Recording in Progress? Is the clerk with us Madam Chair I do not yet see the clerk online. Okay, thank you just let me know when they join us madam chair the clerk has just been promoted to panelist Great, thank you Madam Clerk, can you hear me?
Yes, I can hear you Madam Chair.
Great. We're gonna go ahead and get started everyone. Good morning, everyone. Happy Monday. It is Monday, September 26 2022. I would now like to call to order a public health and safety standing committee. With the clerk please call the roll.
Sure. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.
Present.
Councilmember Scott Benson.
Scott benign.
Councilmember Mary waters present. Madam Chair. Do you have a quorum present?
Thank you. Since we do have a quorum, we can continue on with the agenda. Is there a motion to approve our minutes from our prior Committee, which was on September 19th? Are there any objections? Hearing none, our minutes are approved. I have no plan chair remarks for today. Which means that we can go ahead and jump into public comments. I will be cutting public comments off if need be by 10:10am. So please raise your hand. Now. If you're here for your public comments. Pink, how many hands up? Do we have?
There are currently five hands raised.
Okay. Everyone will have two minutes. We can begin public comment, Hank, whenever you're ready to start facilitating that process. And again, we're going to cut off public comment at time 10am. So please raise your hands before then if you would like to be included in public comments. Henkel turned it over to you.
Just one moment, Madam Chair. Our first commenter is D five resident.
Good morning. Can you hear me? Did it unmute? We can hear you. Okay, great. So, apparently, you already passed this ShotSpotter contract out. And I would just like to urge this body
to think about
treating the root causes of the crimes. And rather than this bandaid, maybe it works. But from what I heard the other study by the Office of Inspector General in Chicago, that they found it has been not very useful at all. And so let's put some things into perspective. You would be spending $7 million of ARPA money none of that has trickled down to me I'm not saying it has to but I don't see it trickling down to a lot of people but I see it trickling down to contractor companies outside of outside of here. But the last compromised city Council sold the Historic State Fairgrounds for only $9 million without a replacement 142 acre contiguous Park. And then I believe I saw a contract for 3.3 million for lawyers to sue over the lease of the Joe do marsfield house so we really, residents got got it got a bad deal on that. And please add it to the list of reparations for the residents of Detroit. But I would highly suggested that it would be way more efficient. If you would get a contract and teach people teach all city employees all contract employees about trauma. And we'll start looking at it at there because there's an awful lot of time in the city and I highly recommend check out Besso B as in boy, E double s e l Bender, Kirk, you wrote the book, The Body Keeps the Score. This kind of technology is not going to improve things. It's just a waste.
Thank you for calling in Miss Warwick. And just for clarification for anyone listening in for the public. We have not yet voted on our final votes for ShotSpotter. That will be tomorrow during formal session. Thank you again for calling in. Thank
you Madam Chair. Your next caller is cutting him.
Madam Chair, I have a gentleman in the taxi cab that wants to talk about the bus service is anyway he can piggyback upon mine because he didn't know how to use Zoom. Madam Chair.
We can allow you both to have two minutes. That's fine.
Good morning, everybody at home. hotline number 313-444-9114. Again, the hotline numbers 31344491141 more time 313 Fo fo fo 9114 I made that number so it's easy to remember. on Facebook. It is force subservience Cunningham again on Facebook forced subservience. Cunningham, again, forced subservience, Cunningham that weren't subservience is how people have mutated the word humble, nice and kind to subservient. Like a slave, subservient, kind and nice I am, and giving and random acts of kindness but subservience it'll never be in to force that on a person. That's bad karma. Now that we have bike lanes, lanes and more bike lanes, we need somebody to donate some bikes in our community. For those that are working poor, trying to get to work, the buses aren't no good. So we need more bikes in the city bikes, bikes and more bikes. For those who have disabilities like myself. There's something called Metro lift, it's like a taxicab, but you have to call 24 hours in advance, and they'll take you anywhere in the city, actually, one mile outside, and also the New Freedom Program. So how are you going to get this information, call them directly, Detroit Department of Transportation 313933 1300. Again, the number 313933 1300, the same DDOT number you always call. And remember, the busses are usually terrible after 6pm On weekdays and on the weekends, but you can leave a voicemail anytime there's a problem. Now they have a voicemail setup system set up for you. So I don't get paid for this. No accolades. No kudos, none of that. I'm doing this from my heart, guys. We're and this gentleman, Mr. Anthony. Mr. Anthony wants to speak. Just tell them who you are and
some Hello, hi. My name is Anthony Brooks. I'm writing to Detroit this is one thing about the Detroit bus routes is like one day kind of slow they're very rash they're very slow they mean 530 minutes maybe 20 minutes late next I would say to me the bus drivers like you know I'm saying they don't be looking like they really liked the job you know I'm saying like they just be looking at the people some people will be really like it hard times like he launched and some people don't have buster. Even though Buster is cheap and affordable is to some people out here does not have some bus drivers they do understand that new show compassion. They left me on the bus today. Like I had a bus ticket from the city that I know that I never used that works. And the lady let me on the bus even though my ticket really missed out. So I know it was something wrong with the machine. That's another problem with the buses right there. The machines always be down. It'd be a lot, you know, a lot of confusion on the bus. The next thing I will say getting that like on the weekends. On the weekends, the buses are even slower than They are on the weekdays, like Monday through Friday, I will say if I had to put on a time schedule of how slow the buses is, I will say the bus is probably an hour and 30 minutes late, four hour and 30 minutes for people that work every day, check my check. They're fired. They can be worked late every day, you know, I'm saying but there's public transportation, so you can't depend on them to trespass, you get you there exactly at the time, you have to do take it in your hands. But we need to work harder, at least in these buses, at least three, four buses on one route, especially some of the bigger routes like Grand River Greenfield. And a few more routes, like more like warm buses very, very slow. That's probably a two hour bus across Taiwan. That was like entirely too slow. You got buses, that's just too fast. Like, you know, like the Dexter bus is probably four buses I see on next door like it's four buses running the next route. But it's only
thank you both for calling in and for sharing that with us. This is really important for us to know. And you're right, people don't have time, which is often time when people don't take the bus because they know that it's very unreliable. So thank you for sharing that with us. It's important for us to have that insight. And for everyone else to know. Public comment is now cut off. Hank Kucinich, back to you.
