Livonia council denies head spa appeal, grants Beaver Aerospace tax abatement as rec center ban debate continues
LIVONIA — 9/18/2026
Every roll call at the 2,048th Regular Meeting was unanimous. Public comment again centered on a resident's lifetime ban from city recreation facilities, and a speaker questioned a council member's access to city bid documents.
The Livonia City Council on Monday approved a 12-year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Inc., upheld the Planning Commission's denial of a waiver use for Sasa Head Spa on Seven Mile Road, adopted the 12-item consent agenda and accepted 12 utility easements from Belaggio Homes, Inc. All seven members were present, and every roll call vote was 7-0.
A package of Law and Education Committee items from Aug. 17 — including gas station setbacks from water, a proposed car wash moratorium, fees for non-emergency 911 calls, data center zoning, the noxious weed ordinance and an updated lighting ordinance — was moved to the Sept. 28 regular meeting without discussion.
Public comment took up about half of the hour-long meeting. Residents again spoke for and against lifting Steve King's ban from the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center and the Senior Wellness Center, and Council Vice President Patrick Brockway said the council has no authority to reverse it. Late in the meeting, a speaker alleged that Council Member Eileen McDonnell improperly accessed bid documents for the Bennett Civic Center Library boiler project; McDonnell responded that the documents are public and that she did nothing improper.
Present: Council President Kayleigh Reid, Vice President Patrick Brockway, and Council Members Martha Ptashnik, Brandon McCullough, Eileen McDonnell, Carrie Budzinski and Robin Persiconi. Council Member Ptashnik led the Pledge of Allegiance.
What was decided
Solid gold rules mark decided items. The dashed rule marks items that were postponed.
| # | Item | Details | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes and reports | |||
| — | Minutes, Aug. 31, 2026 regular meeting | Motion by Ptashnik, support by Brockway. No comments. | Approved 7-0 |
| — | Livonia Housing Commission audit report, fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025 | Prepared by Smith & Klaczkiewicz, PC. The commission reported total revenue of about $10.2 million and a net position of about $4.15 million; it operates 151 low-rent public housing units and 1,013 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. | Received and filed |
| Consent agenda (items 1–12, one vote) | |||
| 1 | Block party, Sherwood Street | Sam Plymale and Jake Vargo; Saturday, Oct. 3, noon–8 p.m., between Woodside and Westbrook streets (Fairway Farms Subdivision); rain date Oct. 4. About 100 guests expected. | Approved 7-0 |
| 2 | Block party, Edgewood Street | Fatima Ismail and Ellen De La Fuente; Saturday, Oct. 3, 2–10 p.m., off Ellen Drive. A fall fest. | Approved 7-0 |
| 3 | Block party, Pollyanna Drive | Vanessa Mink; Sunday, Oct. 18, noon–5 p.m., from Pollyanna Court to Carl Drive. The 14th annual Windridge Village Halloween event with a parade and games, about 150 attendees. | Approved 7-0 |
| 4 | Clarenceville High School homecoming parade | Requested by Athletic Director Kevin Murphy for Friday, Oct. 9, starting at 6 p.m. Approves the route and street closures, authorizes Senior Police Officer Michael Arakelian to sign the Wayne County Road Commission permit to close part of Middlebelt Road, and has the city assume liability for damage claims from the closure. The parade has been held for 30 years. | Approved 7-0 |
| 5 | Amended consent judgment, Wonderland Flats | Requested by attorney Melissa Wojnar-Raycraft of The Mike Cox Law Firm for Middlebelt Plymouth Venture, LLC. The 2023 federal consent judgment resolved a zoning dispute over the planned apartment project and the car wash that opened as Johnny's Express Car Wash on Plymouth Road between Middlebelt Road and Milburn Avenue. The amendment extends the deadline to apply for permits from Dec. 20, 2026, to Dec. 20, 2028. | Approved 7-0 |
| 6 | One-year extension, Seven Mile/Farmington Venture development agreement | Stephen E. Duczynski of Schostak Brothers & Company requested more time for the residential portion of Petition 2023-06-02-07. The developer cited market conditions, rents and financing costs. The building permit deadline moves to Aug. 1, 2027, and the construction start deadline from Dec. 31, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027. | Approved 7-0 |
