[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6485307,"mediaKeyId","5440301-4a35dd2541af5abd348507476bbe3d0f","parentId",5440301,"title","Bay City commission adopts resolution directing staff to study equitable rental‑housing measures","audioSeconds",3145,"startMs",120000,"endMs",3265000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440301-4a35dd2541af5abd348507476bbe3d0f&start=120&end=3265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440301-4a35dd2541af5abd348507476bbe3d0f/thumbnail_120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485307/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Bay-City-commission-adopts-resolution-directing-staff-to-study-equitable-rentalhousing-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485307-5b945a3c56714ae93e4e485abf292a07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600530&Signature=WT61ebDPFW7x4hRqpnxmcYoTUnyZh3HjxStizz7YnDs~6KhZPE370LM-R1WXZYYu3V-SvdJTDaLHXcSEaimp7gNjQJVxCkeD0wFpBxRNBpLJ-rhezz5NBRW-VvbYNQNlLh2MOtlI6Pb1eLjnQIEibWerYBFZn8t-NwXBsnPnDc10jbGUBNR5rHyAWS~cQ7kQgiSEJ3kAFD6WyrCEciKMRVoNTr0lyMLMbt7~ORVUkCcLOugNUcAXF4m2NEpxL8lYHZS44g6GoywywubJKUDUin8tvqyXbxtAZc~f~t-FSn48z6zhFI479rMwHhmabAED3lZRwThyJyLhPekGV565qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-22T19:40:00.487Z","article","The Bay City Commission on July 21 adopted a resolution asking the city manager to study options for improving rental‑housing safety, accountability and equity and to return findings and recommendations within 90 days.

Commissioner Bernie Obershaw introduced the resolution, which the text says the city is \"committed to ensuring that housing options are accessible, fair housing and equitable for all residents\" and notes that \"approximately 30% of all in the City Of Bay City are rental properties.\" The resolution directs staff to review City code, enforcement fines, repair timelines for health‑and‑safety issues, penalties for rent increases that violate lease terms, and the legality and ethical use of automated rent‑setting software.

Why it matters: The resolution seeks to direct staff to develop possible municipal responses to concerns about housing habitability, out‑of‑jurisdiction investors, and the use of automated tools that could affect rent levels. The commission’s action initiates staff analysis and possible code amendments rather than immediate regulatory changes.

Key provisions and next steps

- Scope of staff study: The resolution asks the city manager to evaluate amendments to the municipal code (including section 26‑28b, the city’s registry of ownership and premises), review and recommend revisions to fines for violations affecting critical dwelling infrastructure (electrical, plumbing, windows/doors, ADA/Fair Housing accessibility features), and consider timelines for owners to make emergency repairs (the draft mentions 24 hours for certain health and safety issues).

- Rent‑setting and enforcement: The resolution directs staff to review penalties for landlords who increase rent in violation of a lease and to explore whether the city can restrict or regulate the use of automated rent‑setting software; it also asks staff to consider doubling equitable fees for violations by for‑profit entities based outside Bay City.

- Deadline and deliverable: The resolution requests that staff report findings and recommendations to the commission within 90 days of adoption.

Action and vote

- Adoption: Commissioner Runberg moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Bernie Obershaw seconded. The roll‑call vote recorded by the clerk on the final motion as amended was unanimous among commissioners present: a majority of commissioners voted yes and the clerk announced the motion adopted (final roll call entries in transcript show all listed commissioners voting \"Yes\").

Context and public input

- Legal references cited in the resolution include a reference to Michigan compiled laws related to housing (as read into the record) and federal accessibility laws: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The resolution also cites the city code registry of ownership (section 26‑28b).

- The record includes public comments both for and against municipal broadband feasibility study (a separate agenda item) and neighborhood speakers who raised housing and public‑safety concerns; the rental‑housing resolution was introduced from the dais and added to the agenda before adoption.

