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Detroit City Council Formal Session, 3/25/2025
Speaker 1
Thank you, everyone. The regular session of Tuesday, March the 25th will now come to order and Madam Clerk, please call the roll
Unknown Speaker
council member Scott Benson Aye
Unknown Speaker
customer Fred du haul the third
Unknown Speaker
Oh. Council member Letitia Johnson present.
Unknown Speaker
Council member Gabriel Santiago Romero.
Unknown Speaker
Council member Mary Walters present.
Unknown Speaker
Council member Angela Whitfield Conway present.
Unknown Speaker
Councilman Coleman Young the second.
Speaker 2
Council president pro tem, James Tate here, and Council President Mary Sheffield present. Oh, yeah, you have a corn President, Madam President, okay,
Speaker 1
there being a corn present. We are in session. We will start off with our invocation for this morning, we have Reverend Doctor Turner, who is joining us, good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Sorry, good morning. Thank
Speaker 1
you so much for joining us, and you can proceed with our invocation this morning, Heavenly
Speaker 3
Father, we love you, we adore you, we magnify you, and we exalt you on this glorious day that you have made, we praise and thank you for your wisdom, your knowledge and your understanding that you've given to us, your people who are called by your name. So God, we just invite you into this meeting. We ask for your divine intervention, oh God, that You would give us your wisdom, your knowledge and your understanding and how to proceed for the city of Detroit. God, we pray God in the name of Jesus, that as you use us for your honor and your glory, we ask God that you would keep us and keep our minds stayed on Thee, Oh God bless our communities and all our elected officials. Oh, God in Jesus name, we pray. We invite you in to this Council meeting on this glorious day that you have made. Amen.
Unknown Speaker
Amen.
Speaker 1
All right. Thank you so much Reverend Turner. And Reverend Turner is from Nehemiah Baptist Church, and we appreciate you joining us today, and you have a blessed morning. Okay, we will proceed with our agenda for today. We have a presentation from council members, waters, adult literacy Task Force, and so after that presentation, we will cut off our public comment. If anyone is listening virtually or here in person, please make sure you raise your hand as we will cut off public comment after this presentation, and I will now yield the floor to council member waters for her presentation. Oh, she can't on me. Oh,
Speaker 4
okay. Thank you, Madam President, and good morning everyone. I want to ask Dr Robertson if she would, madam president, if you can invite her to the table.
Speaker 1
Dr Robinson, Robertson, Robertson, yes. Dr Robinson,
Unknown Speaker
the task force, just come on.
Unknown Speaker
Morning, Good morning.
Speaker 4
So Dr Robertson, I, first of all, I just want to say thanks to each of you for all of your hard work and helping us to sort of create some sort of pathway to addressing our adult literacy. It certainly is appreciated. And you are quite the heavy hitter yourself. You've written books, you've done virtual things for the children and so forth, you know, so if you could just take one minute to introduce your other team members and then just give a snippet of your background, I mean, just like, one minute of it, and then go into your presentation.
Speaker 1
All right, and I'm just just make sure your microphone is on. Press the bottom. Can you guys
Speaker 5
hear me? Okay, we can. All right. Good morning. Good to see you. Councilwoman waters, council members, President, good to be here. Dr Erica Robertson, I am the CEO of adventures, publishing house and founder of education at scale Foundation, and with both the organizations, we focus on promoting literacy, love, laughter among our young people. So we focus on creating content and amazing experiences for what we say, everything from belly to beyond. And it's a pleasure to serve on the task force this last year as your vice chair, helping to move the needle forward around the thinking of the blueprint. I am a native Detroiter, a jungle ear and also a Wolverine twice over. So go blue. And so it's always great to work in partnership with the city that that I grew up in to try to support our families, our kids and our community, and then I'll turn it over to my colleagues who have helped lead the task force over the last year, as well Dr Katrina Kelly and Dr Leah van bill. And just let them introduce themselves.
Speaker 6
Good morning, Madam President, council members. My name is Dr Katrina Kelly wicker. I am actually born and raised in Flint, so just a little bit north of here, but I've spent the last 30 years here in Detroit and really fell in love with the city. It has been my pleasure to be a part of this task force working with these various dude ladies here as we look at how can we really approach the needs here in the city and improve our adult literacy. I work with Michigan State University's College of Education. I am on the board of trustees for the University of Olivet. I also serve as your volunteer general chair for the rocket classic golf tournament. So it is a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 7
Good morning. I am Dr Leah van Belle. I am raising my son Langston on the Lower East Side. He's a fifth grader in public schools, and I serve as a senior consultant for learning and impact with Detroit Parent Network. I've also been University director and faculty at Wayne State and on several literacy task force at the state level. But I think most importantly, the reason I'm so passionate about this project is I'm a first generation high school graduate, and I saw with my mom how much her literacy, lack of access to literacy, impacted her life trajectory. So this work is deeply important and also very personal. So thank you.
Unknown Speaker
All right.
Speaker 4
Oh, I suppose we have queued up. Paris, we queued up.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, okay, oh, she has permission.
Speaker 5
She Okay, perfect. And about how long do we have just so
Speaker 4
I don't let just just run through the presentation, okay, maybe
Unknown Speaker
15 minutes. It'll take us about 10 minutes. Okay? Good to know. All right,
Speaker 5
so 
I'm gonna, I'll start, and I've, I think you guys all have copies of the presentation as well. Yes, okay, perfect. I'll share my screen, and I'll start by just really laying out the context. Sure I have this presented one second of kind of why we're here, and how we got here, and you guys are really the beginning of it. So I know this is a common story, but last year, there was a resolution signed by you all to focus on establishing an adult literacy task force in the city of Detroit, spearheaded by Councilwoman waters. And when she and I met, she explained to me the importance, the impact, the priority that this had on her agenda for the City Council and for the city at whole so we started on this journey and officially kicked off our task force January of 2024 and we kicked this off really focusing on the vision to inspire Detroiters to become better readers and contribute to the digital and financial footprint of the city. So what I want to do the first few minutes is just quickly walk you through our journey last year, and then pivot to then 
our learnings, our findings, and then what we're recommending moving forward, what we're calling our blueprint for Detroit, Detroit adult literacy, success and sustainability. So really quickly, as I mentioned, when we kicked off this adult literacy Task Force, it was really important for us to make sure we had all the right people at the table representing the right sectors. So we pulled together an amazing group of leaders from across the city of Detroit, representing our nonprofits, government, legislation, education, business and faith, to really get together and align on how do we tackle adult literacy in the city of Detroit. And now what we wanted to be clear, though, is we weren't here to create a new program. What we acknowledge is there's a lot of amazing organizations that already exist in the city of Detroit, but what, what could we do to help amplify, to help elevate, to help accelerate the work that they're doing, great work that they're doing, but oftentimes in pockets and having gaps in our community. So we aligned on the four things we wanted to focus on around literacy, which was reading and writing literacy and Councilwoman waters really talked about how she would see in her communities and the communities of all of you guys, how you know, we would have residents that were had barriers to filling out job applications. When we talk about financial literacy, to facilitating just simple day to day banking activities, digital literacy, you know, trying to empower our adults to use technology and be part of the technology footprint that that we're accelerating in the city. And then again, Family Literacy. You know, when we talk about educating our kids, we know that a key academic success indicator is having your family involved in 
the learning. So these four areas, we said, Okay, we want to make sure we focus on trying to amplify, accelerate, accelerate and elevate providers that do this work. So we got together, we formed an operational model to say, Hey, this is who we are. This is what we're trying to do. We're not creating anything new, but really trying to bring all of our key stakeholders together. What we wanted to do was really understand what the existing services were, what was working really well, what was missing, and then also make sure that we had some types of measurements of success. So we continued on this journey, moving forward with a great task force, and we laid out, in March, you know, how we're going to proceed with, you know, proven methodology so that we could create sustainable a sustainable movement and initiative. So we laid out our program management methodology. We laid out our change management methodology so we could make sure the changes that we were making were sustainable. And then we created a roadmap for last year of what we wanted to accomplish last year, beginning with, you know, establishing the task force, understanding 
the landscape, understanding also evidence based practices and national models that have done this work before. And then also one of the key things that council woman wanted to make sure we had was some type of literacy hub where our adults could go to as a one stop shop to access resources for literacy. And so as we move forward, we outlined our deliverables move forward along with our methodology. Lots of energy, but we actually ran into some roadblocks in the summer, we found four things to be true. One, we were missing evidence based data on adult literacy rates. So there was a lot of data around maybe high school completion, high school dropout. There was some GED data, but there was not one. There wasn't any data specifically saying these are the adult literacy rates in the city of Detroit, and part of the part of the task is, in order to get somewhere and have a goal of where you want to be, you have to know where you are. So that right there was one of the roadblocks that we experienced, not having that data. The second thing that we ran into is, as we were trying to pull together all the different stakeholders across the city, it's so fragmented, and a lot of organizations are doing a lot of really great things from the heart, some evidence based, some not evidence based, and very different methodologies, et cetera. So we're like, okay, how do we really get everybody to the table and understand what's happening from an adult literacy standpoint and evidence based practices? The third thing, when we start thinking about this hub and like, what could make sense, what we saw is on the city it did have a website called do it, which does have access to some literacy services. We wanted to maybe think about using that as a hub, as a, you know, that we wanted to implement right away, to have our adults access these programs. But there were a lot of gaps in accessibility. And when you think about adults with limited or low literacy to go to a website and have to read and navigate to try to find resources, it presents a gap. And then the last thing that we we learned was we had an amazing leadership at represented in our task force, leaders, CEOs, legislators, but all of these folks have day jobs and they're super busy. So even though we had high interest in moving this work forward, we had limited capacity to actually do the work. So in saying that, I'm going to turn it over to my colleagues to explain to you understanding what those roadblocks are and what those gaps are, what we decided to look to to other states and how they're doing things, and then present to you what we feel is a blueprint for success. Should you guys choose to pursue this? Okay,
+1
I'm gonna, I'll start, and I've, I think you guys all have copies of the presentation as well. Yes, okay, perfect. I'll share my screen, and I'll start by just really laying out the context. Sure I have this presented one second of kind of why we're here, and how we got here, and you guys are really the beginning of it. So I know this is a common story, but last year, there was a resolution signed by you all to focus on establishing an adult literacy task force in the city of Detroit, spearheaded by Councilwoman waters. And when she and I met, she explained to me the importance, the impact, the priority that this had on her agenda for the City Council and for the city at whole so we started on this journey and officially kicked off our task force January of 2024 and we kicked this off really focusing on the vision to inspire Detroiters to become better readers and contribute to the digital and financial footprint of the city. So what I want to do the first few minutes is just quickly walk you through our journey last year, and then pivot to then +1
our learnings, our findings, and then what we're recommending moving forward, what we're calling our blueprint for Detroit, Detroit adult literacy, success and sustainability. So really quickly, as I mentioned, when we kicked off this adult literacy Task Force, it was really important for us to make sure we had all the right people at the table representing the right sectors. So we pulled together an amazing group of leaders from across the city of Detroit, representing our nonprofits, government, legislation, education, business and faith, to really get together and align on how do we tackle adult literacy in the city of Detroit. And now what we wanted to be clear, though, is we weren't here to create a new program. What we acknowledge is there's a lot of amazing organizations that already exist in the city of Detroit, but what, what could we do to help amplify, to help elevate, to help accelerate the work that they're doing, great work that they're doing, but oftentimes in pockets and having gaps in our community. So we aligned on the four things we wanted to focus on around literacy, which was reading and writing literacy and Councilwoman waters really talked about how she would see in her communities and the communities of all of you guys, how you know, we would have residents that were had barriers to filling out job applications. When we talk about financial literacy, to facilitating just simple day to day banking activities, digital literacy, you know, trying to empower our adults to use technology and be part of the technology footprint that that we're accelerating in the city. And then again, Family Literacy. You know, when we talk about educating our kids, we know that a key academic success indicator is having your family involved in +1
the learning. So these four areas, we said, Okay, we want to make sure we focus on trying to amplify, accelerate, accelerate and elevate providers that do this work. So we got together, we formed an operational model to say, Hey, this is who we are. This is what we're trying to do. We're not creating anything new, but really trying to bring all of our key stakeholders together. What we wanted to do was really understand what the existing services were, what was working really well, what was missing, and then also make sure that we had some types of measurements of success. So we continued on this journey, moving forward with a great task force, and we laid out, in March, you know, how we're going to proceed with, you know, proven methodology so that we could create sustainable a sustainable movement and initiative. So we laid out our program management methodology. We laid out our change management methodology so we could make sure the changes that we were making were sustainable. And then we created a roadmap for last year of what we wanted to accomplish last year, beginning with, you know, establishing the task force, understanding +1
the landscape, understanding also evidence based practices and national models that have done this work before. And then also one of the key things that council woman wanted to make sure we had was some type of literacy hub where our adults could go to as a one stop shop to access resources for literacy. And so as we move forward, we outlined our deliverables move forward along with our methodology. Lots of energy, but we actually ran into some roadblocks in the summer, we found four things to be true. One, we were missing evidence based data on adult literacy rates. So there was a lot of data around maybe high school completion, high school dropout. There was some GED data, but there was not one. There wasn't any data specifically saying these are the adult literacy rates in the city of Detroit, and part of the part of the task is, in order to get somewhere and have a goal of where you want to be, you have to know where you are. So that right there was one of the roadblocks that we experienced, not having that data. The second thing that we ran into is, as we were trying to pull together all the different stakeholders across the city, it's so fragmented, and a lot of organizations are doing a lot of really great things from the heart, some evidence based, some not evidence based, and very different methodologies, et cetera. So we're like, okay, how do we really get everybody to the table and understand what's happening from an adult literacy standpoint and evidence based practices? The third thing, when we start thinking about this hub and like, what could make sense, what we saw is on the city it did have a website called do it, which does have access to some literacy services. We wanted to maybe think about using that as a hub, as a, you know, that we wanted to implement right away, to have our adults access these programs. But there were a lot of gaps in accessibility. And when you think about adults with limited or low literacy to go to a website and have to read and navigate to try to find resources, it presents a gap. And then the last thing that we we learned was we had an amazing leadership at represented in our task force, leaders, CEOs, legislators, but all of these folks have day jobs and they're super busy. So even though we had high interest in moving this work forward, we had limited capacity to actually do the work. So in saying that, I'm going to turn it over to my colleagues to explain to you understanding what those roadblocks are and what those gaps are, what we decided to look to to other states and how they're doing things, and then present to you what we feel is a blueprint for success. Should you guys choose to pursue this? Okay, Speaker 6
good morning. So in our efforts to understand where we are and where we need to be, we had an opportunity to look at other cities, other large cities as exemplars to how they built their adult literacy programs. So when we looked at, for example, Minnesota, they have literacy Minnesota, it's been around 50 years. And not only has it been around for 50 years, they've built a national coalition where they really engage in sort of dialog to move the needle forward. For many communities, they have buy in, their corporate partners, their local community partners, their city council, their state government, which makes a difference. When you look at improving adult literacy within your community. In Minnesota, they have a 94% basic literacy skill set in their communities. 94% very significant. But again, they've been working on this for 50 years because they understand the impact in Houston, what the mayor there did, he actually instituted his initiative from his office. So you know very similar city council or from the mayor's office, whoever leads the charge, you need someone within city government. But then he partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation, who had been focusing on literacy for a significant amount of time, so they were able to build a very strong coalition that focused on their community members, and they also understood the deficit. They understood that by not doing this, they were potentially losing 13 billion in economic growth within that community. And so we don't have those figures for us here in Detroit, of course, that would have to bear itself out in the research. But when you look at those types of Initiatives with the City of New York, they built a very strong coalition as well. They started with small funding, two point around, 2.42 point 5 million, and then it increased over time to 10 to 12 million. And so that is one of the things that we look at and we think about is pilots and starting small and then growing big and becoming a national example in many ways that some of these other communities have as well.