| 7 | Site plan, Clover Self Storage expansion | Petition 2026-06-08-03 by Contineo Group adds two self-storage buildings (about 8,100 and 9,000 square feet, 72 units total) at 28900 Schoolcraft Road, between Cardwell Avenue and Middlebelt Road. The Planning Commission recommended approval with 15 conditions, including hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., no overnight occupancy, camera security and key-code access, no hazardous materials and added front-yard trees. A later letter in the packet from Contineo Group asks council to allow customer access from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the packet does not show whether that change was included in the approval. | Approved 7-0 |
| 8 | Police laptops, bid waiver | Nineteen Dell Pro Rugged 14 laptops from Dell Inc. through State of Michigan MiDEALS contract pricing, replacing out-of-warranty and end-of-life units. Cost: $60,800 from budgeted funds. | Approved 7-0 |
| 9 | Employee Assistance Program, Ulliance | Dec. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029, at $2.40 per employee per month with no increase, about $17,568 a year. Ulliance was not the lowest quote; Human Resources Director Jeannine Laible and the Civil Service Commission recommended keeping the current provider, citing 24-hour access, no visit caps and onsite critical incident debriefing. | Approved 7-0 |
| 10 | Life and AD&D insurance, Sun Life | March 1, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2028. Marsh McLennan Agency solicited 12 insurers; seven quoted between $146,690 and $210,555 a year. Sun Life matched the low quote of $146,690, down from $183,363, a savings of $36,673 a year (20%). | Approved 7-0 |
| 11 | OHM Advisors engineering contract amendment, SCADA upgrades | Design and bid documents to add SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) equipment at two Great Lakes Water Authority supply sites (LV-12 and LV-16), install a new pressure-reducing valve in an existing vault on the north side of Schoolcraft Road west of Stark Road, and connect the DPW generator to the system. The city installed its first SCADA infrastructure in 2024. Not to exceed $58,000 from budgeted funds. Resident Steve King commented during the vote (see public comment). | Approved 7-0 |
| 12 | Intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County, Wayne Road sidewalk | New 6-foot-wide, roughly 900-foot sidewalk on the east side of Wayne Road from Joy Road to Ann Arbor Trail. Wayne County contributes up to $15,000; the city designs it in-house. Construction expected in 2027. | Approved 7-0 |
| — | Consent agenda vote: motion by Persiconi, support by Budzinski. The items were discussed at the Aug. 31 study meeting and deemed non-controversial. | ||
| Unfinished business | |||
| 13 | Law and Education Committee meeting of Aug. 17, 2026 | Subjects: (a) ordinance language limiting the distance between bodies of water and new gas stations (CR 03-26); (b) 100-foot buffer requirements for gas stations (CR 05-26); (c) a 12-month moratorium on new car wash approvals (CR 35-26); (d) fees for non-emergency 911 calls and non-emergency use of emergency resources (CR 51-26); (e) blighted and vacant businesses on Plymouth Road (CR 107-26); (f) data centers and related zoning (CR 108-26); (g) amendments to the noxious weed ordinance (CR 128-26); (h) an updated lighting ordinance (CR 130-26). | Moved to Sept. 28 |
| New business | |||
| 14 | Appeal of Planning Commission denial, Sasa Head Spa | Petition 2026-06-02-15 sought waiver use approval under Sections 3.10 and 6.37 of the Zoning Ordinance for a massage establishment focused on scalp and hair treatments at 33600 Seven Mile Road, between Farmington Road and Norwich Street, in the former Tai Chi Massage space. The Planning Commission denied it July 14, finding the petitioner did not meet general waiver use standards, show need in the area or show compatibility with surrounding uses. Staff said the massage use alone requires eight parking spaces, but the multi-tenant center has 36 spaces where general commercial standards for the whole building would call for 46. Public hearing held Aug. 31. Motion to deny by Persiconi, support by McCullough. | Denied 7-0 |
