Eastpointe City Council on Tuesday rejected the single proposal received in response to a request for professional planning and zoning services and approved a month-to-month extension of the city’s existing agreement with McKenna Associates.

Resident Jennifer Nicholas spoke during public comment about planning services and said McKenna had rotated multiple planners through Eastpointe, leading to inconsistent work and occasional errors. “This has kind of given us, you know, there’s been some errors, some mistakes made, things that are not cohesive,” Nicholas said. She recommended the city consider hiring a full‑time planner rather than increasing the consultant retainer.

The council’s motion formalized that approach: reject the single new proposal and continue the current technical planning advisory services with McKenna on a month‑to‑month basis, subject to 30 days’ notice of termination. Several council members said they wanted administration to prepare a comparison of options — continue consultant services, hire a full‑time in‑house planner, or alternative firms — before moving to a full contract or staffing change.

The motion passed on roll call with the members present voting in favor.

Ending: Administration was directed to return to council with written options and comparative analysis on planning service models and associated costs; no immediate recruitment or contract award was approved at the July 1 meeting.