Garden City council schedules June 23 public hearings on water rates and budget; approves closed session

Garden City City Council on June 2 voted unanimously to call public hearings on proposed water and sewer rates and the FY2025-26 general appropriation ordinance, and later approved a closed session to discuss collective bargaining and receive a legal opinion.

The council set a public hearing for both the proposed Fiscal Year 2025–26 water and sewer rate ordinance and the proposed FY2025–26 general appropriation ordinance for Monday, June 23, 2025, at 7 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Dold moved to introduce and call the public hearing on the water and sewer rate ordinance, with a second from Council member Witt; the measure passed without opposition, 6–0. Council member Witt moved to call the public hearing on the general appropriation ordinance, supported by Mayor Pro Tem Dold; that motion also passed 6–0.

City Manager Gibbons told council he will provide a packet of information to the public and meet with council members before the water-rate hearing to present a set of rate options. "I will do my best between now and the public hearing for water rates and the appropriation, to set an appointment with each council member," Gibbons said.

Later in the meeting Council member Witt moved, and Council member Kara Fotis seconded, to go into closed session at 7:37 p.m. for a strategy and negotiation session connected with collective bargaining with the Command Officers Association of Michigan and to receive a written legal opinion regarding a lease of city property pursuant to MCL 15.268(c) and MCL 15.268(h). The council took a roll-call vote and all members present voted aye; the council went into closed session.

The items will return to a future public meeting for deliberation after the public hearings and any necessary staff reports.