Fraser · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fraser public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Stephens Park concept plan
The city council approved a design services contract with AEW, giving Fraser First's long-sought Steffens Park project — amphitheater and walking path — a real path forward.
Cyril Avenue street and storm sewer condition
A collapsed storm sewer on Cyril has already been excavated by DPW, and a resident warned the council to replace culverts and storm drains during planned street work or risk repeating the damage from heavy garbage trucks.
15 Mile Road lift station repair
The lift station serving three commercial properties has electrical problems that may need about $5,000 in emergency repairs to prevent flooding.
College Avenue pavement failure
A resident reported to Councilmember Perry that newly repaved College Avenue west of Utica is sinking and has cracked driveways residents paid $1,500 each to fix.
Public safety leadership and Cornell University civil case
Filling the DPS captain vacancy was pulled from the agenda until next month.
Selecting a new city planning consultant
With McKenna's planning contract ending, the commission narrowed six firms to three — Wade Trim, Giffels Webster and McKenna — for Council to decide. Cost and responsiveness are the big questions.
Outsourcing building inspection services
Fraser is choosing who will run its building inspections after dropping McKenna. Roseville's nearby, five-day-a-week team at a fixed price beat out three other bidders; the final call goes to City Council.
Where meeting notices get published
Planning Commission Chairman Randy Warunek blasted the city for publishing hearing notices only in the Macomb Daily instead of the widely read Fraser Chronicle, saying residents are being kept in the dark. Fletcher suggested putting notices back in the Chronicle.
America 250 celebrations and summer events
The Recreation Department is busy this season: joining the Public Safety Open House on October 18, Trunk or Treat on October 24, and putting on Christmas in Fraser December 5 with fire performers, Santa and a tree lighting.
Proposed Pet Sanctuary
A resident proposes a privately funded pet memorial in McKinley Park or Steffen Park where grieving pet owners can reflect and heal. It would cost taxpayers nothing, but the City Council still has to approve it, and Steffen Park's upcoming redesign could complicate that site.
Senior Activity Center extended hours launch
Every single Senior Activity Center event in October is sold out — casino trips, luncheons, plays and the Detroit Zoo trip. Staff extended hours and are testing afternoon activities to keep up with demand.
Home-Based Business License Fee
A new $100 two-year fee for people running small businesses from home — pet groomers, salons, consultants — passed 5-2. Critics called it unenforceable overreach; supporters called it a fair cost of inspections that protect neighbors.
Police Radio Replacement and Encryption Mandate
Fraser's police radios are nearly 20 years old and can't be repaired, and the state is moving to encrypted radios. Council approved about $401,000 for new Motorola radios at a 35% discount rather than waiting on a countywide purchase that may never come.
New Fraser Public Library Bond
The library board wants to build a two-story, 13,000+ square-foot addition estimated at just over $7.5 million, repaid entirely by the 2022 library millage. Council liked the design but flagged overly optimistic financial forecasts and asked for firm bond counsel numbers by May.
Sidewalk Repair Costs and Tree Damage Policy
Councilmember Schornak called out property owners whose untrimmed trees block sidewalks, forcing kids to bike into the street, and asked DPW to help address trees on city property.
Kratom Sales Ban
Higgins flagged that gas stations and party stores in Fraser sell Kratom and synthetic 7-OH products with no age checks or ID requirement, and suggested the city consider its own rules since state legislation may stall.
Senior Housing Exterior Improvements
Fraser's senior housing is getting all-new siding, fascia and gutters for up to $512,010 — paid from the complex's own enterprise fund, not the general budget. It caps off recent window, parking lot and door upgrades.
Code enforcement fines and fee schedule updates
Board members pressed staff about adding escalating fines for repeat ordinance violations and a new inspection fee for home-based businesses. Repeat code violations currently burn staff time with no escalating penalty, and a fee for the new home-based business license requirement is headed to council in September.
Mister Car Wash monument sign variance at 34625 Utica Road
The ZBA will soon consider whether Mister Car Wash can build a 91-square-foot monument sign when city rules only allow 67.89 square feet. The planner's report found no exceptional hardship justifying the 34% oversize, but the ZBA will make the final call.
Loyal Friends Childcare expansion to 14 children
A state-licensed home daycare on Crestwood Lane wanted to double its capacity from 7 to 14 kids. Parents and a grandmother praised the five-star facility, but two neighbors worried about street parking, traffic, and backyard play equipment cluttering the view from their yards.
Autism awareness window stickers for first responders
A commissioner whose grandson has autism asked whether Fraser Public Safety could offer car window stickers alerting first responders, like Canton does. The coordinator will follow up with the public safety director.
Vendor market struggles with attendance
The last vendor market of the season runs Sept. 12, but foot traffic stays low even though vendors love the free booths. The coordinator is banking on new banners and marketing to decide next year whether the market is worth the city's time and money.
Volunteer group community activities
Christmas in Fraser ran smoother this year with 14 Polar Plunge jumpers raising about $4,500 — the most ever. Remaining headaches: the one-door entry/exit crunch and plungers trekking to city hall to change clothes.
Rec department budget request: staffing, hours, and software
The commission keeps circling the same problem: there's no software to take event fees online, so free events suffer no-shows and non-residents can't be filtered out. A Civic Plus quote of about $10,600 plus $5,000 annually will be pitched to council in May.
Baseball field renovations and future rentals
Commissioners want to bring back Little Kickers and Little Sluggers leagues, but the Steffens Park fields can't legally be rented until they're renovated. They want a plan started now, before summer.
