Livonia City Council Meeting June 1, 2026

Pledge, Roll Call & Special Recognition

Council President Kayleigh Reid opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Martha Ptashnik. Roll call confirmed all seven members present: Ptashnik, Vice President Patrick Brockway, Brandon McCullough, Eileen McDonnell, Carrie Budzinski, Robin Persiconi, and President Reid.

Before formal business, Councilmember McCullough presented a Certificate of Commendation to Kaylee Doyle, a Livonia native and goaltender for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League. Doyle played for the Livonia Knights boys team for eight years before starring at Quinnipiac University and with the Honey Bake Brown club. Young girls from Livonia hockey programs attended the ceremony and hand-delivered the certificate in a warm exchange. Doyle spoke briefly: "For the future of women's hockey… I hope to see you guys in the big league one day." The council then approved the minutes of the May 18, 2026 regular meeting, 7–0.

First Audience Communication — Timeline

The Council set aside 30 minutes for public comment on non-agenda items. Nine speakers came forward.

• 8:16
  Hayato Yamaguchi · Livonia Representing the Congressional Youth Advisory Council for District 12 (non-partisan, guided by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib), Yamaguchi called on the city to pass a moratorium on new data centers. He cited noise reaching up to 80 dB (comparable to a vacuum cleaner), potential water consumption of up to 5 million gallons per day, increased utility bills, and water quality concerns. He argued that data centers create only 100–200 permanent jobs, that young families are already leaving Livonia, and that the impacts contradict the city's motto of "Families First."
• 11:24
  Denise Mica · Livonia Raised three issues: (1) A discrepancy in the Notice of Intent to Bond — it was voted on March 23, published March 26, but minutes were not approved until April 8, and she argued the clock for public notification should restart. (2) Asked the Council to use its influence to extend the Livonia Go Bus hours beyond 6 p.m. for residents who depend on it, having raised the issue at the Housing Commission. (3) Reported noticing an active ceiling leak in the Council chamber during the Memorial Day ceremony, stating water dripped on her head while seated in the back-left area.
• 14:29
  Bob Hauser · Livonia Representing the Wayne County Wild Ones native plant group, Hauser reminded council that the Native Landscapes ordinance is still pending in the law department and remains a community priority. He announced a member yard tour on June 28 featuring two Livonia residents' native plant landscapes, and invited interested council members and the Greenleaf Committee to attend. His yard would also be open. He noted Wild Ones will have a table at the Greenleaf Committee plant sale.
• 16:40
  Katie Brockovich · Livonia Raised two concerns: (1) Ahead of the Livonia Spree, she warned that residents near the Kimberly Oaks neighborhood were illegally blocking public street parking with trash bins and cones, and some placed signs charging $20–$50 to park on public streets. She confirmed Livonia police said this is illegal and announced she would personally remove obstructions. (2) Criticized the mayor for being inaccessible, noting she has lived in Livonia 11 years and could only reach former Mayor Dennis Wright, who actually came to her home. She challenged the council not to be "gatekeepers."
• 19:49
  Steve King · Country Gardens King played a recording of his band, Steve King and the Dudleys, then reported he will not be performing at the Livonia Spree this year despite having done roughly 50 performances over the years, including creating the synchronized music program for the fireworks on Bald Diamond. He said he was offered a return engagement but that opportunity disappeared after months of speaking at council meetings and "challenging decisions made by city leaders." He suggested this may be retaliatory. He stated, "This isn't about Steve King and the Dudleys — it's about whether people can speak freely… and still participate in community events without fear."
• 22:51
  Lynn Mills · South Livonia Spoke about the upcoming Wayne County transit tax on the August election ballot. Shared historical perspective on SEMTA (formed 1967) and its evolution into SMART, emphasizing the system's history of challenges. Distinguished between people who can't drive, won't drive, and don't want to drive. Argued opposing the transit tax doesn't make someone racist — it reflects tax concerns — but acknowledged bus transit changed her own life early in her career. Urged a balanced perspective.
• 25:56
  Christopher Martin · Great State of Michigan Commented on the hanging flower baskets recently installed on lampposts along Five Mile at Farmington — noting they are live plants requiring regular watering and maintenance by a truck crew. He argued that high-quality artificial flowers would be visually indistinguishable to drivers passing at 40 mph and would save significant money over time. He also criticized the standing-seam metal roof on the Rotary Pavilion, calling it "shameful," and suggested the workers should have watched installation videos before proceeding.
• 29:03
  Dale · Livonia Countered earlier skepticism about the Wayne County SMART transit tax. Noted that all of Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties have now joined the system because it is working and expanding. Argued that Livonia should not see itself as a "little golden island" isolated from Metro Detroit. Expressed disappointment that Livonia did not support the transit millage the last time it appeared on the ballot. Said it is important to view Livonia as part of a larger regional community for everyone's benefit.
• 31:37
  Nicole Hefty · Rosedale Gardens, Livonia Opened by wishing a happy Pride Month (June), noting its history honoring LGBTQ contributions and those lost during the AIDS epidemic. Then pivoted to e-bike safety, noting she works for the City of Dearborn Heights, which is drafting an e-bike ordinance. She described witnessing a police officer hosing a stain off the road near a pink e-bike and described a child being struck on an e-bike outside Dearborn Heights City Hall. Offered to share draft ordinance language and suggested inter-city cooperation on micromobility regulation.