Madam Chair, your next caller is Ruth Johnson. And there are five hands raised one hand was raised after you cut off public comment. Good morning, may I be heard? Yes. Ruth Johnson, community development advocates of Detroit and a proud member of the Detroit right to counsel coalition. I speak today and ask the city of Detroit to follow the law, implement the law and fund the law. Do you treat right to counsel ordinance is the law fully fund the right to counsel law fully implement the right to counsel law and fully implement all state and local renter protection laws. Specifically, we're asking the city to release and appropriate the ARPA funds promised by the city six millions for three years for each of three years in the budget closing resolution. And more recently, the Honorable Santiago Romero led the charge in council approved 12 million in a recent ARPA resolution. But also, when the ordinance was passed, council unanimously passed an ordinance reiterating in points of full funding, and you have the stout report, which Stout is a global consulting firm, and they looked at the cost benefits. And it's three to one. So let us invest where it makes sense. Invest the $198 million surplus for right the council and other urgent, immediate necessary community needs. Work with City Court, the coalition members coming community members to set up the office of eviction defense and hire a coordinator to make sure we retain qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to set up monitoring evaluation and to work with 36 District Court to really do what we need to do to increase housing stability and keep people in their homes. Thank you.
Madam Chair, the next caller is overwhelmed.
Good morning Detroit. Madam Chair. This past weekend, I just had a couple more offices at my house. Again, nice being tow boss in our cars made with false allegations. It's been going on now for almost two years over two years. As a matter of fact. I got a whole situation going on with officers over the laboratory saying so now I think it's time to run some test cases through Detroit. The Detroit City Council has not used this power subpoena since 2012, which is ludicrous. I don't know how to try to grant you the power to find out what's going on in the city and y'all don't want to use it. politicking is that place and the politics in Detroit is So we had a officer cost a gentleman on a motorcycle downtown not too long ago. That video is making his rounds on social media. I know because I wanted to once this put it out there. Now, that officer obviously Reynolds needs to be called in and question thoroughly extensively as to what actually took place, along with all the 11 precinct officers who have either arrested me tried to intimidate me or may and based allegations and accusations regarding me. The power subpoena is the most powerful tool that the city council has. And I demand that the city council use that power
Madam Chair, your next caller is phone number ending in 711. Good morning counseling residents and taxpayers have a great day. Have you tried My name is Monique Shelton. I just like to know is the Detroit City Council aware of a Michigan House committee initiative where they submitted a bill to eliminate the income tax of the non residents who commute to the city of Detroit to work here and his jobs mostly in downtown and midtown. Is the City Council aware of whether or not that bill was passed, because it would eliminate the income tax for those who live outside the city, but work within the city. That would have of course, a very adverse effect on the CB choice, budget and finances. Also, as I look at the amplifiers, out of the 826,000,675 $290 865 million was made into a $6,635,290 only a small amount was actually spent a lot of it is tied up in in conferences, in only about less than 30 million was actually spent as of September the 19th 2022. But yet that money was sent here by the federal government to deal with all the plethora of problems that we have here the largest blackest most impoverished city in the nation. So I was just wondering if the council aware of why that money is not being allocated as it should be.
And then some of the proposal and by mining which is supposed to be used for the demolition purposes as well as to stabilize properties and homes in the city of Detroit houses. They're taking that money to Duggan administration and paying this salary payroll of the Detroit demolition department. It's my understanding that could be very, very illegal because that money is
already earmarked.
Madam Chair, the last caller
is Tonya Meyers Phillips. Good morning, honorable council members. Thank you very much for taking my call. I want to thank each of you for voting for the right to counsel ordinance and for your strong support to fund the right to counsel ordinance. I also want to acknowledge Corporation Council mallets willingness to meet with the Detroit Rights Council coalition about the status limitation. But with that being said, I see there's a discussion on the agenda for wrongful evictions. And I want to just implore and ask that any discussion of wrongful evictions start with the funding adequate funding of the right to counsel ordinance, which includes the provision for illegal evictions are illegal lockouts. As of today, it's my understanding that the administration has only committed $2 million this year towards funding right to counsel. And that's simply not enough. It doesn't make the mark and leaves Detroiters out many Detroiters will face unnecessarily. Homelessness because this ordinance has not been funded. Despite this body's multiple, actually three ordinance one ordinance and three resolutions directing an urgent administration to make an adequate investment and a right to counsel. The Quicken grant is not funding the right to counsel. That's a private grant that stretches over three years and includes different terms and conditions under the ordinance. And the ordinance, which is the law directs this body the city of Detroit to fund the right to counsel not for nonprofits to search and scrap for grants. And then if there's a balance the city of Detroit would consider funding the difference. So I'm asking in this conversation that this body inquire about adequate investment for right to counsel based on the data, not political prerogatives. And thank you very much for taking my call this morning.
Thank you, everybody for calling in. I appreciate it. I really do. And yes, we do have a wrongful evictions, presentation discussion conversation that we are going to move into now. Is there a I don't believe I need a motion for this discussion. We'll just jump right into the discussion. Miss Fulton do we have everyone here that is able to be a part of this discussion today.
Madam Chair, Malik Washington is with us today. He's been promoted to panelist Okay. Madam Chair, committee link Washington on behalf of the mayor's office. Good morning, Mr. Washington. Do we have everybody online with us for this morning's discussion on wrongful eviction?
Looking at the queue now.
Oh, I so we have law attorney who will be speaking speaking on behalf of love today. No morning, Madam Chair, Corporation Counsel Conrad mallet is present online and he's here to address this public discussion. Okay. Okay. So then, it looks like we have court counsel console that's going to be joining manager. Yes.
We also have starting to Gilbert online from DPD.
Okay. Um, I believe those are all our participants for today. All right. We will
wait until all of our panelists are online. If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself with your name and title for the public.
Good morning, Conrad mallet Corporation Council city of Detroit.
