staff and council members said the Planning Commission’s minutes did not accurately reflect the motion stakeholders said the commission actually voted on. City planning staff said the commission had amended its minutes to reflect the recorded action; other council members said the packet language they received did not match the commission’s motion. The planning staff and a resident who follows meetings closely brought the discrepancy to the council’s attention.

After discussion, a motion to approve special land use for 22100 Gratiot removing the requirement that the project designate at least 10% public parking spaces failed on roll call.

Separately, following a request from a council member and local business owners affected by the 9 Mile roadwork, council approved a motion directing administration to draft an ordinance change to reduce the parallel-parking stall width from 9 feet to 8 feet. Council supporters said an 8-foot standard would match MDOT guidance, reduce the need for variances and give designers additional flexibility during the 9 Mile corridor reconstruction.

Planning staff emphasized that property owners can seek variances through the Zoning Board of Appeals but said a citywide code change would simplify approvals where parallel parking configurations are constrained by right-of-way limits.

Council instructed staff to prepare an ordinance for first and second readings consistent with the direction to change the minimum parallel-stall width to 8 feet.","The council voted down a motion to remove a 10% public-parking requirement for 22100 Gratiot amid conflicting minutes from the Planning Commission, and separately authorized city staff to draft a zoning ordinance amendment reducing the parallel parking stall width from 9 to 8 feet to align with MDOT guidance.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098273,"Residents urge council to revisit marijuana retail hours after confusion about ordinance readings",6610,307000,6917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988&start=307&end=6917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988/thumbnail_307000.jpg","/articles/6098273/Eastpointe-City/Macomb-County/Michigan/Residents-urge-council-to-revisit-marijuana-retail-hours-after-confusion-about-ordinance-readings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098273-592a427ebbf21843bf41a741c4168128/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194589&Signature=eT46ShJgZpqzK-M949O5Kr-1i9dhFUkC8vfU-H2PalPGvUYh2fEzLo7QUzqReCELhYLnS1qxvs7wc0YSaGr8fuUeGtKLqD4Zpfw21gkGhLkzTBGHYhl~e5FbFthBZnF1izP-PYGOQrH87MbmXTRggbXn9N40X11lDy2fWk00yF5RS-nMHzxgFEWkQzcVjbctYamSo7yZnnNP1IkL94Mqb4wDuxSv8gU3ms82KIOoxWGC8YKDSrClZpfFLqsFEEPrxG6KqzzzRXLF17zeChs9SdvSfsMIgy4M5llnsKdTZ5hdFtcETW1esl~b~5VoO9nmwx6b5O-NEBDLMbz3rvmscw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Eastpointe residents used the council’s public comment periods to press the council to reconsider the city’s recreational marijuana ordinance and closing hours, saying the final hours approved differed from what people had expected and that the change was not apparent on the agenda.

Jennifer Nicholas, an Eastpointe resident, reviewed prior public hearings and attorney statements about proposed business hours, saying attorneys for applicants had requested hours that would make Eastpointe competitive with neighboring municipalities. She described inconsistency between the first and second readings and said the council’s final action appeared to extend hours to midnight without a clear public-notice opportunity for comment: “My issue is that when you do first and second readings of the ordinance… I thought that part of the, ideally, it should give residents at least one opportunity to give feedback before you make a decision. But in this case, it's kinda like you did an end run, getting that midnight hours in there without having it printed on the agenda or having any discussion among residents.”

Mary Hall Raiford, another resident, told the council she opposed later closing times and argued the city should show restraint on extending business hours late into the night: “If you haven't gotten what you wanted by 10, you probably shouldn't need it,” she said during public comment.

Staff and council members did not change the ordinance during Tuesday’s meeting; several residents asked the council to place reconsideration on a future agenda. Council members acknowledged the written record that attorneys and applicants presented during prior hearings and said they would consider requests to revisit the hours at a future meeting.","Residents said the city’s recreational marijuana hours were changed without clear notice and asked the council to add another reading or revisit the ordinance to restore earlier proposed closing times.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098278,"Council approves Kennedy Park grant, OKs Spindler Park grant with $350,400 local match",388,1584000,1972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988&start=1584&end=1972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988/thumbnail_1584000.jpg","/articles/6098278/Eastpointe-City/Macomb-County/Michigan/Council-approves-Kennedy-Park-grant-OKs-Spindler-Park-grant-with-350400-local-match","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098278-d5bf4efd14db81abfc7ff4fadf60b917/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194589&Signature=fd3xHoheuL4DgRj3dUIaYXjQu5Xmg0aUufAQRHnoLEFdR8dCXaVQizwVRG7tcBkDmCcOZBrVDP6GWGr46xCbUPgZKmfloqMLZN~6PlsIn9TGvoFEixww6SFatSAP7lPUIzpzmjaSi07HVk8sB6vHkLY5Fi3xXniVsHmSRz-~S3VYV3ePBa1Jgy8dFDAcTJuMHneM9lamlkYVwQiwRFc9RgGLuLS46RgkH39WYgrEDLQQaQ17gnoSeiNZBVkHjMF-Xc8cvbEFAOJC2IiQ1HyGluTBergsTdJyxlUb16aud4J~0lrBTW1~dTI8jTPdzaagBMO-GcF8fXgAXDdK4wDEOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eastpointe City Council voted to accept state park grants for two local parks on Tuesday, approving funding for Kennedy Park and agreeing to accept a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for Spindler Park while authorizing required matching funds.

A motion to accept the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for improvements to Kennedy Park passed on roll call. Council then discussed a second grant for Spindler Park, which staff said will fund walking-trail improvements, solar lighting and accessibility upgrades to address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns at the city’s most-visited park.

Interim staff described Spindler Park as “our largest park and most visited” and noted it scored lowest on ADA accessibility in a recent assessment. The administration said it applied for DNR funding after support from SEMCOG representatives and that the Spindler project reflects Justice40 considerations for historically underinvested communities. Staff recommended accepting the DNR award and allocating matching funds totaling about $350,400 to complete the improvements.

Council debated packet clarity and previous agenda materials; staff said some packet pages came from earlier meetings and that the Parks Commission had been involved in selecting preferred options. After discussion, a motion to accept the Spindler Park grant and allocate the $350,400 match carried on roll call (one councilmember recorded a no vote during the roll call), and staff were authorized to execute necessary documents.

Parks Commission Chair Gary Sasek later addressed the council during public comment to thank the council for moving forward with Kennedy Park and to urge the council to accept Spindler funding as well.

Council members asked staff to provide timelines and specifics on what the match would fund, and administration said it would provide additional details as the projects proceed to contracting and design.","City council accepted a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Kennedy Park and approved a separate DNR/MNRTF award for Spindler Park that requires a $350,400 local match; council discussed accessibility, lighting and project scope.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098283,"Eastpointe council tables decision on police/court building after debate over fire station, basement and sustainability",3384,1992000,5376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988&start=1992&end=5376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824223-7f78df77c67751871ab83dfbf7617988/thumbnail_1992000.jpg","/articles/6098283/Eastpointe-City/Macomb-County/Michigan/Eastpointe-council-tables-decision-on-policecourt-building-after-debate-over-fire-station-basement-and-sustainability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098283-eaab12e95531d6cf986de13656ac33f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194589&Signature=TE2DwHh4nEr4583p6k6Y68KLWWXngWZhTi60rNw0VUDhK7dJse--mlknzno41nd1ETXvtdLzZpRQ7xJjFsrpBwvTiLbG~zHrlyFAoxCJqeEiSsZIfzF2OczpbGgf32zt8yO5cqLxzG72daHxNqKxFRlRf0eDLORzMvXpTfKQENQ0RtCat9FAEr8x1xu2a2da1YVuBTQJutr8hriQsCxna1LdxKesH-YQ3imZ56x8Dly0oz51kyBWO~E66~CtOs1J8zE6-tFblk1QdoSgpPEC35lE8bUIIZozWkN7y7f-LPLjHm-Xydr7vM3wZM3q9gofr2aEN7SgwPG6Nr0cnf68LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eastpointe City Council on Tuesday delayed a final vote on plans for a new police department and the 30th District Court after weeks of design work and a lengthy public exchange about scope and future needs.

Council members voted to table the item until the council’s first meeting in May, giving staff and the architecture team time to answer questions about whether the city should include the fire department on the site, whether to add a basement for future growth and how the project might incorporate renewable energy systems.

The debate centered on site constraints and long-term flexibility. Jason Arlo, director of architecture for AEW, said he had not yet had time to study the site in depth and expressed concern about the turning radius and footprint needed for fire apparatus: “Those they do take pretty wide turns. The apparatus bays can be fairly large, building footprints that would also need to be incorporated into that. So if you’re asking me…do I believe it would fit? I can't definitely say no, but it looks like it would certainly be very challenging.”

Council members pressing to consider the fire department said they wanted a formal response from the Eastpointe Fire Department and additional cost and design options before the council signed off. Councilmember Curley asked for “official input from the fire department” so the council could weigh operational effects such as truck egress and turn radiuses.

Other council members raised different concerns. Some urged adding a basement to provide future storage, sheltering capacity and room for potential expansion, while others cited earlier town-hall testimony and an administrative engineering review that flagged flood risk in basements as a reason to avoid one. Councilmember DeMonaco said he worried about losing options later if the city approved a plan without a basement: “I would like to see the basement included…we don't know what is gonna happen down the road.” City staff reminded the council that earlier site studies had considered multiple configurations and that adding major program elements could require acquiring additional property.

On sustainability, council members asked whether the city had examined solar, geothermal and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. AEW said system-level decisions (solar arrays, geothermal wells, HVAC options) would be evaluated in the next design phase — design development — when mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers are engaged. AEW estimated that design development would take roughly three to four months and said many of those technical choices would be refined with the engineering team.

Interim city staff said the main reason to seek council direction now was timing: the consultants and engineering firms the city uses are busy, and staff wanted to secure their availability to meet project timelines. The council agreed to delay a final authorization for two meetings (until the May meeting) so members could receive written pros-and-cons, cost estimates for a basement and a formal response from the fire department.

The motion to table carried on a roll call; the council asked staff to assemble additional documentation and confirmed that the project will return to the council for further review in May.","The Eastpointe City Council voted to delay final approval of the proposed police department and 30th District Court building until its first May meeting after extended discussion about including the fire department, whether to add a basement and options for renewable energy systems.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Eastpointe City Council (March 18, 2025)

Council rejects proposed special land-use change for 22100 Gratiot and moves to draft parking ordinance change

Residents urge council to revisit marijuana retail hours after confusion about ordinance readings

Council approves Kennedy Park grant, OKs Spindler Park grant with $350,400 local match

Eastpointe council tables decision on police/court building after debate over fire station, basement and sustainability