Sterling Heights Development News
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6-16-26 City Council Meeting
Published: Jun 16, 2026
Sterling Heights Proposes Overhaul of Emergency Management Ordinance
The City Council considered and introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 15 of the city code concerning emergency management. The proposed amendments aim to update the organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities integral to effective emergency management. The ordinance has not been updated since 2012, and the proposed changes are intended to make it clearer, streamline operations, and define duties more precisely, especially in light of increasingly frequent and severe emergency events. Key changes include consolidating roles, establishing a primary emergency management liaison, and updating information technology roles. The county currently serves as the emergency management coordinator, with the city maintaining a support emergency operations plan. The city has also recently acquired a new emergency mobile command vehicle, the EM50, valued at $1.3 million.
Sterling Heights Voters to Decide on Charter Amendment for Appointed Official Elections
The City Council voted to introduce a resolution to place a charter amendment on the November 3rd, 2026 ballot. This amendment aims to give voters more say in filling vacancies in elective city offices. Specifically, if a vacancy occurs and more than two years remain in the term, the public would vote on whether to hold a special election to fill the remainder of the term. This change is proposed because the original charter, written when terms were two years, did not adequately address longer, four-year terms and the possibility of appointed officials serving multiple terms without public confirmation. The ballot language has been reviewed and received positive feedback from the Attorney General's office. The council also amended the ballot language to remove a potentially confusing clause, aiming for greater clarity for voters.
Sterling Heights Voters to Consider Raising Purchasing Limit to $50,000
The City Council voted to approve placing a charter amendment on the November 3rd, 2026 ballot that would increase the purchasing limit requiring formal City Council approval from $5,000 to $50,000. This adjustment is intended to update the 1968 charter figure for inflation, which now equates to approximately $50,000. The proposed change aims to increase efficiency by reducing the number of routine purchases that require full council agenda item review, thereby freeing up council and administration time for larger issues. Internal controls, including comparative pricing, multiple approvals, and budget adherence, would remain in place. City council would still approve all expenditures through the annual budget and bi-monthly bill list reviews. Despite concerns about reduced public scrutiny and the potential for abuse, the council passed the resolution, emphasizing that the amount is substantiated by the Consumer Price Index and reflects best practices.
Sterling Heights Intensifies Push for State Fireworks Law Reform
Assistant City Manager Dale Woodowski presented an update on the ongoing issue of fireworks disruptions in Sterling Heights. He highlighted that current state law allows fireworks use on 11 designated days per year, with significant limitations on local control. Woodowski detailed the negative impacts, including noise disturbances, safety hazards (fires, debris), and increased police and fire runs, citing over 1,127 police runs and 113 fire runs from 2020-2025 related to fireworks. The city is advocating for state-level legislative reform to grant communities more control over fireworks use. Efforts include working with legislators, the Michigan Municipal League, and providing a platform on the city's website for residents to voice their concerns to state representatives. He noted that Michigan's fireworks law generated $3 million for the firefighter safety fund in the previous year, with Mcome County receiving $130,000.
Sterling Heights Eligible for Settlement Funds Over PFAS Contamination in GLWA Water Supply
During the consent agenda review, resident Rob Huth spoke regarding a potential claim for PFAS contamination affecting the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) water supply. While Sterling Heights' water is confirmed to be PFAS-free, the settlement funds are intended to reimburse communities that purchased water from GLWA, which at one point contained PFAS originating from DuPont and 3M fire-fighting foam. Sterling Heights, as a GLWA participant, is eligible to join the class action lawsuit. Testing will be conducted on the water intake sources (Lake Huron, Detroit River), and a formula will be applied based on user numbers to determine settlement payouts. Funds can be used for any purpose and are expected to be distributed primarily in the first three years.
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