Council approves library boiler on 5–1 vote after residents and one member call the bidding process flawed
LIVONIA — 9/4/2026
Livonia City Council · Meeting Report
Council approves library boiler on 5–1 vote after residents and one member call the bidding process flawed
Livonia’s 2,047th regular meeting ran a little over 70 minutes on Aug. 31, but more than a third of it was spent on a single $152,596 contract. Every other item on the agenda — roughly $1.6 million in contracts, agreements and property transactions — passed unanimously and without debate.
At a glance
- Present: Council President Kayleigh Reid, Vice President Patrick Brockway, and Councilmembers Carrie Budzinski, Brandon McCullough, Robin Persiconi and Martha Ptashnik. Absent: Councilmember Eileen McDonnell.
- Items acted on: 12 (six on the consent agenda, four in unfinished business, two in new business).
- Items denied: None.
- Items removed: The Law and Education Committee report of Aug. 17 was moved to the Sept. 14 regular meeting.
- Only divided vote: The Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library boiler replacement, 5–1, with McCullough opposed.
- Public speakers: 13 residents took 22 speaking turns across two audience communication periods and four agenda items. One turn was cut short on a point of order.
The Livonia City Council awarded a $152,596 boiler replacement contract for the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library on Aug. 31 over the objection of Councilmember Brandon McCullough and seven residents who questioned how the contract had been bid.
The vote was 5–1. Councilmember Eileen McDonnell was absent. It was the only item of the night that did not pass unanimously, and the debate over it — roughly 27 minutes of council discussion and public comment — consumed more than a third of the meeting.
The contract goes to Guardian Environmental Services of Livonia, the low bidder among five firms. The next-lowest bid, from Engineered Comfort Systems of Taylor, came in at $199,941.79 — a difference of about $47,300. Councilmember Carrie Budzinski cited that gap as her reason for voting yes despite reservations about how the bid was run.
McCullough, who told colleagues he has spent 20 years in municipal bidding and procurement, said the process itself was the problem. “I will not be supporting this item tonight,” he said. “Not because the boiler is not needed. It’s because I think we failed our purchasing requirements.”
The rest of the agenda moved quickly. The council approved a $379,655 elevator modernization contract for the same library, a $72,063.37 security camera project across three Parks and Recreation facilities, the sale of a city-owned home on Auburndale for $337,000, and two intergovernmental agreements with Wayne County. The six-item consent agenda passed 6–0.
Every action the council took
Item numbers below reflect both the published agenda and the renumbering the council applied after President Kayleigh Reid removed the Law and Education Committee report. Nothing on the agenda was denied.
| Item | Category | Description | Department / presenter | Amount | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Report | Departmental Purchases Report, month ending July 31, 2026Communication from the Department of Finance dated Aug. 3, 2026. Ordinance 3.04.130(A) requires that purchases between $15,000 and $19,999 be reported to the governing body. Three purchases qualified: banquet chairs for Greenmead Historical Park from MTS Seating ($17,642.28, July 15); water service stop boxes and rods from Ferguson for DPW Water & Sewer ($18,575.00, July 27); and 250 96-gallon trash carts for stock from Toter/Waste Equipment for DPW Refuse ($19,894.23, July 30). | Finance — Benjamin N. Grier, Finance Director | $56,111.51combined | Received & filed |
| 1 | Consent | Sidewalk requirement waived — 15505 Auburndale AvenueRequest from Lamberto Smigliani of Lamberto Custom Homes, dated July 21, 2026. The Engineering Division reviewed the surrounding neighborhood, found a lack of existing sidewalks in the area, and recommended the waiver. The city has no plans to build sidewalks nearby in the near future. | Engineering — Todd Zilincik, City Engineer | — | Approved 6–0 |
| 2 | Consent | Sign Petition 2026-05-SN-01 — Amoco station, 29401 Seven Mile RoadSubmitted by Bazo Construction for replacement ground, wall and canopy signs at the corner of Seven Mile and Middlebelt roads, northeast quarter of Section 11. Planning Commission Resolution #07-45-2026, adopted July 14. Conditions include no LED lightband or exposed neon anywhere on the site, replacement of the existing pylon sign with a monument sign compliant with Section 11.07 of the zoning ordinance, and a Zoning Board of Appeals variance for excess signage. | Planning — Mark Taormina, Planning and Economic Development Director | — | Approved 6–0 |
