[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6469604,"mediaKeyId","5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd","parentId",5780741,"title","City Council approvals and procurement: votes at a glance from Sept. 16 meeting","audioSeconds",390,"startMs",6960000,"endMs",7350000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd&start=6960&end=7350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd/thumbnail_6960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469604/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/City-Council-approvals-and-procurement-votes-at-a-glance-from-Sept-16-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469604-1e10c77fc04991f772aab4c87962ccf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138131&Signature=CQKoltw9fuOzyd9~u0gwgWDHfgCy8AysG9XezDD~DwLCTkkL145FHr~zwQr~MdNtXYQazEgROWVU9cue~QfMYAaCFkgoskt2OZqvj1bsuoaVTld~DjQy7YA30q0XfDyLuPoX2HtKFH9hQ-ZJUGLViWlm1wXokh3ozSWp65wwrcW4upsWUNfICkW~KQhrVLImLtI8~RbWmTHRdETbcxwimj2xsDBRNjKZ7deEbLTdzdqP3Czh5z0pF5HulCRLYLTIO4Y0CJ8AXGdvAFtY7UjcOq8GFzT7Brf-DSE7PdaN9KqvBfJhAlxDK6TSA~dbH2VWn7A9Fz2WF30AECTKoxOBWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson","date","2025-09-18T00:04:10.96Z","article","Jackson City Council approved a series of routine and programmatic items at its Sept. 16 meeting. The items below summarize motions taken, vote outcomes and key figures recorded during the meeting. Council approved each listed item by the tally shown in the meeting minutes; where the clerk recorded a unanimous passage the item is noted as such.

Votes at a glance

- Road salt purchase: Council approved the purchase of 4,000 tons of road salt from Detroit Salt Company at $90.56 per ton for a total of $362,240 for the 2025–26 winter season under cooperative bidding with Jackson County. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- Wastewater change order: Council approved Change Order No. 8 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Clean Water State Revolving Fund 2022 improvements contract with Allied Mechanical Services Inc. in the decreased amount of $41,147 and authorized appropriate signatures. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- Opioid settlements participation: Council adopted resolutions authorizing participation in partial national opioid settlements for generic manufacturers and Purdue Pharma and authorized the city attorney to execute Michigan subdivision participation agreements and related settlement documents. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- Smart water meters (Sensus SmartPoint MXU): Council approved purchase of 6,284 Sensus SmartPoint MXU radio-reading devices from Aetna Supply for $1,036,860 and approved a budget amendment for FY 2025–26 to fund the purchase. City staff described the purchase as completing the automated meter-reading system and enabling leak detection and, potentially, monthly billing. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- HUD consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER): Council authorized submission of the 2024–25 consolidated annual performance and evaluation report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- Donation of vacant property: Council accepted the donation of a vacant residential property on Northwest Avenue, approved the donation agreements and quitclaim deed and authorized staff to finalize documents. Motion passed (recorded unanimous).

- 100 Homes program: Council approved a revised base purchase price of $178,000 for homes constructed under the 100 Homes program and later authorized a contract with Norfolk Homes for construction of remaining new homes in the program. Council also authorized city staff to execute required lot-purchase and development agreements. Motions passed (recorded unanimous).

- Parking ordinance first reading: Council adopted first reading of an amendment to Section 25.30 of the City Code regarding parking fines, payment and authority to void parking citations. Motion passed (recorded as first reading vote).

Notes and context: Many of these items were routine procurement or administrative actions. The Sensus smart-device purchase drew brief discussion from public works staff about system benefits (automated reads, leak alerts, eventual monthly billing) and timeline; staff said delaying the purchase would increase costs. The 100 Homes price revision reflected negotiated cost increases below prevailing inflation, and staff said existing down-payment assistance programs remain available to qualified buyers.

