4-14-26 Special City Council Meeting

The Sterling Heights City Council held a special meeting on April 14, 2026, focused primarily on reviewing and discussing the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget totaling $294 million. Key procurement-related topics included capital improvement projects such as major road repairs, park developments including the Red Run Park and the Sterling Heights Athletic Hub, and sustainability initiatives like the installation of solar panels on city buildings with an estimated cost of $1.17 million, offset by a 30% federal tax credit. The council also discussed a community compost pilot program aimed at reducing food waste, funded partially through a potential grant. Additional budget items covered personnel changes, including the addition of a city traffic engineer and court officer, and funding for tree planting and land preservation efforts. Several motions and budget amendments were proposed, including a motion to reduce the legislative budget which failed, and a proposal to allocate $1 million for a low-income home improvement program, which was deferred for further study. The council also requested studies on potential rail spur development and fire and police department efficiency. The meeting concluded with the introduction of the fiscal year 2027 appropriations ordinance, which was approved to move forward for final adoption.