All right, good afternoon. We will now call to order back to order our expanded budget and financial audit standing committee for the purposes of our budget deliberations. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilmember Scott Benson.
Councilmember Frederick other third present. Councilmember Leticia Johnson present councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Councilmember Mary waters,
present.
Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway present. Councilmember Coleman Young the second. Council President Pro Tem James Tate, also President Mary Sheffield President, Madam President, you
have a parent present. All right there being a quorum present. We are in session and we're going to go straight to our B seed.
thank you.
And whenever you are ready to begin the floor is yours.
Thank you if somebody could Please promote race Scout to presenter I'd appreciate it.
You will be promoted.
Good afternoon my name is David bill, head of a building safety engineering environmental. I'm honored to be in front of this honorable body for my ninth budget presentation. The mission statement for BC is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the general public as it pertains to buildings in their environs, and it's in a cost efficient, cost effective, user friendly and professional manner. Our vision is become a model in our industry by providing the top notch customer service using state of the art technology while enforcing codes, laws and ordinances in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens. of Metro Detroit. BC is comprised of 323 employees we have a and adopted baseline budget for 2024 of 38,000,500 to 6933. We've got seven divisions Administration is responsible for resource allocation management planning, program development, policy implementation, and customer relations. Customer construction is consist of the building, mechanical, electrical boiler elevator and plumbing offices and there are charged with protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public property maintenance is charged with enforcing codes on existing buildings, residential, commercial, dangerous and neighborhood stabilization projects and blight reduction. The development of resource centers a one stop shop for development in the city of Detroit charged with virtual permitting electronic plan review other project development related reviews. Environmental Affairs is charged with Environmental Enforcement, brownfield redevelopment, revitalization, solid waste, and illegal dumping enforcement licenses and permits is basically self explanatory they issue the license and permits and enforce the city's codes on regulated businesses and consumer advocacy. Zoning is charged with providing zoning reviews interpretations, verification letters, site plan, review special land use hearings for conditional controlled and regulated uses. Our accomplishments for 2023 we performed 194,877 inspections, we issued 60 125 Building Permits totaling $1.7 billion. We issued 15,252 trade permits. We issued 325 certificates of occupancy. We issued 17 133 business licenses for brick and mortar we issued 30 563 certificates of compliance. We closed 35 illegal marijuana facilities. We serviced 18,380 to improve Detroit cases. We performed one compliance education clinic in the city of Detroit, we issued 135 conditional use hearing decisions and we issued 521 zoning verification letters, projects we've gotten to the finish line and in the last 12 months. The Gateway industrial service center in D one Covington apartments in the to the Lear Corporation factory in d3. The Linux on the A before Park Recreation Center in D for the Cambria hotel in D five. The Godfrey hotel in D six the covenant community center in D seven. Our goals for 2024 to complete inspection and enforcement on 50 secondary corridors in support of the mayor's blight to beauty initiative, increased commercial certificates of compliance in the city. Increased brick and mortar business licenses in the city to implement an air quality monitoring network citywide and to add 10 locations to the Brownfield database. We're going to provide support to DPS we're going to reach out to the kids and every high school with our electrical, plumbing, mechanical, all of our trade inspectors are going to go out to the high schools and talk to the kids about life in the skilled trades. We're going to work with the D GC on commercial compliance clinics in every single district. And we're going to host a landlord information clinic with the Housing Commission and Mr. And we're going to obtain a scanner and scan all the old plans and card x's into our online system of seller. And we're also going to integrate project Docs which is our online plan review along with open counter with a seller development projects that are in the pipeline for 2024 and D one you've got the Orchard Street development $18 million construction of a 48 unit affordable housing project at the Grand River and Lassard intersection that's with ch n Housing Partners and blockbusters in D two you've got the warehouse for target at Woodward for $20 million. That's 180,025 square foot. In d3. You've got Pershing High School $49 million dollar project 106,000 square foot for a 600 Students 70 staff. And that's it. And before you got a 20 $27 million project on East Warren its major alterations for commercial use on the first floor and 17 Residential Park Apartments on the upper levels. That's fluc city at outer drive and East English village. In defined you've got the library collective that's major renovations to an existing building to propose studio and gallery and gallery space and an outdoor patio. And that is that McClellan and Agnes in D six, you've got 20 You got 10 Duplex structures for $18 million at Pine and Huron that is the Oakland housing project. In D seven, you've got the Dexter Elmhurst Community Center $10.6 million 24,000 square foot recreation center. That is my presentation. I'll now answer any questions you may have.
All right, thank you so much director. Bale for the work that you're always responsive and any issues I have in district five, which you have to always make sure that you respond and are there so we appreciate you and the entire department. Thank you. All right, we will go to questions from my colleagues. And I will start with councilmember Pro Tem Tate.
Oh man President, my apologies. Just walking in and trying to get my apologies Kelly's the clerk show note
cards out there President policy take councilmember
waters
Alright, so thank you, Madam President. Just a question of quick because I'm like some of the others. I certainly have an opportunity to reach out to you and you are quite responsive. I just want you to talk a little bit about the relationship between BC and and the Land Bank Authority. Specifically what what duties BC passed as to the administration of the nuisance abatement program
or the chair, we recommend properties for the nuisance abatement program properties that are not demo candidates in our opinion, we will reach out to the Land Bank Authority and ask them to look at any given property and see if it's a candidate for nuisance abatement, if they deem that it is a candidate then we will help them go through that nuisance abatement process.
Okay, all right. So I have two questions. I'm gonna try to get it in and one.
Tell me about what percentage of rental properties have a certificate of compliance. Then I just if you would share a little bit more about the skill trades that you guys are going to do because, you know, we're doing a lot with it. You know, I kind of cheated a little bit, Madam President, I blogged about it.
Thank you, the chair. I believe we are at approximately 12 to 13% certificate of compliance in the city of Detroit. As far as the trades going out to the schools, this is something that we started a few years back and it is very important that we let the students know that they do not have to go to college if they don't want to in order to have a good living. We've got we've got electrical inspectors plumbing inspectors, building inspectors, we've got female plumbers, female electricians, you can provide a good living for you and support your family with a career in the skilled trades. So we want to let the folks know that is is every chance we get because the skilled trades. You hear it day in and day out that you've got almost half of the of the folks in the skilled trades are going to be retiring very soon. And so we want to do everything we can to help support that industry. Yeah, they
make more money than most college grads, frankly. But yeah, the students receptors though, are they?
I think they are okay. I think they are Yes, ma'am.
All right. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Councilmember waters member Benson.
Thank you.
Well, thank you all for being here. I just want to encourage the kudos to from my colleagues regarding responsiveness. yourself, Mr. Scott, very responsive. Any questions or issues you guys are right there in very supportive also want to thank you for leaning in this past year when it comes to enforcing just basic ethics and just integrity when it comes to our business owners. In the third district. You all are responsible for shutting down seven tobacco tobacco shop a hookah shop, who was selling marijuana to a 13 year old child across the street from purging high school you shut down six gas stations that were knowingly selling tobacco to our children in the third district as well. It wasn't for your willingness to lean in there that would not have happened. So we're really now showing people that it's not a privilege. It's a privilege to do business in the city. If you truly have to comply with our laws. It's not right. And I really want to thank you all for doing that. And the community really appreciates your reference there as well. Looking at
the budget book on Page
Bravo 13 TAC eight, looking at a trend and so looking at fiscal year 23. We saw BC being revenue neutral and actually being a revenue generator on the general fund side at least for the cost of running BC but over the years, we've seen a trend in the opposite direction. We're seeing a greater level of subsidy when it comes to general fund 316,000 Last year, proposed 1.5 million this year that's going to continue to 2 million next year and then moving forward, but I don't see a corresponding increase in the total revenues. And so if we're going to be spending more for the general fund, I'd like to see a corresponding increase in revenues coming just can you describe why that is? And what can we do to increase those revenues if we're putting more in from the general fund to support beside?
Throw the chair. The reason for the change in there is that in fiscal year 25, the positions that were previously being paid for by the solid waste funds are being transferred to buildings and safety department. And so those enforcement officers and that division is being transferred back to the general fund of solid waste to offset
somewhere else then is that really a revenue neutral issue is just now we're seeing those positions show up in BC versus them showing up in DPW.
Right they were previously supported by solid waste and so I'm not sure what the budget
Yes. Okay, so it's
just a transfer the transparent so it's offset somewhere else that was revenue neutral is now shows up there. Okay, that's very helpful. And then one of the other things that we've seen in the third district is just a request for more enforcement when it comes to basic code enforcement compliance. And so I'm hit over the head all the time by my residents. My neighbor's lawn is too long. My neighbor don't take their trash cans in. My neighbors are dumping all the time my neighbors throw out their bins and never bring them in. And there's a car parked in the backyard their backyard look like that. If I go to Warren, I'm always getting worn if I go over the Warren they don't tolerate that. So looking for more enforcement and accountability from our residents, because we're losing residents just based on what others won't do, and what's not tolerated another location. I really like to see us not tolerate chaos and hold others accountable, as do my residents and my bosses. Can we speak to that police?
Through
the Chair? Yes, we are going to definitely step up enforcement via the improved Detroit app. We encourage the community to let us know via the improved Detroit app and we will get out there and we will enforce counsel and if you have a specific area that you want us to pay some special attention to we'll be more than happy to do so. Okay, we make we take this very, very seriously. Sorry. And
you have done that and I appreciate it. I would just like versus Councilman Vincent calling and saying hey, this block club wants such and such. I just rather be just a former that that's how business is done in the entire city of Detroit versus me weighing in and my boss is telling me all over there across eight mile there's they're not tolerating that they tolerated here though. I also want to not have to defend what we're doing versus what others do or are doing. Thank you,
sir. Through the Chair. We are definitely going to enforce VSC click improve Detroit app and when when we are reached out to we're going to get out there immediately. And we're also going to do our own surveys through the city of Detroit in every district.
All right. Thank you. And just one last item. I just want to say that now that the city is leaning in with a greater level of solid waste pickups I'm hoping that that will be correspond with a increased level of enforcement to say hey, we do not have to live like this. Our our world is not your trash receptacle. We use less disposable waste in a proper way. These tires are on the side of the road, the side streets that have illegal dumping that we're going to be picking up and enforcing on people to store and dispose their solid waste and refuse in a responsible way.
We're gonna hold them accountable. Thank you, sir. Thank you.
Director bail. I probably call you the most as relates to senior buildings in the city, especially in district five and member Yun let me know that I represent the most in the state actually. So this is the constant concern in and out of these buildings, and I know there's only so much that we can do because they're privately owned and are oftentimes managed to Mr or hood but I feel like we as a city I have an obligation in a sense to make sure as your mission statement states to provide for the safety and health and welfare of our residents and the condition that our seniors are subjected to in these senior buildings. It blows my mind. And so I don't really know kind of you know, I don't know what the answer is and I think this is going to be both housing in BC how we address these both management because management is the issue is in itself. The management has not been responsive to the requests the knees whether it be mold, whether it be carpet not being clean. Paint is not change elevators out for weeks and these are seniors who can't even go up. I mean they live on the sixth seventh floor and the elevators are out for weeks. And this is not just one building is in every building I go to I have to walk in and hear about elevators are not working constantly in every single building that I go to. So I guess I'm just I know we put some additional inspector in the budget last term specifically for senior buildings want to know what's going on with that has I don't know, I don't think it's really helped that much. But can we add more to it? How do we address the issue because I we have to provide more support for the compliance of these buildings, senior buildings within our city regardless of Michiga does their own you know, run through and the state has theirs and hood. We as a city have to step in because the seniors in these multifamily buildings are really struggling. So if you can help me out that would be helpful.
