Mount Clemens commission approves residential parking zone rules, Rose Walk sponsorship and retention-basin cleanup

The Mount Clemens City Commission on Aug. 4 approved three items aimed at local quality-of-life and infrastructure concerns: a resolution establishing fees and criteria for residential parking permit zones under amended Ordinance 20.2; a sponsorship agreement with Advancing Macomb to act as fiscal sponsor for a Rose Walk beautification project; and a contract to remove sludge and debris from a retention basin before pump replacement.

The parking resolution, introduced under agenda item 9b, implements the authority granted by the commission’s July 7, 2025 second reading of an amendment to Ordinance 20.2. City staff said the measure allows the commission to establish residential permit parking zones and set permit fees by resolution. Commissioners and residents discussed notification letters, signage and logistics for issuing resident and guest passes. City staff said resident and guest passes will be free, issued annually by the treasurer’s office upon proof of residency, and that signage and hang tags will be required. “We’ll give them as many as they say they need,” staff said when describing guest passes; staff also said tickets issued in error would be waived. The commission adopted the resolution by roll call vote.

On the Rose Walk sponsorship, the commission approved a sponsorship agreement with Advancing Macomb to serve as the Beautification Committee’s fiscal sponsor. The committee described the Rose Walk as a transformative planting and gateway enhancement along southbound Cratchit Avenue between the Anton Art Center and Cass Avenue, including roses, native trees and permanent educational signs. The agreement, reviewed by the city attorney, allows Advancing Macomb to retain a 5% administrative charge on donations with a quarterly minimum of $250 to cover management costs, enabling donors to give electronically and the project to pursue grants requiring a nonprofit fiduciary. “This partnership will enable donors to contribute electronically and potentially benefit from tax deductions,” a committee representative said during the discussion. The commission approved the sponsorship by roll call vote.

Under agenda item 9c, the commission authorized cleanup of a retention basin that staff said is full of sludge and debris roughly 70 feet down, preventing city crews from installing new pumps. Staff recommended contracting the work before installing a new pump to avoid investing in equipment that could fail. The original contractor estimate cited $11,500 for a first mobilization and $8,500 for each additional mobilization; commissioners amended the motion to set a not-to-exceed cap of $65,650 to include Midwest charges. The motion passed by roll call.

Several residents had urged the commission to consider neighborhood impacts during discussion. Tony Bursey and Angela Graham told the commission they opposed residential permit parking proposals that would restrict where postal employees park near homes. Residents also raised repeated basement flooding in the Kendrick area and asked where flood mitigation ranks in the city’s budget and capital planning; commissioners said flooding is a priority and referenced a recent presentation and an engineering study underway. “I understand it was a heavy rain, but every year, the first rain of the summer, six inches in the basement, always raw sewage,” resident Joshua Gagnon said during public comment.

Other routine business included approval of a consent agenda and the city manager’s report, which listed upcoming meetings, park updates and community events. The meeting adjourned after a final voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Sponsorship agreement with Advancing Macomb (Rose Walk): approved by roll call vote. - Resolution establishing residential parking permit fees under Ordinance 20.2: approved by roll call vote. - Retention basin cleaning contract, amended cap $65,650: approved by roll call vote. - Consent agenda: approved by roll call vote.

What’s next: Staff said the parking program logistics (signage, pass distribution and enforcement procedures) will be finalized over roughly a month so implementation can align with the school year; the Beautification Committee will begin outreach for donations and volunteer planting once the fiscal-sponsor arrangements are in place.