Speaker 7
So one of the things too, as we look forward and build forward, is thinking about partnerships, resources and funding strategies. So stakeholder partnerships will be really critical for this going forward. So when we look at one of the first slides that Dr Robertson showed who is at the table and the leadership roles that they're in, one thing that we saw that we needed to have more at the table was public libraries, community based organizations, folks who are also doing the boots on the ground work of that so that they're coming together and also building a network of support and learning for one another, something that Dr Robertson said about leading with great love. So we have adult literacy programs that are very committed, serving with great love, deep relationships and neighborhoods and communities, but haven't necessarily had the funding and the supports to build their capacity, right? So there's a lot happening nationally and in the state now about the science of reading, right? Governor Whitmer signed the literacy for all legislation, which we know means that our schools will have to be grounded in evidence based reading practices and be data informed. But when we look at adult literacy, just having a caring adult tutoring another adult, it's not enough, right? Like there are things that we know move it forward. So thinking about the pilots, how we can use some of that funding to move some pilots forward, to help build capacity. People are there doing the work. Let's get them the tools that they need to serve really effectively and really thinking about some really creative, innovative braiding of funding and some of the ways that Dr Kelly described thinking about philanthropy businesses To invest in that
Speaker 6
so 
to piggyback on what Dr Robertson and Dr Vander mentioned, one of the areas that becomes critically important when we're looking at funding beyond just corporate donors and your government fundings, are other foundations. For example, in Ontario, California, they had their library foundation, who contributed quite significantly to building their literacy program. And when we consider the websites, it's a very important tool when looking to advance literacy in looking at the National exemplars, exemplars, and several of them, had very intuitive websites that would allow their community members to access stakeholder information based on region. So it's very accessible, very intuitive, which really makes the difference, because when it's structured differently, it is very difficult for our community members to even know what to look for or where to go. So when we have it structured and aligned in such a way that makes it easier for them, they are more likely to actually seek the help that they need and to and to receive it. And if we think about it, whether it's financial literacy, health literacy, digital literacy, all of those skills are incredibly important, and all of those skills can be built if they know where to go to receive them.
+2
to piggyback on what Dr Robertson and Dr Vander mentioned, one of the areas that becomes critically important when we're looking at funding beyond just corporate donors and your government fundings, are other foundations. For example, in Ontario, California, they had their library foundation, who contributed quite significantly to building their literacy program. And when we consider the websites, it's a very important tool when looking to advance literacy in looking at the National exemplars, exemplars, and several of them, had very intuitive websites that would allow their community members to access stakeholder information based on region. So it's very accessible, very intuitive, which really makes the difference, because when it's structured differently, it is very difficult for our community members to even know what to look for or where to go. So when we have it structured and aligned in such a way that makes it easier for them, they are more likely to actually seek the help that they need and to and to receive it. And if we think about it, whether it's financial literacy, health literacy, digital literacy, all of those skills are incredibly important, and all of those skills can be built if they know where to go to receive them. Speaker 7
So in moving forward. So for year two, again, like layering on that foundation and capacity building, but just the importance of establishing a sustainable funding model right and strengthening the partnerships. And part of that is thinking about the ways that that funding brings capacity to grow those partnerships. The baseline data, which Dr Robertson mentioned, a figure that gets thrown out a lot, is only about 47% of adults in Detroit are fully literate. Like those data are really old. They're really flawed. It's really important that we have those and that we have metrics around that, so that we can set our goals and we can measure our success. And the city wide awareness campaign is critical. Think about some of the campaigns we've had in our community that have had a really important impact, like Connect for care. Right? Connect for care is incredibly important in connecting families with early childhood education and resources, but we don't have a similar campaign. If you are an adult who is struggling with literacy, to know how to connect, right? Yes, there are lots of programs. But even for us to find those, we identify 26 key adult literacy programs. We had to dig for some of those, right? And so to think about, how do we amplify the urgency of this, the importance of this, and that we're all pulling together on this? A Oh, sorry. Years three and four is strengthening and scaling high impact literacy programs. So that term high impact is used a lot to mean, like, it's evidence based, it's data informed, it's culturally relevant, like we know this is is going to work, and making sure that folks have access to that who are serving in the work, and really thinking about, again, evidence 
based literacy practices, which is such a press nationally and at the state level, and really aligning the supports with workforce development and community services. So there are a lot of surveys nationally and at the state level that show that employers have named that folks don't have the literacy skills, the digital literacy skills they need to step into the workplace and to upskill right? So really thinking about how we bring in workforce development and businesses to help us be really clear about what those needs are, and then the policy and funding commitments are also incredibly important, in the same way that a lot of work has been done around literacy policy at the state and national levels. We need to have funding around that. The policy funding commitments as well for adult literacy, and we haven't seen that as much. The expanding the programs into high needs neighborhoods is critical. I have led a literacy corps with with high schoolers at Frederick Douglass Academy. I've led credit recovery as part of Saturdays in the D with the city. And you know, we have 10th graders reading a second grade reading level. And when folks graduate, if they do graduate, if that doesn't go away, the need is tremendous in particular communities. And when we lift up numbers like maybe 47 percentage, it's much lower in certain communities. So again, it gets back to the data, and the data mapping and understanding, where are some of these places where we want to have some really strong impact. Yeah, and then the assessment. So again, getting to how we have impact assessments and use those for continuous improvement. So what we're really lacking now, and this is probably a theme you're really hearing, is data, like high quality data, to really understand things, to set the goals, to move it forward, but that this move to using data to inform and assess and continuously improve adult literacy has to become part of the network of it across the city.
+1
based literacy practices, which is such a press nationally and at the state level, and really aligning the supports with workforce development and community services. So there are a lot of surveys nationally and at the state level that show that employers have named that folks don't have the literacy skills, the digital literacy skills they need to step into the workplace and to upskill right? So really thinking about how we bring in workforce development and businesses to help us be really clear about what those needs are, and then the policy and funding commitments are also incredibly important, in the same way that a lot of work has been done around literacy policy at the state and national levels. We need to have funding around that. The policy funding commitments as well for adult literacy, and we haven't seen that as much. The expanding the programs into high needs neighborhoods is critical. I have led a literacy corps with with high schoolers at Frederick Douglass Academy. I've led credit recovery as part of Saturdays in the D with the city. And you know, we have 10th graders reading a second grade reading level. And when folks graduate, if they do graduate, if that doesn't go away, the need is tremendous in particular communities. And when we lift up numbers like maybe 47 percentage, it's much lower in certain communities. So again, it gets back to the data, and the data mapping and understanding, where are some of these places where we want to have some really strong impact. Yeah, and then the assessment. So again, getting to how we have impact assessments and use those for continuous improvement. So what we're really lacking now, and this is probably a theme you're really hearing, is data, like high quality data, to really understand things, to set the goals, to move it forward, but that this move to using data to inform and assess and continuously improve adult literacy has to become part of the network of it across the city. Speaker 6
So as we look to move forward and look at our long term vision, there are a few areas that we would like to recommend. The first, really, if you want to do something in the immediate and short term, you would look at the website that you can do that fairly quickly, get that up and going, and have our community members being able to access their state our stakeholders, really quickly. But in the long term, as we look to really develop our community, is look at whether or not we want to engage with our higher education partners. We have really top tier universities in this state who can help us with the research to really understand what our literacy rates here in Detroit, the last data is from 9293
Unknown Speaker
we're in 2025
Speaker 6
we should have more current data than that. And so, going back to everything that we've talked about, this really incredible empirical data to get us and help us understand what our needs are, will help us get to where we need to be.
Speaker 5
And so I think we close that just by and we shared a lot of information and limited time, and there's lots of data and research that kind of went behind this, but we just wanted to present you with a high level picture of kind of where we've been, you know, where we should go? Should you choose to embark on this and the level of commitment that's needed to drive the sustainability and so, you know, to move this work forward, we would just need to adopt a blueprint, formally, as a city, commit to really figuring out what a multi year financial strategy looks like with policy support and then also engaging in advocacy to drive both public and private investment. The thing that really stood out with all the national exemplars that we researched was it was all of the players at the table, private, public, large businesses, small businesses, nonprofits, everybody came together to really prioritize and raise awareness and move the needle on adult literacy. So that would be our recommendation. The last little Aster output here is for the website. One of the things that Dr Kelly mentioned was an Intuit intuitive website. Other things to think about with that is, and if you see it on your slide deck, and just want to make sure we point this out when we say community co design, meaning we have to figure out, not only do Do we have a site that a hub, a website, hub that our adults can go to, but also have neighbor, neighborhood partners that they can go talk To, right? So it can't just be a website that exists in isolation. It has to be in partnership with community partners that can help them navigate and find the right services as well. So it's so it's kind of two things. I just want to make sure we touched on that, but outside of that, that's kind of our quick and dirty recommendations. I don't know if you want to open it for questions, or that's it.
Unknown Speaker
Madam President,
Speaker 4
please, for the audience who may be just tuning in, tell them your names again, please, sure
Unknown Speaker
I am Dr Erica Robertson,
Speaker 6
I am doctor. I'm sorry, I'm Dr Katrina Kelly wicker,
Speaker 4
Dr Leah van Belle, alright. And so we thank you all, and I don't know if any of my colleagues have any any comments or anything like that Through you, madam president, but I just want to thank you for all of your hard work and and I know that to be true. When I was a state rep, I sat on the literacy Task Force, and they do it differently in other states. I sometimes travel around this country, met with people like such as a Visa and MasterCard, American Express, and all of them who were investing, literally in adult literacy. And those are the kind of partnerships that we need to do once again. And so I want to thank you again, Madam President, you have a hand up over there? Okay, yes.
Speaker 1
I just wanted to thank you, member waters, for this amazing work and the work that you all are doing as well. I think this is such an important issue, um, and here to support however we can. I'm just wondering, is the task force open to people to attend? I'm not sure how often do you meet, or is it more of a closed kind of task force that you guys are working on internally? Yeah.
Speaker 5
So right now, as of the end of last year, we kind of put a pause on the task force, because in order for us to move the work forward, some of these things have to be true. So right now, we have not convened since the end of last year, and we don't have any plans to reconvene until we understand the direction that the city council wants to
Speaker 4
go. Okay? Because, because, Madam President, I've been trying to at least get just the website, but even they are a little bit more detail. And so I hope that we will follow their recommendations for for that website. I do.
Speaker 7
One thing I just like to lift up is the the deep urgency. So we probably all heard when the National Assessment of Educational Progress scores came out that our students in Detroit that are fourth graders. So that's a national assessment of literacy. Only 5% of our fourth graders were reading at grade level, only 5% and the reason I looked that up is that family literacy, parent literacy, directly shapes children's literacy. We know that particularly the mother's literacy level is the strongest predictor of the child's literacy level. We know this, and so this is intergenerational, and if we continue to not prioritize and take collective action about adult literacy. We're going to keep seeing this with our babies. So I just want to lift up the urgency of that. I
Speaker 6
will say, for example, with the city of Philadelphia, they had nearly 1900 intergenerational courses that were taken, taken collectively with over 240 hours of instruction time. And that was just in 2023 and so it is incredibly important that we look to find ways to educate our community members, knowing the strength will come from the entire family and not just a single member.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, all right, member door, thank you and
Speaker 8
good morning to you all. Thank you all. Thank you for the work that you're doing. Thank you, member waters, for this task force. This is one of the most important issues here in the city of Detroit. As member waters mentioned when I was a member of the State Legislature. As a state representative, I sat on the corrections Appropriation SubCommittee, and there was a study done talking about the direct correlation between third grade reading rates and incarceration, and particularly here in southeast Michigan and some of our urban areas across the state, when we look at literacy rates, those tend to be the areas that have that have the highest population of folks who are incarcerated. And so when we talk about moving initiatives forward and how we get past that benchmark of third grade reading, and now they're even talking fourth grade reading, right, I think we do have to make a more concerted effort, not just on our school side, because a lot of times we put all of that onto our school districts. I do believe that our governments, city as well as our state and federal government, also have to play a role to help provide those wraparound services that even lead to adult literacy. I mean, it's simple and plain if you have a struggle in reading. When your kids come home and they need your assistance with their homework, if you're struggling to read your read their homework, that's an issue, and it becomes cyclical to your point. And so I'd be interested to just have further conversations offline, as we look at other cities that are closer in our region and some of the initiatives that we have taken, but I do believe that is one of our biggest fights here in the city of Detroit right now when we talk about moving our city forward and even workforce development here in order to give folks the skills they need. Yeah,
Speaker 5
excellent point. And I think you know, when we talk about that the school to prison pipeline is what we call it, and when they look at that study, because I read that study, you mentioned, 70% of incarcerated individuals had below a third grade reading level. So there's a direct correlation between, you know, aggressive, violent behavior, incarceration and literacy. So from all angles, whether it's the family, it is imperative. Thank you.