Yes, Madam Chair. So the goal is to work with the law department to to look at nuisance abatement lawsuits on some of our worst offenders. And the some of the ones that you've mentioned, we are engaging law and looking at next steps on increasing compliance. They have some of them we are issuing a lot of tickets 1000s of dollars of in flight tickets on these locations. And if we don't see movement, then we're going to stay take the next step with the law department to gain compliance.
Okay, so I'm going to move this to executive session so I can know what specifically what buildings you're referring to. And you mentioned one of your goals was to host a landlord information fair with DHCP and misto. Regarding housing voucher programs. I'm not sure if a part of this information fair can be a conversation with some of the management and owners about just overall compliance and how to how to do well in our city because some of these are not good
actors. That's the goal now,
so this specifically speaks to voucher programs, but can you commit to expanding the conversations about how you bring I mean, what support Does the city need to provide just whatever it can be to help bring these buildings up to code? Yes, my conversation with the city and management and ownership is is needed. Yes,
Madam President, the goal is to get compliance and and we do know we have some bad actors and the goal is to let them know what they need to do to get into compliance. And so that's going to be a major topic on in the in those meetings.
Well, I would love to be a part of that. I know member waters you have your renters council as a form so I'm hoping that that addresses it as well too, but
I just recently
I'm sure it's the same buildings is very frustrating, and I don't I don't know. We have to do better. And so we're going to put in an executive session but before we before we do that, I did see that the elevator inspectors are being decreased from nine to six. And that's on page B 13. Dash 19.
That's, yep, B 13 Dash 90 We don't need to lose any of those
to the chair. That's a correction that will be made in a router ladder. The three additional elevator inspectors are up on page 13 Dash 80.
Okay, so we were studying at night? Yes. Okay. And we may need to look at increasing that. Lastly, and so we will add to the executive session, the compliance of senior multifamily buildings if there's no objections going on. That will be added to the executive session. And then lastly, if you could just speak to mold remediation, and what your department what role you all play in that, if any, with any type of mold remediation for residents in homes.
Good afternoon through the chair Raymond Scott, Deputy Director BC. So the department has been active in working with in collaboration with other departments to educate the public in regards to mold in general. mode as course as many of us know is a fungus which is ubiquitous, meaning it's everywhere. So the simple process and regards to water retention in any manner will cause mold and many of our homes even in this building, including we have mold and so we have been working with the water department on those particular matters that relates to if there was any flooding that was associated with the mold. And then our department BC we're working with our landlords making sure that if we receive complaints from our landlords that we actively go out, write a correction order and forced to have a remediated. Our main premise right now is education in regards to mold from the BC perspective.
Okay, so you wouldn't be providing any of the actual assistance to remediate the mold yours just education and and Compliance and Enforcement, if that's okay, gotcha. Thank you. All right. We will continue with questions and President Pro Tem Are you prepared are you want me to come back? Okay.
Thank you, Madam President. Good. Afternoon, director and team. Thanks for being here. I got a question regarding I'm looking at Pearson in the business licensing center, on page B 13. Dash 15 There is a 6000 $600,000 increase there. And then I look at the the man and woman power and on the 1316 slash be 1317 doesn't look like there's a lot of movement just what why do we have that increase in business licensing center. Can you explain that please? Again, B 13 Dash 15 is where you're fine.
Yes through the chair. The 13 days 15 As far as the increase in proposed revenue for FY 25. The reason for that proposed increase is due to the revenue conference and looking at the trends that's been happening over the last few years. In FY 24 I believe we reduce revenue, they're just trying to ensure that what is being projected and what is being budgeted is realistic. And so in FY 23 We saw a slight dip and now and back in FY 25. We're seeing that revenue increase back to more normal time. So that's the reason for the increase in FY 25.
Just for clarity, can I just ask the question, what causes the swing back and forth?
The decrease in probably 23 and 24 was probably due to the decreasing as a result of the pandemic. There was a reduction in property licensing as far as inspectors being able to get out to ensure compliance. So that was the reason I believe for the decrease in 23 And so now the increase in 25 as we're seeing those, the actuals turn back to more normal levels. And then there's also probably a increase due to the mayor on the licenses and as well.
Okay. Um, then I see that there is a bit appears that there's a decrease and then an increase. I'm confused about what I see and B 13 and dash 16 and B 13 Dash 17 and says, bear with me the very last line of B 13. Dash 16 says Customer Service Representative three and it appears that it is going from four to a proposed zero and then right on the very next page it has at the very first line another customer service representative three and it says going from zero to four. What's trying to understand that now
through the chair, though changes on as far as the customer service route three, it says the reallocation from one title to another and so the customer service representative three is a classification city why and then the customer service representative three dash BC is a BC. Call that title and so it's just a reallocation of the position
and they do different things you're saying they do slightly different things. Yes. Okay. Give more details on that. Thank you. And then excuse me, for fiscal year 25 budget proposes that we're going to fund 41 environmental staff with general fund house. Is there an appetite to increase the funding for staff in the property maintenance division as well?
So through the chair, we believe that the proposed budget will satisfy our needs and help us enforce in the city of Detroit.
I got the answer. But let's talk to us why there isn't an appetite then. When will you feel that it will sap satisfied but is there as you start to put the X's and O's in place. What makes you feel that that's the case?
Again, we believe that the what is being proposed will will increase code compliance in the city of Detroit. We believe that you'll have rental certificates or compliance issued more we believe that commercial certificates of compliance will increase
what back why did we land on the numbers that we're on right now? Cuz I get what you say that we feel that it's sufficient, not asking that question, why do we feel that the numbers where we are, are sufficient?
Again, I just believe that we are that the proposed budget will provide co compliance and increase the quality of life in the city of Detroit sir.
Okay. Circle is a circle is a circle. Thank you, Madam President.
Okay, thank you pro 10. Member Callaway, thank
you Madam Chair. And good afternoon everyone and I definitely got to let you know, Mr. Bell, I appreciate you being so responsive. Since the day I took office, you know, I blow up your phone more than anybody else. Maybe next, President Sheffield and I thank you for always taking my calls and, you know, sending your inspectors out there to some areas that I and my residents in district two complain about. And we just talked about that Family Dollar store eight Molly Shaffer, and I'm happy that you assigned an inspector to to go out there. Thank you so much, sir. Thank you. In 2023 February, I asked the legislative policy division to provide a report with an estimate of the cost to cover the lead abatement for approximately 43,000 Mom and Pop rental property units in the city of Detroit. Prior to 1978, when lead was banned, lead was added to pay to extend protected properties and durability of paints. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children result in behavior and learning problems. lower IQ and hyper activity, slowed growth, hearing problems, anemia, etc. Approximately 130 Choice housing was constructed prior to 1940 and 90% before 1980 which has create an environment of increased risk of exposing our children to lead. With 85% of the units still continue lead based paint, according to a Detroit future city report, and it's entitled understanding the rental landscape and 20 25.6% of Detroit. Children tested had an elevated blood level, blood lead level, this is more than twice the rate for the entire state of Michigan. I'm gonna repeat that statistic. It's alarming to me. And 20 25.6% of Detroit children were tested had an elevated blood level which was more than twice the rate for this entire state of Michigan. According to several sources, the cost per lead abatement by encapsulation ranges from $600 to $1,000 per home. However, the average cost of lead paint removal for a home ranges from 10,000 to $15,000 per home. I'm hoping and I'm going to make a motion put this in Executive Session. We have to start a program for lead encapsulation is not costing us much per home. I don't even know if those 43,000 homes that were estimated to be in our housing stock are still in our housing stock today. And 2024 cents. We demolish so many. The City of Detroit must address the problem of lead based paint poison. Koizumi BC must design a program promoting lead base if you haven't already. Paint encapsulation, not remediation, encapsulation. We can do this using ARPA dollars. Over two year period it might cost us maybe $12.5 million. But for each of the five years, they will cost us $5 million per five years because the encapsulation of the lead of the of the lead paint lasts for five years. It would last for five years. And so we would have to take a look at it. After that five year expires. I know that in 20 Oh have it here. In 2023. You held a beast you held a compliance Resource Fair which was very, very successful. There were over 200 landlords and property manager and groups at that particular fair. Do you remember that? Yes, ma'am. Very successful. And you promised that you were going to try to hold another one in April. I don't know if that happened or not. But I know from my staff members, that it was so successful, and it was so well attended. I'm hoping we'll make that at least twice a year to help people landlord property owners come into compliance. That being said, Sir, the only question that I have today, how can we support BC move forward with a lead based paint encapsulation not remediation program to address this housing and public health? I would say emergency is beyond a problem. It's an emergency because children have a tendency to put things in their mouths that are covered with lead paint dust, and sometimes they're still eating led paint chips, and it's affecting their ability to learn in school. And we know that it's been proven So sir, that question again. What can we do to support you to bring that program into existence because we have an emergency in this city? And thank you and that's my only question.
Through the Chair. I appreciate your concern and I share it. BC works closely with the landlords to encourage compliance. I have no problem with making sure that we have at least two fairs per year. We encourage compliance with registration certification. We do not typically advocate for specific repair approaches, rather than landlords can use any approach they prepare to they prefer I look forward to working with this honorable body and other major stakeholders in solving this problem with elevated blood lead levels.
Thank you so much, Mr. Bell. And I do have some recommendations and I'm hoping that you'll give me an opportunity to share them with you. But if we're waiting on the landlords to come into compliance themselves, they're not going to do it. If we were waiting for landlords to do the right thing. I'm not saying they're all bad players, but we have quite a few bad players in our city. And so those are the ones that I want to support. A lot of times they can't come to compliance because we're asking them to remediate the billet base plate when they don't have to we can cut those costs, drive them down dramatically by asking them to encapsulate the lead lead based paint, which is an alternative and I don't think we've offered that to them as of today. We keep saying remediate, remediate. And we can say encapsulate, which cuts the cost more than half. So I'd like to talk to you that and not off the record. I really want to talk to you about it, sir. This is a problem and I know we can do it. We have our dollars. So Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to move this particular topic into executive session regarding the encapsulation not remediation of lead based paint, and how we can use our dollars to help some of our landlords come into compliance because that's one of the biggest barriers for them failing to come into compliance is that lead lead based paint. Thank you Madam Chair.
All right motion has been made. Hearing no objections that will be added to Executive Session. Thank you. Right. Thank you. Member Callaway member Yan.
Mr. Bell, always good to see you. I called you quite a couple of times as well and we've had it his fellowship time that we taught. It was always enjoyable. I appreciate you, sir, in the hard work that you do. I just want to ask you first and foremost during the pandemic, nine out of 10 of the properties were not income plus about 90% Were not in compliance with the registration words. I want to know Have we made improvements in that area? Do you have a five or 10 or 15 year plan of how much you want to see that grow? Do you have a number that you feel comfortable in hitting to know that you've had you know, maximize, you know, maximum compliance? What number is that? And is the budget that you have currently, any inspectors that you have currently, does that take care of that? If not, how much more money would you need? And how many more inspectors would you need it? Do you have that broken down per FTE all in less than two minutes, sir. Through the Chair,
I appreciate the support, sir. Number one, I do believe that the budget that has been proposed will help us increase compliance under during COVID. I don't remember the exact number of registrations that we had but I do know that we are currently at over 19,000 registrations in the city of Detroit, the highest it's ever been it's not acceptable to me. The goal is to keep reaching out to these landlords ticketing where we have to the also the goal is to we've got a consultant on board the Community Center for Community progress. We are meeting with them within the next two weeks. And they have analyzed the the rental program and they're going to come to us with suggestions. I am no I am not happy at all with where we are in compliance. And my goal is to increase compliance and I'm going to work with them and dishonorable body to increase rental compliance in the city of Detroit.
