HoughtonNot a ballot

Houghton · On the record

How the council voted

Every recorded council vote in this guide where two or more of the people we profile voted, side by side. Each line was checked against the meeting minutes it links to. Only candidates and members with a page in this guide are listed; open the minutes for the full roll call.

Houghton voter guide

City budget

Council vacancy

Apr 8, 2026

Offering Rhiannon Schmidt the open council seat

Result as recorded: passed 5-1, April 2026

  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes on offering Rhiannon Schmidt the open council seat (passed 5-1, April 2026).
  • NoMike NeedhamVoted no on offering Rhiannon Schmidt the open council seat (passed 5-1, April 2026).

City of Houghton · Apr 8, 2026Link

Data centers

Jul 8, 2026

Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium

Result as recorded: passed 6-0, July 2026

  • YesBrian IrizarryVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium (passed 6-0, July 2026).
  • YesJan ColeVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium (passed 6-0, July 2026).
  • YesPhilip Buck FoltzVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium (passed 6-0, July 2026).
  • YesRhiannon SchmidtVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium (passed 6-0, July 2026).
  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-348, a data center moratorium (passed 6-0, July 2026).

City of Houghton · Jul 8, 2026Link

Downtown property

May 27, 2026

Buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park

Result as recorded: passed 7-0, May 2026

  • YesBrian IrizarryVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesJan ColeVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesMike NeedhamVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesPhilip Buck FoltzVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesRhiannon SchmidtVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).

City of Houghton · May 27, 2026Link

May 27, 2026

Buy 326 Shelden Avenue for $400,000, to be reimbursed by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant, for a business incubator

Result as recorded: passed 7-0, May 2026

  • YesMike NeedhamVoted yes to buy 326 Shelden Avenue for $400,000, to be reimbursed by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant, for a business incubator (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesRhiannon SchmidtVoted yes to buy 326 Shelden Avenue for $400,000, to be reimbursed by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant, for a business incubator (passed 7-0, May 2026).
  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes to buy 326 Shelden Avenue for $400,000, to be reimbursed by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant, for a business incubator (passed 7-0, May 2026).

City of Houghton · May 27, 2026Link

Facade grants

Sep 9, 2026

Approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications

Result as recorded: failed 3-3, September 2026

  • YesJan ColeVoted yes on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).
  • YesMike NeedhamVoted yes on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).
  • YesPhilip Buck FoltzVoted yes on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).
  • NoBrian IrizarryVoted no on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).
  • NoRhiannon SchmidtVoted no on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).

City of Houghton · Sep 9, 2026Link

Public comment

May 27, 2026

Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three

Result as recorded: failed 1-6, May 2026

  • YesBrian IrizarryVoted yes on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
  • NoJan ColeVoted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
  • NoMike NeedhamVoted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
  • NoPhilip Buck FoltzVoted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
  • NoRhiannon SchmidtVoted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
  • NoRobert X. MegowenVoted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).

City of Houghton · May 27, 2026Link

Rezoning

Apr 8, 2026

Rezone 212 and 214 East Street

Result as recorded: passed 6-0, April 2026

  • YesBrian IrizarryVoted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).
  • YesJan ColeVoted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).
  • YesMike NeedhamVoted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).
  • YesPhilip Buck FoltzVoted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).
  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).

City of Houghton · Apr 8, 2026Link

Jun 10, 2026

Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning

Result as recorded: passed 7-0, June 2026

  • YesBrian IrizarryVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
  • YesJan ColeVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
  • YesMike NeedhamVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
  • YesPhilip Buck FoltzVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
  • YesRhiannon SchmidtVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
  • YesRobert X. MegowenVoted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).

City of Houghton · Jun 10, 2026Link

A “—” means the line records something other than a plain yes or no (a motion, an abstention, or two votes in one line); read the line itself. How this guide works