Councilmember· 2024-11-01–2028-11-01; month-level start: November 2024 per Michigan Banner election coverage (election day; seating day unpublished); month-level end: November 2028 per the city council page term-expiry listing
Bill Ostash
Saginaw
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 18
- Total speaking time
- 1:13:39
- Avg per meeting
- 4:06
- Segments
- 1184
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The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Ostash said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Five-Year Parks and Recreation Plan (2027-2031)
The plan keeps the city eligible for state recreation grants that fund park and trail projects.
Status of internal affairs investigation into alleged assault of Stefanie Anderson
The police department takes roughly 40% of the city budget, a figure multiple speakers asked the council to scrutinize for measurable outcomes.
Water department equipment and study funding
About $158,600 combined across three water/wastewater items, plus $36,000 for the railway license.
Data Center Zoning Ordinance and Moratorium
No direct cost, but the regulations could shape whether data center development — and the water sales and jobs that come with it — happens in Saginaw.
Data center zoning ordinance
Commissioners worried data center power demand could drive up residents' electric bills, and noted water and sewer infrastructure is at about 25% capacity.
Municipal service and supply contracts
Roughly $900,000 across FY 2027-2029 for routine municipal services and supplies.
Purchasing ordinance amendment (Bids and Bonds)
The amendment governs procurement requirements rather than a specific expenditure.
Water System Improvements and DWSRF Bond Financing
With 23% and 50% loan forgiveness, roughly $1.5 million-plus of the watermain debt and half of the lead line debt would never need repaying.
Civic engagement and board recruitment
Draft nuisance gathering ordinance
The ordinance carries fines up to $500 and 90 days in jail, and speakers warned of potential lawsuit exposure for the city.
Projects/Prospects Report
Over $20 million in new investment at the existing plant, with manufacturing jobs maintained and created.
Community Center Sign Replacement Variance
Part of a million-dollar-plus renovation effort across the agency's Perkins and Genesee buildings.
Medical Diamond Project progress
$6,961,147 in city contracting for major infrastructure work.
Property split at 1427 Brown Street / 817 East Holland
Highway safety grant for police
$215,000 in federal COPS grant funds, plus Byrne JAG grant proceeds shared with the county.
South 10th Street sewer backup and unresolved damages
Residents report major out-of-pocket losses from flooded basements, destroyed belongings, motel stays, and inoperable furnaces and hot water heaters.
2026 sidewalk and ADA ramp projects
Sidewalk repairs fall to homeowners at their own cost; the city continues major road spending, including a $730,737 contract increase on the 2026 road millage resurfacing project.
'No Loitering' signage ordinance proposal
Business owners would bear roughly $10 per sign; police inspections would add modest staff time.
Strickland Street Sign
Carpenter offered to pay for the sign himself.
2026 Local Road Millage Resurfacing and Water Main Replacement
Contract increase of $730,736.65, bringing the project total to $3,706,876.05.
Decisions during term (449)
Recorded while Ostash was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent agenda (items 1, 2, 4, 6-14) approved with exceptions
Guidehouse, Inc. ARPA consulting agreement amended by $85,000 (consent item 3)
FY26 COPS Technology and Equipment Program grant, $215,000 (consent item 5)
Appointment of Harry Lee to the Housing Board of Appeals
Adoption of the City of Saginaw Parks and Recreation Plan for 2027-2031
Motion to enter closed session on Scott v. City of Saginaw
Approval of Minutes — August 5, 2026
Approval of Minutes — October 7, 2026
Variance J26-2891 — 2421 Witters Street
Variance J26-2892 — 1427 Brown Street
Variance J26-2893 — 203 S Michigan Avenue
Variance J26-2896 — 805 N Hamilton (Pitt & Balcony Theatre)
Minutes from October 7, 2026
Approval of Minutes from August 25, 2026
Approval of Minutes from September 22, 2026
Approval of Minutes from October 19, 2026
Strickland Street Sign — Recommendation to City Council
Consent agenda (Items 1-4, 6-14)
Real Estate Purchase Agreement with MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw, 306 Hoyt Avenue (Consent Item 5)
Ordinance amending §14.34 'Bids and Bonds' (O-204)
Voting record (33)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Motion to enter closed session on Scott v. City of Saginaw
enter a closed session for a strategy session connected with the negotiation(s) of collective bargaining agreement(s) per MCL 15.268(c)
Closed session for collective bargaining
amend the motion to postpone for amendment and reintroduction at the November 23 meeting.
postpone the ordinance for amendment and reintroduction at the November 23 meeting.
Nuisance gatherings ordinance postponed to November 23
Motion to call the question on ordinance introduction (O-204 nuisance gatherings)
Wanted community outreach with CVI organizations before proceeding and had concerns about the ordinance's breadth.
Introduction of Ordinance O-204: Nuisance Gatherings (§94.120)
Said the ordinance targets large unruly gatherings where guns were seen and can be amended later.
IAFF Local 102 tentative agreement, July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2030
approve consent agenda item 2
call the question on the motion to approve consent agenda item 2
approve consent agenda item 6
Emergency call boxes for Ojibway Island — $31,229 (consent item 6)
adopt the City Manager’s recommendation for Ojibway Island Park Access presented on June 8th for a period of 2 months following the opening of the park, to review accessibility options and solicit pub
Ojibway Island park access plan
Concerned about opening the park broadly given past incidents and safety issues
adopt an ordinance to amend §153-2.2 “Definitions,” §153-3.1.C(3) “Special Land Uses,” §153-3.1.F(2) “Permitted Uses,” and by adding new section §153-4.35 titled “Micro Dwelling Unit/Micro Dwelling Un
call the question on the motion to adopt the ordinance amendment
Ordinance O-204 — Micro Dwelling Unit zoning amendments
allow for more time to develop and enact reasonable ordinance changes setting forth the regulations for the establishment and operation of Data Centers within the city, to extend the moratorium durati
Data center moratorium extension and Planning Commission postponement
go into closed session to discuss pending litigation in DVM Utilities, Inc. v. City of Saginaw per MCL 15.268 (e)
introduce an ordinance to amend §153-2.2 “Definitions,” §153-3.1.C(3) “Special Land Uses,” §153-3.1.F(2) “Permitted Uses,” and by adding new section §153-4.35 titled “Micro Dwelling Unit/Micro Dwellin
Introduction of Micro Dwelling Unit ordinance (O-204)
Closed session — DVM Utilities, Inc. v. City of Saginaw
close debate
approve the proposed Micro Dwelling Unit/Micro Dwelling Unit Development Zoning Ordinance as written
amend the original motion to provide the Commissioners with city emails and IPads to access the digital packet
Micro Dwelling Unit/Micro Dwelling Unit Development Zoning Ordinance
Amendment to provide iPads and city emails for electronic agendas
call the question
direct staff, through the City Manager, to fully reopen Ojibway Island, without any accessibility or vehicular barriers, immediately upon completion of construction work, currently slated for July 202
Motion to reopen Ojibway Island by July 2026
He wants the park open but says reopening requires added staff, boulders to protect the lawn, and the community survey process.