Saginaw · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Saginaw public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Proposed kayak launch on Ojibway Island
Kayak Saginaw's Dave Schmidt asked for a second kayak launch downtown or on Ojibway Island; Councilmember Young has championed a Lake Linton-side launch, and the city manager pointed to about $100,000 a year in recreation funding that could help make it happen.
Civic engagement and board recruitment
CPAC Chair John Milne warned that most commissioners' terms expire at the February meeting, creating a wall of vacancies. Nominated seats require designees from the NAACP, the Mexican American Council, and an LGBTQ organization, plus hard-to-fill student and formerly incarcerated seats.
Closed session in Scott v. City of Saginaw
The council was scheduled to discuss pending litigation in private under the state Open Meetings Act's litigation exception.
Growing cost of ARPA consulting services
The Guidehouse contract grew by another $85,000 to $1.686 million — 3.2% of the city's $52 million ARPA award — driven by monitoring 27 subrecipients and federal closeout work extending into mid-2027. Councilmembers Hammond and Balls pressed staff on the justification.
National Injury Prevention Day proclamation and Covenant HealthCare safety programming
Saginaw will mark November 18 as National Injury Prevention Day, with Covenant HealthCare reporting 2,480 trauma patients treated in the past year and a 71% jump in e-bike injuries. Free community events include car-seat checks, fall assessments, fire-safety demos, and gun-lock and Narcan giveaways.
Highway safety grant for police
Two public safety funding items were on the agenda: a $215,000 federal COPS technology grant for police equipment and the county agreement for the 2026 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant.
Variance applications at four Saginaw properties
The zoning board was set to hear four variance requests, covering addresses on Witters Street, Brown Street, South Michigan Avenue, and North Hamilton. These decisions shape what property owners can build on their lots.
Community Center Sign Replacement Variance
The Community Action Center is upgrading its aging nonconforming sign with a modern digital-style sign, but the building sits only about 14 feet from the sidewalk, leaving no compliant spot. The variance keeps the replacement roughly where the old sign has stood since the 1970s.
Pitt & Balcony Theatre back entrance safety
The five-year-old art theater's back door has been a decade-long headache — a security risk that once forced the managing director to spend a night in the basement running space heaters to keep pipes from freezing. The variance lets contractors rebuild it to Michigan building code, three feet closer to the property line than normally allowed.
Planning Commission attendance and quorum failures
Two meetings this year failed for lack of a quorum, costing the city republished notices and making applicants wait a month. The commission wants a bylaws amendment setting a limit on unexcused absences, with a November deadline.
My Michigan Medical Center Saginaw real estate purchase
The city is selling a quarter-acre parcel the hospital has been maintaining next to its helipad. A 2005 HUD grant bought the land for a hospital expansion that never happened; HUD must still approve the sale.
Emergency repairs to fire truck and fiber optic network
Two emergency purchases were up for ratification: $9,527 to fix Fire Department Truck 2 and $4,744 to repair a damaged fiber optic line serving city information services. Ratification is how the council signs off on spending already done in an emergency.
Municipal service and supply contracts
A batch of routine contracts keeps city operations running: trash pickup, uniforms, window cleaning, concrete, sewer debris hauling, and wastewater parts. Worth about $900,000 combined across fiscal years.
Purchasing ordinance amendment (Bids and Bonds)
The council updated its procurement rules on bids and bonds, changing how the city handles contractor requirements for purchases.
CSX railroad crossings and fall construction schedule
Council learned the Washington Avenue rail crossing closure came as a surprise because CSX worked through MDOT, not the city. State Street and Weiss crossings remain on track for November, weather permitting.
'No Loitering' signage ordinance proposal
Council Member Young wants businesses covered by the camera ordinance to post No Loitering signs so police can clear after-hours gatherings in empty lots — a response to shootings at such locations.
Business establishment lighting and enforcement ordinance
A proposed ordinance would amend the lighting standards and enforcement provisions for business establishments in the city code — rules that affect how commercial properties are lit and how violations are policed.
Medical Diamond Park funding
Two foundation grants — $150,000 from the Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation and $75,000 from the William McNally Family Foundation — were slated for acceptance to fund the wetland restoration and the Legacy Riverfront tier of the Medical Diamond Park project.
Neighborhood conditions: sidewalks, lighting, and street basketball hoops
Residents raised broken sidewalks that caused falls, dark streets, rotten roads (Russell, Superior, Fashion Square), and basketball hoops left in curbs. Council members directed staff to follow up, and Carter was asked to leave contact information with the clerk.
MLive FOIA appeal denied
The council upheld the city's response to MLive reporter Justin Engel's public records request, rejecting his appeal. Transparency advocates may see this as a closed door; the city stood by its original decision.
Winter street preparations and tree removal
The council stocked up early — 1,800 tons of road salt, brine tanks, and a $311,500 tree removal contract — to keep streets safe this winter and address hazardous trees across the city.
Youth arts outreach
New Morgan Trust money for youth education is waiting in the wings while the commission builds out art classes, in-school music programs and STEAM days across the community.
Sheridan Avenue rehabilitation with MDOT cost agreement
The MDOT cost agreement locks in the reconstruction of Sheridan Avenue from Treanor to Hess.
Bliss Park improvements grant
Council authorized a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to pay for Bliss Park upgrades.
New Change of Use / Site Plan Review fee
Council members worried a new $150 change-of-use/site-plan fee would add costs for people rehabilitating vacant buildings and postponed it for more detail.
