On the agenda: Farmington Hills Minutes — Flock Camera (Oct 10)

APPROVED 10/26/2026

MINUTES
CITY OF FARMINGTON HILLS
FARMINGTON HILLS CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL – COMMUNITY ROOM
OCTOBER 10, 2026 – 9:00AM
The goals study session meeting of the Farmington Hills City Council was called to order by
Mayor Rich at 9:03am.
Council Members Present:

Aldred, Boleware, Bridges, Dwyer, Knol, Rich and Starkman

Council Members Absent:

None

Others Present:

Acting City Manager Mondora, City Clerk Lindahl and Director
Skrobola

OPENING COMMENTS
Mayor Rich opened with remarks acknowledging the work of Acting City Manager Mondora in
preparing a comprehensive one-page summary document consolidating the City's five strategic
goals, key initiatives, items delivered, items in progress, and proposed 2027 priorities, along
with the City's foundational values. The Mayor expressed that the document effectively
illustrates how the City's work is not merely incremental but addresses substantive priorities,
and that virtually every City employee could use it to understand where their work fits within
the larger organizational mission.
Councilmember Bridges commended Acting City Manager Mondora for the document's value in
guiding both the Council and administration.
Councilmember Aldred suggested the updated version, following this session, be published and
made available to staff and the broader community as a communications tool. Acting City
Manager Mondora confirmed that the communications team had already indicated the onepager would assist them in crafting messaging for the coming year, and that the document
would be updated to reflect the outcomes of this session.
REVIEW STATUS OF FEBRUARY 2026 GOALS
Before proceeding goal by goal, the Mayor asked whether any key initiatives were missing from
the document. Councilmember Starkman raised the Orchard Lake/12 Mile corridor. Acting City
Manager Mondora confirmed this was captured under 2027 potential priorities as the "Orchard
Lake Corridor" and also incorporated within the corridor improvements key initiative and the
accelerate redevelopment, zoning text and map amendments items.
Councilmember Dwyer asked whether economic development initiatives encompassed both
commercial and residential development; Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed they did,
tied to the zoning ordinance audit and implementation of its recommendations.

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Councilmember Bridges asked whether enhanced zoning enforcement remained a continuing
focus; Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed it did.
Mayor Rich noted that the 9 Line trail project was not reflected on the document. Acting City
Manager Mondora advised that the City would be applying for a Transportation Alternatives
Program grant through MDOT for non-motorized facility funding, with a construction target of
2028 or 2029, and an anticipated award notification in February. The Mayor noted this could
become a 2027 goal if funded.
DISCUSSION ON 2027 GOALS
The Council discussed each of the five goal areas, reviewing delivered items, items in motion,
and proposed 2027 priorities.
1. COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
REVIEW OF 2025–2026 DELIVERED ITEMS AND ITEMS IN MOTION
Crime Data Analyst / Police Data Transparency
Councilmember Bridges requested an update on how the crime data analyst position, filled
in October 2025, was being utilized. Acting City Manager Mondora summarized the
analyst's work, which included intelligence reports, suspect lineups, bulletins, traffic stop
and citation reports, use of force reports, mental health co-responder data, human
trafficking analysis, and the City's dashboard data compilation, among other functions.
Councilmember Bridges expressed concern about the continued disparity in traffic citation
rates, noting that African Americans receive approximately 45 percent of citations issued in
the City, and asked that the crime data analyst be directed to provide clarity on whether
departmental strategies are addressing this disparity.
Councilmember Dwyer requested an update on the new CLEMIS system, noting it had
recently been restructured, and suggested that the Police Chief and CLEMIS representatives
be invited to a future study session to present on how updated data capabilities are being
used.
Councilmember Boleware noted significant discussion at the recent Traverse City
conference regarding the new CLEMIS system and echoed the request for a presentation.
She also observed that the crime data analyst position appeared to have expanded beyond
its original scope, which was primarily focused on data extraction.
Acting City Manager Mondora acknowledged that a study session with the Chief would be
appropriate to address all related questions.

