[{"_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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6063395,"mediaKeyId","3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802","parentId",3269313,"title","Council approves Hess Avenue MDOT cost agreement, parking regulation changes; planning commission clears old Walgreens for redevelopment","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6872000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802&start=6872&end=6872","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802/thumbnail_6872000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063395/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Council-approves-Hess-Avenue-MDOT-cost-agreement-parking-regulation-changes-planning-commission-clears-old-Walgreens-for-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063395-251a792e6be6468ba3684837d50e2ff4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773778909&Signature=OrUBPVvWcoFLSGu~V4oKs~PVVKHNOkOvsjJ7h-tSrpOZvQWgsVyTgLU-KqzDFdeoa~pJrYMiYQ1P-tMswrSE42s~r6bBPP4bdClYo66bndyRXPr7v-Z~s6EpTocDVP5vPh3P34lNJpjAnu4q0u1XrQMcamDD1E68uQpbGahGg9p4F2OrbU0q5XfFM~1eqBS8OllSm0VGWIFY1iVk1juNXKeBpwicHgMvY9oQgrMaoyu1euBRbn-gjCS8XNLgLfQMmr9c409cUFmBQA3d5yS0mYimcUdr1lqpkCjS0xrWpxQLpKFSTAqp4RGU8smTcfRrv-RAdapUg5OCuM2tMkUryA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Saginaw, MI","date","2025-05-06T13:47:25Z","article","The Saginaw City Council approved multiple transportation and land‑use items Monday, including a cost‑sharing agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for Hess Avenue reconstruction and changes to local parking regulations.

Resolution: Council unanimously adopted Resolution 25‑5244, approving a cost agreement with MDOT for reconstruction of Hess Avenue from South Jefferson to Sheridan. City staff did not provide a detailed funding breakdown during the floor discussion; council voted to adopt the agreement as presented.

Traffic regulations: Council also approved traffic‑regulation adjustments that abolish previous parking limitations along a stretch of North Niagara Street and reestablish limited back‑to‑curb parking with a two‑hour restriction in a specified segment. City engineers presented the amendment language and offered to provide the underlying study and diagram to any council member seeking further detail.

Planning commission: At the meeting the council heard a short report from the planning commission: the former Walgreens at the corner of Genesee and North Michigan has been approved for demolition and redevelopment into a Speedway/7‑11 service station and convenience store, pending the standard permitting process.

What council recorded: the Hess Avenue MDOT cost agreement and the parking regulation changes were adopted by voice vote with no recorded objections; the planning commission update was informational.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Saginaw, MI City Council May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council adopted a cost‑sharing agreement with MDOT for Hess Avenue reconstruction, approved traffic and parking regulation changes on North Niagara Street, and received a planning commission report that the former Walgreens site has been approved for redevelopment into a Speedway/7‑11 service station.","taxTitle","Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan","taxId",3479,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6063399,"Resident presses council for timeline after 5 years with burned house at 235 Lockwood",186,782000,968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802&start=782&end=968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802/thumbnail_782000.jpg","/articles/6063399/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Resident-presses-council-for-timeline-after-5-years-with-burned-house-at-235-Lockwood","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063399-4322fd61bfb23315b7c7ca3f043b2bf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773778909&Signature=gn~QbLa2tGosl4zNim0WA6L9WoTAdfgtBau53T8gkDjA40W6OrLC9XEcVP10Bl-rD7Byl3j-NFuw8Qu2AdPD8fUxVAD1gZp4-xNjI1Hld~3lP1JYl~PtH3CxrjXksmAfZB~0mQFsnk5tqvEZ9fmaTHt7UK52r3blCSSwRCJcTjheEJj-0qNsmQuj3yLsVaTBdDKQJPZy~-iHtjGztbPmb~Rx1XL5zTLqvncS7BKzDBO0KLt0pkL~0yRPnuXVWNHEW3akuwMPimto9tPvCtyuwI6f5YMlYcLrhfHDTnzA9qS8TcPZ00QHbwoqqcnYJhZnNMk7ajNwipyDUrLkND5V~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident urged the council to clarify the status and timeline for a fire‑damaged house at 235 Lockwood, saying insurance, title changes and repeated repair extensions have left the property unrepaired and the demolition escrow untouched.

Debbie Melkonian told council the home was declared a total loss five years earlier and that the insurer paid down the mortgage and remitted $12,000 to the city for demolition if the home was not rebuilt. \"The money is still in The city's escrow account,\" Melkonian said, and she asked whether a timeline is being followed.

Melkonian described a chain‑of‑title matter in which the owner conveyed the property to her son; she said the city gave the owner additional weeks to pull permits and repair the property after a planned demolition, and she described a subsequent permit pulled for limited electrical work and a partial, short effort that stopped. She provided the council with a photograph and said the property had not changed since January.

Council members acknowledged previous correspondence on the file and asked staff to provide an update. City staff described the typical interactions with insurers, code enforcement and demolition escrow: the city can withhold escrowed demolition funds but must follow notice and process, and private‑property rights and pending investigations sometimes delay action. The manager and inspectors said they would follow up with specific case details.

