[{"_1":2,"_108":-5,"_109":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6357882,"mediaKeyId","2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893","parentId",2213608,"title","Birmingham projects water/sewer rate stabilization after two-year increase, five‑year forecast shows tight capital needs","audioSeconds",292,"startMs",292000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893&start=292&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893/thumbnail_292000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6357882/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Birmingham-projects-watersewer-rate-stabilization-after-two-year-increase-fiveyear-forecast-shows-tight-capital-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357882-ccc228464008a582ef4afc684fa1425e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442985&Signature=IhaU0Eg8hMmlq1ZtoZoqoDwVujodL1bzt2rp0x5ojhorY5XKsEeyWPAdaqQ3skRgfy7KJJmyjRE3dpYkXF53rNeLKXv0A3sv03dzdc4UNlgGrbIyLDkXn8rIvQeY7ySsTVJj5BwHaY3TAOB3BFPX8BGC8J3Sbf9XFWFt7ZuQrtpHKJWba0G-iReQ4s9cUEFXlKI32IrGrkB7-vCdCbyVmYYV3Qf5QdRuR1YJQVWK497qCXIDl9-2N5LeJkShJpeVmrfmZl1wHwiSajQFhiahtGhDqg8uf7Zab4AqABTSdMQXdNBD7BXazGaGz6hkujemNiSWuyvh~EJQKsJzFx0leA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Birmingham, MI","date","2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","article","Birmingham City Manager Mark Gerber and a financial consultant walked commissioners through a five‑year financial forecast that shows continued growth in property tax revenue but increasing capital pressure from water, sewer and street projects.

Consultant Philip Femenidio said taxable values have grown strongly in recent years and are expected to increase through the forecast window. But he and Gerber warned that the city faces concentrated needs for water, sewer and local streets that will tighten fund balances and require choices about transfers and project timing.

Gerber and Femenidio told commissioners the city plans to finish the shift to a rate‑based water and sewer fund in the 2025–26 fiscal year. “For the 25‑26 fiscal year, there are no planned property taxes going into water/sewer,” Gerber said, framing the move as a deliberate step to remove operating‑millage support and rely on user rates. Staff said a planned two‑year increase in rates will get the utilities to target cost recovery and that future increases should smooth out afterward, subject to the city’s final engineering needs.

Commissioners pressed staff about the impact on household bills and on the budget if infrastructure requirements change after engineering assessments. Gerber and consultants repeated that the forecast is a planning tool, not a guarantee: assumptions about property‑value growth, wage inflation and capital scopes will drive results and staff will revisit projections as bids and project scopes are finalized.

The forecast also shows the city’s unassigned general‑fund balance hovering within policy targets under the baseline assumptions, but local‑street and water/sewer funds face steeper draws because of planned capital projects, including sidewalk replacement and targeted water‑main replacements.

Staff asked commissioners to view the forecast as a roadmap for budgeting and prioritization rather than a fixed projection. Commissioners and staff agreed to re‑evaluate the plan as engineering and bid results arrive.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01.25.2025 City Commission Long Range Planning Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City officials presented a five‑year forecast showing strong property‑tax growth but rising capital demands and outlined plans to complete the transition to fully rate‑funded water and sewer in the 2025–26 fiscal year.","taxTitle","Birmingham City, Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",48746,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":46,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357878,"Engineering lays out unimproved‑road priorities, aims to replace all 4‑inch public mains by 2032",4280,4280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893&start=4280&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893/thumbnail_4280000.jpg","/articles/6357878/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Engineering-lays-out-unimprovedroad-priorities-aims-to-replace-all-4inch-public-mains-by-2032","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357878-2d6ca75cf077414ff2200e88b2921497/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442985&Signature=XpO2i6pouUyey63Qfnsldm7kvn7abVFQZUow~To~~zprqR3PCdDkrXy2UMQ8dpxFAsQP5ovW1Jg4OdyD3X19iK5GmFULmOJVs9sd8K~B-MK~O8Tcy0ETS2aubbYovI2Az~OMaWRFP1bEhPTy33fsjhqQxdkKLnwLkCA3twLJpXuXiJz0t2uVsyoxNfvMABw8OoL2V~hp7ZvN~D0w5bCql4tZn~6OSF0vcOC3t6yTz7d-S-998iqthW9PCM~jxEfFPQ6TjeOj~hFZFXiG4boF1O1-dH1ZKVHhBUWVUX2bQRKGBuu5A7h2obBoN2wuaqv5utqnh2vbtxKLPEWpvjrhmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Engineer Melissa Cota presented a mapped priority list for unimproved roads and an updated multi‑year capital improvement program that ties road conversion to water and sewer upgrades.