| 15 | Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Inc. | Applicant Katrina DeMoss. The Livonia manufacturer, headquartered on Mayfield Avenue, will lease the vacant 139,000-square-foot former Contractors Steel building at 36555 Amrhein Road near Levan Road (Industrial Development Overlay District No. 110). It plans to invest about $21 million ($10 million real property, $11 million equipment), create 20 jobs and retain 148. The 12-year abatement freezes the taxable value of the building and improvements (not the land) at the 2026 level of $2,629,500; the city's share of the property's 2026 taxes is about $45,170. Budzinski noted the company will keep paying taxes at the current rate during the abatement. Public hearing held Aug. 31. Motion by Budzinski, support by Brockway. | Approved 7-0 |
| 16 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19270 Newburgh Road | Public utility easements granted by Belaggio Homes, Inc., at no cost for sanitary sewers built for the Newburgh Road Land Division Project, southwest ¼ of Section 5. Motions and supports as heard: 16 Ptashnik/McDonnell; 17 Persiconi/support not audible; 18 Budzinski/Persiconi; 19 Ptashnik/Brockway; 20 McCullough/support not audible; 21 Ptashnik/Persiconi. | Approved 7-0 |
| 17 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19288 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 18 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19306 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 19 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19324 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 20 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19342 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 21 | Easement: sanitary sewer, 19360 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 22 | Easement: storm sewer, 19288 Newburgh Road | Public utility easements granted by Belaggio Homes, Inc., at no cost for storm sewers built for the same project. Motions and supports as heard: 22 Brockway/support not audible; 23 McDonnell/Budzinski; 24 Ptashnik/Brockway; 25 McDonnell/Budzinski; 26 McDonnell/support not clearly audible; 27 Brockway/Persiconi. | Approved 7-0 |
| 23 | Easement: storm sewer, 19270 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 24 | Easement: storm sewer, 19306 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 25 | Easement: storm sewer, 19324 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 26 | Easement: storm sewer, 19342 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
| 27 | Easement: storm sewer, 19360 Newburgh Road | Approved 7-0 | |
Significant events
Council says it cannot lift the rec center ban
Residents again asked the council to lift the lifetime ban the Parks and Recreation Commission placed on Steve King. King asked the council to amend city ordinance so no resident could be banned from a public facility without a criminal conviction tied to conduct there or a documented violent disruption. Speaker John Pastor countered that King pleaded no contest to two charges and said the commission's vote was 5-0; Debbie McDermott said there was no criminal conviction.
Vice President Brockway said he sought a legal opinion and was told the authority to lift or amend the ban rests with the commission that issued it, which sits under the executive branch. He cited Section 15 of the City Charter and said that while ordinance changes are a legislative matter, rescinding a ban on a specific resident is not. He directed residents to the commission's next meeting, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at the recreation center, or (734) 466-2900, and said he had sent his personal opinion on the matter to the department.
Speaker questions McDonnell's access to boiler bid documents
Resident Jay Murray said bid records for the Bennett Civic Center Library boiler project on the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network show about 45 companies opened the bid package, including one he said lists McDonnell as its contact and is registered to a member of her immediate family. He said the account accessed the package on July 9 and on July 27, which he said was about an hour before a council meeting where she would vote on it, and asked whether an investigation would follow and by what agency.
McDonnell responded at the end of the meeting that MITN is a free public site anyone can register for, that she downloads bid documents to understand what the city is buying, and that she uses the account through her son's business, for which she helps prepare proposals. She said it would be unethical only if her son bid on a project before the council and she did not recuse herself. She said she has shared the documents with other council members, would not apologize, and told the speaker, "maybe you should run for council."
