[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6579537,"mediaKeyId","3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f","parentId",3078844,"title","Council approves consent agenda and enacts rezoning ordinance; motions pass unanimously","audioSeconds",463,"startMs",4561000,"endMs",5024000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f&start=4561&end=5024","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f/thumbnail_4561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579537/Southfield/Oakland-County/Michigan/Council-approves-consent-agenda-and-enacts-rezoning-ordinance-motions-pass-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579537-6fcf6166526ee19075744095b75516c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150201&Signature=iV8mT1r89HYIR9F7WVpT4~QqMckkTlpuITMbNGsJLerCL2ajIDQGLkn~DK7Z0E~GtSJMgYldIgywyyWOXP3kdkcVlAqPSfHAUcdMsJjURc1UmWdf9GHg~VYF2OKgL0lrehj90fjpRgCR29N3DCTGJLz0030zsaKv4qCXuZ~BTR6km5BHeNtS34fsJyr1uRo7mfSATz2~QuRLEqzRVJoWhZ54HLwlYBonki1kKvpjkaVfaCwVZeAcWU1p2Bjznv1~Tm~oQa2auy7q9DqGrzrEqDyuxyK9reccA4eT8ENnDjbBv2vSwLDaSy-kOwTJ7XfecpH6RBT7XEArq-DEnfIkBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Southfield","date","2025-04-22T13:09:30.057Z","article","The Southfield City Council on April 20 approved a multi‑item consent agenda and enacted an ordinance after brief discussion.

Consent agenda: Councilman Hicks moved and Councilwoman Hogue supported approving consent agenda items A through S; the motion passed with all present council members voting \"Aye.\" The consent agenda included routine authorizations and grant acceptances across several departments. Items listed on the consent agenda were (as shown on the April 20 agenda):

- A: Police department ceiling tile replacement (M and M Building Service bid)
- B: Southfield Police Department emergency vehicle operation training (Oakland County)
- C: Agreement with Kimmy Horn Productions
- D: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation walk on the front lawn (use permit)
- E: Authorization to accept and execute interlocal agreement for 2024 Oakland County access to transit program grant
- F: Award contract with OMH Advisors for design/engineering services
- G: Purchase benches and trash receptacles for pedestrian/bus stop improvement
- H–J: Various Oakland County Michigan Works grant acceptances and workforce grants
- K: Application for commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate
- L: Approval of agreement for Civic Center Drive street light upgrades (MDOT/DTE grant implementation)
- M: Water main connection agreements (Inkster Road properties)
- N–P: Equipment and parts purchases for sign shop, motor pool and vehicle upfitting
- Q: Receipt of bids for tree planting
- R: Purchase of variable frequency drives for mechanical systems
- S: Repair of a building support pillar

The motion to approve the consent agenda carried without opposition.

Ordinance enactment: Councilman Hicks moved and Councilwoman Hogue supported enactment of ordinance number 18090 (listed on the record as a rezoning request DD 205‑1) to rezone the parcel at 16400 J0 Hudson Drive. The council voted \"Aye\" and the motion carried.

Why it matters: Consent agenda items fund routine city operations (training, equipment, grants and small capital projects) and the ordinance enacts a final rezoning for a specific parcel. The approvals allow city staff to proceed with purchases, contracts and grant agreements and finalize the rezoning recorded on the ordinance.

Ending: The council moved on to a longer discussion of the Capital Improvement Program after the votes. No roll‑call opposition was recorded for the consent agenda or the ordinance enactment; Council member Cruz was absent from the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","APRIL 21, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 20 meeting the council approved a multi‑item consent agenda (items A–S) and enacted Ordinance No. 18090 (rezoning at 16400 J0 Hudson Drive). Votes were unanimous; the consent agenda included grants, contracts, and purchases across departments.","taxTitle","Southfield, Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",76298,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579541,"Southfield council adopts six‑year Capital Improvement Program; plan lists $111M next fiscal year and $296M over six years (including grants)",1748,2807000,4555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f&start=2807&end=4555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f/thumbnail_2807000.jpg","/articles/6579541/Southfield/Oakland-County/Michigan/Southfield-council-adopts-sixyear-Capital-Improvement-Program-plan-lists-111M-next-fiscal-year-and-296M-over-six-years-including-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579541-b23feba92710bc712c04674b087ac68a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150201&Signature=gtt25c-HgOSkU-Im3G~QdmcHtXVY1-6j0cGQGALuNyvX3XZMN9M5zPLVRdBLOdOJow5jtip8CgV0RE6sgAAukPZz-raA~Hav9Tap~PQkEQBHeiDvz90YlwaXBLnAy8N9lsRBzWxb83asfQVFOeemvAS39MFzd1pqlv8PPABVIZ3RV8wUqHl7Z5EpcDyzW6qFLhhP7V7oAIk0xlWO2Pmsft7MT401jlN-AoSyToZo3jrgpvk5yaIKm-ruEZhIjX-CuMcd~mRM-I1FWZX-FTh8criVqf1YZFP1T0MOHw2Qdf5ZrJCcAKMtkMZjKthhwG9jpjitQW9ytvplJHTwgA3~zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Southfield City Council on April 20 unanimously adopted the city's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a six‑year planning document that compiles anticipated capital projects, equipment purchases and major infrastructure work.

