Livonia council advances appointments, equipment purchases and contract extensions; animal shelter costs flagged

Livonia City Council on Jan. 15 moved a bundle of study‑agenda items — mostly to be placed on the consent agenda for the council’s Jan. 27 regular voting meeting — including two appointments, multiple Department of Public Works contracts and equipment purchases, pay adjustments for seasonal and student positions, and a three‑month extension of the city’s animal‑sheltering contract.

The study meeting is a nonvoting session that sets the agenda for the regular meeting; council members repeatedly placed items “on consent,” signaling they expect the items to be ratified together at the Jan. 27 vote.

Council placed two appointments on the consent calendar. Vice President Martha Tashnik nominated Brian Maher to the Zoning Board of Appeals to complete an unexpired term ending July 12, 2026; Maher, a longtime Livonia resident, told the council he was “happy, humbled” to serve. The council also approved on consent the mayor’s nomination of Yamana Uday to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for a term expiring Nov. 24, 2027; Uday said she has “tremendous experience with Brownfield.”

Public safety equipment and DPW fleet and service purchases were advanced on consent after short presentations. Fire department leadership described an upgrade to hydraulic rescue tools (commonly called the “Jaws of Life”), citing improved battery life, waterproofing and quicker operation; the item was approved for placement on the consent agenda. The Department of Public Works sought multiple bids and purchases using Michigan cooperative contracts: a $26,375 low bid from Ashton Tree Service for a 2025 parks tree removal contract plus $38,625 set aside as an emergency retainer; a one‑year tree‑trimming contract (with Boone Development/Saad Solutions) budgeted at about $250,000; software licensing and support from Azteca Systems (CityWorks) for $100,881.57 split between refuse and water/sewer accounts; two Bandit chippers totaling $96,952; a 25‑yard self‑contained leaf vacuum for $142,101; two trailer‑mounted leaf vacuums for $160,748; and a final section of perimeter fence replacement estimated at $95,519.

Councilmember Doug Moore, director with the Department of Public Works, told the council the purchases are budgeted and that several items use the state cooperative purchasing process to leverage pricing. Moore said the parks tree removal bid list included 19 trees and that additional retainer funds would help with summer emergencies similar to last year’s tornado response.

Payroll and classification changes were also advanced. Janine Leibel of Civil Service presented hourly‑rate changes tied to Michigan’s minimum wage: the high‑school co‑op, college co‑op and seasonal classifications will move from about $10.30–$10.35 to $12.50 and will be pinned to future minimum‑wage increases. Council approved the item for placement on consent. A separate proposal to raise the student substitute librarian rate — discussed as moving from roughly $12–$13 to $20–$22 per hour — prompted follow‑up requests: council members asked staff to supply clearer classification and justification materials at the Jan. 27 regular meeting before final approval.

The animal‑sheltering contract with Michigan Humane Society was advanced as a three‑month extension covering Jan. 1 through March 31, 2025, while the city pursues intergovernmental discussions with neighboring jurisdictions about contract terms. Councilman Donovic said the city currently pays about $10,885 per month to Michigan Humane and called the cost “not sustainable,” noting the extension will cost roughly $33,000 over three months at current rates.

Public comment included two extended comments. Resident Christopher Martin urged greater transparency in appointment processes and said he would attend Board of Review hearings. Resident Greg Ralco updated the council on neighboring cities’ rejections of a proposed Sheetz convenience store and urged Livonia to resist similar proposals near residential areas and sensitive wetlands; Ralco told the council the Madison Heights and Farmington Hills councils recently denied Sheetz proposals and said local residents oppose a Sheetz at the 8 Mile and Newberg corner.

The council also set a date to proceed with special assessments related to the 2024 sidewalk program: staff reported 235 single‑lot assessments totaling just under $302,000 and asked the council to set a date to adopt a resolution to place unpaid charges on property tax rolls if owners do not pay. That item was placed on consent.

Across the agenda council members repeatedly expressed support for public‑safety purchases and for packaging routine items on consent to improve efficiency. Several items drew brief technical or procedural questions (for example, precise qualifications and hours for the student substitute‑librarian classification), and staff committed to returning with clarifying documentation at the regular meeting.

Votes at a glance (items advanced on consent or placed on the Jan. 27 consent agenda): - Penguin Corp., Inc.: request for nonprofit designation (charitable gaming license requirement, state of Michigan) — advanced on consent. - Appointment of Brian Maher to Zoning Board of Appeals (term to July 12, 2026) — advanced on consent. - Appointment of Yamana Uday to Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (term to Nov. 24, 2027) — advanced on consent. - Livonia Fire & Rescue: waive formal bidding and authorize purchase of Hurst hydraulic rescue tools ("Jaws of Life") from budgeted funds — advanced on consent. - Board of Review: 2025 meeting dates/times and member compensation — advanced on consent. - Civil Service: increase starting hourly rates for high‑school co‑op/college co‑op/seasonal classifications to $12.50 and pin to state minimum wage — advanced on consent. - Civil Service: student substitute librarian wage adjustment (proposed rise to $20–$22/hr) — placed on regular for additional documentation; not finalized at study meeting. - Parks & Recreation: classification modifications and part‑time wage increases (estimated additional cost ~ $85,000) — advanced on consent. - DPW Parks tree removal: award to Ashton Tree Service, low bid $26,375; additional $38,625 retainer requested — advanced on consent. - DPW tree trimming: one‑year contract (with Boone Development/Saad Solutions) budgeted at ~$250,000 — advanced on consent. - DPW CityWorks software licensing and maintenance (Azteca Systems LLC): $100,881.57 — advanced on consent. - DPW equipment: two Bandit chippers ($96,952 total), one 25‑yard self‑contained leaf vacuum ($142,101), two trailer‑mounted leaf vacuums ($160,748) — all advanced on consent. - Animal control: three‑month extension of the Michigan Humane Society sheltering agreement (Jan. 1–Mar. 31, 2025) at current rates (cited at $10,885/month) while intergovernmental discussions continue — advanced on consent. - Engineering/DPW fencing replacement: award to Motor City Fence for $95,519 (last section of perimeter fence) — advanced on consent. - Special assessments: set date to adopt resolution for unpaid 2024 sidewalk program charges (235 locations, just under $302,000) — advanced on consent.

Council members directed staff to bring clarifying material on the student substitute librarian classification and wage proposal before the Jan. 27 vote. Staff and department directors told council most purchases are budgeted and, where practical, use Michigan cooperative purchasing agreements to achieve better pricing.

The study meeting concluded with no additional substantive action; the council will take formal votes on the consent and regular agendas at its Jan. 27 meeting.