What’s next: Several items authorize staff to execute contracts or prepare documentation; subsequent administrative steps (contract signatures, budget amendments and project rollouts) will follow according to departmental timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson City Council Meeting 9-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its Sept. 16 meeting the Jackson City Council approved a slate of procurement and program items, including road salt purchase, wastewater change order, opioid settlement participation, smart water-meter equipment, HUD reporting and housing program actions; most items passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Jackson City, Jackson County, Michigan","taxId",5811,"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},6469608,"Council opens public hearing and orders assessment roll to fund downtown meterless parking system",737,3153000,3890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd&start=3153&end=3890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd/thumbnail_3153000.jpg","/articles/6469608/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/Council-opens-public-hearing-and-orders-assessment-roll-to-fund-downtown-meterless-parking-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469608-62135e9e87ed425c9bd5de35b9493a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138131&Signature=Xpmt8PFMDT1bnZwsVLjzrqrOVnQ1cwvlfHj482R9Dsxvf1RO934sOCQUzzEW8a7j0cz-5q9wFVa43goBhTVqowj4QDtXZ~ytFKj0qtGXDVsB~2FL7bk-J26tvbfCiHBvEsC8mNDk8hiuv2RL5~6qKvHp5M6jefpgjXLeilPzwFPKQ-1G029Lqsqc8KK6Y~NUG1z5e01GPYhQFRFzuyAh7Ippbh4RPU62ObFNPCJI5YntZnbNtGt8X8W19zIkDOIrUEOshqQgOvdb4HAVnQVUSiBh1Y8ZTEBfu6ilCZow6P-FOhxmJYGDxUvML01oQBUcVeqDogdFKg5orfvjFC1m3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jackson City Council opened a public hearing Sept. 16 on a proposed assessment to fund a meterless parking system for downtown Jackson and subsequently approved a resolution ordering preparation of an assessment roll to fund the program.

The hearing drew downtown business owners and residents who largely urged the council to keep meterless parking. John King, a city resident, said he favored meterless parking and wanted it to remain in place long term. John Dennis, representing the Grotto Temple Association, thanked council for last year’s vote to remove meters and said the association’s clientele would have been hurt by metered parking. Kevin Thompson, representing Jackson Downtown Partners, said the program works but asked for an explanation of a large projected increase in operating costs: “the costs associated with the meterless parking totaled… $113,155. The projected cost for this next year is $238,375… that’s a tremendous increase,” Thompson said.

City staff answered that the meterless parking fund cycles revenue back into maintenance and capital repairs for parking lots and related services. Jonathan Green, city staff, said work planned this year explains the carryover and the larger spend in the coming budget cycle, and noted plowing costs are a major recurring expense: “plow is about $90,000 a year,” he said.

Council action: following public comment the council moved to “order the preparation of an assessment roll to fund the meterless parking system.” The motion carried unanimously; the clerk recorded the item as passed. The action authorizes staff to prepare an assessment roll so that property and business assessments can be calculated and presented for further council approval.

Why it matters: meterless parking affects downtown accessibility, business customers (many speakers said their clients are elderly), and the DDA’s and city’s downtown maintenance and capital budgets. Speakers also asked for transparency on how assessment increases are calculated and how revenues are spent; staff said details would be provided through the DDA and city budgeting processes.

