Bay City commission approves release of city attorney opinions on ‘welcoming city’ resolutions
February 10, 2026 | Bay City, Bay County, Michigan
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The Bay City City Commission voted 8–1 on Feb. 9 to approve a mayoral resolution authorizing the release of public, redacted legal opinions and memoranda prepared by the city attorney about the 2025 ‘welcoming city’ resolution and any future welcoming-city resolutions in 2026.
The measure, added to the agenda at the start of the meeting, directs the city attorney to review existing attorney work product, prepare a public version with legally required redactions and post those materials on the city website before the Feb. 16 commission meeting "to the fullest extent permitted by law." Mayor Gerard, who introduced the request in writing, said the resolution aims to increase transparency so residents can “see what is in their consideration” and understand the legal rationale behind prior decisions.
Supporters argued residents have a right to review the legal analysis that informed the veto and commission deliberations on the 2025 resolution. Opponents raised concerns about attorney-client privilege and the possibility that releasing internal legal analysis could expose the city to legal risk. Commissioner Coopet successfully moved a clarifying amendment to remove the phrase "upon formal approval" and to add explicit coverage for "any future welcoming city resolutions in 2026," language the commission approved before the final vote.
During debate, several commissioners and the city manager noted logistical constraints: the manager said some commissioners had not received the prior opinion and that the city attorney may need additional time to prepare redacted versions. The resolution requires the city attorney to prepare material "suitable for public release, including any legally required redactions prior to disclosure," and the clerk to post the material to the city website.
The final roll call recorded eight votes in favor and one opposed (Commissioner Zanotti). The resolution therefore passed as amended; staff said they would work with the city attorney to make the public version available as soon as practicable and aimed to have it posted in advance of the Feb. 16 meeting.
What happens next: the city attorney will review previously prepared opinions, prepare redacted public versions as necessary, and the clerk will post those documents to the city website; the commission will consider any related welcoming-city resolutions at the next meeting.
The measure, added to the agenda at the start of the meeting, directs the city attorney to review existing attorney work product, prepare a public version with legally required redactions and post those materials on the city website before the Feb. 16 commission meeting "to the fullest extent permitted by law." Mayor Gerard, who introduced the request in writing, said the resolution aims to increase transparency so residents can “see what is in their consideration” and understand the legal rationale behind prior decisions.
Supporters argued residents have a right to review the legal analysis that informed the veto and commission deliberations on the 2025 resolution. Opponents raised concerns about attorney-client privilege and the possibility that releasing internal legal analysis could expose the city to legal risk. Commissioner Coopet successfully moved a clarifying amendment to remove the phrase "upon formal approval" and to add explicit coverage for "any future welcoming city resolutions in 2026," language the commission approved before the final vote.
During debate, several commissioners and the city manager noted logistical constraints: the manager said some commissioners had not received the prior opinion and that the city attorney may need additional time to prepare redacted versions. The resolution requires the city attorney to prepare material "suitable for public release, including any legally required redactions prior to disclosure," and the clerk to post the material to the city website.
The final roll call recorded eight votes in favor and one opposed (Commissioner Zanotti). The resolution therefore passed as amended; staff said they would work with the city attorney to make the public version available as soon as practicable and aimed to have it posted in advance of the Feb. 16 meeting.
What happens next: the city attorney will review previously prepared opinions, prepare redacted public versions as necessary, and the clerk will post those documents to the city website; the commission will consider any related welcoming-city resolutions at the next meeting.
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