Data centers: Budzinski says regulation is proactive
Council Member Budzinski, who chairs the Economic Development, Strategic Planning and Technology Committee, responded to online discussion ahead of an upcoming Planning Commission meeting. She said Livonia has no ordinance specifically governing data centers, that the goal is to make them a special use requiring council approval with strict environmental criteria, and that there are no current plans for a data center in the city. Committee minutes in the agenda packet show Planning Director Mark Taormina told members in February that data centers are currently a permitted use in the industrial district. The data center subject (CR 108-26) was among the Law and Education Committee items moved to Sept. 28.
Pressure builds for an e-bike ordinance
McDonnell described seeing a child of about 11 or 12 on an e-bike running yield signs along the Six Mile Road service drive between Wayne and Farmington roads and urged the council to move an enforceable ordinance forward, suggesting police be able to confiscate e-bikes used improperly. Budzinski later said the Law and Education Committee met at 6 p.m. that day and a couple of weeks earlier, and that she expects another meeting on e-bikes.
Fence screening case headed to committee
After resident Vicki Johnson described being cited for privacy screening on her back fence and facing a $450 variance fee, Budzinski said the screened-fence issue is already in committee and can be called up without a vote, and that she would speak with Johnson after the meeting. McCullough said he contacted the ordinance department and hopes enforcement can be stayed while the committee reviews what he called a gray area in the ordinance.
City Hall ramp still unbuilt
Frank McDermott asked Director of Government Affairs Aarica Smith, who was in the audience, when the permanent accessible ramp at the front of City Hall will be built. McDonnell separately asked the administration for a status update, noting the city is out to bid on improving City Hall's front doors. No answer was given at the meeting.
SCADA contract figure
During the consent agenda, Steve King cited the OHM Advisors amendment as a $1.6 million contract. The agenda packet lists the amendment as not to exceed $58,000. King also asked that dollar amounts and acronyms be spelled out on agendas and suggested the city consider a multi-firm engineering panel like Ann Arbor's.
Public comment
Times are from the meeting video. The council allows three minutes for comments on items not on the agenda and two minutes for comments on agenda items.
| Time | Speaker | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| First audience communication | ||
| 1:57 | Steve King, Livonia | Thanked Frank McDermott, a veteran, for advocating for him. Said strangers at Westborn Market asked why he remains banned. Asked council to amend the ordinance so residents can be barred from public facilities only after a criminal conviction tied to conduct there or a documented violent disruption, saying he has neither. |
| 4:33 | Christopher Martin | Asked that poor garbage pickup be placed on the next agenda with people he named brought in to discuss it, noting other cities have fined their haulers and questioning whether Livonia's contract allows that. Addressing council members by name, suggested that serving on the Livonia Spree committee alongside someone he identified only as Sam could present a conflict. Said recreation center staff asked if he was a member when he tried to charge his phone during the recent power outage and told him warming and cooling center status depends on a Wayne County declaration. Criticized weekend overtime used to remove the city's large flower pots and the cost of watering them. |
| 7:45 | Roseanne Martel, Livonia | Read an email she sent council supporting reinstatement of King's access to the recreation center and Senior Wellness Center and his ability to perform at city events. A Bentley High School graduate and resident since 1977, she said speakers who insulted King drew no response from council while applause on another topic drew a warning of expulsion, which she called inconsistent. Called the ban vindictive if tied to King's speech. |
| 10:59 | Frank McDermott, Livonia | Said he would return to the King ban next time. Asked Aarica Smith when the permanent City Hall ramp will be built, noting she said at a July meeting it would come after the primary. Said an assistant city engineer told him it would take about a week and cost $6,000 to $8,000. |