Good morning. Ma'am, if you wouldn't mind introducing yourself as well.
I'm Sergeant Gilbert. I am the director of the squatters action team for Detroit Police Department.
Okay, well, good morning. Thank you both for joining us out whenever you're ready to go ahead and present on this discussion around wrongful evictions.
Sergeant one on one, we have a DPD go first.
Okay, that'll be fine. I wanted to everybody. And thank you for allowing me to participate in the meeting. I'm going to make this very brief and then I can entertain any questions if there are questions and actually just being the director of the program. I oversee all the precincts which entails the entire city, and all of the locations where we have the properties that have complaints that are brought into the precinct in regards to individuals having someone in their home that shouldn't be in the home. Okay, so wrong for evictions, just so to make it clear and Mm hmm. Have everyone understand Detroit Police Department, we do not do evictions, evictions are done through 36 District Court, my unit and the rest of the officers that are part of the squatters action team, we only remove individuals that are in a property illegal and that has been proven to be there without consent or permission from the owner and or broker, listing agent, private owner or renter. So with that being said, we don't get involved in evictions that civil, one is civil, and one is criminal, we only handle the criminal aspect. So with that being said, from the complaints come in, a lot of the individuals will bring their property complaints to the precinct and say that the property was vacant and someone has moved in. And they need help with removal. That's when the investigation starts with me and the other officers and the sergeants throughout the city. If that person, I'm sorry, real quick, if that person, the occupant that is inside the property does not have any paperwork to entail whether he or she is a legal renter, or lease person, the investigation will go into a little bit more depth, they will have an advisement, they have a timeframe to vacate the premises. If not, then we take further action to remove them. That would not be the civil and that would definitely be a crime and that is squatting. There is a squatting law. It's a state law. It's not a city, it's not a county law. It's a state law throughout the United States throughout the state of Michigan, the United States, they have their own laws per each state. But as far as Michigan is concerned, 750 point 553. That's the Michigan compiled law that we follow in regards to being in a property without ownership or without the permission from the owner or consent. So with that being said that would bring it under the Swati first time misdemeanor second time it's a felony. And we do arrest for that.
Understood, is this information online anywhere? Or how can the public access disinformation?
Well, the information that I have just given you, you can get the actual MCO, you can look up any of the MCs for the state of Michigan in regards to that. But in regards to the eviction that falls on the Civil Part, you can just Google evictions to 36 district, it will give you pretty much the same information. But the information that I have is the information that comes from our law department. And it comes from the Academy. And it's our process procedure and guidelines that we implement for our police officers to go out and help individuals that have the complaint of someone being in their property. A lot of the police runs that we get when we go to they say oh, it's being in progress breaking entry in progress. Or they'll say someone broke in my property they're inside or they'll say they didn't pay the rent, and I want them out. So those are different categories that we look at various five different guidelines for that. And when we go out as officers, the determination is not made right at that point unless we can prove that someone has broken and breached that window or door and gone in that day if we have a witness or the owner witness and that's that's going to be something different from squatting. But with that being said, to answer your question, there is information. I don't teach the public, I only give the information when the complaint comes in. I explain to the complainant, how the procedure works, how the investigation will go and what they will need to provide to us so that we can do the investigation. You can't just come to us and say someone's in my property, you don't have proof that you're the owner. I don't know that you're the owner, I have to know that you're the owner. Before we can represent you. We can't we don't just go to properties and talk somebody out on your head. That's not what happens. There's a procedure for everything.
Understood. So this discussion was born out of public comments. Many times in formal session about excessive evictions taking place in the city after the moratorium of evictions ended. In many cases, residents mentioned that they were being removed by their homes by police. And I understand that it's not every day that we teach the public but it's incredibly important that we do. So I'm wondering if everything that you just shared with us can be put into a presentation as I've asked so that we are able to let the public know what the process looks like. And to know what in what cases there could be an eviction and what cases if there's a fall under DPD or is it the courts? So this is a lot of info Meishan that they that the public wants to know. So I'm wondering if we should bring this conversation back, when we're able to just put all that information that you share that you clearly know, into a very simplified document or present or a slideshow. Every single committee when someone comes and presents to them, they are presented with a slideshow of information so that the public has that information. And so that all council members have that information as well. This is important information that you're giving us right now. So thank you for sharing all of that I do have a few follow up questions. And I also have that request. And I'm trying to decide if we should wrap this up right now have any other questions that we might that we might have, and then bring you back. Because as someone just mentioned, there's still a lot of issues when it comes to folks being foreclosed on. And we're continuing to have conversations around making sure that we're fully funding the rights of council. So this is, I believe, an important discussion and one that we can continue to have, but definitely want to have all the tools that we need, so that we're able to have it a full discussion and to the public does understand, because, frankly, from being in the seat, what I've realized is that because of the lack of political education and public engagements, there's a lot of confusion and a lot of complaints that you hear. But oftentimes, as you mentioned, it's not on DPD it's it's a different entity, that that might be the ones that are doing those evictions. So just have that request, please, for the future to please come prepared with those slideshow so that we do educate the public. Thank you for sharing that with me. It's a lot, we're going to have to go back to the video when take notes. But sure, I'll hand over to you
real quick. So I would like to if you can maybe set something up, where we can denote just time just to this because it's not something it's actually when I teach it and give the instruction. It's like a two and a half hour block of instruction. It covers a lot. And what I've just given you is not that much. It's only is a drop in the bucket. When you start talking about foreclosures, and you're talking about evictions that civil we foreclosure, I mean, that goes into something that has nothing to do with Detroit police if you haven't paid your money. That's a civil that goes to 36 district. But back to what I said we really need to set up a program where anything where the public can call in with questions. In regards to removal, we do have your self help maneuvers which are illegal. You have your court order judgments that are signed by the judges saying that you have to vacate which involves bailiffs it's so it's it's a big, it's not just five or 10 minutes, right now we need to have an actual program that we can put together where individuals like yourself and others can say, Okay, well, hey, Sergeant Gilbert, I have this. I was defrauded my money. What do I do now? And you know, can I stay in the house? Who do I talk to? It can't be into. And I put together a brief slide. But it wouldn't help at this point. Because like I said, it's like a two and a half hour block of instruction. So if you could put that together, set it up, I'm willing, I'm available, just let me know. And we can go ahead and try to educate the public and put some things together so that they can have some answers to their questions.
