Council Clears 23-Item Agenda in Under 70 Minutes, but Audience Pushes Back on Police Millage Outreach and a Flag on Middle Belt Road
LIVONIA — 6/18/2026
Livonia City Council · 2043rd Regular Meeting
Council President Kayleigh Reid handed off the gavel and testified in favor of a city lease benefiting the Livonia Spree, the festival she also runs as executive director, on a night when six members otherwise made quick work of a packed consent agenda and five water and sewer rate ordinances — while residents used nearly 40 minutes of public comment to question an invitation-only "Citizens Police Academy" dinner ahead of the August public safety millage, transparency at the Livonia Housing Commission, and the city's options for an offensive flag visible from Middle Belt Road.
The Livonia City Council held its 2,043rd regular meeting Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium, working through a 25-item published agenda — one item later postponed — in just over an hour. Council President Kayleigh Reid presided over a six-member quorum; Councilmember Martha Ptashnik was excused, traveling in Alaska. Every measure that came to a vote passed, several unanimously, but the night's real friction played out at the podium during two rounds of audience communication bookending the agenda.
Residents pressed council and City Attorney Eric Goldstein on a planned June 16 dinner for graduates of the Livonia Citizens Police Academy, funded through a community engagement grant, with several speakers arguing the event amounted to taxpayer-funded political messaging ahead of an August 4 public safety millage renewal. Other speakers raised long-running concerns about transparency at the Livonia Housing Commission, asked the city to address a profane flag visible from Middle Belt Road, and questioned the cost of a temporary wheelchair ramp reported on local television news. Council also heard committee updates on environmental concerns tied to the RACER Trust, which oversees cleanup of Livonia's former GM Powertrain site, and to the Ford Motor Company transmission plant; a $27 million Golden Oaks senior housing project on Newburgh Road; and a new approach to regulating data centers through a special-use waiver process rather than a moratorium.
Significant Events
- Council president steps down to testify for the other side of the table. When council took up the city's first-ever written lease with the Livonia Anniversary Committee for use of Ford Field Park, Council President Kayleigh Reid handed the gavel to Vice President Patrick Brockway and recused herself — then came to the podium as a member of the public to speak in favor of the lease, identifying herself as executive director of the Livonia Spree, a paid role she holds alongside her council seat. The remaining five members approved the lease, 5–0.
- Police millage outreach questioned. Multiple speakers, including a man who said his viral social-media post about being dropped from a Livonia Spree musical lineup had drawn national attention, alleged the administration was using a community engagement grant to fund an invitation-only dinner for Citizens Police Academy graduates ahead of the August 4 public safety millage vote. Speakers Denise Mica and Jim Bigga separately raised concern that grant funds could not legally be used to pay for alcohol if served at the event.
- City Attorney explains limits on regulating an offensive flag. After resident Robert Markowski asked what the city could do about a flag he called offensive on Middle Belt Road near Linden Road, Councilmember Carrie Budzinski asked City Attorney Eric Goldstein to address it on the record. Goldstein said the First Amendment bars the city from regulating the content of speech, including flags on private property — only its time, place and manner — and that city inspectors found no violation in how the flag is mounted or displayed.
- Housing Commission transparency questioned again. Residents Denise Mica and Jim Bigga told council the Livonia Housing Commission's web page is effectively inaccessible (login failures, blocked links) and asked for more visibility into roughly $1.8 million budgeted for Silver Village and the financing of an ADA-compliant library bathroom. Councilmembers Budzinski and Persiconi described the Housing Commission as a legally separate entity with its own monthly financial reporting.
- Councilmember apologizes over rec center post. Councilmember Brandon McCullough used his council comments to address a recent social media post criticizing maintenance conditions at the Livonia Community Recreation Center, apologizing to members affected and saying some of the facility's problems are "chronic" and have lingered for roughly five years.
- Data center policy shifts away from moratorium. Councilmember Budzinski reported that City Attorney Goldstein advised against a moratorium on data centers, citing legal exposure, and instead recommended classifying data centers as a special land use requiring council waiver approval. The matter, along with a separate proposal to cap gas stations and car washes, was referred toward the Planning Commission for review and a public hearing.
- Annual audit report postponed. President Reid pulled the Finance & Budget Committee's annual audit report (for the period ending November 30, 2025) from the agenda so that Committee Chair Martha Ptashnik, who was absent, can present it personally at the July meeting.