What council recorded: Melkonian requested a timeline and a staff update; council asked staff to follow up with the resident and to report back on enforcement options and the escrow balance.

","A neighbor asked the council why a burned, vacant house at 235 Lockwood remains partly unrepaired years after a fire and why demolition escrow funds have not been used; the speaker gave a timeline she says shows the city extended repair deadlines and the property remains unchanged.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6063404,"Volunteers say Garber Courts tennis and pickleball programs expanding with grants and a new pro shop",208,551000,759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802&start=551&end=759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802/thumbnail_551000.jpg","/articles/6063404/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Volunteers-say-Garber-Courts-tennis-and-pickleball-programs-expanding-with-grants-and-a-new-pro-shop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063404-08e5b7271044bec29ad7d58ff2975135/orig.mp4?Expires=1773778909&Signature=TdH2eJmyZPjkDyGv5E21wjn8f~RoYZthQZaYUDJu4WwTmHeeYY7nETO6sJpaZUre-hLXl1Zahvc-0EsGWSsNRa4m647tHnhvMO0gRKldVi-g6WChewGHmtGkbANfQIdae1JvLS1xBmFTpPzGiD92-7oG7Tad7~~ZHoa41BiNqSfzEKPsaE3cUjbXjZN2Ef-VIiZqK4jXg4WH-mrx99yq1PfZSRCpcF8XV90tVyRuj-pt-eEU6Jrl5sgIbhTnjKjl9NvsXxVnnSUxJ9YS8g11X4Ng29W644WtyMt7Dumf55JGjHxGNfINzkQEhitgf0CFt8Rt6xqjsXEPD2Vnnu-VCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volunteers who run Garber Courts on Court Street described nearly two decades of programming and recent grant awards that they said will help sustain the community facility.

Sushma Jones, speaking for the volunteer group, said the facility hosted high‑school tennis practices, youth camps and pickleball tournaments and served about 57 children last year. \"We did reach 57 kids this past, last year,\" Jones said, and the group is planning 19 years of youth tennis and pickleball camps and expects about 70–80 kids this coming season.

Jones said volunteers started a Friends of Garber Courts fundraiser (about 60 contributors to date), secured a grant to outfit a pro shop to sell hats and balls to help raise revenue, won a 2023 USTA national facility‑of‑the‑year award and received a state grant for a new storage garage and for an electronic entrance sign that will be brought to council for discussion.

Council members and staff thanked the volunteers for programming and noted the courts provide evening recreation opportunities and partnerships with local schools and youth organizations.

What council recorded: no formal action or funding appropriation was taken at the meeting; the volunteers said the electronic‑sign replacement and the storage garage will be brought to council for discussion when appropriate.

","Volunteers who operate Garber Courts told council they have expanded youth tennis and pickleball programming, won national facility recognition and secured grants for a pro shop, an electronic entrance sign and a storage garage.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6063408,"Residents press council on trash and license‑plate reader use; council debates data and contracts",162,990000,1152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802&start=990&end=1152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802/thumbnail_990000.jpg","/articles/6063408/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Residents-press-council-on-trash-and-licenseplate-reader-use-council-debates-data-and-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063408-d4554f0b7ac98d42c7c8a603f4f3fb6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773778909&Signature=oLhnk0vqaGY1KOxa9knryz4SGO5UBSvAeufEaPyF~m62d5H5FSndiHYG5K6O~kgNg-AnkIsrg2YJIn-FWp3TAXqCyWdSABXD-1SvlvAWI-gFu~ynM9rjxdwuMzvgrSt-IaIJ0znMHOZLIVLNdaDaawaRyCEh98JeAxGhanVx~TSHpjboDbCxZzKvapWUgTOl45JAouzZZX4q3jzZ4FMcHTkBBwGgb7rxMuY~st9wal1UMrUs6fUBZUvbmel8OZLs4qAkEYe~PUm7K6NO5a750dTpPwXUPSXZESkl0y~GVOGBuIeqc5H1k6bjKvg~yqm3TaIO53foRBDIv4Ffr55gZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and community activists told the Saginaw City Council that illegal dumping and litter remain persistent problems and urged the city to pursue a comprehensive enforcement and cleanup strategy.

Jeffrey Bowles told council that the city needs a broader plan beyond one‑day cleanups. \"I'm offering my help. I'm offering a solution,\" Bowles said, and asked for updates on the Ojibwe and homelessness committees and on the recent license‑plate reader deployment.

Council members acknowledged complaints about recurring dumping and encouraged residents to report incidents to the inspections department. Council member Bill Balz described neighborhood cleanups he organized and urged community engagement; Council member Priscilla Garcia and others suggested civic incentives such as neighborhood competitions to encourage participation.

License‑plate readers: Speakers asked for more details after the council last month authorized license‑plate reader use in Birch Park. Councilman discussed data retention and operational parameters at the meeting: he said retention is currently 30 days and that officers running plates would be checking lists similarly to an installed reader. Multiple residents expressed concern about what data would be captured and how it would be used.