What percentage that is percentage number? It Do you have? Because I know it's hard to say you can increase it by this much in one year or in the span of time. So I'm, I'm assuming you got to play it. You're working with the Center for Community progress. Great, great organization. I'm assuming you got like maybe like a five or a 10 or 15 or 20 year plan. You'll see the kind of work towards hitting that goal that's realistic. And do you do do you have that metric in terms of what number would be met because I know it's kind of hard to have 100% But you know, do you have like the 80s and 90s It's 35 What number would you have where you can start to stay in that starting to get to an acceptable level or realistically you had those numbers specifically through the chair.
We have not met with them yet. We are going to be meeting with them in the next couple of weeks. And and I'm hoping that sometime in the very near future we will be able to answer that question sir.
And then my final question is can the BC department continue with its current staff of 36 inspectors to inspect all the current mandatory annual inspectors throughout the city? As well as adding in all the new buildings being activated via construction and renovations? And is this budget sufficient for that as well? Through the check how much more money would you lead through the
Chair? Yes, it is. We understand that the new buildings that are coming online, they will not need inspections for at least two years. Most cities do not inspect every year. We inspect every year for the problem properties. But we also believe that for the problem the properties that have a certificate of compliance, you don't need an inspection every year you need an inspection every two years. But if your problem property, we're gonna go out as much as we need to get you into compliance. And
I wanted more of a comment now. I just want to say to go back to my original question. I think that's part of the reason why it's so important that we have registration, because you have a lot of people that are complaining about being evicted and those evictions are illegal because they're not registered properly. And you also typically, people who don't register with the city are people who are engaged in abusive practices. So I think this is one of the ways in which we can hold people accountable for engaging in these types of abuses, which is the basic, you know, responsibility at good landlord to be able to just register with BC. So I mean, I really want to be able to help you in that regard. I want to help you invest your money or whatever to invest so we can achieve that. And I think that's one of the major problems I see is that you have people who are making the basic steps to just register this is basic, and then failing that it's disrespectful a little bit
through the Chair. I'm glad you said that, sir. Because I'm gonna let this honorable body know right now. If I find that there are landlords that aren't even registering, we're going to hit them with a lot of tickets. You're going to get complaints from these landlords and it's it's as long as we have been trying to put the word out to come into compliance. If we see that they are not even doing registration only takes five minutes. So I'm letting you know that some of these landlords are gonna get hit with 1500 2000, maybe even $3,000 and tickets because like you said, it's an insult. And so we're going to do what we need to do to get their attention. So thank you for letting me missing that. I'm letting everyone know now that they're going to feel it. Thank you Thank you.
Thank you remember Santiago Ramiro. Thank you, Madam
President. Good afternoon director. My questions are very much in line with bad actors and landlords that we know that we hear a lot of complaints from. So the question has been asked and asked again, what are we going to do? And the answer is we're looking into it's where we're where we're going to put people in compliance. That's fine. I believe we need more specific question that I have is when it comes to a staff when it comes to inspectors, how many inspectors that we had that speak Spanish and Arabic that are in neighborhoods that we know are primarily Spanish and Arabic speaking.
I will have to get you through the chair. I will have to get you an answer to that question, ma'am.
Okay, because what I'm hearing from residents are that we have inspectors that may not speak Spanish or Arabic that are navigating uncomfortable bullish spaces with some of these landlords. So we are also looking at residents that may be undocumented have been housed in some of these homes. And I'm worried that we're creating more barriers by not providing inspectors that speak the language because now we have residents that might be paying landlords on time not knowing what their rights are not knowing how to communicate their concerns, and then having to live in really terrible conditions. So we can follow up in a memo so that I can get these answers in writing. But I need to figure out what infrastructure we have in place to even put these properties into compliance. So we can follow up with with with those with those details. We are working on the fugitive dust ordinance and part of that is going to establish a division of fugitive dust to oversee and to make sure that that companies are in compliance from the overview of the budget. I did not see any specific staff for that work. But can you let us know if and when we pass this ordinance? This is something that I believe will be positively impacting districts across the city. Do we have the staff ready to implement and to enforce the fugitive dust ornaments?
Through the chair member Santiago Romero? Yes. You will see in our budget that we have two positions one for an environmental specialist one and one for volunteer description as to as you are keenly aware, we also have the bulk solids ordinance within our department. So we consider that running tandem. And there should be no issue with us addressing the future of deaths or illness
through the chair. Wonderful. Thank you. We're limited on questions we will send our follow ups to get the answer is in writing. And just want to note that's and say thank you really we put money into the public health fund last year that I know has been utilized to establish it and to grow our air monitor network. So thank you for that. I don't see any funding in that yet but really have a question about if we need more resources to continue to to grow the assets to monitor our air quality in the city. So just that's a kudos and thank you and something that we're going to look at it again this year to see if it's needed. But then just one flag. We had the construction and demolition department in front of us earlier. And I believe that there seems to be a need for us to look at the process. I believe production and demolition be seed. Probably the Lilianne bank whoever the entities are that all have our hands in overseeing dangerous buildings and demolitions. I think we need to sit down and have a conversation about process and how we can better identify properties that can be saved earlier and said Have we heard today from a director that we are getting property owners that tell you please don't demo the day of so how do we prevent that? How do we get people to engage earlier so that we can make all of our lives easier because it's not fun for us to call you and say halt the demolition. We're looking at policies as well that can potentially allow for an overview of planning and developments but we're looking at other policies as well. So just a note that we have a lot to do. And these are some of the things that are top of mind for us. Thank you, Madam President.
All right. Thank you. Councilmember Olson member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. And good afternoon. Thank you all so much for being here. And for the presentations always great to see all projects that have come online in the districts and projects that you're also working on throughout the city of Detroit. So, in recent years, we've seen more industrial complexes come online in the city. And you all know where I'm going with this. And so we have more air pollution will say in our neighborhoods as a result. So in in most instance, instances, the state is responsible for monitoring and enforcing environmental laws. But in this proposed budget, there is an additional two roughly two and a half million dollars for Environmental Enforcement. Can you all talk about how this funding will be used to supplement what's being done at the state? Level around Environmental Enforcement?
Through the Chair, to council member Johnson, the Environmental Affairs house also the Environmental Enforcement, the Environmental Enforcement, the 2 million that you're speaking to are the positions that are transferred from the solid waste fund and under BCWS budget general fund. And so as it relates to their responsibilities they deal with primarily illegal dumping, solid waste and things of that nature. And so when you look at the Environmental Affairs Budget, that's when you're talking about their true air quality, water quality, brownfield redevelopment, things of that nature. And so that's where we have the two additional positions that we have for the specialist one and also the specialist two. We do have a air quality specialist that is dedicated and of course, we could talk a little more about that indeed.
Okay, thank you. So that is more focused on illegal dumpers. So can you talk about that was going to be my second question. Can you talk about how you all utilize the cameras that have been added by the Department of Public Works relative to catching illegal, illegal dumpers? So there was recently a story in the news about a 97 year old who received a ticket because someone had stolen a package off of her porch, and then they dumped the packaging elsewhere and it was part of a pile of of items that had been dumped. That address was still on the package and then this individual received a ticket. Do you all utilize the cameras? How are you using the cameras because I know we added 300 cameras and I'm not sure if they're online yet, but I know that the Department of Public Works have requested several 100 additional cameras to what's already on the streets through
the chair. We're going to have to get you a more thorough answer at a later date. We want to get to your answer. We don't have it right now, ma'am. We are going to work on it.
Okay. All right. Thank you. I have some additional questions, but I'll be sure to send them over via a memo.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, member Johnson member Dr. Hall.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon to y'all. Again, I want to articulate some of the same comments that my colleagues have made about just thanking you for being there. When we call you you show up and you go to these properties. And we've actually worked on ordinances together and ideas on how to move ideas forward. And so that's kind of in the wheelhouse. of where my questions will be this afternoon. close to a year ago now we passed about five ordinances relevant relative excuse me to the auto or the proliferation of auto related businesses here in the city of Detroit. Where are we in conjunction with that? Have we seen an increase or a decrease excuse me of these businesses attempting to start up where are we relative to compliance ticketing, inspection for folks who are leaving their tires while still trying to work on cars on the side of the road still not, you know, adhering to some of these policies, where are we relative to those ordinances? Through
the Chair? Thank you, sir. And number one, we have seen a decrease in the amount of applications for these new uses. I do believe there are we've issued three permits maybe since the ordinance came into effect. We are still going out on a monthly basis. Surveying city wide. We do believe we still have some businesses out there that are are being bad actors and and we are taking steps to first warn them. But if they still continue, we will shut them down to let them know that we're serious. I'm sorry, your other question, sir.
It was just around compliance. Have we seen you know, obviously improvements particularly among some of our commercial corridors, relative to some even scrap yards, even some of the tow yards and upgrading their facades painting, a lot of the stuff was in the ordinance to ensure that we be environmentally environmentally friendly as well as add a level of beautification for neighbors who are adjacent to these businesses. Through
the Chair. Yes, we have seen an increase in certificates of compliance for all related uses. We are at roughly 469 Right now, in the previous years, we were nowhere near that so we appreciate you helping us get that ordinance passed. And we believe that that number is going to increase.
I look forward to that. My second question revolves around ordinances that I'm currently working on right now relative to animal control or owner response pet owner responsibility here in the city. of Detroit. Obviously, there's no secret that most of these attacks come from animals who get loose, some from broken fences here in the city of Detroit. What are the ideas around inspection relative to a residential and or commercial as it relates to fences that even may house some of these animals? And I asked that question, because we are looking at putting some information or putting some teeth no pun intended into the ordinance to ensure ticketing and giving some of our animal control officers the ability to work directly with you to provide that ticketing to folks who have broken fences, whether that be commercial or residential. Through
the Chair. Yes, I'm aware that animal control is looking to deputize their their inspectors, I have no problem with them, having the authority to issue tickets. I have no problem working with this honorable body and that department to ensure that we have an ordinance that really does makes a difference.
I look forward to those conversations as well. I know many of our colleagues, my colleagues have asked about do you have enough inspectors and we asked that because ordinances whether they be zoning or otherwise are changing constantly. And we want to ensure that we're fitting the need. So that was going to be one of my question is to you do you have what you need? And I think you said it about four times now that you do so I want to ask you that. But in that same vein, I also look forward to having further discussions. I know we were talking about lead, and I think maybe Callaway for her leadership on that as well. I'd love to work with you on that. But the other component was lead just relative to landlords and the process that exists, particularly for compliance. There's a high level of bureaucracy that exists and being able to get to some of these resources, but love to talk to you again and then for have further discussions offline about that as well. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, sir.
Thank you so much. All right. That will conclude the budget hearing for BC. Thank you all for being here.
Thank you very much.
We appreciate your time and all the work that you all do. Thank you, thank you
if I can just have a motion as well to add the landlord information fair to Executive Session, as well. As the senior building inspector. Thank you. Hearing no objections, those two will be added to executive set this executive session. Thank you. All right, we will move to our next budget hearing which is the Creole civil rights inclusion and opportunity department. You all can join us at the table
Yep, they have.
Sometimes province.
Right Xander Are you sharing your screen or? Yeah, I think she's spoken to me Okay.
I need to be promoted over there she is.
Madam President, and if there is a I believe and Lisa Sturgis that could be waiting to join
at Lisa Sturgis. Yes, okay. We will promote her as well.
And whenever you would like to begin the floor is yours. All right. We will promote Miss Lisa started.
