Tonight’s meeting is taking place in person and virtually at 7pm - to join virtually, follow instructions through this link. To join in person, head over to

City Council Chambers 2nd floor
12050 Woodward Ave
Highland Park, MI 48203

https://highlandparkmi.gov/Government/City-Council.aspx

Take a look at tonight’s agenda as well:

https://highlandparkmi.gov/getattachment/8b48691e-2ef0-44bc-88bc-156e5a7c8afa/230501.aspx

@williams_ashsue live tweeted the last Highland Park City Council meeting on 4/17/23 - check out her tweet thread to get caught up to speed!
https://twitter.com/williams_ashsue/status/1648051009216827406?s=20

And for even more context, visit this link to see ALL @DetDocumenters reporting on this agency
https://www.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=644

A big topic on the agenda tonight is the city’s potential bankruptcy, due to $24 million in unpaid services to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). A reporter from @freep examines why this might not be the best way forward: https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2023/04/30/highland-park-michigan-bankruptcy-water-debt-emergency-manager/70163858007/

Getting set up, council members are almost all here except for Council Member Temeko Manica. A couple TV cameras in the room, which I haven’t seen in the past. https://t.co/Uz3aaMYICP

7:00pm meeting is called to order

Roll call: everybody is here. Here’s a list of the council members

Jamal K. Thomas, Council President

Sharmain Robinson, Council President Pro Tem

Temeko Manica, Council Member, District 1

Kallela Martin, Council Member, District 2

Khursheed Ash-Shafii, Council Member, D.3

On to approving agenda: some conversation not into the mics, hard to understand, but there was a motion to remove section V. of the agenda, “Outside Communication”, proposed by Ash-Shafii. Motion passes.

Another motion on the floor:
Walk on to retain lawyers. Adding the following to the agenda:
Legal representatives are here. Will be making a PowerPoint presentation and answering questions. No vote on the proposed resolution until after the presentation.

Waiting on Ash-Shafii’s vote on this motion right now, he is reviewing the information on his desk. He votes no until he has more time to read.

President Thomas pushes back, this motion was voted down 3 to 2. Councils have voted not to retain an attorney.

One of the lawyers proposes to hold off on this vote until after the presentation.

More discussion on where this fits into the agenda - lawyer recommends that this is part of the two existing items.

Another vote to approve the agenda:
Robinson, Manica: Yes
Robinson, Martin, Ash-Shafii: No

Motion to approve the agenda does not pass.

Motion for approving 4/10 meeting minutes:
Not approved

4/17 meeting:
Not approved

4/20 meeting:
Approved

Mayor McDonald addresses the council and the public.
Mentions a city event at the firehouse, this Saturday. https://t.co/YtE82rRako

Mayor may be declaring a state of emergency, does not want a water levy to be added to your taxes, the citizens will not be paying. She hopes the council will reconsider, and if not she will declare a state of emergency.

Next up: legal updates/discussion:
- Requesting determination of probably financial stress/preliminary review under MCL 141.1544 (1) (a) & (o) of PA 436 of 2012
- Recommending that Highland Park proceed under Chapter 9 pursuant to MCL 141.1565 (23) of Public Act 436 of 2012