"Real transparency invites dissent. It does not avoid it."
— Steve King, addressing the council during audience communication regarding the Citizens Police Academy dinner.
Meeting Actions: Approved, Postponed, Unfinished & New Business
The table below reflects the council's official, numbered agenda. Item 15 (Finance & Budget Committee report) was withdrawn at the start of the meeting, which caused council members to briefly miscount item numbers aloud during the live roll calls that followed; the numbering below restores the official agenda sequence for clarity.
| Item | Description | Petitioner / Sponsor | Action | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consent Agenda — Items 1–12 (voted as a single block) | ||||
| 1 | Block party & street barricade, Five Mile Service Road (36916–36996), Sun., June 28, 4–10 p.m. | Lauren Feigel | Approved | 6–0 |
| 2 | Block party, Roycroft St. between Woodring & Loveland, Sat., July 4, noon–10 p.m. | Collin Buerkle | Approved | 6–0 |
| 3 | Block party, Brentwood St. between Jacquelyn & Meadowlark, Sat., Aug. 29 (rain date Aug. 30), noon–10 p.m. | J. Rumrill, R. Franges, M. Miller | Approved | 6–0 |
| 4 | Non-profit designation to obtain a state Charitable Gaming License for a future raffle fundraiser | Barbara Sexton / Kindred Spirits Quilters of Livonia | Approved | 6–0 |
| 5 | Waiver of driveway ordinance to let an existing approach remain 2 ft. 4 in. over the allowed width | Aquelio Garcia | Approved | 6–0 |
| 6 | Waiver Petition 2026-04-02-12: operate a consignment furniture store at 20412 Farmington Rd. | Second Showing LLC | Approved | 6–0 |
| 7 | Appoint a substitute magistrate, 16th District Court, per Administrative Order No. 3035 | Timothy J. Klisz | Approved | 6–0 |
| 8 | Resolution placing special assessments on properties with unpaid charges, 2025 Sidewalk Program (Contract 25-G) | Office of the City Treasurer | Approved | 6–0 |
| 9 | Bid award for custodial supplies, from budgeted funds | Dept. of Public Works | Approved | 6–0 |
| 10 | Appropriation for removal/installation of streetlights, Idyl Wyld Golf Course west lot, 35786 Five Mile Rd. | Engineering Division | Approved | 6–0 |
| 11 | Appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals, 3-year term expiring 7/12/2029 | Daniel Steele (apptd. by Pres. Reid) | Approved | 6–0 |
| 12 | Appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals, 3-year term expiring 7/12/2029 | Christopher Boloven (apptd. by Cm. Ptashnik) | Approved | 6–0 |
| Unfinished Business — Committee Reports | ||||
| 13 | Senior Citizens, Families & Environment Committee (May 20): environmental concerns tied to the RACER Trust (former GM Powertrain site) and the Ford Motor Co. transmission plant; status update on Golden Oaks senior housing (formerly Newburgh Senior Housing) | Cm. Eileen McDonnell, chair | Report received; RACER Trust/Ford matter formally Referred to Committee; Golden Oaks remains in committee, no vote required | 6–0 (referral) |
| 14 | Economic Development, Strategic Planning & Technology Committee (June 3): data center zoning policy; proposal to limit gas stations and car washes citywide | Cm. Carrie Budzinski, chair | Report received; data centers directed toward a special-use waiver ordinance and Planning Commission review in lieu of a moratorium; gas station/car wash item remains in committee with no further direction given | No vote taken |
| 15 | Finance & Budget Committee (June 8): Annual Audit Reports for Dec. 1, 2024–Nov. 30, 2025 | Cm. Martha Ptashnik, chair | Postponed — pulled from agenda by Pres. Reid; will be presented by Cm. Ptashnik in July | — |
| Unfinished Business — Ordinances & Petitions | ||||
| 16 | Waiver Petition 2026-03-02-11: banquet/event facility for over 50 occupants, 37176 Six Mile Rd. | Maison Rose Events | Approved with conditions carried over from the study session: licensed bartender required; facility must close by 11 p.m. | 6–0 |
| 17 | Petition 2026-03-03-01: vacate existing water main and scenic easements, 33500 Seven Mile Rd. | Seven Mile/Farmington Venture LP | First Reading Given — not yet finally adopted | No final vote |
| 18 | Amend Title 13, Ch. 8, §040 (Water Service Rates & Revenues) — second reading, effective with first billing on/after 7/1/26 | 1st reading: Cm. McCullough (6/1/26) | Adopted on second reading | 6–0 |
| 19 | Amend Title 13, Ch. 8, §050 (Water Service Rates & Revenues) — second reading, effective with first billing on/after 7/1/26 | 1st reading: Cm. Ptashnik (6/1/26) | Adopted on second reading | 6–0 |