Thank you, Sergeant. I love that idea. And I will wholeheartedly love to support an initiative like that I'm wondering, has DPD done something like that already in the past? or have there been discussions about holding something like this? There
has been it has to be program has to be implemented. It has to be written out, it has to be approved. I can't just come on to the public and say, Okay, I'm going to do this, I have to get an approval. It has to be it has to be submitted. And I'm not sure if that's going to be on your end or your panels department. But I don't think it'll be a problem. And if we have to make it a two day, part one and part two, we can do that. I'm here for the most part all the time working. And I do instruct other officers and citizens when they come in if they need something personal. I address them one on one, so they get the hell that they need.
Understood. Thank you, Sergeant. I really appreciate that. So we will be following up with that idea. I think it's a good idea. I think even if it's not done during our committee, we can hold something maybe in an evening. We can we can figure out a way to make it as accessible as possible. But I wholeheartedly appreciate your offer in making that work. Colleagues, I will turn it over to you or to our court counsel. Is there anything that you would like to add And before I turn it over to questions, no, ma'am. Okay, colleagues, do you have any questions? Regarding this discussion? Vice Chair,
or thank you, thank you all for being here this morning. Just the question and the reason for the conversation today. How many calls does the PPE when it comes to alleged or real or perceived illegal evictions?
Sergeant, if you can answer that question,
I don't know if you want me to. So we work with, Okay, let me let me answer your question in person and I need to address something else. So I can close down when I say closed down. If you're in a house illegally, and you know that you're in there illegally, you know that you haven't paid any money. You know, you didn't get permission, you know, when you're not supposed to be in the house. So when we get that complaint, I can close down four houses inside of two weeks, when I close down for eight more will open up simply because people have the vacant houses that they're working on, and revamping and remodeling but there's a there's a vacant registry that the DC says that you shall apply for that vacant registry certificate, which actually gives you a number to say, This is my house, and I'm working on it. So with that being said, I probably got about at least within a month time, probably 4050. So a complaint I mean, agile, agile complaints on paper, some individuals are not able to provide the documentation saying, I have purchased this property, there's a purchase agreement, there's a seller's disclosure, there's a warranty deed, there's a title clearance, all of these things have to be cleared and checked. And I run it through the satellite to make sure that you own their property. When you come to me and say this is my property, doesn't mean it's your property. It could be property. Now we're talking about a probate matter that someone has passed away, to answer your question, at the most probably 40 of the month. So maybe 10 or 20. You can expect 20 more to open up because people are not doing what's necessary when it comes to managing and maintaining a vacant property.
Real quick, so you're getting 40 to 50 calls for squatters a month or illegally evictions among
squatters, and most of them are not squatting. Most of them are situations where the individual has fallen on hard times and that paid the money and it needs to go to 36 district. We don't handle evictions when it comes to someone that has not paid their money that has that's not illegal.
So who deals with illegal evictions? Because the reason for the discussion today and the feedback that we hear during committee, public comment is illegal evictions who determines it to be illegal? Who handles that?
Well, I can make that determination. If you're let's just say for conversation, if you're the property, and the owner comes and says, I want you out of my property. And he or she decides to try to change the locks and proceed to put your items out on the curbside. That's an illegal eviction by the owner. The police will be called by the occupant and say, Hey, this gentleman is trying to put me out. I'm supposed to go to court November 1, but he's putting me out now. That's an illegal eviction is not done by the police. It's being done by the owner. And we can stop that because they can't do that without a court order.
So that becomes so illegally evictions are a DPD matter because you all intercede. It sounds like on behalf of the victim being illegally evicted.
Exactly. I mean, I'm gonna I'm not gonna put a stop to it unless there's a court order saying you should have been out of this property August 1,
if that
show that all that paperwork and says, Well, Mr. Johnson was supposed to be out August 1, and he's still in here. Now we can stand by you, as the owner have the right to go into your property. Because it's past the court order. We stand by to keep the peace. We don't pick up any chairs and table we don't do any of that. We stand by to keep the peace when the bailiffs are out there we stand by with them as well, because has to be kept during the eviction, but that's again, that's to the court.
So then, Sergeant, how often are you getting a phone call saying I'm being illegally evicted? Please come help me.
Probably three or four weeks. Okay. That's coming from the occupant that's not only that's coming from the occupant,
and so many legally eviction is a police matter that the city of Detroit comes in and protects the occupant who's being illegal
Absolutely it's not a police matter, it's only a police matter when that owner decides to do a self help maneuver, you cannot change it. I said earlier, you cannot go there and take that person and say, I'm going to put your things on the curbside. I'm going to change the locks. Unless it's gone to court. You guys have gone to court, the judge says, Okay, you gotta be out of here September 1, I'm gonna give you these extra days and you say, Oh, well, I have kids, can I get a few more days the judge will award you extra days. Once it goes past that date, your to be out of there in the bailiffs will come out and they will remove your things. That's not a DPD matter that matter.
So sergeant, I think we're saying the same thing. And illegal eviction becomes a DPD matter, give the occupant who's been illegally evicted caused APD at that point DPD supports the illegally evicted victim, correct? Because
if they are being illegally evicted, we will read that paperwork. If you were to be out before the date that's on our paper, when we come out there and say we go out there today, and your date to vacate was September 1, and today is the 26th then you're not being illegally evicted. Does that make sense? Makes a lot of sense. Okay, so we will stand by to keep the peace so that you and the owner don't get into a confrontation? If that happens, then now Yes, it is a DPD matter. Because now we go into the criminal aspect where you've assaulted someone or you've laid your hands on someone that has nothing to do with the paperwork is the fact that you've put your hands on somebody and you can't do that. Sergeant,
I think we're saying the same thing.
Did you understand this?
I'm gonna I'm gonna need to call through the chairs, a lot of talking over each other. So Vice Chair, I'll let you finish up
the chair. I believe we're saying the same thing. Okay, that any legal eviction becomes a DPD matter when the victim calls DPD because they're being thrown out of their house without the appropriate paperwork.