Cota said staff use a 0–300 infrastructure score to rank projects (surface, sewer, water), and they group projects so underground utility replacements and surface improvements can be sequenced together. She reported a planning assumption of roughly 0.75 miles of unimproved‑road utility work per year under current resources; if the city doubled that pace to 1.5 miles per year the program could finish far sooner.

Cota said the city has pockets of older four‑inch water mains in unimproved neighborhoods; replacing those with the current minimum eight‑inch standard is included in the long‑range plan. “It’s going to be approximately year 2032 to replace all four‑inch water mains,” she said, under the current schedule. Staff added that some locations already received water‑main work in the 1950s–1990s and could be addressed with trenchless sewer repairs where the water mains are newer.

Commissioners pressed staff on sequencing choices — whether streets should be fully reconstructed or treated with a cape‑seal surface — and on homeowner impacts such as the need to relocate rear‑yard sewer laterals to front connections when the road is reconstructed. Staff said the city typically budgets for worst‑case (full reconstruction) so money is available if the commission decides to proceed that way; they acknowledged neighborhood preferences vary and recommended earlier public engagement to let residents indicate whether they prefer full improvements or less‑invasive surface treatments.

Cota and Finance staff also explained that some capital projects carry across fiscal years and that the timing of bids and change orders affects year‑to‑year CIP totals. The engineering department said it will bring project‑level bids back to the commission for final decisions and will coordinate with planning and building on policies for new infill construction (e.g., whether to require future front‑yard sewer stubs).","Engineering unveiled a multi‑year unimproved‑road priority map that pairs water/sewer work with surface upgrades and said replacing all public 4‑inch water mains could take until about 2032 at the current pace.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":46,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357870,"Police and fire outline apparatus purchases and police‑facility security upgrades; police seeks sally port, interview room, evidence storage",12586,12586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893&start=12586&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893/thumbnail_12586000.jpg","/articles/6357870/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Police-and-fire-outline-apparatus-purchases-and-policefacility-security-upgrades-police-seeks-sally-port-interview-room-evidence-storage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357870-308152a3c2d480906f9e55ddec69c20e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442985&Signature=K43tR-qYWLbEP9zzHbh~kscuEXRTW~UO4L0Ir1KfkyvbV4DBfQWOsG99vX9i7~Ji23N5ZMNzT-hQ9CMwY1lV7tAdxvOBA7egeT1v0bsqBhF2b6OIDyt1jPoQlZJATWgo1qUfLkERaQex-yngikWzPCCQ0CrfSFD7JRdmDKlBueQd3UDxIzdeqtDaeZ4N3BeXgvMw5OFVVN1S9~Y~9PrZR~xsnf3nAhe7txphVQJebvGyMeiNo74Fm5KXEboTtRtPhsbPJsRgqC1g2ER0ownhVx3zFYZZMCFmsKBVnL~lAKRxuxWHEO1oLW~jGDkkr8SKc1wixWLZ2nRfLJTxv4ZPNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire and police leaders briefed the commission on fleet and facility needs and asked for funding and near‑term improvements.

Fire Department: The fire chief described recent and planned apparatus purchases, including a ladder truck the department has ordered (locked at $1.83M with delivery expected in 2026), and additional ambulance and engine replacement plans that span the next decade. The department said ladder trucks are critical for Birmingham’s denser, multistory downtown and that mutual aid cannot substitute when multiple incidents or access issues occur. Fire staff highlighted long lead times for specialty apparatus and asked that the commission consider steady capital funding to avoid reactive maintenance and expensive over‑runs.

Police Department: Chief Scott Curry (police) outlined several facility and operational gaps at city hall and the police facility. He described the dispatch center as constrained, with three consoles in a tight room that impedes communications when multiple incidents occur. The department seeks to expand dispatch space, create an interview room accessible directly from the booking/holding area (so people in custody do not walk through public hallways), and build a sally port or covered secure transfer area so patrol cars and officers can process custody transfers without exposure to public sidewalks and weather. Police also reported evidence‑storage shortages and proposed creating a two‑bay garage/storage area at the DPS campus to house long‑term evidence property and seasonal equipment now stored outdoors.