Thank you very much. So good afternoon, honorable body Council President and colleagues. So I just wanted to come to before you today and present what Creo has been doing for the past year and what our proposed budget is for the next fiscal year. So just going to go on and go over a couple of things and kind of show you the makeup of Creo and activities and programs that we are responsible for. And so just the first slide here, you're gonna see the leadership myself, Anthony Zander, the director and to my immediate left and you could agree as the deputy director. What we have here is a list of our teams that are with under creo. And just to name a few we have the Office of Disability affairs, marijuana ventures, our libre program, which is in charge of our certification process, and construction outreach, etc. The next chart is just next slide is just a kind of overview of the structure and organization of the department. Here for the employees and budget adopted request you can see for the 24 adopted budget we had $7.5 million and now we're approximately for the request at $7.1 million. Our FTE are going to go from 36 to 38. Essentially, because we are now including three grant positions that weren't accounted for and they're prior in the previous fiscal year. So we have here off as a deliberate disability affairs, which is led by director Christopher Sam. I won't go through all everything that's here on the slides. And just want to kind of highlight a few things. So one of the things we're doing obviously is working on the new three year plan. Now that we've completed completed the first three year plan, and so now we're working on that from 24 to 27. We've launched it accessible housing campaign for developers property owners, landlords and inspectors. We provide city employees disability awareness training on mental health, emergency preparedness, employment and overall implementing best practices. Going to just want to kind of touch on a few numbers that we have here. We have been able to we've been awarded $75,000, which we'll use to support policy research and programs. We support a grant funded programs in various city departments, including the health department, fire and HRD. We've worked with a disability awareness ERG hosting 12 different events. As you can see in the next bullet point, the number of community events the number of different projects we've been working on the hosting sessions, plan reviews that we assisted with, and mentoring five interns, collaborated with the Parks and Rec Department to improve accessibility, including umbrellas signage at Clark Park. And the last bullet point we really want to emphasize that we had a tour disability to Detroit disability community when the US Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams, was here during the Asian Pacific economic conference last summer. Also next we have the office of marijuana ventures led by Director Kim Jaynes To my immediate right. Some of the things that we work on is technical assistance that we provide sessions on marketing a business, boot camps, virtual information and of course office hours. We also focus on networking community outreach. We have looking to encourage partnerships and joint ventures between investors, operators, property owners, and our social equity entrepreneurs. So just some of the numbers on what a highlight is that for 2004 2023 We have 34 adults who rent afford 34 adult use retailers moved out to 6853 Medical now 36 And then we went from 31 growers to 40 growers. In addition, we have filed provisional certificates for our consumption labs, certificates for consumption labs. So we also awarded $100,000 to grants for Detroit lefties, the social equity entrepreneurs from the social equity fund managed by MI CIA, and we've also distributed 5000 marijuana, Detroit informational brochures to buck clubs and neighborhood City Hall just for informational purposes. So moving on to the civil rights and language access, which is led by manager Lisa Kent, a couple of the things that we've been working on. So this one I would do want to read some of the missions on here because this is kind of what we are. We are the Civil Rights department. And so the mission is to ensure an environment free of discriminatory barriers to all who live work, play and gather in the city of Detroit. This includes educating, training and raising awareness to the employees and citizens of the city of Detroit on civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging with the goal to garner community of respect and culture effectiveness and how we've been doing this. We're launching on demand this land our language access services for City of Detroit employees relaunching a mediation model working on fair chance housing and initiatives and dei training, essentially launching what we call empowered which is I know your rights by creo. empowering our employees do comprehensive training and proper workplace behavior to cultivate a culture of respect and inclusivity. And of course, we want to continue our commitment to community and staff outreach for language services exibility. We were fortunate enough this past year to hire two new investigators, and we've trained over 40 property owners on a fair chance housing. As you can see, I'm going to point out a couple of couple of points with our language access request from fiscal year 23 to FY two for FY 22. In FY 23. We've went from 237 to 275 language requests, and a number of complaints we've received via the Civil Rights department is 146 22 And then 169 And fy 23. Just showing a trend upward in both of those particular categories. So moving on to communicate and engagement which is led by manager Lisa powderham. Couple of things that we wanted to emphasize and highlight is the marketing creative community, developing a carioca net newsletter. It has been our social media presence, and of course, increasing community curios community engagement, and we've had approximately 36 events this past calendar year. We've hosted like I said, we've hosted 36 events, which include a black life business cross, we had our Human Rights Awards, our Juneteenth programming, and let's talk about race. We attended 24 community events, we foster 50 new partnerships, which include by tech Saturdays in a fail and with the right Museum. We've maintained obviously maintaining multiple partnerships, which include the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and DGC and Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance. And as you can see for the last two years, you can look at our increase in reaches 95%, reaching the audience of 70,000 and then increasing our followers by 200%. Move on to our Detroit Business Opportunity Program. And so also want to read this mission statement which is to improve and increase access to city procurement opportunities for City of Detroit business owners. How do we do this increase the amount of certified businesses develop target strategies for started for recruiting and certified businesses help identify by procurement suppliers of need, and also assess Detroit startups by implementing business workshops and put them in position and contract with the city. We have developed new partnerships within the last year working with the business Black Business Alliance PNC Bank bare rock NFL Visit Detroit, Detroit Lions and others. We were also fortunate enough to hire a renewal program manager and coordinator for this past. Over the past year, we've held three specialized public events for minority and women based entrepreneur entrepreneurs, to where by request and those fairs turned out an increase of our certified businesses, which I'll show them the data below. We also attended three construction conferences, Passport, passport to procurement, water and DWSD vendor outreach event. And as you can see over the FY 20 to 23 and year to date 24. The increase in certified businesses from 226 to 3d and currently, the number of minority and women were apparent we were at 107 62 years ago. Now we are at 194 and 116. And the number of applications per week went from 7.5 to 17.3. So we also have a policy and data team and one of the few things that we want to do with this team is we want to make sure their Krios core programs and activities operate in accordance with up to date policies and procedures. We also want to make sure that relative relevant information and metrics are readily available for to leadership and for the stadium public as a whole. Couple of the things that we want to always make sure is that create one pages brochures and education opportunities and information rollouts for the city for the public and our data. We also always want to make sure that we have information readily available including our dashboards that we keep on the Creole website.
So our compliance and construction and so what we have here, we went in looking at the community benefits agreement, the executive order and our tax abatements. As you can see for the community benefits agreements under the community benefits ordinance, we monitor compute and Community Benefit Agreements. And so for FY 23, we had 11 and this year we had 12. With two anticipating coming on board, the number of provisions have went from 378 to 419. And with those two than that we anticipate coming on board will be another 105 provisions. Our executive order we look at the number of projects. We're currently today at 42 and the number of contractors involved in those projects. 179. We also have here for our tax abatements, the reported number of total jobs just under 15,004 2020 2022 and a number of Detroit jobs at 33 nines. So for here, I'd like to pass it on 1/3 Just to talk about the Office of Early Learning.
ologies for the little bit of technical difficulty, yes, the Office of Early Learning is but then grant funding generous funding from Kellogg and kreski along with United Way our goals actually within the next within last year. And this year is really to think about how do we increase the number of seats through childcare facilities and staffing to meet the seat gap. So some of the ways that we are doing that is really thinking about helping with support for business planning and coaching to support as they're opening, thinking about having all the things in place that they need to be successful and billing and self management and that sort of thing. Really looking at supporting childcare facilities being improved. So that they can't or and or and or expanded and opening new ones. We're also looking at thinking through opening just new classrooms within centers thinking about ways that there might be additional space for additional classrooms for children being able to be served and then the last thing I would highlight is really looking there's a staffing shortage sensor is everywhere. And so really looking to ensure that we are also focused on workforce and we're doing that through CDA certification. So really bringing people that are new to the field into into the field and then offering them the certification that is really initial ground level certification that gives them what they need to know to enter the field. So the end result for us really is about adding to the capacity so 2000 seats in the city of Detroit. Within childcare programs, that's childcare, family homes, group homes and centers, as well as just increasing the number of facilities as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Lisa. So that concludes our presentation for today and at this moment if the underwriter has any questions, we're happy to answer.
Thank you Director Xander for that presentation and to the entire department. Thank you all for the work that you are doing day in and day out. We truly appreciate you guys we will go straight to questions from my colleagues. Are you ready? Okay, we'll start with member Santiago Romero. Thank you,
Madam President. Through you. Good afternoon, everyone. There are as we know, new arrivals coming to the country cities across the US and want to make sure that we have two things. One, the services that we need at our shelters to make sure that are in this is a HRD Creo combined conversation just make sure that we are working together to meet that need want to make sure that we do if we have any needs. Let me know what that is. The same question when it comes to language access. Want to make sure that we have the resources needed to ensure in person translation especially for formal session and for dangerous buildings? There were a number of instances last year during dangerous buildings where I translated and was that facilitator as well as during formal session. You know, I we noted that during big items during formal session, we should prepare to make sure that we have Spanish and Arabic speakers in person. But when it wanted to ask, Do we have the resources needed to ensure language access at our shelters? And do we have the proper vendor in the resources needed? For in person translation during Council business?
Through the Chair? Yes, Council Member that we do have the resources available to provide those services. And if there was any time that the debt service was not made available for any one of the sessions, please contact my office and we'll make sure that doesn't happen again.
Through the Chair. So then let's make it very clear. Now moving forward dangerous buildings should always have someone on call that speaks Spanish or Arabic. That's just we've had that and then we can send you though those times so our office can send you the times when we have dangerous buildings. We usually have them once or twice a month, about six to eight months out of the year, depending so we can send you those dates. But I unfortunately don't know who is going to show up. That means language services but that's been a pattern in the past. And when it comes to council business, we've realized and this is a collaboration that has to go through Council president's office, when items come before us that's, you know, bring a lot of attention to to the public, especially items that impact District Six, we have Spanish speakers that come out so I think that is going to take some coordination between our concert president's office and your office to make sure that we're prepared in formal session to have someone in person.
So through the chair, anytime that there is a standing meeting that we know is going to happen at the same time or it's a month or location, we can always make sure that those services are available now. If there are occasions where we might not know beforehand, that if as long as we are made aware of it, we can put those requests in. And as you all know, you guys have your community meetings and we provide those services at your community meetings. As soon as you guys get, you know, a calendar together. We're right on it. And so we will definitely provide those same services to anything that you need and that goes to your council sessions, and as you spoke on earlier is providing those services at our shelters as well. Wonderful,
thank you. So knowing that we can do our job in trying to make it a more you know. A pattern to make it easier for all of us to to plan so we can work on that on our ends. When it comes to the dangerous buildings hearings that we hold during the budget process, or excuse me during in BFA. There's a lot of discussion regarding the executive order and the fee calculation, wondering if you have any updates on where we are where we're at with that. Because we were told last I believe admin is looking into just clarifying that language. And so that's the question and I have a comment to that. When I read the response to the question about how are we doing the calculation? If there's going to be a question in this to it basically read something along the lines of we don't want to be too punitive. And for me, it's then what's the point of the executive orders. So can you also talk about that and why it is that we're essentially not trying to be punitive when it comes to this because that's that's how I read it.
Sure. And so the answer to the first question is that yeah, so the executive order has been adjusted, and that is being reviewed to ensure that it meets all the requirements in order for it to become an amended exec made an executive order. And so that process is going right now. So your question as far as being punitive, it wasn't necessarily wasn't necessarily the intent to say that we weren't trying to be punitive, but we aren't. We weren't trying to let's say, capture more revenue just because they hadn't met that particular requirement. Especially the intent of the original calculation. So we had an if so if that a calculation intent is as it's written, we didn't want to just add to it just because we could. If that makes sense.
I can follow along with that. Yes. Okay. Yes. All right. Okay. I appreciate that insight. I want to make sure that no, we're not just milking you know, the businesses that are doing business in the city, but that we are also providing something that is punitive, that we don't want. We know our developers here to not be in compliance, to not be following through and understand that that's the calculation. And that was the purpose, but I want to make sure that whatever it is that we are doing
it, it is a stick, that it
doesn't encourage a change of action. And, and frankly, just want to make sure that that we're doing that well so that we are able to receive resources that that we deserve based on them not being in compliance. So
that is it for my question here would actually love an offline competition talked a little bit more about that and, and my feelings around what we can do to make sure that we're getting the best for the city when it comes to resident or when it comes to business has not been in compliance here. Thank you, Madam President.
