Rochester Hills — At its Oct. 20 meeting the Rochester Hills City Council approved a package of routine and substantive items, including nonprofit service contracts, budget adjustments, procurement items and interlocal agreements. Most votes were unanimous; several council members recused themselves where noted.

Key votes and outcomes

- Avondale Youth Assistance: Council approved a fiscal‑year 2026 nonprofit service contract between the City of Rochester Hills and Avondale Youth Assistance for $16,000 (contract period Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026). Councilmember Moreland recused herself from the motion because she serves on the youth assistance board; the resolution passed. (Motion by Miss Neubauer; second Miss Mangioli.)

- Paint Creek Trailways Commission: The council approved a $22,751 fiscal‑year 2026 nonprofit service contract to support the Paint Creek Trailways Commission. Councilmembers Walker and Moreland recused themselves from that vote; the motion passed unanimously among remaining members. (Motion by Miss Neubauer; second Miss Mangioli.)

- Rochester Area Neighborhood House: The council approved a $10,000 fiscal‑year 2026 nonprofit service contract. (Motion by Miss Bongioli; second Miss Neubauer.)

- Rochester Area Youth Assistance: Council approved a $29,839.46 fiscal‑year 2026 nonprofit service contract. (Motion by Miss Neubauer; second Miss Moreland.)

- FY2025 third‑quarter budget amendment: The council approved third‑quarter adjustments that decrease total revenues by about $1.39 million, decrease total expenditures by about $1.23 million and result in a net $160,000 draw from citywide fund balances. The largest capital change was a $250,000 increase for the Brewster Road major road project. (Motion by Vice President Carlock; second Miss Moreland.)

- CDBG program year 2026 application: The council opened and closed the required public hearing and approved the city’s application to Oakland County for $211,500 in CDBG funding; staff recommended allocations to Haven ($15,000), yard services/snow removal ($16,500) and minor home repair ($180,000). Councilmembers Walker and Moreland recused themselves because of an OPC conflict; motion passed. (Motion by Miss Bongioli; second Vice President Carlock.)

- MEDC Revitalization & Placemaking (RAP) grant: The council authorized acceptance and execution of a $756,695 grant award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to support Brooklyn’s Plaza revitalization and authorized required local matching funds. (Motion by Miss Neubauer; second Miss Mangioli.)

- Interlocal agreement with Oakland County (Bloomer Park operations): The council approved an interlocal agreement delegating park operations and management for an area adjacent to Bloomer Park to Oakland County; the county had already approved the draft. (Motion by Mr. Walker; second Miss Moreland.)

- Procurement and contracts approved:
• Benefit broker and consulting services: two‑year extension to Mankin Vance, not to exceed $137,000 through Sept. 30, 2027. (Motion by Vice President Carlock.)
• HPE network storage replacement: hardware, software and support to IT Solutions Group for $349,314 with a 10% contingency ($34,961.40) for a total not to exceed $384,275.40; city IT staff said the current system is end‑of‑life and the purchase was budgeted. (Motion by Mr. Blair; second Miss Mongeoli.)
• Drone for first‑responder program: purchase of one DJI Matrice/DOC‑3 style unit (DFR program) not to exceed $26,412 and annual licensing/software support not to exceed $3,500; the drone will be operated by trained Oakland County Sheriff's Office personnel under FAA rules; the city retains title. (Motion by Miss Neubauer; second Miss Moreland.)

- Police school liaison programs: Council approved the 2025–26 contracts for police school liaison services with Avondale School District ($171,325) and Rochester Community Schools (total program budget $892,330; Rochester Hills’ share $294,648). (Motions by Miss Moreland and Miss Neubauer; second Vice President Carlock for Rochester Community Schools.)

- SMART municipal credit/interlocal with OPC: The council authorized transfer of annual SMART municipal community credit funds to the OPC (Oakland Parks and Community center) for eligible transit services. (Motion by Mr. Walker; second Miss Moreland.)

What council said and next steps

City finance staff presented the budget look‑backs and said the net impact would be a $160,000 draw from city‑wide fund balances after reductions and a capital increase related to Brewster Road. IT staff said the HPE storage hardware is near end of life and the cooperative purchasing route offered year‑end manufacturer discounts and no installation charge from the incumbent vendor.

Several items require administrative follow‑up: recording of grant documents and contracts (MEDC grant, nonprofit contracts), completion of sanitary/stormwater permitting and recording of maintenance agreements on development projects, and vendor agreement execution for procurement items. For the drone program, the sheriff’s office will operate missions; the city will own the unit and pay software licensing as specified.

All listed motions in this roundup were recorded as passing during the Oct. 20 council meeting; where individual council members recused themselves the transcript notes the recusal and the vote outcome as recorded by the clerk.