Here are the principal formal actions taken, and next steps the council recorded, during the Jan. 14 Dearborn Heights City Council meeting.

Claims and payments
- Current claims and ACH transfers were approved with the removal of claims 26 through 29 for additional explanation related to Plant Moran invoices. Motion: Councilman Hassan Ahmad. Second: Councilman Hassan Saab. Outcome: Approved with items 26–29 held for follow-up; staff to provide additional backup.

Appointments and boards
- Planning commission: Council concurred with the mayoral appointments of Johnny Vidonovsky and Fady Ekawi to the Planning Commission (terms to expire January 2026) and reappointment of Ali Turfield (term to expire January 2028). Motion: Councilman Ahmad. Outcome: Approved.

Public events and commissions
- Martin Luther King Day march: Council approved permission for the community group Thrive By Any Means Necessary to hold an MLK Day event Jan. 20, 2025. Motion: Councilman Hassan Saab. Outcome: Approved.
- Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) delegate: Council amended a treasurer reappointment motion to instead appoint Councilman Hassan Saab as the city’s SEMCOG delegate and Councilman Robert Constant as alternate. Outcome: Approved.

Policy and ordinance actions
- Veterans commission: Council authorized the city attorney to draft an ordinance establishing a Veterans Affairs Commission and asked for the draft to be returned for council consideration on Jan. 28, 2025. Motion: Councilman Tom Wenzel. Outcome: Amendment and direction to corporation counsel approved; ordinance draft to be circulated Jan. 21.

Budget/finance items
- Poverty-exemption policy: Council approved the assessor’s 2025 poverty-exemption policy and guidelines. Motion: Councilman Hassan Saab. Outcome: Approved.

Contracts and change orders
- Asphalt street repair change order: Council approved change order No. 1 for the asphalt pavement street repair contract with True North Asphalt (change order text read into the record). Motion: Councilman Robert Constant. Outcome: Approved; staff to correct an incorrect title in the backup materials and proceed.
- Microsoft 365 licensing: Council considered a three‑year Microsoft 365 licensing renewal at government pricing and voted to table the item to the Jan. 28 meeting to gather comparative quotes (director to seek additional vendor quotes). Motion to table: Councilman Robert Constant. Outcome: Tabled for additional quotes.
- SHI/Adobe license renewal: Council approved annual Adobe license renewal (36 Acrobat Pro and 4 Creative Cloud licenses) at a not-to-exceed cost of $7,620.12 with language amended to reflect an annual term. Motion: Councilman Hassan Ahmad. Outcome: Approved.
- AT&T FirstNet fleet management: Council approved a FirstNet fleet-management service pilot for DPW vehicles with a city cost estimate of approximately $18,830.50 per year. Motion: Councilman Hassan Ahmad. Outcome: Approved.

Animal sheltering and public safety
- Animal-sheltering contracts: Council held a broader sheltering-agreement question for further study. Council members asked staff to schedule a study session so representatives from both Michigan Humane and Romulus sheltering services can present costs and services. Outcome: Referred to study session.

Business licenses and routine approvals
- The council approved a string of routine business-license renewals listed on the agenda, including Walker’s Speakeasy (8701 N. Beech Daly), Dog House Bar & Grill (21350 Van Born), Mexican Fiesta (24310 Grove), Polish Legion of American Veterans (25222 Warren) and Saad Auto Group/Auto Parts (25620 Van Born), after staff confirmed compliance or outstanding items where noted.

Next steps and follow-up
- Staff committed to returning with backup for the held claims (26–29), the Veterans Affairs ordinance draft, inspection reports on rodent complaints and additional licensing/contract quotes (Microsoft) at upcoming meetings.

Several items were the product of public comment and back-and-forth with staff; the council recorded most approvals by voice vote and asked for additional documentation where needed before final payments or ordinances are enacted.