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Councilmember Bridges further noted that Chief King had previously issued an order
discouraging the use of the "impeding traffic" citation code and refocusing enforcement on
hazardous moving violations, which he supported as a potential mechanism for reducing
enforcement disparities.
Case Manager and Mental Health Rapid Response
Councilmember Starkman reported that the Commission on Community Health is forming a
subcommittee, with its first meeting scheduled for November 4th, to develop informational
materials for citywide distribution and continue efforts to integrate mental health coresponse into the police department. A presentation to City Council is anticipated in
January.
Pedestrian Safety / E-Bikes / Vape Legislation
Mayor Rich noted that pedestrian safety discussions would likely include the topic of ebikes. On vape legislation, she indicated that the state is currently considering action, and
that the City would maintain a placeholder. If state legislation does not materialize, the City
would consider local action given ongoing resident concerns.
2027 POTENTIAL PRIORITIES
Smoking Lounge Hours
Councilmember Bridges stated that hookah lounge hours had been reduced from midnight
to 11:00 P.M. following incidents that drew significant police resources. He expressed
openness to revisiting the midnight closing time and asked for a police department
assessment of whether incidents at hookah lounges had decreased over the past year.
Council indicated no objection to further review.
Flock Camera System
Council discussed the upcoming renewal of the City's Flock contract, which expires in June.
Councilmember Dwyer provided context on the broad law enforcement use of Flock
cameras nationally and in Michigan, noting that the Farmington Hills Police Department has
received no complaints related to its camera usage, and cited the Woodland Park homicide
as a case where Flock cameras were instrumental in solving the crime.
Councilmember Starkman expressed support for transparent, public-facing discussions
about the cameras, concern about potential expansion, and the importance of public
education about what the Flock system does and does not do.
Councilmember Knol agreed that council members themselves should be better informed
before any public discussion, and supported smaller group meetings with the Chief before
the contract renewal comes before the full Council.

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Councilmember Bridges noted that he had originally supported the Flock cameras for the
purpose of identifying individuals with outstanding felony warrants from other communities
entering the City and confirmed with Acting City Manager Mondora that there had been
zero reported instances of officers misusing the system. He requested that the Council be
provided with a copy of the current Flock policy in advance of the renewal, and that state
legislation on the matter be monitored.
Councilmember Boleware stated that she believed Flock camera education should be a
stated goal for the year, separate from the contract renewal question. Council reached
general consensus on this framing.
Councilmember Knol suggested deferring detailed discussions until after the November
election, as state legislative developments were anticipated. The Council agreed to that
timing.
Multifamily Rental Inspection
Acting City Manager Mondora noted that a roundtable was held with multifamily housing
professionals during the summer, generating significant feedback on available tools and the
challenges of implementing a new ordinance. Council had not yet provided direction on
next steps. Councilmember Boleware and Councilmember Knol supported continuing the
discussion and returning to Council with options. The item was confirmed to remain as an
ongoing goal.
Police Presence at City Council Meetings
Councilmember Dwyer raised the issue of uniformed police presence at Council meetings,
noting that nearly every comparable city in Michigan has at least one on-duty officer
present, at no overtime cost. A benchmarking review of peer communities confirmed this is
standard practice.
Acting City Manager Mondora recommended incorporating this as a policy within the
Council's rules and guidelines rather than as a standalone goal, and Council concurred.
2. STRATEGIC REDEVELOPMENT
REVIEW OF 2025–2026 DELIVERED ITEMS AND ITEMS IN MOTION
Mayor Rich noted that zoning policy implementation, including text and map amendments,
would be addressed at the Monday Council meeting. Work on accelerating redevelopment
in the City's corridors continues.
Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed that a resolution establishing a six-month deferral
on data center applications would also be before Council on Monday, during which the
Planning Commission would review the matter and bring recommended ordinance changes