What the resolution does not do

- The resolution does not itself change city code or impose new penalties; it directs staff to study options and return recommendations for possible code amendments or other actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Bay City, MI Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Bernie Obershaw introduced a resolution asking city staff to study measures to improve rental‑housing safety and fairness, including code amendments, repair timelines, penalties and guidance on rent‑setting software; the commission adopted the resolution and asked for a staff report within 90 days.","taxTitle","Bay City, Bay County, Michigan","taxId",5009,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_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":56,"_73":56},6485310,"Bay City commissioners debate Flock Safety license-plate reader contract amid privacy concerns",2538,2374000,4912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440301-4a35dd2541af5abd348507476bbe3d0f&start=2374&end=4912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440301-4a35dd2541af5abd348507476bbe3d0f/thumbnail_2374000.jpg","/articles/6485310/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Bay-City-commissioners-debate-Flock-Safety-license-plate-reader-contract-amid-privacy-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485310-020b5e9ad2545796fc6d654dd618006a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600530&Signature=Fp0TE~g3~RCfb~7szGTqcKAKyGt95HORCieleyobRx9MUXTkWiff2UBXlonXclohG5XYr5TepFHr8yP4n33Nzkjcv4xFyKmb4V8D5VL9Z14TfwzVVP6ovel7zrXGlAo9wByI5CBNBJiyt4CzFUYiNNVuI3PwS7qOdADtN8-XkG1aJH~d8I7doeZ0ODJ~CCVhiLObkx8TspknFKPBJYII~~2IfENVdFInPD0hGK6AzLj3A06QzWLeNfJ2nzdBhxw~dA5Q6lvz6AIpQ37dNCRbORnNTJLp~JHXRsp9mvEIK8C0H7g8FwWQTr7pEbCZAX4dLwXeGbXXfnShzoU5qVcX4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bay City Commission heard extended public comment and staff discussion July 21 on a proposed contract with Flock Safety to install automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) across the city.

Supporters, including public safety officials and a Flock Safety representative, said the system helps locate stolen vehicles and suspects quickly. Opponents in the audience and on the commission raised privacy, data-retention and third‑party‑sharing concerns and urged more public education and review before committing funds.

The issue appeared on the regular agenda after the city manager recommended an agreement with Flock Safety for \"the implementation of multiple license plate readers\" at an estimated cost of $45,150 in fiscal 2026 and $39,000 in fiscal 2027. Commissioner Tenney moved to approve the contract; Commissioner Morris seconded the motion, which then prompted an extended discussion and multiple public comments.

Why it matters: Residents and civil‑liberties advocates warned the technology could create a persistent, citywide record of vehicle movements and be shared beyond local control. Law enforcement and the vendor argued ALPRs are an investigative tool that can speed homicide, abduction and stolen‑vehicle investigations.

Key details and debate

- Cost and scope: The proposed contract figures read into the record were $45,150 for FY2026 and $39,000 for FY2027. City staff said the line items were included in the budget adopted earlier this year.

- How the system works: The public safety director described ALPR operation as capturing an image of a plate, comparing it to a law‑enforcement \"hot list\" and alerting officers to matches; the director said the agency controls preservation and sharing of the city’s data and that images are retained for 30 days unless preserved for an investigation.

- Data sharing and retention: Multiple public speakers and commissioners cited cases in other states where license‑plate data was shared with federal immigration authorities or used in ways community members found objectionable. Attorney Adam Redick told the commission he had read the proposed contract and warned that \"Flock can share footage and license plate data with third parties, including federal agencies without a warrant\" and that third‑party recipients could retain data indefinitely.

- Vendor response: Mike Lammon, Flock Safety, told the commission the agency (the city) owns its data and that Flock will not independently share agency data. He also said the company works with hundreds of agencies in Michigan and thousands nationally and described success stories where ALPR data accelerated homicide or abduction investigations.

- Oversight and policy questions: Commissioners asked whether searches are auditable; whether sharing with other agencies is blanket or case‑by‑case; and whether the contract’s language permits indefinite retention by third parties. The city manager and department director said usage policies, audits and agency control are part of the implementation, and that state and federal law limit certain uses.

Actions and procedural steps

- Motion to approve contract: Commissioner Tenney moved to approve the Flock contract; Commissioner Morris seconded. The transcript records discussion but does not show a final roll‑call vote approving the contract.

- Motion to refer to staff: Commissioner Coop moved to refer the item back to staff for additional public information and clarification; Commissioner Morris seconded. A roll‑call on the referral produced a 4–4 split (Yes: Morris, Cubitt, Coakley, DeWitt; No: Charlevoix, Bernie Obershaw, Tenney, Rhumburg), which the clerk announced as 4 and 4. The transcript records the tie and no recorded final approval of the referral at that point.

What remains unresolved

- The transcript does not record a final commission vote approving the Flock contract.
- Commissioners and residents requested more public education about how images are captured, how long images and derived data are retained, which outside agencies (if any) would be permitted access, and what contractual safeguards would prevent unrelated third‑party access.

The commission asked staff to return with additional information; during the discussion some commissioners said they would vote against the contract as written. The transcript does not show a subsequent meeting action on this item within the July 21 record.","Commissioners and public commenters debated a proposed contract with Flock Safety for automated license-plate readers, raising questions about data sharing, retention and oversight. A motion to refer the matter to staff tied 4–4 during roll call; no final contract approval is recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bay City commission adopts resolution directing staff to study equitable rental‑housing measures

Bay City commissioners debate Flock Safety license-plate reader contract amid privacy concerns