Speaker 8
But a lot of that just as a follow up Through you, madam president, a lot of that is also based on the resources we provide as government. I remember sitting on the Appropriations Committee and our per pupil allocation for DPS, CD was about $7,800 per pupil when we were paying $38,000 per prisoner per year. And when you look at that correlate, you look at the disparity that exists that if we put more funding, as my grandmother used to say, we pay more on the front end, then we don't have to worry about paying more on the back end. And so when we talk about government, and we talk about shaping how we're going to move our city forward and our residents for it starts with the investment, utilizing those dollars and putting it into education, even from our side and from the city. Obviously, we don't handle the school a fund or K through 12 funding, but there are other programs that we can do, as far as like wraparound services to be able to help families and help students as well. Thank you, Madam President, thank
Speaker 9
you member Durham, member Johnson, thank you, Madam President, and thank you all so much for this information that you're sharing. I think it is important for all of us. I think we all recognize where the needs are, and I was going to make the connection to workforce development and really around industries that we're able to attract as a result of having individuals within our community who excel in one area or another. And of course, literacy, just at a basic level, is something that we need to address. In the city of Detroit, I had the opportunity to attend the state of the schools this year, and it immediately said to me, because I love math and love numbers, it said to me that I need to be a tutor to many of our young people, and so I recognize the need and and however member waters would like to move forward, I would certainly support it. I do believe that data is important for us to understand the direction that we need to go and where we start. And so I heard that multiple times. And so now is the appropriate time. It's it's budget season, and so I'm sure member waters will put forth something as we continue to move throughout our budget hearings. But certainly appreciate the work that you all have done and what you've shared with us, and look forward to providing support to this initiative. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, all
Speaker 1
right, thank you so much. Okay, so I think is that member Benson,
Speaker 10
thank you, and thank you all for being here, and thank you for this. Member waters, this is so important, and the fact that you all have taken such a deliberative process to get here with this information, saying, Hey, this is everything. This is what you need now, city, it's on you. What type of investment Do you want to make? And just the fact that we're looking at how we can support our existing ecosystem, and understanding that there are those who fall through the net of education and with adult literacy, we're really trying to capture them and help them get to a different space. And then that also, as you said, transcends to our youth. And that's also hugely important. Are the kids being read to at home? Are they prepared to go to kindergarten, or do they have the support system that they're going to need to get over that hump to be reading by the third grade? So those things are also important. I chair the wealth generation Task Force, and we've lifted up. Education is one of our pillars, and this year, through advocacy the workforce development, they've implemented a new tutoring program this year to help those middle school and early high school students to get them up to that level or even more advanced. And we saw this challenge when we did the stellantis Jefferson North plant and the engine plant, where so many of we committed, they committed to us that they would take Detroit residents priority. But we also had to make sure that we had a workforce and human capital that could work for them, and knew could read, had all the basics, but we found that we didn't have the number they needed, so we implemented a training program, so we even see it in the workforce space. And so the Nexus here is huge, with so many different areas that this impacts the city of Detroit, and then for me, it's ROI, what's your return on investment by educating young people? And so we focus now on early childhood education, but having that safety net and ensuring that you're looking at everybody, because if you're 25 years old and are reading at a second grade or even a fifth grade level, we really need to get you into a better space. And this compliments that. And so I'm really interested in having a conversation with member waters as well, because this is huge. And then just the statistics if you're investing, and as member durhaus said, if you're investing in the youth before the age of five, and then just what is the return on investment? There 20% less likely to use any type of resources from the state, less likely to be engaged in the criminal justice I mean, just huge returns on investment. And so this is fantastic, and you all now giving us a playbook saying it's on you, so now the ball is in our court. So thank you for that, and I appreciate having that type of of advocacy and provocation to the city. Hey, do something about it. We're giving you the information. What are you going to do, and to stay in our own lane, not go into the state, which is a school system, and be supporting them is huge, because now we are providing an extra safety net, an extra layer of support. So thank you for this. Thank you. Member waters,
Speaker 7
all right, thank you. Yeah, just one thing that we haven't lifted up is the connection to health outcomes, which is something we've talked a lot about, and you were mentioning this, and I was thinking about during COVID, how we know how to come together, we know how to mobilize, we know how to make things happen and care for one another. And all that was accomplished with a strategic planning and mobilization during COVID, we are similarly at a deep literacy crisis for adult literacy and to not have a strategic plan for how we address this is a gaping hole, and what we haven't named as well is that literacy directly impacts health outcomes, life expectancy, right? So which impacts all these other things? So just lifting up the power of how we come together when there are crises, and this is a crisis, thank you.
Speaker 6
We do recognize that the city cannot do it alone, that it will require commitment from many of our corporate community members, along with just our individual community members as well. And so it's going to take a commitment. This endeavor is not to be short. This is to be long term and sustained for our community and for the betterment of the people here in the city of Detroit.
Speaker 4
Well, doctors, all three of you. Thank you so much for all of your your hard work and your dedication and and and I do want to have a conversation with my colleagues about how we move forward with next steps, and we will certainly be letting you know I was envisioning a number of things, you know, how to what type of marketing can we do to say, hey, parents, read with your children. I remember, and remember Benson, you brought that up when you talked about the reading with them. But I was a kid, just before I started school, my mom would just be reading with me, you know. And it makes a difference. It instills in that child who becomes an adult little bit later. You know, how important it is. And so I just want to thank you all for this excellent, excellent presentation. And my colleagues, they all heard you loud and clear, and I know that they have some direction for me as well. So, Madam President, maybe we take a photo. Oh, sure, alright, okay, alright. My Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1
There's no additional questions again. Thank you all so much for the work, and we're looking forward to working with you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Yes, I do have a motion to accept this as as my
Speaker 1
report. Yes, any objections, hearing, none that action will be All right. I
Speaker 11
Oh, talking about the Nelly Song.
Unknown Speaker
If a little bit tighter it's
Speaker 12
well, perfect. Everybody's camera right here. Big smiles, three, two and one. Let's do one more. Three, two and
Unknown Speaker
perfect. Thank you.
Speaker 13
Mark. Hey, man,
Speaker 1
alright, right. Thank you again. Council member waters and the literacy, the adult literacy Task Force for that presentation, and we will now proceed. I know member duha is here, and also member young are both present, and Member Santiago Romero as well. It was so no in member Callaway is present. Good morning. Everyone is present. The Journal of the session of Tuesday, March the 11th, will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee, two reports from various three departments. The two reports will be referred to the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations standing committee, a
Speaker 2
report from human resources, classification and compensation division.
Speaker 1
The one report will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee,
Speaker 2
a public office of contracting and procurement. The
Speaker 1
one report will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development. Standing Committee
Unknown Speaker
five reports from various city departments.
Speaker 1
The five reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee, five
Unknown Speaker
reports from various state departments. The
Speaker 1
five reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters under other matters, there are no items. Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies, there
Unknown Speaker
are no items. Madam President, okay,
Speaker 1
we will now call for general public comment, and we have 32 total people. Okay, so we will do a minute and a half for public comment this morning, and we will start with Miss Betty Lyons,
Speaker 14
months ago, Miss Johnson says she does not allow what others say about her. It does not affect her. This shows that she is a person who knows who she is. I have a right to free speech, and I'm going to express it. I have that right The Bible reads, you will know a tree by its fruit. Last week, I went to the retirement department was told that that 13th check is in bankruptcy, and we will not be receiving that check until the judge releases it. Now, this is under Dugan again. This is some of his tricks. Again, over $600 million I'm trying to at least know what's going on. Attorney Conrad mallet won't even tell the Detroit residents how we can get there and get it done. No, he won't yet. Dugan finds money to give the Mexican town folks protect illegals, give Dan Gilbert 10s of millions in grants and the Mexicans, he says he'll make them whole, but my money is in bankruptcy. I can't find it, but I'm going to find it and get it for us. Detroit. The Oh, shoot the Palestinians. They are troublemakers. They're over here hiding, and they need to go back. And I still say that.
Speaker 1
I mean, I have continued to state at every session to try to keep comments as respectful as we can of everyone, I will say it again. I don't know member Vince, if you wanted to add something, but I have said it every and I will continue to say it. Everyone does have the right to speak, but we want to be respectful of everyone. We are all adults. So I mean, at some point, you know, continue to say it, they have a right to speak, but we want to create an environment that is respectful of everyone. Madam
Speaker 10
President, member Benson, thank you very much for continuing to reinforce that message.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Thank you so much. Mister Cunningham, followed by Charles cousin, 31344491143134449114,
Speaker 15
that number was made so you can remember it and on Facebook, not enemy. Two words on Facebook, not enemy. Thanks for those that reach out. In fact, it is a blessing when folks want to ride in my taxi and spend some money so I can pay it forward. Uh, some people just from over the table, you know, they appreciate what I do in the community, and I thank God that God is allows me to serve and a flawed vessel. Mr. Cousins, I think I brought him up once or twice before, and I expressed, folks, talk to the powers that be. Y'all don't but y'all do not bite. And so he's here again. I don't know what he's speaking upon, but double D dot every day. 10s of 1000s of Detroiters rely on the Detroit department of transportation bus service to get to work, school and other destinations. For the roughly one quarter of Detroit households without a car, and many more with just one car, the service provides an essential lifeline everybody can't afford insurance and all the other fees. Um, so it is essential, even though these people may not vote like you want them to vote, don't prioritize them in that manner. God is looking, even though they may not vote like others. God is looking, and whatever you've done unto the least of these, you've done unto Him. And thank you, Councilwoman Callaway, for your recent help and everyone else. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1
Thank you as well. Mr. Cunningham, Charles, cousin, followed by Miss Logan, hello. Can you guys hear me? Okay, I know your microphone is not on. There you. Is it on now? Yes, it is.
Speaker 16
Hello. Firstly, I want to shout out brother Cunningham. He might not be an elected official, but he definitely is a change maker in the city of Detroit, and needs to be acknowledged. I want to talk on two topics last week, or I think the week before last, I spoke about the DDOT bus system. So some of the bus drivers are really nice, but I had another incident yesterday where I was on the bus and a female operator just passed by a customer who's waiting at the bus stop, and everybody on the bus was like, why didn't you stop for him? And you know, she turned around to everyone and said, I don't like the way he smells, and that's terrible, because none of us here are better than each other, and that needs to be acknowledged. And I have her information. Another topic, topic that I want to discuss is the Detroit land bank. They're taking people's houses and denying them their right to due process under the law, so like they're blocking people from going to court. I have video of this. And under our 14th amendment, we have a right to life, liberty and process and property with due process. It can't be taken without due process. And I would like to know what we're going to do about this, you know, like it's it's past talk. They're breaking people's constitutional rights.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cousins and whatever information you have. If you can make sure we get it either through Cunningham or give it, make sure we get it directly. Okay, all right, we'll do all right. Thank you, sir. Miss Logan,
Unknown Speaker
can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Speaker 17
Well, I was here not too long ago, about a month or two ago, and I was complaining about the same thing over assessment of property taxes that's continually is it seems to be a standard operating procedure in Detroit that's still in our money. And I come down here and talk about it all the time. Nothing happened. Mayor, I mean, Miss Sheffield said she going to get back with ain't talk to her yet. Uh, Tate, he talking about he want to talk to me outside when I before I left here, but I ain't talked to him since then either. So nobody ain't gonna do nothing about it. But I get one minute every once in a while when I can to come down here and talk about it, and then again, it's over. It's over and Oh, you don't do nothing about it. That should be a priority population. Our Detroit, City of Detroit population should be the priority in this city. I congratulate y'all on on doing southwest. Yeah, good coming up with $8 million all of a sudden, didn't have to pass no resolutions, didn't have to pass no ordinances, didn't have to consult the law department. A legislative policy division just gave all that money to all these people, but we don't even know citizens. We don't know who they are. We don't know they paid their property taxes. We don't know we don't know, but if they live in that Southwest Detroit area, 200 houses, they get it
Speaker 1
alright. Thank you so much. Miss Logan and Miss Logan, we welcome you back anytime, yeah, um, let, let me just say something, because I personally miss Logan, Miss Logan, Miss Logan, Miss Logan, Miss Logan, Miss Logan, yes, yes,
Unknown Speaker
yes, You'll give me one minute. Okay, come on.
Speaker 18
Oh, that's okay to me get hard. I'm sad. Y'all listen, if that's recess here. Sorry. I
Unknown Speaker
That's not fair. Y'all are not fair. Y'all corrupt. This is
Unknown Speaker
a corrupt
Unknown Speaker
Absolutely it is
Unknown Speaker
a rescue.
Unknown Speaker
Deflection.
Speaker 19
It's Oh, you spit her. You made her.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, come on, ma'am, well, yeah, on you
Unknown Speaker
Okay, all
Speaker 1
right, we will call back to order our standing committee for today and Madam Clerk, please call the roll
Unknown Speaker
council member Scott Benson,
Unknown Speaker
customer dual the third present
Unknown Speaker
council member Letitia Johnson, present
Unknown Speaker
council member Gabriel sanjako Romero, present
Unknown Speaker
council member Mary Walters, present
Unknown Speaker
council member Angela Whitfield Callaway,
Unknown Speaker
Council Member COVID, you're on the second here.
Unknown Speaker
Council President Paul Tim James Tate
Speaker 2
and Council President Mary Sheffield, present. You have a quorum. Present, Madam President.
