Transparency, accountability and community engagement are essential in a democracy. Local government is important and City Council meetings provide insight into what’s happening in your community. Here is a summary of the May 22, 2023 Regular Meeting of Livonia City Council.

General Meeting: https://livoniami.portal.civicclerk.com/event/344

Councilwoman Kathleen McIntyre was not present but has an excused absence because she is on business related to the Pension Board.

Following a public comment about the lack of enforcement of the prohibition of golf cart driving in the city, City Council voted for a report and recommendation from the Livonia Police Department and Administration.

Reports from the Department of Finance were accepted.

The consent agenda was approved.

A block party was approved

St. Mary’s Festival received approval for a noise level up to 85 decibels. A memo will be sent to the LPD letting them know in the event there are resident complaints. The annual festival is August 11th – 13th

A 2nd reading for a rezoning of 31501 Schoolcraft Road from Highway Services to High Rise Commercial for Nofar Hotel Group was approved. Yea: Bahr, Donovic, Morgan. Nea: McCullough and Toy.

(Jolly recused himself due to a conflict of interest from the approval of the Nofar hotel and the St. Mary’s Festival from his personal employment)

Site plan requests were approved for Nofar Hotel and Four Winds Church.

A Waiver use extension was approved for Plymouth Auto Sales.

Study Meeting Agenda: https://livoniami.portal.civicclerk.com/event/360/overview

Approved for the consent agenda:

Livonia AM Rotary Club’s Annual Carnival at 7 Mile and Middlebelt – July 13th to 23rd

A Dairy Queen was approved for the former location of Steak and Shake at Middlebelt and 6 Mile

Commission reappointments for Pat Crandell (Livonia Economic Development Corps), Sam Caramagno (Planning Commission), Glen Long (Planning Commission) and Peter Ventura (Planning Commission).

Multiple purchase requests

Consent items of note:

The Livonia Housing Commission requested approval for the 2023 CDBG Annual Action Plan that begins on July 1st and has a budget of $732,042 for program funds. Programs include services for domestic abuse victims, rehab programs, mental health services, Livonia Community Transit, utility assistance and more. Complete budget is available here: https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/…/fa2c8067…

Request to increase water and sewer rate by 4.96% was approved. This will result in an average quarterly increase of $9.20 for most households. The new rate goes into effect on July 1st. In response to regularly increasing water rates, the City is exploring the construction of a water tower to help mitigate need during peak usage hours.

For the next Regular Meeting 6/5:

A request by Nofar Hotel Group for a 3 year extension for a redevelopment agreement was put on the regular agenda meeting. They were previously granted 7 years and this would cap them at a 10 year maximum.

Public Works requested approval for roof replacements/repair at the Senior Center, Fire Station #1, #5 and #6. The repair needs of the Senior Center were budgeted for in 2021 at $53k but the project received no bids. In this case it was bundled with other projects and received a bid that totals $681,853

As always, the meeting agendas can be viewed on the city website here: https://livonia.gov/129/Agendas-Minutes

The meetings can be watched unedited on the city’s Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LivoniaTV