| 3 | Consent | Sign Petition 2026-06-SN-02 — Target, 20100 Haggerty RoadSubmitted by Kimley-Horn & Associates for five wall signs on the east side of Haggerty Road between Eight Mile and Seven Mile roads, northwest quarter of Section 6. Planning Commission Resolution #07-46-2026. Conditions include no LED lightband or exposed neon and a ZBA variance for excess signage. | Planning — Mark Taormina | — | Approved 6–0 |
| 4 | Consent | Professional services — golf course maintenance building roof replacementsArchitectural services from OHM Advisors, 34000 Plymouth Road, for roof replacements on maintenance buildings at all three city-owned courses: Fox Creek, Whispering Willows and Idyl Wyld. A facility condition assessment rated the roofs in poor condition; replacement will fix leaks and damage and add gutters. The total combines $5,168.75 in scoping work completed April 11 with an $18,000 design-bid phase. OHM was selected from four pre-qualified firms — DAG bid $14,990 in six weeks, OHM $16,000 in four weeks, HRC $17,895 in 10 weeks, DLZ $27,986 in 12-plus weeks — on timeline, references and experience. Includes a budget amendment moving $7,725 into each of three golf course capital accounts. | Parks and Recreation — Michelle Koppin, Superintendent | $23,168.75 | Approved 6–0 |
| 5 | Consent | Intergovernmental agreement — Middle Belt Road, Joy to PlymouthAgreement with the Charter County of Wayne dated July 24, 2026, for hot mix asphalt cold milling and resurfacing, concrete pavement repair, sidewalk ramps, permanent signing and pavement markings. Total construction cost estimated at $2,590,030, split 81.85% federal, 9.075% Wayne County and 9.075% city. Construction was completed by Ajax Paving in early December 2025. The city budgeted $225,000. Wayne County has also requested a $102,194 working capital advance. | Engineering — Todd Zilincik | $204,387 | Approved 6–0 |
| 6 | Consent | Storm water facilities maintenance agreement — True Community Credit UnionAcceptance of the storm water management system built at the credit union’s expense at 36525 Plymouth Road, northwest quarter of Section 32, and authorization for the mayor and city clerk to execute the maintenance agreement. The agreement obligates the property owner to reimburse the city for any necessary maintenance. | Engineering — Todd Zilincik | — | Approved 6–0 |
| 7as published | Unfinishedcommittee report | Law and Education Committee meeting of Aug. 17, 2026Eight subject matters were queued for council action: ordinance language limiting the distance between bodies of water and new gas stations (CR 03-26); the 100-foot buffer requirement as it relates to gas station distances (CR 05-26); a 12-month moratorium on new car wash approvals citywide (CR 35-26); a proposed ordinance allowing fees for non-emergency 911 calls and non-emergency use of emergency resources (CR 51-26); blighted and vacant businesses on Plymouth Road (CR 107-26); data centers and attendant zoning issues (CR 108-26); amendments to the noxious weed ordinance (CR 128-26); and an updated lighting ordinance (CR 130-26). | Law and Education Committee — Carrie Budzinski, Chair | — | Moved to Sept. 14 |
| 7renumbered (8 published) |
Unfinished | Award of bid — security cameras at three recreation facilitiesAdditions, replacements and upgrades at the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center, Botsford Pool and Clements Circle Pool. The RFP was posted on MITN June 22 with bids due July 14. ASC Security Systems, 12137 Merriman Road, Livonia, was the lowest qualified bidder and was selected on experience, technical approach and compatibility with the city’s existing Avigilon Control Center platform. Work covers furnishing, installing, replacing, relocating, configuring and integrating cameras across all three sites. Paid from budgeted funds in three Parks and Recreation accounts. Superintendent Michelle Koppin appeared but added nothing to her prior presentation. | Parks and Recreation — Michelle Koppin | $72,063.37 | Approved 6–0 |
| 8renumbered (9 published) |
