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 October 16, 2023 Regular + Study Meeting of Livonia City Council.

General Meeting: https://livoniami.portal.civicclerk.com/event/354

The following items were approved:

Meeting minutes (approved with housekeeping updates)

2024 City Budget and tax collection requests from Clarenceville School District and Schoolcraft College

Clean express Auto Wash at 34835 Plymouth Rd (former Burger King) – tax issue was resolved

Livonia Jaycee’s approved for a Charitable Gaming License for Jeans and Jewels fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 18th – Jeans & Jewels Gala for Scholarships – Michigan JCI Senate

The issue of city mail going out with candidates for office prominently featured will go on the next Study Meeting. There are congressional rules that prohibit this from happening within a certain time frame of an election and it is proposed that the city adopt a similar ordinance.

The Livonia Athletic District (LAD) asked for a class C-liquor license and the matter will be sent to the Committee of the Whole.

Approved early voting plan from the Clerk’s office. This will go into effect in 2024, following the Michigan voter approved Proposal 2. There will be 9 days of early voting from 8am to 4pm leading up to each election. The voting site will be the current Livonia Housing Commission (10800 Farmington Rd). The new election reform will cost the City approximately $100k per election (although the state will cover costs for the presidential primary), this additional expense was discussed at the Finance and Budget meeting referenced above.

[Note on current election – 18,269 ballots have been sent out – learn more about voting in the Nov. 7th Election here – https://livonia.gov/199/Vote-Livonia]

City Council approved the acceptance of $8M from Wayne County for a new Senior Wellness Center (this will then be voted on by Wayne County commission). These funds will put the City at $19.5M for a new Senior Center, total goal is $21.5M.

Study Meeting Agenda: https://livoniami.portal.civicclerk.com/event/370/overview

The following were approved for the consent agenda:

Sidewalk waivers

New vehicle requests

New equipment for Livonia TV

Golf Course Master Plan paid for out of golf course enterprise funds

Update wayfinding signs at parks with new logo

Replacement splash pad at the Kirksey Recreation Center

4 year extension for ERG Environmental Services Hazardous Waste drop-off services

Storm drain system at renovated Salvation Army on Plymouth Rd

A quarter mile bank restoration along Bell Branch of the Rouge River within Blue Grass Park. This will be a $1M grant funded project led by Ashley Capital/EGLE.

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: https://www.youtube.com/@LivoniaTV