Chief Curry said design and quotes are being developed and proposed budgets for initial, interior security walls and access upgrades were discussed; staff estimated a preliminary budget in the order of $100,000 for the immediate interior access/counter and wall changes to secure public circulation, with further estimates to follow for sally port and storage work. Staff emphasized that some changes are needed to remain in line with accreditation assessors’ recommendations. The commission asked for follow‑up design and cost estimates.","Fire and police presented prioritized capital needs: the fire department confirmed orders for a $1.83M ladder truck and other apparatus on a multi‑year replacement schedule; police outlined access and security shortfalls at city hall — cramped dispatch, no secure interview room, limited evidence storage and no sally port — and requested near‑term design work and budgeting.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":101,"_47":102,"_49":103,"_51":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":106,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":107,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357874,"City aims to shrink poor‑condition fleet — director seeks phased $1M+ annual spending to replace oldest vehicles",0,3846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893&start=3846&end=3846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213608-5f8e850b9d9cdb770b1f63f5e25a6893/thumbnail_3846000.jpg","/articles/6357874/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/City-aims-to-shrink-poorcondition-fleet-director-seeks-phased-1M-annual-spending-to-replace-oldest-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357874-176420cf801f9265f83bd24e213302a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442985&Signature=Z1Uf8Y5GTl8npFrVC87hEm7CKzuXUU0g2ojVMfUxOQ-vOC~nN7vMxPHXDTs8bFH0SA576npdTdu7vb9-rnN4M6di8IkMLmYbxx24ZKdDI7Zud8ZjfO831OB1f7gRPRkL25jlraL4HleKIyBy2nvS8~DdFl2WJ7UWMNthpEcTDNRsq~WdY-UCw1~1hpfgqaiPRmmnrO8zmHMlkShHM~q3eSWqAhviW1uoo6XeTWprtdfY~PMlvyxKEa5I5iU492hyIWofkKOCvT1ZeuymBCvN26DtWnaTfc3Ko4e3m78VdUqRapLrRFTbW330JJIUUUA9GgDuvVriF1c5x81wuICwSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Public Services (DPS) staff presented a fleet‑management assessment showing a large share of vehicles in poor condition and proposing a phased increase in replacement funding to reduce long‑term maintenance costs and downtime.

DPS said its fleet includes roughly 200 pieces of equipment (vehicles, tractors, trailers, specialty machines). Staff use a scoring system to identify when a vehicle should be replaced; one example showed a large vehicle that should have been replaced in 2020 but was replaced years later after substantial additional maintenance costs. DPS said 39% of units scored in the 'poor+' replacement category and estimated a theoretical replacement need of about $5 million to renew all backlog equipment immediately — an unwise one‑time purchase, staff said.

DPS asked the commission to consider gradually increasing annual replacement funding to roughly $1.0–$1.5 million a year to work through the backlog without replacing everything at once and creating a future ‘single‑age’ wave of replacements. The department argued that steady increased replacement funding would lower lifecycle maintenance costs and reduce the number of vehicles out of service.

DPS also described new fleet‑management software (RTA) and a metrics‑driven process that improved decision‑making. The department said it had promoted an internal foreman, implemented better tracking, and intended to continue rolling funding into future budgets so the fleet’s poor‑condition share matches the annual replacement allocation.

Commissioners asked about timelines and whether to accelerate replacement; DPS said it could if the commission directed a faster program but warned against replacing all poor units at once for management and cash‑flow reasons.","Department of Public Services officials presented a fleet‑condition analysis that found roughly 39% of city vehicles in 'poor+' condition and outlined a multi‑year plan to reduce maintenance costs and vehicle downtime by increasing annual replacement funding to roughly $1M–$1.5M to catch up over five years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Birmingham projects water/sewer rate stabilization after two-year increase, five‑year forecast shows tight capital needs

Engineering lays out unimproved‑road priorities, aims to replace all 4‑inch public mains by 2032

Police and fire outline apparatus purchases and police‑facility security upgrades; police seeks sally port, interview room, evidence storage

City aims to shrink poor‑condition fleet — director seeks phased $1M+ annual spending to replace oldest vehicles