Unfinished | Award of bid — boiler replacement, Bennett Civic Center LibraryReplacement of the Raypak boiler system serving the library at 32777 Five Mile Road with two Lochinvar CHN1442-M13 Copper-Fin II boilers, plus new system pumps, gas and flue piping reconfiguration, fresh air ductwork, expansion tank bladder, insulation, and Havel controls removal and reinstallation. Awarded to Guardian Environmental Services, 34400 Glendale Avenue, Livonia, the low bidder of five. The item had been tabled from the Aug. 17 meeting after a motion to award was withdrawn. New data was distributed the afternoon of the meeting indicating the boiler most likely would not be installed until spring. | Public Works — Douglas L. Moore, Assistant Director | $152,596.00 | Approved 5–1 |
| 9renumbered (10 published) |
Unfinished | Award of contract — Bennett Civic Center Library elevator modernizationModernization and code upgrades to one passenger elevator ($179,250) and one service elevator ($200,405) at the 1986 building. Work includes the power unit, controller, cab and lobby fixtures, door operating equipment, hoistway wiring, electrical connections and fire alarm connectivity. Awarded to City Elevator of Michigan, 815 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, an approved State of Michigan Sourcewell pricing vendor, on a not-to-exceed basis from the Library Fund. Work will be phased so at least one elevator stays available throughout. The city engineer is authorized to approve minor adjustments. Passed with no council or audience comment. | Engineering — David Lear, Assistant City Engineer | $379,655.00 | Approved 6–0 |
| 10renumbered (11 published) |
Unfinished | Extension of specific settlement authority — Shaun Day v. City of LivoniaWayne County Circuit Court Case No. 25-010729-NI. The Law Department requested authority to settle up to an amount discussed in a Closed Committee of the Whole held July 27, 2026. The dollar figure is redacted in the public packet. Responding to a resident’s question, President Reid and City Attorney Eric Goldstein said no settlement exists yet and that disclosing the ceiling would undermine the city’s negotiating position. | Law — Eric Goldstein, City Attorney | Not disclosed | Approved 6–0 |
| 11renumbered (12 published) |
New business | Sale of city-owned scattered site housing — 9614 AuburndaleSale to Meghan Garrefa for $337,000. The Housing Commission acquired the property in 2018 through a first right of refusal and spent several years renovating it in partnership with the Livonia Public Schools Building Trades Program; the house was fully updated and a new garage was built. Proceeds return to the federal Community Development Block Grant program as program income and are earmarked for the accessible restrooms at the Civic Center Library. The resolution also authorizes the Law Department to prepare a quit claim deed and the housing director to execute sale documents. | Housing Commission — Dalie Ripley, Deputy Director; Madison Bjertness, Executive Director | $337,000 | Approved 6–0 |
| 12renumbered (13 published) |
New business | Intergovernmental agreement — Newburgh Road signals and pavingAgreement with Wayne County dated Aug. 14, 2026, for traffic signal reconstruction and modernization at Newburgh Road and Edward Hines Drive (Work Order 47278), Plymouth Road (47279) and Seven Mile Road (47280), plus paving from Hines Drive to the south side of Plymouth Road. The broader project includes concrete reconstruction along Newburgh from Ann Arbor Trail to Plymouth Road with earthwork, aggregate base, integral curb, curb and gutter, curb ramps, signing and markings. Wayne County reimburses the city $549,710: $90,000 signal design, $150,000 signal construction (20% of cost at three intersections), $200,000 paving under county jurisdiction, and $109,710 construction engineering. Related to CR #142-24, CR #376-25 and CR #89-26. Lear told the council the project is nearly complete and the agreement lets the city begin billing. | Engineering — David Lear | $549,710to the city | Approved 6–0 |
Note: the Parks and Recreation transmittal letter states the security camera award as $72,063.37 in its recommendation and fiscal sections but as $72,603.37 on the contract line — a $540 discrepancy in the packet. The figure appearing twice, $72,063.37, is used above.
The boiler debate
The Bennett Civic Center Library boiler has been in front of the council since June. At a June 15 study meeting, the Department of Public Works asked the council to extend pricing that Guardian Environmental Services had already submitted for a companion boiler project at Carl Sandburg Library, where bids opened Feb. 17. The council declined and asked that the Bennett job be competitively bid on MITN.
