City Manager Reports

City Manager’s Report: May 1, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • May 4 – 8: Public Service Week. Be sure to thank and recognize our public service providers that week, including the great staff at the City! • May 5: Election Day, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Mason City Hall • At this point, voters must register in person at the clerk's office to be eligible to vote in the May 5 election. • In addition to normal hours, the City Clerk's office is open Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for election purposes only. • More information is available at: www.mason.mi.us/election • May 6 at 6:30 pm at City Hall: Rescheduled City Council Meeting Due to Election • May 18 at 5:30 pm at Mason High School Auditorium: Joint Recognition Ceremony • May 25: City Hall closed in observance of Memorial Day. OPERATIONS General: • Elections: o City Council: As of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026, ten (10) individuals have filed for City of Mason City Council. The list of candidates is published on the County Election Site here. This number of candidates will require that the City of Mason have a primary election on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Top eight (8) candidates from the primary election will move on to the November 3, 2026, general election. o May 5, 2026, Special Election: City Clerk's office has issued 2023 absentee ballots, with 1009 returned as of 8:00 a.m. on April 29, 2026. • Update – New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments: The Department of Justice has extended the compliance deadline for ADA compliant websites for local government entities with populations of 50,000 or less to April 26, 2028. Staff will continue to work on compliance in advance of the deadline. Expertise Building and Partnerships: • April 21: Chief Shutes participated in the Wilson Talent Center’s Criminal Justice Program mock job interviews. These interviews allow students to receive feedback from someone currently working in law enforcement. • April 23: The Police Department hosted the Ingham County Multidisciplinary Safety Meeting. This is a committee made up of individuals who work to keep our schools safe, including School Resource Officers, County Prosecutor’s Office employees, and various organizations working with minors. • April 25-26: Community Development Director Hude attended the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit. Conference sessions focused on a variety of planning topics including housing, transportation, infrastructure, data centers, public engagement, ethics and laws, community benefits, and technology. Director Hude shared Mason’s success with art and placemaking as part of the mobile tour “HeArt of Placemaking in a Suburban Community-Southfield” with colleague Terry Croad, Southfield Planning Director. • April 28: Manager Stuart attended the Meridian Township Joint Meeting of School Districts and Local Governments. Key topics included declining population, an aging population, revenue and infrastructure challenges, and ways to work together to share resources. • April 29: Manager Stuart attended the regional City Managers’ Meeting hosted by Delta Township. Topics included revenue challenges, data centers, opportunities to share staff, and employee safety amid current trends of increasingly aggressive public interactions.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT (3/13/2026) • Manager Stuart responded to public comments regarding processing times for FOIA requests. • Manager Stuart highlighted that all councilmembers have been provided with the budget and updated CIP to

City Manager’s Report: April 17, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • April 24: An Arbor Day Celebration event is planned: o 11:30 a.m. - Rayner Park to honor the Mason Rotary Club – 738 E. Ash Street o 12:00 p.m. - Bond Park to honor the Mason Optimist Club – 111 N. Rogers Street o 12:30 p.m. - Lee Austin Park to honor the Mason Kiwanis Club – 320 W. Ash Street o 1:00 p.m. - Bicentennial Park (Pink School House) to honor the Mason Lions Club – 707 W. Ash Street Related attachments:  2026 Arbor Day Flyer / Event Program  Public Notice: Arbor Day Foundation Names the City of Mason as a 2025 Tree City USA and The City of Mason Announces 2026 Arbor Day Honoree: Mason Service Clubs • May 4 – 8: Public Service Week. Be sure to thank and recognize our public service providers that week, including the great staff at the City! • May 5: Election Day, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Mason City Hall • Beginning Tuesday, April 21, voters must register in person at the clerk's office to be eligible to vote in the May 5 election. • In addition to normal hours, the City Clerk's office is open Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for election purposes only. • More information is available at: www.mason.mi.us/election • May 6 at 6:30 pm at City Hall: Rescheduled City Council Meeting Due to Election • May 18 at 5:30 pm at Mason High School Auditorium: Joint Recognition Ceremony • May 25: City Hall closed in observance of Memorial Day. OPERATIONS General: • Wastewater Plant Discharge: On April 15, the City experienced a discharge to the Sycamore Creek area due to a mechanical failure (creating an alarm malfunction) at the City’s new wastewater treatment plant during a heavy rain event. The issue was identified and quickly addressed by staff, limiting both the duration and volume of the discharge. While this incident was related to a mechanical issue—not system capacity—the City is currently experiencing significantly increased flows due to ongoing weather conditions. The new plant is performing well under these conditions and is managing flows more effectively than the previous facility. For context, under similar conditions, the former plant facilities (which ceased operations last month) would have required a substantial discharge directly into the creek today. The appropriate regulatory agencies have been notified, and