Speaker 1
Thank you so much. And I did just want to respond to miss Logan that the last time that she was here, our team personally went over to try to talk with her, to try to get a better understanding of how we can support her, and she denied wanting any help or support. And so anytime she comes, whether it's two minutes, three minutes, one minute, that's not going to be enough time to address the issue. And so we made sure that we went directly to miss Logan to see how we can support her. And she did not want to talk, but whenever she does, we are here to support and to help. Okay, we will continue with public comment, and we are at ms Williams, Oh, I thought he was no I'm so sorry. Mr. McCluskey, yes, followed by Ms Williams, good
Speaker 20
morning. Council, good morning. While I share her frustration, I'm choosing to voice it in a different way. I am very frustrated. You want to know one topic that hits on illiteracy, due process and over assessment, the solar neighborhoods, so imagine receiving a 400 page summons and you're illiterate. That's what's happening in these neighborhoods. Imagine due process being violated because you're told to respond in 28 days, and then you're dismissed because you respond. You don't respond timely. They change it to 21 days after the fact. Imagine getting less than your over assessed value. You're being assessed and paying taxes on one price, but because an appraisal comes in lower, you get less than that, and then you're forced to live in a hotel room. That's what's happening to people in these neighborhoods, and it's not being brought to light. So here we are. You guys are approving 1.3 million for nine homes, 146k each, their homeowner occupied. That's great, but they're not even in the neighborhoods yet. They're not in phase one, they're not in phase two. They're in perspective future neighborhoods that may or may not receive solar when does this stop you? It's 21 million that you guys are spending on phase one and phase two, but you're basing it on a $12 million savings on Mr. Sky that still stands. So you know what? If anyone's interested, they can go to Detroit solar scam.com Again, that's Detroit solar scam.com we received plenty of phone calls last week, but there's more information there. Thanks. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Ms Williams, followed by Mr. Foster,
Unknown Speaker
hello through the chair.
Speaker 21
I've been reading this book. Dr King, he wrote in 1963 an open letter when he was in the Birmingham Jail. And it's very unfortunate, 62 years and it's still relevant today, is, oh, it's 2520 25 it's very unfortunate that people that have the power don't do their job correctly. You have the ability to do your job. And he was speaking about injustice and just and the difference is, in just is a man made law. It's unfortunate when I come down here constantly to continue to talk about officers that live in these facilities. And let me say this, if I found out by me being in the system, Madam Chair. They it's a lot of them who was in there, but they recruiting them also, but it's some that's been on the force for a very long time. And like I said, this is could not be going on if the power up top went behind this. And I only have a minute and a half to express myself. But how can I come to the Detroit Public Library with a weapons. You guys hired these security guards, metal detectors. This metal detectors in my facility, but they always find a way to abuse authority, and when you continue to cover up and conspire illegal activities, it is conspiracy. It's nothing else I can say. Two children lost their lives on this illegal conspiracy. Thank you. Okay,
Speaker 1
thank you Miss Williams. Ronald Foster,
Speaker 22
good morning through the chair. President, I just first said, I do appreciate you all listening. I've gone to the mayor's office several times, and I have not been able to redress any grievances. I do want to bring to you guys' attention that the purpose of redress a grievances is to keep the community safe. I don't know if you know the culture, but President Trump had assassination attempt on him. Our governor here was kidnapped. We had a US Attorney in Virginia that was murdered 43 years just two days ago, and certain decisions that you all make make a difference. You all have to be held accountable. Now, if you don't be held accountable to grievances or through these processes, then I hate for the latter to happen, and I don't make threats. That's not what my attention is. My attention is to bring awareness to the behaviors here and to what's been going on. This lady here just reiterated what every other citizen have been saying about talking back with First Amendment and free speech. And that has to be checked. It has to be time. I wasn't going to speak about that today. I was going to speak about this thing with these businesses and listen businesses without social conditions change, it's not going to do any good this. Mean a lot of small business I've seen daybo get robbed. I seen the places on living noise get robbed. I've seen all these small business development what good does it do if you don't address the social conditions?
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much. Ronald Foster,
Unknown Speaker
we will go to those who have joined us online.
Speaker 23
Morning, Madam President, there are 27 hands raised for public comment, and the first caller is phone number ending in 169, and
Speaker 1
if I did not indicate public comment is also cut off as well. All right, go ahead.
Unknown Speaker
Our first caller.
Unknown Speaker
I'm sorry, first caller is phone number ending in 169
Unknown Speaker
All right. Caller 169 Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Caller 169
Unknown Speaker
Okay, let's come back to this. Caller, please.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, the
Speaker 23
next caller is phone number ending in 471
Unknown Speaker
caller, 471 Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 24
My name is Thomas Lewis, I live in district five. I'm giving public comment to demand that the city council address property tax over assessment and to implement the property tax reform by addressing the systemic over assessment of property taxes worth less than $50,000 by passing a resolution asking Wayne County Treasurer, Eric Sabri a hawk foreclosures of homes worth less than $50,000 and To by voting to send properties worth less than $50,000 to the border review in February of 2025 the University of Chicago released a study analyzing Detroit 2025 assessment, and they found that the city continues to illegally inflate property taxes for homes worse left less than $50,000 84% of homes less than $25,000 73% of homes less than $38,000.60
Unknown Speaker
2% of homes less than worth less than $50,000
Speaker 24
I believe it's important that ordinances be enforced. We can't let one type of ordinance be worth less than the other. If there was some sort of ordinance that left handed people who drink lemonade had to be home by 12 o'clock under the penalty.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 23
The next caller is Amy Senese,
Unknown Speaker
who Okay, good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Here. She has dropped off.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Cindy Dara,
Unknown Speaker
all right. Cindy Dara, good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Sandy Dara, good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. I
Speaker 25
would like to suggest that we do something different for the way we run the government so more people can be involved. Example, if we had zoom that made a transcript, then we could put that. The city could post the transcript of the meetings up on their website. People come home from work that don't have time to listen to nine hours of budget hearings or your meetings. Could skim. Some people read a lot faster than I do. I don't read very fast. They skim over and find what they're interested in, write their public comment. That public comment should go into the public record and on onto the website and have a chat group on the website where people can connect with each other. And I'd like to see it on your meetings too, where you have the chat open. So we had open during the charter provision meetings. It's a way that if people need to start working together. And I was a welfare worker before I came here, and I regretted that I didn't teach people how to find their own resources, instead of just fishing for them and giving them fish. Teach them how to fish. That's what we need.
Speaker 23
Thank you. MS, Dara, the next caller is Alexi s 22 ultra
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 26
Yes, one of the frustrations I have with you guys up there is when a when a person speak on a different nationality. Y'all, y'all make it seem like it's disrespect. It's not disrespect. They just speaking the truth. We speak on Southwest Detroit, but over on in the fourth district we call hell, trying to get some more money for the fumes that we had held over the period of years. And then you turn around and get these folks over in southwest Detroit all this money to fix up, buy em new stuff and everything. What about the films we in hell, messed up our bodies? We still fighting that. Y'all, it's a freedom of speech. Quit saying disrespect. The lady didn't cuss them out. She spoke on a different nationality. Y'all, y'all make it seem like somebody is cussing over there. We have a right to speak on any nationality we want to to live in the city of Detroit, and y'all need to quit all that talking about disrespect. It's not disrespect, disrespect. When they put them down, they speaking on what they receive from you guys with our tax dollars that we not receiving over in District Four, and we catching hell over here still, I call my city council, I call my district manager, none of them return my call. I'm frustrated, too, but all you guys going to come out real big when it's time to vote and want petitions to be signed, and you got to remember, what have you done for us to sign of Madam
Unknown Speaker
President, thank you. Council member Johnson, thank
Speaker 9
you Madam President. Mister Holloway, my cell phone number has not changed. Thank you.
Speaker 1
All right. Thank you. Member Johnson, Okay, our next caller, please. Next caller is Michael A Williams. Mister Williams, good afternoon, yes. Hi, good afternoon.
Speaker 11
Good, good. Good morning. Yes. Um, Detroit, you listen to outsiders and voted against your own interest with proposal. P, you listen to outsiders and voted for a proposal in you paid outsiders to demolish your homes instead of rehabbing now you have no place to call home. You listen to folks who told you the white man is the right man, swindle Wendell, Anthony and others. Look at how that turned out for you. Some of y'all listen to Kwame Kilpatrick, a felon who has not paid this city and voted for Trump. Kilpatrick, don't even live here. When will you get the courage to use your own mind again? None of the folks running for mayor dared to challenge Mike Duggan. Here they come now saying, After saying he don't want the seat, no mom, Detroit will probably go through a real bankruptcy, and one of the black people running for mayor will get the blame. Uh, response from last night's affordable housing meeting, it didn't come up with holes to poke in the mayor's seven year plan, seven point plan, we not putting our kids to the police and we not sending women to the police either if they need housing. And there has not been real solutions to get immediate housing. Now you didn't have Angela e there, you didn't have any of the people that's opening up these new fancy developments that's pulling back from affordable housing. So none of that, all of that was fluff and lip service, and also at the lies of the state of the BS. Tonight, we'll be out there challenging those lies. We'll have an open town hall right outside the Hudson's building where our tax
Unknown Speaker
dollars right thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Melissa love.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. Good morning. I'm Melissa
Speaker 27
love, and I vote. November, 2020, nor, August 2024, for the listeners, please get out and vote, or they will vote for you and continue to take our resources and our contracts according to the city charter on the first page, the city council supposed to provide decent housing. But Mary Sheffield, you like, you not responsible for housing us. No, I will not go to a shelter. That's a step up from being incarcerated. There's no freedom in the shelter. You have no concern for the people in the city of Detroit. You are not for the people in the city of Detroit. All you want is our resources. You will not be our mayor in the city of Detroit. Mary Sheffield, we don't care about cash, dial and other wrappers or these dispensaries. You being, being taking pictures.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Cut off. Ma'am. Do you want to continue?
Speaker 27
Thank you. That's all was needed. Okay? Thank you
Unknown Speaker
our next caller, please.
Speaker 23
The next caller is Shoshana Shakur.
Speaker 28
Good morning. My name is Shoshana shakuha. I am an advocate for the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, and I speak to home property owners on a daily basis. Our people are suffering. They're suffering from being over assessed and over tax. And the coalition is calling on all members of the city council to do everything in your elected power to ensure Mayor Duggan follows the law, the property tax reform ordinance states City Council through the city's procurement process, shall hire an independent evaluator to complete an assessment ratio study each year. We are in March of 2025 and there are still no assessment ratio study completed. The dug in, at least we don't have it. The dug in administration is dragging his feet in violation of the law, which required the study to be done in February 2024, um city council, please put a stop in this madness and our people from suffering from these injustices. And I pray that my people in this our city, I pray that we quit pitting each other against each other, black against Hispanic, against Native American. That is what the rich powers to be want us to stop doing it. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller, Stephen Harmon,
Speaker 12
can I be heard? Yes,
Unknown Speaker
we can hear you.
Speaker 12
Previous color was full of hot air that you know that property tax is against the state constitution. There's no way they can implement it. You know, it's just a bunch of misleading lies from that doctor Bernadette. I forgot our last name and the Coalition for Tax Justice. There's no would they should be going to Lansing, not here, but to the point I look forward to the Duncan's final State of the City tonight. You know he was the best mayor in probably more Detroit history. You know, you don't have to agree with everything. I didn't agree with everything. But, you know, he brought the city out of bankruptcy. He actually developed a lot of these neighborhoods, you know, maybe not all of them. Maybe he could have done better, but he's the best mayor of Detroit in Detroit history. And you know, no matter what all these professional complainers say, I also want to mention that there's currently a campaign against an affordable housing development in Boston. Edison mentioned, I can be in something tonight, but, you know, it just concerns me. A lot of the nimbyism in the city, you know, there's a lot of affordable housing that is needed. And you know, it seems like people are just there again. All right, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is to hear on that.
Unknown Speaker
All right. Miss Ahmed, good morning.
Speaker 29
Good morning, Council, I think you need to correct that, Mr. Hiring guy, this is very legal you passed it. If it wasn't legal, you wouldn't have passed it. He doesn't know what he's talking about. The property tax reform ordinance addresses the systemic illegal taxes that you that you are still implementing on us. We're still being overtaxed. We we hired you to do your job, protect us and do the job that you said you wanted to do. If you don't want to do it, then resign. The only person on that counter that has a backbone and gut, says Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Callaway. She's the only one. She stands by herself. You all voted and blocked against even a study for the Renaissance Center to become to be looked at as a as a historical designation every time you guys vote in the block to give millions of dollars to Gilbert and the illegit and against the people that tells us who you actually work for. You don't work for us. You shouldn't even be running for mayor. You shouldn't be running for your job again, because you don't work for us. Your property tax reform ordinance is not being done. You post it may do your job. Make sure it gets that study gets done, and make sure that you are doing your job to do
Unknown Speaker
okay. Thank you. Miss Ahmad,
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is, we see you.
Unknown Speaker
We see you. Good morning.
Speaker 30
Oh. My goodness, good morning, and through the Chair, may I be heard? Yes, you can Okay, you can hear the frustration that's coming from a certain segment. Miss Lyons has every right to voice her opinion in this country. We are not living in Nazi Germany. We are living in America. We thought some people have a right to freedom of speech, but others don't. They are talking about following the law, and you seem to be devoid of understanding what the law is. God bless you.
Unknown Speaker
Let me tell you,
Speaker 30
Duggan is doing illegal things to the people in the city of Detroit, because you are treating us like second class citizens. You are turning the city into an apartheid and it's it's disgusting that they have eight members on this council, with the exception of council member waters, who tries to put forth meaningful conversation, as opposed to miss Callaway, who likes to be Angela Davis at one point, and then she turns into Mary Tyler Moore. You all voted for illegal contracts, unconstitutional contracts, and you all knew they were unconstitutional you have to bear that. You cannot tell me to follow the law when you don't follow the law yourself, what you're going to have in a minute is anarchy, because people are no longer going to sit in their homes and be quiet. You're going to do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 23
The next caller is William M Davis. Mr.