That rebid produced a higher number. Guardian’s price rose to $152,596 from about $114,000 under the extension, according to figures cited from the dais by Councilmember Martha Ptashnik — about $2,500 of the increase attributable to four items added to the scope: a chemical treatment vessel, an air separator, butterfly valves and removal of an old ceiling-mounted expansion tank. On Aug. 17 the council tabled the award to Aug. 31 after Councilmembers Carrie Budzinski and Robin Persiconi withdrew a motion to accept it.
The bids
| Vendor | Location | Labor, material, equipment | Havel ACS | Permits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian Environmental Services | Livonia | $146,518.00 | $4,768 | $600 | $152,596.00 |
| Engineered Comfort Systems | Taylor | $194,973.79 | $4,768 | $200 | $199,941.79 |
| Long Mechanical | Northville | $200,882.00 | $4,768 | $750 | $206,400.00 |
| Goyette Mechanical | Flint | $260,163.00 | $4,768 | $1,200 | $266,131.00 |
| Harper Mechanical | White Lake | — | — | — | $342,000.00 |
Bid opening July 13, 2026. City representatives present: Aaron Lindenmuth, Office of the City Clerk, and Gus Kandah, Purchasing Manager.
What the council said
McCullough raised two objections. The first was schedule: the solicitation carried a seven-day turnaround with a mandatory pre-bid meeting held the day before the July 4 holiday. “I called some of the competitors out there and they said that they’re not bidding on this. They’re going out for vacation,” he said. He also said the original quote contained 12 items that differed from what was posted on MITN.
His second objection was that the delay argument does not hold. If the boiler will not be installed until spring, he said, a normal four-to-five-week procurement cycle would put a rebid award around October, still ahead of a boiler lead time he pegged at 12 to 14 weeks. The department’s own note that afternoon had put the lead time at two to four weeks. “The only thing with a monster lead time is the actual boiler itself,” he said. “The rest of the products — circulation pumps, double-walled ventilation pipes — these are stock items.”
He also warned about the signal a waiver sends. “If we waive this and we’re saying, hey, mandatory pre-bids, we’ll just toss it out — what’s that tell every bidder out there?”
The five members who voted yes did not dispute that the process had problems. They argued that the legal question was settled and the financial and operational risk of a rebid was not worth taking.
Budzinski said the Law Department had confirmed the council’s discretion to accept the bid, and pointed to the gap between Guardian’s bid and the next one. “I don’t want to take nearly $50,000 from other programming, staffing, services, needs at the library when we have a bid available for us to use from a company that has already been approved to do work at Sandburg,” she said.
Persiconi read from the Law Department’s correspondence, which characterized the unsigned bid bond document as being of no significance because the insurance company had already provided the coverage the document was meant to secure, and described the objection as one of form over substance. The same letter called non-attendance at the pre-bid meeting equally unsubstantial, citing Guardian’s prior work with the city and a prior walkthrough with city staff. “We are not just guessing up here,” she said.
Brockway said he was uncomfortable with how the process unfolded and asked for a memo of record on the missed pre-bid meeting and unsigned documents, but said the risk of delay was too great. He invoked the Alfred Noble Library. “We know exactly what happens when you delay critical maintenance on public buildings,” he said. “If we had a boiler go out at the Civic Center and you get a water line that breaks, and now you got to deal with water, books, mold, you could be looking at a potential Noble situation.”
Ptashnik, who had asked for a two-week delay when the Sandburg bid came forward, said the council could no longer recover the lower price. “We can’t go back and accept the 114 now, so we’re stuck with this bid price of 152,” she said, referring in thousands to the lapsed extension price and the bid before the council. She noted Bennett is the city’s most-used library and had to close at points last winter. She later pressed McCullough directly on why the council moved quickly on Sandburg and is now being asked to wait on Bennett.
Seven residents spoke on the item. None supported awarding the contract as presented. Most asked the council to send the job back out to bid; Jerry Karasinski made a different argument, that a low bid sitting far below a cluster of three others usually signals a scope problem — a point he said his experience with contract bids at Chrysler supported.
