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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PA 33 Police and Fire Millage and Budget Surplus
The council kept the police/fire tax at 1.5 mills even though the city is holding over $3 million above its 25% reserve target. Two council members say that's taxing for taxing's sake; the majority says aging roads and pipes plus a shaky economy make it smart budgeting.
Industrial Park Heavy-to-Light Rezoning
Former Mayor Marilyn Lane and builders testified that downzoning Forsia's 250,000-square-foot crane-equipped building to light industrial would make it obsolete just as aerospace demand grows with Selfridge's expansion. The commission voted 7-0 to keep it as proposed — General Industrial — preserving its competitiveness.
FY 2026-2027 Budget Calendar
The city's proposed budget spends about $18 million from the general fund with millage rates going down slightly. Big-ticket items include finishing the industrial park roads, pension/OPEB obligations of $54 million combined, and proposed staffing additions like a full-time code enforcement officer.
Flamingo Motel Rezoning
The Flamingo Motel, family-run for 80 years, is the only motel on Groesbeck Highway proposed to lose its commercial zoning — going industrial. The owner says the triangular parcel can't function as an industrial site and would become worthless; he asked for a commercial carve-out or conditional zoning.
2026 Sewer Lining Project
About 6,000 feet of high-priority sanitary sewers will be relined to prevent failures and backups. The city budgeted $500,000 and the low bid came in well under that.
2025-2026 Watermain Replacement
Design work restarts for water mains on Vernetta, Schoolcraft and Elity, plus Linden Avenue, which has had 16 breaks along a 950-foot stretch. Storm sewer and road resurfacing are bundled in.
Detached accessory dwelling units (granny flats)
The commission spent over half an hour debating whether homeowners should be allowed to build detached backyard cottages. Supporters said it's a matter of property rights and could help aging family members live independently; opponents worried about privacy, small lots, and opening a can of worms. They voted informally to keep detached ADUs out of the draft, but council makes the final call.
December 7 traffic stop and ICE detention of Fraser student
A routine traffic stop of a Fraser teenager led to him and his mother being taken into federal immigration custody and held in Texas, despite pending asylum cases and the mother's valid Michigan license. Higgins said the bodycam shows our officers did their job but the Border Patrol agent's conduct was alarming; speakers split on whether the council should act.
City Council Election
Five people are running for three Fraser City Council seats. The winners will make local calls on budgets, services, and growth for years, so it’s worth a quick look before you vote.