We’re sharing a recap of the most recent City Council meeting on June 16. The full video is available to watch on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cityofberkley.

 

Want to receive updates like this straight to your inbox? Sign up for our new City Council Updates mailing list by clicking here!

July is Parks & Recreation Month

Councilmember Patterson read a proclamation recognizing July 2025 as Parks & Recreation Month in the City of Berkley, sharing appreciation for our Parks & Recreation Department’s commitment to improving the quality of life for our community. Parks & Recreation programs and resources build healthy, active communities by improving the mental and physical health of all community members, and are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community. Click here for more information about our fantastic Parks & Recreation resources!

Budget Amendment

Council authorized a fourth quarter amendment to the 24-25 budget as presented by our Director of Finance. The amendment does not change the balance of our General Fund, and includes updated numbers for interest on delinquent properties received by Oakland County, adjusted marihuana revenue sharing from the State of Michigan, and an updated amount for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars that reflects previously unspent funds from several grant years. The City currently has a contract for sidewalk repairs that will use these CDBG dollars by the end of the current fiscal year. 

Other updates include re-allocating funds across various accounts to reflect both increased project costs and savings gained from staff vacancies. More information about the budget amendment is available starting on page 453 of the June 16 packet.

Assessing Services Proposal

Oakland County has provided assessing services to the City for many years, and our contract with them expires at the end of this fiscal year. The County significantly increased their fees to provide this service going forward, giving us three months notice before our contract expired, so our finance department put out a request for proposals to find a new company to provide these services at a more affordable rate in light of these increases by the County. We received a proposal from WCA Assessing, a Wayne County-based company who provides services to one of our neighboring communities as well. Oakland County previously provided assessing services to 33 communities including Berkley, so this process was competitive.

Council approved the proposal for services to begin July 1, 2025. The transition to WCA Assessing will reduce the long-term financial impact to the City and ensure cost-effective delivery of assessing services, with projected savings of over $94,000 in FY 2025-26 and almost $300,000 over the three-year contract term.

Special Land Use Request

Council approved a special land use request for the redevelopment of a 0.8 acre site as a 6,734 sq. ft. gas station/convenience store and associated restaurant at the north side of Twelve Mile Rd. between Greenfield Rd. and Ellwood Ave. The location is in the Gateway District of Berkley, which permits retail and restaurants as principal permitted uses and gas stations as special land uses. The special land use request was submitted before our new zoning ordinance went into effect, so it was considered based on the standards set by the old ordinance.

The site plan was previously approved by Council, and public comment for the special land use request at the Planning Commission meeting was overwhelmingly positive. All staff, Planning Commissioners, and consultant reviewers recommended approval subject to the conditions that the applicant seeks variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the placement of the trash enclosure and the location of the southeastern driveway.

New Boards and Commissions Handbook

The Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Clerk presented “phase 1” of updated processes and procedures for Board and Commission members. Many of our practices were outdated and unstandardized, so the changes will empower our Board and Commission members to continue to do their amazing work while enhancing the overall experience and bringing all procedures into compliance. 

Boards and Commissions were previously administered by the City Manager’s Office, and will now be under the City Clerk’s Office. One of the largest changes is the creation of a comprehensive Boards & Commissions Handbook that provides more explicit expectations, a better explanation of the function of our Boards and Commissions, and an updated and more transparent application process and appointment timeline. The handbook will increase clarity for current and prospective members about their expectations, roles, and responsibilities.

Want to Learn More?

• Watch the meeting recording

• Review the agenda and minutes

• Join us at our next meeting on July 7 at 7 PM - we'd love to see you there!

Thanks for staying connected with your city! Your engagement helps make Berkley better for everyone.