Council Member Updates — Timeline

• 34:06
  Councilmember McDonnell — May 2026 Retirees Recognized three city retirees: Suzanne Oner (Civil Service, 24 years 10 months), Kenneth Pinotti (Library, 35 years 4 months), and Ted Davis (Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, 10 years 11 months deferred). Congratulated all three on their service.
• 34:48
  Councilmember McCullough — Data Centers & Ordinance Queue Initially proposed drafting a moratorium ordinance on data centers. Councilmember Budzinski noted a related Economic Development and Strategic Planning Committee meeting was already scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, where the Law Department has new information to present before any vote on a moratorium. McCullough also asked Interim City Attorney Goldstein whether the Council could enact a temporary moratorium by resolution alone — Goldstein confirmed state and federal court precedent in Michigan requires an ordinance, not a resolution, to avoid litigation. McCullough confirmed the law department has multiple pending ordinances (data centers, native plants, car washes, gas stations) and reassured the public the Council has not forgotten them.
• 38:38
  Councilmember Ptashnik — Multiple Announcements Announced the annual audit report meeting for fiscal year December 2024 – November 2025, to be held Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Congratulated the Save Our Youth organization and Karen Bonanno on a successful 5K run that Saturday. Announced Passport to Safety event the coming Saturday featuring public safety demonstrations. Congratulated approximately 1,000 high school graduates from Clarenceville, Franklin, Churchill, and Stevenson. Addressed the meeting minutes/vote question raised by a resident (with City Attorney Goldstein confirming that votes are legally binding when cast, and minutes serve only as a record of those votes — the approval process provides an opportunity to note if a vote was recorded incorrectly, not to re-argue). Then moved to refer e-bikes, e-scooters, and golf carts to the Law and Education Committee for review of safety, helmets, street legality, and age requirements — voted 7–0.
• 43:51
  Councilmember Budzinski — Coffee Hour Announced a Coffee Hour on June 13 at 1 p.m. at the Civic Center Library, with Council President Reid as a guest. Open to all residents. Light refreshments provided. Also noted data regarding Item 17 (the car wash) would be new and relevant for the evening's vote.
• 44:22
  President Reid — Spree Flash Sale Alert Announced a Livonia Spree wristband flash sale on June 3, running 24 hours only at a discounted rate.

Full Agenda — Actions Taken

The table below covers all 29 agenda items. Items 1–16 were voted on as a single Consent Agenda block.