all required reporting is being completed. Required public notice attached. • Budget: Staff presented the proposed budget at the April 6 workshop. Please note that while the presentation referred to a May 4 public hearing, the hearing will instead take place on May 6 due to the election. Corrections have been made in the finalized packet and all public notices. Staff will be prepared to respond to questions raised at the May 6 meeting. If Council members have additional questions to assist in their consideration, please submit them to the City Manager by April 27. • Elections: o City Council: As of 8 a.m. on April 17, 12 individuals have picked up petition packets to run for City Council on the August 4 primary election ballot, six have returned their petitions and have met the requirements to file for office. Deadline for filing is Tuesday, April 21, at 4:00 p.m. If there are eight or less individuals who submit petitions and meet all requirements to file for office, there will not be a primary election, and all candidates will move to the November 3, general election. o May 5, 2026, Special Election: City Clerk's office has issued 2021 absentee ballots, with 841 returned as of 8 a.m. on April 17.

City Manager’ s Report: April 2, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES Friday, April 3: City Hall will be closed in observance of Good Friday. Monday, April 13, 6:30 pm: City Council Budget Workshop at City Hall. Friday, April 24: An Arbor Day Celebration event is planned; additional details to be announced. OPERATIONS General: City Designated as Four- Star eCities Community: The City of Mason was recognized by the University of Michigan– Dearborn’ s 2025 eCities program as a Four- Star eCities community— its first designation since 2014— placing Mason among the top-performing communities in Michigan for economic development and investment. The study evaluated 277 communities across 54 counties using publicly available data, measuring economic growth, property values, and local government investment against statewide five-year averages and peer communities. The City of Mason exceeded the state’ s five-year average in the following key areas: o Personal Commercial Property: Performance above the state average indicates continued investment by local businesses in equipment, technology, and operational improvements, supporting business growth and economic vitality. o Governmental Assets ( Non-Depreciated): Mason’ s value was significantly above the state average, reflecting sustained public investment in long-term infrastructure. These assets— such as the wastewater treatment plant—retain their value over time and demonstrate the City’s commitment to critical community resources. Recall Petitions Filed: The City Clerk was notified that three ( 3) recall petitions were filed against Mayor Whipple and Councilmember Ferris, with a hearing before the Ingham County Election Commission held on March 25, 2026. At that meeting, two (2) petitions for each official were denied, and one (1) petition for each official was approved. The Ingham County Clerk’ s Office has advised that both parties have a 10-day period to appeal the decision to the Ingham County Circuit Court before any further action may proceed. Expertise Building and Partnerships: On March 16, Community Development hosted a job shadow with an employee of Peckham to provide insight into the role of Planning as a future career. On March 16-17, Officer Sue Putman attended the 2026 Women in Law Enforcement Conference. On March 17, Chief Matt Shutes attended the Ingham County March Chiefs’ meeting. March 17-20, Public Works Director Crawford and Public Works Foreman Pfannenschmid attended the 2026 Michigan Rural Water Association ( MWRA) Annual Conference in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Conference sessions focused on asset management, water and sewer rate structures, and updates on Lead and Copper. On March 19, Utilities Director Rewerts also attended the conference banquet, during which the City of Mason was honored with the MWRA 2026 Wastewater Utility of the Year Award. Personnel: TRANSITIONS – 1 o Richard Dover started March 26, 2026, as a On-Call Police Officer ACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES - 3 o Police Officer, Full-time (2) – Two conditional offers accepted o Sergeant, Full-Time – Open until filled. STANDING OPPORTUNITIES- Always accepting applications o Crossing Guard, Part-time and Substitute; On-Call Firefighter; On-Call Police Officer

City Manager’s Report: March 13, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • Wednesday, April 1: Arbor Day Honoree Nominations are due to the City Clerk. • Friday, April 3: City Hall will be closed in observance of Good Friday. • Monday, April 13, 6:30 pm: City Council Budget Workshop at City Hall. • Friday, April 24: An Arbor Day Celebration event is planned; additional details to be announced. OPERATIONS General: • Zoning Preemption Legislation: Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives that could impact local zoning authority. House Bills 5529–5532 and 5581–5585 are currently before the Government Operations Committee. If enacted, these bills would limit local control over land use and development decisions. Staff have been actively providing feedback to the Michigan Municipal League (MML) regarding the direct impact these bills would have on Mason. While many of the concerns are being addressed in the ongoing zoning rewrite, maintaining local flexibility to determine what best fits the community within legal constraints remains critical. Specific concerns include: o HB 5531: Limits review and additional information requests during site plan review. o HB 5582: Allows mobile homes in any residential district and mandates maximum parking requirements regardless of available public transportation. o HB 5583: Mandates a maximum five-foot setback from the side or rear of a home. o HB 5585: Requires accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right in any district, but restricts