Yes. Okay. Okay, very much.
Okay. LPD.
Thank you, Madam Chair. In spite of everybody's best efforts, the legal and factual complexity of the subject matter, is perhaps I hope not confusing anybody too much, to a certain extent, cut through the chair, Councilman Benson and the officer saying the same thing and then to a certain extent, because of the level of complexity, the term itself, illegal evictions is problematic in this discussion. It's inherently confusing. I try to cut through it as city officials and as elected officials as the charter defines me and you. We all have an obligation at anytime we're dealing with some kind of eviction matter to make a determination provisionally, at least in our own minds, whether it is illegal or not, in some sense. That's the problem with the answer that because that's the truthful answer to Councilman Benson's question through the chair. And then of course, there is a process whereby police officers, homeowners, tenants, not squatters in Michigan, not in Detroit, and ultimately courts make determinations about what is truly legal or illegal about the individual situation. And so it's very difficult to answer the question, what When did DPD get involved in an illegal eviction for that reason, although everybody's trying hard. I hope that helps.
Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate that. And sergeant, so you mentioned that you get various calls. Well, you said only about three to five a month three, or was it three to five a week or three to five a month? If somebody's calling you seem that they're being illegally evicted?
Well, I took a look at the care review, which comes from dispatch. The other day, I just happen to call dispatch and I took a look at what we had we had 10. And I want to say that was Thursday. And most of the calls that came through. They weren't they weren't illegal evictions they were calling because they had some issues with the home but they labeled it as squatting and breaking and entering. And but we addressed it as determined. So to answer your question, we'll get the calls but that doesn't mean that it is an illegal eviction. Okay, makes sense.
On average, how many do you think a year the calls that you receive are people calling you that are being illegally evicted?
Let's say let's go back to January of this year. I probably have maybe four actual illegal evictions and I told the owner I expressed to him that that the process was you had to go through court that he could not put that person out on the street. And he needed to change the locks back, or give that person the key. And if he did not, then further action would take place. You cannot do as we talked about a moment ago, and I agree to agree. You can't illegally evict someone. So to answer your question, I've probably had four actually illegal where I had to advise individual what they needed to do to go through the process to get that person removed. Some individuals, homeowners think that they can just go there and change the locks and put the personnel can do that.
Is DPD. Okay, no. Well, that's Thank you, that's helpful to know, is DPD concern that many residents may be in situations without formal renting agreements? I'm sorry, say that, again? Is DPD at all concerned that many residents may be in situations without formal renting agreements? We get quite a few of those. And how does what does that process look like? Well,
when we get the ones that don't have the rental agreement, and they're not in there with concern, we have programs, we have the nonprofit programs, especially as they have children, that we work with them and try to get them placed into an area temporarily till we can find some other housing for them. So yes, that's a vast concern, because we don't want anybody thrown into the street, or to have to go to a shelter, if they have small children, even as an elderly person or a person a singular person, we want to find shelter for you if we can. So there are programs UCSC, we have cold blue, we have we met, we have about 10 of them. So I will work with them to try to get them placed. I also let the owner know that you have to give us time because the individual, they don't have anywhere to go. Some of them, they don't want to comply, but they don't have a choice, we have to work together to make sure that the person and the person that people that are in the houses are out or address with some some shelter, and not on the streets. We have a lot of the unsheltered population out there now they don't have anywhere to go. So you know, that's a vast concern that people have to have somewhere to go, or they will need a place to go if they're in these places, and you're not supposed to be
here. Okay,
thank you. That's helpful. Um, one, one final question that I have. You mentioned nonprofits that you work with, are there any organizations or again, somewhere that the public can easily access information regarding their tenant rights?
Well, in regards to the tenant rights, they can, that again, tenant rights that falls under the evictions and civil power, they would need to they can bring that up, they could also contact 36 district, or they could contact any legal department in regards to the rights of being a tenant, and evictions and the timeframe and what it entails in regards to being removed, how long they have to be in there. What are their first steps? How do they go downtown, and file the paperwork so they can just that's information they can pull up online. So with that being said, if I do get a call, we're not supposed to get involved into the civil matters. But if I can kind of on a bland and answer question and direct them to the right area, that's what I do, because I don't give civil information because, again, we do that the criminal and the illegal Park.
Okay, thank you. All this is very helpful. My office will be reaching out to you and working out a way to have that event that you mentioned, have that space where we can, you can you mentioned, it's about two and a half hours worth the two and a half hour discussion. So we'd be more than happy to make space for that. So however we can, and maybe bring in the other organizations that do know about tenants, right? Make it an all encompassing event or meeting workshop, whatever the case may be, where residents can learn the full spectrum of what to expect and what the process looks like. When it comes to evictions. Court counsel, is your hand up or?
No, no, I'm just exercising my hand. So I
understand I have one of those as well. Just wanted to make sure I was including you in the conversation is needed, Sergeant.
Okay, one more quick thing and then I'll be quiet. So a lot of the houses that are abandoned and I won't say abandoned, but all the properties they belong to someone when the individuals are in there and they're not supposed to be in there. We do let them know that there is a program called make it a home which is do the Community Housing Coalition. And we got them we get them directed that way so they can try to make it their home if possible. So there are a lot of resources besides the land bank. In the auction and other areas hook, Section eight, so it's a kind of cover a lot of areas and keep in mind and not only do I handle the properties that come in through Detroit, there are people all over the world that's buying property out of Michigan and out of Detroit, the Detroit area, and they have a squatter. So it's a big program. So when I'm at two and a half hours, have an extra half an hour for questions, if you could, so let's make it three hours if we can.
Okay, no, we can make it as long as we need to, we can include breaks that make it a great time. Thank you both so much for joining. I really appreciate it. We'll be reaching out to you again to continue this conversation. But appreciate you both joining us this morning. Thank you.
No problem. You're welcome. Thank you.