| 13:24 | Vicki Johnson, Livonia | A 48-year resident, said a rental house behind her has overgrown weeds and trees and had 25 bags of garbage at the curb. When she reported it, an inspector cited screens she installed on her back fence five years ago to keep out weeds after her granddaughter stepped on a thistle. Said a variance request costs $450 and the screening also keeps neighboring children from climbing the fence. |
| 16:13 | John Pastor | Disputed claims of King's innocence, saying video showed repeated entry onto the recreation center construction site, that King pleaded no contest to two charges carrying costs of $50 and $270, that more than 15 people have lifetime bans, and that the five-member Parks and Recreation Commission voted 5-0. Said King can petition the commission. After he finished, someone who had already spoken asked to respond; Council President Reid declined and stopped an exchange between audience members. |
| 19:39 | Debbie McDermott, Livonia | Said the ban raises a larger question of how residents could be treated for conduct the administration dislikes. Said 16th District Court Judge James Jolly's ruling was not as severe as a permanent ban and that there was no criminal conviction. |
| Consent agenda comment | ||
| 34:03 | Steve King, Livonia | On item 11, asked that SCADA be spelled out and dollar amounts listed on agendas, described the OHM contract as $1.6 million (the packet lists up to $58,000), and suggested the city use competing on-call engineering firms as Ann Arbor does. |
| Second audience communication | ||
| 47:46 | Jim Vogel, Livonia | Said Housing Commission audit reports and letters to council return a "document not available" error on the city website and asked that privileged documents be labeled as such. |
| 48:47 | Jerry Krasinski, Livonia | Asked how to submit written comments on book five of the Master Plan update. Planning Director Mark Taormina said to email the Planning Department. |
| 49:16 | Cindy Fleming, Livonia | Asked who publicly released recreation center video of King. Said the $5 million Shelden Park project dropped a 20-by-20-foot pavilion, poured a 5-foot connector sidewalk when the Planning Commission now requires 6 feet for new projects, and built a crosswalk onto Woodring Street that does not connect to a sidewalk. Said the park was presented to members of the Noble task force as an area park, not a neighborhood park, and asked council to check on the project. |
| 52:23 | Jay Murray, Livonia | Contrasted urgency on the Carl Sandburg Library boiler with delays on the Bennett Civic Center Library boiler. Alleged Council Member McDonnell accessed the Bennett boiler bid package on MITN through a company account tied to a family member and asked whether an investigation will occur. McDonnell responded later in the meeting. |
| 55:26 | Denise Mika (name as heard), Livonia | Said city projects lose scope after approval and backed 6-foot sidewalks for wheelchairs and bikes. Described a mother with a stroller nearly struck by a child on a sidewalk along Seven Mile Road and dark-clothed children crossing near Bicentennial Park. Asked council to respond to Vicki Johnson's situation. |
Council member updates
| Time | Member | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 21:53 | President Kayleigh Reid | Announced item 13 was moved to Sept. 28. Warned residents about scammers posing as city officials and demanding payment; directory of real contacts at livonia.gov/directory. |
| 22:25 | Carrie Budzinski | Thanked Bill Joyner and others, the Livonia Lions, Livonia Rotary and Clarenceville basketball for the ninth annual Good Old-Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast, held Sept. 13 at Bicentennial Park; recognized a young community member named Drew for his leadership role and Steve Johnson for adding kite flying. Announced the free Livonia Women's Connection networking event she and Rotary have organized for three years, next Thursday, 6–8 p.m., at Sumac Pointe Recreation Area on Hines Drive near Newburgh Road, hosted by Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki. Clarified the city's data center approach (see above). |
| 25:18 | Brandon McCullough | His monthly pizza event at the senior center will not be held on the third Thursday this month; events will run in October, November and December with dates in the newsletter, including holiday themes. |
| 26:10 | Eileen McDonnell | Asked the administration for a status update on the permanent ramp at City Hall's entrance and noted the city is out to bid on improving the front doors. |