municipalities from imposing requirements on density, parking, or owner occupancy. Council members are encouraged to communicate concerns regarding these bills to their legislators. • Recall Petitions: Clerk Jarvis was notified of a recall petition proposal and hearing for Mayor Whipple and Councilmember Ferris. She was asked to provide documentation to the Ingham County Election Commission regarding inaccuracies in the recall language. The initial petition was denied on March 4, 2026. Since that hearing, three additional recall petitions have been proposed for Mayor Whipple and Councilmember Ferris related to various votes they have cast. Staff will continue to monitor the process and provide updates to Council as they become available. • FOIA Summary: The last several City Council meetings have included comments regarding FOIA requests and the process. It should be noted that the City does not have a dedicated staff member assigned solely to FOIA requests; responses are completed in addition to standard departmental tasks. FOIA Requests Received (November 1, 2025 – March 12, 2026): Total: 109 o 22: Initial 15-day review period to determine estimated costs, legality of request, and whether responsive public records exist. o 2: Waiting for deposit before processing. o 3: Active processing – documents being pulled, copied, reviewed for public record determination, redactions applied, and reviewed by City Attorney as needed. Example: one resulted in approximately 3,000 emails from Council and staff to review to determine if any are public records. Due to the Council communications being involved, the City Manager is the only authorized staff to review. o 4: Ready and waiting for final payment before providing requested documents. o 78: Fully completed. Comparative Data: • For reference, 141 FOIA requests were received between November 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025 with many abandoned. We are at three times the amount per month currently. • Our average response time prior to this time period was ten business days after deposit. Current response times are now at 60 business days due to increased volume and limited staff capacity, but the City continues to process requests in accordance with FOIA requirements.

City Manager’s Report: February 27, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • Thursday, March 12, 5:30 pm: Mason Area Chamber of Commerce 2026 Awards Dinner (for those who RSVP’d) • Monday, April 13, 6:30 pm: City Council Budget Workshop at City Hall. OPERATIONS General: • Michigan Rural Water Association Wastewater Utility of the Year Award: We are proud to report that the City will receive the 2026 Wastewater Utility of the Year Award from the MRWA. This honor is presented as one utility in the state that demonstrates outstanding operations, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. The award recognizes the City’s significant investment in critical infrastructure, the professionalism of our staff, and our ongoing commitment to protecting public health and the environment while operating responsibly and efficiently. Staff will accept the award at the annual MRWA Conference on March 19. • New Wastewater Treatment Plant Process Initiated: On February 26, staff notified the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that the City has initiated full operation of the new treatment processes at the wastewater treatment plant. All influent flow has now been diverted from the existing system to the new treatment processes. Staff is closely monitoring treatment units, controls, and alarm systems to confirm stable performance and proper system response over the next 30 days before any portion of the existing plant is decommissioned or any other buildings on site are demolished. • Data Center Interpretation Request Update: On February 11, staff received correspondence from Dykema Gossett PLLC requesting the City’s interpretation regarding data center use should Ordinance 266 be repealed. Staff provided the City’s written interpretation on February 19 (attached). • Social District: Staff were notified on February 26 that Mason’s Social District submission from December was approved, contingent on minor amendments to the Management Plan. The Downtown Development Authority will consider those amendments at its March 9 meeting. No action is required of the City Council. If approved, the four owners of eligible licenses in the area will be mailed notice, and the City’s application will be launched. All applications will require City Council approval. No application fee has been designated for this program at this time. Depending on the response and Council approval, the City will order and install signage activating the district. Expertise Building and Partnerships: • February 19: Manager Stuart attended the Mason Area Chamber Economic Development Committee meeting, where the discussion focused on active development projects in the Mason area and anticipated timelines. • February 19: Manager Stuart also attended the Middle of the Mitt Regional City Manager Meeting. Topics included police and finance staffing challenges, wage studies and compensation evaluations, union contract trends, fire service agreements, and ambulance service contracts. • February 23–24: Student Resource Officer King completed the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) active-shooter response training program, which prepares individuals to make informed survival decisions during critical incidents in schools and workplaces. • February 24–25: Instructed by Sgt. Demo, Police Officers completed CPR and First Aid recertification training. • February 25: Chief Shutes coordinated a multi-agency tabletop exercise focused on response to a critical incident at a school athletic event in partnership with Mason Public Schools (MPS). Participants included SRO King, Manager Stuart, Ingham County Emergency Management staff, and numerous MPS staff. The debrief identified actionable improvements to enhance safety, coordination, and preparedness for future events.