Senior bus service expansion to Fridays
Senior programming is booming — Easter party sold out at 45, Tigers games sold out for both April and September, and a new 2025 bus allows an extra rider. A spring bingo with household-prize items returns April 24.
Flock safety cameras contract
A resident asked whether a neighbor's camera aimed at her backyard is legal. The city attorney said there's nothing in local ordinances to stop it — it's a private dispute until state law catches up with automated recording.
Backyard chickens in Fraser
Two residents asked the council to change the zoning ordinance to allow keeping chickens, pointing out that Warren, Roseville, Clinton Township, and Detroit already permit it. Council took no action but the request is on the record.
Fees and fines for code violations
The city attorney explained how Fraser uses fees and escalating fines ($150 up to $1,000) to push residents to fix code violations like tall grass and property maintenance issues — and how hard it is to enforce when disputes are between neighbors. Council took no action; this was groundwork for possible future policy changes.
Variances for tax-delinquent property owners
Planning Commissioner Frank Farina wants the city to deny variances to applicants who are behind on their property taxes, saying the steering committee already agreed to that principle. Council didn't act on it tonight.
14 Mile Road sewer, drainage, and flooding concerns
The updated Storm Water Asset Management Plan found the system functional but aging, with un-inspected corrugated metal pipe causing street and basement flooding. Fixing everything could cost about $7 million, and engineers recommend a dedicated stormwater funding source. Residents described real flooding on 14 Mile Road and at the Sunny Grove condos.
Residential buffer waiver for indoor recreation
The board waived the 100-foot setback between indoor commercial recreation and homes since the use is entirely indoors and an arcade already abuts the same homes.
Birdies and Brews variances at 34860 Utica Road
A new golf-simulator and mini-golf bar on Utica Road got its facade approved, but parking questions lingered — the building has only about 22-23 spots and the ordinance could require roughly 40 for a bar. Those issues get sorted out separately, possibly with a shared parking deal with Vic's plaza next door.
Updated Zoning Ordinance adopted
The city's updated zoning ordinance cleared the Planning Commission with minor edits and heads to an April 1 public hearing, with adoption targeted for the June 11 City Council meeting. Letters will go to residents whose zoning will change.
Redevelopment of Vacant Utica Road Building
Board members flagged the deteriorating former Dairy Queen. The owner applied for a demolition permit but left without paying for it, and there's talk of gutting the building into a shell for a new tenant; an ongoing court case limits what the city can say.
Sheetz tree screening enhancement
Sheetz will plant extra arborvitae trees to stop headlights from shining into a resident's backyard at night. The commission supported the fix but is waiting on a legal review to confirm no formal amendment is needed.
HVAC showroom conversion at 32540 Utica Road
A seven-duplex, 14-unit condo project got a one-year extension because construction costs and trade shortages have stalled it. The developer's five-to-six-month delays on a Warren house project illustrate why he wanted two years, but the commission stuck with one to keep the project in front of it.
Citywide Water Meter Replacement Program
The city is starting a 10-year program to replace every water meter, starting with the biggest users. Old meters undercount usage, meaning the city loses revenue, and are prone to leaks.
GLWA Wholesale Water Contract
Council approved an amendment locking in lower usage factors with the Great Lakes Water Authority — annual volume down from 69,000 to 60,028 million cubic feet — which should temper future wholesale rate increases starting July 2027.
Planning and building services outsourcing RFP
Council is outsourcing planning and building department services via RFP, with bids due September 21 and final approval expected in November.
Drinking water protection — cross connection control
Confusing state-required backflow testing letters frustrated residents. The city pushed the deadline to June 30, moved residential irrigation testing to a five-year cycle, and promised plainer language on social media.
Warfield Greens Golf Course development question
The Bennett family, owners of the golf course since 1952, is aging and selling to Veris Development, which wants a mixed-use plan. The commission first nearly made it all residential, then voted 7-0 to make the whole parcel Commercial General — avoiding a split zone and keeping the PUD door open. Former Mayor Marilyn Lane warned all-residential would invite tax-exempt nonprofits.
Restoring Fraser youth sports and recreation programs
A first step toward restoring youth recreation: a six-week soccer program for ages 3-12 starting around June 8, costing families about $60 per child. It's just an idea being worked out — the hardest part may be finding instructors — but it's the first programming in years.
Recreation Commission board size and quorum
The commission is down to four or five seated members with three vacancies, and one member can't make next month's meeting — which would drop attendance below quorum and force a reschedule.
Ambulance Transport Fees — Paying Twice?
The city's billing company laid out the numbers: waiving resident co-pays and deductibles would cost the city only about $130,000 a year. Council Member Baranski sees a path to waive resident charges while raising non-resident rates to break even — no decision yet.
Police Shooting Investigation
Fraser police officers have been cleared by the sheriff in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy. It’s a big local story because people were watching whether anyone would be held accountable. The decision closes one review but likely won’t end community questions.
Citywide curb appeal contest and tree planting
Residents can enter the red, white and blue curb appeal contest through July 12, with voting at the city picnic. A community tree planting happens June 6, funded by the Consumers Energy Foundation through Relief Michigan.
Police Shooting
A Fraser police officer fatally shot a 15-year-old during a domestic dispute call. Expect demands for transparency and a possible police review, and this will dominate local civic conversations.
Water and Sewer Rate Increases
Water and sewer rates are being reworked with the help of a rate model, and residents can comment at a May 14 public hearing before anything changes.
Priority Waste Service and Ownership Change
Every council member slammed Priority Waste's service — damaged carts, slow replacements — but the contract forced approval of its new ownership. The message to the new owners: improve dramatically before the next bid or lose Fraser's business.