Livonia council approves notice of intent to seek bond for new police station after months of study

The Livonia City Council voted unanimously to publish a notice of intent to pursue the issuance of a general-obligation limited tax bond, a legal notice that preserves the city’s option to issue debt for a new police facility but does not obligate the city to borrow or build.

Councilwoman Persicone, who summarized two Capital Outlay and Infrastructure Committee meetings, said the administration presented a plan to replace the city’s more-than-50-year-old police building and that a packet of project materials is available online. Persicone told the council the administration’s proposal priced the building itself at $48,000,000 and identified about $8,700,000 of additional items that would bring the grand total to about $56,000,000 if the extras were included.

"This is not a $70 million building," Persicone said, clarifying figures residents had circulated. "The building itself is $48,000,000. With extras that were originally proposed from the administration, it would bring the total up to $56,000,000." She added that the letter of intent starts a required 45‑day notice process and does not compel issuance of bonds.

Members framed the motion — described at the meeting as a routine legal step to publish a notice of intent with a not-to-exceed amount of $45,000,000 — as procedural. "By going out with a letter of intent, we are under no obligation to actually issue the bond," one councilmember said during debate. Several councilmembers urged continuing committee-level study of site alternatives, wetlands evaluations and cost estimates before any final decision.

The public comment period was lengthy and sharply focused on the station’s proposed site, project costs and the city’s recent millage defeat. Speakers urged caution and transparency, questioned whether the existing building could be remodeled, and urged the council to pursue grant and alternative funding before borrowing.

"If you approve that 1%, we'll see you in court," a resident said in reference to a proposed administrative fee highlighted in earlier discussions, underscoring public skepticism about new charges. Another resident who is an architect and building reviewer urged the council to "pump the brakes" and produce clear, unambiguous project requirements before committing to large capital outlays.

Tyler Vines, president of the Livonia Police Officer Association, told the council that renovating the current building is not feasible because the department cannot safely operate in an extended construction zone and that deficiencies in the existing structure would likely require demolition and full replacement. Vines also said millage dollars "are spent as they are intended to be spent" and are not simply returned to the general fund.

Council members debated transparency and oversight. Several called for capital-outlay staff to include committee councilmembers in preliminary planning meetings so that elected members can receive information directly and earlier in the process. Members also discussed the need to preserve and pass an operating public-safety millage to maintain staffing and benefits while planning capital projects.

After discussion, the council voted 7-0 to publish the notice of intent to proceed with a general-obligation limited tax bond (a not-to-exceed amount of $45,000,000 was stated at the meeting). Council members emphasized that further site selection, wetlands review, budget decisions and any actual bond issuance would require separate approvals and public hearings.

Votes at a glance: the council also passed a separate set of agenda items during the meeting. It approved a proclamation declaring Arbor Day at Riley Elementary; approved a contract extension for lane-line marking work in the amount of $125,000; approved a four-story hotel site plan for 31501 Schoolcraft Road; tabled an outdoor-display waiver petition due to the petitioner’s absence; and referred proposed updates to the city’s noxious-weed ordinance (including non-enforcement language for managed native-plant gardens) to the Department of Law for drafting. The council placed two millage questions on the August 2026 primary ballot: a public-safety renewal and a cultural/senior-services renewal; both ballot placements passed 7-0.

The council recorded that the notice of intent will be published and that the police-station planning work will continue in committee, with additional public engagement and technical assessments planned as the next steps.