City Manager’s Report: February 13, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • Monday, February 16: In recognition of Presidents Day, City Hall will be closed to the public for staff training. • Monday, April 13, 6:30 pm: City Council Budget Workshop at City Hall. OPERATIONS General: • Water Resource Study Report (Attached): City Engineer Heck’s report is attached for Council’s reference and has been reviewed for any security concerns. No redactions were deemed necessary. The data in this report will be used for development-related planning and emergency management of our water system. This information will require periodic reevaluation to account for community growth, fluctuations in water use by major users, and current withdrawal levels. It should also be noted that three communities currently evaluating data centers, including representatives from Howell Township, have requested copies of this report in hopes of utilizing the information. A common misconception is that this report provides aquifer-wide data applicable to their jurisdictions; however, the analysis is specific to the basin serving Mason and is not directly transferable to other communities. Figure 8 within the supplemental report highlights this distinction. • M-3 Technology District Updates (Ordinance 266) • Petition: On February 9, City Attorney Hitch approved a petition form, as required by Section 7.12 of the City’s Charter, to request that the City Council repeal Ordinance 266. This approval followed two prior submissions that did not meet the requirements of state election law. A repeal and/or suspension would result in the removal of the protections established under M-3. A use defined in M-3 would instead fall under the existing ordinance, as required by Section 94-121(b) of the Mason Code of Ordinances. The relevant excerpt is provided below: “A use of land or structures not specifically mentioned in the provisions of this chapter shall, upon application, be classified by the zoning official, who may seek the recommendation of the planning commission prior to making a final determination.” • Interpretation Request (Attached): On February 11, staff received a letter from Dykema Gossett, PLLC, requesting the City’s interpretation of data center use if Ordinance 266 is repealed. Staff are coordinating with the City Attorney on a response. • On January 29, Manager Stuart attended the LEAP and Local Economic Development Partners Meeting, where the primary topic was proposed developments in the region, including data centers. Discussions included updates on various ordinances and requirements being implemented to address community concerns. Representatives from the State also attended. Manager Stuart expressed concerns regarding the lack of publicly available information being provided by the State and the variation in requirements depending on the incentive received, which remains unclear to many jurisdictions. • On February 5, the Michigan Municipal League (MML) conducted a site visit in Mason with research, legislative, and executive staff to discuss lessons learned from the data center ordinance process and identify resources that would benefit other communities. The City Manager advocated for legislative changes that would legally allow for decommissioning funds, bonds, or fees, similar to the framework under which solar projects operate through the Michigan Public Service Commission. There was consensus that this would present legal challenges due to the residual value of data centers after closure, which differs from solar facilities. Additionally, she advocated for statutory changes to address the significantly lower requirements for a Qualified Data Center compared to an Enterprise Data Center under current law. The MML is developing a guide and/or resource for communities to address the issues identified in our FAQ and clarify related legal constraints. • Farm Lease: The City released a RFP to solicit bids for farming City-owned land along Temple Street, with bids due on February 26. The previous lease expired December 31, 2025. If a bid is received that satisfies the City’s requirements, staff will recommend consideration by Council.