Item 17 in Depth: The Car Wash at Six Mile and the Traffic Light Nobody Owns

What Was at Stake

The proposed car wash site sits at a heavily trafficked stretch of Six Mile Road near I-275. The site's current approved configuration includes one entrance/exit directly on Six Mile. Fox Drive is a side road to the north where access would provide a secondary exit for customers. Critically, moving the car wash's primary driveway approach eastward on the site is the prerequisite Wayne County requires before it will permit a traffic signal at the Six Mile/Fox Drive intersection — a signal that Quakertown subdivision residents, Schoolcraft College (8,500 students), Masco Corporation employees, and area businesses have long wanted. Councilmembers, residents, and the developer agreed the traffic signal would be a safety improvement; the dispute was whether Fox Drive access was necessary to achieve it.

The Petitioner's Argument (Attorney Brandon Grysko)

Grysko presented new technical data including a Trip Generation Memo (using the Institute of Transportation Engineers manual) showing that switching from a fine-dining restaurant use to a car wash would result in a net traffic impact within the 1% annual growth rate already assumed in the 2022/2023 HRC signal warrant traffic study. He argued:

• 75–90% of car wash traffic is pass-by traffic (people who were already driving that road), not new trips.
• The HRC engineer's comment at Planning Commission that Fox Drive access was "needed" was an off-the-cuff opinion, not a studied conclusion; no engineering document in the record establishes Fox Drive as critical.
• The site has a 21-car stacking capacity; peak industry car wash queues run 8–10 cars.
• Peak car wash hours (beginning around 10 a.m.) do not overlap with peak commute hours (8–9 a.m.), further limiting conflict.
• The traffic signal — which all parties want — does not depend on Fox Drive access; it depends solely on the developer relocating its driveway approach to the east. Fox Drive access has been "foisted" on them as a condition over private property they cannot control.
• Developer offered to include language committing to "reasonable efforts" to still pursue Fox Drive or hotel-property access even if the condition is removed, and offered to fund a portion of the traffic signal.
• If denied, the project stalls; the driveway stays where it is; and the traffic signal may not materialize for a decade.

The Neighbors' Arguments (Public Comment, Item 17)

