Garden City Council approves zoning change for limited front-yard parking, water-contract adjustments and continued public-safety IT membership

Garden City’s City Council on Monday night approved a package of ordinances, contracts and resolutions intended to expand limited residential parking options, lower projected water-service volumes in its regional contract, and preserve continuity in the city’s public-safety information systems.

Mario Ortega, a planning specialist with McKenna, told the council the text amendment would permit certain front-yard hard-surface parking areas while limiting impacts. "The amendment has also been crafted to minimize the impact of hard surfaces in the front yards," Ortega said, explaining the proposal limits front-yard hard surfacing to 20% of a house’s frontage and constrains driveway approach width (the ordinance text and example calculations were presented to show how the rule would apply on 40-foot and 60-foot lots). The council adopted the zoning text amendment to Section 154.069 by roll call vote.

The amendment follows a Planning Commission recommendation after a May 14 public hearing that drew no public comment. Council members asked how the rule would work on narrow lots; Ortega and staff said the limits are intentionally modest so the allowance will not fit every parcel but will provide an alternative in some cases.

Council also approved an amendment to the city’s water-service agreement with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). DPW staff reported that GLWA agreed to lower the city’s contract "max day" and peak figures — with the staff presentation noting a reduction of the max-day figure to approximately 3.28 million gallons and the peak figure to about 4.87 million gallons — and adjusted projected and minimum annual volumes. The DPW director said the changes will not take effect until July 1, 2027, and that any future increases would be revisited at the next contract reopener; he told the council the adjustments should reduce the city’s future water charges based on usage.

The council also authorized a suite of operational items, including:

Votes at a glance: all roll-call votes listed below were recorded as 7–0 unless noted - Zoning text amendment (residential parking, Section 154.069): adopted (roll call recorded 7–0) - Amendment No. 5 to GLWA water service contract (flow/volume adjustments): approved (7–0) - Resolution calling a public hearing for the 2026 sidewalk program (public hearing set for July 13, 2026): approved (7–0) - Public Act 152 (80/20) opt-out resolution for employer health-contribution rules: adopted (7–0) - Library lease (Maplewood Center, July 1, 2026–Sept. 1, 2030; annual rent $53,000): approved (7–0) - Administrative Hearing Bureau hearing officer compensation ($75/hr): adopted (7–0) - Participation agreement with Clemus public-safety authority (continuation of regional records/dispatch services): authorized (7–0) - CivicPlus annual contract renewal (website, CC ClickFix, chatbot, mobile app; $33,617.73): approved (7–0)

Chief Robert Arnowski urged council to continue participation in the Clemus authority to preserve interoperability and criminal-justice information security. "Continued participation ensures uninterrupted operations, preserves regional partnerships, maintains compliance with criminal justice information security requirements, and provides long-term access to one of the most comprehensive public safety information networks in Michigan," Arnowski said. Chief Arnowski also noted the FY2027 rates include a standard 5% adjustment and that the city will move from quarterly to an annual payment on Oct. 1, 2026.

On personnel and bargaining matters, the council recessed into a closed session under MCL 15.268C to conduct strategy and negotiation on a collective-bargaining matter involving the Command Officers Association of Michigan. After returning to open session, the council voted to authorize the city manager to submit a proposed two-year collective bargaining agreement consistent with directions given in the closed session.

Several community announcements and non-agenda comments followed the council’s business: Kim Pulma of the Garden City Public Library promoted the library’s dinosaur-themed summer reading kickoff (with police and fire 'touch-a-truck' partners and a child ID table from the Freemasons), residents promoted the Autos for Autism fundraiser, and staff reported that the recent Community Shred Day served 148 vehicles and five walk-ups. The council also asked staff to prepare a report on recent service concerns involving the city’s garbage contractor for the next meeting.

The council adjourned after taking the listed actions. The sidewalk program public hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.