Rochester Hills council approves contracts, green-lights new DPS deputy role; youth council presents biannual report

Rochester Hills — The City Council on [this meeting date] approved a series of contracts and personnel changes and heard two civic presentations, including a biannual report from the Rochester Hills Government Youth Council.

Mister Wright of the Midwest Strategy Group gave a Lansing update that opened the meeting’s substantive discussion. "Fiscal year 26... revenue overall will decline, about $780,000,000," he said, and he forecast a roughly $1.1 billion decline for the next fiscal year. Wright told council the state road funding package will offset some local impacts and that Rochester Hills is expected to receive "an additional almost $3,000,000 a year" in road funding. He also summarized pending proposals on property tax reform, senior tax credits and possible local-preemption bills.

The youth council’s biannual presentation, delivered by Isabella Blakely and Sasha Joshi, combined a staged performance with program highlights. The students recapped outreach such as a Super Bowl canned-food drive that collected 246 pounds for Neighborhood House, volunteer work at community events, poll-worker service, and plans for a cultural fair on April 18 at the Rochester Christian Alumni Center. Mayor Barnett praised the council, saying the city is "so blessed to have" the youth program and called the presentation "really, really, really well done." Council members also expressed thanks and noted the group’s role representing youth on advisory boards.

On council business, members approved a set of procurement and administrative items by voice votes. Key approvals included:

Votes at a glance

- Appointment: Confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Kathleen Fitzgerald to the Board of Review to fill a term expiring 12/31/2026 (resolution read and adopted by voice vote).

- Wildlife permit resolution: Approved a five-year resolution supporting the Lockmoor Hills Neighborhood Association’s application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for a Canada goose nest-egg destruction permit. Dan Collins, representing the HOA, said prior DNR-recommended methods had "not proven effective or sustainable," noting recent totals of "approximately 50 nests and over 215 eggs collected" in two years.

- Energy contract: Authorized a blanket purchase order for electric service delivery to city facilities with DTE Energy (and the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority) in an amount not to exceed $609,930 through Dec. 31, 2026.

- Parks capital project: Approved a contract to Play Environments Design (Holland, Mich.) for renovation of Avondale Park playground in the amount of $367,197.96 with a 5% contingency for a total not to exceed $385,557.86; staff said the design will improve accessibility and safety.

- IT/network services: Authorized a three-year blanket purchase order to Global Solutions Group (Madison Heights) for network support services, not to exceed $1,360,000, and a short-term interim contract to IT Solutions Group, not to exceed $39,570, to bridge the vendor transition through April 1, 2026.

- Public-works supplies and maintenance contracts: Approved blanket purchase orders for joint sealant materials and applicators to Craftco Inc. (not to exceed $143,200 through 12/31/2027); ready-mix concrete supplies with Protocon RM as primary and Daytona Ready Mix LLC as secondary (not to exceed $201,070 through 12/31/2027); and a five-year software maintenance contract for the city’s water meter test bench with Mars Company in the amount of $173,333 (council waived the usual term limit to achieve cost savings).

- Personnel: Created one new full-time deputy director of DPS operations effective immediately. Finance staff explained the long-term funding plan: roughly 50% from major roads/local street/pathway funds (Act 51 revenues), 35% from the water and sewer fund (estimated to add about 2¢ per unit to customer's bills in the near term), 10% from the fleet fund via internal service charges, and 5% from the stormwater fund with a general-fund subsidy. Finance staff and councilmembers noted the position will not be filled until the DPS director is hired and that vacancy savings in 2026 will offset initial costs.

Council members asked several procedural and programmatic questions during the items: Parks staff explained warranty and spare-parts planning for playground components and confirmed two permanent shade structures plus nearby mature trees will provide shade at Avondale. MIS staff cited cybersecurity and resilience as drivers for the new network support contract and noted additional vendor details were provided to council via email because technical specifics were not appropriate for public discussion.

Public comment included a resident concern about increasing rodent populations and waste pickup practices in surrounding communities; the mayor said staff would look into the issue.

The meeting ended with a proposal from Councilwoman Neubauer to form an ad hoc committee to review council rules and procedures; that item was placed on the Feb. 23 agenda. The council adjourned; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Reporting note: quotes and figures above are drawn from council presentations and public comment during the meeting.