Hope you have a good one. Goodbye. All right, colleagues, we are now going to move along to unfinished business. This is line item 6.1. The line item was regarding a memo through my office regarding elevated water lead levels reported by McNichols and West Grand Boulevard. We are being requested a one bring a one week bring back Is there a motion to do so. Are there any objections hearing objections when m 6.1. will be brought back in one week. moving us now to new business. This is longer than 7.1 under the Office of contracting and procurements. This is contract number 3060369. Using 100% grant funding to provide on call certified peer recovery specialists that aid with post overdose, overdose peer recovery coaching and transportation. The contractor is class changing lives and stayin sober. They are located in Detroit's this contract amount is 430 5834. It's for the health department's and wondering if there is a need for discussion or Motion to approve item 7.1. Thank you. There's been a motion to approve hearing objections and then um 7.1 is approved judge the new business? No objection. So is that emotion sent into business Vice Chair there's been a motion to send to new business. So many of them 7.1 Or their objections are sent to New Business Hearing none will be sent to new business. approved and sent to new business. moving us down to 7.2. This is contract number 6004678 with 100% city funding. This is to provide police examination testing services. The contractor is industrial organizational Solutions, Inc. They are located in Illinois. This contract is for $175,425. And it's for police. I do have one quick question for clarification next year if there's a motion to approve with discussion, discussion, discussion, thank you member waters. Mr. Washington or there's somebody who could I can discuss 7.2 briefly 6.2 7.2.
Okay, we have Chris Jones and Katrina Pattillo. Online. Thank you if you can move them over as panelists.
You been promoted to panelists, Madam Chair. Thank you. Oh, hello, thank you both for joining me if you wouldn't mind stating your names and title for the public.
Is Christopher Jonathan's OCP. I'm having a little technical difficulty, but I'm here.
Good morning, Katrina Pattillo, Director of Human Resources for the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you both for joining. I just have one very quick question. From what it reads. It sounds like this contract will help the police provide the testing or these tests that are taken when folks want to go into becoming a sergeant or captain. Or what is the purpose of this contract?
Yes, ma'am. This is the promotional testing for anyone for the rank of sergeant lieutenant and Detective.
Perfect. So just wanted to get that confirmation. Any other questions from my colleagues? Yes, member waters.
Thank you. Well, you know, my my question is, let's see. Why Illinois. Was anyone here locally that could could do this. Or in Michigan. And how many people submitted bids from from the state from Michigan?
To whoever can answer that question.
Through to jer again, Chris Jones.
OCP.
Actually there Were no responses from the state of Michigan for this solicitation and was out for over a month, and they were the only respondent
under waters Yeah. What are we doing to make sure that people here locally and in the state are participating? Because I am sure that there's somebody here that can do this. I'm pretty sure of it. Mr. Jones, and I just don't get that, Madam Chair. I understand.
Through the Chair, actually, this this, this is an issue. We've we've put this solicitation out for a number of years now. And we do not get Detroit participation for for this particular project. And some of it is because of the kind of kind of work it is, I mean, it's just kind of a niche, a niche work, you would think performing examinations was simple, but it's only a few companies nationally, this actually doing this work.
All right. All right. So so maybe there's nobody in Detroit. But what about Michigan is there someone here has to be
OCP.
Chair, we've advertised this, we've we've sought companies from all over Michigan and out of state. And again, this is the only company that decided to respond.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and just want to see us do better. Somehow, we have got to do better. That means if there are companies that are not responding, there has to be a reason. And it could be because they are not seeing those particular bids. There has to be something that we can do to encourage more participation. I'm tired of sending money out of the state, you know, I mean, I really am. First and foremost, of course, you know, I'm concerned about the city. That Secondly, we've got the state, and we just seem to be missing out on both too often.
Through the Chair again, it's, it's,
we would definitely rather have businesses, either locally or state. We've worked very hard to try to send it we do research, we try to send it to everyone possible that we think can do this service. We in this particular solicitation, we sent it to over 60 companies. And for whatever reason, they decided to not respond to this solicitation.
Thank you, Mr. Jones.
Thank you, Madam Chair,
thank you member waters, I feel it, I feel the same as well and just am grateful for OCP because they are working hard. And it's good to know the efforts that they're putting forth at least reaching out to 60 companies that might be able to bid on this work. Just we'll take the moment to remind anyone listening that this Wednesday, OCP and Creo are putting together another events to solicit more local bidders. It's going to be a patent park at 530 from 530 to 730. So please, if you're listening, if you know anyone that can do business in the city, please send them over to Patton park this Wednesday at 530 to learn more how to bid and how to be able to get the work that the city is able to offer. So are there any other questions from my colleagues regarding 7.2? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve? Motion. Are there any objections? Hearing none, my name is 7.2 was approved to be sent a formal with the recommendation to approve. Thank you all so much for joining us this morning. moving us down to 7.3 this is contract number 60000 to six this is an amended contract to provide an extension of time only for small wireless communication device is located on three traffic signals throughout the City of Detroit's this contractor is extent systems. They are located in Detroit's and this is going to be for public works. I do again have a simple question. Not sure if Oh, it looks like Director Brian drag she might be on on with us as well as the IO. If we can move them over as panelists. I just have one brief question. Hello, good morning, if you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public.
Good morning, Madam Chair. My name is dire Akinyemi, Deputy Director, Department of Public Works.
Thank you for joining us deputy one quick question, can you let us know what these devices will do?
So the state of Michigan, the the, there's a wireless communication addict that allows these wireless company to be able to put their transformers and signals on utilities, public sector utilities. So we have an association with this company that allows them to lease or rent the space on a pole. And they have leased three locations here. And they've listed for a while these are payment, they make an annual payment to the city. And these contracts expire by the end of the year. And this is just an extension of time, we're not paying them. They're paying us to lease three space on three of our
tech now. Understood, and when you see utilities is this, I know that we had the water department here once letting us know that they're also going to start to move towards technology that allows them to read their meters electronically. What do you mean by utilities? Is it similar? Or what kind of utilities would be signaling back and forth? What information will be shared?
