Saginaw council adopts Neighborhood Enterprise Zone, approves skate-park friction test and upholds two FOIA fees

The Saginaw City Council on Oct. 20 adopted a resolution to establish Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) Covenant 3, authorized a contractor to perform surface-friction testing at Celebration Skate Park, and upheld estimated fees on two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals. Council members also voted to move forward on creating a City Youth Council in partnership with local schools.

The NEZ resolution was put before the council as a motion and approved by voice vote. City officials said the designation is intended to direct development and provide tax-capping incentives in targeted neighborhoods.

Votes at a glance

- Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Covenant 3: Council moved to adopt a resolution establishing NEZ Covenant 3. The motion carried on a voice vote. (Motion text in meeting record: "I need a motion to adopt.")

- Celebration Skate Park surface-friction testing: The council approved a $7,900 purchase from SME to coordinate and conduct surface-friction testing at Celebration Skate Park for the public services department, facilities division. City staff said the contractor is scheduled to mobilize promptly; tests were planned to begin the following day if the weather allowed. (Motion text in meeting record: "Motion to approve.")

- FOIA appeals: The council voted to uphold the estimated fee associated with a FOIA request submitted by Catherine Ellison; the clerk recorded an 8–1 tally. The council later voted to uphold the estimated fee for a separate FOIA appeal filed by Jamar Barnes; that item carried on a voice vote.

- Appointments: The council approved two board/commission appointments by voice vote as presented on the consent agenda.

- City Youth Council: Council authorized city administration and the city-county school liaison committee to proceed with creating a City Youth Council composed of ninth-to-12th-grade students from Saginaw United and Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy; the motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters

The NEZ resolution is a policy tool municipalities use to cap property tax increases for qualifying properties over a fixed period (15 years was discussed in public comment as the typical term for these tools). City leaders said NEZs can steer investment into neighborhoods near anchors such as medical campuses and parks. The skate-park testing responds to safety and liability concerns that arose after painting work at the site; the city said the testing will measure friction values on painted and unpainted surfaces so staff can decide whether further action is needed.

Details and council context

Manager Timothy Morales summarized other city developments alongside the votes, including recent infrastructure news and larger budget considerations. Morales told council that changes to state road-funding formulas are expected to significantly increase local road dollars, stating the city "is expecting to receive $2,800,000 in additional revenue [this] year and $4,300,000 next year," while warning the change will also slightly reduce general-fund revenue sharing.

On the skate-park item, staff said the contractor’s equipment had been shipped to Michigan and testing was scheduled for two days (with a rain backup). Staff described the testing as a liability-protection step: the manufacturer and others had said the type of paint used was acceptable, but application variability could affect friction. Council members asked whether results would be returned quickly and what remediation steps would follow if friction values fell below acceptable thresholds; staff said they would review results and then recommend next steps.

On the FOIA appeals, the council’s motion-making and roll-call procedures were used for at least one appeal: the record shows an 8–1 result on the Ellison appeal. The meeting record does not attribute individual votes in a complete roll-call for every item.

What’s next

- Staff scheduled the skate-park friction tests to begin immediately if weather permitted; council will receive the results when available and decide on any follow-up. - City administration will proceed with the youth-council planning in coordination with the school district and the League of Women Voters, per council direction. - The NEZ designation takes effect as a council-adopted resolution; staff will publish details and next steps per normal administrative procedures.