Saginaw council splits on Ajiway Island access plan; two-month trial motion fails

The Saginaw City Council on June 8 rejected a motion to adopt the city manager’s recommended access plan for Ajiway Island, leaving the park’s post‑reopening access rules undecided. The manager had proposed a “hybrid managed access” model that preserves daily vehicle access while keeping part of the drive dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists to improve safety.

City Manager Timothy Morales presented the project update and the access recommendation, saying the hybrid plan ‘‘is a balance of convenience and accessibility and safety’’ and listing remaining work items, cameras and cost estimates for optional items such as emergency call boxes (about $28,000) and a north‑loop trail (about $150,000). Morales said contractors expect to finish late June and that the park could reopen after Fourth of July cleanup and fireworks activity.

The council debate focused on safety and on interpreting a recent public survey. Councilwoman Carly R. Hammond said the survey did not clearly support the hybrid model: she cited the survey’s vehicle-access question and said a majority (56.5%) favored full vehicle access through the loop. ‘‘By far and away, number one, open to regular vehicle access throughout the park, had 56.5% support,’’ Hammond said, urging the council to heed what she described as clear public preference.

Manager Morales and other members disputed that reading, arguing many written comments asked for both vehicle access and improved pedestrian safety. The manager said a hybrid layout lets people drive to picnic or to aid mobility while preserving safer stretches for pedestrians and cyclists.

After debate, Hammond moved to implement the manager’s recommendation for a two‑month trial following the park’s opening and solicit public feedback before making a permanent decision. The motion failed on a roll call vote, 5–4 (yes: Tobias Young, Michael D. Balls, Heidi G. Wiggins, Carly R. Hammond; no: Justinta Seals, Mayor Pro Tim Garcia, Bill Ostach, Eric D. Bradock, and Mayor Brenda F. Moore). The clerk recorded five no votes and four yes votes; the motion was defeated.

Despite the failed trial motion, council approved a separate request from Mayor Pro Tim Garcia directing staff to prepare materials for the proposed north‑loop trail and emergency call‑box installations and bring them back as two separate council communications at the next meeting. The motion to prepare those items passed on a voice vote.

Council members and staff discussed possible mitigation measures if the hybrid or full‑access options are adopted later: speed tables that can be reconfigured seasonally, scheduled police patrols and overtime during busy periods, camera coverage (the manager said 18 cameras are budgeted), and possible emergency-call phones tied to 911. Morales also said some site work (benches, gates, furnishings, shoreline stabilization) is complete and that landscaping and punch‑list items should finish in late June.

Next steps: staff will return with separate proposals for the north‑loop trail and emergency call boxes (expected at the June 22 meeting) and the council will continue to consider park access after the park reopens and after staff gathers more public feedback.