City Manager’s Report: January 30, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • February 2 at 6:30 p.m.: Joint Recognition Ceremony in the Sycamore Room at City Hall. • February 16: In recognition of Presidents Day, City Hall will be closed to the public for staff training. • Budget Preparation: City Council should identify any potential conflicts with the dates below. • February 9 at 6:30 pm: City Council and Planning Commission Joint Capital Improvement Program Workshop in the Sycamore Room at City Hall. • April 13 at 6:30 pm: City Council Budget Workshop OPERATIONS General: • Water Resource Study: Staff have had inquiries related to this study, which was requested of City Engineer. The attached report has been provided as an update. • Citizen Update on M-3: As suggested at the last City Council meeting, staff mailed the attached document with an update on M-3 to residents throughout the City of Mason, so they can get access to the most up-to- date information and FAQ. • Civil Rights Complaint: The City’s Police Department received a Civil Rights complaint in October and has fully cooperated with the investigation. The State Department of Civil Rights completed its investigation and ruled that the complaint was dismissed on January 16. • Farm Lease: The City will be releasing a RFP in February to solicit bids for farming City-owned land along Temple Street. The current lease expired December 31, 2025. • Water Main Breaks: Due to the extreme cold, the City has experienced the following water main breaks and anticipates more due to the extreme cold and depth of frost in the streets (about 2 feet deep): o January 21, 11:00 a.m. - 500 block of N. Cedar St., crews were on site the whole time, repaired by noon on January 22. o January 26, 6:00 p.m. – Intersection of South St. and McRoberts, crew located valves and contacted MISS DIG, repaired by 9:00 a.m. on January 27. Expertise Building and Partnerships: • On January 22, Chief Shutes and Sgt. Budd met with a representative from the Michigan State Police to discuss the records management system used by our police department. • Manager Stuart attended the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) Winter Institute, topics included: the increasing personal demands of public service, leading through change and challenging situations, financial challenges of equipment, legislative update, and more. Manager Stuart was also awarded the MME Christine Burnes Award by her peers at the event in recognition of excellence in municipal management and leadership, while enhancing career opportunities for women in the local government profession. Personnel: • TRANSITIONS – 1 o Jeremiah Budd resigned effective February 5, 2026, from his position as Police Sergeant. • OPPORTUNITIES - 7 o Laborer, Full-time, Facilities Assignment – Interviews completed. o On-Call Police Officer – Conditional offer provided. o Police Investigator, Full-time – Interview scheduled. o Police Officer, Full-time - Posted and open until filled. o Sergeant, Full-Time – Posted internally. o Crossing Guard, Part-time and Substitutes - Open Until Filled. o On-Call Firefighter- Open Until Filled.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT (1/2/2026) No additional updates

City Manager’s Report: January 16, 2026 IMPORTANT DATES • Budget Preparation: City Council should be prepared to discuss any potential conflicts with the dates below. • February 9, 2026 (Tentative): Staff would like to schedule the Capital Improvement Program Joint Workshop with the Planning Commission on this day or sometime during this week. Please note, we will also be polling Planning Commission members. • April 13, 2026 (Tentative): Staff would like to schedule the Budget Workshop for this day or week. OPERATIONS General: • Franchise Agreement: The City received notice that the Uniform Video Service Local Franchise Agreement transferred from WideOpenWest Mid Michigan, LLC to Bandit MidCo, Inc. effective January 14, 2026. Franchise Agreements are transferable as long as proper notice is provided. Expertise Building and Partnerships: • January 12, Chief Shutes participated in a Small Talk case review with the Multi-Disciplinary Team for Ingham County. Small Talk Children’s Advocacy Center coordinates services during child sexual abuse investigations in mid-Michigan. • January 12 – 16, Officer Birr attended the Field Training Officer (FTO) Basic seminar at Washtenaw Community College Police Academy. Completing this training will qualify Officer Birr to be a FTO trainer, allowing him to train new officers on the job. • January 14, Chief Shutes attended the Mason Optimist Club meeting and discussed current topics. • January 14, Chief Shutes met with a representative from Core Technology, which produces a record management system for law enforcement agencies. Personnel: • OPPORTUNITIES - 6 o Laborer, Full- time, Facilities Assignment– Applications under review and interviews to be scheduled next week. o Police Investigator, Full-time, Plain Clothes Assignment – Posted and open until filled. o Police Officer, Full-time - Posted and open until filled. o Crossing Guard, Part-time and Substitutes - Open Until Filled. o On- Call Firefighter-Open Until Filled. o On-Call Police Officer - Posted and open until filled.