| 20 | Amend Title 13, Ch. 28, §050 (Industrial Waste Surcharge) — second reading, effective with first billing on/after 7/1/26 | 1st reading: Cm. Budzinski (6/1/26) | Adopted on second reading | 6–0 |
| 21 | Amend Title 13, Ch. 20, §120 (Sewage Disposal System rates) — second reading, effective with first billing on/after 7/1/26 | 1st reading: VP Brockway (6/1/26) | Adopted on second reading | 6–0 |
| 22 | Amend Title 13, Ch. 20, §130 (Sewage Disposal System special rates) — second reading, effective with first billing on/after 7/1/26 | 1st reading: Cm. McDonnell (6/1/26) | Adopted on second reading | 6–0 |
| New Business | ||||
| 23 | Block party, Beatrice St. between Lori & Barkley, Sat., July 11, 12:30–4:30 p.m. (for a child's 5th birthday) | Kelly Ambrosi | Approved | 6–0 |
| 24 | First-ever written lease agreement for use of Ford Field Park to host the Livonia Spree 76, intended to let organizers treat the event as private property and remove unruly attendees | Livonia Anniversary Committee, Inc. | Approved — Pres. Reid Recused | 5–0 |
| 25 | Accept quit claim deed (no monetary consideration) for road right-of-way at Scone Court, Parcel #076-01-0072-004 | Soave Homes, Inc. | Approved | 6–0 |
No item on the June 15 agenda was denied or voted down. The minutes of the June 1, 2026 regular meeting were also approved, 6–0, at the top of the meeting.
Public Comment Timeline
Council set aside its standard 30 minutes for audience communication at the start of the meeting and reopened the floor again after new business. Approximate times below are calculated from the meeting recording's elapsed-time markers, assuming the 7:00 p.m. published start time.
| Approx. Time | Speaker | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| ~7:02 p.m. | May Saba | Said an EasyFiber contractor showed up unannounced to dig along the public right-of-way next to her sidewalk, claiming city authorization; described difficulty getting a clear answer from the city, state regulators and the FTC, and asked for a better resident-notification process before utility work begins. City Engineer Todd Zilincik responded that contractors are required to distribute door-hanger notices under their city permit and asked her to report any lapse to Engineering so the city can follow up with EasyFiber. |
| ~7:07 p.m. | Mila, on behalf of MP Global Foundation | Publicized a free "Punch for Purpose" community fundraiser July 11 at Impact Mentoring Jiu-Jitsu, supporting owner James Gray's family after a serious car accident; asked the city to help promote it and connect organizers with local sponsors. |
| ~7:10 p.m. | Steve King | Thanked supporters after a viral social media post; alleged the administration is using a community-engagement grant to fund an invitation-only dinner for Citizens Police Academy graduates ahead of the August 4 public safety millage, calling it taxpayer-funded political messaging rather than transparent public engagement. |
| ~7:13 p.m. | Robert Markowski | Asked what the city can do about a flag he considers offensive on Middle Belt Road near Linden Road, saying he has raised it with the mayor's office twice without resolution. |
| ~7:14 p.m. | Christopher Martin | Said he plans to vote against the August public safety millage, citing growth in the general fund share devoted to police and fire from 60% to 66%; separately criticized workmanship on a new standing-seam metal roof at the Rotary Park pavilion. |
| ~7:17 p.m. | Denise Mica | Raised concerns about the planned June 16 Citizens Police Academy dinner at St. Mary's, questioning use of grant funds for alcohol and calling the arrangement non-transparent, while saying she personally supports the police and fire millage. |
| ~7:19 p.m. | Greg Rocco | Said council rarely revisits topics raised during audience communication and asked members to publicly discuss why the city's legal department defended a Planning Commission/zoning board decision on the Eight Mile & Newburgh corner that he said ran counter to council's own 5–2 vote against rezoning. |
| ~7:27 p.m. | Christopher Martin | Commenting on Consent Agenda Item 11, suggested the council should have approached Lucas McGrail, a licensed architect, builder and City of Detroit building inspector, about serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals instead of appointee Daniel Steele. |
| ~7:35 p.m. | Denise Mica | Speaking on the Senior Citizens Committee report, questioned roughly $1.8 million budgeted to Silver Village, asked whether Housing Commission projects use competitive bidding, and asked about funding for a new ADA-compliant bathroom at the Civic Center library. |
