Council approves bond refinancing, zoning changes, festival permits and other routine measures; list of votes and key details

Romulus City Council on June 23 voted on a bundle of routine and substantive items. The council approved a resolution to authorize issuance of the 2025 refunding bond, adopted a new ordinance addressing unmanned aircraft offenses, approved a rezoning for a commercial plaza with vehicle fuel pumps, authorized multiple event road closures for the city’s Pumpkin Festival and several block‑party/no‑fee permit requests, approved professional services for a master‑plan update, authorized a fire apparatus purchase via bid waiver, and approved other administrative items. Below is a concise list of motions, outcomes and the council vote for each item recorded in the meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance

1) Resolution to authorize issuance of 2025 refunding bonds Motion: Authorize refunding bonds (not to exceed $22,000,000) to refinance eligible 2017 bond issues, contingent on minimum 2% net debt‑service savings after issuance costs. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Roscoe / Councilwoman Talley Outcome: Approved (roll call recorded yes votes from Roscoe, Talley, Abdo, Kraut, Jones, Chair) — tally yes 6, absent 1 Notes: Finance staff and municipal adviser projected total lifetime savings slightly in excess of $1,000,000; sale planned for early August subject to market.

2) Professional services — Master Plan update (Carlisle Wortman Associates Inc.) Motion: Authorize mayor and clerk to enter agreement for planning consulting services (master plan update). Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / Councilwoman Abdo Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Master plan update scheduled (routine five‑year update).

3) Purchase and installation — video conferencing and security systems (Actron Security) via GSA contract Motion: Authorize piggyback on GSA contract GL‑07FD‑173CA for video conferencing equipment at the Chambers Building, total $15,333.60. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Abdo / Councilman Jones Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Includes 3‑year hardware warranty and 1‑year labor warranty.

4) Pumpkin Festival — no‑fee permits and road closures (Sept. 19–21, 2025) Motion(s): Authorize no‑fee permits and multiple street closures for Pumpkin Festival events, parade, car show and related activities. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Abdo / various supporters Outcome: Approved (series of roll‑call approvals; all passed) Notes: Specific closures included Hunt Street (midway), Goddard Road segments for car show and other festival activities.

5) Block party / road closure requests (Madison family, July 4; Hillbrier Drive party, July 12) Motion(s): Authorize no‑fee permits and specific street closures with emergency access allowances. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / Councilwoman Roscoe (Madisons); Councilwoman Talley / Mr. Kraut (Hillbrier) Outcome: Approved (both motions passed; yes 6 each) Notes: Madison block party set for July 4, 3 p.m.–9 p.m.; Hillbrier graduation party July 12, 3 p.m.–9 p.m.

6) Zoning map amendment — Superwide Plaza (7130 Middlebelt) / fuel pumps Motion: Second reading and final adoption to rezone Lots 6–12 from C‑2 to C‑3 and Lots 13–30 from R‑1B to C‑3 to redevelop a party‑store property into a retail plaza with vehicle fuel pumps. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Roscoe / Councilwoman Talley Outcome: Approved (roll call yes 6) Notes: Item introduced earlier; this was second reading and final adoption.

7) Ordinance amendment — unmanned aircraft (chapter 36, new section 36‑325) Motion: Second reading and final adoption adding an ordinance section on offenses involving unmanned aircraft. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / Councilman Jones Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Item was introduced June 9 and adopted June 23.

8) Intergovernmental agreement — school resource officer (three‑year IGA with Romulus Community Schools) Motion: Authorize mayor and clerk to enter 3‑year IGA to provide one school resource officer (06/28/2025–06/28/2028). Mover/Second: Councilman Jones / Councilwoman Roscoe Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Council praised existing officer performance.

9) Waive bid/authorize purchase — Type 1 fire engine (R&R Fire Truck Repair Inc.) Motion: Waive bidding and authorize purchase of one Type 1 fire engine, apparatus cost $953,381. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / Mr. Kraut Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Staff cited lead times on apparatus and pending state/federal funding requests.

10) Eagle Alley / Goddard Park Plaza — change order #3 (RFP24‑25‑02) Motion: Approve change order #3 to extend additional work, amount $12,438.88. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / Mr. Kraut Outcome: Approved (yes 6) Notes: Council and community members praised the recently opened plaza improvements.

11) Budget amendment introduction 24‑25‑19 (health/dental/staffing) — introduction Motion: Introduce budget amendment to cover health‑insurance rate increases, dental and staffing changes for FY24‑25. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Talley / support Outcome: Introduced (roll call yes votes recorded to introduce) Notes: Will return for final adoption in future meeting.

12) Warrant 25‑12 — payment approvals Motion: Pay warrants listed in Warrant 25‑12, totaling $2,235,371.77 across multiple funds. Mover/Second: Councilwoman Abdo / Mr. Crow Outcome: Approved (roll call yes 6) Notes: Detailed fund breakdown recorded in meeting minutes.

Other administrative items that passed included scheduling a public hearing for a commercial facilities exemption (Detroit Airport Hotel LP), approval of temporary polling location for August 5 special school election (Romulus High School for consolidated precincts), and several routine minutes approvals.

If readers seek the precise motion text, vote tally or the supporting staff memo for any item above, those are recorded in the June 23 meeting packet and official minutes available from the City Clerk.