All right. Thank you,
member waters.
President So good afternoon. All right. Just a couple of things I want to send around young folks I want to center around Thank you. So I just first I want to ask you about because I've been trying to figure out how to make this program work. Paul. Yep. Yeah, Entrepreneurs Program and some says, well, I shouldn't be going to the workforce development, you know, which fall on the GED, YT and so forth, but I don't see why not. And your department as well. And so I I'd like to pass along that the same proposal that I said to the deputy mayor asked you if you review it, and considering and consider some portions of that program. Call Yep. Young Entrepreneurs Program and because he when you have had them, you say go on to workforce development or over here over there. They don't know that. But if you get if you have a name, that that includes them, then I believe that they know how to participate and how to access things. That's just that's just my own. My own personal thought. So what are your thoughts around that? I know you haven't seen the proposal. But what are your thoughts around that? Having Creole to do such a program?
Um, through charity. Councilmember waters you're asking? Yeah, unfortunately, you are right. And I have not seen a proposal but I would love to take a look at it. Anything that Creo can do to help amplify and lift up any parts of our community. It would be difficult to turn it out. And so if it's something that we feel that three Oh would be, that would be a good partner with rather it'd be partnered with your office or DGC or D SC. Whatever that entity may be. We're all for it.
Okay, thank you. My second piece goes to seniors, our aging population, you know, that's been my thing since I got here and I do work with my my buddy right here. We have the senior Task Force. And we do senior movie day. I do the summer sizzler and I'm have monthly meetings with seniors just trying to make sure that they have Age Friendly types of environment. And so I know that the AARP has listed eight domains of livability. They've listed outdoor spaces and buildings transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, work and civic engagement, communication and information community and health services. So what I want to be able to do is outline some of these and I think that we're doing some of these things we are addressing housing, we're trying to address transportation. But I think we can do a better job too, with various programming, making sure that these particular hours are for seniors only. You know, when they go into the rec centers and different places like that. I think that I think that we need to take a look at housing that does not include a high rise all of those high rises that you know, it's just it just doesn't work for them. You know, we were discussing earlier about elevators breaking and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, we have to hear it every time that we go and see our seniors and it makes you feel really bad. So I want to try and identify some ways that we can work together to boost such a program so that we can better serve arm, our seniors. And so, with that, Madam President, I'd like to put age friendly communities, all of the categories into executive session, so that we can take a look at it, what it might cost to implement some of these programs.
All right, Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Member waters Alright,
so maybe I've been doing all the talk. And so what did you take?
So remember, water is your I stand with everything that you said. And so again, this is very similar to the answer to the question that you've had prior to if there's anything that Creo can do to help lift these things, these activities and especially some of the things that AARP has has pointed out that should be addressed or should be a part of any type of plan when it comes to our senior population. I do believe that we can help with that. I do believe the city is doing various departments throughout the city is doing a really good job of attending to the needs of our senior population. But sometimes you probably need a way to communicate it and communicate the resources and programming that's available to the seniors. So that they have a way to receive it and take advantage of what exists. And so if we want to work with your office, if that's a request, then we're here it
is my office and member Benson's offices. We both co chair the senior Task Force. Yep.
Oh yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you. Thank
you so much. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Councilmember Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. And good afternoon to all of you and all of your divisions that you are working on. We appreciate it. I know you all stay very busy. I have a question. Relative to a number of concerns that come in to us just via public comment. And it's really around the numbers of minorities, that people see on construction sites. Can you speak to the work that you're doing to address that?
So I'll give I'll give a very brief answer and Deputy wants to chime in and please do and so one of the things that we do to ensure that I would say Detroiters are included on these particular on these job sites via some of these contractors and skilled trade organizations is that we work with the skilled trade organizations. We work with the contractors, we visit the construction sites, and so we were there to identify whether the barriers that prevent Detroiters from being a part of this work. The work that is coming through the city of Detroit is plentiful, and there isn't a reason why Detroit is could not be or should not be a part of the opportunities that exist. And so those are kind of the quick things that we do to help that move along. And so we're just doing that at all times. We're constantly having communication with the persons that are receiving the contracts that are doing the hiring, and even the individuals that are on a contract on a contract sites themselves to get that personal experience directly from them.
So this year, yes, I certainly agree with Anthony. Mr. Zander, we are working hard on we do have our compliance team that goes out to construction sites probably weekly, just to kind of like Anthony mentioned just to verify what the needs are, how we can support to make sure that we're connecting them with Detroit at work and all those good things. And then on the other end of things when we are verifying Detroiters on the project monthly for each project, we are actually going through certified payrolls, we are looking at identifications and secondary proofs of residency as well. So that is also just to ensure that they are a part of these construction developments and things of that sort.
Right, yes, so I just I was just choose me to share I was just reminded and one of the things that we've started doing as of late is that we have really tried to engulf ourselves in the school systems. One of the things that we realize is that, you know, we looking for we're looking for Detroit to be a part of these projects. And oftentimes, it may be a little bit too late, they may have already decided what career path that they're going to go down. And so we also live so we want to go into the schools and make sure they understand that there are other opportunities besides a four year university, and so introducing skilled trades introducing them. So the father month of March, we went into the high schools, and we were talking about women in construction. So we're celebrating women, and then also at the same time were advocating for the different skilled trades that exists.
So I'm glad to hear that. So in the numbers that you provide it, this was from 2022 Is it looks like roughly 22% of the jobs that you reported. Are Detroiters on these jobs. Is that accurate?
To the chair, you're representing tax abatements? Yes. Yes, that number is is accurate.
And so we've heard developers come before us and say we got to almost 40% or a little over 40%. So that means somebody else is is lagging extremely far behind. If we're averaging 22% on these job sites, so we have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work to do because we know the fine that these entities pay is not enough to really provide the support for Detroiters to be trained to actually work on these job sites. I know that it's not all for the city to do and to address. Because even if we're working with young people, and we have various skilled trades programs that are available, who's to say that the laborers that are working on these job sites are actually coming from those pools, right of Detroiters that we're helping to provide skills to so there are a number of conversations that need to be had in order for that percentage to increase and I know we're always advocating for Detroiters so whatever I can do to help facilitate those conversations to be involved in those conversations along with the skilled trades Task Force. I'm happy to. I know the high school that I graduated from had skilled trades programs within the high school, which I think a lot of us took for granted. And so you know, those buildings are being torn down and people are now starting to realize what an asset they were, and how much how it really helped to shape our young people's minds around skilled trades. So anything that I can do to assist I'm happy to the the other question that I had is relative to Detroit based businesses. Can you talk about what your department does to ensure that Detroit based businesses are indeed based in Detroit?
Sure, good question. And so the ordinance lays out what's required to identify yourself as a Detroit based business. You identify what the two main components of it is, you need to pay income and property taxes. And so essentially, those are the those are the two things the two components that drive what we're looking for, to verify if you are truly Detroit based company. And so other than that, we of course, we ask for tax documents and things of that nature. But those are the income taxes for property and property and income taxes, property taxes, and tax documents. So anything. The minimum
Nope. I don't have anything to add on. But we also do conduct site visits as well. And we have actually started to facilitate or conduct pop up site visits as well just to ensure through the span of those certifications, that you are indeed still located here. Okay,
thank you for that. So what happens if you conduct a pop up site visit and you don't find what you expect it to fun?
For the chair? Um, great question. That's something that we are working with our policy team to roll out to see what that looks like. But as of now, if we do find out that a business is not located in the city of Detroit, we are in the space of where we will gather appropriate documentation and at some point, we probably would revoke their certification. And that timeframe as of now, we have not concluded what that looks like but it could possibly be for the span of maybe three to five years. Okay. Thank
you. So look forward to an ordinance amendment on this because I think we see too many people that just barely meet the minimum threshold, and I think we're looking for something greater than that. So thank you all. And thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, member Johnson member Benson. Thank you. Thank you for the work that you do.
Looking at the Office of Early Childhood, this is for Dr. Sturgis. There has been a recommendation from the City Planning Commission for option three when it comes to the the child the date the childcare centers, there's that option fulfill your need to meet your mission to increase the next few years.
Just urges you hear my question
apologies. Can you repeat that place? I heard part of it and then my technology messed up for a second.
The City Planning Commission staff made a recommendation the City Planning Commission voted on option three as a recommendation on how to increase and allow for the increase so childcare centers within the neighborhoods and within certain zoning districts that meet your mission to increase the childcare facilities within the next two years.
Yes, it does. Through option three zoning what will be allowed will be first of all, one part that was voted was that current family homes which sort of which sort of six children would be able to move by right to group home as long as they've been in operation for at least a year and then there is no change to the group home, they will still have to go through a special land use hearing. Additionally, for childcare centers, there's zoning ordinances that increase where they can be zoned in areas that have been beforehand, not allowed, but makes sense based on where families live as where as families might be close to or where where might be close to other areas where families would need to work. And so I think those are the two key ones, the centers and the family group homes would really support and increase in that in the ability to add more seats to the childcare landscape. Okay, thank you very much. No more questions.
All right. Thank you so much. Member Kelly.
Thank you. Thank you for Tim Tate. And I was hoping director Sturgis was here in person because I am I don't know if because the place and I like to have Office of Early Learning upfront placement is always important to me. And we put it at the end of report. To me it just signifies whether or not is significant to you. So hopefully we'll give this more attention the Office of Early Learning and not leave it at the end of a bomb of report and put it at the beginning to give it more significance. And she should be here in person. I don't know why she's not here. But she should be here because her presentation. I couldn't hear it. It was a little muffled. So I'm gonna ask make a motion to put the Office of Early Learning and to Executive Session because I have a slew of questions. We were able to get a little over two point million dollars last year for the Office of Early Learning and then went to goal line at the Northwest activity center. And we hope to do much more this year. During this budget season season. So I make a motion Pro Tem to move the executive into Executive Session, the Office of Early Learning and then also
last year let's assume the motion for okay. Yeah, see no objections that action shall be taken Thank
you. Thank you for TMT. Last year, sir an allocation of $350,000 to conduct a disparity study to examine city funded contracts was placed in the closing resolution. However, in the LPD status report of the actions and resolutions this was not included. Can you provide an update on the disparity study? And this could also possibly be in the future a question for LPD and Mr. Corley, but it was placed in the and the policy resolution and I don't see what's happened with it.
Your chair and so councilmember you're correct. It was placed on policy resolution. And so we did a little pre research on what it would take to do a disparity study. And so we referenced got referenced while and say guidelines, but as far as different universities and municipalities that conducted disparity studies and efforts that it would take to complete one. And at that time, the resources just wasn't available as far as what we knew the time that it would take and what some of the quotes that we were, that we read regarding what that what it would take to complete the disparity study. And so unfortunately, that we just weren't able we weren't able to get to the disparity study and I have no other excuse to none. That's fine.
That mean that's your answer. I except there so that three $350,000 was just not enough.
It was It wasn't. I would I won't say that it was It wasn't enough. The range that we came across was just a little bit a little bit wider. So what I didn't want to do was start a disparity study with a 350 and then not be able to complete it with the allocation that was provided to the department.
