Despite the failure of the city's operating millage request and resulting service cuts, 2023 has still been full of progress and development in Berkley.
- Operating Millage
- Retail Animal Sales Ordinance
- Apartments at Columbia
- Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
- New Voting Precincts
- Parks and Rec Updates
- Infrastructure Updates
- Talk with Dennis Office Hours
- City Council Updates
- Kitten Update
- Upcoming Events
- Other News Resources
Operating Millage
The most far-reaching event of 2023 for Berkley was the failure of the Headlee Override request. Without sufficient revenues, the city was left with tough choices on what to cut.
During past financial hardships, city leaders kept services by reducing or eliminating maintenance. That short-term strategy led to the decay of many of our assets, including the loss of the ice arena. A decade later, we still haven't caught up.
This Council decided instead to maintain our infrastructure and cut staff, services, and new projects.
- This fiscal year (July 2023 to June 2024), we had to cut $500,000.
- Then in fiscal year 24/25 we need to cut another $500,000, for a total of $1 million.
- Finally, in fiscal year 25/26 and every year after, we need to cut another $500,000, for an ongoing annual total of $1.5 million.
- We also had to immediately cut $1 million in projects annually, such as a new parking lot by Green Lantern.
The only reason we can phase out the service cuts instead of making them immediately is because of $1.6 million in once-in-a-lifetime Federal COVID relief dollars.
Service Cuts
Among the service cuts were:
- reduced library hours,
- free yard waste pickup (bag tags now required),
- eliminating the chipper service, and
- reducing leaf collection.
Providing the chipper service is a labor-intensive endeavor. To save costs, we have reduced the size of the department and now there simply aren't enough people to do the work anymore.
In past years, DPW staff worked overtime and hired seasonal help to provide a high level of leaf collection service. This year we eliminated overtime, did not hire outside help, and had a reduced staff. It didn't go as well as we would have liked. There will be future adjustments to the program, but it cannot be at the same level as before without additional revenue.
Future Millage Request
The city will likely make a similar Headlee Override request again in November 2024. Holding the election in May was poor timing. Because of the overlap with budget season, it didn't allow us to answer questions as quickly and as fully as we would have liked. For this new request, better communication is one of the top priorities.
Retail Animal Sales Ordinance
It took most of the year, but Berkley finally has ordinances that prevent new stores with retail animal sales and that regulates the existing store. I'm grateful to have played a pivotal role in this and want to thank my colleagues and staff for helping me get it across the finish line. Although the process was slow, I think we ended up with strong ordinances.
There is significant evidence that pet stores often source their animals from inhumane puppy and kitten mills. Our new regulations require filing enough information on each animal coming into Berkley for sale that we can have reasonable confidence that they nor their parents have been mistreated.
The new regulations should go into effect starting February 1, 2024.
Apartments at Columbia
A developer has proposed a 3-story apartment complex on the east side of Coolidge from Cambridge to halfway between Columbia and Princeton, including a "bridge" with living units spanning Columbia.
The planning commission recommended approval in November. At that time I wrote about some of the most common concerns people have about the project.
The next step is for the developer to come before City Council for our approval. It will likely be at our February 5 meeting. Once any updated information is available and a meeting scheduled, I've asked city staff to make sure it gets posted early on the city website for all to see.
For me, I'm comfortable with nearly all aspects of the project. I'm in support of responsible growth while maintaining our small-town feel. With that in mind, I find the bridge is out of place. It's something I would expect to see in a much larger and more urban city, not in Berkley.
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
One key to a successful city is a good zoning ordinance. This controls what can be built, where it can be built, and the process for getting approvals. It's the backbone that forms the look and feel of the city.
Our current zoning ordinance, which is at least 30 years old, is out of date, difficult to follow, and often has contradictory provisions. The goal is to modernize and fix problems so that economic development in Berkley can be more predictable and affordable.
Some things that are NOT being proposed:
- They will NOT allow apartments just anywhere in the city,
- They will NOT eliminate the overnight parking ban, and
- They will NOT start charging for parking.
A steering committee, of which I'm a member, is preparing draft language that will then be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council for their approval. We are about halfway through the process.
We are also looking for community input. There will be four public meetings in January. Each workshop takes place between 6 to 8 pm in the Berkley High School Collaborative Center. All, except for the first one, will have a presentation beginning at 6:15 pm. It is not required to attend the full two hours, and you may choose to drop in after 6 or leave before 8. The topics are:
- Zoning Districts: Change or Stay the Same, January 8
- Duplexes & Multiple Family: Where, What, and How, January 17
- Parking: The Berkley Shuffle, January 24
- Development Review: How a Plan Becomes a Building, January 31
See the city website for more information.
New Voting Precincts
Many residents will have a new polling place starting in February.
State law changed and has allowed us to consolidate our 7 precincts down to 4. This provides a significant cost savings for the city because of the reduced staffing needs.