These particular is like cell towers. Yes. So your cell phone companies and internet companies, they are allowed rather than them going to dig their own polls and perilla proliferate, the city or the state, with additional polls that they don't need, they are able to list on used real estate, so to speak on a pole. So if you have a signal, and after you've put in your signal and mass and everything, they can go above that and put their transmission communication system on top of it. So this doesn't work. So when I say utilities, I'm talking about electric pole, feet light pole, freeway, light, dynamic mistake line, you know, and camera poles, both on the freeway and on the sophistry.
Do you know how much we receiving for them to rent the space?
I don't have the exact number. Right now, Madam Chair.
Understood? Yeah, cuz it says the revenue is zero. So if, if we're going to extend the time, I'm assuming that we should also get additional revenue, you wouldn't happen to know which companies are the ones that are renting the space.
This particular one is exploiting them.
Okay, it's this company that's on. Okay.
Well, you all knows I have companies like Verizon AT and T and things like that how stealth signal is able to penetrate throughout you know, so that you don't have you don't drive through the city. And when you go to a particular place, you have a dark or a black hole so to speak. This allows signals to go through or your telephone, your cell phone conversation to continue as you move out without having that spot. Okay. Okay,
understood. Carlos, do you have any questions for this line item? Okay. Okay, Thank you Deputy for intriguing me with my questions just trying to understand more. Okay. Colleagues, if there are no other questions, is there a motion to approve or madam 7.3 motion. Are there any objections? Hearing none Lindemann 7.3 is approved to be sent to formal with the recommendation to approve. And then thank you so much deputy for joining us today. We will bring you back if we have any questions regarding any other line items. We are now moving along to line item seven points for Is there a motion to discuss line item 7.4 and 7.5. Together these are both public works contracts motion. Thank you when item 7.4 is contract number 6002912. This isn't 100% major street funding. This is an amended contract to provide an extension of time only for construction services for the West McNichols streetscape projects. The contractor is major contracting and Ganga they're doing this as a joint venture. They're both located in Detroit's. This is again for Public Works and land and 7.5 is contract number 6004746. Using 100% major street funding to provide you channel steel, signposts and anchors for the installation and maintenance of various traffic control signs. The contractors MD Solutions, Inc. They're located in Ohio, the total contract amount is $433,200. And again, this is for public works. Are there any questions for either line item 7.4 7.5?
Discussion? Member waters? Yes, I just. I don't I'm trying to see who the joint venture is with. I see that is a joint joint venture, but I don't know who
for 7.4 Yeah, it's major contracting and Gangam.
Major. Oh, serious right there. I sometimes you know, you'll look things. Okay. That's all I wanted to know. Okay. Thank you.
Are there any other questions? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve item 7.4 and 7.5 motion, Hearing no objection. 7.4 and 7.5 are both approved to be sent to formal with the recommendation to approve. moving us along not to the Office of Chief Financial Officer Office of Development and grants. line item 7.6. Is to request and accept an increase in appropriation for the ending for the ending the HIV epidemic a plan for America, Ryan II, HIV AIDS program Parts A and B. And this says that the US Department of Health and Human Services is awarded an increase in appropriation to the city of Detroit health department for the ending of the HIV epidemic a plan for America Ryan White HIV AIDS program Parts A and B, the total amount is $1,472,582. And I do believe that we have Christina Floyd online, if we can move her over as a panelist to get a better understanding of what these funds will be used for. Thank you for joining me if you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public. Oh, discussion? Is there a motion for discussion? Thank you, Dr. poppers, Dr. Powers. Thank you. Thanks, everyone. Miss Lloyd, whenever you're ready, if you can just introduce yourself with the name and title for the public.
Right? Yes. Good morning, everybody. As Christina Floyd, Deputy Director for the Detroit Health Department.
Thank you for joining us if you can let us know what the additional funds will be used for and how this program is currently being utilized.
Yes. So to the chair. The ending HIV epidemic is a program through our HIV STI program, and they service. Metro Detroiters including in and around the county as well. On this particular program, provides prevention programs, services outreach. They also provide services for people living with HIV. And so the increase will allow us to be able to do far more reach with our community health workers, as well as an outreach capacity. And also any of the prescription services that we also have for people needing prescriptions for HIV.
Thank you for that overview. Are there any questions from my colleagues? Member waters?
Thank you, Madam Chair. So good morning. I mean, I certainly liked that word end. And then I really wish we could end it. Um, so my question is, what do you provide? Are you providing condoms? Are you providing? Do you help people get you know, pay for physician visits? And I'm just not sure of all the things that you provide.
Mr. Chair, Mr. Boyd, yes.
to counsel harmes. For your question, it's actually all of the above. And condoms is a part of prevention messaging. Along with education. We also provide outreach services. We most certainly utilize our partners within the city of Detroit which includes Siak along with various others, to be able to provide outreach, services, testing and so on. We also do provide transportation if needed, and if you would, like more in depth, I do have an answer. The topic who is the director for HIV services through the health department to provide anything more in depth?
Well, thank you, Madam Chair. I was particularly interested in whether or not you know if a person didn't have monies to do a doctor's visit, if in fact that they support it and sounds like they do. So that was our main main concern for me as well. Okay. All right. So thank you.
Thank you remember water. Thank you to the health department's Hearing no more questions. Is there a motion to approve line item 7.7 7.6. I'm so sorry. Hearing objections, and then 7.6 is approved to be sent to formal with the recommendation to approve. Thank you for joining us. Thank you. I'm going to move us now to our next session under the planning and development departments. This is one of them. 7.7. And this is a report relative to the upcoming ordinance amendment coming before the public health and safety Standing Committee. This is regarding Eastern markets. I do see somebody online now with us. Greg, I believe if you wouldn't mind stating your name and title for the public and letting us know what this reports about. Of
course, good morning. My name is Greg motes. I'm with the planning and development department. And this is really a heads up to your committee on this. This update was drafted before the Eastern Market rezoning went through but your honorable body approved the Eastern Market rezoning two weeks ago and this is alerting you that. In the original zoning ordinance that became before the commission there were provisions regarding a review of demolitions in the Eastern Market in that new MK T zoning area. Those were removed at the direction of the law department. They said that a that the ordinances dealing with demolition were better and appropriately dealt with in chapter eight. So the zoning came before public health and safety but an amendment to Chapter Eight would come before public health and safety committee of course so we're this was just a heads up ordinance to you saying that there's a ordinance which is being drafted, which will be coming before your committee regarding the MK T district but explaining why what is in one ordinance has now been bifurcated into two and Commons to two different committees. So that ordinance is being drafted it'll deal with demolitions both in the MKT district and also in another zoning district that also has similar provisions for a review of requested demolitions things for you to act on today.
