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Monroe City Council approves CSX engineering agreement, downtown 2-hour parking and sidewalk grant
Summary
Council authorized additional engineering funds for a CSX grade-separation design, accepted a state sidewalk grant, approved a $21,500 change order to expand a crosswalk mural project, converted downtown on‑street parking from one hour to two, and passed the consent agenda.
Monroe City Council approved multiple infrastructure, public‑art and parking measures and accepted a state grant during its meeting, while briefly meeting in closed session to discuss labor negotiations, land acquisitions and pending litigation involving Oak Forest Townhomes 172, LLC.
The most consequential votes included authorization of an additional $77,020 to proceed with CSX Transportation's preliminary engineering for the Westside grade separation; acceptance of a grant agreement from the Michigan Department of Transportation to install missing sidewalk segments at East First and Jerome streets; approval of a $21,500 change order to add a fourth crosswalk and a mural on the Winchester Street bridge; and a policy change converting remaining one‑hour on‑street downtown parking spaces to two‑hour spaces.
Why it matters: the CSX engineering agreement advances a long‑running grade‑separation project that involves a railroad right‑of‑way and matching funds from CSX; the sidewalk grant targets a gap in pedestrian infrastructure on East First and Jerome; the crosswalk and mural expand a public‑art initiative in the River Raisin Heritage Corridor; and the parking change alters turnover and validation procedures downtown.
What the council did
- Westside grade separation (CSX Transportation): Council authorized the city to allocate an additional $77,020 to the preliminary engineering agreement with CSX so the railroad can complete its portion of design work. Council members approved the motion unanimously; the request follows an earlier $20,000 escrow deposit the city provided to start CSX's process.
- MDOT sidewalk grant: Staff told council it had received a grant agreement from the Michigan Department of Transportation to install missing sidewalk segments at East First and Jerome streets and asked council to certify the resolution necessary to execute the agreement. Council approved the resolution and authorized execution of the grant agreement.
- Crosswalk public art change order: Council approved a $21,500 change order to add a fourth painted crosswalk and a mural on the east side wall of the Winchester Street bridge to the existing contract with local artist Presley Bergmoser. Staff said the original contract covered six crosswalks and that the project is partially funded by a Michigan Fitness Foundation grant and the city's capital improvements fund; the change order will be funded from available departmental budget authority and moved into the capital improvements project if approved.
- Downtown parking policy: Council voted to convert remaining one‑hour on‑street parking spaces in the downtown core to two‑hour spaces. Staff said validation processing has been moved in‑house and that the city will roll out an electronic validation form for downtown businesses; the Downtown Development Authority had unanimously supported the change.
- Consent agenda and payments: The consent agenda was approved as submitted. City staff corrected item B to show payments totaling $2,269,426.66.
Closed session and procedural items: The council first voted to enter closed executive session to discuss labor negotiations, land acquisition and pending litigation involving Oak Forest Townhomes 172, LLC; the council later returned to open session and adjourned the special meeting before beginning the regular agenda.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to enter closed executive session (labor negotiations, land acquisitions, pending litigation involving Oak Forest Townhomes 172, LLC): mover: Councilman Hayter; support: Councilwoman Jermaine; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Westside grade separation preliminary engineering agreement with CSX Transportation (authorize additional $77,020 and permitting Director of Engineering to execute): mover: Councilwoman Jermaine; seconder: Councilwoman Stillgrave; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Grant agreement resolution, MDOT SSSG grant (sidewalk installation at East First and Jerome): mover: Councilman Hader; seconder: Councilman Felder; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Change order request for crosswalk public art (Presley Bergmoser) — add fourth crosswalk and mural, additional $21,500: mover: Councilwoman Jermaine; seconder: Councilwoman Stillgrave; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Downtown parking policy revision (convert remaining 1‑hour on‑street spaces to 2‑hour): mover: Councilman Hayter; seconder: Councilwoman Stillgrave; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Consent agenda (all items placed on file, resolutions adopted): mover: Councilman Felder; seconder: Councilwoman Stillgrave; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