Next steps: staff said they will provide documentation supporting the projected cost increase and return with an assessment roll. Council did not set assessment amounts at the Sept. 16 meeting; the current vote authorizes staff to compute and present a formal assessment roll for future action.","After a public hearing with business and resident speakers, Jackson City Council voted unanimously to order preparation of an assessment roll to fund a downtown meterless parking system; commenters urged retention of meterless parking while requesting financial detail on rising maintenance costs.",{"_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},6469613,"Jackson City Council places updated Environmental Action Plan on file after commission presentation",1587,1471000,3058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd&start=1471&end=3058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780741-8b8e93e88ec52e34d9220e9ce2172bcd/thumbnail_1471000.jpg","/articles/6469613/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/Jackson-City-Council-places-updated-Environmental-Action-Plan-on-file-after-commission-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469613-4a04dcff7e9fb800c276e85b4f51358a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138131&Signature=Avsc2F7cDi9wD-0XoLgKD5Ym5sEuGLyWYlI-gsGVJct6tNFiBuWxbqfSDUXWi6BzwrMNI4Uw0ZxbdRBl6IvL~ep6sGlZRKgpPKf5GsxyjHYb28nNTLqDruCldWf9ZumhgGeCmlToXtAM~J0l3f2elMs0zyInYfUylxFYnHw~~12A1TxJH9F-b3XK0y8rA-zCMEuuFXbrmk-9T0Uqx~gsJ3strjaF1WeBWHMekYDUuX~pl8rcc5dPmil7S7r7KGPkdiFgmV8NPfM3ZoQKo0mvpgZ~dsnaPM3oYXvn~Mv8U7PkayRaAk77SBblCJvteRagRfvUqUsFd~y~slJP-FbBpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Casimir, chair of the Jackson City Environmental Commission, presented the commission’s updated 2024 environmental action plan to the Jackson City Council on Sept. 16 and recommended the council “accept and place on file” the document for staff and council consideration.

The commission’s report, Casimir told the council, lays out chapters on water resources, air quality and greenhouse gases, energy management, transportation, climate resilience, ecosystems and tree canopy, solid waste, and environmental justice. Casimir said the plan was reorganized using an evaluation framework supplied by a university reviewer and that the commission unanimously approved the update in April 2024. “The goal today is to give an update on our annual 2024 environmental commission report, called the environmental action plan,” Casimir said during her presentation.

Why it matters: the document is intended as a policy framework the commission and staff can use to set information-gathering priorities and recommend specific ordinances, incentives and projects. Casimir emphasized that “the first step is always information gathering,” and said more professional data collection and staff capacity would be required for the plan to move from recommendations to measurable progress.

What the council heard: Casimir summarized a 2023 peer review that compared Jackson’s plan to nine other communities and found gaps in information quality and data analysis. The commission highlighted areas for improvement, including greenhouse gas inventories, city-fleet emissions data, a tree-canopy survey and urban heat-island mapping. The plan sets an aspirational community target consistent with peer communities: net-zero carbon goals near 2050. Casimir recommended city participation in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities program (the presentation referenced a “LEAD for Cities” review process; LEED for Cities is the recognized program) as a way to structure data collection, goal-setting and benchmarking.

Council response and next steps: Council members asked about costs and implementation. When asked whether the commission recommended formal acceptance by the council that evening, Casimir said, “Yes, I would,” but also stressed the document is most useful as a framework for staff-led studies and incremental implementation. After discussion, a council member moved to “accept and place on file the most recent Environmental Action Plan presented to us by the City of Jackson Environmental Commission.” The motion passed by a 5-to-1 vote; the clerk recorded the item as placed on file for staff review and potential future action.

What the action means: placing a commission report “on file” registers it in the city record and signals council has received the document; it does not by itself appropriate funds or enact specific policy. Casimir and commission members urged council and city staff to pursue baseline studies (greenhouse-gas inventory, fleet emissions, tree canopy mapping) and to consider applying for LEED for Cities assistance, which would provide assessment tools, goal recommendations and technical support if staff and council opt into the program.

Context and constraints: Casimir noted the commission is volunteer-run and has limited staff capacity; council members asked staff to estimate implementation costs before committing to fleet or building transitions. Casimir described the document as a step forward in “plan quality,” but said progress on outcomes will require new information and “action on the part of our Council and city staff.”

Ending: Council members expressed appreciation for the commission’s work and directed staff to include the plan in ongoing policy and budgeting discussions; no specific spending decision was made at the Sept. 16 meeting.","The City of Jackson Environmental Commission presented its 2024 Environmental Action Plan; council voted to place the plan on file 5-1 after discussion about next steps and data needs.","actionData","errors"]

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City Council approvals and procurement: votes at a glance from Sept. 16 meeting

Council opens public hearing and orders assessment roll to fund downtown meterless parking system

Jackson City Council places updated Environmental Action Plan on file after commission presentation