Speaker 31
Davis, good morning. Oh, good morning. Can I be heard? Yes, you can. I do also believe that this council and this mayor should do the right thing. The mayor and the city council have been neglecting city Detroit retirees. I think they've been neglecting senior citizens. I think they've been neglecting most neighborhoods, most communities, because most of us don't live downtown, midtown and Corktown. You know, we need to see more economic vitality in our communities. We need to see more housing. We need to see more, just more. You know, you know, we need to see more recreation centers. We need to see a whole lot more. And as a city truck retired, they have to pay an annuity. Call back. I find it offensive that, you know, y'all could give millions of dollars to billionaires who don't live up to their original agreement, but yet, guy, don't call anything back from them. You know, yet y'all allow businesses to move from one place to another that's chasing, you know, more more centers from the city, and more incentives from the county, more incentives from the state. You know, we need to make sure people are doing what's right. And what would be right is to make sure things are easier for retirees. Make sure things are easier for seniors. You know, once somebody turns 65 in this city, they should not have to pay property tax. People should not be losing their houses. And, you know, we should not be giving big money to millionaires and billionaires, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Veronica Smith,
Unknown Speaker
all right, good morning.
Speaker 32
Good morning. My name is Veronica Smith, and I'm an advocate for the Coalition of Property Tax Justice, and I'm going to give public comment to the man that city council address the property tax over assessment and implement the property tax reform ordinance by number one, addressing the systemic over assessment of properties worth less than $50,000 by passing in resolution asking that Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabri halt the foreclosure of homes worth less worth less than $50,000.02
Unknown Speaker
vote to send properties
Speaker 32
worth less than $50,000 to the Board of Review, and three release a copy of the 2024 assessment ratio produced by IAA Oh question, when do you expect a response from Mr. Alvin horn to your march 21 2025 memo requesting a status update on the I, A, A O study in February 2025 the University of Chicago released a study analyzing Detroit's 2025 assessment role. They found that the city continues to illegally inflate value of its lowest value homes, the property tax informed ordinance requires the city of Detroit, excuse me, city council to review
Speaker 1
all right. Thank you so much. And as you mentioned, line item 23.1 is a memorandum from our office that is going to the budget Finance and Audit Committee so that our assessor can provide an update on the status of the independent study, it's been brought to my attention that the study is complete. However, the contractor is still gathering everything to send over to the assessor's office, and once it gets to him, all of council will get the report. And so there is a memo again in committee so that Mr. Horn can come and provide a public report to the council, and then I think we're also arranging for him to come before the full body, I think the following Tuesday, to provide a report on the status of the independent study by the IA, oh, which, from my understanding, again, is complete, but again, it's still in the hands of the contractor, not the city, and so we're waiting to receive all of that data and information. Once it is received, council will all get a copy of the report and then proceed from there. Okay, thank you, ma'am for calling in, and we will continue
Unknown Speaker
the next caller. Sonia Brown,
Speaker 33
may I be heard? Yes, we can hear you. Good morning Council. I just I've listened to all my predecessors, and everyone is speaking as I would speak. It's time to stop these evictions. We're looking at generations being evicted out of homes. We're looking at our community members, our family members, our loved ones, being placed out on the streets. I have stated this before as I run Auntie nays house, Auntie nays village, I have seen so many come through here who have suffered the loss of their livelihoods, thrown into a dumpster. We're study talking about our homeless situation, but we're study putting people out into the streets. When you evict that household, you evicting mothers, grandmothers and children. That's three generations that we are putting out on the street, making susceptible to whatever falls to our loved ones in these community members. We need to stop these evictions, stop this over taxation, because I myself am suffering forward from it, and like many, I'm still trying to reach out to the tax board so that we can resolve these issues, and are getting nowhere. I heard your numbers yesterday. They're not adding up to what we're still concurring as our homeless population. We need to stop these evictions until we can get this homeless situation under control. We need not add to it by study putting people out into the streets by study, disrupting households and family members and least of all, I suffered from floods in my basement. Miko Williams and minis aided me. No one cut me a check for what I lost over here in the village due to my basements being flooded due to the
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is phone number ending in,
Unknown Speaker
I'm sorry, nine, nine.
Unknown Speaker
All right, good morning.
Speaker 34
Yes, good morning to everyone. To the city of Detroit. Detroit City Council. My name is Joyce Wong with the Virginia Park community coalition within the boundaries of the Virginia Park community, my first concern is, since we have districts 1234567, as opposed to at large, we should consider individual districts and their specific needs. It was suggested and voted on with the resolution by choice City Council for participatory budget, which encompass, encompasses this concept. The mayor said, No, he should have to be considered participatory budget as part of the 2025 budget district, an additional 10 to $15 million used to start the rehabilitation houses in various districts, as opposed to demolishing specifically, the 10 to $15 million from the demolition department budget can be used as a start to simply consider the housing shortage and housing rehabilitation number two, hopefully new mayor will address the Community Development Block Grant funds. This was a grant at one time through a proposal by Mayor Mike Duggan to HUD allows the mayor to make grant changes, and took our grant money and started a loan program called the Zero Interest Loan Program, whoever our newly elected mayor should seriously reconsider, excuse me, should seriously consider, and address HUD and make the changes back from a loan to a grant, as was initially intended by President drills r4 in 1974 I like to know what is happening to the interest of that loan. In addition, as mayor of the city of Detroit, Mike Duggan is responsible for the $600 million of over taxing, and yet he wants to run for governor. I yield my time. Thank you very much.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Miss. Miss Moore,
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is Frank Hammer.
Unknown Speaker
Frank Hammer, good morning.
Speaker 35
Good morning. President Sheffield, good morning. City Council and all those who can hear me, last Sunday across the country, there were hundreds of rallies in support of postal workers. The rallies were called by the National Letter sorry, National Association of lyric letter carriers. The slogans here in Detroit was by the postal workers, the ones who deliver the mail to us on a daily basis, was fight like hell. Hell no to privatization, hell no to attacks on us. And they call for the appeal for the solidarity of the Detroit community. What they're opposing coming out of the Trump White House, which is an effort to dismantle and privatize the most trusted public institution, if they get their way. It will eliminate the US Postal Service Board of Governors, stripping the Postal Service of independent oversight. It will abolish the Postal Regulatory Commission. It will carve up the Postal Service, jeopardizing 7.9 million jobs, raise shipping costs, driving inflation higher for businesses and consumers, sharply reduce services to rural America, including 51 million addresses where private carriers often do not deliver, and finally, destabilized commerce, affecting small businesses. I hope that Detroiters
Unknown Speaker
All right. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Our next caller is phone number ending in 270,
Unknown Speaker
good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Yes, yes, good morning. It's really shouting.
Speaker 36
Duggan needs to be stopped in his tracks. He's so actively involved in gentrifying the city and disempowering the residents of this of the city, for primarily black residents, just lying and breaking every law, major law that there is when it comes to bending over backwards for the fat cats, but when it comes to repairing the damage that is done with majority residents,
Unknown Speaker
then he cries that his hands are tied
Speaker 36
And he can't repair them because it would be illegal. This proposal in bond debacle, where's the oversight board that was supposed to be established to oversee those funds and the activities of that of that bond, $250 million principle? And again, it's illegal to set up a whole department, so called construction demolition department, using unlimited tax general obligation bond funds. That's why no city, except for Detroit, under Dutton, has ever done it. You can't set up a whole department, city department, and pay for its day to day operations using you TGL voter approval bonds, unless the voters voted for it and they didn't.
Unknown Speaker
Right. Thank you, Mr. Shelton,
Unknown Speaker
my next caller is not
Unknown Speaker
yes. Good morning. Good morning.
Speaker 32
The bankruptcy it was dropped on in our laps, and our clawback started without giving anyone an opportunity to if they could, to come up with the entire amount. So to this day, my pension is still being clawed back. It's 13 years later, at a six point, I think six and a half percent interest rate. I think that's ridiculous, and I think that the council needs to step up and because you will be a retiree one day, and I'm sure you couldn't on the drop of a dime, fork over 1000s of dollars and or spend the rest of your life paying back something that you do fully earn. So I just don't understand why you guys are still stagnant on the pensioners Mr.
Unknown Speaker
Apparently DTE and
Speaker 32
the city have merged, but no one's saying so, and that's why the solar is being fettered out to anyone except city workers. I worked there for 30 years. I earned my pension. I'm still getting clogged back. Renaissance is going to be an environmental hazard if you blow it up. I think we should take that and repurpose that property for the homeless, for the children, they don't have to die, you know, in garages, casino garages, another giveaway. Thanks.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Betty a Varner,
Speaker 3
uh, good morning to all within the sound of my voice, I'm Betty a Verner, and today I'm going to say I'm a concerned resident, born and raised of the city of Detroit. I'm concerned about our seniors and disabled folk being able to stay in their homes and get the assistance that they need. I'm asking everyone, please take this number D, triple, a, 313-446-4444, there's a program called My Choice waiver. The program allows you to have a higher income to be eligible for Medicaid. The focus of the program is to assist seniors in remaining in their homes. It's a federal government program. The Federal the federal government program states it's higher it's more expensive to have seniors and people are disabled in a nursing home. This program will assist seniors and disabled folk in being able to stay in their homes. The word is not getting out. There's a population of us who need this help. I am one of the folk, and I have received help through this program. 313-446-4440,
Unknown Speaker
all right. Thank you so much, Miss burner.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Bobby Johnson,
Unknown Speaker
Hello, can you hear me? Good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon.
Speaker 37
I like to say that I heard a whole bunch of people just really concerned about what's going on. What we failed to look at is that the time of giving tax abatements was the time when Coleman Young had to do this to get people to come into Detroit. Right now we have the Renaissance GM jumping over because they're coming on 27 years and they don't want to pay the taxes that are due now, we're giving other tax abatements that my children and other people's children will come up on the same time, and they're not going to want to pay again. What we failed to realize is that we're giving away our stake in Detroit. These tax abatements, these fake ordinances that you are not going to follow about the property taxes, these resolutions that really don't hold up to anything unless there's something behind it that is going to cause some kind of consequences. It's time for us to start taking these residents and people that vote for you and and their concerns. We, over here in Franklin Park, didn't get that money for our basements, and we flooded. I don't know how many times we had to fight to even get on the water backup. We need some fairness.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 23
Next caller is Master Plan update, community engagement matters.
Unknown Speaker
All right.
Speaker 38
Good afternoon, yes, good morning. May I be heard? Okay, so instead of a neighborhood beautification program, I think it would have been way more useful to spend that ARPA money on these literacy programs, especially because so many children fell behind in the shameful shutdown. I noted, as a teacher in Detroit public schools that some of the children who acted up really had reading problems. I could tell there wasn't anyone at home reading with them. So very disappointed on, you know, spending money on flowers, when we should just get people to stop littering, then take care of the kids. Imagine again, that if you're illiterate and you get a huge condemnation complaint for the solar farms. So you know, there how we do you've you've put the right to counsel, and people are getting evicted from their homes, which is good, but what about when the city is trying to confiscate their property? Also? Why would we trust the city when in the city's own web page, on their climate strategy plan, on page 12, it says the city was going to seek to put solar on city owned facilities and even issue an RFP, but Oh no, you're gonna go and just take people's property. Some people told me they're being bullied into taking deals and you're spending money buying houses that aren't even approved solar era. So this is just wrong. It's not the right way to
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is Karen hammer,
Unknown Speaker
good morning. Can you hear me?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, we can hear you. Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Hooray for literacy.
Speaker 29
Doge, attacks on the Department of Education undermine literacy, leaving us resource and personnel poor. Keep in mind, fully funded libraries and schools are literacy bedrock. 1/3 of Detroiters need schools and libraries to cross the digital divide, keep the funding for heist high high schools and head starts and title one right to council, law passed by the city council and 2022 prevents Homelessness and saves on emergency housing and relocation. It provides full free go full free legal help for tenants in the 36 District Court. The mayor declined using ARPA money to fully fund it. Long term money commitment will extend the program. So vote for it and work to add from other sources to last double d.is the way for Detroit residents. Those monies will encourage folks who be able to go to jobs appointments, and bring people into the city as well as continue the hammer.
Unknown Speaker
She was
Unknown Speaker
next. Caller is Mr. Ru
Unknown Speaker
Yes. Me,
Unknown Speaker
Can y'all hear clearly? Yes, we can hear you.
Speaker 39
Okay, I've been listening to all the comments. And Nene want what she want. She wants y'all to stop saying her mama killed herself. Y'all didn't want to do it. So now, Imma take it. Mary Sheffield, Jane, say this is to Michael Edward Duggan, the mayor now Conrad Malik and Dante Goss Dante over at the Board of police commissioners, he in the way. Conrad is in the way on three different levels, the shelter over on Westwood in Chicago. He in the way, because he boys with that pastor, that church, Saint Suzanne. He in the way Alvin Horne, tax assessor. In the way with all these over taxation and Michael Edward Duggan and Larry Sheffield. You no because I told you. James Tate, you've been playing with my name now I'm gonna play with yours. Gabriella Santiago Romero did not read no report on the findings on the allegations of voter fraud by anonymous citizen. Why isn't that report known to everybody? Mary Elaine Beckman, there is no absentee ballot with her real signature on it over at the Department of Elections, I'm not playing take the tag off the girl's mother. I'm gonna turn the whole city upside down, and I can do it
Unknown Speaker
all right. Our next caller, please.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is iPhone.
Unknown Speaker
Hey, good afternoon. Oh, I'm sorry.
Unknown Speaker
Matthew heard Yes, we can hear you. How you doing? Whitney
Speaker 40
Clark, here, I was just calling in lot of passion on the call today. Sometimes this is very fascinating, but just want to reinforce, reiterate what we've been hearing today. It's just a tough time in the city and and I don't need to share this, but I'll do it anyway. Whoever leads Next, we've gotta be particularly careful. Do not self destruct. Um, we're calling people together now we're all over the place, we're over social media, we're coming down to city council. We've got to come together, and we've got to find solutions that can move us forward. And I believe this is my personal salute, my personal belief. We've got to start with small, common sense goals that allow us to rebuild trust and build rapport and that allow us to show forth good faith now with everything that's going on and many of your concerns are accurate, the all hope still isn't lost, if we come together, if we can find a way to be as upset and as mad as we are, but still allow cooler heads to prevail so that we can move forward with actionable items. I think that's what, that's what's going to create some real changes. So let me say this for the last few seconds, if you, if you if you bring the retirees together, if you bring, if you bring the people that have been wrongly, uh, over text and all those other people, we can create change. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Joanne.