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back to Council prior to March 31, 2026. A further deferral could be considered if that work
is not completed in time.
Councilmember Aldred sought clarification on the distinction between deferring decisions
on applications versus deferring development of a data center ordinance; Acting City
Manager Mondora confirmed the resolution addresses both—applications received during
the deferral period would be received but held, while the Planning Commission works on an
ordinance update.
2027 POTENTIAL PRIORITIES
Food Truck Ordinance
Acting City Manager Mondora explained that both Cristia Brockway, Economic
Development Director and Ted Davis, Special Services Director, have expressed interest in
establishing guardrails around food truck operations—allowing them in specific instances
such as the Orchard Lake corridor, city functions at The Hawk, or employer and community
events—while providing the zoning division with a framework to address related inquiries.
Councilmember Knol indicated support for temporary food truck allowances tied to events
but expressed concern about permanent food truck operations competing with brick-andmortar establishments that pay property taxes.
Council agreed that the food truck ordinance should remain as a 2027 goal.
3. PLACEMAKING AND COMMUNITY HUBS
REVIEW OF 2025–2026 DELIVERED ITEMS AND ITEMS IN MOTION
Acting City Manager Mondora noted Council's awareness of the MNR Trust Fund park
acquisition grant program, available on a case-by-case basis should land acquisition
opportunities arise. Items in motion include the Costick Replacement and the playground
master plan with sensory play equipment.
Mayor Rich reported that the newly launched Mayor's Youth Council would be engaged to
help design new playground equipment at Heritage Park, working with a landscape
architect and visiting parks in neighboring communities to gather inclusive design ideas.
Acting City Manager Mondora noted that Special Services Director Davis is developing a
comprehensive parks asset management plan—the first of its kind for the City—to
document the condition of parks amenities, establish life cycle cost analysis, and inform the
upcoming five-year CIP.
The Heritage Park agreement was noted as progressing. Bond Park's CIP status under the
parks master plan was confirmed.

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9 Line Trail
Mayro Rich confirmed that the 9 Line trail project would be added to the Placemaking and
Community Hubs goals for 2027, contingent on grant funding. Acting City Manager
Mondora outlined the MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant application in
progress, with construction targeted for 2028 or 2029, if funded.
4. WELCOMING COMMUNITY
REVIEW OF 2025–2026 DELIVERED ITEMS AND ITEMS IN MOTION
South End Focus
Mayor Rich noted that the South End and Grand River Corridor continue to receive
attention, including discussion of potential Council meetings or study sessions held in the
area.
Councilmember Bridges raised concerns about the appearance of the Jon Grant Community
Center, noting that its landscaping is in poor condition and is situated adjacent to a closed
gas station, creating a negative visual impression. He urged that attention be directed to
improving the site.
Councilmember Bridges also noted that monument signs throughout the City need cleaning.
Councilmember Knol suggested that court workers performing landscaping community
service could be utilized for cleaning and maintenance of monument signs.
Redevelopment Signage
Acting City Manager Mondora noted that consultant Carlisle Wortman had been consulted
on redevelopment notification signage practices among benchmark communities. Options
under consideration include increasing the notification radius (currently 300 feet,
potentially expanding to 500 feet or more) and determining whether signage is placed by
the City or required of the applicant. Acting City Manager Mondora indicated that if this
remains a goal, options could be brought forward for Council consideration. Council
affirmed this as a continuing goal.
2027 POTENTIAL PRIORITIES
Civility Pledge
Councilmember Boleware presented a proposal, consistent with National League of Cities
(NLC) initiatives, to adopt a civility pledge applicable to all who speak before the Council and
boards and commissions—not limited to Council members themselves. Council expressed
general support.

