Livonia council committee outlines $150 million civic‑center proposal; council to consider ballot language
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Summary
After months of committee meetings, city officials presented a draft plan for a Civic Center Campus — including a combined city hall and library, park space and infrastructure — and a proposed municipal millage of up to $150 million that would be placed before voters if council approves ballot language.
Councilman Donovic reported at the regular Livonia City Council meeting that a committee charged with planning a Civic Center Campus has moved a package of design ideas and financing options toward the council, and the administration intends to present ballot language at an upcoming study meeting.
The proposal under discussion would redevelop roughly 70 city‑owned acres around Five Mile and Farmington into a multi‑phase “Civic Center Campus.” The administration described a multi‑phase program that could clear about 9.5 acres in phase one, build a new combined municipal complex (city hall and library), create a central park and bike/pedestrian connections, relocate or update several public facilities and pursue private residential and commercial development on remaining acreage.
Donovic said the administration has already sought federal, state and county grants and believes those sources are largely exhausted; the proposal instead relies on a locally requested millage and bonds. The draft the committee discussed would ask voters to authorize up to $150,000,000 for Civic Center Campus improvements, to be repaid over up to 25 years and issued in two series. City officials and the finance director told the committee estimated first‑year residential costs would be about $12–$18 per month for the majority of homeowners; commercial assessments were illustrated in the committee materials. Donovic said the City’s move of retiree health care benefits to Medicare Advantage freed roughly $2.4 million annually that the council is proposing to direct toward debt service for the project.
Why it matters: The plan would replace or demolish aging municipal buildings the administration says are functionally obsolete, combine some municipal services in one footprint, and create a civic park intended to attract residents and private investment. Council members and dozens of residents pressed for clearer cost breakdowns, maintenance commitments and timing before the council approves ballot language to send to voters.
Important details from the committee and public comments
- Scope and phasing: Committee materials described multiple phases: clearing land, building a new city hall and library (the presentation estimated city hall at about 96,000 square feet and cited a space needs assessment suggesting roughly 50,000 square feet would be needed), demolition of existing police and municipal buildings, improved fire station facilities, a roughly 2‑acre central park and 27 acres for later private development. HED is the architect/planner working on conceptual designs.
- Financing: The committee discussed issuing bonds for municipal buildings, infrastructure and green space only; private development would be funded by private partners. The draft millage request discussed in committee would fund municipal construction, infrastructure and park space. The council previously approved bond language in February 2023 authorizing up to $47,000,000 for municipal construction; Donovic said a separate voter authorization would be needed for the larger civic package.
- Estimated taxpayer impact presented to the committee: materials presented first‑year estimates in ranges (examples cited in committee materials: roughly $12/month for about half of residential properties; roughly $18/month for about 85% of residences; commercial figures were presented in the packet). City staff and the assessor prepared those examples and noted actual amounts would vary with taxable value changes.
- Maintenance and governance concerns: Several residents and council members asked how the city will maintain new and existing buildings. Council members said the city is reorganizing its finance department, including creating a capital planning manager position to implement and publicly report a facilities maintenance schedule and long‑term capital plan.
- Public comment highlights: Residents expressed a range of views. Some urged postponing or scaling the proposal (citing timing and cost concerns), asked for tighter cost caps and better transparency, or suggested putting the measure on the November ballot for higher turnout. Others supported building a central gathering place and expanding downtown activity.
What happens next: The committee recommended that the administration formally present ballot language to the full council at the study meeting; council members emphasized continued public outreach and said any ballot language must be approved by the council before it would appear on the ballot. Donovic and other council members said the committee will continue work in future meetings.
The council packet and the city’s information site (livoniabuilt.org, cited in committee materials) contain the committee minutes, financial examples and FAQ materials that were presented to the council.