What the council recorded as actions: council members said the license‑plate reader contract had been discussed previously and that council had approved the deployment; council members indicated they could seek longer retention or additional details if the community requests it.

Next steps: Council asked the city manager and staff to share additional information about the license‑plate reader contract and data retention policy with council and the public, and staff reiterated that inspections and public‑works channels exist for reporting illegal dumping.

","Community members urged the council to take stronger action on illegal dumping and neighborhood trash; speakers also pressed for clarity about a license‑plate reader contract and data retention after the devices were approved earlier by the council.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6063413,"Saginaw officials present FY26 budget with big health‑care and capital swings",1863,2876000,4739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802&start=2876&end=4739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269313-0b2054a0b655a9bb1424ec462e087802/thumbnail_2876000.jpg","/articles/6063413/Saginaw/Saginaw-County/Michigan/Saginaw-officials-present-FY26-budget-with-big-healthcare-and-capital-swings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063413-9d291fe27cb5a596138fbaf3fe0ed6ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1773778909&Signature=Ht1mnwidLkHnLer3XQtLpe5g6FCF4KPfhLoDnI1aZobheBMtVtNTFC1rAhtc9hbbPVQ1Uldswflfy3sBxK-eJQ-HUWYAmAY7jFJEhVkx9ajlxX65Hm0VQAwYYVZqgpw9OtnNSZnmJy2OGOCptH6bZDK9OyvSPGyzMtH4Piu12KEjswxd5fcqRXutxLKpPg10mgl3a-woWae0y25713oF815kyQ5U96fxGtgcSYoUS6FxrZtK-fgfBNaXt7ZirtNG0BcRona8-fsrmqdU-3xheAEN9MP6MUhiu5x4R-8JeB~g15eCYprqtoLX~i-OWjsMBvwe80r3V2AW6KLxu4PsDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Saginaw officials on Monday presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that city staff said balances immediate service needs with a shifting mix of large grants and rising personnel costs.

The budget overview, delivered by Yolanda Bland, director of the Office of Management and Budget, lays out a $203,770,000 citywide budget and a $45,140,000 general fund — an increase of roughly 2% from the prior year in the general fund but a 13% drop citywide driven primarily by a reduction in one‑time capital and grant spending from FY25.

Bland said the FY26 plan \"continues to reflect our commitment to quality and services for our residents, as well as preserve our organization's long term financial stability.\" She told council the state‑sponsored Saginaw Medical Facility Fund (created in FY25) is budgeted at $21.27 million for FY26 and that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) balances will decline as previously approved projects are spent down.

Why it matters: Bland and the city manager warned council that spikes in benefit costs and volatile grant and construction schedules drive much of the year‑to‑year change. Bland said active employee health‑care costs are projected to increase by roughly 30% — the largest single year jump she has seen in 18 years — and retiree health care by about 12%.

City managers told council that those health‑care and pension pressures will be offset only partly by grant revenue and user‑rate increases for water and sewer. Bland also noted the city’s continuing reliance on enterprise funds: sewer and water account for about 42% of the citywide budget, and the water and sewer funds together show planned reductions in capital work compared with FY25 even as the departments continue projects that are partially grant‑funded.

Bland highlighted several specific changes: a projected $21.27 million deployment for the medical facility fund, a $28.92 million decrease in ARPA fund balances as projects are spent, and a roughly $18.8 million preliminary award from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for system improvements. Major‑street funding increased in the FY26 plan because of planned projects; local‑street funding rises partly because of Saginaw County road millage receipts that were not available in the prior year.

Council discussion focused on the public‑safety millage and personnel complements: Bland said the public‑safety millage revenue is intended to fund 20 police and 10 firefighter positions (the citywide complement is larger), but some payroll and benefit increases get shifted between funds to keep the millage fund balanced. City manager Timothy Morales and Bland said the millage fund is structured to break even each year and that salary and benefit increases put pressure on that balance.

Bland also reminded council that a formal public hearing and adoption are scheduled for May 19 and that OMB is available for member briefings in advance.

Background details: The presentation described FY22–FY25 historical totals and explained that non‑general‑fund sources (special revenue, enterprise, internal service funds) drove most of the FY25 spike in the citywide total. Bland encouraged council members to review the budget overview (pages 31–59 in the packet) for line‑by‑line variance explanations.

What’s next: Council did not adopt the budget at the meeting; the public hearing and scheduled adoption date is May 19. Bland offered multiple follow‑up meeting slots for individual council members to review department budgets in more detail.

","City staff presented a $203.77 million citywide fiscal 2026 budget that keeps general‑fund services steady but reflects large swings in grant‑funded projects, multi‑million dollar medical facility spending and an unusually large projected rise in employee health‑care costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Hess Avenue MDOT cost agreement, parking regulation changes; planning commission clears old Walgreens for redevelopment

Resident presses council for timeline after 5 years with burned house at 235 Lockwood

Volunteers say Garber Courts tennis and pickleball programs expanding with grants and a new pro shop

Residents press council on trash and license‑plate reader use; council debates data and contracts

Saginaw officials present FY26 budget with big health‑care and capital swings