| 26:52 | Patrick Brockway | Promoted the 16th annual St. Baldrick's Shave-A-Thon, Sept. 27, noon–6 p.m., at Monaghan Knights of Columbus, where he will have his head shaved; the council team has raised $456 and he agreed to shave his beard if it reaches $500. Explained the legal opinion that only the Parks and Recreation Commission can lift King's ban (see above). |
| 31:38 | Eileen McDonnell | Described a young e-bike rider running yield signs on the Six Mile Road service drive and urged the council to advance an enforceable ordinance. |
| 33:19 | Martha Ptashnik | Agreed on e-bikes and said she referred the issue to the Law and Education Committee months ago. |
| 57:58 | Carrie Budzinski | Said she will talk with Vicki Johnson; she and Ptashnik previously examined the Zoning Board of Appeals fee structure without finding a way to change it. Said screened fencing is already in McCullough's committee and e-bikes were discussed in committee that evening, adding that the council addresses many concerns outside meetings rather than responding at the podium. |
| 59:27 | Brandon McCullough | Said he contacted the ordinance department about Johnson's case, hopes for a stay while the committee reviews the ordinance, and noted the tension between enforcing it and widespread blight elsewhere in the city. |
| 1:01:02 | Eileen McDonnell | Responded to Jay Murray's allegation regarding her MITN account (see above). |
| 1:04:04 | — | Motion to adjourn by Ptashnik, support by Budzinski. Reid said council would return at 8:15 p.m. |
Roll call votes
Every roll call was recorded in the same order: Ptashnik, Brockway, McCullough, McDonnell, Budzinski, Persiconi, Reid. Each member voted aye on every roll call. Motion and support attributions come from the meeting audio as transcribed; seconds marked not audible could not be determined.
| Time | Question | Motion / support | Ayes | Nays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:26 | Aug. 31 minutes | Ptashnik / Brockway | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 35:42 | Consent agenda, items 1–12 | Persiconi / Budzinski | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 36:48 | Item 14, deny Sasa Head Spa appeal | Persiconi / McCullough | 7 | 0 | Denied |
| 38:50 | Item 15, Beaver Aerospace & Defense IFEC | Budzinski / Brockway | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 39:42 | Item 16, sanitary easement, 19270 Newburgh | Ptashnik / McDonnell | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 40:25 | Item 17, sanitary easement, 19288 Newburgh | Persiconi / not audible | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 41:06 | Item 18, sanitary easement, 19306 Newburgh | Budzinski / Persiconi | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 41:48 | Item 19, sanitary easement, 19324 Newburgh | Ptashnik / Brockway | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 42:29 | Item 20, sanitary easement, 19342 Newburgh | McCullough / not audible | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 43:09 | Item 21, sanitary easement, 19360 Newburgh | Ptashnik / Persiconi | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 43:49 | Item 22, storm easement, 19288 Newburgh | Brockway / not audible | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 44:32 | Item 23, storm easement, 19270 Newburgh | McDonnell / Budzinski | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 45:13 | Item 24, storm easement, 19306 Newburgh | Ptashnik / Brockway | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 45:54 | Item 25, storm easement, 19324 Newburgh | McDonnell / Budzinski | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 46:37 | Item 26, storm easement, 19342 Newburgh | McDonnell / not clearly audible | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 47:15 | Item 27, storm easement, 19360 Newburgh | Brockway / Persiconi | 7 | 0 | Approved |
| 1:04:04 | Adjourn | Ptashnik / Budzinski | No roll call | Adjourned | |
The next regular meeting is Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, when the council is scheduled to take up the Law and Education Committee items and approve these minutes. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at the recreation center.
Sources: City of Livonia agenda packet for the 2,048th Regular Meeting (Sept. 14, 2026) and the meeting video transcript. Statements made during public comment are the speakers' own and were not independently verified. Names and places were checked against the agenda packet and city and public sources; public speakers' names follow the transcript where no other record was available. The full packet is available at livoniami.portal.civicclerk.com.