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Council rejects motion to fully reopen Ojibwe Island to vehicles after heated debate
Summary
A proposed council directive to reopen Ojibwe Island to vehicular traffic immediately upon completion of scheduled construction (target July 2026) failed on a 1–6 vote after extended public and council debate about safety, hours of operation, cameras and community input.
The Saginaw City Council on Monday debated a motion to direct staff to fully reopen Ojibwe Island to vehicular traffic immediately upon completion of construction work targeted for July 2026, but the motion failed after months of discussion and a contentious council vote.
Councilwoman [first reference] introduced the motion to require staff, through the city manager, to "fully reopen Ojibwe Island without any accessibility or vehicular barriers immediately upon completion of construction work currently slated for July 2026," and to require that any delay beyond that date be brought back to council for approval. She said the timeline would hold the council accountable to residents who had repeatedly requested reopening.
Nut graf: Council debate focused on public-safety measures (security cameras, lighting, police engagement and hours of operation), the adequacy of community engagement, and whether setting a firm date would bind the city to a possibly infeasible deadline. Opponents argued the city should confirm safety features, staffing and camera installation before allowing vehicles back in.
During more than an hour of remarks, council members and staff noted work already planned for the island — road repaving, added boulders and barriers, an accessible path, additional parking — and discussed how ARPA funds and other grants are being used to pay for improvements. Several members said they support reopening in principle but want additional security infrastructure and clearer operational rules. Mayor Pro Tem Garcia and others emphasized the need to balance access for seniors and families with safety concerns and the results of ongoing surveys.
The motion was seconded and ultimately put to a roll-call vote; after procedural exchanges, the final recorded vote was 1 yes and 6 no, and the motion was denied. Council members said the workgroup and staff will continue community outreach and planning; several members asked staff to return with specifics on camera installation, hours, signage, and a transparent public-feedback process before fully reopening.
What’s next: Council indicated it will continue the public engagement and workgroup process, pursue the planned construction and security upgrades, and return with more specific operational proposals for reopening Ojibwe Island to vehicle access.