• ~1:06
  Tori Osaki · Quakertown Subdivision Said getting in and out of the Quakertown subdivision is already difficult, with people illegally turning left out of Fox Drive constantly. Worried the traffic light would not be built if Fox Drive access fell through (she later clarified her understanding after the developer spoke). Asked that the traffic light be guaranteed if this is approved, and that it be designed to serve both Quakertown and Fox Drive residents.
• ~1:08
  Sam Balki · Livonia, civil engineer Identified himself as a civil engineer who has assisted the car wash project. Explained that the traffic signal is controlled by a single landowner at 38888 Six Mile Road who must sell or allow use of approximately 40 feet of property for Wayne County to permit the signal. That landowner has rejected multiple offers and negotiations from the developer, Wayne County, the City, Schoolcraft College, and neighboring businesses. Said the access to Fox Drive — while desirable — is not what controls whether the signal happens; the 40-foot strip is the key.
• ~1:10
  Barbara Malcolm · Quakertown Wanted to confirm the proposed offset traffic signal would allow Quakertown residents to turn both left and right out of their subdivision — not just in one direction — and that Fox Drive residents would have the same. Sought assurance the signal design would serve both neighborhoods, not just Fox Drive.
• ~1:11
  Katie Brockovich · Livonia (works at Six Mile & Haggerty) Said she already avoids the area during construction by rerouting through Newburgh to Five Mile. Noted people run the light at the I-275 Six Mile ramp at high speed. Called for a "no turn on red" sign at that ramp. Criticized the practice of approving projects and then dealing with the consequences, calling it "putting the cart before the horse." Said police have not visibly run radar since COVID and suggested commercial trucking violations on Six Mile are revenue opportunities being missed.
• ~1:13
  Jim Bigga · Livonia Focused criticism on the traffic signal concept map itself, arguing that a single light placed 50–60 feet from the intersection would be ineffective because drivers — especially in rain, snow, or at night — do not stop that far back. Argued staggered, multiple lights are needed at the intersection to serve Fox Drive and Quakertown. Said the inadequacy of the signal design is itself a reason to deny. Also alluded to the December revote controversy.
• ~1:15
  Jeff Hawker · Masco Corporation Represented the pro-development, pro-signal coalition. Estimated 8,500 Schoolcraft students, 200 Masco employees, and 500 daily Saint Joseph's Medical Center patients regularly cross Six Mile at this location, with a large portion living south of Six Mile. Argued holding up the project over a 40-foot strip of land is untenable. Pushed council to resolve the issue that night and called the car wash developer a partner in a meaningful public safety investment.
• ~1:16
  Denise Mica · Livonia Challenged the 1% traffic growth assumption, arguing anyone who drives that road daily can see traffic is far heavier than 1% above past levels — even before Whole Foods opened. Opposed eminent domain for private developer benefit. Also referenced the December 2025 revote, suggesting the prior council had rushed the original approval.
• ~1:18
  Nicole Hefty · Rosedale Gardens Citing her work on the Safe Streets study for Dearborn Heights using SEMCOG data, noted the pavement on that segment of Six Mile is rated "fair" and carries approximately 26,700 daily vehicle trips. Strongly objected to the developer's argument that approving the car wash is how you get the traffic light, calling it an inappropriate conflation of private development interest with public safety infrastructure: "I get a little itchy because I feel like that's absolute [expletive]... that's a dictatorship."
• ~1:36
  Steve King · Livonia (second comment, on item 17) Said he was watching from home and found the discussion confusing. Noted a comparable project at Seven Mile & Farmington (Meijer) required a traffic light before construction could proceed. Suggested traffic studies tend to give developers the answers they pay for, and proposed that dash-cam footage of the intersection driven daily would be a more reliable indicator of real traffic conditions than a formal study.
• ~1:43
  Victoria Whiskey (Osaki) · Quakertown Returned for a second comment during the approval motion discussion. Sought clarification: without Fox Drive, is the car wash limited to a single right-in / right-out on Six Mile? (Confirmed yes.) Noted this is actually a business disadvantage for the developer, since customers who want to turn left after washing their car would have to loop back. Expressed continued concern that the traffic light design be a staggered offset signal to serve both Quakertown and Fox Drive.

Council Deliberation — The Full Arc

Opening motion: Vice President Brockway moved to deny the petition; Councilmember McDonnell supported. The initial posture of the council was skeptical.

Councilmember Persiconi asked detailed questions about the emergency access route through the adjacent vacant hotel property — whether it connects to Fox Drive and whether the developer had pursued a binding agreement. Grysko confirmed the hotel-property emergency access exists physically but its legal use for regular traffic has not been secured, and negotiations with that property owner also broke down.

Councilmember McCullough voiced sympathy for the developer, noting the project was already narrowly approved and he drives the road daily. His sticking point was egress: with only one right-in/right-out entrance on Six Mile and no Fox Drive access, he worried about stacking and traffic flow. He questioned whether a decade might pass before Wayne County would otherwise install a light, and whether denying the petition would leave the area with a massive development complex and no signal at all.

Councilmember McDonnell quoted directly from the Planning Commission record, where the traffic study engineer had said the car wash "definitely needs a second" access point when asked by a commissioner in summer 2025. She also shared an email from Livonia's traffic officer who — while not a traffic engineer — said he anticipated potential traffic concerns from the combined development and noted an intersection signal had been proposed. She said she could not support removal of the Fox Drive condition.

City Attorney Goldstein confirmed: a vote to deny today would not kill the approved land use; it would simply keep the original conditions — including the Fox Drive requirement — in place. The car wash could still be built if the developer eventually secured Fox Drive access.

Councilmember Budzinski noted this was her "second bite at the apple" — she had voted against the project even with the secondary access condition. She took issue with the suggestion that council was making "unreasonable demands," stating that site-plan conditions are exactly within council authority, and the Fox Drive requirement was a negotiated part of the approval for a controversial project.