Okay, so I'm gonna make a motion that we put this the disparity study into Executive Session. You know, I have some ideas that maybe I can share with you, but I think we can get it done. We have to get it done. And because part of your department's responsibility is to monitor developers compliance with certain employment requirements that my colleague just alluded to member Johnson, and during your performance of this function, are you finding that developers and construction teams are meeting the Detroiter employee requirements when I personally do my drive bys on a majority of the projects just this morning, coming down woodwork right around? I would have to say the boulevard? I saw some construction workers out there. No African Americans and no women not one. Not one African American was a large project on what work and not woman not one woman. So I don't know you know, how often you all go go by these sites. But I I complain all the time. I even take pictures I posted on Facebook. You know, I don't have a large following on Facebook, but the few people who do follow me they comment and I'm telling I don't have an answer. Why we don't have what we're supposed to have on the sites some hope we can do a better job with that because like one of my counsel, one of my colleagues alluded to earlier, when these developers come before us for these tax abatements and incentives, you know, they get them and they make promises. We have some who supposed to have shovels in the ground right now. It's over a year. We gave them huge tax abatements and shovels are not in the ground. It's a whole year later. So. So we know there aren't any workers on those sites. But the sites that are being developed right now, there aren't a lot of from what I can see. I could be wrong, Detroit or so I'm hoping you do a few more and I'll support you in that effort. Me and my team, because that's that's important to me if these developers are getting incentives, and part of that is to hire Detroiters. That's my expectation that they will and they'll do all that they can within their ability to make that happen and I just don't see that happening in the city with these large developer developers. They're not there. Detroiters are not there. And we can say that they are. And they can come here when we are, you know, having our deliberations and discussions about tax abatements and the awarding and the awarding of them. They can come in their hard hats and I said to myself during this last tax abatement for the future of health, we had quite a few workers down here and hard hats in their yellow protective vest. Well, I didn't see one non African American in the audience in the in the main auditorium. You know why? Because they were working. And I looked at that I analyzed that. You know why we didn't have we may have one maybe out of 70 African American workers, mostly young men. They had hard hats in hand. Little yellow protective vests. But I think I saw one Caucasian gentleman in the audience with his work outfit on or work clothes on. You know why? Because the Caucasian men were on the job sites and those who are not working. We're down here protesting. So I don't know what that's all about. But hopefully we can get to the bottom of that because if they were working, they should have been on the worksite I've never seen any Caucasian workers coming down here. And their work clothes because they're working so they can feed their parent families and keep food on the table and clothes on their backs. But that's that was my little commentary. But my question goes back just to conspiracy, I'm going to put that in an executive session. And then also the office of early childhood learning. And that's my motion for to put the the disparity study back into executive session. And then the Office of Early Learning, just a quarterly
here so it'd be wonderful if Mr. Zander can provide a more realistic figure on this very study. I know you say there's a wide range, one to 3000 is too low. So what's a more realistic figure?
And so to the chair, and so listen to the council member, and so I think it'd be a good idea if we could have some follow up conversation, just because, you know, I want to make sure that we are looking for the same thing. And so usually when usually when you hear a disparity study, it mostly is around as far as contracting with governments, and what does that look like versus looking at things and more looking at social equity? There, there's overlap, but there actually there could be a significant difference between the two. So I think is just getting some clarification on what it is that we want to actually focus on.
Alright, so member Callaway, made a motion to add those to Executive Session. And if there are no objections, we will do so. Thank you remember cowboy. Thank you. Did you already Okay, Pro Tem.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, director and team. Appreciate you being here. Appreciate your work want to always lift up the work that? I do. Ken has done on the Office of marijuana ventures. I have had the honor and privilege of working long with you literally step by step. Medical marijuana and now adult use in concept and now thankfully now we have an actual industry that's here, but I know that the industry is challenged especially when we talk about our legacy Detroiters worked extremely hard to ensure that legacy Detroit has had an opportunity to participate in this industry. But as we know, it's very challenging, very, very, very challenging as they many of them are already starting behind and able to get to the point where they're able to get the license get open, but we want to do what we can to make sure that it's a competitive environment and they can stay open. Right now the state tax revenue for cannabis has my issue has been shifted over to the general fund. And I do believe that there is need steel for those dollars minus those that are contractually already obligated no we have a certain percentage that is going towards drug anti drug education, etc, etc. The so there's other departments that are also trying to seek those funds. And so I'm trying to do my best to really reinvest into the department so that we can better reinvest into the industry as well. I know that you have not asked for so I'm not trying to get anybody in trouble. This is my but I understand the challenges because we speak to the same folks. Can you talk directly about some of the challenges that you hear from some of our legacy Detroiters and what if if we were able to shift those dollars from the general fund into the back into your your your office, what it would mean to them and how will we be able to better use it? Well,
so through the Chair, good afternoon, and thank you so much for that question. I'm not going to speak as to what we should use the funds for. But what I can say and I can also say it's been an honor working with you. But what I do want to say a couple of things about that. One is that the revenue sharing that was received was only reflected for 33 retailers and we have 68 permitted so we can look forward to that number increasing in the future. And I think that's that's wonderful. And so one I think that any assistance and basically as we transitioned into a more mature market, my goal right now is to help the existing licensees as much as I can maintain their businesses. We've already had a few who are struggling in some who haven't even opened yet. So we're still continuing to try to work with them to help them through these challenges. And what I will say is that we raised funds over the past few years for our homegrown social equity fund from outside donors, and we were able to give grants out in December, and when I was discussing it with some of the licensees I was I was saying, Oh, it's not that much money. You know, I feel bad. I wish it could be more and they said to me, you know, anything that you can do to help us we appreciate and so, you know, even $500 goes a long way in terms of when they have to pay their vendors and when they have to pay their employees. And so you know, a lot of the other larger stores and franchises and things like that have it much easier. And so it would be great to be able to help them to the extent that they can compete in this market.
Yeah, I think it needs to be for those who don't know, those who are not those non legacy Detroit businesses, to your point are not doing so bad, especially compared to our legacy trade businesses. So Madam President, I would like to and we can have the discussion moving to Executive Session and I'm not even sure that this is the right department, it may actually need to be a CFOs office but for right now, I'd like to move into Executive Session. The state revenue for cannabis, state revenue share for the tech cannabis tech sales.
All right, Hearing no objections that action will be taken.
Thank you so much. My last question is regarding as the chair of Planning and Economic Development, we get a number of folks from the community who call in some legitimate concerns. Some are inquisitive, some are just mad about no matter what. But some are actually on point and the ones that I find to be on point pretty much all the time are folks from this disability community or differently abled community. We opened up the Office of Disability affairs I believe in 2000. So we are now in year four technically of it. And the question I always have is what type of I see what we have on the paper here, but how was that office involved in these multiple deals that are coming our way where we find ourselves as the committee and this is part of our role, but not saying how the Office of Disability affairs is being pulled into or even asked to be pulled into these development deals to ensure that those within a disability disabled community are having their needs and concerns addressed, not just saying that this building or this development is ADA compliant, as we know that it takes a while for law to get to up to the point of reality. Reality has changed since the ADEA was was was passed. Talk to us a bit about how the Office of Disability affairs intersects with these development projects that we have because we constantly are getting calls and emails from the community. And it's never a situation where they say, Well, we've had the conversation with that particular office and we're not getting the calls from the office.
So through the Chair, I'm pro tip, I know that this has been a concern of yours, and I've heard you bring this up. And so one of the things I wanted to do was to bring director stamp who's director of also the Office of Disability affairs and let him chime in on that.
I see the director back there
for the greater for them Can you repeat the question one more time?
Yes, sir. My question is how does the Office of Disability affairs intersect with the various departments that are a part of these development deals that come before Council? On a regular basis and these deals are coming increasingly fast and furious now? Before they were every once in a while, but these major deals are coming and we're getting a number of complaints, concerns from our disabled community. Want to know what your office and how your office intersects with these various departments and an advocate on their behalf?
Thank you. So the opposite of the developer had been engaged with the with the preliminary plan, review, an author with the opposite mobility on a Bayesian transportation and eviction down review. But we will get an invitation from the department to sit on some development so I'm not sure which project you're referring to, but I can chat and but I'm my opposition engaged with that department to make sure that we provide FDA consultation. The developers come in, they bring the plan to the review and then I give them accurate notation and then so that's my role so far, but I know there are many, many department though. So when I get the invitation, I'm happy to get on the committee and provide consultation, but thank you. Yeah, thank
you until the director just from a policy standpoint, I mean, he's one portion of the umbrella of creo. But as the director, policy wise, if you can talk to us. And maybe you've been rebuffed, I'm not sure but why is it not a great idea to have the Office of Disability affairs walking? Hand in hand with these departments PDD HRD to ensure that the projects do what we need him to do, and not just air quote, ADA compliant
through chair so pro tem. That's what we're working towards. And so we you know, we have our own process when it comes to, you know, when, when the developments coming on board, were part of that, that onboarding process. And so one of the things that we started implementing was ensuring that the Office of Disability affairs is involved. And so you can see it even in some of the agreements that we've had with some of the newer developments. It's right in there and then we actually say okay, we want Christopher says the director sent to be directly involved in ensuring that you all are meeting whatever promises that you are are making in these developments. And then even throughout the internal review process, and as we meet with these departments, we meet with these departments regularly as the development is coming on board, and we are starting to involve Oda. I can't say as to why they may not have been involved in the past, but we make sure that that that that has stopped and they involve moving forward.
Okay, I will certainly look forward to more engagement ourselves and as the chair and my team because we don't feel it, okay, don't feel it all in my part to to that is and I know in 2001 I believe it was introduced the first ever it says on the press release strategic plan to significantly improve access and service to the disability community. And when you drop down, it's a three year plan which would take us to this year. Key elements of the plan is increasing housing availability, improving health care and transportation access. We've kind of talked about the transportation piece, increase hiring, implementing policies and practices throughout city government and the community. And then lastly, number four, improving access to digital content. We're now approaching again we're in year four, where do we stand on those particular issues that haven't seen a report on it yet? So
it's interesting you asked that question and so a report to follow up for the strategic plan is forthcoming. We are currently working on that because we want to make sure that we evaluated what our what our goals were for the first three year plan to ensure that the next three year plan that isn't developed and we skipped, we skipped over something. And so, Christopher is working on a summary of what has been achieved from that three year plan. Okay,
I look forward to seeing it. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Awesome. Member Doha. Thank
you, Madam President. Good afternoon to you all. First, let me thank you, as well as director Sam who participates in every disability taskforce meeting, as well as the Office of Disability affairs. They're here to talk to members of our disabled community and address a lot of issues that they have a couple more questions will just be similar Pro Tem kind of beat me to the punch asking a couple of my questions. But one of the ones that I will focus on directly just in the same wheelhouse while we're close to it was last year we put $100,000 in ARPA funds into the budget to have Creo as well as HRD and DGC. Working in collaboration on creating job, job training and program opportunities for members of our disabled community. Can we have an update of where we are with it?
So we can provide that into the summary as well. And I do want to add that there is a bullet point in a presentation that we had a conversation with the Department of Labor that was so helpful as far as how we approached employment, not necessarily not only in addition to and members of the community being employed, but how do you have those conversations with employers. And so we feel that's just as important as well. And so that session we had with them was just super insightful, and I'm sure you'll see some of the results from that and a summary report. Okay,
and we look forward to that. Again, we stay in constant communication. I'm going to be making a couple of motions, obviously, everything in this department for me is going to be centered around our disabled residents. But I do want to just touch on a couple other things and ask a couple other questions. When we talk about something that's very important if members are engaged with some of these great stakeholder groups like Detroit disability power, they've sent a numerous amount of requests to us asking us in a budget for specific items, and one that I'm going to make a motion on his empowered city. So when we look at Boston, we look at some of these other main metropolitan cities around the country. They're a part of the Empower city movement, which to pro tems question in that type of framework. They examine developments that come in, they examine job training, and they're all plugged into one and they work with their local office of disability affairs to create the outcomes that members of our disabled community are looking for. Have we thought about getting into that and joining this and power city sponsored by City Bank, so it's a public private type of partnership, but that is something that could be beneficial for our disabled residents here in the city of Detroit that we kind of thought around that to through you madam president to Director Mr. Sam.