Unknown Speaker
Joanne,
Unknown Speaker
good morning.
Speaker 1
This is doing work. Okay, let's come back. I'm not sure if this is Joanne Warrick, but she did speak. We can go to the next caller.
Speaker 23
The next caller is crystal, right.
Speaker 21
All right. Good morning. Good morning. I would like to thank Councilwoman Calloway for answering my call. I talked to her community leader. I found out what district I am in. Again, I was on the borderline like I said, I can read Mr. Tate. I left you a message you never returned my calls. Stop offering numbers if you don't want to return a call. I don't expect it one in a matter of minutes, but after a week, I would think so. Getting back on the you know, again, you guys are asking for people to be respectful. Y'all not being respectful. Y'all not being respectful. To the blacks, the citizens of Detroit. You want to shut you want to knock down something that the taxpayers gotta pay 280, $6 million for. It makes no sense. It makes no sense whatsoever. Um Councilwoman, Mary waters, thank you for helping. Miss Willis, this is what your job is supposed to do. This is y'all need to lead by example, by these two wonderful Council women to help. Mary um Sheffield, you never answer your phone. You never answer your phone. For these people, they need help. They keep coming up here every week saying the same thing, I'm new, but I'm not new. I've been in Detroit. I just left, changed my address. I'm back, but I've been always in Detroit. You better ask I support and promote black owned businesses, and my money could be spent to build African town. You want to spend money housing other people and tell the people that are homeless that they can't stay there because they're not an immigrant, is an insult. You can you build these buildings, right? Ukraine for them to come.
Speaker 23
Okay? All right. Next Caller, please. Next caller is Joanne Manning's iPhone. I
Unknown Speaker
Our next caller. I'm sorry, what was the name
Unknown Speaker
Joanne Manning's iPhone. Okay,
Unknown Speaker
go right ahead. Good morning. You
Unknown Speaker
all right, good morning caller.
Speaker 41
Good morning Matt, be heard. Yes, we can hear you. Good morning Council members. Very good presentation. Council member waters on the literacy program, and I'm calling a two fold call this morning. One is ABC mobile vision to 2015, my husband and I, we realized the problem with literacy in the school systems, and we decided to start a vision program in which we were able to address some of those literacy problems by taking the Vision Program and took a public school system and addressing that little piece of literacy. So ABC mobile vision is a vision program going into the schools, addressing the literacy also granny farm. Granny Farm is a is a cannabis Growth Facility on Detroit East Side. Want to say, council members, we really need your support with the cannabis industry, because we are sinking and it's just so expensive for us. Some of the things that we're doing with our business since we've been on the east side, we're definitely an impact and very positive impact in the community. We've done multiple communities events as well as participate in the neighborhood cleanup. We provide our own neighborhood cleanup twice a year, in which we knock on the neighbors doors. If you go down there, where we are located in a three block radius of anywhere, they know that building on the corner and who it belongs to, most of the neighbors in the neighborhood supports us. Not only do we provide community cleanups, we also have supporters from larger stores in the area who also comes down to support us. So granny farm, connect.
Speaker 23
Okay, thank you and the last caller for public comment, phone number ending in 169
Unknown Speaker
All right. Caller, 169
Speaker 36
Hello, hello. Can you guys hear me? Yes, we can.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, great. Um, I just
Speaker 36
want to say thank you all for praying for our brother, Cunningham. Keep the energy up. Listen y'all. Cunningham is a very poor man, so to create traps and snares is very wicked. Touch not God's anointed, neither do his servant, Cunningham, no harm. Karma can be very harmful. God is in control. Don't let karma plague you all again. Please, please, please help him. Do not hurt him. Thank you. Councilwoman Callaway for doing a bus right along with Cunningham and donating $100 in bus to tickets. We really appreciate it. Those are some of the recent blessings that I've seen on Cunningham's Facebook page. And let's keep it going. Thank you for my time.
Speaker 1
Okay, thank you as well. All right, that will conclude all of our public comment for this morning, and we will now proceed back to our agenda. You
Speaker 1
all right understanding committee reports for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee from the building safety and engineering and environmental department.
Speaker 37
Council Member durha, a resolution line item 17.1
Unknown Speaker
council member durha, thank you, Madam
Speaker 8
President. Line item 17.1 is a resolution of authorization for a proposed resolution to update and amend the current elevating device fee schedule for the building safety engineering and environmental department Move for approval for line item 17.1
Unknown Speaker
all right, are there any objections on this outline item?
Speaker 1
Hearing no objections, the resolution will
Unknown Speaker
be approved request away from line item 17.1
Speaker 1
and Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 17.1
Unknown Speaker
from the General Services Department.
Speaker 37
Council Member durha, a resolution line item 17.2
Unknown Speaker
council member durha, thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 8
Line item 17.2 is a resolution of authorization for a proposed fee schedule for duck and chicken licensing care and control division Move for approval for line item 17.2
Speaker 1
all right. Discussion, with discussion, discussion. Council member Pro Temp tape. Thank you,
Speaker 42
Madam President, I do know, through you to the chair, there was a walk on that was to be replacing this particular item. I don't know if you have been made aware or you have it in your possession. Just wanted to make sure,
Speaker 8
through you, Madam President, to President Pro Tem, from my understanding, this draft was already updated in the ordinance language and provided the clarity and the result of and the resolution language, okay that we did not need a walk on, from what we were hearing from the Law Department, I believe okay.
Unknown Speaker
We can have somebody confirm
Speaker 42
only three, three Madam President only, because I was told that this morning myself. So just trying to get some some clarity, see
Unknown Speaker
mr. Washington or good morning.
Speaker 43
Madam Chair and Committee, if we can bring this item back to the end. I wasn't looking at myself this morning. That Okay? Proton, Oh,
Unknown Speaker
absolutely. I mean, okay, all right. Is there
Unknown Speaker
a motion? Member, Durand, I moved
Speaker 8
to bring back line item 17.2 at the end of our agenda. Okay?
Speaker 1
Hearing no objections. We will move this to the end of our agenda for the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement, Council
Speaker 37
Member Johnson, two resolutions, nine items, 18.1 and 18.2
Unknown Speaker
versus contract number 6005283,
Speaker 37
dash, a one, 100% city funding. Amendment One to provide an extension of time and an increase of funds for monitoring the performance of annual Good Neighbor plan commitments by adult use marijuana licensees, contractor, BCA, three LLC, total contract amount, 180,000 that's for Creole. Next contract is contract number 6004656, dash, 831, 100% city funding. Amendment three, to provide an increase of funds for pre litigation services in connection with condemnation matters relating to the Coleman, a young International Airport, total contract amount 500,000 that's for law. Council member Johnson, two resolutions. Council
Unknown Speaker
member Johnson, thank you,
Unknown Speaker
Madam President, Move for approval.
Speaker 1
Discussion, all right. Discussion. Member Benson
Speaker 10
18.1, are we receiving a report on the Good Neighbor plans and who's complying
Unknown Speaker
whomever? Member Johnson,
Speaker 9
thank you, Madam President, we did receive a report from Creo relative to the Good Neighbor program. I did after we received the initial report, asked for a deeper dive in district court. Not sure if that's something that you'd like to request as well,
Speaker 10
through through the chair to the administration, I would like that same level of reporting for the third district as well. And then who can I get a commitment from for that?
Speaker 43
Mr. Washington, yes. Um through the chair. If we can promote Kim James, okay,
Unknown Speaker
you will promote Kim James. I
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 1
Miss Kim James, are you there? Good morning? Yes, I am. Can you hear me? Okay, we can hear you. We can't see you, but if you would like to proceed, member Benson has some questions regarding the program.
Speaker 44
Sure, if you don't mind, I had some stitches, so I have a bandage on site. Don't want to come on camera right now. But yes, member Benz, or through the Chair, I'm sorry. Good morning everyone. Member Benson, yes, we can provide you that report and to any other city council members who would like to receive the same report for their district, where we can provide that. We would appreciate it if this didn't hold up the contract, but we can surely provide you that information this week. I
Speaker 10
mean, James, I'm looking forward to that. That information, I believe, probably should go out to everyone I'm hearing from my colleague to the West in district two that she would like the same information for district two, that for everybody. Everyone. Appreciate it.
Speaker 44
Thank you through the chair. That's no problem. We will get those two out to everyone this week.
Unknown Speaker
Okay? Pro Tem, thank
Speaker 42
you. Thank you. And director James for clarity, if you can send out all of the districts to each council member, that way, it's not just relegated to each council members potential specific district, but I think it'd be helpful for all of us to see what each was is happening in each district. That would be helpful. Thank you, ma'am.
Speaker 44
Through chair. Okay, we will do, I will do one combined report and send it through the liaison.
Unknown Speaker
All right. Thank you, member, member young,
Unknown Speaker
I just want to ask, do you do one for the entire city as well?
Speaker 44
Through the Chair? Yes, my plan would be to submit a report to you that shows you each district separately, and if you'd like it in total, we can provide that as well. What
Unknown Speaker
I want to hear Thank you,
Unknown Speaker
Madam Chair, yes.
Speaker 45
Thank you. Thank you. Miss James. Why wasn't the report set prior to requesting an amended contract for an increase of $75,000 why not send us a comprehensive report prior to requesting an extension?
Speaker 44
Well, through chair member Callaway, we did provide a report to the IRS committee. I'm not sure if it made it to the full body, but we did provide a report to the committee upon
Speaker 45
through the chair, to miss James, a comprehensive report city wide, covering all districts, or just to the council person who chairs the committee who requested it for her district through
Speaker 44
The chair. Of course, through the chair, the report provided was a general report discussing the program and the entire city, the statistics for the entire city, so it was not broken down by council district, but we have no problem providing that by this week.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, thank you. You're welcome chair.
Speaker 1
Okay, thank you. Any additional questions on 18.1 all right. Hearing none. A motion was made to approve 18.1
Unknown Speaker
and 18.2
Unknown Speaker
any objections?
Speaker 1
Hearing, no objections, the two resolutions will be approved
Unknown Speaker
from the law department. Council
Speaker 37
member Johnson, three resolutions, line items 18.3 through 18.5
Unknown Speaker
council member Johnson, thank
Speaker 9
you, Madam President, Move for approval on line items 18.3 through 18.5 these are various lawsuit settlement requests,
Unknown Speaker
all right, hearing, no objections.
Speaker 1
The three resolutions will be approved from the Human Resources classification and compensation division
Speaker 37
council member Johnson, a resolution line item 18.6
Speaker 9
council member Johnson, thank you, Madam President. Move for approval. This line item is a request to amend the 2024 2025 official compensation schedule for the first assistant chief education for the fire department, for the police department, my apologies
Unknown Speaker
any objections.
Speaker 1
Hearing on the one resolution will be approved. Madam
Speaker 9
President, yes, I'd like to request a waiver for line item 18.6
Unknown Speaker
All right, any objections to a waiver
Unknown Speaker
hearing, none that action will be taken
Speaker 1
for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement council
Speaker 37
president pro tem James Tate, two resolutions, line items, 19.1 and 19.2 noting that they are both contracts for the housing and revitalization department versus contract number 6006998, 100% grant funding to administer distribution processes for home based childcare startup grants. Contractor, IFF, total contract amount 175,000
Unknown Speaker
next contract is contract number 6007040,
Speaker 37
100% city funding to provide an emergency agreement for after hours and weekend help, line response, street outreach and transportation coordination for unsheltered individuals and families. Contractor, Motor City Mission total, contract amount, 250,000
Unknown Speaker
Council President, pro temp Tate, two resolutions,
Unknown Speaker
all right. Thank you so much. Pro Temp Tate,
Speaker 42
Madam President, I move approval of line items, 19.1 and 19.2 please.
Speaker 1
Question, yep, and I was just going to say, move to discuss. I'm not sure. Do we have anyone on for 19.2 mr. Washington in 19 we have one for 19.1 for 19.1 in 19.2
Speaker 43
Yes, through the chair. We do have Lisa Sturges online for 19.1 and for 19.2 we have Tara listener, okay, we
Speaker 1
will promote both of them and member Calloway. If you want to start with 19.1 go right here. You
Unknown Speaker
okay and tear lines,
Speaker 23
there was a second both been promoted. They just need to turn on their cameras.
Speaker 45
Oh, good morning. No, sorry, good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, remember Callaway from just
Unknown Speaker
have to unmute your mic. Miss Sturgis,
Speaker 46
good morning. Or, I mean, Yep, good afternoon. Yes,
Speaker 45
good afternoon. This is a one month contract. Or am I missing something? I said it ends on April 30, 2025
Speaker 46
that's correct. We the grant funding itself ends at the end of April. So this is we're a little bit behind schedule. We had originally tried to utilize this funding for the same purposes, but utilizing a different organization. However, it got all the way through, even approved by city council, and then the agency was not able to sign the contract due to our own charter, and so we had to start fresh again. So the timeline, timeline is very tight. However, that I have the organization that we will be working with already has processes in place, as they have have managed multiple grant funding opportunities for child care providers, and so we are certain that we'll be able to move this forward and end at the end of April. Okay.
Speaker 45
Thank you. I'm just trying to understand. So this is a one month contract, $475,000
Unknown Speaker
or does it extend beyond April 2025,
Speaker 46
so the the contract itself is for IFF to distribute funds to home based providers that will expand based on zoning, from a family home to a group home, or those that want to open. And so the funding is for that initial funding to get them going through licensing. And so it should be a fairly quick turnaround, because the funding is needed immediately in order to move forward with licensing.