Correct. Thank you. And I failed to ask for a motion for discussion. If there can be motion to do so.
Okay, discussion.
Thank you member waters. I seem to be going by too fast today. Thank you for that overview. Greg, are there any questions? For Greg while we have them online with us? Vice Chair
discretion. Thank you. Um, just Are there any other locations where this action is taken? The same procedures for demolition?
Yes, do the chair though. The existing provisions I believe have been on the books in the traditional Main Street overlay district for I believe at least 10 years but I'm not for certainly for a good number of years. The language that we used regarding MK t is in the traditional Mainstreet overlay overlay district today and law department is advising that but that, you know regardless of where in the city is taking place, it should it's more appropriately covered in chapter eight instead of chapter 50 because it deals with demolition. Okay, thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other questions? Hearing on Greg, thank you for joining us this morning.
Thank you Good morning.
And is there a motion to receive and file one of them 7.7 Without objection will receive and file one of them 7.7 moving down now to Department of Public Works. Law item seven point eights is it petitions petition petition number 2022 Dash 266 This is by Giffords Webster that's requested to convert the traffic operations of the following streets from one way to two way traffic 14th Street from West Fisher service drive to de ZIL streets Dalziel streets from 15 streets to 14 streets and Moran ranty RONZI Street from 15th Street to 14th streets. This was from the Department of Public Works traffic engineering division and they received the above petition from the city clerk is there a A motion for discussion or approval for Windows 7.8. Discussion Vice Chair,
just curious about the community outreach on these look at the map just was there any community outreach was a feedback from the change from one way to two way?
That's a great question. I believe we do have a miss deputy online with us if you're able to answer that question.
Good money and good Madam Chair, through the pound work on the work at the Michigan Central Station, and work on Michigan Avenue, there has been a lot of communication with the rest of day, there is a positive reception of this idea. But I'll tell you, if you're raising why you'd know, the park around there, the work that God is doing in the park is going to eliminate or usually relocate, very no highway from its original location to 16th Street. So if you were coming from 14th Street of coming from the freeway, you want it to go too badly. For example, you can still do that, by the way, coming from badly or from the southwest. And you want to go straight to the freeway, now you're going to have to go 63, naked right on Michigan make a left to cross the freeway on 14. But by doing the two way conversion, it makes it a lot easier, because now I can go on north on 14. And I can continue north on 14 to the freeway. So that's the reasons one of the reasons why DPW quite frankly. So for today's we think it's going to make movement in this area. A lot more efficient. But this also has been shot with the community and they're in support of
it. Right. Thank you and do your to yourself, Madam Chair in trust, but verify. Is that your feedback? And she received the community as well.
Yes. And thank you for the question. This is in District Six. This is around Roosevelt park. There is a lot of construction right now in Corktown. Southwest area. And I completely support this as well. The street is big enough to be two way already. And everything is blocked off so badly that you see people going down the wrong way already because there's nowhere to go. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Vice Chair. Thank you, Deputy. If there are no more questions, is there a motion to approve on item 7.8?
Madam Chair?
Yes, Madam Clerk.
Um, this item in particular was submitted to you as a response to a petition it was not submitted as a resolution for a voting purposes today. So it was just submitted as a report. If in fact, it is if a resolution is coming for, then we will move it out pending that we get one but right now, it was not submitted as a resolution.
Understand if the WT is still on with us, because it reads as a petition. Deputy Is this a report of this petition? Or is this the request itself?
We responded
to the council and I
will be remissed I am not 100%? Sure. Okay, because it came from the clerk's office as the petition. We responded. And I'm not sure how I might need to get clarification on how we we took to answer your question, Madam Chair. I was our response on August 28. Was to your office to the honorable City Council.
Okay, so there if we need to have discussion offline between the clerk's office and yourself so that we make sure that it's on our agenda correctly because it reads a petition and it makes sense that this is a petition that's been requested. We can bring this back in one week if that works with you deputy. That's okay. With that colleagues, is there a motion then to bring back one of them 7.8 In one week, motion Hearing no objections you will bring back when item 7.8 And one week. Thank you. Thank you Madam Clerk.
Thank you Madam Chair.
We are now under miscellaneous. This is line item 7.9. From councilmember will feel Callaway requesting information regarding Dittrich cannabis projects. She has received her information and we can receive and file is there a motion to do so motion. Without objection we will receive inspiral linen is 7.97 point 10 is a another member memo from councilmember calories office requesting information relative to police towing contracts. Wondering Oh, it says here that the admin is asking for a two week bringing back Is there a motion to do so motion. Without objection, we will bring back line item seven points 10 In two weeks, which brings us now down to member reports. This is officially the shortest agenda this committee has ever seen. And with that, I will turn it over to our vice chair for any member reports.
No report today.
Thank you, member waters.
Thank you Madam Chair and just a couple of things. Just want to remind the Chargers about making strides which will be October 8. The team wise will certainly be participating with making strides for breast cancer awareness. We will do that on October 8 On October 18. I want to remind Detroit is about the our citywide charter mandated meeting both waters and Young will be hosting that meeting. So we are looking forward to to dialogue. And that's my report. Thanks so much. Madam Chair. Network. Know my my was my was in August's
Thank you member water. And just to follow up We do also have a another evening community meeting tomorrow night at 8pm. We are going to be in District Four. My office along with the Office of contracting and procurement and Creo will be holding a Detroit Supply Schedule contract opportunities events this Wednesday from 530 to 730. Again, it's going to be a patent Park. A lot of information will be in Spanish, and I believe in Arabic as well. So please let anybody know that might be interested in learning how to bid on contract with the city to join us this Wednesday. With that if there is nothing else to come before us. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone.