Budget — Office of the Ombudsman / Dept. of Public Works/GDRRA

6:02PM Mar 28, 2024

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All right, good afternoon. I'd like to call back to order the extended budget audit, excuse me, budget Finance and Audit standing committee. Madam Clerk will you please call the roll?

Chair council members Scott Benson. Benson I councilmember afraid they're hot there. Councilmember Leticia Johnson present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero present councilmember Mary waters. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Customer called me on the second. Council President Pro Tem James Tate, your council President Mary Sheffield. Member member, Council President indicated that she would be absent for the remainder of today's hearing. So her absence is

excused. clerk was told don't you have a quorum present. Mr. President,

thank you, man. We have a quorum, which means we're now in session we have before us busman's office. Good afternoon, sir. You go hit that button for us.

Good afternoon, council president pro tem take so great to have you here.

You may proceed with your your budget presentation, sir.

Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I would like to thank your honorable body for the opportunity to present this ombudsman administration's eighth annual report. I would also like to take take the moment to thank city department heads and employees that have worked diligently to assist us in our complaint resolution and policy implementation. Every year I give special recognition to our first responders and rightfully so they perform a job that most cannot. However, this year, I want to take the time to recognize our community leaders. This is the group that I believe has stepped up the most and does not receive the praise and recognition that they should they are our first line of defense. They are our citizens that have made a conscious decision to take action in an effort to reduce crime, and 2021 major cities across the nation burned and were looted, and civil unrest ensued. It was our activists, our community leaders working hand in hand with DPD to ensure that there were no riots in the city of Detroit. It was the everyday citizen that prevented others who did not live in the city from coming into the city to vandalize it or incite a riot. Why are we referencing civil unrest from 2020? For me, it was a preview of what will become a recipe for success and making our city safer by empowering our citizens. Through the community Violence Intervention Program, also known as CVI. We salute deputy mayor Bettison for leading the charge and the administration for recognizing the importance of a true partnership. With the community. Within three months, this partnership along with shot stoppers has yielded a reduction in crime in each of the six designated CVI zones. And that reduction has ranged between 27% and 70%. So to new era, Detroit 300 Detroit People's Community force Detroit Detroit family and friends, Detroit People's Community and Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, then B neighborhood Alliance and can't restore to them. We say thank you. Clearly we can see that this investment in the people has paid off when there is sincerity behind the policy. And when you view people more as more than a metric on a spreadsheet. The potential for success is limitless. At this point, I would like to turn to the budget and give credit to your honorable body and the administration for addressing something that should have been dealt with in bankruptcy. That is our obligation to our pensioners. Not only is meeting this obligation, morally the right thing to do but this action has led to Moody's Investor Services giving us an investment grade bond rating for the first time since 2009. In less than 10 years, setting aside 455 million into the retiree Protection Fund and another $150 million into the rainy day fund. It has not been easy as required a lot of sacrifice from our residents, sacrifices that have deprived them of the level of services and service delivery that we know they deserve the budget that has been produced is pretty straightforward. However, it concerns me when we can produce a graph that says the average income for Detroit residents sits somewhere between 40 and $45,000. To put that into perspective, our homeowners property tax exemption exemption application begins to grant a 10% exemption if your income is less than $39,000. To receive that exemption, you must either be facing foreclosure or have suffered a 20% loss in income. Other residents in the state of Michigan have an average income of $70,000. According to the chart provided by the administration on March 7 during their budget presentation. The goal is and always has been to grow our city and those numbers do not make us an attractive option. More industry with better paying jobs have to be a part of the equation if we're going to be competitive with other major cities and or even the suburbs. Now, before I walk you through our recommendations, I would like to state that our recommendations are based on complaints that we've received, as well as direct correspondence that we've had with city departments. So please turn to Section One of our ombudsman report. Which of course is entitled ombudsman recommendations. Number one, subsidized housing, led inspections. Persons residing in subsidized housing represent some of our most vulnerable citizens, citizens that our government has agreed to provide financing for or subsidize a portion of their rent. However, the noted location should be free and clear of any potential contact with hazardous materials such as lead. The City of Detroit has strict requirements as it pertains to lit and these requirements are enforced to our rental ordinance. Unfortunately, or the ordinance. We currently accept inspections from other governmental agencies that have deemed the noted location to be in compliance. In other words, we pretty much take their word that they have done their due diligence as it relates to the condition of that property. For me, that is not good enough. We intend to work with BC and other Gulf governmental entities to address this issue. Next slide. The demolition deferral process. The process outlined in the ordinance is clear. However, this is not the process executed by the city. As a matter of policy, there is an additional obligation of having to provide a quote unquote proof of funds available to bring the property up to code. That proof of funds requirement is listed online as a step in the process to obtaining a deferral. However, until the read as recent as last month, it was not a part of the actual application. We have made this request of applicants for the past year and a half without updating the application. It was also not spelled out as to what is acceptable as it relates to the proof of funds. providing this information on the actual application removes any opportunity for miscommunication. Furthermore, the applicant can meet VCs required criteria, however, there's property still can potentially be demolished. If the deferral application and process is not approved by the director of BC. That approval information must be shared with the demolition department in a timely fashion. Addressing this component of the deferral process is necessary to prevent the demolition of properties that are salvageable. We are recommending that your honorable body execute the ordinance by providing your approval of the deferral. That is what is required by the ordinance. Again, we would like to know that as it relates to our recommendation concerning proof of funds be seen as an agreement and the proof of funds available information has already been placed on the application. According to BC that change occurred last month. The Department of appeals and hearings, collection mechanisms and 2023 the Department of appeals and hearings adjudicated at 1899 tickets 2023 blight judgments were assessed that $29,296,000 2023 Black judgments collected were at $4,727,000 2023 blight judgments collection rate was 16%. We are recommending that the Department of appeals and hearings develop a mechanism or mechanisms that will allow them to become more efficient in their ability to collect on the tickets that we have written our ability to collect the money associated with these tickets represent the completion of the code enforcement process. Failure to collect sends the wrong message to those that are in violation of city code. And also the wrong message to the many inspectors I work tirelessly to write these tickets in an attempt to produce compliance. We'd also like to note that the 2022 blight collect bike judgment collection rate was 23%.

Moving along 24 hour business requirements violent crimes and even homicides occurred at establishments that have extended hours throughout the night and into the early morning. More specifically, businesses that are open after two in the morning, or businesses that are functioning on a 24 hour basis, have a duty and a responsibility to provide an environment that is conducive to the safety of their customers and our citizens. I'm recommending that these businesses provide additional lighting, security cameras and security personnel to discourage violent crime at the noted locations in addition to the criteria, there should be a grading system that puts into place and takes a count of the number of violent crimes and or homicides at another location. Next slide. Veterans Department. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 22,765 veterans in the city of Detroit veterans have representation on every level of government with the exception of municipal government that needs to change in response to Councilmember at large waters request for the establishment of a Veteran Affairs Department on March 15. The legislative policy division issued a report stating that veterans face challenges concerning the following mental health, unemployment, homelessness, physical injuries and a lack of education. Next slide. Speaking to many of our veterans as we work to change the property tax exemption law for our disabled veterans has inspired us to do more for them. In terms of having a department or division solely dedicated to their concerns. I would like to acknowledge that our ombudsman 2022 recommendation concerning disabled veterans was signed into law by Governor Whitmer on October 19 2023. This change now allows our disabled veterans to file for their property tax exemption once and be done with it. They are no longer obligated to come to City Hall annually. This timeframe that they have to file with the assessor's is January 1 to December 31. And lastly, the widow of a disabled vet and now take that exemption with them to another residence. This was not possible prior to our recommendation being signed into law. This represents the reach and the strength of the office when we speak to the effectiveness of our recommendations. Next slide. Never want for complacency based on another ombudsman recommendation. We have pursued another change to state tax law that will close the property tax affidavit loophole that has been taken advantage of by so many investors and speculators. Senate Bill 175 has made his way through the Senate and House committee. We are currently waiting for the bill to be placed on the floor. Which will anticipate will take place next month. If and when approved by the governor this will give this Ombudsman's office not one, but two state laws that are based on our recommendations. Now, equally important to those becoming law. Are the steps in IT staff findings that indicate an estimated $1.6 million will be saved for the city of Detroit once our recommendation is adopted pertaining to property transfer affidavits. I believe that number is very much on the conservative side. Maybe more when you compare that number to our budget request this year. You can see that we are in essence paying for our operation. Last year, when we requested additional resources from your honorable body, we promised to do two things and prove our production in terms of policy implementation and outreach. I believe we've done that next slide. In conclusion, all of us who consider ourselves to be of service to the people have a duty and a responsibility to create an environment for our citizens to thrive both professionally and socially. I am sure that we will have a successful NFL draft and I look forward to showing the world the progress that we have made. But I do have a request. The same effort that has gone into making this event a success is the same effort residents need and require on a daily basis. In order for their communities to flourish. The nature of our government is one where there are no permanent occupants of any particular office. This means that the same conservative approach it took to wrap our arms around our pension obligations I mentioned earlier must contain no matter who's in office, in our opinion, land value tax and the more costly trash hauling contract or not the answer and our outliers as it relates to our fiscal posture over the last decade. The federal funding will not always be there to mask our inefficiencies. Again, I encourage the administration to invest in the people to policy and programs that are backed by sincerity and also to provide jobs with decent wages. On behalf of the residents, property owners, business owners and all persons who have contacted the office of the Ombudsman, I submit this annual report. And with that, I'll take any questions you may have next slide.

All right. Thank you so much. Mr. ombudsmen. I didn't know if you wanted to give a shout out to your team because I know they do a tremendous job. I just like Oh, glad that in there. Yeah, chance to cheer.

Thank you. Council President Pro Tem Well, directly to my right. I have none other than Gail Bernard was our deputy ombudsman Gail.

Okay. Thank you and thank you for having me. I'm

in the audience. We have Miss Wesley. Miss Linda Western please stand up. She's responsible for that charge you saw on the previous page all that outreach work. She's like my GPS if if she don't put it in the calendar, I'm not there. Honor Ferrante please stand up. She's like the glue in many, many different ways in terms of operations. And then we have Eugene he stand up right, and I got my son in the audience. I wanted him to get some training. See dad do with the the so beat them understand what he has to do. Right. Cameron stand up. All right.

All right. Thank you so much. Mr. ombudsmen. Thank you for the work that you and your team to do on a regular basis. Thank you for we just saw you at the D one monthly meeting this past Saturday. Yes, sir. And the residents were very thankful and I'm certainly received in addition to the hands that were raised. A number of concerns from our folks and I'm looking in the booklet which is fresh hot off the press and it looks like there is a considerable amount of complaints that come through or come out of district one. So looking forward to going through this report. As always and again, thank you for compiling this. I'm going to now go to my colleagues Mr. Madam Clerk, if you can, please know also that we've been joined by member Durazo. Mr. Chair, thank you so much, and I'm gonna start from my right and then we're gonna work our way to the left and we'll start with member waters.

All right, so good afternoon.

Good afternoon. I'm sure.

It looks like you answered a lot of questions and you have quite a few details in this report. So let me just ask you for the two FTEs that you are requesting, what's going to be their responsibility.

All persons that work in the Office of the Ombudsman outside of Ms. Bernard and myself, have assistant ombudsman duties. That means that they will perform every task I believe in what most would call cross training, all of our staff having the ability to do pretty much everything so complaint intake, outreach. All of it will be assigned to those two individuals.

Okay. All right. Um, what type of what are some of the one time expenditures that you have with the Office

on time expenditures through the Chair thank you for the question. Remember waters lead typically don't have too many. That to me. Yeah. We don't we don't. I can't think of any actually, in terms of one time expenditures. Our budget is pretty straightforward. When you look at it, the bulk of it is salary and wages. You know, because of the nature of our job, we engage our attorney. There's that that budget is is there for that thanks to your honorable body. It's very necessary. That individual deals with issues both internally and externally but we do not have quote unquote, one time expenditures even for events like our turkey giveaway where we fed over 700 families. We raise that money I raise that money, we have a revolving fund so we don't lean on the city even for that we go get the money

all right. What I just want to say that I appreciate the fact that I often see you out and community myself, you know, you're pretty well known to the city. And so just lifted up and say that we certainly appreciate the fact that that you're out there and that you're educated in charge. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you member waters. Member Santiago Rivera.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. Good to see you. Thank you for the work that you do. Really, the questions that I had you you went through them in your presentation just asked about staffing and your budget if it's good, it's it sounds like it is um more so have a comment. So you mentioned when it comes to the referral process City Council approves referrals and we do dream PHS but to your points. It's a process that I would like to revisit. So I would like to revisit the whole dangerous buildings process we've been discussing, having either a fund or a program that does minor repairs to homes to keep them in families. So if anything, just really grateful for the recommendations that you have for us and expect us to reach out to see what we can do to follow up with some of these and just really grateful for the work that you do. Thank you

to the Chair, if I may. I'm sorry. I'm number one. I'm gonna say that no, we're not good. Staffing wise. We do want those two positions. Yeah. Was roughly comes to 160 4k. So anyone would love to put those in Executive Session? I would I would appreciate it. We do want that. We think that as I stated in my presentation, we promise two things. And those two things we delivered. I don't based on looking through the records. I don't recall an Ombudsman's office having not one but maybe two state laws based on a recommendation so that means a legislature that can't agree on much has agreed that the recommendations that we have come forward with are appropriate. So based on us, quote unquote, showing improvement, I think it only gets better from here if we can add those additional persons. So we are requesting 160 4k for those two people. Secondly, the deferral process as I understand it, of course you receive information regarding the designation of a property to be demolished when a person comes to file to file a deferral. That process is handled by BC per the ordinance, they're supposed to make a recommendation to your honorable body. They are not to be the final approval of said deferral and that that is what we have seen in terms of what's taking place now. If they are sending up each and every deferral application for your approval. That is great. That means that they are in compliance. But the details we pointed out about some of the policy changes that are not in the ordinance. We felt like needed to be flushed out

through the Chair. Thank you. I am happy to make the motion for the 164 requests to be moved to Executive Session pro tem. Did

you want the exact number that was that was requested is 163 592 was what was was actually requested but if you want to do the round number we can do that.

I can't see it's in front of me. Motion to the last slide to move 163 I'm gonna run it out pro time is 164 to Executive Session.

There's a motion to place $164,000 into the budget of the Office of the ombuds person for staffing and place that into Executive Session. Any objections? Seeing none that action shall be taken.

Thank you through the chair just briefly through you to arm Budman let's have a discussion because during PHS we get a list of deferrals and we have to approve those. We always approved deferrals because it's deferring a demolition, but I since cheering, want to know what it is all in our control and how to make it better. So we're gonna follow up with you to have further discussion.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you, Mr. Waters for your comments.

Thank you, Madam Clerk, if you could please note that we've been joined by member Young. Back also note Mr. Chair. Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Johnson. It was yours.

Thank you Mr. Chair. And good afternoon to the ombuds team. So first, I have to say a very special thank you for all of your guidance and leadership and working with me on the challenges that we were having in the district around basement backups. So just gleaning from you and watching you and pulling together various departments to help address this situation that continues to be an ongoing situation. really helped me out I believe, we will see some resolve. And I'm going to keep you posted. I'm not sure how much you've been following us go through this process. I'm trying to do everything that I can sometimes it's it's moving at a still pace and just trying to ultimately get to some result. But so I do greatly appreciate all of the work that you've done in collaboration with me and bringing everyone together just to make sure that everybody understood what the challenges were and coming up with some creative solutions on how we address that. So first one to say thank you for that. Secondly I want to say a special thank you for the property transfer affidavit. Legislation. I can tell you that from as a resident in the community, when I would attempt to reach out to property owners of commercial properties in particular, we would find that people never completed a property transfer affidavit and therefore you could not figure out who owned the building to hold them accountable. not only were we not receiving the appropriate amount of taxes, but it made it that much more difficult to get a hold of property owners to hold them accountable. So that is commendable. I did notice that in your complaints by district District Four was the lowest I don't know if that's good or bad, but I'm going to stick with it being good. Okay. And but but I do know that you have some some residents in District Four that always sing your praises. And so I'm so greatly appreciative of you being there for you to address their their questions and concerns. And so therefore, they just bypass our office, but I do know that you have those relationships with them and so appreciate you for being there. Appreciate you for coming out to our district events and looking forward to doing that again with you this year. I do want to ask you a question around some of you or maybe more significant barriers. That you encounter when resolving complaints.

Okay, through the Chair, I will deal with the latter question first. Barriers. In my speech I talked about occupants of different offices and how they will come and go, both elected and not elected. Same is true for department heads. And so, to a certain extent, unfortunately, learning the individual learning their strengths, their weaknesses, how they lead that particular department becomes key in terms of the type of response that you can get. What we endeavored to do this year based on Council's request, different members had a number of requests last year in terms of how we broke down the data. And so we I personally watched that video to make sure that every last request was there and for council president who is not here today, one of our requests was can we get a breakdown by percentage of the responses so that information is in your report. You can see exactly what department we are corresponding with how effective we are or are not. Are they are not I should say in terms of being responsive to us now. Are these moving numbers? Yes, because we don't leave them unresolved. But that deals with the challenges for the most part, it becomes learning the ins and outs of the leadership and then making sure that they have the understanding that they need to be responsive, even if they don't want to even if it's something that's sensitive, even if I'm going to talk about the deferral process, right. They understand our role and our position. We're not here to be harmful to anyone. If anything, we think it is a collective effort. We're all working towards the same place getting to the same place. We're just taking a different route or our job function. With that being said, thank you for your kind words. I learned a lot as well as we worked through some of the basement backup challenges that we encountered not only in District Four, but in other districts as well. When we were at council president pro Tim's event this Saturday, that issue was brought up for Deewan residents. And so I learned a lot from you. And most importantly, I learned that more than likely you're gonna get what you want. And so I think I think in terms of our residents, they are in good hands in terms of what we may have in store for them as we look at water backup issues.

Thank you so much. I do want to ask you about your outreach and how you connect with residents and community because you did acknowledge Linda Wesley, we all know Linda Wesley, and we recognize the amazing work that she does in community. So can you just kind of talk about some of your outreach efforts?

Absolutely through the Chair, thank you very much for the opportunity to do so I'm on the second to last slide in your handout and if we can get the previous slide put on the screen

so we have in detail, a breakdown for you as it pertains to our outreach exactly what we are doing let's go through it. virtual office hours. 125 participants virtual meeting leads that meetings we've had 24 satellite locations if you pick up any of our materials, you will see that we have hit each district at least three times. That means going to local coffee shops and the recreational departments that we have those locations within the district in order to make us ourselves more accessible so that the resident doesn't have to drive downtown parking tickets. $45 gas is costing more and more each day. We don't want to inconvenience them. We are coming to the community in person meeting 776 resource fairs border review put on a number of them as council members have them and any other entities that we think require our services. We attend those as well. We've had 76 Or excuse me 86 distributions on GOV Delivery. we've knocked on 2000 doors and as I mentioned earlier doing our turkey giveaway for Thanksgiving, we fit over 700 families. So I mean that speaks to her work. It speaks to the team's work. If I'm knocking on doors, I'm not hitting all 2000 doors by myself. We will do more this year. That is our team so I appreciate them and their hard work. When you come to work for us you understand that there will be some extra curricular things that you are asked to do.

Thank you so much for your efforts. i And I do remember we talked about going out canvassing together. So I want to make sure we do that. Greatly appreciate you and the entire team for all of the work that you do. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you remember doing it all.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon to you. Thanks again. Thank you for the work that you do. Obviously echoing some of the same sentiments as my colleagues had the opportunity to work with the band on the ground and D seven. We've done cleanups together boarded up houses together, clean railroad tracks together. We're not supposed to tell nobody that way. You know, but But nevertheless, that type of work is indicative of someone who's showing great leadership and I want to thank you, but particularly your team as well. Everybody knows Ms. Wesley, as well as your entire team are the driving force as my as my team is for me as well. So I appreciate the relationship we have and our willingness to continue to serve a residence together. So my question just revolves around the first I don't know if he mentioned it, and I apologize because I came in a little bit behind but proportional funding. I know. There was a talk about proportional funding. And a workgroup that was going and just wanted to know if you can give a status of that, or an update about that.

Yes, through the chair. Remember Dr. Hall. First of all, thank you for your remarks. It's also been my pleasure working with you and I look forward to working with you in the future on many different issues. Proportional funding. an ordinance has been drafted, has been submitted to council president. We were made privy to that information a few weeks ago. And so the process is moving along. It is a slow process. It's government but it is moving. And so we look forward to seeing that ordinance. take effect. It is and for those who are listening who do not know proportional funding, when you are talking about independent oversight agencies, Section Eight dash two one for the city charter is outlined and constructed, mandating that an ordinance be drafted in order to ensure that these agencies are properly funded. So if there is a chink, quote unquote, chink in the armor, as it relates to our ability to function, it is the consistency in which we have to come before your honorable body and the administration and state our case for funding. You can see where there could be a potential conflict as it relates to us, holding the administration accountable and then funding our ability to do so. So this this ordinance speaks to that it does not take I want to be clear, it does not take any of the authority or powers from your honorable body or the administration as it pertains to its ability to dictate what that budget looks like. But it does lay the ground for a greater discussion as it pertains to oversight agencies.

And without going too deep into that, love to have some discussions again, outside of here, just relative to how that moves forward, and how it affects our charter and then going, going further, any other departments. My second question is I know you guys are always responsive. How do you decide the severity of each case that you get and how do you prioritize? Should I say the severity of each case and working with each case particularly during times of high volume with something huge is happening? Or there's a huge ordinance or something has changed in the city? How do you prioritize how you manage caseload?

The Chair Thank you member dua for the question. In terms of triaging complaints. Typically my day, if I get a phone call first thing in the morning, you know, it's either from my deputy or Ms. Wesley or even miss Ferrante saying, you know, we gotta have one we got something that we have to move on. So they know these are all experienced persons that have decades of experience and, and complaint resolution. The complaints that are time sensitive in nature are obviously ones that we have to move on. Ones that may require us to put eyes on the actual complaint if it's not an administrative function. Let's give an example. I won't name the church but it's very, very nearby. They were threatened to have their water shut off. Their interaction with the department was less than desirable. They didn't receive the outcome that they saw desire. Now, do we not allow the church to have Sunday service? Because they don't have the water on? Or do we make that that case a priority? I case jumps to the top of the list and so it is on a case by case scenario where we try to triage now we are I want to be clear about this. Also, we're not diminishing the importance of any other complaint. We take every complaint series. However one like what I just described as something that you know, we make high priority, and I'm thankful for the relationship we have with DWSD that allows us to make the phone calls to stop that from happening.

Thank you. And again, thank you again for your work. Thank you Miss. What look Linda. She's got she's got my cell phone number too. So she's very what's the word I want to use Adams? resourceful. Persistent. I mean, there's a number of words I could use but she is really a gym and works well with folks in our office, as well. So but again, thank you to you and your entire team. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, member Young.

Thank you, Mr. Crazy, sir. Always a pleasure to see you. I just wanted to say I appreciate all the great work that you and your team Linden, skip I'll see everybody back there. I can't tell you what a blessing you being for me because a lot of times when they don't call our office they call you so I thank you for all the things and I've actually stolen some ideas that you've had your say try to claim them as my own. I just want to let you know that. So with the end, the fact that our paid was go back like four plants on the cabinet, rather, I don't have anything question to say I just will say I love you. I appreciate you continue to good work. I can do anything. Please let me know. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, the

Chair if I may. Thank you for your kind words. I think the the idea that you're referencing is cadaver dog search and abandon open the trespass houses. We perform demolition at a high rate, but that does not remove the the issue of open the trespassed properties that are in that condition before they are secured and or demolished. And so later within the next 60 days, myself and and the director of demolition miscounts we will be working on something to address just that these open and dangerous properties because again, we excel at demolition, we know that right? But there is more work to be done as it relates to open and dangerous buildings. And so thank you for mentioning that and thank you for your kind words again, yes, yes, our families go way way back.

All right, go back. How far back way back? No Will you say back like when he backs or flats on the cattle? Okay, I haven't heard that. And we hear a lot of we haven't heard that. We might still though. All right. Thank you. Remember Young. I'm not going to prolong it again said what I had to say earlier but just quick question. I said we worked extremely hard to try to get this cannabis industry in the city. of Detroit up and going and do so in a way that honors our residents in the city of Detroit. The legacy legacy Detroiters and I know there's a lot of folks that have feelings about it this way or that way. But it is something that went through would be for the voters and voters say that they want it. We made it happen and I believe that we did the best that we could to again, honor our legacy Detroiters. There's always this this talk about the cannabis industry and how it's running rampant in the city of Detroit. Now I won't deny that there are folks who do illegal activities, no matter what we talk about when we talk about folks who are repairing vehicles on the in the front yard. You name it. Somebody's going to do it. Can you talk to us a little bit about any complaints you have received regarding licensed cannabis facilities? Because I want I want us to have that bit of information. You know, that may or may not be in the booklet, but talked about a lot

to the Chair. Thank you, council president pro tem. That's a difficult one that the voters voted for. Right. So we know that this is an industry that is here to stay for the time being. With that being said a lot of those issues we see hashed out whether they're at BCA meetings right if the particular issue goes there, BC first line of code enforcement, they deal with it a lot. We will see it not as frequently because we don't have a particular role in it. Now in terms of the complaints, there are residents who have zero tolerance for it don't want it in their communities. A lot of our seniors do not subscribe to new way of thinking whether voter approved or not. And I understand it, we sympathize with them. But if if it is not something that is a violation or not something that we can address through code enforcement, you know, we have to inform them of that and pretty much wants to keep them moving but we have to we have to let them know that and then move on from there. It can be a sensitive subject, especially if you're inundated. Let's say you live off of eight miles. You know that is you are tired of the return into your your street and you see that establishment and you're tired of it and you think that it may bring unsavory characters right. But, but nevertheless, again, if there is not called violation, crime, etc, something that's done as improper, we can't move forward.

But just in so that folks can capture all of that in a real nice soundbite if you will. Are you receiving? Have you seen that there have been legitimate concerns not not feelings, but legal concerns regarding licensed cannabis related businesses?

I have seen a couple but it's not it's not. It's not something that we get. Many of I have seen a couple but not not many. Okay.

Thank you, sir. And then the other question, we're going to be moving on an ordinance that we're going to be working on dealing with honey bees, chickens and ducks as well have talked to us about any complaints concerns that you've received no complaints or concerns with another has been some enforcement that has taken place with the department. But in terms of negative outcomes and any recommendations that you may be able to offer because again, there are going to be complaints, but recommendations in terms of it being something that needs to be in your booklet or that would caution us from even moving in that direction.

To the chair member take council president pro tem Tate I would love to work with your staff on that as you work to construct the ordinance. I've actually been to a location where there was an email present which is not in our ordinance. It was the first time I got the chance to see the EMU and e mu A egg and how big it is and what it looks like and so on and so forth. So there there have to be some parameters set around what is acceptable and what is not. I'm eager to work with you on that. But I do know that we have a lot of different individuals who may not have a long history in our great city, but feel the need to have the evils and the exotic animals and things of that nature

respectfully. I wasn't talking about E moods and all those things. I'm simply talking about honey bees, chickens and ducks. So that because and the reason I said is because that's what happens when I do talk about chickens and honey bees, ducks people start talking about pit bulls. They talk about alligators and then he talks about boobs and all these other different things. We're talking strictly this this narrow scope. This is what we're looking to legalize in the city of Detroit. The

chair we recently dealt with a complaint dealing specifically with that in an industry in terms of honeybees, a lot of people are not necessarily aware of the importance of the bees and the role that they play in our environment. It's something that you kind of don't give a second thought you just worry about not getting stung by a bee that's all you think. About and think about bees but we received quick education on it and working with the land bank and an individual that wanted to bring that industry here. So we have touched that area, that industry, one of the industries you're talking about and one of the things in terms of bees, but I look forward to working with you on it in the future.

All right. Thank you so much, sir. Appreciate once again, all the work that you do. I look forward to reading through the booklet again, always required should be required reading certainly for all of us. Anything else you want to add before we wrap up.

I like to say thank you to your honorable body for the opportunity to come before you for the eighth time as your ombudsman. I also want to say that we tried to be a little more detailed in this report. There's more information in here that then you would normally see from us. We want to make sure that we're giving you an accurate snapshot. It is not in any way shape or form a full picture but it is a snapshot but we want to even that snapshot to be as accurate as it could possibly be. For you to work off of and Lane information from so I thank you again for the opportunity. And thank you for putting the 160 4k in executive session. Thank you, Council Member.

Thank you wish you all the best sir. Thank you so much. And This now concludes the budget hearing for the office of the Ombudsman. We should now go into and into the budget hearing for the Department of Public Works.

Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. I'm gonna have to apologize in advance for my voice. I know. I'm gonna sound a little bit scraggly but I'm gonna get through it himself. Hi, sir. Hi. Thank you. Thank

you may you may proceed, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, you're gonna do some sell Brian Brundage, Director of DPW

John Primatech, director of ghidra

James sure you didn't see people. James had a DPW Deputy Director complete streets and

we do have our deputy director on the day Akinyemi. joining us virtually all Nabil has been brought over yet. 30 Please, but I'll get right into the presentation. DPW budget as submitted for 2024 25 is $160 million and it represents about a 5.9 $5.8 million increase over our current $154.4 million budget. Our DPW st I DPW budget is actually broken into four different funding sources general fund street fund the Metro fund and a solid waste fine. We will see DPW street funded by to decrease by $5.8 million. Although that to do to amount of 90 point 5 million. Although the total street Fund Revenues are 104 point 5 million DPW solid waste budget are increased by $12.3 million. And of course that's directly due to the conversion transition from bi weekly bulk yard waste and recyclable collection to weekly collection of those solid waste beginning in June 2024 Currently, it doesn't show on your sheet but currently we have 496 budgeted positions in the request for 2425 are requesting 500 positions and an increase of four. We currently have 409 vacancies I'm sorry we have 49 actual positions representing 87 vacancies 55 of those existing vacancies. We expect to be filled with seasonal laborers, operators and construction inspectors within the first couple of months couple weeks of April. DPW general fund budget submitted for 2425 is $3 million. And that's about a 500,000 decrease from our current budget. Our general fund budget funds our administration office, as well as our public right away permanent office the revenues that we generate from our permanent covers more than 100% of all of our general fund budget costs in fiscal year 25. We're anticipating $5.2 million in revenue to come into the general fund. We are showing a decrease in staffing levels from 33 existing to 25. Six adults positions are actually construction inspector positions that are remaining DPW but they'll be moved from the general fund into our salary into our street fund to be more appropriately aligned with the services that they provide and we currently have eight existing vacancies are in the general fund and six levels are gonna see some inspectors that we anticipate from within the next couple of weeks. Overall street fund budget estimate and again it's $90.5 million. As I indicated earlier, I should be found but you did decrease by $5.8 million. Even though the top of total revenues are expected to be 104 point 5 million. But the street fund in addition to funding street related activities and DPW is also used to fund other street fund eligible activities such as our general services department, st suite we forestry operations, so that difference in funding between the $90.5 million and DPW as compared to the 100 and $40 million in revenue is for eligible activities being performed by non DPW departments. The street fund is used to fund all activities in the public roadway, including road construction and road paving, replacing tree damage sidewalk auto repairs, snow and ice removal, cleaning viaduct bridge maintenance, maintaining traffic signals and signs as well as some some grades where parents needed. In our street fund. We've added nine positions again, including the six construction inspectors that I mentioned earlier that were previously budgeted in the general fund. We've also added seven DPW district relations coordinator positions and and those positions were actually amended in our current budget being being appropriately reflected in the submission for 2425. And these seven individuals are assigned by each of the seven city council districts and their responsibilities are to go out and survey on a daily basis and identify any issues that may be in the public right away, but also to facilitate resolution. Whether the work has to be performed by DPW DWSD or even some of the utilities. They may be responsible for the defects in the roadway. We currently have 37 existing we only have I'm sorry. 53 existing vacancies and of those 53. That's indicated before 37 of those have seasonal positions that we expect to be credited.

Are third funding sources our metro plan budget and that's the revenue that the city receives for allowing telecommunications firms to have their wires and cables in the city right away. And this year's budget we're anticipating the revenue will be $3.3 million. We use these Metro funds in the same manner as we use street funds to essentially perform work and right away. For the past several years we've used this, this funding pretty much wholly to go towards replacement of tree damage sidewalk flags throughout the city. And this year we anticipate using the revenues to replace about 10,003 damaged sidewalk flags throughout neighborhoods throughout the city. And this is a funding source with no with no FTEs assigned to this particular bike. Our solid waste fund has increased in 2425 from 50 million to 63,000,063 point 2 million. And again of course that increases directly due to the costs associated with transitioning from our bi weekly to weekly recycling our waste collection or the revenue that we generate from the solid waste fund comes from the annual solid waste fee. And earlier this year at City Council approved a resolution that allows for the solid waste fee to be increased from 20 and $40 to 250 in fiscal year 25. That revenue guide that solid waste fee is collected from residential units so far less and we do offer a 50% discount to qualifying senior citizens. This the solid waste fund also provides for funding for work performed by DPW Salloway staff that he used to clearly go dumpsites provide residential street sweeping at least two cycles are anticipated in the 2425 fiscal year, as well as other activities to support various cleanup efforts throughout the city. The solid waste budget also includes $12.5 million for all of the solid waste disposal and processing services that are managed through the greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority. And just as a point, today, 90,000 92,000 households have opted into our curbside recycling program. It is important to note that while we do have 90 students net net number of households that have opted into the program, we haven't seen a corresponding reduction in the amount of solid waste that's that's being diverted from being diverted from going in landfills to being recycling so a lot of our efforts continue to be around marketing education, getting folks to not only opt into the program, but to maximize that time, the availability of curbside recycling and to increase the amount obviously with with us going from bi weekly to weekly collection of the recyclables we are anticipating in increasing the amount of recyclables that are collected just a real quick summary of some of the capital projects that we've got scheduled for 2425 We're going to be resurfacing 25 miles of residential streets, we'll be paving 70 miles of major roads to explore street funds, and 11 with federal transportation funds will be repaving two miles of classy streets and those are the streets that we all identify as those side streets that generally don't have curb. We call them classy streets because those are the only streets in the city that don't have a concrete base underneath the asphalt that we see. We're still getting requests for speed humps last season we announced that we had installed 10,000 speed humps throughout the city. We're still getting requests and this budget does provide for funding to install an additional 500 speed humps on residential streets and that number reflects the total amount of requests that we receive for eligible residential streets throughout the city. $2,000,002.2 million is budgeted for replacing DPW vehicles and equipment I indicated earlier that we'll be replacing 10,000 flags pre damaged sidewalk with the Metro funds. We did receive an additional $10 million in general funds to be used solely for replacing damaged sidewalk throughout neighborhoods. So that's going to allow us to replace another 30,000 flags. It's a 40,000 and tell them and we do have some streetscape projects that are going to be constructed in 2024 25. Both with our put funds and as opposed to street funds or bond funds, which has been the case in the past. One is the Dexter Avenue streetscape and that contract was just recently approved by City Council were anticipating work beginning within the next couple of weeks and it's on Dexter between weapon Davidson on the we're also working on a streetscape on West mourn as well as in zip code 40 217 with corporate funds and those and that those particular initiatives actually being led by councilmember Gabrielle Santana Santiago Premier, we thank you for your support. And then the last thing I want to mention is that this year we're going to use about $1.8 million in federal transportation, foreign funds to outfit about 800 of our existing got city jurisdiction traffic signals with the equipment that's going to be necessary for them to quickly be outfitted and hooked up to a backup generator in the event that we have a power outage. Obviously, as we've all seen whenever we lose power in the area, and it affects the signals, those just become essentially documented sections that are to be treated as a four way stop sign. We really feel that if we're able to implement this and we anticipate that the first the first units are going to come in later on this year, that when we unfortunately do lose power, it's kind of provided an opportunity for us to have much safer intersections until the power is restored. And with that Mr. Mr. Jarrell was printed back over to you for questions.

Thank you so much. I will work from my left to my right this time then we'll start with the member Eurocom. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon to you. Mr. Brundage don't have many questions for you as we reach out to you a lot relative to our streets and just capital projects that are going on. You mentioned some of the great ones that are happening in D seven when we talk about the streetscapes. We are looking forward to that. I guess one of my questions just revolves around Eastern Market got to ask about Eastern Market. Obviously I sit on the board there and there has been a push obviously to try to get some of that going with the possible 375 project coming in the future probably four or five years from now. But as we look at like the master plan, relative to upgrading streets and I use this Eastern Market as that example. What is our plan, you know, as far as our infrastructure, noting that we'll have mattino, tons of traffic coming in the next few years hopefully because we're growing Detroit, but there's Is there a plan to expand and what core areas are we looking at first?

Through the Chair, thank you, Mr. Hall for that question. We do have an overall strategy as it relates to improving roadways as necessary throughout the city. You know, obviously a lot of it is dictated based on the condition of the roadways and and what we anticipate is going to be the future. In addition, we also take into account various development projects, obviously 375 is something that we're you know, that we're obviously aware of, but, you know, monitoring what the impact is going to be. But as it relates to various development projects, we certainly take those considerations and we factor those as we're putting together potential improvement programs and subsequent years, specifically as it relates to Eastern Market. As you know, I'm also a member of the board there. And I recently met with Dan Carmody, we've actually I talked about our sidewalk program and why the bulk of what we do this year it's going to be centered in residence, residential neighborhoods, we have allocated a portion of the funding to improve areas such as Eastern Market as well as some commercial corridors. So I've actually received a list of priority locations, which are actually going to be a part of our 2024 25 program.

And I appreciate the focus on residential areas. You know, we need that out. Just kind of follow up if I can, Mr. President. Just a quick question attached to that. You know, we get calls from Miss Maddox all the time, who talks about our infrastructures he was just recently cited in an article about just improvements for our disabled residents. This course is kind of a test to the last one if I can just a little leeway. Can we talk about that though, how that's going in a residential areas and commercial areas where members of our disabled community want to frequent we

certainly can and I didn't include it as the number. But in the last 12 years, I believe we've actually as we've gone so we've gone through the city and improved roadways every time we improve a road if the corners along the footprint of that repaving project doesn't have fully ADA compliant corners with ADA ramps. That's a part of our project. Over the last 12 years, we've actually, I think made 63,000 corners fully ADA compliant. And that effort continues. I believe we have a total of 80,000 corners throughout the city. So we've been very aggressive in terms of ensuring that the NF sections are fully ADA compliant. But also we recognize that you know, folks have to get to their corners. They've got to go down their sidewalk. We don't want people having to walk in the street. Obviously, we don't want people having to operate their wheelchairs in the streets. So as we go through and expand our overall residential sidewalk program, we feel that we're doing well, we're making inroads towards making our entire city have more fully ADA compliant. We obviously have more work to do. We're going to continue that path. It was certainly great. The council added $20.5 million to our budget last year to allow us to do 70,000 flags last season. And we're not going to be able to reach that number with this year's budget number but I wish her to be excited that we once again have a very robust sidewalk replacement program because we do fully understand the importance of all of our roads. And sidewalks being fully accessible to everyone that has to utilize. And

I appreciate that. You know, I know you work hard. I know we've talked to your office about that as well just when we talk about universal design when we talked about the master plan, ensuring that members of our disabled community don't have to worry about our infrastructure and as we continue to keep doing it, it's going to take a while it's not going to be done overnight. We know that but thank you for your commitment to that. My second question kind of is in the sidewalk area as well gotten off some folks are gonna ask about trash and stuff. So but this is a question just relative to upgrading our infrastructure. As we talk about when certain projects come through. Are we looking at partnerships and I guess cross pollenization with other departments and or our utilities, utility providers and the reason why I asked that question is there will be times I know and it doesn't happen as frequently as it used to, but we'll replace a sidewalk or we'll replace a berm. And then next thing we know DWSD has got to come in there and put a hole in the ground or DTS got to come put a hole in the ground and we're like, hey, we just spent resources in general fine on this. Can you talk about the collaboration between you know, utilities and or other departments that may have projects going on? Also, when we put that infrastructure in there, can we can you elaborate on the materials, as well as looking, you know, are we looking at materials that are going to be longer lasting? And will they include some technological upgrades like they're doing in other cities now?

Okay, for the for the first part of that question. We certainly coordinate with all of the entities that may have caused to impact or have to replace sidewalks. We have regular meetings, not only with DWSD, but also with the utilities. A lot of the sidewalk work that you see going on throughout the city has actually worked as associated with improvements that both dt and DWSD are performing. So we actually develop as we're putting together our programs for a subsequent year. We coordinate with those departments where those agencies, we understand what their capital programs are not just for the the current year the upcoming year but also their 234 year plans for replacement. So, you know, we're making every effort to minimize the possibility of us going in and replacing sidewalks. In some cases. Unfortunately, I've gotten requests from residents from wanting to have their sidewalk replaced, and I'm here to tell them that we can't do it this year, because DTE is going to be doing work in your neighborhood. The following year. And I'll just be doing now. So we do have on a regular basis, those communication, those coordination meetings with all of the utilities and agencies that may have caused to do work in the in the city's public right away.

I appreciate that. And the second part was just the materials

and if you don't mind, I'd like to have our deputy director on the day of me respond to that. He's our he's our expert on on engineering materials. And I know he's looking forward to joining us from South Carolina. Thank you.

Good afternoon through the chair. Dido Aki, me Deputy Director for Public Works. You will have been my highest honor to have been able to be there in person while college tour for the kids during spring break, made the conflict something that is unavoidable so please, my tender my apologies. Yes, we use the highest quality material balancing the material science for asphalt weight, funding and the road conditions when and we balance that with the expected load. So you will see some projects that we do in the city we use concrete and we reconstruct them from the ground up design, very expensive project come out. And we've done that in some commercial corridors. Some other areas we resurface them, again using high quality material asphalt based on the expected load generally truck loads in residential neighborhood. The material specification and thickness is a little different than the one we use in commercial corridors even though they might be asphalt. So we put all of these into consideration are very, very aware of the expectation of the resident that when we do this job last a long time.

And just to add to that, you know, we're always open and we're always monitoring technology or innovations that may be out there about 10 years ago. MDOT did a pilot program using an asphalt material mixture that they caught that they deemed super paid. And we monitor that very closely. It's a little bit more expensive, but we monitored its performance to see if that was something that we wanted to incorporate in future years into our pavement program. It didn't it didn't work out exactly the way I think that it's fate. And anticipated so it didn't become a part of the city's material use as as we put together our programs, but we're always, you know, monitoring technology improvements that are out there. We certainly recognize that, you know, there's if there's opportunities to do things so our Applied Materials that are going to last longer. That's going to be our ultimate commitment.

And thank you I appreciate that. You know, I asked that question because I remember being on the state level. We were talking to me that sometimes about the folks that contract and I found it very interesting. Not that they get to pick the materials per se but there was not even just something written for a standard on the materials that they use. So they may be using a different type of concrete as opposed to another contractor or a different type of asphalt as opposed to another contractor. And we will look and do comparable studies of maybe this contractor and then this contractor will say wow, whatever they're doing over there is lasting a lot longer than what they're doing over here. And of course, truck traffic, weather conditions depending on that obviously, and you don't really see the effects sometimes 1015 years later with that infrastructure but just wanted to you know, have that conversation about that. I know it's costly. As far as the materials are concerned to I know when we see that big $20 million for capital flows are like why is that so much but you talked about the supply chain that cost the materials now and trying to get the best materials possible that will last and maintain our infrastructure. You got to understand some of those costs. And so I appreciate you answering that question. I just want to personally thank you for always being accessible to our office, we can call you directly as well as your team. But you are always accessible. You've been on our community meetings to talk to residents personally and I want to thank you for that. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, sir. I remember Jonathan.

Thank you Mr. Chair and good afternoon everyone. Great to see you all. I will start with remember there how left off thank you for always being available. Thank you for always being responsive to my text messages and joining us in meetings when we ask. And so I think it is a great idea to have the seven DPW district relations coordinators, because a lot of times people will say, Well, if I saw it, why didn't you all see it? Right. So I think that's a wonderful idea, because anytime we can prevent something from coming to the internal operations committee, I love it. So with that, I we've we've been in conversation with Deputy Director Hanneke a few times relative to complete streets and looking at green streets. So can you talk about curb cuts include it. Whether or not you all have ever entertained? I know remember young I think last year asked about permeable pavement. So when we look at redoing streets, have you ever considered putting like a maybe a one foot strip on either side of the street? By the curb, having it be permeable pavement or having water go into a berm as opposed to going into a catch basin? Just as we look at stormwater management.

If I may, I'm gonna ask again either deputy directed Academy started out I'm going to jump in but I'd like for him to start out with the response to that question.

So through the chair, yes, we have. We have looked at different things. We have piloted different things. And we have actually implemented a few of those. But when all this my knowledge all comes down to it, we look at what we call cost benefit analysis. What is what are we getting for that amount? And for how long? So if you look at avenue of fashion lever noi, and the streetscape that we did them, we actually put in some of those berms that can take water, right. We've also piloted a couple streets where we put in the the porous concrete. But when you reconstruct the road, and you have the soil profile that can take water, that is the best use of the time but when you do what we generally do on majority of our project, which is resurfacing, you'll still have the impervious asphalt there. So when you put a two inch or three inch of pervious concrete on an impervious you know, soft phase, which you milled of the concrete that has been there for 4050 years, the water just sits down there and it just destroys the pavement rather than the water running off. So we look at that and we look at what does that do. Then when you've seen it done in paid I mean the parking lots people come in and vacuum of the soil and the sand and the clippings from people's grass on those one strip area that clog the whole thing. We don't have that operation in our system to continuously vacuuming. But what you want to look at is the total soil profile to make sure that when we do do it, we do it in the right location. We take water out of the system, and we put it in the ground but if the water is going to end up in the system anyway. We want to look at the value but we have used it especially when we reconstruct the road like we do in some of our streetscape. We look at some of those green infrastructure installation, but when you resurface the road, we wanted to make sure we're pulling putting green I'm skipping round pegs in round holes rather than in in square holes. Thank you.

Let me just add to that member Johnson and with all that being said we're certainly not as indicated to member Daryl Hall. We're certainly not again against trying new things and ultimately landing going you know, what's the best use of public funds so I love to have a further conversation with you. I try not to do too too many pilot projects in district for your district. Only because I live there that I don't know, not because of you but because of me. But I'd certainly like to sit down with you and talk to you about I didn't want to give the impression that you know we would you know that we would be against the idea of considering a pilot project obviously, Daniel kind of lay it out, you know, based on his past experience some of the challenges that we've encountered in the past when we've done similar projects, but I'd certainly love to sit down and talk to a potential partner project. Okay,

I appreciate that. And we'll certainly take you up on it. But what I did hear Deputy Director dial back in you may say is that we've done some essentially, bio retention or bio swales and berms, and that I think as long as I heard what you say as long as is not above clay soil that it may actually work and so I get it because a lot of times what has been the response to me has been the amount of clay soil on the east side, and particularly in District Four I do understand though, that there are some ways to get around that even but would love to have greater conversation with you about it. So thank you for that response. Other question is relative to now that we are going to weekly pick up no director Brundage. I'm not going to ask you about using the vacuum truck to pick the leaves. But I am interested in knowing whether or not you all had conversations about maybe futuristically doing curbside composting.

No, I know it may seem like I like to defer questions that some of the other folks but I think this will be a good time for the resource recovery director John Premack to respond obviously, all of the yard waste that we're currently collecting separately does end up being composted by our allies Jana weighing in here. Yes,

I can speak to that. Thank you. Last year in the city trade we actually picked up up 62,000 tonnes of compost in the city. So we do a curbside recycling program with compost goes there. And there's any community that actually wants compost back to the residence. We do put things in place to get the stuff back so it's not like that. We have our vendor, which is a on the west side of the city here people are looking for compost. We do coordinate him come and get the stuff but we have to make sure it's at the right times. And the right kind of equipment because of heavy duty equipment when people go there with bags and cars and trucks to pick it up. So in the past, they have community outreach to the need like four or five yards of this have reached out and coordinate have this stuff come back into their areas. So is available to the residents or the people who needs something that that size.

Awesome. I never knew that.

Well, we we do quite a bit that too. Because some of the areas have farming applications. They asked us for that or they're having stuff or they want to have mulch for the past that kind of stuff. We help them with that. For sure.

Okay, that's That's great to hear. Well, thank you. I'll follow up with you to get some details about that. Right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, ma'am. Member Santiago mirror.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, everyone. Also, thank you so much to everyone for the work that you do director if the guard isn't picked up on time, I can call you and it gets picked up immediately after thank you so much, deputy for the work that you do right now in District Six for the solid street designs, really excited about the partnership that we have to make questions. There is a decrease for street funds in the street find wondering why that is and if we plan on replacing those funds.

There's a there's a decrease in DPW is budget for the street fund as we're going from 96 million in our current budget to 90 point 5 million that's being recommended. Again is it is important to note that the overall street Fund Revenues are actually going to be $104.5 million. So that additional $14 million is not coming directly to DPW. It's going to be used for other street eligible expenses, most notably the street tree forestry work that's performed in general services department. So we haven't seen a decrease in the amount of stream on revenues that we that we expect to receive. And 2425 just the amount that's coming to DPW Understood.

Thank you. That's helpful, because I want to make sure we have the resources to do the work. That our residents wants. So thank you for that clarity. Recently, we saw community led efforts to turn a two way street into a one way wondering if we do any political education to let residents know that this is even an option. Have you done any engagement in community letting them know of community led efforts that are possible? Oh,

if I may, I may ask. I'm gonna ask our deputy director of complete streets to respond to that question

or the chair Well, overall, I would say that we do take community engagement very seriously and incorporate into all of the projects that we have, but there are a number of kinds of petition driven projects that, you know, maybe we do need to take a step back and make sure that people know what types of petitions they can be submitting to to the department for recommendation to council. So I think we can take that note and make sure that you know, we're putting things on the website and that you know, maybe there are different ways through gov delivery or different channels to be sharing that information. But there are a number of programs like that one way conversion and cases like that where residents can definitely take matters into their own hands and you know, change the nature of their streets when they when they see the opportunity or need to do so. Through the

Chair. That's good to know. And just an idea I wonder if you have an intern or staff or GD y team member that can go through your services, your processes, and come up with a with a one pager of if you want to close the street if you want to close your alley if you want to one meter two way because I didn't even know about closing the alleys or the one ways that could be community led until I got here. So I think there's an opportunity there to do a little bit more political education happy to help with that. If you'd like our office as a lot of political education, cuz quite frankly, a lot of the work that we get done is because of community, it's because of our residents guiding us. So I think there's an opportunity there. One quick question, pretend if you wouldn't mind in and we'll listen to Executive Session if it's if you can't do this, but a question that I have is I'm assuming you paint our residential streets, the Bruins on the corners to identify whether or not you're too close to the corner, does DPW peak our side streets? I think they asked us last year as well, not

routinely. But if we identify a location that for whatever reason, mixed messages being sent to Parkers in there, they're not sure where they're supposed to park we have done some specific streets. I know we did some streets last year in the court county area where they were having some issues and as a result, people were unfortunately getting tickets and we were we do have the ability to go in and do that. But just as a standard practice that's not part of our of our infrastructure program.

Do the Chair. Thank you. That's helpful. Because I do believe there are some neighborhoods that would need some support in that, including my own. I live over in Clark Park area where a lot of my neighbors get ticketed a lot for parking too close to the corner. And I think it would be really helpful to paint some of these streets. I can have this conversation offline with you. But we'll reach out to see what I really want to ask for is a study to be places executive session to see what streets would benefit from painting the corners to reduce the number of tickets that residents are receiving. But if this isn't an issue citywide if it's just some neighborhoods that that we identify as council members want to provide that opportunity to talk about that.

I will say that it'll be a little challenging for us to proactively identify those locations. Typically they would come to us because we become aware of folks getting tickets on a routine basis. And that's when we would generally going we wouldn't necessarily have data that would indicate that more folks are getting proactively more folks are getting parking tickets at a specific location. But, you know, we can certainly work with your office to the point earlier about a potential assignment for one of the interns that we'll be bringing on I really liked that idea. Anything that we can put together to make it easier for information to be provided and absorbed by the residents. That's an objective of ours. So thank you for that idea.

Of course. Thank you. With that, we'll reach out to you about the neighborhoods that we identified as needing some paints. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Young.

Thank you, Mr. President, sir team always a pleasure. Good to see everybody here.

Remember young if I can interrupt you I happened to be here during the previous meeting. When you shared how you and the ombudsman family go back a long way. Your family and my family go back you know, way back my my first day working for the city when I had the honor of working directly for Miss Calvert who was the deputy director of DPW at that time, so we go back quite a ways. Excellent, excellent.

Well, I was thinking there but I didn't want to say that I had come across because you know that go like that before I was the person

to come when you when you come to the office when you were three years old

for Plaza Cantlay for real for real. Appreciate this are the reason why I wanted to talk well, I want to talk to you first question I want to ask you is the overall number of Detroit residents seriously injured or killed in auto accidents rose from 41% 47% for 2014 to 2021. And Detroit is at the top of the list for overall crash deaths per capita and pedestrian deaths per capita. I think we ranked second third in the nation according to Robin Associates, and also according to a report put out by the city. I just want to ask you, what are we doing in order to address this issue particularly are we what are we doing in terms of fixing our traffic light infrastructure? I know you're not operating in this capacity, but I know you want the light department, not the authorities on me to put you on the spot. But if you can't answer I appreciate it. But also are we partnering up with the public lighting authority as well to be able to make sure that those areas are more lit so we can prevent or at least reduce these type of incidents will happen in these tragic deaths.

Thank you, Maria, for that question. And I'm going to turn this one over also, to our complete streets. Deputy Director James Hanneke, who actually over the last 12 months has been able has led the effort to for the city to secure over $50 million dollars in federal grants that goes specifically for making our streets safer throughout the city. So I'm going to ask him to respond to that and talk a little bit about not only what we're doing now, but what He has planned over the next few years to make our streets safer. Excellent.

Thank you and through the chair. So I would say one is I would definitely point to the council and anyone interested to our streets for people master transportation plan, which also includes a comprehensive safety action plan, which really outlines as it sounds as a comprehensive strategy to addressing the traffic violence issue that you mentioned. And as the director mentioned, you know, we've been humbled but also fortunate to receive these two major safe streets and roads for all federal grants that I think show the significance of you know, the challenge patient in Detroit, but also now gives us quite a bit of funding to start addressing the the issues on some of the most dangerous corridors in the city. So in a nutshell, I can just say that the the first award that we received from in 2022 is really targeting safety improvements on 31 miles of city streets that are kind of the worst of the worst, that are under our jurisdiction. And in the coming months and couple of years here we'll be implementing those projects, according with your offices to make sure that the engagement is robust and that it's reflective of what people want to see and what they're experiencing. And the 2023 award that we got is similar in nature, except that we're focusing beyond just our own jurisdiction locations, but partnering with Wayne County and Michigan Department transportation locations, and really taking a focus on where there are improvements aligned with bus transit locate or transit transfer locations and high frequency bus stops where there are also serious history of crashes in those locations. But interested in addition to that, we're just also looking for other ways to incorporate those same type types of treatments and strategies into you know, the nature of work that we do every day at DPW because we were definitely building on, you know, our already pretty substantial and robust approach to traffic safety. Take for example the speed hump program.

In I just want to recommend on Jefferson and Dickerson there is a place where the lights have been out and so we can work to get that repaired. I really would appreciate senior citizens have told me about that. And I also just want to ask is the money that you received in the budget now? Is that sufficient enough for you to have the maximum results that you need in terms of reducing the because I'm assuming you have like a metric or like zone or a goal you're trying to reach? It turns reduction is the money that you have now. Going to help you get towards that goal or was you need more assistance?

Well, ultimately, I'll defer to the director but I'll say that you know that 25 or $50 million in federal funding is going to go a long way to supplementing our local funds. But the the problem is challenging for Detroit, to say the least.

In our budget does reflect you know, these these large grants that we receive, they typically do require a local match. And the budget that we submitted for 2425 Does anticipate providing the funding as necessary so that James can move forward with these really important initiatives that he's going to he's putting together they're going to make our speech paper private, I'm going to use to

put in his acquisition. Okay, and my final question. Thank you, Mr. President, for your patience and my final questions involving illegal dumping. I just want to ask, what are our options here in terms of dealing with this because I just don't think that given our tickets are not I mean, I know some places it might be better. We've actually put some boulders out. We put some places being able to prevent people from going to these places, but what are some of our more stronger options, in terms of things that we have legally here? If people don't comply with tests that are they brought to court? Do we can we seize property assets and things that nature? What's the lavar strong because it honestly it depends based on issues. I'm not talking about a guy that doesn't take care of his lawn. I'm talking about somebody that like is known for dumping boats, or RV, or, you know, tons of trash that you're dealing with, that's toxic, that's environmentally hazardous that we also had to get money from the federal government, potentially, because it's a Superfund site, that type of stuff. You know, they got like, stacks and stacks of tires on top of each other. What alternative are stronger measures? Can we engage in to hold those accountable or do you think what we have is enough?

I can speak to the tires right there. Okay. Like last year, we dispose of almost 90,000 tires in the city of Trent last year. That's a lot of tires. Wow. Exactly. But we worked with the state on this. The state actually has a program in place where they go around and they have manifest to follow along to make sure that the tires local tire dealers, they're taking an entire have to dispose of correctly. I think that's the biggest thing. We have to work longer with the state and different departments to make sure that all these people who your corner tire store makes the disposal right, those are big issues. Like I had that number like 90,000 tires every year. That's a big number. I think that's you're addressing basically the guy who comes from someplace probably outside the city and dumps off and all of a sudden you look up and there's 300 tires on a corner. So I think that we're disposing of those but I'm not too sure how the police handled I just know that in our department we dispose of them. And we get grant funding from the state to address those issues. But I can't speak to basically security behind that but we do understand it is probably outside dumping or coming to Detroit dumping these tires.

So that's that's that's more of it for a lot of courses. Basically what you're saying is it's probably more of administrative.

I'm sorry, if I can just add to your comment or your question relative to effective enforcement, obviously, you know, working in conjunction with the Building Safety Engineering Department. Environmental tickets are issued I think everyone is aware we do have working with the department or coming into police department. We do have surveillance cameras located at repetitive dumping locations throughout the city. And there have been multiple occasions where more has occurred than just the ticket was issued. Trucks were actually were actually seized as a result of that. There was a very hefty financial fine that had to be paid in order for those individuals to retrieve their vehicles that were responsible for the dumping so that But to answer your general question as to whether or not more could be done or whether or not there are other measures that can be employed that would provide more of an incentive to discourage folks from tapping I really think that you know, as we're able to not only, you know, catch people in the ACT daunting or hold them responsible. It's a really hefty fine in some cases, publicize those on immediate health, you know, so that message gets out to other potential dumpers that, Hey, you come into the city, there's a good chance that you might get caught. If you're illegally dumping here, it's going to be a hefty fine, that you have to incur as a result of that. I think those types of efforts working together you know, are where we're focused right now, obviously, illegal lobbying hasn't gone away. It's still it's still occurs, but not to the levels that we were seeing in previous years.

Now, I think that's a good thing. I think what you did when you when you said that you actually sees that, I think we need to hear more about that. I got some other questions that I'll ask him in writing. So well thank you so much. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Yeah, good waters.

And thank you. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

So certainly, I just want to say thank you for always being responsive. I do appreciate that. So you lost six senior construction inspectors.

So the six inspectors were caught in the current budget, our budget and our general fund in our permanent section, but those inspectors actually perform consistently they kind of manage construction projects to the city as opposed to overseeing permitting jobs throughout the city. So we felt it was more appropriate to move them out of the general funded permits portion of our budget into the street fund. So there wasn't a net reduction in the number of inspectors throughout the department. It's just a South six removed from the general finding to the stream.

All right, well, thanks for explaining that. To me about grants, you know, that the department uses and there's some that you can no longer reapply for, you know, the type of grants that you have in department, any grants that you have and their one time grants and you can't get them again, just curious. Oh,

well, the department applies for and we've been very successful. In receiving a multiple multitude of grants covering a lot of different areas from recycling grants. We've been very successful in receiving recycling grants that have allowed us to as we expand our curbside recycling program. We've been able to in most cases to defer the $25 one time fee that households would have to pay to receive a new recycling card and that's directly result of the grant, obviously, a deputy director handing talked about the two grants totaling $150 million that we receive for our safe streets for all program, but we applied for it we received that last year. I forget the exact amount of games. I don't know if you recall, a grant that's going to allow us to buy two electric power refuse trucks that we're going to use on a pilot basis. I think that was a I believe a $500,000 grant that we received today. But James, I don't know if you want to talk a little bit more, if you can, about any of the other grants that are that we may receive. I apologize, Mr. Waters. I don't have them all off the top of my head. I do. I do know that. We received a lot of grants, sometimes I have to tell them to kind of hold back a little bit because we have to figure out where the match funds are got to kind of get filled in. But I'm gonna ask for I don't know, James, if you can think of any additional ones off the top of your head, I'm sure

to the chair. You know, we're we're aware and working really closely all the time with the opposite development of grants to just one just know what some of the best grants and upcoming grants are so we can kind of be aligned with you know, where some capital priorities might be that would be aligned, you know, competitively with those programs. I would say that most of the grants that at least my team is most engaged on typically are recurring so they're not one time but we don't we never want to be missing out on an opportunity. So we're always trying to be you know, a few steps ahead of the application so that we can have sort of the you know, project ready to set away that's competitive, but you know, most of them are at least annual some more State Focus grants, or sometimes multiple application cycles in the year. So yeah, we'd be happy to collaborate with you and your office a little bit more on some of those specific ones if you'd like but it as the director said, there are a wide range of different types of programs that we can be pursuing. Also mentioned that we work really closely with the Office of mobility innovation to and you know, they are looking at a lot of different kind of cutting edge grants as well.

And I do apologize for not being able to just list them off one after another, but I'll certainly provide your office written description of this thing, all of the grants that we received, and

I really just want to compliment you on on being proactive and give kudos to you guys for pursuing those grant opportunities. You know, it you really have to monitor those things closely and, and jump right on him. And you have to know what you're doing too. So thank you. Thank you for doing that. I've been what member Yun said regarding the senior building the the lights and you know, so do we need to send that to you in writing or anything? I'm sorry, you said regarding right down at Jefferson and Dickerson every young I'm gonna

drive pinch there today I mean, I went past that intersection. I didn't recall the signal not working, but we're certainly going to take a look at it today. Okay.

All right, then. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bowden.

I saw I thought I heard a deputy Rector Akinyemi wanted to make some comments. Yeah,

it's really Chow just wanted to spotlight about three more grants. They are one of grants and some special projects. We just finished the reconstruction of Mount Elliot, between Conant and Miller. And that is one of grant from the US Department of Commerce. We also got another $20 million to reconstruct my Elliot from Conant now to 94. We got additional funds, both from USDA, US Department of Commerce, and from some special earmarks to reconstruct the other side of the pole plant and the Hamtramck Boulevard. We got about I believe about $10 million to do some work on Eastern Market to resurface some of the streets there. And I think that's $6 million, but we do go for one of contract contracts. And like the director said, if you need a comprehensive list, we can provide that but one of the things we do is to work really really closely with our Office of Grants and development to make sure that we go after any and any available grants that we think will help us move our project development forward.

Thank you member waters. I want to again echo my colleagues sentiments about the work that you all do. Thank you so much always for being accessible as well when I reached out to you. I want to talk a little bit about street sweeping and just believe I saw and there's two streets sweepings plan annually, or residential streets. Correct. Okay, how much how much is that? In total? Those two streets sweepings in residential.

We utilize in house staff to perform that work. I believe the cost associated with that for labor and associated equipment costs is about 1.2 million or

1.2. So my question is, how do we quantify the value of that? We're doing street sweeping and I'm, I know the motion and we feel like we want to definitely see more street sweeping, but with twice a year and with the issue that we've talked about before us with no enforcement with parking, and we're going to be moving towards hopefully getting enforcement for parking. How do we how do we analyze the effectiveness of the street sweeping?

Well, Mr. Chairman, I think outside of you know, obviously, the fact that our residents love to see their streets. And yeah, I a big component for us has always been the amount of dirt that we're able to prevent it from going into the city's drainage system. You know, we sweep about we remove about 10,000 tons of debris and way through I street sweeping program debris that if we don't pick it up in that form, it's ultimately going to make its way into the into the city sewer system and potentially cause some additional costs for the Detroit water and sewage department. So I think in terms of quantifying the value above and beyond, and obviously I understand where you're headed, you know, we can sweep a street today and it's beautiful, and two weeks later, you know, the street condition is what it is. But I think you know for us, we've always you know really kind of looked at it from the standpoint that it's really great that you know if there's value to being able to pick dirt up as opposed for all of that going into the city so a system

that when we when we do the street sweeping is it that the street sweeper sucks

up the exact set up into it in the car, it's in a hopper on the truck and then we in the sweeper itself and then we dump it into a truck and take it to a location where it's properly disposed of. Then

you say that's how much is required per sweeping or whatever

that amount you just got about 10,000 tons in total per year.

How would we were told that since the pandemic four years ago, starting four years ago, there was there's been no parking enforcement included as a result of the street sweeping so when you all put when the signs are put out there we tell folks no parking we've seen I know I've seen cars out there and I'm seeing the machines go around the vehicles. How how do you think that enforcement of the parking ordinance would affect the street sweeping?

I think there was a period of time where the city of Detroit was stopped sweeping residential streets. And I think we restarted our residential streets we've been program about eight or nine years ago. I forget the exact year. At that particular time we made a decision not to not not to not to enforce so we haven't been it hasn't just been since the beginning of the pandemic. I guess that's where I'm headed. It was actually when we Reince re instituted a sweeping program eight years ago and whenever whatever year that it was, and the reason that we made a decision to not have enforcement as a component of the sweeping program. You know, our objective was not because of the unfortunate reality is that everybody's not going to get the message and some people are going to leave their cars out. But our goal wasn't to create a scenario where we could go out as a city and ticket folks when we're not moving vehicles. We really wanted to develop a program that was going to be a positive program when we got obviously that was going to increase the cleaning itself the streets. We tried to do everything that we can do we post two days in advance with really large signs to try to encourage people to not park not to park their cars on the street on the days that we're sweeping. But we certainly understand and recognize that, you know, that's not going to result in 100% compliance. But again to your question, we really didn't want to develop a program that could be potentially marred by all of the negative things that go along with, you know, with several folks in receiving citations for a program that we initiated

when we were talking about a different era, you know, and expectations change back a number of years ago. We didn't have street lights on. And that was a huge concern. That was one of the major concerns. That's not a concern anymore because we dealt with the issue. And there was a certain amount of grace as always provided on the front end of something. But now here we are, all these years later, and we're spending 1.2 million we're saying that the street sweeping is taken off 10,000 tons of debris. My question is if we want to make it even more effective, why would we not want to do that? And I get not wanting to penalize folks who are parking on the street but we've we've asked them in place the size for a reason. Take the cars off the street and this is a complaint that I get from residents myself and error. They're saying what's the point? If if if you all are saying get your cars off street so similar to the core build containers and the the first world problems, I will admit that but these are the complaints that we received from our from police from my constituents that will say that's what we get whenever there's a street sweeping that takes place. They're not pleased based upon those things. So would you be in support of enforcing parking? Because I am,

I would be in support of revisiting to taken a look at it. I don't think I wanted to say at this particular point whether or not I would be you know, in support of our changing our policy today. To provide for provide for ticketing, but I'm certainly open to, you know, to giving a real thorough look and bringing in all of the different parties that I think need to be a part of the conversation before a decision like that is me.

Okay. I would certainly like if someone you know out, I'll make the motions when I can do it myself personally tomorrow when the council president returns so so the vectors that suck out the stuff in the storm drains that you all as well Correct? No,

that's the water department.

Okay. All right. So I'll say that for them. My last question is when is the line of questions? When is the street paving season going to begin? I know we gotta be getting close. Yeah,

I believe the asphalt plants in the aisle can weigh in if in case I misspeak. I think the last I heard is that they expect for the plans to open around the third week of April. I you know, I this may not be related to to your question, but we do anticipate that all of our construction contracts we have a few that will be in front of Council. Within the next couple of weeks. We are anticipating being ready to fully go with our 2024 construction season once the material is available to us. We've obviously we've talked with your office about a specific project with money that was added to our budget and our current year's budget. We're going to provide for curb as a pilot project on Huntington Street. in district one vote right now everything is is aligning, and we're going to be ready to go as soon as the materials available for us. It's constructed.

Okay, and thank you for raising that curve. Installation. Thank you for that your team did a tremendous job with the communication and education with the residents and we will soon be providing you the results of the surveys so we can move forward on that. So you're saying soon and I know you have typically a cycle you go sometime district from one through seven and sometimes seven through one and there's a variation. How do you make that determination? Who's kind of first on that?

I ah that's that's a tough that's a tough question. It's not a it's not a political decision. Sometimes what will occur

the first issue that

sometimes will occur is, you know, a political will just use an example saying, saying 2023 I don't know if this was a cycle say we started in two went to 4657. And so we ended up in six and say for whatever reason, we weren't able to complete all of the streets in District Six for whatever reason. So we had streets that carried over it would make obviously those are gonna be the first street that are part of the subsequent two years program. And then once our crews already in that area, we want to we want to try to be as efficient as possible. So then that would become the district that we would start out in in the following year. So I really can't and we don't go 12345677 We don't, but I really can't. I really can't say other than to say that typically we won't start in the same district every year. Okay. I

just want to again put out there about I know we talked about it previously. On Glendale between Abington and grandma right in front of a Dawson elementary paving was done on this side was done on that side but not in front of the school and it is in horrific shape. So I'm hopeful that that would be this year's program. Okay, awesome. During and I say that because I would like for that to be done. Hopefully while the students are not in school, okay, because that makes the best opportunity for us to do it effectively in that area. All right, and also be on the lookout we will be. I'm going to be pushing to get enforcement on parking. We're going to put the signs out there. That's those are the kinds of things that make people think that we huff and puff and won't follow up on things and I don't like for us to be that way. All right. Anything else you want to add before we wrap up?

I don't think so. I just thank you all for letting us come before you. I'm sorry. I'm

not finished that and I'll go I'll go to Mr. Johnson.

Just thank you all for letting us come before you hopefully, we were able to answer the questions that you had it as much as possible. And again, any additional I'm expecting to receive more more detailed questions from each of you. And we're going to respond to any questions that we receive in a timely manner.

Thank you so much. Last but certainly not least, member Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I apologize. But I just wanted to ask you this question very briefly. In District Four, at on CAD you near i 94. There is a street. I don't know if it's a catch basin or something. But essentially when the row was redone, it now appears to be recessed so much that it almost appears to be a pothole but it really is it. I have a number of constituents who complain about it and potentially create problems with their vehicle. I just wanted to ask you if you can just share very briefly what the process is to resurface the road. Do we take it down so that when the three basin is on that road that is as flush as it possibly can be? To avoid those situations where it looks like we're creating a divot in the road?

Yeah, we wouldn't we wouldn't lower the road but likely what's occurred is that the catch basin has sunk. So we would have to rebuild it to a 12 DWSD which would rebuild it to bring it up to the same level as the rest of the roadway. Is this on northbound catches

up to you about Okay, okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, sir. Once again, you appreciate the work that you want to do. And we are now going to go to public comment. We're going to now go to public conference because Anyone from the public would like to speak please raise your hand now whether in person in the Committee of the Whole or online. Oh, I'm sorry. I missed the court. So thank you. Is this for them? No. Okay, so let me let me do this and I'll close it and I'll come to you. Okay, there's anybody from the public who would like to speak please raise your hand now going once, going twice. I see your hand once. Going twice, going three times. Collection of public comments have now concluded? Mr. Rice Cofield. Alright, hold on one second. Hold on one second, please. All right. Mr. Corbyn? Yes, sir.

Thank president pro tem. So you mentioned about the ticketing citizens leave their cars or corbeil containers. Did you want someone to make it? Yes. And to deal with that. Are you going to kind of work it I

was going to do it but I would ask for a motion to place that into the executive session so we can discuss it. Thank you so much was like yeah, I was gonna I forgot a couple of the items that were raised as well. But thank you so much for noticing recognizing that Mr. Koerner, seeing no objections that action shall be taken. Thank you. All right. We again have now closed off public comments. If i How many folks that we have online. We have 12 people online. Okay. We'll give everyone two minutes. And we'll start with Miss Kimberly rice Coldfield and keep your eyes on the clock, please.

You have two minutes. Okay. Four weeks ago today, my husband and I saw inspectors coming from behind the house the property that we own in Detroit, located at 230 Haig Street. Those inspectors were the ones who they're the last ones who see the house before they demolish it. They said we had about three weeks to go before the house was going to be torn down. I had been in the process of working with BC over the last couple years. But one thing that helped me back over that time was a technicality about taxes. They told me that I can get on a payment plan and then it turns out that wasn't true. So that held back my original application which I began in January of 2023. So fast forwarding to this process with a small deadline and while amount of time I'm trying to wrap up a lot a whole month in two minutes. We have been working with the BC office. So they told me that they had a new step, which was called proof of funds that we had to show in order to get this application passed now, which wasn't the case last year. They did not have it written it was not printed on the application that I received here at the BC office on February the 29th that I picked up here in person. So once filling out this application, I asked the secretary Latoya multiple times what all did I have to show her for proof of funds since I didn't see it printed anywhere? She tried to give me a quick description, but it sounded more like showing bank statements or something like that. Long story short, I submitted my application on March the fifth and it was the night saying I did not finish everything. I had to turn in proof of funds showing that I had about $60,000 59,500 to be exact to show that I have proof of funds to fix the house. Um, even more long story short, they tore my house down yesterday, and I was there I told them I did not want it torn down. I was working with multiple departments. This has been an ongoing process. I gave them everything they have asked for. I gave them an entire binder with the proof of funds more than enough and it still was not enough and it was declined. That my minutes oh 50 more seconds. So yes, I'm here today because I just want to express that concern because I do feel like that whole proof of funds thing was a faulty thing. And even what they told me I'm a denial letter saying that I submitted um, what's it called? I can't remember they saw me I submitted something that technically was not the fact. So I have everything that I submitted you have a copy of it, but it's not exactly what they said that I submitted.

Okay, do you what district Do you live in now? district five.

I live in Sterling Heights now but my home that I own is in district five to 38th Street. I have a copy of the denial letter.

Like I gotcha. If we don't I'm sure someone from Council president's office will be willing to work with you. I see a head shaking. And without a shadow of a doubt. We have the ombudsman here, who will very well may be willing to assist in any way as well. And if if at all possible. Member waters

I certainly want to work with that. I'm totally I wish that you had reached out to us before

I did. I sent you on an email as well.

Relative to our offices,

to each one of your emails they gave me for the entire city council.

I feel so bad about that. The fact that they've turned your house down. Yeah. And so I don't know what I can do to help you at this point. But I'd like to try. So I'm going to ask you to write down my office number if you don't mind. Okay, just a second. Where you want three? Almost ready.

313

What's my number? 62862823632363? Yes. Okay. All right. All right. I've been talking with miss Caulfield. Thank

you. All right, and it appears that the ombudsman also has your information as well. Yes. Got a lot of folks who are willing to help you at this moment and Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Mr. President, thank you for coming down and for highlighting the fact that we need a better process. I chair public health and safety and this was incredibly heartbreaking to hear I see here from my notes that your property came through our committee on 711 and 22. That was my very first year in office trying to figure out how this works. And I'm realizing it does not work. After your property was in our committee. We began to ask for images because the seed were not they were not sending us pictures of properties. When we began to ask for pictures of properties. We began to send properties back that looked like yours that only needed to have windows replaced that had a such as affirm infrastructure. This is remember water said This is horrible. I will think about this for a long time and what I can do now is stop dangerous buildings hearings. I do not feel comfortable moving forward with holding these hearings until we visit what happens until we better this process. I know the administration is hearing me now I know it's gonna be a problem. But I can no longer we can't accept people's properties being demolished when they can be saved. So thank you for coming down. I apologize that you're going through this. But this is an important flag to make sure that that we make this better. So thank you for coming down. We will all be reaching out to you to see how we can make this process better. Thank you and I do apologize. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. And I know ombudsman you had some comments I'm going to allow. We're going to come back after the last public comment because I want to make sure that I don't interrupt other folks. opportunity to speak and give you a chance to speak on this issue. So this race COVID only please. Okay. All right. Thank you so much. We'll now go to our general public comments online.

first caller is William M. Davis. Mr.

William M. Davis, the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment.

Good afternoon. That'd be heard. Yes, sir. Okay. I'd like to start out by saying that as relates to like the Inspector General's office, I'm strongly in favor of, you know, strengthening the office and giving them additional resources. As you may guess, I've one of the ones that found some complaints, filed some concerns with the Office on a couple of things. Perhaps if they have a stronger mechanism from some of the stuff that was filed in 2019. We wouldn't be having some of the problems we have with the board of police commissioners now. Over in District Four and District Six. Also, as relates to the ombudsman's office, you know, an Inspector General and the ombudsman. Those must be two of the most popular entities the city has, and I think that ombudsman office should get additional resources. And that young man does an outstanding job, because I go, I'm involved with a number of groups and organizations. I go all over the city, I see him or some of his people, and they do a good job. Also, as relates to the street cleaning, I think that the street cleaners should be at least three times a year. And also sometimes when they read do on the road, they saw the go over and harm the catch base, you know, the drains for the street, you know if the streets was cleaned three times a year like they used to be at one time and the catch basins was cleaned out regular we wouldn't have so many street flooding and also basement flooding. You know, the when they stopped doing the street cleaning like they used to do when we had a real mayor, you know, we didn't have the problem with the streets flooded as often as they do. So I'm hoping that you'll be able to make some changes. And also it'd be great if we have a Western market like there's an Eastern Market on the west side. Thank you.

Thank you

next caller is Karen Hello.

Hello. Thank you for joining. Yeah,

thanks. Um, I agree with Mr. Day just

now.

I just heard Mr. DPW guy. His name was his name. But anyway, he said they got some grants for him but you know for recycling why shouldn't citizens more funny you know taxpayers more money. If you're if you're getting if this is a fee then you this will tax junkie for revenue is a tax it can't be a fee. Now this was a one time recording one time we're calling it a sitting fee. Just the placement placement fee, not tax or not the annual yearly fee. It was a one time tenure fee. It says right here that one time the number 42 to Dad's 51 cor Bo container placement be in accordance with section nine dash Bible setting up the chart. So you know we got to validate this stuff, and we can't just you know pull it out of the air so we got to charge $250 gonna be 201 time fee, you know, not forever and ever. So that's one thing. Now as far as it goes with Inspector General, I'll fly out you know, we need to get some kind of verification or a number playing them because we don't know if you get it or not. You know, just like you guys have done ladies, all of it to you, but nobody got it. So you know, 10 years Wait no notification. So the least we could do is get a note you know number that says okay, you know, out you know, okay, you file something bam. Here's, you know, here's your identification number. And that's another thing that's the least we could do. I don't know why Mr. Project prime Mack has two or three different positions. You need to get somebody else a job somebody that looks more like me and less like them next.

Thank you. Next caller please.

next caller is ad O 's Detroit.

Calling the floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment.

That may I be hurt? Yes, ma'am. Carolyn Hughes and I did Ole Miss Winston and Mr. Davis. My issue is with it he says to you like he's he's your boss that he's going to look at you know, ticketing people who authorized them to stop you and you understand what I'm saying. There is something seriously wrong in this city. It seems as though the tail is wagging the dog. You have a guy from Korea telling our attorney our auditor general that he's not going to do something. It's something that's right here. And with all due respect, Miss Santiago morale. This system of buildings being designated to to be demolished has been going on a long time. It's not the system, it's the people. It's the people who are not running the system the way it's meant. To be run. So you don't need to come in here and change how we do things. We need to get the right people in the right places. You guys always want to fix something that doesn't need to be fixed. What needs to be fixed are the people that are doing it. The Ombudsman young man who you guys hate to mention his name but anyway, the federal government was what he says you cannot use the federal government to address any efficiencies. And another way of saying that is you cannot use the federal government to to ignore the waste that's going on at this table. And in this system. We have a lot of money. That is going awry. You have a guy sitting at the table telling you he's getting a grant but what he's doing with the grant money is cleaning up tires that are being dumped that we're paying for cameras to watch for dumping. Yes, it's a vicious cycle and it makes me know that you guys are crazy. And you think we are too I saw a video on skills for life. Skills for Life. They got black men cleaning up freeways and alleys and you all think that's terrific. Trust me. It's not a skill for life. We have ways to train our people, and we should access those things and let the people access their assets.

next caller please.

Betty a Varner is

Betty a vana The floor is yours. You have two minutes to Northcote comment.

Good afternoon. This is Betty a burner president. I've just sold out to our black Association. I'm just here again asking for support for the projects that is going on in my community, I think a corridor from Finkel and limonoids to Finkel and why Omi asking for support and help to help us continue the creation. About diba Community Park. This park is being created in the memory of our late vice president Gwendolyn Lanier. We are in need of playground equipment. This equipment is very expensive. So we are seeking help to help us finalize our creation of our park so that our children will have somewhere to go play be safe, neighbors can congregate. We are already having events on our land. I'm very proud of the work that we have done in regards to the park we've been able to be blessed to get the neighborhood beautification grants and we've been able to put a fence around our area we've been able to get our walking path for exercise and for kids they can ride their bikes. We were successful without dudes to clean up that land and also have two dangerous trees removed. So we're not looking for a hand out we're looking for a hand up. So just please support us when the Banco corridor project gets to the calm so please be supportive. We appreciate the council and the work that you are doing. I yield the rest of my time. God bless you all.

God bless you as well. Thank you let's call her please. Marguerite Maddox and Scarlett remitix Scarlett The floor is yours general public comment

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Thank you Miss Maddox and I will instruct and someone from my team to reach out to you so that we can give you the address your issues are referred them properly. So be on the lookout for that communication. Thank you so much. next caller please. Hey, see PRKCP The floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment.