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Early Childhood Initiative
Councilmember Boleware reported on the City's participation in the NLC Early Childhood
Pathways Initiative, noting that the City was selected and that its proposal was supported
by a letter from the school board. The initiative, funded through the NLC and the Bezos
Foundation, is aimed at attracting young families by connecting the City with early
childhood care providers and building community programming such as community
suppers.
Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed that a full briefing for City Council is tentatively
scheduled for the October 26th study session, covering the boot camp attended by staff and
elected officials, and the draft plan produced from that session.
Mayor Rich noted that the Mayor's Youth Council expressed interest in serving as
community ambassadors at early childhood programming events, drawing a parallel to the
student ambassador model used at the school district's senior breakfast.
New Resident Orientation
Councilmember Knol proposed a new resident orientation event modeled on a program she
observed at Sterling Heights' State of the City, in which newer residents are invited to City
Hall for a structured event where each department head presents relevant information—
permitting requirements, trash and recycling, available amenities, boards and commissions
openings, and similar topics. She suggested this could be held during the week, targeted at
newer residents including foreign-born residents less familiar with local government
processes.
Councilmember Bridges suggested that the Mayor's Youth Council and student volunteers
could assist with outreach and logistics. Councilmember Boleware agreed, noting that peer
communication from youth increases community engagement.
Councilmember Aldred suggested supplementing any event with a written welcome packet
mailed to new residents.
Acting City Manager Mondora raised the question of whether a new resident orientation
might replace or alternate with the existing citywide open house, suggesting a possible
rotating schedule of signature community events—open house one year, fireworks the
next, a Hawk experience another year—to allow staff to focus on delivering one high-quality
event annually rather than repeating the same format each year.
Even Year Elections
Mayor Rich raised the topic of moving local elections to even years to align with federal and
state election cycles, noting that other cities have made this change.

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City Clerk Lindahl confirmed that the City's current local elections cost around $300,000,
with approximately 22,000 permanent absentee ballots going out regardless of election
size. She noted that piggybacking on a federal or state election would result in
administrative costs being absorbed entirely by the state. Council agreed to schedule a
study session to examine the question further.
Public Comment at City Council Meetings
Councilmember Aldred raised the question of whether the format for public comment at
Council meetings should be reconsidered, noting that residents sometimes wait through
long meetings to speak on items not on the agenda, and some leave before reaching the
end. He suggested considering allowing a limited number of resident comments near the
beginning of the meeting.
Mayor Rich acknowledged the history behind the current format—public comment was
previously placed at the beginning of the agenda, but during a period of high public interest
on certain issues, this resulted in meetings running past 11:00 P.M. before the Council could
address its business agenda. The Mayor expressed personal reservations about returning to
that format but acknowledged the legitimate concern for residents who wait. Legal
considerations around equitable and consistent selection of speakers were also noted.
Councilmember Bridges stated that he was inclined to revisit the prior policy, expressing
concern that placing public comment at the end of the meeting could inadvertently signal
that resident participation is discouraged. Council agreed to keep this as a goal item for
further discussion.
Community Conversation About Homelessness
Mayor Rich reported receiving a letter from CARES regarding homelessness and expressed
support for initiating a community conversation on the issue. Council indicated support for
moving forward with this conversation.
5. ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Special Services Budget Deficit
Mayor Rich acknowledged this as the key initiative under Organizational Excellence. Finance
Director Skrobola provided an update on the City's financial position.
Pension Board
Finance Director Skrobola reported that the pension fund's investment allocation has been
successfully shifted to 70 percent equities, consistent with the investment policy and
aligned with best practices for a long-horizon, intergenerational fund. When he arrived, the
allocation was at 55 percent—more appropriate for a mature, near-retirement workforce.
The new allocation reflects the fund's broad membership across career stages. He noted
that the funded percentage is improving and trending toward benchmark peers, with