So I'll do the chair. I'll take a first I did and Christopher wants to chime in. Please do, Chris. And so one of the things that we have discussed since like you've been in our meetings, is that what is what does that look like? What is the framework? What is the benchmark look like across other municipalities? What are they using to determine what a actual inclusive city looks like? And so how do we how do we study that? So we talked about we talked about disparity study, we talked about social equity and things of that nature, but what's our what's what's what's before we develop a framework, what is what is what does it look like as far as what this should look like? So if you look at like I said, if you look at those other cities, what are they doing? How are they measuring success? And especially like relative to their community and their size? So you got to think about we have what, six 650,000 residents or so, and then we got another 120,000 members of the disabled disability community proportionately what what should we be doing? What should we have expected? What should we be expecting from the government? And so we as we've been discussing, yes, that
answer your question, and I definitely want to say way that you're not focused on it. I bring that up because you and I often have conversations on this particular subject. And as we move forward as the city, we're kind of getting there. We got the Office of Disability affairs up, which is a fairly recent thing. And sometimes we don't know what we don't know. And so we have to go to those who do know which are some of our experienced stakeholders, you
set it close to 130,000 folks in the city of Detroit living with disabilities every day. We're coming on board as a city to work and change policies. And that's not going to be something overnight, but I think in the past few years, we've made a significant step to do that, particularly funding. And so I'm going to continue that trend and this budget. So my first motion is going to be able to put cRIO into executive session specifically the Office of Disability affairs for funding and expansion of the Office of Disability affairs. That was my motion Madam President, my first one
Hearing no objections that action will be taken.
Thank you. Next I would like to put into or put a motion forward to put in the closing resolution about the engaging and advocacy for meaningful unfair commitment for CBOs and the community benefits are in it for the disabled community and to our closing resolution.
All right, Hearing no objections that will be added to our Executive Session for the closing resolution. Thank
you. Finally, I want to put into executive session finding and possible funding to join the Empower cities movement and our program for our Office of Disability affairs here in the city of Detroit to align with other cities and municipalities around the country. That is my motion, Madam President. All
right, Hearing no objections that action will be taken.
And again, I just like to thank you all for your work. Again, we stay in constant communication of how we can improve that and want to get better and I know getting is going to take some time. But again, specifically I want to thank Mr. sampe, who is a member of our disabled community, but also just an advocate. He is there at every meeting and someone from someone from his team is and we really appreciate that means a lot to the members of our disabled community. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Remember Yeah, thank you.
Right Xander teams good to see all of you here. I just want to ask you just very briefly does the queal Keep affordable housing data and the number of residents in those affordable homes and and the number of people who are housing or housing burn which means they spend 30% their income more in those homes are extremely housing burdens less than 50% of their income on housing. Let's keep those numbers
on 30. Chair No, that is not something that we keep track of in Korea. Okay.
And then secondly, I just want to ask you, looking at your website, and it says that 51% of the workforce on public funded construction projects should be Detroit residents. And as of today, the latest information on the Korea website is 2019. When will that information be updated? And secondly, does that also include not just a number of people who are working on that site? Does that? Does that also include demographics based on race based on age at all based on sex? It doesn't also include the number or have you ever in the history of your department. Have there been projects that you have just shut down? Because they weren't willing to be able to to comply with the requirements or or as fines just the only way or the best way you think to go about enforcing those violations. So
through the chair, so for the first part as far as the data is concerned for the 51% We do have an active dashboard, that state that remains active is updated monthly. And so although there may be a 2019 report on the website, we do have a dashboard that indicates in real time where every project stands as it relates to the 51% and their contributions to the Workforce Development Fund as far as the second part of the question, I think I want to hand this over to Deputy
thanking Mr. Zander to the chair if you could repeat your question.
Yeah. My question was basically have there been any programs, you know, of recent memory that have been shut down because they would not comply with the 51. CIT requirements? 51% requirement. I know when my father was there, there were programs that there were projects that were shut down because they would not comply with that. I just want to know has that ever been the case if you ever decided I'm assuming that's within your your your purview to be able to shut down fighters, they won't comply? Have there been projects that just will not comply? How many of those projects have there been that have been shut down? If any?
Share um, thank you for that question. Um, since I've been in this role, we have not shut down any developments for the 51% on because generally most of the time, those developers if they aren't meeting the 51%, they are contributing to the Workforce Development Fund, in which we ensure that we have individuals who are skilled trained to be a part of these developments, via
via finance is do you just continue to find the same amount of money? Or is it on a graduating scale? Like the more violations you have, the more that number increases?
Well, the font there's a calculation which we discussed earlier, so it kind of all depends on the Detroit is there on that worksite the hours that they're working compared to those others and individuals that are on the worksite that are STEP workers, all those things contribute to the workforce amount that they will be required to pay monthly.
The reasonable as you did, I'm going to be done. I guess the reason why I'm asking the case is might be rare, but there's always going to be some people who are just gonna just there's gonna be some folks I'm not talking about here. Now I'm talking in general there's going to be some people who are just going to calculate factoring these costs. I'm not going to reach these numbers. I'm not going to try to reach these numbers. You know, I'll do the best I can whatever else but they viewed as a parking ticket. I'm just going to factor in the cost of what is what I gotta pay, and I'll just gotta pay that and have the project somebody who you know, based on history based on evidence, just blatantly violating that law. Has there. Has there ever been a discussion about or strengthened the teeth or destroyed example, that we might need to shut them down or borrow them from participating in future projects? Because we know they are a bad actor based on their behavior.
So through the chair, no, actually, we have not had that occurred. So fortunately for us, that everybody that has been that is required to to contribute under the executive order has either worked towards the 51% or contributed to the fund. We have not had to identify anyone that we will consider let's say, quote unquote, bad actors, right. We have been fortunate as a city and so it's a good executive order, and everybody that has participated in that. That falls under the executive order. They've met their requirements.
I guess that goes to your ability as a chair. And so with that being said, You're in your teams or competence. But with that being said, I am done. Mr. President, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much member young, and most of my questions were already addressed, primarily around compliance and I know that last budget, we transferred out the compliance of affordable housing right for tax abatement, so it's no longer with you all is solely with HRD. And then do you all monitor at all any post construction jobs? Or is this other job that you have reported as strictly construction jobs?
Oh, sure. Actually, still there tax abatement numbers are the post construction jobs are post construct? Correct.
Okay. How do you verify that through self reporting, so
self reporting,
so you don't do any like, I mean, you know, kind of overview of the verification that what they're reporting is factual. Because even with self reporting, these are pretty low. So we just go by word what they submit, there's no kind of double verification on behalf of the city.
Council President answer that, so we do require them to provide us names and addresses of those Detroiters that they say are we working on these post construction sites? We also are working on our policies and procedures in which we will have a sample size that we will put out pull out and we will have those sample sizes audited as far as going out to these actual places and these addresses to determine whether these individuals work at these companies. Okay.
Okay. I just want to hone in on you know, the importance of compliance, because it's a lot of promises. I think that was already stated, and we just got to make sure that they're following through on that. Lastly, you mentioned that we do have sufficient funding for Language Interpretation for counsel and I want to be clear that we currently do have one on every formal session. We had a hiccup last at one time where the person was online, but we didn't know how to move them over to be able to interpret virtually so we do have one for every single formal session. I think there may have been a request to have someone physically here is that going to change anything from the budget perspective to have someone physically here?
No, no. So we we factor so we factor in anticipated requests. Okay, and so we you know, we thought about what that looks like to increase in person rather than rather be here at formal session or out in the community or wherever it may be. Those are just kind of some of the things that we use to forecast so that our budget is as accurate as possible.
Okay. And so just so you know, we did reach out and request because currently just so we're all clear, we have someone at every formal and every evening council meeting, but they're virtual, and even though they're virtual, if someone comes in and needs interpretation, the person can come one line and interpret virtually. So it's it whether they're in person or not, they can still do the interpretation. However, we don't have someone that comes standard on committees. And so we were told that it was a pretty nice price, because we have communities all week to times, you know, twice a day Monday to Thursday animals that it will be a cost for that. But if you're saying it is covered and as members or committee chairs want to request it, they could with no concern with budgetary issues.
So if if the request is of what I think it is, I thought that request was for every session for during the budget season, not necessarily your standing committees. So for the budget season, we did give you that and so right. But for the standing committees, then we would just have to calculate see what that looks like.
All right, cool. Thank you and thank you for working with us on that. We just want to make sure we have sufficient funding for it. All right, that will conclude our budget hearing. Thank you all for being here.
Thank you, Chair and thank you, everybody else on all members of council. This was Thank you. I just appreciate you all and I appreciate all the accolades that you have given our department and the team. So thank you,
thank you keep up the great work. Thank you guys. All right. That will conclude our last budget hearing and we will go now to public comment. Ronald foster you are up first two minutes for public comment. Miss peak right? Yep, you can come on up next Miss peak. Do you can have a seat here. She can have a seat in the open seat. Mr. Foster Good afternoon. Go right ahead.
No, no. I stuck around a little bit today and I brought my daughter along with me. We had a parent teacher conference, but I brought it down here for the importance of government. Now, I'm involved in every one of these committees. Civil rights is a big issue to me. I've been down on a sailboat right so make a plank, and their demeanor and attitude is not reflected in their composure today. This is a testimony for myself. So I don't know the whole thing. So let bygones be bygones. But I'm making it very clear that there needs to be some transformation in there. Our seniors, our children, and our disabled are our most vulnerable people in our community. This whole budget hearing was about corporate and everything else. It didn't speak about Mr. Clifton, and that speak about a lot of the other people that lack opportunities. When we talk about jobs and everything else. I come out here every day I solicit those things. I as a combat veteran, I am a disabled American Veteran. I've been shut out from government for over a year. And so I'm saying this in front of my daughter and in front of this committee. That's the testimony. So I'm not here to get anybody in trouble or to ridicule anybody, but to stress the importance of silver rapes. We have officers that was have other issues that's going on our TV based upon civil rights in this city, and I still have a rights matter. And I think it is imperative that you guys go into Executive Session and provide some funding in there so that this whole city could be up to date on what civil rights means was silver, the consequences of civil rights violations. And hopefully, when it comes down to the iOS committees, we have less payouts within the city. So I'm asking you guys to hold them accountable. And let's do a better job.
Thank you so much, Mr. Foster. This peak? Yes. Make sure your microphone is on as Pete just press the bottom.
Can everyone hear me? I've come before this body on numerous occasions complaining about the fact that originally that my area in which I live the firewall area district three was not originally a part of the hardest hit funds. And as a consequence, we've suffered tremendously. And I've gone to the land bank, Detroit Land Bank Authority on numerous occasions to talk to them, asking them to work with the nonprofit organization that I started to work with the community to no avail. They're making decisions that are having negative impacts on our community, making our community unattractive to homeownership. You know, we have homeowners that are just walking away from their homes and they're continuously making these decisions. I am asking if I just went to their committee meeting, I'm here to ask. We are in need of help. I need some help. I'm asking this body to be willing to sit down and hear what the concerns are and to help us bring a resolution that's going to at the end of the day resolved and restoration of the community in which I live in. We are really much in need of help. And when I say to you, other areas of Detroit are moving forward. As you know, no one doing the redistricting the number of people who stood up who talked about district three who did not want to combine with district three. I am pleading district three, we're in need of help. I've got an immediate issue right now that the land bank wants to move forward on. This is going to have significant impact in the quality of my life. And I need some help and aid they want to make that decision by March the 25th. And as everyone else is getting have an opportunity to enjoy themselves is getting near Easter. We have the NFL Draft coming up. I want to enjoy my life. And I'm on pins and needles and I am under anxiety right now. And they're not sensitive to what we're saying. Thank you. All
right, thank you Miss peak for coming down. And I know a number of Benson has been working with you and so we can also connect you as well with at large council members and however any of us can support specifically what the request is, please let us know and we can advocate and support for you. Okay, great. All right. Thank you for taking the time to come down. Yes, remember young Yeah,
I just want to let you know my Chief of Staff was calvess Right back there. So if you want to talk to her, we'll be glad to help you to speak.