Councilmember Persiconi said her overriding consideration was the traffic signal: "That light is the most important thing… It's millions. It's a multi-million dollar investment in Livonia for the safety of the residents over there." She wanted stronger language than "reasonable efforts" for Fox Drive pursuit. Councilmember McCullough added an amendment requiring the traffic signal to be installed and operational before a certificate of occupancy is issued — meaning the car wash cannot open until the light is in place. Persiconi accepted the amendment.

Grysko raised a concern that tying the certificate of occupancy to Wayne County's permitting timeline — which the developer does not control — could leave them with a $5–6 million built-out facility they cannot legally open. The council acknowledged the risk but held firm on the condition.

Final Amended Approval Motion — Conditions

Final Votes — Item 17

Second Audience Communication

• 2:08:21
  Jim Bigga · Livonia Asked for clarification on whether a council vote from one meeting can be revisited at a subsequent meeting. Referenced a past instance involving former Councilmember Scheel who rescinded and revoted on an issue. City Attorney Goldstein had already addressed this during council announcements: votes are legally binding when cast; minutes serve only as a record. The council is not permitted to use the minute-approval process to re-argue or reopen settled votes.
• 2:09:35
  Cindy Fleming · Livonia Raised concern about a water main maintenance event that occurred Saturday morning. She received a text from a neighbor saying the water was brown, running from Plymouth to Joy and Farmington to Merriman. The non-emergency police line reportedly told callers not to drink the water even if boiled, not to shower, and not to wash clothes. A Code Red alert was supposed to go out but Fleming, her husband, and her neighbor — all signed up for Code Red — did not receive it. She asked what happened to the alert system and how communication can be improved.

Public Works Director Kevin Zach responded directly. He confirmed crews went out Saturday to make a planned valve repair in an industrial corridor on an 18-inch cast iron main. The repair stirred up iron-manganese deposits in the aged pipes — a common and biologically safe occurrence. He emphasized: "The water was safe to consume. If it's not, we will issue a boil water alert." He said the non-emergency employee who advised residents not to drink or shower was incorrect and apologized for any confusion. The city's social media post came from him directly in his capacity as the licensed S1 water system operator.

Zach announced several improvements underway: door hangers with QR codes for Code Red sign-up being developed for use in impacted areas; and a water main break tracker being built online that will show when a break was reported, the impact area, and when it was resolved — with a sign-up link for alerts.

Government Relations Report — Erica Smith

Government Relations representative Erica Smith provided an update on two major city property projects that was inserted after the main agenda votes:

Civic Center Library — ADA Atrium Bathroom

The project to create an ADA-compliant, family-style bathroom in the lobby (in the current coat room location) went out to bid on May 18. The bid closes June 9. A mandatory pre-bid site visit was held May 27. The project will be funded by the Housing Commission. Smith said the council can expect this to come to a study meeting in July, and construction is targeted to be complete by the end of 2026.

The remaining lobby and interior restroom renovations were held pending a federal grant through Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's office. If the grant is received, work is expected in spring/summer 2027. If not, the city will look to redirect funds from other projects to complete them sooner. Contractors for the bathroom renovation and roof project will be separate but their access and schedules will be coordinated to minimize disruption to library patrons.

Civic Center Library — Atrium Roof

A decision had been pending on whether to convert the atrium's iconic glass roof to solid metal. The administration has now authorized proceeding with replacing the glass and seals in kind, preserving the original design that many residents value. Work will most likely occur spring/summer 2027, depending on funding and possibly combined with the interior bathroom project to reduce library closures.

Alfred Noble Library Site — RFP Launched

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former Alfred Noble Library site launched Friday, May 28, and closes July 17. Smith credited the Mayor's Task Force and city administration for their work on the RFP. Information and links are available at livoniagov2022 (the Mayor's Task Force website).

Meeting Adjourned

Vice President Brockway moved to adjourn; motion supported. The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:15 a.m. (running time from 7:00 p.m.). The council was set to reconvene at 9:25 p.m. for a study meeting. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. A special Economic Development and Strategic Planning Committee meeting on data center ordinances was scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium.