Eastpointe City Council members voted on a series of routine and policy items during their Jan. 7 regular meeting, adopting a hardship-exemption policy, introducing a rental-housing ordinance for first reading and scheduling a public hearing on 2025 Macomb County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

The council adopted Resolution No. 24-1995, the 2025 hardship-exemption policy and guidelines, by roll call vote. Councilmembers voted to introduce Ordinance No. 25-1245 (amending Chapter 10, Article 3, rental housing) and scheduled its second reading for Jan. 21, 2025. The council also voted to schedule a public hearing on Feb. 4, 2025 to solicit public comment on allocation of CDBG public service funds and selection of CDBG competitive bricks-and-mortar projects.

Councilmembers voted to table discussion of moving planning services in-house until the next regular meeting, and they voted to receive and file the formal resignation notice submitted by City Manager Mariah Walton (see separate article). The council reappointed Ian McCain to the Recreation Authority (RARE) for a term expiring in 2028 and approved payroll and bills totaling $1,817,766.21.

Votes were recorded by roll call for each motion; in one roll call Baker recorded a “No” on the motion to receive and file the city manager’s resignation while the majority voted “Yes.” Other routine votes — approval of minutes, approval of closed-session minutes and payroll — carried by roll call as shown in the city minutes.

The council’s formal actions will be reflected in the minutes and in departmental follow-up. Several agenda items returned for more public engagement, including the police department/court design, for which the council asked staff to schedule a town‑hall-style meeting before final approval.