Speaker 45
Okay, so through the Chair. I'm just trying to understand. So after April 30, 2025, do they come back again for money beyond the $175,000
Speaker 46
Nope. This is it. It is one time funding for child care programs to be able to either expand or to open a group home. Okay? Thank you, yeah, sorry. I took a while to answer that. I apologize.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, thank you council member Benson, all
Speaker 10
right, thank you. And so thank you, and glad to see that we're going to be supporting our home based child care centers. And you, I had this conversation, the narrative that I see that we're $15,000 seat short, versus, in my conversations with the industry in the third district, that we have a over capacity of seats. And so I'm hoping that we're looking to support our home base Early Learning Centers, beyond just looking to expand and add more seats, we really need to fill the seats that we have that are under, that are underutilized, because all that's going to do is just add to a glut and then further drive down the cost and the ability to recruit and pay and have the people pay for this vital service. So just hoping that we're really being nuanced here, and that we're thinking long term about the health of this community, and just the fact that we're going to be losing your services in your office moving forward is also a concern. But with the conversation we've had today with the education around adult literacy, hopefully that can come into a conversation about how we can support early childhood learning as well as adult literacy from the city of Detroit, and I know that the foundations are very excited about the opportunity to do that, but I'm just really concerned that we're going to be losing our services in that office and that we won't be doing anything in that space when there is such a huge need, but it's hoping to get that support when it comes from your office to ensuring that our existing early learning childcare centers are being prioritized when it comes to this type of support, especially those who are already there but are under capacity when it comes to empty seats. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you, Madam Benson, all right, any additional questions on 16.1 okay, if not. Thank you so much. And Tara Linzer, excuse me. I'm so sorry 19.1 and Tara Linzer for 19.2 disregarding the 24 hour support. Now for those who are unsheltered, if you could just briefly explain to residents here who may be listening again with this exactly what me and the number now, even if it's after hours, how that process would actually work for referrals in possible transportation to shelter
Speaker 47
afternoon. So this contract is to provide funding to Motor City and mission, who will be responsible for answering phone or phone calls to residents who are unsheltered and need assistance that night. So the process right now is when residents call the Detroit housing resources helpline, 866-313-2520, the after 6pm or on the weekends, when the helpline is closed, there is going to be an away message. That away message will say that if you are currently unsheltered, you have two options. The first is to go to your closest police precinct where you can then be connected to an outreach team. Or the second is that you can call Motor City men mission, who that phone number is 313-500-1956, and they answer that phone number between 6pm and 8am Monday through Friday and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. And so they will talk to you about your housing crisis. If it is a housing need that is not I'm unsheltered that night. They'll explain what the housing resources services can do and encourage residents to call back during business hours if they are experiencing homelessness and are unsheltered, they will also talk to you, try to see if there's any other safe place that you can stay that night through diversion assistance, and then send an outreach team out to meet you in the community and if needed, connect you to drop in center beds where you will have a safe place to stay that night.
Speaker 1
Okay, thank you. And I just wasn't familiar with Motor City minute. Motor City midton having any call center or capabilities to address, like incoming calls. So just capacity wise, they have the ability to address both answering calls that may come to them after hours, and then also the ability to do provide the transportation and outreach.
Speaker 47
Yes, that is correct. So the volume on the evening hours and midnight hours is fairly is fairly low. It's around about 10 to 12 calls a night. So they have enough capacity for the staff and then also having an outreach team in the community, they have, they have two vans in the community to go to residents and meet them face to face.
Speaker 1
Okay? And we foresee this being the only entity taken on the work of the 24 hour portion. Or do you foresee additional contractors coming in?
Speaker 47
So currently, right now, through June 30, they will be the entity. We do have an open procurement right now to secure these services through the end of June of 2026, and so that procurement is open right now. And so we will, you know, adhere to the procurement, that procurement process for that vendor.
Speaker 1
Okay, okay, thank you for that. And again, just want to make sure people were aware that they will still dial the same 1-866-313-2520, number, even if it's after hours, but then will be directed to this particular vendor, which is the Motor City. What is it? Motor City, midton, admission. Mission, yes, okay, all right. Thank you so much. Any additional questions? Yes. Member Callaway, thank
Speaker 45
you so much. Do you advertise or post anything at the transit center? I had an opportunity to visit the Jason Hargrove on, I think it was Thursday or Friday, and also the Rosa Parks. And those are shelters. Those are being used as shelters, temporary shelters. So I didn't see anything posted regarding housing opportunities or emergencies. I looked all over the place at both locations, I saw not nothing posted. So is that opportunity there to post these services and these numbers so if people are there homeless in those transit centers, will know who and where to call and what kind of services they will get when they make that phone call. Is that a possibility
Speaker 47
through the Chair? Yes, absolutely. We're actually finalizing an informational flyer with media services right now, we're in the final stages. Once that flyer is finalized, it will go to the transit center, bus shelters, green light locations, so that folks can be aware of those services. In addition, we do have street outreach teams that visit both of the transit centers on a regular basis, including the midnight outreach teams, and coordinate with with the Transportation Department on, you know, making sure we try to connect those residents. So we absolutely will be posting in those locations,
Speaker 45
okay, and through the Chair. Thank you so much for that. I'm looking forward to seeing those postings, also on the actual busses. I remember riding the busses long time ago, and they would have announcements and just posters announcing whatever is going on in the city on the bus. I didn't see that on the bus that I was on. It was the Woodward Avenue, the number four bus with Tiffany as the driver, who was a mother of five, and she told me she was homeless, so I connected her with resources on that day, but we have bus drivers who are homeless, at least that one was with five children, so she didn't she didn't have any information about how to get housing, because I know she probably doesn't want to put her children in a shelter. She probably would do that temporarily, and I hope that maybe she's listening, or Mr. Cunningham, because I think he has had some interaction with her before, so I'm Hope he's listening and has captured these numbers. If not, I'll make sure I see her. But if we can just put some information on the actual busses, because you there was one gentleman there who was just going around and around, he would get off and then get back on the bus. That's what he told me. So he was sleeping on the bus, but he was probably homeless or under house. All right, thank you so much, and please look into posting this information on the inside of the busses, where you have a captive audience. And thank you so much. Miss Madam Chair,
Speaker 1
all right, thank you. Member Calloway, all right, any additional questions or comments? Okay? Hearing no additional questions. A motion was made for approval of 19.1 and 19.2 Hearing no objections. Both resolutions would be approved
Unknown Speaker
from the law department.
Speaker 37
Council President, pro tem James Tate, a resolution line item 19.3
Speaker 42
Pro Tem Tate. Madam President, I move approval of line item 19.3
Speaker 1
line item 19.3 is setting a public hearing for the Business Improvement Zone. Any objection to 19.3 Hearing no objections, the one resolution will be approved.
Speaker 42
Present Yes. Putin request a waiver online out of 19.3 please.
Speaker 1
Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 19.3 Thank you,
Unknown Speaker
moving to the housing and revitalization department.
Speaker 37
Council President, pro tem James Tate, two resolutions, nine items, 19.4 and 19.5
Speaker 42
Pro Temp Tate, Madam President, we can take these separately. Move to approve line item 19.5 please.
Unknown Speaker
Move to approve 19.5 Yes, ma'am. All right.
Speaker 1
This is move for discussion. All right. This is for a any z for the Stafford House council member Benson. Excuse me, I was looking for the he wanted to take them separately. Okay, any discussion on 19.5 All right, hearing none. A motion has been made for approval for the Nez for the Stafford house on 93 01 Oakland Avenue in district five. Any objections, carrying no objections, the one resolution would be approved. Thank you,
Speaker 42
Madam President, there's a request to send line item 19.4 back to committee. Apparently, there is a provision that calls for two community meetings prior to this being approved by the body, and that has not taken place yet, so I'd like to move to send line item 19.4 back to committee. All
Speaker 1
right, discussion still. Member Benson, no, okay, any objections on sending this back to committee hearing, none that action will be taken from the planning and development department. Council
Speaker 37
President Pro Tem James Tate, a resolution line item 19.6
Speaker 42
Pro Temp Tate, Madam President, I move approval of line item 19.6 please. All
Speaker 1
right. Line item 19.6 is the approval and authorization to accept to easement, easement interest in furtherance of the Detroit charge ahead initiative, any objections, Hearing no objections. The one resolution will be approved.
Unknown Speaker
What's the waiver of 19.6
Unknown Speaker
there are no objections. A waiver will be attached to 19.6
Speaker 1
for the public health and safety standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement,
Speaker 37
customer, Santiago Romero, a resolution, line item, 20.1,
Unknown Speaker
it's contract number 6006935,
Speaker 37
revenue to provide the removal and sale of scrap metal. Contractor is Ferris processing and trading company. Revenue rate is 55 to 85% of American metal market commodity prices. That's for public works. Council Member Santiago Romero, a resolution. Council
Unknown Speaker
Member Santiago Romero motion to approve,
Speaker 1
right Hearing no objections. The one resolution will be approved from the
Unknown Speaker
Department of Public Works, administration.
Speaker 37
Council Member Santiago Romero, a resolution. Line item, 20.2
Speaker 1
Council Member Santiago Romero, motion to approve. This is a resolution to install banners.
Unknown Speaker
Any objections.
Unknown Speaker
This is for the Detroit Grand Prix
Unknown Speaker
Hearing none the one resolution will be approved. From the
Speaker 1
Department of Public Works city engineering division.
Speaker 37
Council Member Santiago Romero, two resolutions, nine items, 20.3 and 20.4
Speaker 1
Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to approve 20.4 All right, 20.4 is for on petition on behalf of Henry Ford Health, for various encroachments, for directional signage. Are there any objections to 20.4 hearing? None. The one resolution will be approved. Member. Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President, motion to bring back in one week. 20.3 this is a petition from the International Bridge Company for an encroachment. We know that they currently have an agreement with community, and I just want to ensure that this encroachment won't cause any issues to the parcel that will then be going to community. So I would like to speak with them this week. I'm already in conversations, but would like to bring this back in one week. All right, Hearing no objections. 20.3
Unknown Speaker
will be brought back in one week,
Speaker 1
moving to the new business portion of the agenda from the mayor's office. Council
Speaker 37
member young, two resolutions, line items, 21.1 and 21.2
Unknown Speaker
council member Young, thank
Speaker 11
you, Madam President, I moved to approve line item 20.1 and 21 No, 21.1 and 21.2,
Speaker 1
all right, these are various events that have received departmental approvals, hearing, no objections. The two resolutions will be approved. Any waivers, no okay from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Speaker 37
Council member young two resolutions, line items, 21.3 and 21.4 noting that they are both for the General Services Department. First contract is contract number 6004519, dash a one, 100% city funding. Amendment One, to provide an extension of time only for waste removal services for the fleet operation. Contractor is Berks works environmental LLC. Total contract amount, $685,980
Unknown Speaker
next contract is contract number 6004566,
Speaker 37
dash, a one 100% city funding. Amendment One to provide an extension of time only for light duty vehicle repair service. Contractor, Jefferson, Chevrolet company, total contract amount, 2,051,000 council member young, two resolutions. Council member young
Speaker 11
Thank you, Madam President, I moved to approve one items, 21.3 and 21.4
Speaker 1
All right. Motion has been made. And are there any objections to the two resolutions? Hearing no objections the resolutions would be approved
Unknown Speaker
from the Office of Development and grants.
Unknown Speaker
Council member young, a resolution line item 21.5
Unknown Speaker
council member Young, thank you,
Speaker 11
Madam President, I moved to approve line item 21.5
Speaker 1
this is a submittal of a grant application for the Clemente Park. Are there any objections? Hearing? None. The one resolution will be approved. Yes, sir,
Speaker 11
thank you, Madam President. Um, I will request a waiver online item 21.5,
Speaker 1
Hearing no objections, a waiver will be attached to 21 point
Speaker 37
under resolutions. Council member waters, a resolution line item 21.6
Unknown Speaker
council member waters,
Speaker 4
thank you, Madam President. I move. Move approval.
Speaker 1
All right, a motion has been made to approve, and this is a resolution to recognize March as Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Detroit. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections. The resolution will be approved. Madam President, yes, ma'am, the question waiver, Hearing no objections. A waiver will be attached to 21.6 and we will go back now to our line item for 17.2
Unknown Speaker
we all received a amended resolution. I
Unknown Speaker
and so. Member durha, if you would like to move the amended version,
Unknown Speaker
motion to walk online item 17.2,
Unknown Speaker
all right. Are there any objections?
Speaker 1
Hearing? None. This item will be walked on in council. Member durha,
Speaker 8
thank you, Madam President, motion to approve line item 17.2, as amended.
Speaker 1
Discussion, and this is regarding the establishment of licensing fees for ducks and chickens within the city of Detroit. Council member Vincent,
Speaker 10
thank you. Let's look at the resolution. It requires a $40 licensing fee. Is that an annual fee or a one time fee?
Unknown Speaker
That is, that is an annual fee, sir.
Speaker 10
Okay, thank you. And then it talks about certificate of health for all foul. What is the definition of certificate of health? Is that something you need from a veterinarian? Or can you just simply say my foul are in good health?
Speaker 42
Thank you for that, Madam President, I would like for the department to respond to that particular questions. I'm not exactly sure, to be honest with you, thank you for that. Okay,
Speaker 43
Mr. Washington, yes, through the chair, we do have director Perkins online. Okay, we
Unknown Speaker
will promote director Perkins. Applause,
Unknown Speaker
Director Parkins, are you with us?
Unknown Speaker
He has been moved over. Okay.
Unknown Speaker
Hi, good afternoon. Good afternoon.
Speaker 1
So go ahead. No, go right ahead. Director Perkins,
Speaker 18
I was just gonna say. I was just asked to join. I was on, but I was not able to listen. So if the question could be repeated, yes, ma'am.
Unknown Speaker
Member Vincent, alright. Thank
Speaker 10
you. Thank you. Director Perkins, just looking at the resolution, it requires a certificate of health for all foul, just looking to see, how are the practitioners going to be getting that certificate of health? Is that from a veterinarian? Or can you personally, as the owner of the foul, say that my chickens and ducks are in good health?
Speaker 18
So, no, it can't be personal. It would have to be from a veterinarian or a license agency that could, could, could speak to the health of the file. Yes,
Speaker 10
right, and that's part of the annual $40 licensing fee. Yes. And do we know how much it cost to get a certificate of good health
Speaker 18
for foul. I do not know offhand. No, I can find out and let you know. Okay, let's be interested
Unknown Speaker
in that information. Thank you. You're
Speaker 45
welcome. Madam Chair, yes. Member Callaway, yeah. Director Perkins, is this retroactive? Because we've had residents in the city of Detroit who have already had these, you know, the chickens and the ducks in their care without the license even before the ordinance was passed. So is this a retroactive license requirement?
Speaker 18
So the license requirement is intended for all residents who have the file at their residence. And so yes, if someone has the file now, they are required to get a license because it was not prohibited by ordinance in the past. Now it is. They still have to follow the rules of the ordinance.
Speaker 45
So would so it would be retroactive then. So if they didn't have the license and they had these file illegally, because we didn't have an ordinance, so now they would have to
Speaker 18
comply. Now they would have to comply with the ordinance. Yes, ma'am,
Speaker 45
okay, so that that that is for those who had them prior to the ordinance, then correct. Yeah, so that is retroactive. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
Speaker 42
Thank you, Madam President. So just for clarity, it's not necessarily retroactive. What it is is for anyone moving forward, now that the ordinance is in place, they will then have to pay this particular fee. It does not go back because history. We do not have a listing of those who were in the terms of my colleague illegally having chickens or ducks. But what this does is this, there's no retroactive component to it. It is all moving forward. So if you're looking to have chickens and ducks, it is required, whether you had them in the past or currently intend to have or intend to have them, or currently have them, you must apply for this particular license, and this is the information that is applicable. Thank you. Thank
Speaker 45
you. Madam Chair, on that point. Member Callaway, yeah, on that point, so thank you for answering my question. Director Perkins, so if you have had chickens and ducks in the past, you now have to pay the fee because you had these file and we didn't have an ordinance. You just had them. So now, how are you going to track it? How are you going to know who is now getting into the business of having Chuck's chickens and ducks and those who are already having them outside of because we didn't have an ordinance.
Speaker 18
So through the Chair, I think what I need to do is clarify some wordings. There's some language when I say that yes, there is a fee that even those who may have had these animals at their residence prior to the passing of the ordinance, if they still have the the animals there, they will have to get them licensed. If they no longer have those animals, we would not go back and say, Hey, in 2019 you have filed you need to license them, but they're no longer there, right? So going forward, if anyone who lives in the city of Detroit have these file at their home, they would have to license the animals. We do have two animal control officers that's dedicated specifically. They're getting trained. They're learning all the laws, all the things that need to be learned, as it relates to monitoring these types of animals at residents in the city of Detroit, and so as it comes up with the same with any animal we have, with dogs that have to be licensed, or even with the limit on number of dogs that we have in the house, as it comes up, and it's a we address it at that time.
Speaker 45
Thank you so much, Director Perkins, you're welcome. Thank
Speaker 1
you. And director Perkins, just want to make sure that there's some type of educational and outreach awareness around the need now to have licenses for those who currently have them. And didn't know, I know, probably there'll be some enforcement of ticketing, and before that starts to happen when it makes sure people are aware that they do now have to get a license. So what does that process look like? Yes,
Speaker 18
so that's part of the training that our officers are getting now. And so well, before we start ticketing and violating issue, not violations for not obeying the ordinance. We will do educational seminars in all of the districts so that the community is aware.
Speaker 1
Okay, thank you council member young Thank you
Speaker 11
Mayor, President. I think this would probably go to attorney Graham Anderson here. I don't know if this applies or not, but I'm kind of thinking about ex post facto law. I know there is constitutional prohibitions against this type of stuff. I just want to know, are we protected here with this at all? We are talking about criminalizing a past act and living penalties here, just what's our legal exposure, if you will, through the chair
Speaker 48
Graham Anderson law department. I don't believe that's an issue here, Council Member. We're not trying to throw anyone in jail for not rush during their chickens or ducks. I just want to make but I appreciate that cause of concern. Yeah,
Speaker 11
I just want to make sure we clarify that quickly. I didn't think so. I didn't think it's being applied that way anyway. I just want to kind of let anybody know for the public, that's not what we're doing here. Okay, we're not going to go after people and, you know, bankrupt them because they got hens in their backyard or whatever, right? Okay, absolutely not. Thank you, Councilman. That's it.
Speaker 45
Thank you. Chair, all right. Council member, Callaway, thank you so much. Director Perkins, do we have our systems in place? Because we know bird flu is going around from backyard chickens and ducks. We know that's been in the news lately on the outskirts of Detroit. I'm not aware of any cases in Detroit proper. But do we have our systems in place to address any bird flu type symptoms? Or is that a question for the health department director Perkins, so
Speaker 18
it definitely is a question for the health department, but we are working closely with the Health Department on this ordinance change to make sure that when we're doing our education piece, we're adding that part as well so the community can be educated on proper handling and what to look for if those things are aren't met. Thank
Speaker 45
you. And through the chair to you. Director Perkins, I don't know if you can answer this or not, because this is all new to all of us. Is there an alert system in place, like an emergency alert, that will let folks know someone in your community has contracted bird flu
Speaker 18
through the chair? Not to my knowledge, I don't have the answer to that. Okay,
Unknown Speaker
all right. Thank you so much.
Unknown Speaker
Rosen tape, President,
Speaker 42
just want to make it very clear, there's been no cases of bird flu in the city of Detroit, but we do have
Unknown Speaker
one more,
Unknown Speaker
yep, because I don't talk we need to you do. Alright. So
Speaker 42
there's been no cases of bird flu in the city of Detroit, but there is a major increase in eggs, and this now provides an opportunity for families to nourish themselves in their own home. Thank you, and that's what I said.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much. Pro Tem.
Speaker 1
All right, so this has been walked on for a vote, and this is the amended version that member door moved for approval. Are there any additional questions, comments, concerns? Okay, any objections, hearing? No objections. Line item 17.2 the amended version will
Unknown Speaker
be approved. Request a waiver for line item 17.2
Speaker 1
waiver has been requested. Any objections, hearing, none that action will be taken. All right, for the president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters, for the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee,
Speaker 37
a submittal of a memorandum. The
Speaker 1
the one memorandum will be referred to budget, Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations standing committee three reports from the law department. The three reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee, four reports from various city departments. The four reports will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development. Standing
Speaker 37
Committee, one report from the housing and revitalization department.
Speaker 1
Right the one report will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee,
Speaker 37
nine reports from various city departments. The
Speaker 1
nine reports will be referred to the public health and safety Standing Committee under the consent agenda, there are no items. Madam President, all right, we will move to member reports, just as before we do that, just a reminder that tonight is the mayor's State of the City address that will take place tonight, stream streaming live on television at 7pm again, the mayor's annual State of the City will take place tonight at 7pm and hoping that residents tune in to watch that address and we will go to member reports, starting with you, Council Member Young, thank
Speaker 11
you, Madam President. I want to remind everybody that it's going to be coffee with Coleman, april 11, 2024, 11am to 1pm at good cakes and bakes 19363, living noise Avenue, again, Friday, April, 11, 11am to 1pm at good cakes and bakes 19363, liver. Noise Avenue, so if you want to have a good time, good conversation and good people, come on through Friday, April 11, 2024, 11am, to 1pm at good cakes and bakes. 19363, liver noise Avenue. You can also RSVP or register at 313-574-5449. That's 313-574-5449. So one more time. Coleman Young, the second council at large number one is having coffee with Coleman. Friday, April 11, 2024 11am, to 1pm good cakes and bakes. 19363, liver noise Avenue, RSVP at 31357454. 135745449,
Unknown Speaker
hope to see you there. Thank you,
Unknown Speaker
sweet. Yeah, you make me want to go too.
Unknown Speaker
Thanks. Come on. Boom.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Member young pro temp, a negative report. Man, okay, thank you. Pro Tem, Council Member, Santiago Ramiro, Thank you, madam president for District Six residents, want to invite you to our monthly office hours this April. We're going to be in partnership with the Henry Ford Health Workforce Development team. So please stop by with any questions or concerns or come to explore career opportunities with them. This will begin on April 7 at Patton Park. We are usually there from four to six. We will also have our next monthly meeting next Wednesday, April 2, at 6pm we will have presentations from the Detroit reparations Task Force project clean slate and the American Water Resources. Tune in via zoom or on our Facebook page. Thank you, Madam President. All right. Thank you and council member waters, no report. All right, thank you. Member waters, member Johnson, no report, thank you, Madam President. All right. Thank you. Member Johnson. Member Benson, alright. Thank you.
Speaker 10
Just continue to urge the residents to go to our workshops when it comes to asset protection, estate planning. Wills. Lady birdies, very critical that we protect though that wealth for our family. So it's looking forward to more of our residents getting out and getting these very timely services that the city of Detroit offers for free. Once again, this is why residency has its privileges. Thank
Unknown Speaker
you. Thank you. Member Benson, member durha.
Speaker 8
Thank you. And just want to thank all who attended our 22nd policy session. Yesterday, we had a great discussion on the Bill of Rights. Lot of residents coming together to learn beside one another, but thank you again to all who attended, also, please join us for our third annual Community Leadership Conference on Saturday, March the 29th from 9am to 3pm at the Union carpenters and millwright Skilled Trade Center located at 11687, American street. This conference will deal with information and resources for our block clubs, community organizations and community associations. We will have information on grant writing. We will have information in various city, city departments there as well. So again, please join us for our third annual Community Leadership Conference, Saturday, March the 29th from 9am to 3pm at the Union carpenters and mill Wright Skilled Trade Center located at 11687,
Unknown Speaker
American street. That concludes my member report. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Council
Speaker 45
member Callaway, thank you. Thank you again, Madam Chair. Council member, through the chair to council member young at large number one, I will see you on April the 11th at good cakes and bakes, which is owned by my Spellman sister and my sore roar. So I will see you there right around 11 o'clock, sir. Thank you for having it on the avenue of fashion. I'll be there. I'll be there. And her name is April Anderson, the owner and proprietor of good cakes and bakes. She also has a location right around, I think, the LCA, so she has a second location. And while you're there, please visit our energy zone on Livernois. They are our business featured business of the month and my March newsletter, Mark and Jackie Lang on the energy zone, located at 19, 166, Livernois Avenue. They have wonderful, wonderful energy drinks that they make right there on the spot. And it's a wonderful, wonderful family owned business that's located at 19, 166, down the street from good cakes and bakes the energy zone. 19166, Livernois Avenue, owned by Mark and Jackie lane. And then my monthly coffee hour will be on April the 14th, we had our other our March one at ACC on 62 West Seven Mile Road, and it was a wonderful, wonderful event. And our April the 14th will be 8am to 9am at the Adams, but so complex, which is in district two, located at 10500 Linden, Linden Street, April the 14th, is our coffee and conversation. Been holding the monthly Since 2022 every second, Monday of the month, eight to 9am April the 14th, 2025, at Adams, but so complex, located in district 210, 500 Linden Street. And lastly, thank you to my colleagues. Thank you to LPD. March the 15th, officially, is Dawn, Eisen day and the city of Detroit. I will not read the entire resolution. I'll just read the last whereas, with her experience as a victim of crime, which I did not know at a young age, and her extensive experience working in the criminal justice system as both a defense attorney and prosecutor. Attorney, eisens lived experience and sense of empathy informs her more holistic and community focused approach to her work and made her an ideal candidate for her position as US attorney and whereas attorney Eisen embodies the ideal of what it means to be a public servant carrying out her duties with integrity, independence and impartiality necessary to preserve the Fair Administration of Justice and public faith in the US legal system. Now therefore be it resolved the Detroit City Council hereby recognizes March the 18th as dawn Eisen, day in the city of Detroit. Now be it finally resolved that the Detroit City Clerk provide a copy of this resolution to Dawn Eisen. Thank you everyone. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank
Speaker 1
you so much. Council member Calloway and I just would like to thank everyone who came out yesterday for our affordable housing in homeless town hall. Special thanks to Tara lenzer, Tasha hand. Tasha Gray from hand, and also Detroit rescue mission for hosting us. We had a really great conversation around the mayor's seven point plan, and then also just challenges and solutions regarding the issue of housing and homelessness in Detroit, I will say, I think we all left the event with a an understanding, and I know we always push for this, that we just have to have more resources. More resources are needed to address the issue of housing, even with the system that is in place, the hotline in the seven point plan, so many residents still express the concern that there is still a lack of resources and housing in our city, and so we will continue to work on that issue. I am committed to addressing it with all of our residents, but want to thank everyone who took the time to come out and have a dialog regarding what we can do to address housing in Detroit. Uh, lastly, our upcoming virtual office hours for the month of April will be focused on street vendors in some of the proposed changes, or this changes that have been raised to city council, and that will be held on April the 14th, from four to 5pm again, if there are any street vendors in Detroit who have possible suggestions and changes to the current ordinance, we are asking that you join us on April the 14th for that conversation to hear about your challenges, your concerns and any possible ordinance changes that you would like to see For more information, please contact our office that will be held April the 14th, during our virtual office hours, and that will conclude my member reports we will continue now to adoption without committee reference, Madam Chair. Um,
Unknown Speaker
yes, Mr. Washington, that's my
Speaker 43
apologies. Um, just as a point of clarity, was a waiver attached to item 19.1
Speaker 1
what item was that supporting the grants for the child care startups? No, I don't think it was. Is there a motion to request one? All right, Hearing no objections. A waiver will be attached to 19.1 Thank you. Thank you. Under adoption without committee reference, there are no items, Madam President, under communications from the
Speaker 37
clerk, a report on approval of proceedings by the mayor.
Speaker 1
The the report will be received and placed on file under testimonial resolutions and special privilege. Council
Speaker 37
Member durha, a resolution nine, item 32.1
Unknown Speaker
council member durha
Unknown Speaker
Move for approval of line item 32.1
Speaker 1
hearing, no objections. The resolution will be approved under testimonial resolutions and special privilege.
Speaker 37
Council member young, our resolution line item 32.2
Unknown Speaker
council member young, I moved to approve line on 31.2
Speaker 11
32.2 My bad, so I just see you pay attention. I moved to approve line of 32.2
Speaker 1
all right, Hearing no objections. The resolution will be approved, and if there is nothing further to come before us, is there a motion to adjourn? All right, we will stand adjourned for today. Everyone. Have a great day, and our budget sessions will resume tomorrow, folks, we need to
Unknown Speaker
clear this roll call. Thank you. Applause. You. You look confused.
Speaker 13
Everything's fine. We just need two minutes. Just two we just need two minutes. Oh, we need two minutes of your time. Right
Unknown Speaker
there, right there, right There, right There, right There,