Registered voters should receive an updated voter ID card with their precinct information soon. You can read more on the city's website.
Parks and Rec Updates
The inclusive playground at Bacon Park was completed this year. If you don't know where Bacon Park is, it's what was formerly called Jaycee Park at Bacon and Webster. We renamed it back to its original name.
While there are still more park improvements planned when finances allow, this caps several years of intensive capital improvements in our parks to bring them up to date, make them safer, and make them accessible to more people.
Recently, the Parks and Rec director announced she is taking a job with the City of Detroit. The search for a new director is ongoing.
Infrastructure Updates
The Wiltshire Road project is substantially complete. The water main and road were completely reconstructed from Woodward to Mortenson and the road was repaved from Mortenson to Coolidge. The few small items remaining will be wrapped up by spring.
The Coolidge Crosswalks at Dorothea and Earlmont have been reactivated. Concrete sidewalk bump-outs have been added to give pedestrians a shorter distance across the road to travel. Remaining is the installation of small, paddle-type pedestrian crossing signs like what is on Catalpa by the High School. They can be removed in the winter for plowing. The contractor initially installed the wrong type of sign.
A contract was approved in November for combined sewer system planning assistance. The goal is to find affordable ways for to make our stormwater system more resilient.
Part of this will also involve researching and evaluating backwater valve programs that are in place in other cities for potential adoption by Berkley.
Details will be announced in January about a Berkley pilot program offering no-cost backwater valves for about 100 homes in the lowest-lying areas of the city. I have been advocating for this for years, so I hugely appreciate our staff, the County, and the Water Resource Commission making this happen.
The city is continuing lead service line replacements throughout the city. This project is expected to take until 2041. Check the city website for more information on how to have your lines checked and to see if you can have yours replaced sooner. This is at no direct cost to you, however, we have had to increase the water rate more than usual because the state has provided very little money to fund this new requirement.
Talk with Dennis Office Hours
My next Talk with Dennis Office Hours are Saturday, January 13 from 12 to 2 pm. Stop by the library to ask any questions or share concerns you may have.
City Council Updates
In January, Greg Patterson was appointed to a vacant council seat.
November had a city council election with incumbents Mike Dooley, Ross Gavin, and Greg Patterson plus challenger Clarence Black running for three seats. Gavin and Patterson maintained their seats, with Black overcoming Dooley for the third seat.
Congratulations to all for being willing to put themselves out there and serve, but I want to especially thank Dooley for his service on Council for the past year and wish Black the best as he starts his new role.
Other Updates
- July 17: Council approved the purchase of two replacement police cruisers, approved a joint agreement for an officer at the schools, passed the first reading of an ordinance phasing out dog and cat sales, and postponed a decision on an erroneously installed EV charger at Oxford Park.
- August 14: Council postponed the vote on the pet sales ordinance, received Parking Study recommendations, approved the Oxford Park EV chargers, and approved the Mayor’s Academy on Services and Budget, among other items.
- September 18: City Council approved new DPW vehicles, passed the first retail pet sale ordinance, renamed Jaycee Park to Bacon Park, and passed routine quarterly budget amendments, among other matters.
- October 2: Council approved a joint project with the DDA for crosswalk improvements on Coolidge, approved road closures for BOO!kley, made a Planning Commission appointment, and discussed other matters.
- October 16: City Council received a Community Development Report and approved the Holiday Parade and various cleanup tasks in the zoning ordinance.
- November 2023 Berkley Updates: Updates from around the city including leaf collection, the election, and the apartments at Columbia.
- November 20: Council discussed many new items including the city's strategic plan and new pet store licensing ordinance, they welcomed a new Council member, plus much more.
- December 4: Council passed pet store regulations, City Hall will be getting a new piece of community art, and a minor construction ordinance was passed. Plus, there are updates on downtown events in December, leaf collection, and holiday tree disposal.
- December 18: The Council meeting included the annual audit presentation, approved a replacement for the Community Center roof using grant money, plus fee updates for commercial trash, pet stores, and events that use city resources.
Kitten Update
Upcoming Events
- Talk with Dennis, Saturday, January 13 from 12 to 2 pm at the library.
-
Zoning Ordinance Public Open Houses, all from 6 to 8 pm at the High School.
- Zoning Districts: Change or Stay the Same, January 8
- Duplexes & Multiple Family: Where, What, and How, January 17
- Parking: The Berkley Shuffle, January 24
- Development Review: How a Plan Becomes a Building, January 31
- City Council meetings on January 8, February 5, March 4, and March 18.
- Planning Commission meetings on January 23, February 27, and March 26.
- Zoning Board of Appeals meeting January 9 and tentatively on February 12 and March 11.
- More events are on the City Calendar.
Other News Resources
- You can sign up here to receive these updates via email.
- Sign up for the city's monthly newsletter or see past editions.
- Follow the city on Facebook.
- Follow me on Facebook.
- I'm active on Nextdoor and the Berkley Residents Forum on Facebook.