Vote record
| Item | Motion | Support | Result | Ayes | Nays | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes, Aug. 17, 2026 regular meeting | Ptashnik | Budzinski | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Consent agenda, items 1–6 | Budzinski | Persiconi | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Item 7 — Security cameras | Budzinski | Brockway | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Item 8 — Library boiler replacement | Ptashnik | Budzinski | 5–1 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, Budzinski, Reid | McCullough | McDonnell |
| Item 9 — Library elevator modernization | Budzinski | McCullough | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Item 10 — Settlement authority, Day v. Livonia | Ptashnik | Persiconi | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Item 11 — Sale of 9614 Auburndale | Budzinski | Brockway | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Item 12 — Wayne County IGA, Newburgh Road | Ptashnik | Budzinski | 6–0 | Persiconi, Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, Budzinski, Reid | None | McDonnell |
| Adjournment | Ptashnik | Brockway | Carried | Voice | None | McDonnell |
Public comment, in order
Thirteen residents took 22 speaking turns; one, marked below, was cut short on a point of order. Denise Mika spoke four times, Christopher Martin and Greg Ralko three times each, and Steve King and John Schafer twice each. Clock times are approximate, calculated from a 7:00 p.m. start; recording times are elapsed time in the meeting video.
First audience communication — items not on the agenda
| Time | Speaker | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 2:01~7:02 p.m. | Steve KingCoventry Gardens | Two proposals. First, an ordinance amendment he drafted last year that would make issuance of a block party permit a ministerial act requiring no formal council action, with an option for applicants to voluntarily seek council consideration. He cited a resident at the previous meeting who sat through three hours to get a block party permit. Second, converting the old senior center into dedicated space for the City Clerk’s Office. He said the clerk currently keeps election equipment in three separate buildings; a single ADA-compliant location would consolidate storage, provide a permanent early voting site, allow a physical mock polling place for poll worker training, and support civics lessons for high school students. He also proposed moving the Water Department into the clerk’s vacated space so residents paying bills would not have to call upstairs, and urged the city to remove pandemic-era plastic barriers. |
| 4:57~7:05 p.m. | Christopher MartinMichigan resident | Framed his remarks as “the good, the bad and the ugly” of council practice. Good: the return of the speaker clock, the ban on texting during meetings, and the ban on eating during meetings. Bad: what he characterized as a lack of member preparation, and a suggestion that specific agenda items be assigned to specific members. Ugly: a member referring to someone as “nefarious,” which he called a serious error given the presumption of innocence. |
| 7:18~7:07 p.m. | Sandra45-year resident; street name unclear in the recording | Opened by asking how residents get answers to questions, and proposed a phone number for that purpose. Then a list: whether the city still holds the $30 million bond, whether it will fund a new police department, and whether the bond carries a carrying cost; Flock cameras, noting Westland is removing its systems and objecting to the vendor retaining and selling recorded data; utility easements, citing successive cable installations through her backyard along Farmington Road and asking whether the city is compensated; reports that the administration has agreed to have Livonia police assist ICE; and why the recently renewed 10-year police and fire millage is not simply carried in the budget. |
| 10:25~7:10 p.m. | Frank McDermottRayburn Street | His third consecutive appearance on the lifetime ban imposed on Steve King from the Livonia Senior Wellness Center and the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center. He said the 16th District Court dropped the breaking and entering charge and imposed a $50 fine for trespassing, and argued a lifetime ban is disproportionate to that outcome. He said he had expected to see an item rescinding the ban on the agenda or consent agenda, characterized the majority bloc as “the Brosnan team,” named Reid, Ptashnik, Budzinski and Persiconi as its members, and appealed to one of them to supply what he called the fourth vote. He then said he had been reminded that it takes only three votes to place an item on the agenda, and identified McCullough, Brockway and McDonnell as three independent members who could do it on their own. |
| 13:35~7:14 p.m. | MelissaLivonia; surname not given | Asked whether members had read the Flock contract they approved last year, and cited Section 9.1 on page 12, the limitation of liability provision, which she said disclaims liability for incomplete, corrupt or inaccurate data. She questioned how many cameras are installed and planned, said the decision was brought forward quickly by the police chief without broad public input, and asked for a reevaluation. |