May I be heard? Yes. Thank you so much. Good afternoon Council. This is Casey Peller, resident and district Foreign Policy Manager at Detroit disability power. Today I'm here to advocate for accessible City Sidewalks and preserving public right of ways. Last year, we know that $25 million was thankfully invested into the sidewalk repair program. Which is estimated to repair around a fifth or 20% of the City sidewalks. Today, I asked the council to please continue financially supporting this program to realize a city full of accessible sidewalks by allocating another $25 million this year. Even better if we can do that for the next three years to bring 100% of Detroit's sidewalks up to accessibility. Accessible sidewalks will not only make our city safer, but also better connect our blocks and neighborhoods and create a more welcoming city for any who would come here whether it's to visit attend school, go to work get to dinner, or see a show but especially for those of us who want to live our lifetimes here, raise our families here and retire here. I also want to advocate for utilizing tools and practices to increase the quality development, implementation and monitoring of plans for compliance for right of way easements, encroachments vacations. These plans should include changes to right aways alternative accessible paths must be clearly marked. And timelines for finalizing projects and restoring permanent right away should be communicated on site whenever possible and accessible. formats. Those zones should also be monitored for compliance of those plans and held accountable for any accessibility barriers that are experienced. Thank you so much to council for all of your advocacy for disabled residents and making our city more accessible overall. Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller please. The next caller is Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham. The floor is yours. You have two minutes general public comment

Mr. Cunningham we can kind of hear you in the background, sir. Are you there?

Let's put Mr. at the end of the queue and our next caller please. next caller is Charlotte McKenzie, Charlotte McKenzie. Thank you for joining us. You have two minutes general public comment? Yes,

my name is Charlotte Mackenzie. I'm the parish administrator for mariners Church of Detroit directly across the street from the city county building at the tunnel entrance to Canada and I'm calling to give a shout out and to advocate for to be an advocate for the ombudsman office. They helped us out tremendously with a problem that we had about three weeks ago with the water department. We received a shutoff notice not because we owed money but because our meter was not in compliance. And it was the week of our largest service where we support the maritime community. And I finally had to contact the ombudsman's office to get them to stop the water shut off and give us time to make the repairs. And so we were able to do that we had a beautiful service, and I really truly feel that it was their efforts. That got us over that hurdle that we were facing with the water department. I also want to thank the city council we have a few months ago you approved our new site which is in place and beautiful and we're loving it. Thank you for that. And as we are preparing for the NFL draft and also for the Grand Prix that's coming up, we're making efforts to beautify our property and to make sure that we are shining light and beacon in the city. And so on to the ombudsman's office. I will be reaching out to you again on something that we have a concern with and again, we just want to make sure that we help the city put their best foot forward. Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you. Next caller please. next caller is phone number ending in 124 color and again 124 floors yours you have two minutes general public comment

all are ending and one two for you there

let's put color ending and one 2/4 end of the queue and go to the next caller please. next caller is Miss Boyd was law. Hey, thank you for joining us you have two minutes.

Yes, this is Miss Lloyd. May I be hurt? Yes. Thank you for taking my call. I'd like to commend the ombudsman's office I am with the chapter AARP chapter 2168 Where Linda Andrus is the President Linda Wesley came to our chapter and I found that she was very helpful. I needed help desperately, and I had no help whatsoever in District Three none. So I called her when I had an emergency with the deep that buses going down and the illegal route. When they were supposed to go down another route to keep us safe. They get went down the residential streets. I almost was hit by a bus and also a young child Miss Wesley got in her car. Spin her gas money came to the border Hamtramck I was on the phone with the police and she and he instructed her that no big vehicles were to go down the street the DEA that bus was not to go down that street. They were to go down el Pina they repeatedly violated when I call DDOT to make a complaint. They got tired of me and said this is going to be taken care of. I invite you all to look at the videos and show them to the DDOT in director and let him see how they were speeding and breaking rules and regulations with the city of Detroit. Also a shout out to Dale, I can hear me. He helped me pave the street like faster than immediately. So I thank the ombudsman and I will be calling for another issue. But I can't thank Linda Wesley enough for what she's done. Again, she came to the AARP meeting. I invite you to come as well. council people. We have a strong meeting there and there are a lot of seniors who do know nothing about the information that is coming from the city also. Thank you Detroit for cutting my trees. The tree cutting program was introduced through the AARP program again, I would know nothing about it. I have no representation in district three. So thank you again for what you do. Council. Thank you for listening. Also, thank you for listening to the lady who was disabled. I'm sure you will have somebody sit.

next caller please. Jacob Graham. Jacob Graham, thank you for joining us. You have two minutes general public comment.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. I listened to my name is Jacob Graham. I live on Townsend Street and district five. I listen to DPW budget presentation. First off I'd like to say I'm so happy to hear that there's money in the budget again to do some sidewalk work. I think that's really important. I the sidewalks of course all around our neighborhood are in horrible shape. DTE is doing construction all over the place with the island new substation, and we've had cold patch sidewalks all winter, they're starting to come back and do some repairs. So I hope that DPW is going to come back in and make the fixes between the DTE repairs in front of the vacant lots in front of the city parks. That's all city property, city adjacent property. I hope we can see some of that. But I'd also like to echo some of the ADA comments that I've been hearing a few speakers back the along Charleroi Street, the to get it across Charleroi Street. There's very few curb cuts. There's all kinds of intersections without curb cuts, and when DTE is doing, Director Brundage said that as the as streets are being repaired, they're adding in curb cuts. I think that that's too slow. I think that we need to be proactive on on the ADA, the ADA was passed in the 90s. That's 30 years ago. We need to get caught up. But also the the when the sidewalks are being repaired. There's not curb cuts going in. You can you can go down in Charlevoix right now, and you can see all the places with fresh concrete without curb cuts. And I wish that somebody from DPW maybe at some of these new inspectors, I wish they'd come out and check on what these contractors are doing to make sure that their work is actually ADA compliant. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Let's call it please. Mr. Foster. Mr.

Foster, thank you for joining us. You have two minutes general public comment. No,

they're a little better. One thing I did want to say is the abasement appears to get good recognition from everybody. He's very involved in a community that office is and even though through my advocacy, we may have bumped heads a few times. I'm very grateful that he spoke up for Pinterest and took an additional step in advocacy. So I am very grateful for that. One of the things he brought up in his conversation today, which I find to be very proven to our community, is the lack of House of Representatives and getting it done. And that's just the real bottom line to it. And so we glorify these people and do all these things, but we cannot continue to invest in people that have that one sit in the box for years and babysit spots, and don't have a history of getting it done, for whatever reason. So I want to make that very clear. I'm very grateful that the a bondsman was able to go down there and get it done. Okay, so we have to do better and what it is and who it is that we have represented us. The truth is before us, it lies right before us. We cannot continue to keep investing in lies. Okay, we have to do better for our whole community. And I appreciate City Council. I think there's a better view. This the second part in the budget here and quite frankly, and I'm making that very clear. very opposed to anybody that promotes anything that's contrary to my belief system, that that goes against humanity. Don't lift up. You know, our children's CDs, people know hey, we're presidential roll leaves and everything else. They are not afforded opportunity of knowing where it came from. That's where they lead to the old mindset about how people are getting money and resources and they conduct themselves as such. We need people to be mad, and

thanks so much Mr. Foster. next caller please. Going back to Cunningham, Mr. Cunningham.

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thank you so much. next caller please.

final color is phone number ending in 124

color indigo 124 floors yours

Yes Good afternoon ma'am. You heard?

Yes ma'am.

Okay, great. I agree with some of the previous commenters we need way better problem solving and communication from the city. Just like at the land bank. They have changed their stories. I'm going to report their misrepresenting into the OIG s office I hope she takes it seriously other people do. Here's an example of the city like saying one thing and doing another is the speed help installation flyer on my street. This is how does the city of Detroit choose where to install speed humps working with city council department of district managers traffic engineers evaluate suggested locations based on them following criteria and engineering judgment residents. Those streets with a speed limit 25 miles an hour priority to streets adjacent accurate schools and parks etc a number of things supported the residents on the bug they didn't get it. I didn't know what they were doing Cindy there was like oh my god they're gonna put a speed hump on your zero right in front of my property here clinking can clean and cars still speed. When a gentleman and Justin was there I thought it was a contractor who was so nasty. And you told me to talk to the district manager. The district manager was on vacation. The deputy district manager apparently didn't do anything. And then Justin came back and he like went ahead and installed it and he should have contacted the district manager I spoke with Mr. Ahmed for was in the engineering department. He said they weren't they should not have done that. That they were they any civil if you would talk to me, I could have stopped this and nobody told me to talk to you. And so I have asked the ombudsman to help me I asked President Sheffield's job is to help me and they said and then Mr. Brundage came up with a thing where I gotta get approval from other people in the neighborhood and I have to pay for the speed removal those speed humps removed but they were never supposed to do in the first place. And don't pass that land bank and memorandum of understanding which is a contract without having a full detailed discussion in front of the residents that very resident disrespectful I consider it to be malpractice. From the council. It looks like a blank check. Only the only the mayor gets to enforce the contract and you're giving up your power of disposition. Like why would you do that? You're so

thank you so much. Miss rice Coalfield wanted to provide an opportunity for the ombudsman to respond to your concerns. It sounds like he may have be aware of it

already. Yes, thank you. Council President Pro Tem tait. This issue is one that we've been tracking closely. As I indicated in my presentation earlier today. What we bring before you in terms of policy recommendations are based on real complaints with real people with real families, real Detroiters behind them, it's not. You know, sometimes I can come up with something that I see that's missing. But in this instance, this is something that's very real. I do believe that the process and the processes that are in place need to be revisited. There's some debate as to whether what we are in are not doing with deferrals. I'm happy to have that debate. We have the documentation and Miss rice Coalfield has provided us along the way that picture that you saw during my presentation if I don't know that the media services ROM is able to go back to it, but that was her house. That was her house. So you could take a look at what the structure look like. That was Demolish. It is our estimation or I should say my opinion that that structure was demolished because the process said that we could not because it wasn't salvageable. So if the process is that we can do something like that, and you see that she's taking the time to come here with her husband because she's distraught she has lost her family home. The process is that we can do that and we need to revisit the process. And I look forward to working with anyone who wants to help us in that matter. Thank you

so much. Thank you Mr. Bozeman. Miss Scott rice Caulfield, as you see we've got a lot of folks who are looking and willing to help. We did not get the email. I'll tell you I had not seen it either. But we now are aware and you're not to get a whole lot of help to the best of our ability at this point.

Thank you. Email does have more documentation attached. I wasn't able to print out all the attachments. Yes, it has way more information in it. Yes,

ma'am. Thank you so much. All right, colleagues. This wraps up our public excuse me our budget hearings for the day. We are tomorrow is Good Friday, so we are off out of the building. Mr. Corley, any closing remarks?

A young Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we're at the homestretch and got one more day on Monday with budget hearings in the morning. And as we speak, we're working on the executive session spreadsheet. So it'd be wonderful for council members if you have more numbers to your request. If you can email Mr. Whittaker. Myself and we will make sure we get it to the team to include it in the spreadsheet. What's going to happen is that they have a session is going to start at 2pm on Tuesday, April to second and so we basically have, you know, four days and and then the following Monday, April 8 To finish up so that's a lot to do. And kind of a short, you know, time period. So the more custom members can share your information with us, you know, as soon as possible so we can get it on a spreadsheet to better and really appreciate and also I want to make a mention to the administration and the departments and with the help of our CFO to provide you responses to our questions. I've been noticing a lot of responses coming through the email, and it's like it's quicker this year. So So hats off to the administration with that, and so I'm just want to thank you and encourage you to provide information to us soon as you can. Because we'll be working this weekend, and we'll be working Monday on the spreadsheet and probably Tuesday morning because we started at two o'clock on Tuesdays. Thank

you garlic and I have a number of closing resolution items that I still need to send to you. But this one I want to make sure it's on the list so that there's a possible funding allocation that's necessary. So Alex, I would like I would ask for someone to please move on my behalf and increase for the server space. To allow for increased capacity for online videos on the city's website, including the page that includes a past videos of Detroit city council meetings, because I'm still yet to find that most sane objections, then action shall be taken. Thank you so much, colleagues. Everyone Be safe. Be well and have a happy Easter or Resurrection Sunday or just a Sunday, depending on what religion you follow. All right. is coming. Is there a motion to adjourn? Oh, no objections that actually I'll be taking. This meeting is adjourned.