| ~7:42 p.m. | Jim Bigga | Said he cannot log into the Livonia Housing Commission's section of the city website despite having an account, calling it the only part of the city's site that is consistently inaccessible, and asked why. |
| ~7:54 p.m. | Kelly Ambrosi | Described her Item 23 block party request as a small, four-driveway closure for her child's 5th birthday party. |
| ~7:55 p.m. | Kayleigh Reid (Council President, speaking as Livonia Spree executive director after recusing herself) | Explained the new Ford Field Park lease (Item 24) is meant to let organizers treat the Spree grounds as private property so misbehaving attendees, including those involved in "teen takeovers," can be removed. |
| ~7:56 p.m. | Christopher Martin | Asked City Attorney Eric Goldstein whether creating a separate nonprofit lease entity for the Spree would shield the city from liability if someone were injured at the event. |
| ~7:59 p.m. | Jim Bigga | Said federal and state grants typically exclude alcohol as a reimbursable expense and questioned whether the Citizens Police Academy dinner would comply; separately argued obscenity law, not just the First Amendment, should let the city ask the Middle Belt Road flag's owner to remove it. |
| ~8:02 p.m. | Jerry Krasinski | Said some residents intend to vote down the public safety and senior services/cultural millages and rely on the city to backfill the roughly $10 million loss from a $76 million general fund; offered to help host a public session explaining city fund restrictions ahead of the vote. |
| ~8:04 p.m. | Frank McDermott | Cited a Channel 7 news report that the city spent $20,000 on a temporary accessibility ramp when a permanent fix was quoted at $6,000–$8,000, and asked for clarification on the discrepancy. |
| ~8:05 p.m. | John Pastor | Urged residents to vote yes on the police-and-fire millage and no on a separate SMART regional transit millage, citing low ridership and a roughly $72 million SMART pension shortfall; also defended Livonia Spree organizers against online criticism over a band dropped from this year's lineup. |
| ~8:07 p.m. | Sandra McCluskey | Suggested clearing the Livonia Spree grounds around 9–9:30 p.m. before fireworks to reduce teenagers loitering in the area. |
Council Member Updates Timeline
| Approx. Time | Council Member | Update |
|---|---|---|
| ~7:22 p.m. | President Kayleigh Reid | Announced the Finance & Budget Committee's annual audit report (Item 15) would be pulled so Committee Chair Martha Ptashnik can present it in July; shared community notices for a Schoolcraft College "Experience Schoolcraft" open house (10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.) and campus Pride event (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) that Saturday, plus farmers market opening day and a native plant sale at the Greenmead/Wilson Barn site. |
| ~7:22 p.m. | Carrie Budzinski | Asked City Attorney Eric Goldstein to address, on the record, whether flags on private property are protected speech; Goldstein confirmed the city can only regulate the time, place and manner of such displays, not their content. |
| ~7:25 p.m. | Brandon McCullough | Addressed his own recent social media post criticizing conditions at the Livonia Community Recreation Center, apologizing to current members, saying the city has spent significant money there, and describing some maintenance issues as roughly five years in the making while praising the facility overall. |
| ~7:29 p.m. | Eileen McDonnell | Presented the Senior Citizens, Families & Environment Committee's May 20 report: a referral request on RACER Trust (the cleanup trust for Livonia's former GM Powertrain site) and Ford Motor transmission-plant environmental concerns, and a Golden Oaks senior housing update — roughly $27 million in state/federal funding, about 100 units, with design (~1 year) and construction (~2 years) phases for a 3-year total timeline. Relayed resident questions about trash service and tree removal at the Newburgh Village/Golden Oaks site. |
| ~7:34 p.m. | Carrie Budzinski | Moved to formally refer the RACER Trust/Ford transmission-plant matter to the Senior Citizens, Families & Environment Committee for further discussion; motion passed 6–0. |
| ~7:37 p.m. | Patrick Brockway | Relayed a Housing Department response on Silver Village trash service, saying residents already have both curbside pickup and a dumpster, that the lease bars storing cans on porches, and that surveyed residents preferred the current setup to individual trash carts; also addressed a resident's rodent bait-station question as routine pest-control maintenance. |