| 16:10~7:16 p.m. | ElijahLivonia; surname not given | Walked through an ACLU report on recent changes to Flock’s terms of service and asked whether Livonia’s contract is affected. He said language stating the company does not own or sell customer data was removed; that footage may now be altered and degraded at the vendor’s discretion, which he argued worsens plate misreads and the risk of high-stakes traffic stops on innocent drivers; that a 30-day deletion commitment was replaced with a perpetual license to the data surviving contract termination; and that liability for system failures shifted to the city, with disputes routed to forced arbitration and a Georgia court. He also said the company has acknowledged face recognition capability in its readers, and noted Livonia’s crime has declined for a decade with or without the technology. |
| 19:18~7:19 p.m. | Greg RalkoGolf Ridge Villas | On the proposed gas station at Eight Mile and Newburgh. He said Inspection Director Jerome Hanna told the Law Committee that all ordinances use the property line for enforcement, and that the corner sits zero feet from the golf course, while City Attorney Carter Fisher had told him Planning measured 320 feet to the clubhouse and concluded the ordinance did not apply. He asked who signed off on storing 80,000 gallons of gasoline behind an 18-foot retaining wall; said the Zoning Board of Appeals failed to give proper public notice for its 2025 hearing and granted a use variance it had said it lacked power to grant; and asked Councilmember Brandon McCullough, who was council president at the time, whether City Attorney Carter Fisher consulted him before the city filed a defense to the residents’ Wayne County appeal, given the council’s earlier 5–2 vote denying the rezoning. He asked the Law Department to withdraw its defense at the Court of Appeals and let the owner refile with the ZBA. |
Comment on the consent agenda
| Time | Speaker | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 30:36~7:31 p.m. | Steve KingCoventry Gardens | On Item 4, the $23,168.75 OHM Advisors award. He argued the city’s purchasing thresholds force it to hire a large engineering firm for routine property maintenance, shutting out local contractors who could bid the work directly. He said the fee alone could cover shingling the three structures, described his own experience shingling houses, and urged the council to table the item and review the bidding process. |
| 32:37~7:33 p.m. | John SchaferBrookfield Street | On Item 1, the sidewalk waiver. He took no position on the specific property but said he has seen frequent waivers at meetings this year and asked the council to decide whether it wants sidewalks in Livonia at all. He described his own block, where sidewalks arrived piecemeal as residents replaced driveways, and said he would prefer waivers be limited to extraordinary circumstances. |
| 34:36~7:35 p.m. | Denise MikaLivonia | Said roughly nine out of ten transmittal letters on the consent agenda carry no signatures, and that the problem predates the weekend clerk system glitch offered as an explanation. She said if there was a glitch, an addendum or a statement before the vote would have addressed it, and that the correction should not have required a resident to raise it from the podium. |
| 36:17~7:36 p.m. | Greg RalkoGolf Ridge Villas | Cut short on a point of order. He began describing a sidewalk installed roughly a year and a half ago on the west side of Newburgh Road, just north of the Greenmead entrance, and was asked whether he was addressing the sidewalk waiver item on the consent agenda. He said his remarks were about sidewalks generally. Because the item had not been pulled from consent, he was not able to continue. |
Comment on the boiler award (Item 8)
| Time | Speaker | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 51:06~7:51 p.m. | Christopher Martin | Favored rebidding. “This just doesn’t pass the smell test.” Urged the council to correct any mistakes, deliberate or inadvertent, and start fresh. |
| 51:33~7:52 p.m. | Denise Mika | Cited her contracting background and the dictionary definition of “mandatory” — required by a law or rule. She noted the Law Department’s letter described non-attendance at the meeting without using the word mandatory, and that the same letter cited Guardian’s prior walkthrough with city staff as evidence it had the necessary information. She asked whether any other contractor received a prior walkthrough, called that unequal treatment, and said the July 27 transmittal was unsigned. |
| 53:35~7:54 p.m. | Vicki JohnsonJamison Court | Said the losing bidders are watching the meeting and can see the process was irregular, and predicted the city attorney would end up defending against litigation. |