Okay, great. Okay, thank
you Miss beat. Okay, we will go online. How many callers? Madam
President, there are nine callers online. The first is Betty a Varner.
Ms. Varner. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon to all within the sound of my voice. I'm Betty, a burner president of the soda Ellsworth black Association and I'm going to start off by asking the council to please allocate and allow more monies for the SR accessibility, Home Repair burn. That money is needed. There are so many seniors and people with disabilities that need those services they we need those walk in showers and ramps and whatever else that can be. permitted to help us make our homes handicap accessible. I also want to know I do remember that honorable council member waters that say that there's going to be some flyers put out in regards to this program. But what other type of marketing tools will be used to get the word out to the seniors that the services or the grants or whatever will be available? As I talked to people I mentioned that but it's, it's gonna take more than me Please continue to support my association, I think a corridor project project diba community park, everything is money, money money. We are now trying to get playscape equipment for our park. We have been successful and getting monies for a shipping container to put our tools and but we have been advised by the city inspectors that we must have a rat wall and that is a quote we had gotten is $5,000. So now I'm seeking as in for a contractor to step up and to help us and give us a good quote in regards to our rep. Raul. seeking the help. Thank you. I appreciate the work that I do.
Thank you Miss Varner.
The next caller is Ruth Johnson
may be heard. Yes, you can.
Good afternoon with Jackson ciudad I share the concerns expressed by council members regarding demos and BC and the land bank regarding putting more emphasis on building up rehabbing and renovating rather than tearing down or demolishing. I also share the concerns about better communication between departments but between departments and our residents and our community development organizations and neighborhood groups. I also share council president about the closing resolution for proposal and I have not been able to find on the website or otherwise anything about the Neighborhood Improvement advisory board when it meets who's on it, what recommendations they've made, have they done any reports? And I think it's so important because that wasn't a central part of our proposal and work regarding the Department of appeals and hearings. I would just say in terms of community education engagement, the community blight court there's going to be resurrected, as well as making things better for Detroit residents, whether it's community ambassadors or actually navigators at the hearing office. We stand ready see that and our members to work and explore opportunities I lift up the comments of SI dad members Betty a Varner and Vanessa peak. With bc I would ask that BC and everybody associated with them. Think about if it was done and their loved ones and how set or a rental that was not up to code not registered, not compliant, have led. I think there'd be more of a sense of urgency. And that I think we need to do as many inspections as often as necessary, but also with inspections enforcement with Creo I don't think we should talk about bad actors a mom and pop let's talk about compliant and non compliant and I support our members for a fully Alright, thank you, Miss
Johnson.
The next caller is black bag Roo.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Well,
it's not a good afternoon Mary Sheffield, you and James Taylor. Both leaders of this city council have heard about the voter track. You've heard a call a call in and said saying that is people voting from his house that he doesn't know. I know that because I just listened to it. Now we got is Detroit Motor trap houses over district seven a whole bunch of numerous ones. We got one over in district two as well. And district three is where the victim of absentee ballot fraud Living Proof live that that's what tipped the scales. So on tips tip the scale Tuesday's we're going to have a discussion about its voter who was a victim of absentee ballot fraud here in the city of Detroit. Now we also got one to eight for two over in district one as James etait Jr. You said I was looking for social media hits. Well yes I am right now. All over social media, with the fact that you got a voter trap house. It's all video for votive chat power in your district that you want to act like doesn't exist. And then you want to crack jokes and talk and say I'm talking louder and louder and louder. I am going to talk louder and louder and louder. And I'm gonna talk straight to you Dave the tape your whole fraud in the matter of Kenisha Coleman. Her death, your fraud in her mother knows it. You caught her on the phone numerous times James Tate couple of times in 2023. Her daughter met her demise in 2020. Now that matter needs to be addressed as well as the boat itself.
next caller please.
Good afternoon
they do just unmuted Madam President.
Okay and good afternoon. I'm through the chair. My IP hurt.
Yes, yes, we can. Carol Hughes.
I am calling about the Creo gentleman that was on. We often speak of numbers and I think we get these from the census and just as we you know, we track women we should be tracking how many black people are being employed and I would like to ask him what happened to the contractor who had the young man wearing the hardhat weapon in written on the word on on on his helmet. I also have a few other questions about some of the things that well the FBI said I have asked several times be said if they're going to give anybody tickets, they should start with the quarters and start with the businesses that are in our communities. That if I go to a Shell station and Detroit it should look the same as it does in West Bloomfield, and that is not the case and that is the job of our government is to make sure that we have equity in our community from all business owners. It appears that your targets are always the citizens. You know, you talk real big and bad about what you're gonna do to the citizens. What are you doing with businesses, businesses where we're using our opera dollars to tear down private how businesses private buildings, but we are our police? Our fire departments have fallen apart and all of our money is going to police. We need our fire department and if you weren't disturbed at what he said when he said that 30% of the people are Detroiters. That means 70% of the people live outside of the city and that's the reason why we're going to go broke. You saw a young man that Mr. Tate brought to you a ninth grader who saved someone's life. Those are the kinds of children that need to be recruited into our system so that we are employing our own people. We are the majority here, but we have a council that has a minority mindset where the majority in the city, those numbers should reflect it. Thank you.
Thank you.
The next the next caller is Eric welsby.
All right, good afternoon. Have you heard Yes, you can.
Thank you so much. Good afternoon, Madam President and council members. My name is Eric welsby. And I serve as the advocacy director at Detroit disability power. I want to thank this council for their support of the Office of Disability affairs or the staff past several budget cycles. And during this meeting as you know, we've heard many of you left up several of the priorities that were included in our budget recommendations, and it's my hope that you all will support the 130,000 disabled triggers this year by committing to fully funding the ODA. The Oda has been working really hard as you as many of you have mentioned Phil, its mission. It's been engaging the disabled community. It's been engaging city departments, um, to really help move the city as a whole towards being a more accessible and inclusive place for all of its residents. To continue this important work and expand the OTS of OTAs ability to support disabled Detroiters and provide guidance to all the city's departments. DDP is recommending that the ODA be funded with a minimum annual budget of $1.4 million. Over its first three years, the Oda has made significant progress towards its goals with very limited resources with increased funding to support the growth of the office, the OD will be in a position to help transform Detroit into an accessible inclusive city that will provide the services and programs that allow disabled Detroiters to flourish. And so we really hope we can count on your support. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
The next caller is che Hello, Maggie.
Yes, you can.
Good afternoon Council. My name is Shay Whitfield and I'm a resident of District Six and a disability justice activist in Detroit. I want to thank this council for the growing support of the Office of Disability affairs and everything is received after each budget cycle since its inception. Let's keep this necessary investment up and commit to the full funding of the ODA. Excuse me at $1.4 million annually. We must find disabled Detroiters we make up more than 25% of Detroit's population. This is not just a significant segment of our city. It is a part of our city that has been particularly ravaged in the post pandemic world. The time to act and support this community is now I'm here to advocate for the Office of Disability affairs, urging its funding to be at $1.4 million annually. This isn't just a number. It's a necessity and empowers the Office of Disability affairs to collaborate with other city departments improving projects and relationships pertaining to the disability community. Creating an accessible city as a collective effort. While Creo and the ODA play significant roles that Oda needs our support to lead the charge in areas we as community organizers and citizens cannot it's about laying the groundwork for a city that prides itself on inclusivity and accessibility and effort that must happen collectively between all departments. Thank you.
Thank you.
The next caller is desert Cosma
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon Mandy heard.
Yes.
Thank you so much. Glad to be here with you Council. My name is Tessa Cosma. I am a wheelchair user and a resident of District Four. I want to thank this council for their growing support of financial resources for the Office of Disability affairs. Each budget cycle since the offices inception and 2021 I'm here to say let's keep it going. Let's keep this necessary investment up and commit to fully funding the Office of Disability affairs at $1.4 million annually. We must fund disabled Detroiters of which as you have said earlier today there are more than 130,000 I want to specifically thanks President Sheffield pro Tim Tate and Councilmember Jerry Hall for bringing up disability repeatedly and your questions of Creo today. That is very heartening. Thank you for paying attention to the advocacy of our community that has been coming your way through this budget process. And showing us that by asking the questions that we really want to know the answers to in our community. Like I said, we're highlighting the need for an increase in the Office of Disability affairs to accomplish many of the things that were brought up today. This includes the meaningful and impactful engagement with developers during community benefit agreement proceedings. It also includes starting and sustaining financial Empower meant initiatives like making Detroit a national leader for disabled residents and employment and becoming an empowered city. It includes increasing language access for all Detroiters as well as increasing the awareness and knowledge about accessible housing. And on that note, we noticed in the Creo slide that there was in the three year plan that there was information about accessible housing projects. We'd love to learn more about that. The community of disabled Detroiters that I represent want to engage with counsel, not just through the budget process like we're here today, not just during budget season, but throughout the year so that we can collaboratively design and implement appropriate solutions to the problems we face, hold departments accountable to the commitments they make to us and ultimately ensure that our disabled community is thriving. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you.
The next caller is KCP.
ACP. Can y'all hear me? Yes. Thank you. Good. Afternoon to the council. This is Casey paler. I'm a resident and District Four and Policy Manager at Detroit disability power. I want to thank this full Council for the growing support of the Office of Disability affairs as we've seen budget cycle after budget cycle the past few years and be encouraged to keep that going and fully commit to funding the Office of Disability affairs at 1.4 million annually. A special thanks to council members who have taken the time and given us the opportunity with meeting up with us on the side to talk about these recommendations more fully. and have conversations on them more comprehensively than we can in a couple minutes during public comment. Another Special thanks today to council members Daryl Hall and Tate who have consistently throughout the Creo hearing highlighted all of the exciting opportunities that really could open up for Detroit. All of our residents, especially disabled residents, with a fully funded and fully staffed fully integrated within city proceedings Office of Disability affairs. We must find disabled Detroiters as we've said there's 130,000 of us that number again is a huge undercount not considering residents with mental disabilities mental health disabilities or chronic illnesses. So we know that number is actually a lot larger than that and we're so happy to see that the Office of Disability affairs is currently hiring for two new positions. Excuse me physicians for Policy Research and for our community liaison. We know that that has been a direct result of disabled Detroiters organizing and returning year after year to ask for more funds to make that possible. Again, we are asking you this year to fully fund the Office of Disability affairs at 1.4 million. And we thank you so much for the continued support. All right, thank you.
The last caller online is Meg Marguerite Maddox.
All right, Miss Maddox. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Thank you, Dan, do you?
Know this
case Oh, do Oh blimey. Get some gay
and if we will make sure that I
know developers is stay engaged
Because Okay,
I am fighting my mind what what didn't make my life easier. That is less light when you love lights for the
race look fine. Yeah but not the it's all good there. And
then, every year every year, you're going to M gang again.
All right, thank you so much Miss Maddox. And that will conclude all of our public comment for this afternoon. And that will conclude our budget hearings as well. So thank you to my colleagues for your patience. Thank you to the public. All of the departments. And if there's nothing else to come before us, we will stand adjourned and resume our hearings tomorrow. But before we do so, Mr. Quarterly
man presents so sorry. So just want the council members to know that the $3.5 million from the state from the marijuana tax is in non-departmental. So as you're indicating President Pro Tem is treated as other general revenue, income tax revenues, so on and so forth. So I just want to let you know that and you make a good you know, case about so why can't some of that be, you know, earmarked for specific program related to legacy marijuana program. The only only problem with that though, is you got to cut from somewhere else, you know, right, but it's my lesson on it.
Thank you, Mr. Corley. Right, colleagues, is there a motion to adjourn? All right. Hearing no objections, we will stand adjourned.