| ~7:38 p.m. | Carrie Budzinski | Clarified that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are a separate federal funding stream used for projects such as the Civic Center library's ADA-compliant bathroom (prior year) and a planned new Hillcrest Park playground (this year), and are not specific to senior housing. |
| ~7:39 p.m. | Robin Persiconi | Added detail on Housing Commission finances, saying the roughly $800,000–$900,000 in annual federal CDBG funding is reviewed at monthly commission meetings along with separate enterprise-fund financials for Newburgh and Silver Village, and that funds across programs cannot legally be commingled. |
| ~7:43 p.m. | Carrie Budzinski | Presented the Economic Development, Strategic Planning & Technology Committee's June 3 report: City Attorney Goldstein advised against a data-center moratorium due to litigation risk and recommended a special-use waiver ordinance instead, with the matter headed to the Planning Commission and a public hearing; a related proposal to limit gas stations and car washes remains in committee with no new direction, since both uses already require special-use approval. |
| ~8:08 p.m. | Unidentified council member | Closed the meeting by announcing a July 11, 11 a.m. constituent coffee hour at the Civic Center library, with Finance & Budget Committee Chair Martha Ptashnik as guest for a budget-focused Q&A ahead of the millage vote. |
Roll Call Votes
Six members were present and voting throughout: Vice President Patrick Brockway, and Council Members Brandon McCullough, Eileen McDonnell, Carrie Budzinski, and Robin Persiconi, with President Kayleigh Reid presiding. Councilmember Martha Ptashnik was absent (excused). Every recorded vote below carried unanimously among members present, except the Spree lease, from which President Reid recused herself because she also serves as the Livonia Spree's executive director.
| Matter | Moved / Supported | Roll Call Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approve June 1, 2026 meeting minutes | Moved: McCullough · Supported: Brockway | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Consent Agenda, Items 1–12 | Moved: Persiconi · Supported: McCullough | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Refer RACER Trust/Ford transmission-plant matter to committee | Moved: Budzinski · Supported: McCullough | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 16 — Maison Rose Events waiver (banquet facility) | Moved: Persiconi · Supported: McCullough | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 17 — Seven Mile/Farmington easement vacation (first reading only) | Moved: Budzinski · Supported: McDonnell | First reading entered; no roll-call vote taken | — |
| Item 18 — Water rate ordinance, §040 (2nd reading) | Moved: McCullough · Supported: Persiconi | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 19 — Water rate ordinance, §050 (2nd reading) | Moved: Persiconi · Supported: (recorded support) | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 20 — Industrial waste surcharge ordinance, §050 (2nd reading) | Moved: Budzinski · Supported: McDonnell | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 21 — Sewer rate ordinance, §120 (2nd reading) | Moved: Brockway · Supported: Budzinski | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 22 — Sewer special-rate ordinance, §130 (2nd reading) | Moved: McDonnell · Supported: McCullough | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 23 — Ambrosi block party | Moved: McCullough · Supported: Budzinski | Brockway-Aye, McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Reid-Aye | 6–0 |
| Item 24 — Ford Field Park / Livonia Spree lease | Moved: Budzinski · Supported: Persiconi | McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Persiconi-Aye, Brockway-Aye · Reid recused, gavel held by VP Brockway | 5–0 |
| Item 25 — Soave Homes quit claim deed (Scone Court) | Moved: Reid · Supported: McCullough | McCullough-Aye, McDonnell-Aye, Budzinski-Aye, Reid-Aye, Brockway-Aye | 6–0 |
Looking ahead: The next regular Livonia City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026. A study session covering items for that meeting was set to convene the same night, shortly after this meeting's roughly 8:09 p.m. adjournment. The withheld Finance & Budget Committee audit report and the still-pending first reading on the Seven Mile/Farmington easement vacation are both expected to return to council before then.
This article was compiled from the official June 15, 2026 meeting agenda packet and a recording-derived transcript of the proceedings. Times are approximate.