| 54:04~7:54 p.m. | Jerry KarasinskiBainbridge Avenue | Two arguments. On scope: with three bids clustered near $200,000 and one outlier above $300,000, a low bid well below the cluster suggests someone has the wrong scope; in his contracting work at Chrysler, he said, they would have thrown out the low bid. On perception: the low bidder got its own walkthrough and has done other city work, which raises a favoritism question. He also urged the city to run a cost-benefit analysis on hiring staff versus relying on contractors. |
| 55:52~7:56 p.m. | John SchaferBrookfield Street | Said he was glad the legal questions were reviewed, but that legality is not the issue — appearance is. A five-day bid over a holiday weekend, he said, denies qualified firms a realistic opportunity, and combined with a prior walkthrough for the winning bidder, “it just really sounds bad.” |
| 57:02~7:57 p.m. | Cindy FlemingLivonia | Noted the original 1967 HVAC equipment is still in the building and said she is glad the city is finally addressing maintenance, but asked the council to follow its own ordinances and procurement rules and vote the item down. |
| 57:44~7:58 p.m. | Greg RalkoGolf Ridge Villas | Argued the winning bidder would simply bid again and might sharpen its price. Since the work will not happen until spring, he said, no contractor will order or warehouse the boiler now anyway, so a 30- to 60-day rebid costs the city nothing. “What are you afraid of?” |
Comment on other agenda items
| Time | Speaker | Item | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38:11~7:38 p.m. | Denise Mika | Item 7 — Security cameras | Noted the transmittal for this item also carried no signature, and that without one there is no way to know when it was signed. |
| 1:06:29~8:06 p.m. | Jim BigaLivonia | Item 10 — Settlement authority | Said the letter to council is redacted and unreadable, and asked whether the blacked-out figure is the settlement amount. Reid replied that the matter was handled in a closed Committee of the Whole and that the city does not want to disclose it; Goldstein said no settlement exists. Reid then explained the vote grants negotiating authority within a range, and that disclosing it would undermine the city’s position. Biga accepted the answer. |
| 1:09:10~8:09 p.m. | Christopher Martin | Item 11 — Auburndale sale | Asked whether the federal CDBG rule limits the city to selling for no more than it has invested in the property. |
Second audience communication
| Time | Speaker | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1:12:00~8:12 p.m. | Denise MikaLivonia | Returned to the Finance Department’s departmental purchases report, which had been received and filed with no audience comment period of its own. She said the report tells the council the purchases fell under the reporting threshold but does not give quantities for the banquet chairs, water stop boxes and rods, or trash carts, and asked that quantities be included so residents can do the math. The report as filed does list 250 for the trash carts but gives no counts for the chairs or the stop boxes and rods. |
Council announcements
| Time | Member | Announcement |
|---|---|---|
| 22:26~7:22 p.m. | President Kayleigh Reid | Announced that Item 7, the Law and Education Committee report, was moved to the Sept. 14, 2026 regular meeting, and that new data had been received on Item 9. Issued a public service announcement that the city has received reports of people impersonating city officials and asking petitioners for money. She directed residents to livonia.gov/directory, which lists every employee’s email and phone number, and said anyone uncertain can pay in person. |
| 23:01~7:23 p.m. | Vice President Patrick Brockway | Read the August 2026 retirements: Susan Lewis, Account Clerk II, Water Department, 24 years and 7 months; and Stephen Morrison, Water Department, 12 years and 7 months. |
| 23:26~7:23 p.m. | Vice President Patrick Brockway | Answered a standing question about backup power for traffic signals. DPW supplies generators to main road intersections only. When lights go out, the call goes to Livonia police, who notify the DPW on-call foreman; DPW staff deliver the generator while Wayne County signals crews make the connection to the control box. DPW has eight generators for this purpose. For extended outages, the department deploys pop-up signs at intersections. He also addressed how to reach the council: cards with emails and numbers are available at the podium and the dais, and a shared email routes questions to the full body so staff can pull data for a complete answer. Finally, as chair of the Public Safety and Health Committee, he announced he has scheduled the Flock camera referral for Oct. 1, and invited residents to submit questions in advance. |
| 26:29~7:26 p.m. | Councilmember Martha Ptashnik | Congratulated Meijer on its grand opening, noting it was one of the first large projects she and Budzinski handled as new members, with a standing-room-only auditorium of residents concerned about traffic and appearance, and that the council pushed for pocket parks, public art and a smaller sign. Answering the resident who asked about the bond: it has not been issued; the city has only put out a letter of intent and has no plan attached to it yet. On ICE: she read from the police chief’s January press release stating Livonia officers will not investigate immigration violations or contact federal immigration authorities during calls for service, traffic stops or other routine activity unless a valid warrant or court order signed by a judge with jurisdiction in Livonia exists, and that there is no 287(g) agreement or memorandum of understanding with federal immigration agencies. She also told Christopher Martin she prepares all agenda items, not a subset. |
