Council introduces amendment to sidewalk ordinance and hears Victoria Park residents' request for repairs

Howell — The Howell City Council on April 14 introduced Ordinance No. 970, an amendment to Chapter 1022 of the Sidewalk Ordinance to allow the city discretion to initiate cleanup of a property's sidewalk, and heard public commentary asking the council to include Victoria Park sidewalk repairs in next year’s budget.

Member Nikolas Hertrich introduced Ordinance No. 970; the meeting minutes record the ordinance as introduced but show no vote to adopt it that night. Council and staff discussed funding constraints for local roads and sidewalks. Mayor Robert Ellis said the city's budget was severely reduced in 2008 and a later Headlee override was defeated by voters; he added that the proposed State budget includes a substantial increase in road funding and changes to Act 51 allocations that could affect local projects. He also noted that a sidewalk maintenance special assessment district (SAD) could be established for Victoria Park residents as a local funding option.

Gerard Graney, representing the Victoria Park Association, supplied photos and asked the council to consider sidewalk maintenance in the 2025–2026 budget. The council thanked the association for providing visual documentation and discussed collaboration and potential funding sources, including applying for a SEMCOG sidewalk grant planned for June.

During public comment, Julie Ohashi, co-founder of SAGE, read a prepared statement disputing City Manager Erv Suida's comments about her February 24 presentation. A resident identified in the meeting attendance as Stephanie Booth read from the same prepared statement but declined to provide her full name at the microphone. Thomas Andrezejewski asked about demolition timing for the Snedicor building and requested fencing to prevent trespassing via his property; no timing or mitigation commitment was recorded in the minutes.

City Manager Erv Suida reported staff is preparing a SEMCOG sidewalk grant application for June and reminded the council of a budget work session scheduled for April 21. The State Tax Commission selected Howell for a 2025 assessment roll audit, and staff are reviewing an EGLE demolition bid packet. Planning & Zoning Administrator Kristi Troy and staff have begun accepting and issuing MEP permits.

What happens next: Ordinance No. 970 will return for further consideration at a later council meeting if the process proceeds. Staff intends to prepare a SEMCOG grant application in June and will pursue budget work-session items on April 21.

Source: Howell City Council regular meeting minutes, April 14, 2025.