Planner Crod presented the CIP and described it as \"a 6 year period for inclusion into your annual budget\" and explained that year 1 is typically what goes into the coming budget while years 2–6 are projections. He outlined contributions from departments including police, fire, public works, library, parks and recreation and data management and said the CIP is also required by the state planning enabling act and aids funding coordination.

The presentation listed a range of projects and priorities: library chiller replacement and building assessment (an item with multi‑million dollar cost), police equipment refreshes including ballistic vests and body cameras, fire station and equipment needs, road and water‑main projects across identified subsections and pedestrian and trail expansions tied to regional trail planning along the 9‑Mile corridor. Crod said the CIP shows an estimated $111,000,000 in the coming fiscal year and a total of about $296,000,000 over six years; he emphasized that much of the total depends on grants and outside funding.

Councilman Brightwell moved to adopt the plan; Councilman Haynes supported the motion. The council voted \"Aye\" with no opposition and adopted the plan for fiscal years 2025–26 through 2030–31.

Why it matters: The CIP informs the annual budget and signals long‑term infrastructure, public safety and park investments. While inclusion in the CIP does not guarantee funding, council members said the document is a necessary step to secure grants and plan long‑term capital expenditures.

Staff and council comments: Council members praised the interdepartmental coordination and singled out planner Sarah Mulally for coordinating department submissions. Staff said completed items from last year's plan are summarized in the document and that routine equipment replacement, major facility repairs and trail‑building remain priorities.

Ending: With the CIP adopted, specific projects will be evaluated during the budget process and in grant applications; staff will present budget proposals informed by the CIP in the coming weeks and months.","After a department‑by‑department presentation, the Council unanimously adopted the city's six‑year Capital Improvement Program; planning staff said year‑one requests total about $111 million and the six‑year plan totals roughly $296 million, much of it expected to come from grants and partnerships.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579546,"Church and neighbors question revived rezoning for auto service site; planner says notice and conditional zoning follow law",1324,1330000,2654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f&start=1330&end=2654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f/thumbnail_1330000.jpg","/articles/6579546/Southfield/Oakland-County/Michigan/Church-and-neighbors-question-revived-rezoning-for-auto-service-site-planner-says-notice-and-conditional-zoning-follow-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579546-ebea6f649e5cc38d945a849699948119/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150201&Signature=FdWZOvXSij6tm4jBqLW7OuTtUvO4z-0eAAN1vEzS591-tA6gIrgYtagVYGNzzcgR3J8hdZcMF2icmSnsMIWRnRi2B9oi48y~oIiVmeixN97qztDznb2RRBpS4wcPgmdDN-BdFzPBH4qBcJ3wtMZuOfbcbVRnOOJM7Fh6y7X8C87wzCRzDnol4fat9uKl6ailYZwOXslCiuYrhcAcdEd854TvdVu01C1p7McYcmNFGdEhK~DNjeR226545ofE05fXkBFzxN-oU1jIjKfmwo1Snx1lHwJXjc5PFxVw25u4q2yN8rtWSwf-RKXK29i86YccFBjLVOM6evcSYgNvb6ofkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Reginald Barnes, representing Empowerment Church and neighborhood residents, asked the Southfield City Council on April 20 to explain why a rezoning petition for a proposed oil‑change facility at Southfield Road and Silver Maple Street had returned to the planning process after an earlier council denial.

\"How can the same petition have reemerged ... without public notification or transparency?\" Barnes asked, saying residents believed the council's prior 'no' vote should have ended further consideration for that site.

City planning staff and the city attorney explained that the petitioner submitted a different type of request this time: a conditional rezoning rather than a straight zoning change. Planning Director Crod said the conditional rezoning \"eliminated a number of the uses that would have been in the underlying zoning of B‑3 plus made other changes,\" so it is treated as a different application under Michigan zoning practice. He said the city mailed notices to all properties within 350 feet, published the required paper notice and that the planning commission will hold a second public hearing next week.

Crod also said the applicant had made itself available to meet with the church; staff would follow up to confirm whether a meeting occurred and to try to arrange further discussion. The city attorney added that the Michigan zoning enabling act permits conditional rezoning proposals and that the petitioner — not the city — proposes the conditions; a conditional rezoning can be used to exclude certain uses (for example, gas stations, car washes or marijuana provisioning centers) that the city does not want on that parcel.

Why it matters: The exchange underscores a recurring issue in local land use politics — how a new application that appears similar to a prior one can nonetheless move forward when it takes a legally distinct form. Neighbors and community institutions highlighted potential traffic, noise and character impacts if a commercial use is allowed near residences and a church.

Next steps: Planning staff said the second public hearing at the council is scheduled for the following week; the council and the planning commission will consider public input and the petitioner’s conditional zoning proposal before making a decision.