CAPER for FY 2025-2026
The annual HUD report shows three finished homes, four shelters serving 585 people, 48 households helped with rent, and zero unspent COVID grant dollars returned.
Protest Over Police Arrest
A viral arrest video has people in Saginaw protesting, saying police policy is broken. If city leaders listen, it could lead to real changes at City Hall—so this isn't just noise.
Wastewater solids handling amendment (~$29M)
The city is switching its solids-handling plan from optimizing the old lime system to a thermal hydrolysis process that cuts sludge volume up to 50%, produces Class A biosolids, and frees the city from a single hauler — no new rate increase beyond one already adopted.
ADA accessibility in historic buildings
The owner of Court Street Antiques couldn't find a contractor willing to install a lift, so a 22-foot ramp is the fallback. Commissioners weighed historic fabric — stone cutting — against accessibility needs, with Hanley suggesting work at the less-visible rear of the building.
Saginaw Housing & Economic Development Strategy
The city reviewed a newly developed housing and economic strategy funded by a grant to address market conditions and guide future community investments. Commissioners discussed the importance of renter outreach and actionable steps toward building affordable housing.
Special land use for public utility at 305 S 18th Street
The commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on a special land use request for a utility at 305 S 18th Street. Residents near the parcel may want to weigh in on how the use fits the neighborhood.
Park maintenance staffing and wages
The city manager said he's negotiating with Saginaw County to staff Celebration Square and Ojibway Island parks starting next year, which could keep restrooms open more reliably; a formal proposal will come back to council before year end.
New infill housing at 403 Waller Street
A vacant, steeply sloped corner lot gets a 624-square-foot single-family house, replacing an overgrown lot with owner-occupied housing. The variances let the home use the existing Hamilton Street curb cut instead of an unbuildable Waller Street driveway.
Harrison Manor senior housing project
The proposed senior complex on Benjamin Street didn't win its MSHDA grant and is re-evaluating its options with Saginaw Future. Staff couldn't confirm whether the developer had actually made contact yet.
Rental registration late fees
Landlord Irfan Oymagil asked the city to waive his $150 late fee at 814 Mackinac Street and rethink a penalty equal to 100% of the registration fee. Councilmember Hammond said a grace period already exists and wants the fee lowered.
Police department equipment and use-of-force concerns
Council approved three new Tahoe patrol units, while Jeff Bulls called for an investigation into a viral video showing an officer body-slamming a teen. Councilmember Hammond said no police report has been filed on the incident.
Water revenue bond refunding
Refinancing $13 million in 2016 water bonds is expected to save ratepayers about $500,000 over the life of the bonds.
New police patrol vehicles
The police department is getting three new 2026 Chevy Tahoe patrol units, fully equipped, for $235,500.
Utility system installation approvals in historic districts
The commission decided which utility installs (like gas meters) staff can approve on the fly and which still need a public commission vote. Side and rear installations are now handled administratively; front-of-building and multi-unit meters still come before the commission.
Unspent ARPA funds and the Mission in the City park
Resident Mike Thompson urged the council to revive a $250,000 proposal to rehabilitate the Mission in the City park, which hosts an annual block party. He argued roughly $4 million in unspent ARPA money remains and blamed a confusing consultant report for the original proposal's rejection.
CDBG COVID-19 funding for United Way of Saginaw County
The council approved $288,958 in federal Community Development Block Grant money for United Way of Saginaw County, but only after debate and a 7-1 vote. The funds support community development services, and the split vote suggests some council members had reservations.
Financial condition of the SEDC loan fund
Financial reports through June 30 show total assets around $2.42 million and an ending fund balance of about $636,000, with roughly $180,000 available to lend and new funds allocated as of July 1.
Loan portfolio health and delinquency reporting
The board wants a delinquency report at its August 31 meeting so members can see which borrowers are falling behind. With about $1.56 million in loans outstanding, keeping tabs on repayment matters for future lending capacity.
Community outreach and resource guide
The commission is building a brochure and a resource guide to make residents more aware of its work, tied to outreach to community partners.
Sweet Creations loan settlement
The SEDC's loan to Sweet Creations has been a running issue, and the board is now settling it: the borrower pays two-thirds in one lump sum and the rest is forgiven. The tradeoff is recovering most of the money versus forgiving part of it.
State Police Patrol Reduction
State police are pulling back daily patrols in Saginaw and Flint, which could mean slower 911 response and fewer troopers visible on city streets. The big question now is whether local cops can cover the gap—and what that costs.
Outdoor Storage Special Land Use – 3110 Sheridan Ave
The Saginaw County Road Commission wants two roof-only covers to shelter its equipment at its existing Sheridan Avenue facility. The structures will sit more than 50 feet from nearby homes with no off-site lighting.
Saginaw Housing Commission troubles
Councilwoman Hammond revealed the housing commission was designated 'troubled' over high vacancies despite a long wait list, and argued the city's 2004 separation agreement is creating hurdles. Councilman Braddock and staff are pursuing vacant-property redevelopment with the schools and housing commission.
FOIA appeal by Abdibasid Abukar
A resident challenged the city's response to a public records request. The Council upheld the city's amended response, denying the appeal.
Cross Connection Control Program Update
Expect a green door tag — the state requires the city to inspect homes for cross-connections that could siphon contaminants into drinking water. Inspections take 10-15 minutes, and hose vacuum breakers cost $4.69 installed on your water bill.