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Rochester Hills council approves Pine Trace expansion, personnel ordinance changes and sets budget hearing
Summary
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Rochester Hills City Council unanimously approved a package of land-use and administrative items — including conditional use approval for a Pine Trace banquet expansion, an amendment to employee appeal procedures, and a public hearing date for the 2026 budget — and authorized routine contracts and purchases.
Rochester Hills City Council on Aug. 11 unanimously approved several land‑use, administrative and procurement actions, including conditional‑use approval for an expanded banquet facility at Pine Trace Golf Course, amendments to the city personnel appeal ordinance, and setting a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget.
The council voted to approve a conditional use and site plan for Pine Trace Golf Course to expand its clubhouse and banquet facilities and construct a new driveway and parking areas. The motion, made by Councilmember Walker and seconded by Councilmember Moreland, passed unanimously. Applicant Michael Bilen said construction of the golf course renovations is under way and the expanded banquet facility construction is planned to follow; he estimated course work would be completed next year and building work could finish in 2027 depending on permitting and construction schedules. Councilmember Walker described the project as “absolutely stunning” and said he expected ribbon‑cutting in the near future.
Councilmembers also adopted an ordinance amending sections 82‑30, 82‑32 and 82‑33 of the personnel article of the city code to modify the composition of the personnel appeals board and provisions governing suspensions. The ordinance was accepted for second reading and adoption with an effective date following publication on Aug. 17. The motion was offered by Councilmember Mangioli and seconded by Councilmember Moreland; the vote was unanimous.
Other items approved without recorded opposition included: - Distribution of the draft 2025 city master plan to adjacent communities for the statutorily required 63‑day review period; the planning commission had recommended the distribution. - Authorization to submit a special liquor license application for the Rochester Hills Museum masquerade fundraising event on Oct. 25, 2025. - A blanket purchase order for snow removal services for designated city properties for the 2025–26 winter season, not to exceed $170,000. - An increase of $20,000 to the design‑build contract for the Innovation Hills restroom project to cover additional DTE electrical service charges, raising the project total to $1,029,444. - Amendments to the council rules of procedure to clarify how motions are stated and to reorder certain agenda items. - Amendment No. 3 to the 2025–27 Oakland County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement services agreement adjusting staffing after the Rochester Community Schools reduced its school resource officer request; the city’s amended contract staff level is reflected in the proposed 2026 budget.
The council also acknowledged receipt of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and set a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2025, at Rochester Hills City Hall. The administration reported the three‑year proposed budget totals approximately $223 million for FY 2026 and represents a 0.06 percent increase from the amended 2025 budget.
Several consent‑agenda procurement and administrative items were adopted, including routine purchase authorizations for janitorial supplies, election ballot printing and fire extinguisher services, and extension of turnout gear blanket purchase orders.
Council votes on the recorded items were unanimous with no members recorded as opposed; one council member (Neubauer) was noted as absent earlier in the evening’s roll call.
The city will publish the required notice for the Sept. 8 budget hearing and maintain budget documents in the clerk’s office, the city resource center, the public library and on the city website.