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collective bargaining agreements incorporating an 85 percent funding target as an incentive
for reducing employee contributions once achieved. His long-term goal is to reach 100 to
110 percent funding, consistent with the City's retiree healthcare fund.
HR and Employee Engagement
Mayor Rich raised the value of reviewing the City's hiring, retention, promotion, and
demographic data, noting it had been some time since the Council received such a report.
Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed that the NeoGov HR platform, in use for
approximately 18 months, tracks relevant metrics including time-to-fill positions, turnover
rates, and demographic data by employment category. She noted that the communications
team is also interested in conducting an internal employee engagement survey to establish
a baseline, which could be done periodically.
2027 POTENTIAL PRIORITIES
AI on the City Website / AI Policy
Acting City Manager Mondora confirmed that an RFP for comprehensive website
replacement is being prepared as a major initiative for the current fiscal year.
Regarding AI policy, IT Manager Jack Li has drafted an internal AI Use Policy that will be
reviewed by the Technology Task Force with departmental representatives, then sent to the
City's labor attorney before being finalized and published.
Councilmember Aldred confirmed this policy would govern permissible uses, data inputs,
and review processes. Acting City Manager Mondora indicated the goal is to have the policy
in place by year-end.
Fund Balance Policy
Councilmember Bridges stated that the City's high fund balance, while previously viewed as
a resource, presents perception challenges and that having idle, undesignated reserves
above accepted standards is not fiscally appropriate. He expressed support for a formal plan
to move the general fund balance toward the Government Finance Officers Association
recommended range of 25 to 35 percent of expenditures.
Finance Director Skrobola provided important context: with the Council's commitment of
$14 million toward the new activity center, the fund balance on June 30, 2027 is projected
at approximately $44.5 million—roughly 50 percent of general fund expenditures and
transfers out. He cautioned that given the City's structural deficit of approximately $4
million per year, the rating agencies have indicated that falling below 50 percent while
continuing to spend down fund balance, which is projected to continue at roughly $4 million
per year after FY 26-27, will trigger a ratings downgrade. He emphasized that it is necessary
to eliminate the structural budget deficit as soon as possible. Council agreed to retain fund
balance policy as a 2027 goal.

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Refuse Millage
Acting City Manager Mondora explained the history and mechanics of the City's refuse
millage, noting it is one of the oldest statutory mechanisms for funding refuse collection. As
an alternative, some communities bill residents directly through the hauler. The City's
current contract with Priority Waste has several years remaining, and no immediate
decisions are required.
Acting City Manager Mondora offered to circulate a benchmark study published annually by
RRRASOC's general manager for informational purposes. Council agreed no action is needed
at this time; the item was treated as informational.
Road and Special Services Millage
Acting City Manager Mondora outlined a potential strategy previously raised by
Councilmembers Knol and Aldred involving a review of whether the road millage is being
fully utilized relative to needs, and whether any portion could be redirected or whether a
special services millage increase might be warranted given the structural deficit and
playground/park infrastructure needs. She suggested a PASER modeling study with
assumptions could be commissioned to inform this analysis.
Councilmember Aldred supported further research into the trade-offs. Council agreed the
item should remain on the goals list.
PA 152 Hard Cap
Acting City Manager Mondora presented this as an informational item. Public Act 152,
passed in 2012, limits public employer contributions to employee medical benefits, with the
cap increasing by a modest CPI factor annually. In years of high premium increases—such as
the current year, in which Blue Cross Blue Shield statewide rates are rising approximately
13.9 percent—employees absorb the excess or are offered a change in plan options.
Four of the City's six benchmark communities opt out of the hard cap annually. Acting City
Manager Mondora was not advocating for a change but noted this is a recurring topic in
high-increase years.
City Manager Review
It was confirmed that an annual performance review for the City Manager is included in the
contract and is being implemented. Administration indicated a memo from the City
Attorney outlining the process would be forthcoming. Council agreed this item does not
need to remain as a standalone goal.
Rain Garden/Green Infrastructure
Mayor Rich raised community education around rain gardens as a relevant topic given
increased frequency of high-rainfall events.

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Councilmember Aldred noted that the IEES could play a role in distributing information and
that he had gathered relevant information at a recent sustainable urban council summit.
Council noted the need for clarity on the distinction between a rain garden and an
untended, weedy yard, and whether an ordinance framework would be needed. Council
agreed to keep this item on the goals list.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
ADJOURNMENT
The study session meeting adjourned at 10:59am.
Respectfully submitted,
Carly Lindahl, City Clerk