| 28:29~7:28 p.m. | Councilmember Carrie Budzinski | Also praised the new Meijer. Gave citycouncil@livonia.gov as an address that reaches all seven members. Announced her monthly coffee hour at the library, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m., with City Clerk Lori Miller joining to discuss the upcoming election; the format includes a recap of council business, a guest, open questions and refreshments from The Looney Baker. Announced the sixth year of the library’s One City, One Book program, with The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon as the 2026 selection and special events for all ages throughout September and October tied to the America 250 theme. Copies are available at the Civic Center library and, she noted, likely at Carl Sandburg as well. |
| 29:50~7:30 p.m. | Councilmember Brandon McCullough | No announcements. |
Other notable moments
An agenda item disappeared, and everything shifted up
Reid announced at the start of council announcements that Item 7 — the Law and Education Committee report covering eight referred subject matters, including a proposed car wash moratorium, data center zoning and gas station buffer distances — was moving to Sept. 14. When the council reached unfinished business, she reminded members that the remaining items renumber accordingly. Everything from the security camera award onward was called one number lower than published.
A point of order on the consent agenda
Twice during consent agenda comment the council enforced the rule that an item must be pulled from consent before it can be discussed. Greg Ralko began remarks about a sidewalk near the Greenmead entrance on Newburgh Road and was asked whether he was addressing the sidewalk waiver item. Moments later McCullough said he wanted to touch on a few points that had been raised; a point of order followed, and he declined to pull the item. The consent agenda then passed 6–0 without further discussion.
Unsigned transmittal letters came up three times
Denise Mika raised the signature issue on the consent agenda, again on the security camera award, and a third time in reference to the boiler paperwork, saying the pattern dates back to roughly June. A council response from the dais attributed at least part of it to a clerk system glitch over the weekend. Mika disputed that framing, noting the same problem appeared at previous meetings on unrelated items. The Law Department’s written opinion on the Guardian bid separately concluded that an unsigned bid bond document carried no legal significance because the underlying insurance coverage had been secured.
Flock cameras dominated public comment but were not on the agenda
Three of the seven speakers in the first audience communication period addressed the license plate reader contract the council approved last year. The subject was referred to the Public Safety and Health Committee at the Aug. 17 meeting on a motion by Budzinski. Brockway used his announcement time to confirm the committee will take it up Oct. 1.
The Steve King ban returned for a third meeting
Frank McDermott told the council he had expected to see an item rescinding the lifetime ban on Steve King from the Senior Wellness Center and the Kirksey Recreation Center. No such item appeared on the Aug. 31 agenda, and no council member raised it from the dais.
Adjournment
Ptashnik moved to adjourn at roughly 8:13 p.m., supported by Brockway. Reid told those present the council would return at 8:25 p.m.
About this report
This account is based on the meeting recording transcript and the revised agenda packet for the 2,047th Regular Meeting of the Livonia City Council, dated Aug. 31, 2026, including the approved minutes of the Aug. 17, 2026 regular meeting, department transmittal letters, bid tabulations and committee reports contained in that packet. Dollar figures, addresses, account numbers, vendor names and resolution numbers are taken from the packet rather than from the recording.
The automated transcript renders many proper names phonetically. Names of council members, city officials, residents, streets, buildings and organizations have been checked against the agenda packet, the approved Aug. 17 minutes, and the city’s published staff directory and corrected accordingly. Where a speaker gave only a first name, or where a street name could not be verified, that is noted in place rather than guessed. Quotations are drawn from the recording and lightly cleaned of verbal filler; where transcription was uncertain, the substance is paraphrased instead of quoted.
Timestamps in the first column of each timeline are elapsed time in the meeting recording. Clock times are approximate, calculated from the scheduled 7:00 p.m. start.