Ending: Council members urged the applicant and the church to meet; staff said they would follow up to confirm whether a meeting occurred and to provide neighbors with upcoming hearing dates.","Representatives of Empowerment Church and neighbors asked why a previously rejected rezoning for an oil‑change business reappeared; city planning staff said the petitioner submitted a different conditional rezoning and that the city followed public‑notice requirements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579551,"Southfield residents report severe property damage after septic-to-sewer conversion; city promises follow-up",1688,182000,1870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f&start=182&end=1870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078844-8f843c88a0041ff78a30d86b8973dd2f/thumbnail_182000.jpg","/articles/6579551/Southfield/Oakland-County/Michigan/Southfield-residents-report-severe-property-damage-after-septic-to-sewer-conversion-city-promises-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579551-fe03b43d45b710d7426edb955424b5e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150201&Signature=c-XWkQkZcr9aJIml9UDrf3llrOESs50467bnzEWkslPqJQKOUKHpPGCeAPHdM17YHfHe-rFZGz6t66WDIuTNTRp1bOePkGJ~E8eZdfNrlE03JPETbUFsCgtajmjCLRRVvH0WMEu-bDkfr2-LAPYGClag~mgY8IJhik9cdI~xBGh-sRo~XtJ~IUz9dUuSgGHzRiO8yQXyZyFvXctg5W~UP35xW7NfSAiMdfv5TZshGWr6CwUo7j2LB~O8mHiiOEBGSnIE4nz5jOxBuS2U-GDEa777PResU7JK7TF3G51yUFVknFgmIxBYE4Y4KoinhFcOOtNrN5IlQV8dGIT24dJK0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madeline Hobbs, a Southfield senior, told the City Council on April 20 that a contractor hired to connect her home to the city sewer after a septic failure left her property heavily damaged and the sewer work incomplete.

\"I am here because I am a resident of Southfield. I'm a senior citizen. And I found that my septic tank had failed, and I needed to connect to the city's sewer,\" Hobbs said during the council's public communications period. She said the job began Feb. 6 and described a trench-filled worksite, broken porch steps, torn-up sidewalks and a Y‑stack left uncapped inside her basement that she temporarily taped.

The council heard similar concerns from other residents and speakers. Stacy Jackson, who identified herself as a Southfield resident and a board member of Motor City Fire, said the city's tap-in blueprints may be incorrect and asked the city to \"Make this right. Find grant funding. And by all means, when you find a contractor who is not competent ... Remove these bad contractors from the list.\" Keith Harris, who said he has worked as a foreman on construction jobs, said he documented multiple similarly mishandled projects along 9 Mile and argued the city should not make residents pay for the repairs.

City staff responded on the record. A member of the building department told council the case was brought to staff's attention on April 17, that the sewer line was not finished when staff inspected it and that the pipe had been back‑pitched and left in standing water. The building staff member said the contractor attempted to connect to the county sewer rather than the city's and that staff had alerted the Department of Public Works and contacted hazmat to assess any sanitary discharge.

The director of public works also spoke: the city dispatched its contractor to complete the connection after the original contractor failed to return and the county required a different alignment for the sewer. Council members asked for a written follow-up; Councilman Haug asked staff to report back by early next week.

No formal council vote was taken on the matter at the April 20 meeting. Council members repeatedly promised follow-up contact with the resident, apologized for her experience and asked staff to keep the full council in the loop.

Why it matters: The council's handling of individual utility connections touches residents directly — particularly older homeowners with limited resources. The city's explanation that the contractor failed to finish and that county requirements forced a reroute underscores the practical and jurisdictional complexity that can delay repairs and increase property disruption.

What council directed and next steps: Council members asked staff to provide a report to the council and to contact Ms. Hobbs directly. The building department said it would forward its inspection report and that the public works director would continue coordinating remediation and investigate whether further enforcement or contractor debarment is warranted. The city also said it is contacting hazmat to evaluate sanitary impacts from the open trench.

Community context and related complaints: Other speakers at the meeting raised related concerns about basement flooding and cleanup after a heavy rain last year and in a recent storm. The mayor and public works director said an independent third‑party investigation of the broader flooding complaints is ongoing and that the scope of city cleanup work versus private insurance remedies varies by circumstance.

A note on attribution: Quotes and characterizations in this article are taken from the April 20 Southfield City Council meeting record; staff on the record described inspection findings, and residents described on‑site damage and health concerns.

Ending: Council members said they would follow up with Ms. Hobbs and report back to the full council; staff pledged to forward the building department's report and to coordinate next steps with public works and any necessary health or environmental reviewers.","A Southfield senior described extensive property damage after a contractor began converting her failed septic system to city sewer service; city staff and public works officials said contractors failed to complete the work and the city is investigating and arranging remediation and follow-up with the resident.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent agenda and enacts rezoning ordinance; motions pass unanimously

Southfield council adopts six‑year Capital Improvement Program; plan lists $111M next fiscal year and $296M over six years (including grants)

Church and neighbors question revived rezoning for auto service site; planner says notice and conditional zoning follow law

Southfield residents report severe property damage after septic-to-sewer conversion; city promises follow-up